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

ACCOMPANIST: Barb MassREADER: Gretchen Jopp

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 28, 2021 – Sixth 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 21, 2021 10:30amFifth 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

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 $8,000+ 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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SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION – Virtual and In-Person

Gathering Hymn “Now the Green Blade Rises” #379Those at home may sing along.

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

Text from Oxford Book of Carols, © Oxford University Press 1928. All rights reserved.

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, with steadfast love you draw us to yourself, and in mercy you receive our prayers. Strengthen us to bring forth the fruits of the Spirit, that through life and death we may live in your Son, 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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SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION – Virtual and In-Person

WORD

First Reading: A reading from 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.

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

Psalm 51:1-12 Two lectors read responsively by whole verse.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. 

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Second Reading: A reading from Hebrews 5:5-105Christ 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.

…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 12:20-33. Glory to you, O Lord.

*The Gospel is proclaimed 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

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SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION – Virtual and In-Person

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 guest preacher CeCe Mickells

This is the fifth Sunday of Lent. A season where we especially remember

and reflect on Jesus’s suffering and death. Today’s Gospel message certainly has

hit the theme. There are so many messages in this Gospel reading such as:

The light;

The grain of wheat;

Everyone wants to see Jesus;

Death and Resurrection.

I could find many things to talk about but today I will be focusing our

attention on: “I want to see Jesus” and dying to self.

Imagine being Phillip and Andrew who are Jesus’s apostles. A few Greeks

who have heard about Jesus and have come to hear what he has to say come and

want to see Jesus because everyone is following Him. The disciples are excited.

In the New Testament world, there were little pockets of Gentiles- These Greeks

and Romans became attracted to the religion of Israel. In this time, the word see

meant to talk, visit, and make his acquaintance. Phillip does not know what to do

so he goes to find Andrew who has the reputation of introducing people to Jesus.

They both go to find Jesus to let him know that people want to see him. These

Greeks are outsiders, so they are looking for and introduction. They were most

likely drawn to Phillip because he had a Greek name and named after the founder

of the city Philippi. After that, it was the last we heard about the Greeks as Jesus

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goes on to teach about the grain of wheat and they possibly did not want to hear

Jesus talk about death.

This text is one of those that I think if we read it carefully, like the disciples,

we can get confused by Jesus. Jesus starts talking about death. I can feel for the

disciples, as they are so happy that the word of Jesus is circulating around the

region and many want to meet him. But, does Jesus do as what we expect. NO!

He is ready to move on from this world so he just ignored the outsiders. He

wanted his disciples and people to be open to knowing that there is something

bigger going on here. I strongly believe that to see Jesus we must remember that

he was there to teach, instruct and correct people.

HOW?!!!!! BY LETTING, THEM KNOW THAT GOD HAD BIGGER

PLANS FOR JESUS!!!

I used to always get confused when theologians had conversations about

dying in Christ.

Jesus explained the significance of His death as to release his life in others.

We just heard in the Gospel reading, “Truly, truly I say to you, unless a grain of

wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone, but it dies, it bears fruit.”

Jesus uses a paradox to explain this. A paradox is something that contradicts

itself. “The seed must die, if it is to bear fruit.

Christ speaks of Himself as a grain of wheat that is a seed.

Christ had to be planted in the earth. He had to die and be buried to DIE.

If Jesus would have skipped the process of dying by the way of the cross and

tomb we would be lost like dead seeds that would not sprout even when

planted.

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SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION – Virtual and In-Person

Jesus did die, was buried and raised on the third day. Therefore, as Rev.

Andrew Eckert says, “The Grain of Seed, Christ our Lord, has sprouted and sprung

up to life overflowing to us.” HOW POWERFUL!!

To parallel that, think of it as grain that is used in bread. The grain sprouted

up and is harvested and used to make bread. Think of this. The Bread of life at

the altar. Grains that are united with the Body of the Son of God. Our

Communion

WE TOO LIKE CHRIST MUST DIE TO SELF. If we die to something, we

can produce much fruit. In life, we have spiritual and emotional deaths like:

Relationships

Marriage

Hopes

Careers

Health

Beliefs

Dreams

Life

We see dying to self in all these ways.

We do not like to talk about death much in our culture. A lot of us just do

not like to think about it. However, death is real. In addition, we need to reflect on

and learn the lesson that Jesus taught us about the grain of wheat.

I see it in my marriage... I love my husband Tony and will always love him.

Throughout our marriage, it has felt like death in some ways because of having to

let go of things, our dreams, his health and independence, and hopes. My

husband was diagnosed with MS in 1997. He stayed at home until 2001 and has

been in a nursing home ever since. Marriages take work, wisdom, and

understanding. One needs to die to self in order to serve others. It is to make the

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conscious choice to understand that God created us for a reason. Moreover, to

know whom you are and how God can use you. God wants us to live a joyful life

even in tragic situations. This can be hard to do but as people of God, we must

always remember that resurrection is always hidden within death. So, what Tony

and I had to say is, not our will, God, but yours. We rose up from this terrible

diagnosis and have had bloomed where we are planted. On Monday after one year

of this virus, I will get to hug Tony! What a joyful and glorious moment that will

be.

Today’s message is all about letting go of things- loved ones, dreams, hopes

and beliefs. We are called to grow and be more in touch with God and become a

much fuller, complete person.

In conclusion, we are called to be like Phillip and Andrew- we are to speak

our faith, trust in the Lord and lead others to Christ, who has come to draw all

people, including you and me, to himself.

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SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION – Virtual and In-Person

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

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

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

Used by permission.

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*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 wash us through and through and remember our sin no more. Make your

church a community of forgiveness throughout the world. Give your people courage to forgive; through them show the world new possibilities. Bless ministries of repentance and reconciliation. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

You fill the earth—from tiny grains of wheat to the mighty thunder—with your presence, and you call us to attend to your will for all creation. Grant weather that prepares the soil for seeds; protect all from violent storms, flooding, and wildfires. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

You promise to write your law on our hearts. Guide citizens throughout the world to shape communities that reflect your mercy, justice, and peace, and give them creativity to work for the welfare of all. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

You sustain us with your bountiful Spirit. Restore the joy of all who need to know your presence: those who are lonely or feel unforgivable, those who need healing of mind or body, those who are dying, and all who grieve. We pray especially for: Calvin Deitchler, Fred Techau, Tom Sperling, Giselle Roenfeld, Eileen Fleming, Landon Angeroth, Barbara Scheel, thanksgiving for baby Evelyn Diane born to Sarah and Caleb (great-granddaughter of Diane Williams)

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SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION – Virtual and In-Person

. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

Jesus calls us to follow him in life and death. Empower this congregation in discipleship. Equip children and teachers of the faith in every home. Give us your truth and wisdom and teach us to follow Jesus through every aspect of life. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

In the cross of Christ, your name is glorified. We praise you for those who have given us words to worship you. With all those who have died in Christ, bring us into life everlasting. 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.

THANKSGIVINGThanksgiving 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. 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.

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SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION – Virtual and In-Person

Lord’s Prayer

Gathered 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.

S ENDING

Blessing

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 “Oh, That the Lord Would Guide My Ways” #772Those at home may sing along.

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

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 USA. 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.

“Now the Green Blade Rises” Text from Oxford Book of Carols, © Oxford University Press 1928. All rights reserved. Used by permission from ONE LICENSE, License #731513-A.

“Goodness is Stronger Than Evil” 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. Music © 1996 Iona Community, GIA Publications, Inc., exclusive agent. All rights reserved. Used by permission from ONE LICENSE, License

#731513-A.

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

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