Bulletin for the Fifth Sunday in Lent-Jesus began to weep

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WORSHIP HELPERS: Reader – Maurine Roller Lay Assistant – Melinda Ewing
Fifth Sunday in Lent—Jesus began to weep.- ‘Called to Regret ’
Sunday, March 26, 2023

Think of a time when tears welled up inside you and spilled over in weeping, not because of something
joyful, but because of a deep sorrow. Sometimes our sorrows arise out of experience that are simply and
profoundly sad. Other times our sorrows arise out of experiences that are marked by our own regrets.
And still other times, it is both. Our experiences of regret can be powerful, even to the point of being
debilitating. In such times, we can get lost in all that is unfinished, the “what ifs” and the “if onlys.”
Naming and facing our regrets, however, can actually help us turn hindsight into insight so that even our
regrets can be experiences of call for us that move us to something different in the future. When Jesus
arrives at Lazarus’ tomb after Lazarus died, he weeps. We don’t really know the cause of his weeping,
but I imagine that regret may have been part of his heartache. He wasn’t there when Lazarus was ill. A
beloved friend has died. Deep sorrow has ensued. There were things unfinished. Jesus’ weeping calls to
us amid our own regrets in a host of ways that not only comfort us but also move us to new ways of being and doing.
(*) Please stand as you are able
(-) Please be seated

GATHERING

-PRELUDE
-WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

*CALL TO WORSHIP
L: Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD.
C: Lord, hear my voice!
L: In the tombs of death
C: You search for us.
L: Beneath our grave clothes
C: You see your beloved ones.
L: With our tears
C: Are mingled your own.
L: We wait for you, Oh Lord,
C: And In your Word we hope.
L: For we trust that you will call us
C: From death to life.

*CONFESSION
L Gracious God,
C We confess that we bind and entomb others and that our own lives are marked by
grave clothes and tombs. Forgive us for our death-dealing ways. Call us by name.
Unbind us from all that is life-destroying So that cross-marked and Spirit sealed We
might live your abundant, resurrected life now. Through Jesus Christ, Our Savior and
Lord, Amen

*ABSOLUTION
L God who is rich in mercy, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love has come to us in
Jesus, who by his holy cross has redeemed the world. Buried with Christ by baptism into
death, Your sins are forgiven in +Jesus’ name. Cross-marked and Spirit-sealed, You are
raised to new life. Almighty God strengthen you in faith To live each day renewed in God’s
call for your life.
C: Amen

*GREETING
L The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit
be with you all.
C And also with you.

*LORD HAVE MERCY (KYRIE) WOV Pg. 28

*HYMN OF PRAISE Bless the Lord, O My Soul (sing 3 times) WOV 798

*PRAYER OF THE DAY
C Help us, O God, to give our regrets to you and to go forward today, confident in your
mercy. Bind up the wounds of our mistakes. Help us to learn from our regrets so that
we might live more faithfully in each tomorrow. Forgive us our sins, and raise us to
new life today. In the name of +Jesus, Amen.
(Call to Worship, Confession, Absolution & Prayer of the Day are provided by the Nourishing Vocation Project through the Lutheran Center for Faith, Values, and Community at St. Olaf College.)

WORD

-FIRST READING: Ezekiel 37:1-14
L A reading from Ezekiel
(after the reading)
L Word of God. Word of Life. C Thanks be to God.

-SECOND READING: Romans 8:6-11
L A reading from Romans
(after the reading)
L Word of God. Word of Life. C Thanks be to God.

-LET THE CHILDREN COME (Please pass worship cards to the center aisle)

*GOSPEL ACCLAMATION WOV pg.31

*GOSPEL: John 11:1-45
L The holy gospel according to John. C Glory to you , O Lord.
(after the reading)
L The Gospel of the Lord. C Praise to you, O Christ

-MESSAGE Pastor Megan Morrow

-HYMN OF THE DAY Once We Sang and Danced ELW 701

*NICENE CREED WOV pg. 32

*PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
each petition ends with
L Merciful God, C receive our prayer.

*SHARING OF GOD’S PEACE
L The peace of the Lord be with you always.
C And also with you.
(Please share a sign of God’s peace with one another, such as Peace be with you.)

-PRESENTATION OF THE GIFTS Create in Me a Clean Heart WOV 732

The Offering is presented at the altar as the Offertory is sung.

*OFFERTORY PRAYER
L Blessed are you,
C O Lord our God, maker of all things. Through your goodness you have blessed us with
these gifts. With them we offer ourselves to your service and dedicate our lives to the
care and redemption of all that you have made, for the sake of him who gave himself
for us, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

*LORD’S PRAYER
L Please join us in the Lord’s Prayer sung to the tune “Finlandia”
C Our Heavenly Father, who in love abideth. We worship Thee, hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as is in heaven now and evermore. Give
us this day our daily bread of life. Forgive our debts as we forgive our debtors. And
lead us not into temptations’ power, deliver us from evil here on earth. And may the
kingdom, power and the glory, now and forevermore be Thine. Amen.

SENDING

*BLESSING
L Almighty God, Father, ☩ Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever.
C Amen.

*SENDING SONG God, Be the Love to Search and Keep Me Screens

*DISMISSAL
L Go in peace. Serve in love.
C Thanks be to God.

ADDITIONAL WORSHIP SCHEDULES

‘ONLINE WORSHIP’ – VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT: Alliancestjohns.org
OR OUR FACEBOOK PAGE AT: Alliance NE St Johns Lutheran

ANNOUNCEMENTS

EASTER LILY SIGN-UP -There is a sign-up sheet in the Fellowship Room if you would like to
bring an Easter Lily in honor/memory of someone. Bring flower to the church before Good Friday.

SCRIPTURES FOR WEEK OF APRIL 2nd– Isaiah 50:4-9a, Psalm 31:9-16,
Philippians 2:5-11, Matthew 26:14- – 27:66.

LENTEN LUNCH– Thursday, March 30th at United Methodist Church, 704 Box Butte,
12:00-1:00pm

WORSHIP HELPERS – April 2(Palm Sunday)-Reader– Patricia Jones, Lay Assistant–
Earl Jones. April 6 (Maundy Thursday)-Reader– Mary Crawford, Lay Assistant– Maurine
Roller. April 7 (Good Friday)- Reader– Kevin Horn, Lay Assistant– Melinda Ewing.

WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY– Wednesdays @ 9:30. 1st & 2nd Corinthians, led by Jody Mischnick

HEAD START BACKPACKS – We are collecting packaged items for 31 children! We provide one
bag per child each week with ten items in each bag. Thank you for all your generous donations!

GROCERY KART RECEIPTS– We are collecting Grocery Kart receipts to benefit our Preschool next
year. Final collection date is March 31st!

CONFIRMATION CLASSES– Thursdays at 5:30pm.

FIRST COMMUNION WORKSHOP – on Saturday, April 1 from 9a-12 Noon. In conjunction
with the First Communion class, we will be collecting items for Personal Care Kits. See the list of items
on the boxes in the Fellowship Room.

FINANCES
Actual expenses thru 3/19/2023 $35,401.63
Giving thru 3/19/2023 $28,181.23
Giving under actual expenses ($7,220.40)

11 Weeks of Budget Expenses $41,974.79
Giving under Budget Expenses ($13,793.56)

Bulletin for the Fifth Sunday in Lent-Jesus began to weep

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