€¦ · Web view14/3/2021 · – Midweek Lenten Worship, video available at Noon on YouTube:

St. John Lutheran Church (ELCA)Mineola, IA

Pastor Luke Kuenzli

Order of Service and Worship TextsFor Virtual and In-person Worship

Adapted from Evangelical Lutheran WorshipSetting 9 and from Sundays & Seasons

March 2021 during COVID-19 pandemic

THIS SUNDAY: March 14, 2021 – Fourth Sunday in Lent 10:30 – In-person Worship with YouTube Live stream

ACCOMPANIST: Barb MassREADER: Susan Carnahan

USHERS: Rob and Susan Simmon

Tues – 1:00 Quilting Mon/Wed/ Fri – Preschool 9:00-11:30Wed – Midweek Lenten Worship, video available at Noon on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6J_1o15jISGMwhTn9JVYiQWed/Thurs – Virtual Communion (times and links below)

NEXT SUNDAY: March 21, 2021 – Fifth Sunday in Lent 10:30 – In-person Worship with YouTube Live stream

Virtual Communion:Wednesdays at 11am: meet.google.com/ixe-mnpg-eej ANDThursdays at 6:30pm: meet.google.com/uwh-pewk-hms ORby other arrangement with Pastor Luke.

If worshipping from home, pick up a prepackaged communion cup/wafer at the North entrance, near the Church office. (or use your own bread and wine/grape juice).

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St. John Lutheran ChurchMineola, Iowa Phone (712) 526-2268Website: stjohnluthchurchmineola.orgPastor Luke Kuenzli

March 14, 2021 10:30amFourth Sunday in Lent

We are called to glorify God, grow in faith,

and build community.Mission Statement

Food DriveThe Women of St. John are having a food drive and collecting

for Mills County Storehouse all through the month of March.

Kid-friendly cereals, canned tuna, chicken, pears, peaches and mixed fruits, dry pastas, toilet paper and feminine hygiene products ALWAYS welcome and needed.

Items will be collected in the shopping cart. Only food items

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6J_1o15jISGMwhTn9JVYiQ

SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION – Virtual and In-Person

Covid-19 Precautions for in-person worship We will require masks be worn while you are in the building (Ages 2 and

up). Refusal to wear a mask will result in your being asked to leave. We will be practicing social distancing of 6 feet. Closed pews are cordoned

off and labelled. Please don’t gather in the hallway or enter any closed spaces. Restrooms will

be limited to single-person/family use at any given time. Those who do not comply with social distancing policies will be asked to leave.

There will not be prolonged singing or unison speaking, communion, or fellowship time. Virtual communion will be held midweek.

We continue to advise (not require) that persons in the vulnerable population groups of 65+ years of age and anyone with underlying medical conditions remain home.

We ask that anyone with any respiratory symptoms (cough, sniffles, sneezing, sore throat) or fever please remain home. You will be asked to leave if you are displaying such symptoms.

We ask that if you are traveling to areas of high virus activity, you remain home for the Sunday following your travels.

Hand sanitizers are located throughout the open areas. Feel free to use them!

Have you been engaging in our Virtual Worship? Do you want this virtual ministry to continue? Would you support such an effort financially?

Council is looking at proposals to upgrade our technology to “transfigure” our current, clunky, temporary set-up into a permanent solution. This would include: - an installed Pan-Tilt-Zoom camera (PTZ 20x HD SDI) - an audio mixing board (Mackie SR32-4-VLZ Pro) - a dedicated livestream processing unit (AJA Helo) - a PC for running the camera and livestream - a new AV Station in the balcony, with wiring run to that locationTotal Cost (mostly labor) is estimated at $16,000. Already at $6,000+ in gifts!

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Evangelical Lutheran Worship (Setting 9) (*Stand)

Prelude Welcome/Announcements

GATHERING

*Confession and ForgivenessBlessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God,the keeper of the covenant,the source of steadfast love,our rock and our redeemer.Amen.

God hears us when we cry, and draws us close in Jesus Christ. Let us return to the one who is full of compassion.Silence is kept for reflection.

Fountain of living water,pour out your mercy over us.Our sin is heavy, and we long to be free.Rebuild what we have ruinedand mend what we have torn.Wash us in your cleansing flood.Make us alive in the Spiritto follow in the way of Jesus,as healers and restorers of the world you so love.Amen.

Beloved, God’s word never fails.The promise rests on grace:by the saving love of Jesus Christ,the wisdom and power of God,your sins are ☩ forgiven, and God remembers them no more.Journey in the way of Jesus.Amen.

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Gathering Hymn “Christ, Be our Light” #715Those at home may sing along.

Those in-person, please listen and meditate on the words as one person sings.

Text and music © 1993 Bernadette Farrell, admin. OCP Publications.

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

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*Kyrie (sung or hummed quietly) p. 193

Salutation The Lord be with you. And also with you.

Prayer of the Day (spoken quietly)O God, rich in mercy, by the humiliation of your Son you lifted up this fallen world and rescued us from the hopelessness of death. Lead us into your light, that all our deeds may reflect your love, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

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WORD

First Reading: A reading from Numbers 21:4-9.4From Mount Hor [the Israelites] set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go

around the land of Edom; but the people became impatient on the way. 5The people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we detest this miserable food.” 6Then the LORD sent poisonous serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many Israelites died. 7The people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned by speaking against the LORD and against you; pray to the LORD to take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. 8And the LORD said to Moses, “Make a poisonous serpent, and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten shall look at it and live.” 9So Moses made a serpent of bronze, and put it upon a pole; and whenever a serpent bit someone, that person would look at the serpent of bronze and live.

...Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God!

Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22 Two lectors read responsively by whole verse.1Give thanks to the LORD, for the LORD is good, for God’s mercy endures forever.2Let the redeemed of the LORD proclaim

that God redeemed them from the hand of the foe, 3gathering them in from the lands;

from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south. …17Some were fools and took rebellious paths; through their sins they were

afflicted.18They loathed all manner of food and drew near to death’s door.19Then in their trouble they cried to the LORD

and you delivered them from their distress . 20You sent forth your word and healed them and rescued them from the grave.21Let them give thanks to you, LORD , for your steadfast love

and your wonderful works for all people. 22Let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving

and tell of your deeds with shouts of joy.

Second Reading: A reading from Ephesians 2:1-101You were dead through the trespasses and sins 2in which you once lived,

following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient. 3All of us once lived among them in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of flesh and

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senses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else. 4But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us 5even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—6and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God—9not the result of works, so that no one may boast. 10For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life. …Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God!

*Lenten Acclamation (sung or hummed quietly)

*Announcement of the Gospel The holy gospel according to John 3:14-21. Glory to you, O Lord.

*The Gospel is proclaimed [Jesus said:] 14“Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. 16“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. 17“Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. 20For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. 21But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their

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deeds have been done in God.” … The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon Pastor Luke Kuenzli

Some of you have already watched the Wednesday worship video for our

third week of Lent. If so, you already hear Pastor Mike Kroona’s brief take on the

passage of scripture from Numbers 21. Snakes – things we generally detest and

fear, now raised up as the very solution to the snakebites that are causing death

among the Israelites. “So Moses [according to God’s Word,] made a serpent of

bronze, and put it upon a pole; and whenever a serpent bit someone, that person

would look at the serpent of bronze and live.

Jesus makes reference to this ancient story of Israel when he begins teaching

Nicodemus about the nature of the salvation brought by the Son of Man. At the

beginning of John’s third chapter, Nicodemus, a leader among the Pharisees, had

come to Jesus by night, proclaimed Jesus to be sent from God, and sought

clarification on Jesus’ statement that one must be “born again” or “born from

above.”

There is a parallel drawn, in Jesus’ teaching, between the serpent lifted up in

the wilderness, and the Son of Man being lifted up on the cross. This seems a little

bit strange, at first glance. Serpents, through the entire Hebrew history going back

to Genesis 3, are associated with sin and evil. So why would Jesus compare his

death by crucifixion – a death which brought us salvation – to that story of

punishment for the Israelites having sinned against God by their grumbling

ingratitude? They were so upset that they couldn’t even get their arguments

straight! “There’s no food or water, and the food is gross!” Well, which was it? No

food, or just boredom with the single-meal menu of manna and quail? The people

had become too inwardly focused, concerned more about what they could taste

here and now than with the future unto which God was leading them.

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I confess that I believe this to be a relevant criticism in our own lives, as

well. We, like the ancient Hebrew people on their 40-year long journey through the

wilderness, often lose our focus on the future into which God is calling the Church,

into which God is leading the World, into which God invites each Christian. It is a

future full of promise! Jesus names this promise as “eternal life,” and says that this

is why the Son was sent in the first place – to save the world from its own

judgement, brought about by its own unbelief.

I think Jesus may have been looking Nicodemus directly in the eye when he

said his bit about truth being revealed in the light of day, not in the night’s deep

darkness. He seems to be saying “Nicodemus, if you really believed in what I was

doing, you wouldn’t come under the cover of night… you’d come openly. But you

fear what the other Pharisees and leaders will think, so you come in the darkness to

hide your actions.”

As a parent with young children, I get so frustrated by the seemingly

inherent ability that children develop early on to try to hide the truth. “Hey kids,

why is there half a tube of toothpaste squirted on the bathroom wall?” Silence. “Let

me remind you that if you do something wrong, you may get into trouble. But if

you do something wrong and then lie about it, you get into trouble twice. So…

who wants to tell me about the toothpaste?” Then, I usually get an answer, or at

least the beginnings of one.

Jesus teaches Nicodemus, and us, that we have to be able to confront our

own wrongdoing. This is what the story of Moses and the bronze serpent means, as

I read it. The Israelites sinned against God and Moses, and God sent poisonous

serpents among the people punishment. They were bitten, and they died, so they

cried in sorrow to God, begging for mercy, begging God to remove the snakes. But

God let the snakes remain, and provided a different solution – look at the bronze

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serpent, a symbol for the results of your actions, look at the effects your words

have on the whole community. Only then can you find healing.

You see, the nature of sin is insidious. It insinuates itself into our souls, our

societies, our systems of being, in such a way that our sins do not only harm us, but

also the people around us. Whether this story of serpents literally happened, or

whether it is a metaphorical representation of sin’s relationship with cause and

effect, it makes some kind of sense. Without seeing how our own actions and

words and ways cause harm, we cannot accept the healing God provides.

Because we don’t want to face our wrongdoing, because we don’t want to

confess our sin, because we’d rather just move on from the pain of whatever

happened before, we prefer the darkness of selective amnesia to the light of truth.

We love the darkness rather than the light. But for the ancient Israelites, looking

upon the raised bronze serpent meant acknowledging why the serpents were there

in the first place – because of their sin. For Christians, looking to the cross and to

Christ’s body hanging there means to acknowledge that it was for the brokenness

of humanity’s ways that Jesus came, to save us from ourselves, from our fears,

from our unbelief.

In The Book of Joy, narrator Douglas Abrams notes that psychologists have

discovered that the human stress response, created to help us in times of danger, is

often overactivated in the modern human. This causes early cellular aging,

meaning that our constant feelings of stress and anxiety produced by our social

ambition to get more, have more, be more… actually makes us physically sick and

can cause early deaths. But when we reframe our thoughts from “threat stress” to

“challenge stress,” we are actually helping our brains and bodies adapt and grow.

This transition is often achieved by simply noticing the physical responses of

stress, such as increased heart rate, pulsing blood, tingling hands and face, tension,

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rapid breathing, and so on, and then remembering that these are natural responses

helping our body to rise to the challenge. (pp.98-99)

Seeing a threat (the poisonous snake) as a challenge (to confront one’s own

sin with honesty) can free us from our fear of judgement – whether self-judgement

or that of our neighbors and friends, or even that of God – so that we can grow into

the promise of God’s mercy, grace, and steadfast love, and live as we were created

to live, as bearers of God’s good image and workers of God’s good will. We must

confront the pain of reality, and our own role in causing pain, in order to find

healing.

I was also interested by the discussion of what Archbishop Desmond Tutu

and the Dalai Lama decided to call the “eight pillars of joy,” the positive thoughts

and feelings that enable people to face and overcome the negative emotions of life.

Accepting the struggles of life, one’s mortality, the world’s suffering – is only one

small part of the battle against apathy and despair. The much harder part is filling

ourselves – heart, mind, and soul – with the aspects of life that allow us to live with

joy. They name these eight pillars of joy as: perspective, humility, humor, and

acceptance (qualities of the mind); and forgiveness, gratitude, compassion, and

generosity (qualities of the heart).

It should be made clear that these eight pillars of joy are not a path or a way

to obtain a joy that one is seeking. “If you set out and say, I want to be happy,

clenching your teeth with determination, this is the quickest way of missing the

bus,” (p. 193) said Archbishop Tutu, “…joy is a by-product.”

As Jesus speaks about his own death, his being lifted up on the cross,

perhaps several of these eight pillars are applicable. On the matter of perspective,

we can look to the tragedy of Jesus’ crucifixion and death, but we can also look to

the reason he himself says he was sent: in love, for the salvation of the whole

world. A widened perspective allows us to accept (another pillar) the reality of

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Jesus’ sacrifice for us and for all our neighbors, even the ones with whom we

disagree on many things. This humbles us (another pillar of joy) as we realize that

we are not particularly special among humankind… God loves every person with

an unconditional love! The cross is there to see for all who will look upon it, as

was the serpent on the pole for the Israelites. If you are snake-bitten with sin and

suffering, then look upon the cross, and live.

This cross is for our salvation; this Christ who died did so for us in order that

we might be forgiven (a pillar of joy), and he teaches us and calls us to forgive

others as we have been forgiven. We are taught to show gratitude (another pillar)

for his sacrifice of body and blood, broken and shed for us, in the Great

Thanksgiving, and through lives of faith in God’s promises, we respond to God’s

compassion (yet another pillar) by spreading it and by living generously (the final

pillar of joy) as we were created to live, doing good works.

Just as these eight pillars cannot lead you to joy if joy is what you are

seeking, I am convinced that the eternal salvation that Christ gives cannot be

gained by human efforts to become saved. Rather, that eternal salvation, like joy, is

a by-product of something that already innately dwells within each and every one

of us, the imago Dei, the image of God. When we look to the cross, we see our

suffering, our death, our sin, yes – and we see God’s infinite grace, which breaks

our bondage to broken ways and sets us free to live in fervent faith that we are

forgiven, loved, saved by a forgiving, loving, saving God.

If we truly believe that this God is good, and that this God is for us, then

what use is there in hiding the painful realities of life, in attempting to cover up our

failures, our past, our sins. Bring yourself – all of yourself, the beauty and the

brokenness - into the light of God’s love, where you will better be able to see

yourself as God already does, as one who was dead in trespasses, but now is alive

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in Christ. Give thanks to the LORD, for the LORD is good, for God’s mercy endures

forever. Thanks be to God, indeed, for Christ, who loves us. Amen.

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Hymn of the Day “Goodness is Stronger Than Evil” #721Those at home may sing along.


Text from An African Prayer Book selected by Desmond Tutu, © 1995 by Desmond Tutu. Used

by permission of Doubleday a div. of Random House, Inc. and Lynn C. Franklin Associates, Ltd.

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Music © 1996 Iona Community, GIA Publications, Inc., exclusive agent. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

*Apostles’ CreedI 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

Relying on the promises of God, we pray boldly for the church, the world, and all in need. A brief silence.

You sent your Son that the world might be saved through him. Inspire the witness of the church throughout the world. Empower missionaries, Bible translators, and ministries of service in your name. Bless our partners in ministry in the Western Iowa Synod and the Mills County Ministerial Association, and our ELCA global partner churches. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

From east to west your steadfast love is shown. Nourish seas and deserts, wilderness areas and cities. Give water to thirsty lands; nurture spring growth that feeds hungry creatures; bless farmers as they prepare for the growing season. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

You sustained your people in the wilderness. Give courage to all who lead in times of crisis and scarce resources. We pray for Glenwood School District and Superintendent Devin Embray and the school board, for their continued wisdom during this time of pandemic. Prosper the work of those who aid victims of famine, drought, and war. Bring peace in places where scarce resources cause violence. We pray especially for the people of Yemen and Myanmar. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

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Your mercy endures forever. Deliver all who cry to you, especially those who are hungry or without homes. Give life in places where death seems triumphant; give healing to those who are sick and comfort to those who mourn. We pray especially for: Calvin Deitchler, the family of Irene Neilsen on her death, Eileen Fleming, Fred Techau, Terry Tedder, Landon Angeroth, . Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

By grace we have been saved. Fill this congregation to overflowing with that grace, that we show mercy to others. Nourish any in our midst who are hungry, especially children, and bless our ministries of feeding and shelter. Give us patience and courage when the way seems long. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

Your Son was lifted up that whoever believes might have eternal life. We praise you for all who have died in Christ. Bring us with all the saints into the fullness of your promises. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

We entrust ourselves and all our prayers to you, O faithful God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Sharing of the PeaceThe peace of the Lord be with you all. And also with you.Please greet one another with a socially distanced sign of Christ’s Peace.

THANKSGIVING

Thanksgiving for the Word

Gracious God, who has named and claimed us, calling us your beloved children, you know the secrets of our hearts. When we sin and stray from your paths, you astound us with your saving grace. For this Word of life, we give you thanks. Loving Jesus, living Word, in you the kingdom of God has come near; through you all that was lost has been found. Help us to boldly follow wherever you may lead, trusting your promise that we need not fear, for you are with us. For this Word of life, we give you thanks.

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Holy Spirit, the mystery in which we dwell, into our scarcity, your abundance flows. Enliven all communities with your good news. Guide us to love and serve Jesus,giving ourselves away for the sake of the world.For this Word of life, we give you thanks. All glory to you, holy God, now and forever. Amen.

Lord’s PrayerGathered together by the Holy Spirit, we pray as Jesus taught us: (spoken

quietly)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.

SendingBLESSING

You are what God made you to be: created in Christ Jesus for good works,chosen as holy and beloved, freed to serve your neighbor.

God bless you ☩ that you may be a blessing,in the name of the holy and life-giving Trinity. Amen.

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Sending Song “Christ, the Life of All the Living” #339Those at home may sing along.


Dismissal Go in peace. Share the good news. Thanks be to God.

Scripture quotations from New Revised Standard Version Bible, © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved

worldwide.

Service adapted from Evangelical Lutheran Worship © 2006. All rights reserved.And/or from Sundays and Seasons.com. © 2021 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.

Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #46263.

“Christ, Be Our Light” Text and music © 1993 Bernadette Farrell, admin. OCP Publications. Used by permission from ONE LICENSE, License #731513-A. All rights reserved.

Permission to stream music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE, License #731513-A. All rights reserved.

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Documents

€¦ · Web view14/3/2021 · – Midweek Lenten Worship, video available at Noon on YouTube: