St. Paul’s Lutheran Church
Alliance, Ohio
Sunday, March 17, 2024
9:30 AM
PRELUDE Contemplation Felix Mendelssohn
Confession and Forgiveness
All may make the sign of the cross, the sign
that is marked at baptism, as the presiding minister begins.
Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God,
who writes the law on our hearts,
who draws all people together through Jesus.
Amen.
Held in God’s mercy, let us confess our sin
in the presence of God and of one another.
Silence is kept for reflection.
Holy God,
we confess that we are caught in snares of sin
and cannot break free.
We hoard resources while our neighbors
are hungry and cold.
We speak in ways that silence others.
We are silent when we should speak up.
We keep score in our hearts.
We let hurts grow into hatred.
For all these things and for sins only you know,
forgive us, Lord.
Amen.
Here is a flood of grace:
Out of love for the whole world,
God draws near to us,
breaks every snare of sin,
washes away our wrongs,
and restores the promise of life
through Jesus Christ.
Amen.
HYMN In the Cross of Christ I Glory #324
GREETING
The grace of our Lord, Jesus
Christ, the love of God, and communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. And
also with you.
KYRIE
PRAYER OF THE DAY, CHIldren’s Sermon
First Reading: Jeremiah 31:31-34
31The days are
surely coming, says the Lord,
when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of
Judah. 32It will not
be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the
hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt—a covenant that they broke, though
I was their husband, says the Lord. 33But this is the covenant
that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and
I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my
people. 34No longer
shall they teach one another, or say to each other, “Know the Lord,” for they shall all know me, from
the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their
sin no more.
The Word of the
Lord. Thanks be to God.
Psalm 51:1-12
1Have mercy on me, O God, according to your | steadfast love; in
your great compassion blot
out | my offenses.
2Wash me through and
through | from my wickedness, and cleanse me | from my sin.
3For I know | my offenses, and my
sin is ever before me.
4Against you only have I
sinned and done what is evil | in your sight;
so you are justified when you speak and right | in your
judgment.
5Indeed, I was born | steeped in
wickedness, a sinner from my | mother’s womb.
6Indeed, you delight in
truth | deep within me, and would have me know wisdom | deep
within.
7Remove my sins with
hyssop, and I | shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be purer than snow.
8Let me hear | joy and gladness;
that the body you have broken | may rejoice.
9Hide your face | from my sins, and
blot out | all my wickedness.
10Create in me a
clean | heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
11Cast me not away | from your presence,
and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
12Restore to me the joy
of | your salvation and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit.
Second Reading: Hebrews 5:5-10
5Christ did
not glorify himself in becoming a high priest, but was appointed by the one who
said to him, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”; 6as he says also in
another place, “You are a priest forever, according to the order of
Melchizedek.” 7In the days
of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and
tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because
of his reverent submission. 8Although he was a Son, he learned obedience
through what he suffered; 9and having been made perfect, he became the
source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, 10having been designated by
God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.
The Word of the
Lord. Thanks be to God.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Gospel: John 12:20-33
The Holy Gospel, according to Saint John, the 12th chapter. Glory to you, O Lord.
20Now among
those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. 21They came to Philip, who
was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see
Jesus.” 22Philip went
and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23Jesus answered them, “The
hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24Very truly, I tell you,
unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single
grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25Those who love their life
lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal
life. 26Whoever
serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also.
Whoever serves me, the Father will honor. 27“Now my soul is troubled. And what should
I say—‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it is for this reason that I have
come to this hour. 28Father,
glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I
will glorify it again.” 29The crowd standing there heard it and said that
it was thunder. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” 30Jesus answered, “This
voice has come for your sake, not for mine. 31Now is the judgment of
this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. 32And I, when I am lifted
up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33He said this to indicate
the kind of death he was to die
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
SERMON
HYMN My Faith Looks up to Thee #759
APOSTLES
CREED
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of
heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the
forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and
the life everlasting. Amen
Prayers of Intercession, PEACE,
OFFERING, special music
COMMUNION PRAYER
LORD'S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen
DISTRIBUTION OF COMMUNION
HYMN Abide With Me #629
PRAYER, BLESSING
HYMN Lord Dismiss Us with Your Blessing #545
DISMISSAL
POSTLUDE A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth Ralph Schultz
