Welcome to Ruthfred Lutheran Church! Member of the Association of Free Lutheran Congregations (www.aflc.org)

We are delighted to have you with us this evening as we gather to worship the Lord Jesus Christ.

If you are visiting today, we are glad you are here! Whether you are visiting from out of town, seeking a new church home, or for any other reason, thank you for choosing to worship with us. We would love to get in touch with you. Please fill out your contact information on the back cover of this bulletin, and place it in the offering basket.

About Us: Since her opening service on Christmas Eve in 1948 and her charter the following year, Ruthfred Lutheran Church has been a congregation rooted in the conviction that the Bible is inspired by God, living and active, capable to produce faith in its hearers, and true and faithful in all its parts. As such, our preaching and teaching aim to be faithful to its correct interpretation and is central to our worship of God.

Our Divine Service, called the “Common Service,” possesses a rich history that stems from the early days of the Lutheran Reformation. It is centered upon God’s Word, and proclaims the realities of God’s abundant grace in Jesus Christ from its start to its close. If this is a new form of worship for you, this bulletin will serve as a welcome companion. The order of service begins on page 3

The Divine Service begins as our musicians begin the Prelude. When the music starts, please quiet your hearts as you prayerfully prepare for worship.

Our cover is a paper cut or scherenschnitte created specially for our church by our very own Kathryn Carr. The artwork will reflect liturgical and Ruthfred-specific themes that occur throughout the year.

2 Contemporary Liturgical Worship Service Saturday, March 20, 2021—5:00 p.m.

PRELUDE Build My Life (Pat Barrett)

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Song: Throne Room Song—People & Songs

Verse 1 Jesus is in this room, here right now, here right now Making this place I stand, holy ground, holy ground

Verse 2 Your Spirit moves and breathes, all around, all around All good and perfect things, flowing down, flowing down

Pre-chorus If all of the heavens are singing along With the saints and the elders in glorious song And the praises they sing never seem to get old Then I'll stay here forever, singing

Chorus Holy Holy Holy Lord, God Almighty over all You were You are, and You'll be forever The King enthroned in glorious splendor, Holy holy Lord

Verse 3 Gentle love calling me, closer still, closer still Jesus You're guiding me to Your will, to Your will

(Pre-chorus)

(Chorus)

Bridge X3 The veil is torn, and the doors fling wide I see glory as I run inside Your throne room, before You, I bow

(Chorus)

Holy Holy Holy Lord, God Almighty over all You were You are, and You'll be forever The King enthroned in glorious splendor You were You are, and You'll be forever The King enthroned in glorious splendor Holy holy Lord

Ending Jesus is in this room Making this place I stand holy ground, holy ground

The Call to Worship / Opening Prayer Pastor (P): We open this service in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Congregation (C): Amen

3 We confess our sins at The Confession of Sin (SBH, p. 15) the beginning of each service, because we are Pastor (P): Beloved in the Lord, let us draw near with a true heart, coming into the presence of a holy and confess our sins unto God our Father, beseeching him, in the God. Though we are Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to grant us forgiveness. sinners who daily struggle with sin , we Our help is in the name of the Lord are invited to come to Him to receive the Congregation (C): Who made heaven and earth. (Psalm 124:8) forgiveness of sin earned for us by Jesus. P: I said, “I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord. Through this C: And Thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. (Psalm 32:5) forgiveness, we are given a right standing P: Let us bow or kneel for the confession of our sin. before a holy God.

Because sin is both Almighty God, our Maker and Redeemer, we poor sinners confess corporate and unto thee, that we are by nature sinful and unclean, and that we personal, we confess have sinned against thee by thought, word, and deed. Wherefore our sins together, and we flee for refuge to thine infinite mercy, seeking and imploring thy privately in the silence of our hearts. grace, for the sake of our Lord, Jesus Christ. (Silent Prayer of Personal Confession) Together: O most merciful God, who hast given thine only-begotten Son to die for us, have mercy upon us, and for his sake grant us remission of all our sins; and by thy Holy Spirit increase in us true knowledge of thee and of thy will, and true obedience to thy Word, that by thy grace we may come to everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Absolution is based upon God’s instruction The Absolution: in Luke 24:47 that P: Almighty God, our heavenly Father, has had mercy upon us, and repentance and the has given his only-begotten son to die for us, and for his sake forgiveness of sins should be widely forgives us all our sins. To those who believe on his name, He gives proclaimed in the name the power to become children of God, and bestows upon them His of Jesus. (See also1 Holy Spirit. The one who believes and is baptized shall be saved. John. 1:9). Grant this O Lord, unto us all. C: Amen

4 Song: Beautiful Scandalous Night—Six Pence None The Richer & Bebo Norman

Verse 1 Go on up to the mountain of mercy, to the crimson perpetual tide Kneel down on the shore. Be thirsty no more Go under and be purified

Verse 2 Follow Christ to the holy mountain. Sinner sorry and wrecked by the fall Cleanse your heart and your soul, in the fountain that flows For you and for me and for all

Chorus At the wonderful tragic mysterious tree On that beautiful scandalous night You and me We’re atoned by His blood, and forever washed white On that beautiful scandalous night

Verse 3 On the hillside you will be delivered, at the foot of the cross justified And your spirit restored, by the river that pours From our blessed Savior's side

(Chorus)

Instrumental

Ah You carried the sin of mankind on Your back And the sky went black

Verse 1 Go on up to the mountain of mercy, to the crimson perpetual tide Kneel down on the shore. Be thirsty no more Go under and be purified

At the wonderful tragic mysterious tree On that beautiful scandalous night You and me We’re atoned by His blood, and forever washed white On that beautiful scandalous night

At the wonderful tragic mysterious tree On that beautiful scandalous night You and me We’re atoned by His blood, and forever washed white On that beautiful scandalous night (Beautiful scandalous) Miraculous night

The Collect: P: The Lord be with you: C: And with thy spirit. P: Let us pray: we beseech you, Almighty God, mercifully to look upon your people, that by your great goodness they may be governed and preserved evermore, both in body and soul; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. C: Amen 5 God’s chief means of The Old Testament Lesson: (NASB) extending His grace to His children is through Genesis 14: 18-20: His Word. Hearing it and learning it are And Melchizedek the king of Salem brought out bread and wine; central to His proper now he was a priest of God Most High. 19 And he blessed him and worship. said, “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; 20 And blessed be God Most High, who has handed over your enemies to you.” And he gave him a tenth of everything.

Jeremiah 31: 31-34: “Behold, days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant which I made with their fathers on the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband 33 to them,” declares the LORD. “For this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the LORD: “I will put My law within them and write it on their heart; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 34 They will not teach again, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares the LORD, “for I will forgive their wrongdoing, and their sin I will no longer remember.” The Psalm: Psalm 119: 9-16 (NASB) P: How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word.

C: With all my heart I have sought You; do not let me wander from Your commandments.

P: I have treasured Your word in my heart, so that I may not sin against You.

C: Blessed are You, Lord; teach me Your statutes.

P: With my lips I have told of all the ordinances of Your mouth.

C: I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, as much as in all riches.

P: I will meditate on Your precepts and regard Your ways.

C: I shall delight in Your statues; I will not forget Your word.

6 The Epistle Lesson: Hebrews 4: 14-5: 10 (NASB) Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let’s hold firmly to our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things just as we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore let’s approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for help at the time of our need. 5 For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of people in things pertaining to God, in order to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins; 2 he can deal gently with the ignorant and misguided, since he himself also is clothed in weakness; 3 and because of it he is obligated to offer sacrifices for sins for himself, as well as for the people. 4 And no one takes the honor for himself, but receives it when he is called by God, just as Aaron also was. 5 So too Christ did not glorify Himself in becoming a high priest, but it was He who said 6 to Him, “YOU ARE MY SON, TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU”; just as He also says in another passage, “YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER ACCORDING 7 TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK.” In the days of His humanity, He offered up both prayers and pleas with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His devout behavior. 8 Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. 9 And having been perfected, He became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey Him, 10 being designated by God as High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

The “Gradual” (Latin for The Gradual: step) is a liturgical reading bridging the Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies. Teach me to do your will. He readings of the epistle and the Gospel. It is delivered me from my enemies; yes, you lifted me up above those comprised of Scripture, that rise up against me. You have delivered me from the violent mostly the Psalms. man. Following the Gradual reading, the congregation shall sing:

The Sentence for Lent Christ hath humbled himself, and become obedient unto death: even the death of the Cross.

7 The Holy Gospel Lesson: Mark 10: 32-34 (NASB) The Congregation shall rise and sing, “Glory be to Thee, O Lord. Now they were on the road going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking on ahead of them; and they were amazed, and those who followed were fearful. And again He took the twelve aside and be- gan to tell them what was going to happen to Him, 33 saying, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and will hand Him over to the Gentiles. 34 And they will mock Him and spit on Him, and flog Him and kill Him; and three days later He will rise from the dead.” The Congregation shall sing, “Praise be to Thee, O Christ.”

The Apostles’ Creed is a The Confession of Faith: The Apostles’ Creed (Confessed in Unison) statement of Christian belief used since the early I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and Earth Church. It’s not specific to any one Christian And In Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, Who was conceived by denomination, but used by the Church as a whole. the Holy Ghost, Born of the Virgin Mary, Suffered under Pontius Pi- We choose to confess it late, Was crucified, dead, and buried: He descended into hell; The together as a unified third day he rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, reminder of what we And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From believe to be true about thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. God, and His caring service to us. And I believe in the Holy Ghost; The Holy Christian Church, the Communion of Saints; The Forgiveness of sins; The Resurrection of the body, And the Life everlasting. Amen. The Announcements

8 Song: How Great Thou Art—Paul Baloche

Verse 1 O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder; Thy pow'r thru'out the universe displayed

Chorus Then sings my soul, My Savior, God to Thee How great Thou art; How great Thou art Then sings my soul, My Savior God to Thee How great Thou art; How great Thou art How great Thou art

Verse 2 And when I think That God, His Son not sparing Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing; He bled and died to take away my sin

(Chorus)

Verse 3 When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation And take me home what joy shall fill my heart Then I shall bow, in humble adoration And there proclaim ‘My God how great Thou art!’

(Chorus)

Ending: How great Thou art; How great Thou art How great Thou art

The Sermon is the central The Sermon: component of our Worship. “Jesus, our Great High Priest” | Hebrews 4: 14—5: 10 In it, we hear God’s word taught and explained. We hear His Law, convicting of The Offertory Response (Sung in Unison; Please Stand) sin and guiding the believ- Create in me a clean heart, O God: and renew a right spirit with- er. We also hear the promis- in me. Cast me not away from your presence: and take not your es of His Gospel, the Good Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of your salvation: News of Christ’s work for us—His redemption, for- and uphold me with your free Spirit. (Psalm 51:10-12) giveness and provision of life eternal.

9 The Closing & Silent Prayer

The Lord’s Prayer (Please bow or kneel in prayer)

10 The Benediction P: May the Lord bless you and keep you. May he make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you May he lift up His countenance upon you and give you His peace. In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. (Numbers 6:24-26) C: Amen Song: At The Cross—Chris Tomlin

Verse 1 There's a place, where mercy reigns, and never dies There's a place, where streams of grace, flow deep and wide Where all the love, I've ever found Comes like a flood, comes flowing down

Chorus At the cross, at the cross, I surrender my life I'm in awe of You, I'm in awe of You Where Your love ran red, and my sin washed white I owe all to You, I owe all to You, Jesus

Verse 2 There's a place, where sin and shame, are powerless Where my heart, has peace with God, and forgiveness Where all the love, I've ever found Comes like a flood, comes flowing down

(Chorus)

Bridge Here, my hope is found, here on holy ground Here I bow down, here I bow down Here, arms open wide, here You saved my life Here I bow down, here I bow (down)

Final Chorus At the cross, at the cross, I surrender my life I'm in awe of You, I'm in awe of You Where Your love ran red, and my sin washed white I owe all to You, I owe all to You I owe all to You, I owe all to You Jesus-Savior of the world. Jesus-Savior of the world Your love ran red. Your love ran red

Postlude: Alive & Breathing—Matt Maher

11 Announcements

The altar flowers are presented by the Klick family in loving memory and remembrance of Stacie Klick on her March 21st birthday. Altar flowers are still available for Sunday, March 28th and many Sundays throughout the year. Sign up today! Known to be hospitalized: Dot Corbett—St. Clair Hospital. Stan Kletch is now at Genesis for rehab. Barb Herrle is now home.

Nursery Today: 8:30—Greta Kelly; 11:00—the nursery is not staffed today. XYZers!!! XYZ is this Friday at 12:00 noon in the fellowship hall. "Voices From The Attic" is the program for this day brought to us by Carleton Young, Author and Lecturer. We will experience the Civil War through the eyes of two soldiers who lived it. Be sure to attend. This promises to be a great event. Of course Peggy Cox has a great lunch planned for you. Easter Flower Orders: Envelopes will be available in the pew racks through March 28th. Please take this opportunity to place a lily or a tulip in memory of or in honor of loved ones to decorate our beautiful sanctuary for Easter. THE COST FOR A TULIP OR LILY IS $11.00. Please be sure to indicate which flower you wish to purchase. Place your dedication on the OUTSIDE of the envelope (don’t forget to put your name on the envelope also) and place your cash/check in the envelope and drop in the collection plate. Community Wide Easter Egg Hunt: Ruthfred will be hosting an outdoor Easter egg hunt, Sunday March 28th 2-4 PM. We will have different egg hunt times for different age groups. Come enjoy games, egg hunts, music, and fun! If you would like to volunteer or donate a bag of candy, contact David Compel. [email protected] Youth Bible Camperships: $100 Bible Camperships are available to our youth attending a Christian camp. All camperships must be approved by Church Council. Deadline to submit an application is Sunday, April 4, 2021 for approval at the April Council meeting. Please place applications in the Council Secretary mail slot in the Conference Room. Meals on Wheels located at Grace Lutheran Church in South Park is in need of bottled salad dressing from now until April 25th. Their preferred purchase places would be Aldi’s or The Dollar Store. Please place these items in the bin outside the kitchen. They are grateful for any donation. If you have any questions, please contact Carol Ward. Paula Mikulan has resigned as Office Manager for our church, effective July 1, 2021. We are so thankful for her excellence in all she does, and for her heart of love for our congregation! Council has put together a search committee for the Office Manager position. All interested applicants may contact Joe Roman, congregational president. A Life Quote from Lutherans For Life—“God controlled your salvation from start to finish. He gave you faith in Baptism and strengthens faith through the Word. You can trust that He will continue to keep control of your life because you rest in the palm of His loving hand. Stand firm because God is in control.” Rev. Peter Sulzle, St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, Redwood Falls, Minnesota - lutheransforlife.org 12 Easter Baskets for our Shut-Ins/Homebound Members Ruthfred’s Women’s Ministry is organizing this annual project on a smaller scale this year. There will be no personal visits when baskets are delivered. They will be handed to someone at the door, dropped off at the door or left at the facility’s front desk. Sign-up sheets for assembly at 9 a.m. (wearing masks and gloves) and pickup/delivery at 10 a.m. on March 27, are on the table at the bottom of the stairs near the South Park Road entrance. They can be delivered any time before Easter. Thank you for your help.

SUGGESTED DONATIONS

NO HOMEMADE ITEMS THIS YEAR - Please choose individually wrapped and/or single servings food items. NOTHING WITH NUTS. Sugar-free items are welcomed. Any unused items will be donated to Meals on Wheels.

Snack crackers Jello cups

100 calorie snacks Fruit cups

Breakfast bars Applesauce

Hot/cold cereal Tea bags

Mini muffins Hot chocolate mix

Cookies Soup packets

Pudding cups Tissue packs Please place items in the collection bin outside the kitchen by Wednesday, March 24. Questions??? Contact Jill Kurtz or Sue Rotz

Happy 92nd Birthday to Gladys Stewart on Sunday, March 28, 2021. Please remember Gladys with birthday wishes and prayers. 13 YOUTH NEWS SWAP (6-8 Grade) There Is SWAP tonight! 6-7:30pm at the Church

TNT (9-12 Grade) TNT will be at the Church on Tuesday night 7-9pm

Spring TNT Retreat (9-12 Grade) May 14 – May 16 we will be having our annual high school retreat at Seneca hills Bible Camp. During this retreat there will be games, a guest speaker, worship, and great food. Additionally, this year we will be utilizing the climbing wall! If you would like for your child to attend, please grab a registration packet outside the youth office.

Summer Trip 2021 (8-12 Grade) In the wake of the cancelation of FLY 2021 the Association Retreat Center (ARC) in Osceola WI has stepped up to offer an option for youth groups looking for an alternative. This event will be taking place June 26 - July 2. Registration is due! Please talk to Brandon immediately if you are planning to go. SAVE THE DATE May 14 – May 16 – 2021 TNT Retreat June 27 – July 2 – 2021 ARC Camp ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Questions/concerns? Contact Brandon Fouks : [email protected] / (c) (715)-781-6063

TODAY in the Adult Sunday School Classroom During the S.S. hour TODAY, we will be having a video recap, which David Compel has made from the beginning days of the Covid-19 closures. You may remember that March 15th 2020 was the first Sunday in which we closed our sanctuary for the worship services, but immediately began posting the service online. At first the service was recorded and posted, then we moved to livestreaming which started on Easter Sunday! Come and enjoy the video of the “behind the scenes” efforts to make all of this possible! Praise the Lord for all that He has brought us through this past year, and how He has grown the ministry at Ruthfred through this season! Next Sunday In Large Classroom Pastor McMinn continues his 10-week series... "YOU shall teach them diligently to YOUR children" (Deut. 6:7): Today in the Upper Room Eric Wente continues his series… Faith Lessons: By weaving together the Bible’s fascinating historical, cultural, religious and geographical contexts, teacher and historian Ray Vander Laan reveals unique insights into the Scriptures’ significance for modern believers. Filmed on location in Israel, these illuminating ‘”faith lessons: afford a new understanding of the Bible that will ground your convictions and strengthen your faith! All are welcome to join us on this journey to the Holy Land. 14 This Week At Ruthfred Prayer Requests

Today (3/21) Please use this space to let the 8:30 a.m.—Worship Service pastors, elders and/or church 9:45 a.m.—Sunday School know of your prayer needs. 11:00 a.m.—Worship Service ______Monday (3/22) 9:30 a.m.—JTTW Leaders Meeting ______Tuesday (3/23) 4:00 p.m.—Sr. Confirmation Class ______7:00 p.m.—Worship Team ______Wednesday (3/24) 9:45 a.m.—JTTW ______2:00 p.m.—Lenten Service 5:45 p.m.—Children’s Choir ______6:00-7:00 p.m.—Soup & Sandwich Supper 6:15 p.m.—Jr. & Sr. Confirmation Classes ______6:30 p.m.—Bell Choir 7:00 p.m.—Senior Choir ______7:30 p.m.—Lenten Service Senior Choir will continue after Lenten Service ______

Friday (3/26) ______12:00 p.m.—XYZ ______Sunday (3/28) PALM SUNDAY LAST DAY TO ORDER EASTER FLOWERS ______HAPPY BIRTHDAY GLADYS STEWART 8:30 a.m.—Worship Service ______9:45 a.m.—Sunday School 11:00 a.m.—Worship Service ______6:30 p.m.—GIFT @ Arelts Some people said to the disciple Philip, “ Sir, we wish to ______see Jesus” (John 12: 21). We are here because we too wish to see Jesus. Open your heart: Jesus is here. Please keep this request Welcome. Private (to be kept amongst the Attendance for Last Week: pastors and vicar only). Church...289 Sunday School...95 8:30 Live Stream...72 Please make this request JTTW (morn)…33 On Line...8 known to the Ruthfred prayer Lenten Service...121 Live Stream...25 team and announce it to the congregation when appropriate.

15 Ruthfred Staff

Rev. Steven P. Carlson| Senior Pastor (412) 835-7140 (ext. 229) [email protected]

Rev. Bryce C. McMinn| Associate Pastor (412) 835-7140 (ext. 226) [email protected]

Paula Mikulan| Office Manager (412) 835-7140 (ext. 222) [email protected]

Ron Thorhauer| Business Manager (412) 835-7140 (ext. 224) [email protected]

Patricia Lutz| Administrative Assistant (412) 835-7140 (ext. 225) [email protected]

Brandon Fouks| Director of Youth Ministry (412) 835-7140 (ext. 240) [email protected]

Brian Lyskava| Custodian

Andrew Vogel| Multi-Media Coordinator (412) 568-3215 [email protected]

David Compel| Digital Outreach Coordinator (412) 609-9098 [email protected]

Robert Vogel Senior & Bell Choirs

Frederick Schell Organist

Melissa Manzo Children’s Choir

Denise Stutzman Preschool Head Teacher

Lauren Compel & Denise Stutzman Kid’s Time Leaders Ruthfred Lutheran Church 3401 South Park Road Bethel Park, Pennsylvania 15102 Phone: (412) 835-7140 Email: [email protected] www.ruthfred.org 16