Worship Bulletin for March 14, 2021 Fourth Sunday in

Welcome to our online worship service. Thank you for joining us!

Liturgy means “the work of the people,” and we pray that this “work of the people” is a blessing to you this day.

Our liturgy consists of four sections: the Gathering, the hearing of the Word, sharing of the Meal and the Sending out to share the Good News.

To prepare for during the Meal today, please have ready a piece of bread or a cracker and a serving of wine or juice. GATHERING The Holy Spirit call us together as the people of God. As we prepare for worship today, breathe in and out the peace of God as you watch this video representing where members have seen God in the last month.

PRELUDE VIDEO - ELW #779 “Amazing Grace”

WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS - Pastor Sue Schneider

CONFESSION & FORGIVENESS P: Blessed 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 Christ. Let us return to the one who is full of compassion. (Silence is kept for reflection).

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

P: 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. All: Amen.

GREETING P: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit is with you all. All: And also with you.

KYRIE Eleison is Greek for Lord, Have Mercy. This is not only a plea for forgiveness but also a prayer “in peace” that God continue to love, support, comfort, and sustain us as God always has in the past. Today’s Kyrie comes from ELW Holy Communion Setting Four.

In peace, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy. For the peace from above, and for our , let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy. For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the church of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy. For this holy house, and for all who offer here their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy. Help, save, comfort and defend us, gracious Lord. Amen.

PRAYER OF THE DAY Also known as “the ,” this prayer sums up the theme of the day.

LL: Holy God, through your Son Jesus you have called us to live faithfully and act courageously. Keep us steadfast in your covenant of grace, and teach us the wisdom that comes only through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. All: Amen.

WORD God speaks in scripture reading, preaching, and song in this portion of the liturgy. Lutherans believe that Christ comes to us not only in the words of the Bible, but also in the living Word preached and the Word made visible in Christ-like deeds of love and compassion.

READING – 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. All: Thanks be to God.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION – Return to the Lord, Your God

God loved the world so that he gave his only Son the lost to save, That all who would in Him believe should everlasting life receive.

Christ Jesus is the ground of faith, who was made flesh and suffered death; All who confide in Christ alone are built on this chief cornerstone.

All glory to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Three in One! To you, O blessed Trinity, be praise now and eternally!

GOSPEL - a reading from John 3:14-21 And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. "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. "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. Those 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. And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God."

SERMON – “Look Up and Live”

HYMN OF THE DAY - ELW #768 “Lead Me, Guide Me”

Refrain Lead me, guide me, along the way: For if you lead me, I cannot stray. Lord, let me walk each day with thee, Lead me, O Lord, lead.

I am weak and I need they strength and pow’r To help me over my weakest hour. Help me through the darkness thy face to see. Lead me, O Lord, lead me. Refrain

Help me tread in the paths of righteousness Be my aid when Satan and sin oppress. I am putting all my trust in thee. Lead me, O Lord, lead me. Refrain

I am lost if you take you hand from me, I am blind without they light to see. Lord, just always let me thy servant be, Lead me, O Lord, lead me. Refrain

PRAYERS of the PEOPLE At the conclusion of each petition, the people respond with, “Your mercy is great.”

LL: Hear us, O God. All: Your mercy is great.

SHARING of the PEACE When gathered in person, we take a few minutes at this point in the service to greet each other and offer a sign of peace, whether it be a handshake, a hug, or a wave. You are invited to send in a video of yourself passing the peace to the rest of our community and we’ll add it into this video.

MEAL God feeds us with the presence of Jesus Christ. Lutherans believe in “the real presence” of Christ in communion, so it is more than a memory of a past event or a symbol of a belief. It is a mystery just how Christ is present “in, under, and through” the elements of bread and wine.

OFFERING University Lutheran Church relies on tithes and offerings for its daily operations and ministries. We are grateful to those who are able to give a little extra during this time of financial struggle for many. Additionally, each month we collect a special offering for an organization we believe aligns with the values of God’s economy. In the month of March our Special Offering goes to the Refugee program at Lutheran Community Services Northwest. LCSN equips refugees and immigrants with the skills, resources and support they need to live fulfilling lives--offering mental health counseling in different languages, English lessons, assistance locating places to live and work, and obtaining citizenship. The multicultural staff speaks over 45 different languages, and many are refugees and immigrants themselves. The culturally competent services of LCSN support clients in their transition to a new culture and their recovery from trauma, torture, war, and poverty. To give to ULC, you can mail your to 1604 NE 50th Street, Seattle, WA 98105, or you can donate online by texting GIVE to 1-833-751-1202, connecting you to our secure giving platform.

MUSICAL VIDEO OFFERING - ELW #610 – “Oh Christ, The Healer We Have Come”

OFFERING PRAYER LL: Faithful God, you walk beside us in desert places, and you meet us in our hunger with bread from heaven. Accompany us in this meal, that we may pass over from death to life with Jesus Christ, our Savior. C: Amen.

GREAT THANKSGIVING and EUCHARISTIC PRAYER P: God is with you. All: And also with you. P: Lift up your hearts. All: We lift them to the Lord. P: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. All: It is right to give our thanks and praise.

P: It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, strong and merciful God, through our Savior Jesus Christ. You call your people to cleanse their hearts and prepare with joy for the paschal feast, that, renewed in the gift of baptism, we may come to the fullness of your grace.

Blessed are you, O God of the universe. Your mercy is everlasting and your faithfulness endures from age to age. Praise to you for creating the heavens and the earth. Praise to you for saving the earth from the waters of the flood. Praise to you for bringing the Israelites safely through the sea. Praise to you for leading your people through the wilderness to the land of milk and honey. Praise to you for the words and deeds of Jesus, your anointed one. Praise to you for the death and resurrection of Christ. Praise to you for your Spirit poured out on all nations.

In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me. Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: This cup is the in my , shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me. With this bread and cup we remember our Lord’s passover from death to life as we proclaim : All: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

P: O God of resurrection and new life: Pour out your Holy Spirit on us and on these of bread and wine. Bless this feast. Grace our table with your presence. Come, Holy Spirit. All: Come, Holy Spirit.

P: Reveal yourself to us in the breaking of the bread. Raise us up as the for the world. Breathe new life into us. Send us forth, burning with justice, peace, and love. Come, Holy Spirit. All: Come, Holy Spirit.

P: With your holy ones of all times and places, with the earth and all its creatures, with sun and moon and stars, we praise you, O God, blessed and holy Trinity, now and forever. All: Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER Maori - from The New Zealand Book of Worship

Eternal Spirit, Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver, Source of all that is and that shall be, Father and Mother of us all, Loving God, in whom is heaven: The hallowing of your name echo through the universe! The way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world! Your heavenly will be done by all created beings! Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth. With the bread we need for today, feed us. In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us. In times of temptation and testing, strengthen us. From trials too great to endure, spare us. From the grip of all that is evil, free us. For you reign in the glory of the power that is love, now and forever. Amen.

COMMUNION As the Pastor says, “The Body of Christ, given for you,” please lift up the bread you have prepared. When all are ready, we will eat.

Please lift up the cup you have prepared as the pastor says, “The Blood of Christ, the cup of salvation.” When all are ready, we will drink. POST COMMUNION PRAYER LL: God of steadfast love, at this table you gather your people into one body for the sake of the world. Send us in the power of your Spirit, that our lives bear witness to the love that has made us new in Jesus Christ, our Savior. All: Amen.

SENDING God blesses us and sends us in mission to the world.

BLESSING P: 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. All: Amen.

DISMISSAL LL: Go in peace. Share the good news. All: Thanks be to God.

POSTLUDE - ELW #779 “Amazing Grace” Piano Improvisations by Michael Nutting

WORSHIP PARTICIPANTS LIVE-STREAM TEAM Rev. Sue Schneider, Preacher, Alex Robinson, Production manager Lynn Farrier, Lay Leader David Gipson, Camera Operator Michael Nutting, Pianist Scott Davies Camera Operator

SERVICE CONTENT ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Service Content Reprinted and Streamed under OneLicense.net #A-708336

Prelude & Postlude: Amazing Grace Public Domain Kyrie: ELW Holy Communion Setting Four Reprinted & Streamed under Augsburg Liturgies #SB150477 ULC Cantors: Andy Kopser, Brian Maschhoff, Kristi Maschhoff, Alex Robinson, Daniel Rogers Arranged, Orchestrated and Mixed by Michael Nutting; Video by Alex Robinson Hymn of the Day – Lead Me, Guide Me ELW #768 Text & Music by Doris Akers Tune © 1953, Doris M. Akers All rights administered by Unichappell Music, Inc. Text © 1953, Chappell & Co., represented by Hall Leonard Corporation All rights reserved Reprinted and Streamed under OneLicense.net #A-708836 ULC Singers; Arranged, Orchestrated and Mixed by Michael Nutting; Video by Alex Robinson

Anthem: Oh Christ, The Healer, We Have Come, ELW #6120 Text by Fred Pratt Green; Music by W. Walker Text © 1969 Hope Publishing Company All rights reserved Reprinted and Streamed under OneLicense.net #A-708836 ULC ; Arranged, Orchestrated & Mixed by Michael Nutting Video by Alex Robinson

Communion: I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say, ELW #332 Public Domain

ULC Staff Pastor Susan Schneider, ([email protected]) Mari C. Mitchell, Church Administrator ([email protected]) Michael Nutting, Interim Music Director & Pianist ([email protected]) Alex Robinson, Online Content Manager, Live-Stream Producer ([email protected])

Thank you for joining us today. Learn more about us on our website: UniversityLutheranSeattle.org Find us on Facebook: University Lutheran Church - Seattle on YouTube: University Lutheran Seattle and on Instagram: ulcseattle We choose love.