Sunday, February 28, 2016Parable of the Tenants3rd Sunday in LentService of the Word

THANKSGIVING FOR BAPTISMBlessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God, the fountain of living water, the rock who gave us birth, our light and our salvation.Amen.

Joined to Christ in the waters of baptism, we are clothed with God's mercy and forgiveness.Let us give thanks for the gift of baptism.

We give you thanks, O God, for in the beginning your Spirit moved over the waters and by your Word you created the world, calling forth life in which you took delight.

Through the waters of the flood you delivered Noah and his family.Through the sea you led your people Israel from slavery into freedom.At the river your Son was baptized by John and anointed with the Holy Spirit.

By water and your Word you claim us as daughters and sons, making us heirs of your promise and servants of all.

We praise you for the gift of water that sustains life, and above all we praise you for the gift of new life in Jesus Christ. Shower us with your Spirit, and renew our lives with your forgiveness, grace, and love. To you be given honor and praise through Jesus Christ our Lord in the unity of the Holy Spirit, now and forever.  Amen.

PEACEThe peace of Christ be with you always.And also with you.

GATHERING SONG: THE GATHERED SHALL CHOOSE! 

GREETINGThe 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.

KYRIE (Red Hymnal p. 213)Kyrie eleison: Lord, have mercy.Christe eleison: Christ, have mercy.Kyrie eleison: Lord, have mercy.

CANTICLE OF PRAISE (Red Hymnal p. 213)

Glory to God, glory to God,glory to God in the highest;glory to God, glory to God,and peace to God’s people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King,almighty God and Father,we worship you,we give you thanks,we praise you for your glory.

Glory to God, glory to God,glory to God in the highest;glory to God, glory to God,and peace to God’s people on earth.

Lord Jesus Christ,only Son of the Father,Lord God, Lamb of God,you take away the sin of the world:have mercy on us;you are seated at the right hand of the Father:receive our prayer.

Glory to God, glory to God,glory to God in the highest;glory to God, glory to God,and peace to God’s people on earth.

For you alone are the Holy One,you alone are the Lord,you alone are the Most High,Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit,in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Glory to God, glory to God,glory to God in the highest;glory to God, glory to God,and peace to God’s people on earth,and peace to God’s people on earth.

PRAYER OF THE DAYLet us pray. Creative & creating one, C: Let your words challenge us, engaging our imaginations in a revolutionary story that reshapes our understanding of the reality around us revealed to us through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.Amen.

FIRST READING: Philippians 3:4b-14A reading from Philippians.

4If anyone else has reason to be confident in the flesh, I have more: 5circumcised on the eighth day, a member of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.

7Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. 8More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith.

10I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, 11if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead.12Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.

13Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.

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

PSALM: Psalm 86:8-13There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours.

All the nations you have made shall come and bow down before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name.

For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God.

Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart to revere your name.

I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever.

For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION – (Red Hymnal p. 216)

Return to the Lord, your God,return to the Lord, your God,who is gracious and merciful,slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.

GOSPEL: Mark 12:1-17The holy gospel according to Mark.Glory to you, O Lord.

1Then he began to speak to them in parables. "A man planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a pit for the wine press, and built a watchtower; then he leased it to tenants and went to another country. 2When the season came, he sent a slave to the tenants to collect from them his share of the produce of the vineyard. 

3But they seized him, and beat him, and sent him away empty-handed. 4And again he sent another slave to them; this one they beat over the head and insulted. 5Then he sent another, and that one they killed. And so it was with many others; some they beat, and others they killed. 6He had still one other, a beloved son. Finally he sent him to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.' 

7But those tenants said to one another, 'This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.' 8So they seized him, killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard. 9What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenants and give the vineyard to others. 10Have you not read this scripture:

 'The stone that the builders rejected  has become the keystone; 11this was the Lord's doing,  and it is amazing in our eyes'?"12When they realized that he had told this parable against them, they wanted to arrest him, but they feared the crowd. So they left him and went away.

13Then they sent to him some Pharisees and some Herodians to trap him in what he said. 14And they came and said to him, "Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality, but teach the way of God in accordance with truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not? 15Should we pay them, or should we not?" 

But knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, "Why are you putting me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me see it." 16And they brought one. Then he said to them, "Whose head is this, and whose title?" They answered, "The emperor's." 17Jesus said to them, "Give to the emperor the things that are the emperor's, and to God the things that are God's." And they were utterly amazed at him.

The gospel of the Lord.Praise to you, O Christ.

SERMONPastor Michael Peuse

HYMN OF THE DAY Take My Life, That I May Be (Red Hymnal # 685)

1 Take my life, that I may beconsecrated, Lord, to thee;take my moments and my days;let them flow in ceaseless praise.

2 Take my hands and let them moveat the impulse of thy love;take my feet and let them beswift and beautiful for thee.

3 Take my voice and let me singalways, only, for my King;take my lips and let them befilled with messages from thee.

4 Take my silver and my gold,not a mite would I withhold;take my intellect and useev'ry pow'r as thou shall choose.

5 Take my will and make it thine,it shall be no longer mine.Take my heart, it is thine own,it shall be thy royal throne.

6 Take my love; my Lord, I pourat thy feet its treasure store;take myself, and I will beever, only, if all for thee.

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

INTERCESSORY RESPONSE: O Lord, Hear My Prayer (Red Hymnal # 751)

O Lord, hear my prayer,O Lord, hear my prayer:when I call, answer me.O Lord, hear my prayer,O Lord, hear my prayer:come and listen to me.

CANTICLE OF THANKSGIVING (Red Hymnal p. 219)

Salvation belongs to our God and to Christ the Lamb forever and ever.Great and wonderful are your deeds, O God of the universe; just and true are your ways, O Ruler of all the nations. Who can fail to honor you, Lord, and sing the glory of your name? Salvation belongs to our God and to Christ the Lamb forever and ever. For you alone are the Holy One, and blessed is the one whose name is the Word of God. All praise and thanks to you, holy God! Salvation belongs to our God and to Christ the Lamb forever and ever.

THANKSGIVING FOR THE WORD

Let us pray.Praise and thanks to you, holy God, for by your Word you made all things: you spoke light into darkness, called forth beauty from chaos, and brought life into being. For your Word of life, O God,we give you thanks and praise.

By your Word you called your people Israel to tell of your wonderful gifts: freedom from captivity, water on the desert journey, a pathway home from exile, wisdom for life with you. For your Word of life, O God,we give you thanks and praise.

Through Jesus, your Word made flesh, you speak to us and call us to witness: forgiveness through the cross, life to those entombed by death, the way of your self-giving love. For your Word of life, O God,we give you thanks and praise.

Send your Spirit of truth, O God; rekindle your gifts within us: renew our faith, increase our hope, and deepen our love, for the sake of a world in need. Faithful to your Word, O God, draw near to all who call on you; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory forever.Amen.

LORD’S PRAYERLord, remember us in your kingdomand teach us to pray.

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.

BLESSINGMay God direct your ways in peace, make you abound in love for one another and for all, and strengthen your hearts until the coming of our Lord Jesus. Almighty God, Father, ☩ Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever.Amen.

SENDING SONG Lord, Take My Hand and Lead Me (Red Hymnal # 767)

1 Lord, take my hand and lead meupon life's way;direct, protect, and feed mefrom day to day.Without your grace and favorI go astray;so take my hand, O Savior,and lead the way.

2 Lord, when the tempest rages,I need not fear;for you, the Rock of Ages,are always near.Close by your side abiding,I fear no foe,for when your hand is guiding,in peace I go.

3 Lord, when the shadows lengthenand night has come,I know that you will strengthenmy steps toward home,then nothing can impede me,O blessed Friend!So, take my hand and lead meunto the end.

DISMISSALGo in peace. Christ is with you.Thanks be to God.

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