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The First Sunday in Lent

by The Rev. Thomas L. Weitzel
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

GATHERING

Prelude & Silent Prayer

Announcements

Lenten Confession & Forgiveness:

P. In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

C. Amen

P. Father of mercies and God of all consolation, come to the aid of your people, turning us from our sin to live for you alone. Give us the power of your Holy Spirit that we may attend to your Word, confess our sins, receive your forgiveness, and grow into the fullness of your Son Jesus Christ, our Lord and our Redeemer.

C. Amen

P. We are witnesses to all that Jesus did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree. But God raised him on the third day and made him to appear. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name. (Acts 10:39-40,43)

Silence for reflection and self-examination.

P. Almighty God, merciful Father:

C. I, a troubled and penitent sinner, confess to you all my sins and iniquities with which I have offended you and for which I justly deserve your punishment. But I am sorry for them, and repent of them, and pray for your boundless mercy. For the sake of the suffering and death of your Son, Jesus Christ, be gracious and merciful to me, a poor sinful being; forgive my sins, give me your Holy Spirit for the amendment of my sinful life, and bring me to life everlasting. Amen

P. Almighty God in his mercy has given his Son to die for us and, for his sake, forgives us all our sins. Through his Holy Spirit he cleanses us and gives us power to proclaim the mighty deeds of God who called us out of darkness into the splendor of his light. As a called and ordained minister of the Church of Christ and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

C. Amen

Entrance Hymn  "O Lord, Throughout These Forty Days"

Apostolic Greeting

Kyrie (sung)

Prayer of the Day

WORD

First Lesson

Second Lesson

Verse: "Return to the Lord Your God"

Gospel Lesson

Sermon

Hymn of the Day  "Lord, Thee I Love"

The Small Catechism of Martin Luther:

P. In ancient and modern times, Lent has been the time for instruction of candidates preparing for their baptism at the Easter Vigil. At the same time, the whole Church anticipates Easter through acts of repentance and spiritual renewal. It is therefore appropriate that we review the basics of our faith during these Sundays in Lent, so that we all might be renewed by our baptismal covenants and made ready for the celebration of Easter.

P. The First Article of the Apostles' Creed concerns Creation. What does it mean?

C. I believe that God has created me and all that exists. He has given me and still preserves my body and soul with all their powers. He provides me with food and clothing, home and family, daily work, and all I need from day to day. God also protects me in time of danger and guards me from every evil. All this he does out of fatherly and divine goodness and mercy, though I do not deserve it. Therefore I surely ought to thank and praise, serve and obey him. This is most certainly true.

P. The Second Article of the Creed concerns Redemption. What does this mean?

C. I believe that Jesus Christ -- true God, Son of the Father from eternity, and true man, born of the Virgin Mary -- is my Lord. At great cost he has saved and redeemed me, a lost and condemned person. He has freed me from sin, death, and the power of the devil -- not with silver or gold, but with his holy and precious blood and his innocent suffering and death. All this he has done that I may be his own, live under him in his kingdom, and serve him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, just as he is risen from the dead and lives and rules eternally. This is most certainly true.

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P. The Third Article of the Creed concerns Sanctification. What does this mean?

C. I believe that I cannot by my own understanding or effort believe in Jesus Christ my Lord, or come to him. But the Holy Spirit has called me through the Gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, and sanctified and kept me in true faith. In the same way he calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it united with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian church day after day he fully forgives my sins and the sins of all believers. On the last day he will raise me and all the dead and give me and all believers in Christ eternal life. This is most certainly true.

Prayer of the Church

Sharing Our Lord's Peace

MEAL

Offering

Offertory Hymn:
C. (sing) God, whose giving knows no ending, / From your rich and endless store: / Nature's wonder, Jesus' wisdom, / Costly cross, grave's shattered door, / Gifted by you, we turn to you, / Off'ring up ourselves in praise; / Thankful song shall rise forever, / Gracious donor of our days.  (ELW #678:1)

Offertory Prayer: "Blessed are you..."

Great Thanksgiving (sung)

Holy, Holy, Holy

Eucharistic Prayer for Lent (ELW IV, LBW III)

Our Father (sung)  (ELW p.163, LBW p.112)

At the Breaking of Bread:

P. This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Happy are those who are called to his supper.

C. We do not presume to come to your table, O merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in your manifold and great mercies. We are not worthy to gather up the crumbs under your table. But you are the same Lord whose property is always to have mercy. Grant us, therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of your dear Son Jesus Christ, and so to drink his blood, that we may evermore dwell in him and he in us. Amen

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Distribution

     Lamb of God

     Hymn  "In the Hour of Trial"

Post-Communion

Lord, Now You Let

Prayer

SENDING

Benediction & Dismissal

Closing Hymn  "In the Cross of Christ I Glory,"  stanza 1

Postlude