Passion Saturday

L This is the day which the Lord has made;

C let us rejoice and be glad in it.

L From the rising of the sun to its setting,

C the name of the Lord is to be praised.

L Return to the Lord, your God, for He is gracious and merciful,

C slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and repents of evil.

L Jesus said: If any man would come after Me,

C let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.

L Christ was wounded for our transgressions.

C He was bruised for our iniquities.

L From the rising of the sun to its setting,

C the name of the Lord is to be praised.

C Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit;

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

19 Open to me the gates of righteousness,    that I may enter through them    and give thanks to the LORD.20 This is the gate of the LORD;    the righteous shall enter through it.21 I thank you that you have answered me    and have become my salvation.22 The stone that the builders rejected    has become the cornerstone.23 This is the LORD's doing;    it is marvelous in our eyes.24 This is the day that the LORD has made;    let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118

25 Save us, we pray, O LORD!    O LORD, we pray, give us success!26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!    We bless you from the house of the LORD.27 The LORD is God,    and he has made his light to shine upon us.Bind the festal sacrifice with cords,    up to the horns of the altar!28 You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;    you are my God; I will extol you.29 Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;    for his steadfast love endures forever!

L Blessed Lord, You have caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning. Grant that we may so hear them, read, mark, learn, and take them to heart that, by the patience and comfort of Your holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives on reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.

Collect for the Word

Deuteronomy 32:36-3936 For the LORD will vindicate his people    and have compassion on his servants,when he sees that their power is gone    and there is none remaining, bond or free.37 Then he will say, ‘Where are their gods,    the rock in which they took refuge,38 who ate the fat of their sacrifices    and drank the wine of their drink offering?Let them rise up and help you;    let them be your protection!39 “‘See now that I, even I, am he,    and there is no god beside me;I kill and I make alive;    I wound and I heal;    and there is none that can deliver out of my hand.

Philippians 2:5-115 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Please Stand for the Holy GospelJohn 12-13Good vs. Evil – the ruler of the world is cast out

Evil is simply present – no explanation The question is “How will Christ deal with it?”

John 6:70-71 Jesus chose Judas along with the other disciples

Judas is not evil because of Jesus’ neglect – he was shown the same favor as the others

John 13 Judas also had his feet washed

Judas’ betrayal is not due to a lack of love on Jesus’ part

John 13:26-27 Jesus persisted in generosity and love – but this only invoked more intense

resistance

Jesus has complete control and authority Judas left only after Jesus gave him permission

Jesus knew what he was going to do from the beginning, but it was only going to happen when his time had come (John 12:27-28)

John 14:30-31

Judas had been with the disciples but now in John 18:5 he stands with the powers of the world But Jesus still gave the orders (John 18:5-6)

He secured the release of his disciples to keep them safe from the evil one (17:12, 15; 18:9) and only then allowed himself to be taken away

Jesus’ arrest was part of His victory over the world (16:33) He went willingly to reveal his obedient love for the Father

John 18:37

The trial exonerated Jesus who was repeatedly pronounced innocent

It also revealed the guilt of his accusers – the “ruler of this world has been judged” 16:11

The Advocate would prove that the world was guilty of the sin of unbelief and would vindicate Jesus’ claim to righteousness by revealing his unity with God over against the accusations of his detractors (16:7-11; 5:30; 7:24; 8:45-46)

Were the powers of evil able to thwart the will of God? - NO, they did not prevent God’s purposes from being accomplished, Jesus was always in control.

Were God and Christ responsible for the betrayal of Judas? – NO, betrayal comes from the powers of evil – Christ responded again and again with graciousness

Judas chosen as disciple

The devil put betrayal into his heart but Jesus washes his feet

Jesus gave Judas bread but the devil entered his heart

Given the presence of evil (which, again, is not explained but is always present) Christ directed its power toward the accomplishment of God’s saving purposes (the cross and the truth revealed)

3 forms of weaponry used in Christ’s battle and triumph over evil

1. The cross of Jesus reveals God the Father’s love defeats the forces of hatred which the ruler of this world used to extend his dominion

2. Bearing witness to the truth reveals the evil ones falsehood and deceit, which he uses to exert control

1. The trial of Jesus and his execution exposed the duplicity of his adversaries and unmasked the murderous tendencies they tried to hide while revealing Jesus’ innocence and conformity to the will of the Father

3. Finally, the ruler of the world sought to conquer by inflicting death. Jesus was lifted up on a cross to be crucified, but like a grain of wheat which must fall into the earth and die to produce an abundance, so also Jesus’ death brought life/salvation to all who look upon him in faith – His victory over the grave brought life to all who are inflicted by death in this world.

1. You shall have no other gods.

2. You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.

3. Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.

4. Honor your father and your mother.

5. You shall not murder.

6. You shall not commit adultery.

7. You shall not steal.

Ten Commandments

8. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

9. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house.

10. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or

maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your

neighbor.

Ten Commandments

Creed

First ArticleI believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker

of heaven and earth.

Second Article And in Jesus Christ, His 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 into hell.

The third day He rose again from the dead.

He ascended into heaven

and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.

From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.

Third Article I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy Christian Church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting. Amen.

C 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.

Lord's Prayer

Sermon

Prayer of the church 

People loved by God, let us come before our Father’s throne of grace with confidence through our Lord Jesus and, in the power of His Spirit, ask His mercy for all in need.

 

For the holy Church of God throughout the world, that God the almighty Father gather and guide it so that we may worship Him in peace and tranquility, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

 

For our pastors, teachers and all leaders of the Church, and for all the people of God, that they may faithfully fulfill their callings, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

 

For those who do not believe in Christ, that the light of the Holy Spirit may show them the way to salvation, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

 

For those who serve in public office, that God may guide their minds and hearts, so that all of us may live in true peace and freedom, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

 For our armed forces especially John, Bill, Paul, Stephen, Bill, Andrew, Jerad, Matthew, Patrick & Nick, that Christ would protect them and use them to secure peace and justice, and bring them home in safety to their families, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

 For our families and for all the schools of the Church, that the Word of God may guide and govern the lives of our children, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For all who have desired our prayers including Bob Wagenecht and the family of Martin Dykema, that Christ would comfort by His Spirit and set them free from their sorrows, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

 Join our prayers and praises with those of Your faithful people of every time and every place and unite them in the ceaseless petitions of our great High Priest until He comes again in power and great glory as victorious Lord of all. Through Him, with Him and in Him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is Yours, almighty Father, forever and ever! Amen.

 

C I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have graciously kept me this day; and I pray that You would forgive me all my sins where I have done wrong, and graciously keep me this night. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.

Evening Prayer

Blessing

L Let us bless the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

P The almighty and merciful Lord, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, bless and preserve you.

C Amen.

Announcements MIDWEEK BIBLE CLASSES WILL NOT MEET DURING HOLY WEEK

SUNDAY SCHOOL will not meet on Easter Sunday.

EASTER BREAKFAST: Our Junior High Youth will be serving Easter Breakfast from 8:00-9:15 am. If you plan on attending please sign the sheet on the bulletin board so we know approximately how many to prepare for. For those donating food please have it at the church by Friday (Mar. 29). Thank you.

EASTER LILIES: If you’d like to purchase a lily to adorn our sanctuary on Resurrection morning, please sign the sheet on the bulletin board. The cost for a lily is $6.50. Please pay for it in the church office. Thank you!

EASTER CAROLING: Join us this Saturday, March 30th as we go Easter caroling at the nursing homes from 3-4:30pm. There is a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board for all who plan on joining us.

A BENEVOLENCE OFFERING will be taken next Sunday (27th) at the time of our regular offerings. This fund has made a tremendous difference in the lives of many of our St. Peter family. Thank you for your generous support.

CAN YOU HELP? Resthave Auxiliary has asked each church to assume responsibility to furnish about 12 dozen cookies for one month’s activities at the Home. St. Peter’s month for 2013 is APRIL. The signup sheet is on the bulletin board. Thank you!

LUNCH BUNCH: Our March outing will be lunch at Cindy Jean’s in Prophetstown. (Mar.27) We will meet at the church at 11:00 am. There is a signup sheet on the bulletin board. ALSO, MAKE PLANS NOW to join us on Thursday, April 25th, we are going to Circa 21 for lunch and a show starring The Church Basement Ladies in “A Mighty Fortress is Our Basement.” Payment of $40.50 is to be turned into the church office by April 7th to reserve seating . Invite a friend and Come join the fun!

PLEASANT VIEW 13TH ANNUAL EASTER-EGG HUNT…will be held Thursday, March 28th, 4:00 pm at Pleasant View. For more information, please see the poster on the bulletin board.

CONFIRMATION QUESTION: On what page in your Faith Alive Bible do you find our Old Testament reading? What does Zechariah prophesy will happen?

HOLY WEEK SERVICESMaundy Thursday….7:00 pm—The institution of the Lord’s Supper

Good Friday………...7:00 pm—The suffering and death of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

Holy Saturday…5:42 pm—We keep vigil at the tomb & tell the history of God’s people

Easter Sunday…7:00 am—We rejoice at daybreak the tomb is empty death is defeated

...9:30 am—Following breakfast we gather again for a joyful worship