St. Matthew S Ev. Lutheran Church

St. Matthew’s Ev. Lutheran Church 1615 Wauwatosa Ave., Wauwatosa, WI 53213 February 22nd, 2015 First Sunday in Lent 8:30 a.m. Service

Prelude

Welcome to Worship

Gathering [Please stand] Preparation for Worship P Let us pray. In the power of Jesus’ name we pray. Lord God, we gather here because you have called us. You loved us before we could love you. You have given your Son for our salvation. For this we join all creation in blessing you, praising you, thanking you. As we offer our praise, we long for you to mold us in the image of your Son, whose death and resurrection gives us hope. C Amen.

Confession and Forgiveness P Search me, O God, and know my heart; C try me and know my thoughts. P See if there is any wicked way in me, C and lead me in the way everlasting. P Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another. 2

P Gracious God, C In times of temptation we forget what you have done for us. You give us everything we need, yet we often remain unsatisfied; you trust us to care for creation, yet we often abuse that trust and spoil what we have been given. You show us the way we are to follow, yet we often continue on the path of self-indulgence and self-centeredness. Forgive us, we pray. We ask for your direction, your patience, your love, in the name of Jesus Christ, who, in spite of his temptations, was faithful to your saving Word. P By water and the Holy Spirit, God gives us a new birth, and through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God forgives us all our sins. Almighty God strengthen us in all goodness and keep us in eternal life. C Amen. 3 Gathering Song # 618 Guide Me Ever, Great Redeemer

Litany for the First Sunday in Lent A Let us worship God, who has done great things. C We rejoice in our God, who made a way through the desert of this world. A Let us worship God, who has caused streams of mercy to flow in the wasteland.

C We are the people God has formed through Christ; we worship him, and we rejoice! A Let us worship God in spirit and in truth. C We praise God for the grace that has saved us.

Apostolic Greeting page 203 Prayer of the Day page 205

Word [Please be seated] First Reading Genesis 9:8-17 Today’s reading is the conclusion to the flood story. Because of human sin, the Lord destroys the earth by flood, saving only Noah, his family, and the animals on the ark. Yet divine destruction gives way to divine commitment. As in the first creation, God blesses humanity and establishes a covenant with all creatures.

Psalm Psalm 25:1-10, Read Responsively A In you, LORD my God, I put my trust. C I trust in you; do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me. A No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame, but shame will come on those who are treacherous without cause. C Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths. A Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. C Remember, LORD, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. A Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you, LORD, are good. C Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways. A He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. 4 C All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful toward those who keep the demands of his covenant.

Second Reading 1 Peter 3:18-22 As God acted through Christ’s suffering and death to bring us to God, so God acts through baptism to save us from a sinful existence. This spiritual cleansing marks our new life in Christ.

[Please stand] Gospel Acclamation The Lord is Kind and Merciful

Text: Psalm 103. Music: Jeanne Cotter. Copyright: © 2000 GIA Publishing. Used with permission. OneLicense.net A-703603. Gospel Mark 1:9-15 The Spirit that comes upon Jesus at his baptism sustains him when he is tested by Satan so that he might proclaim the good news of God’s reign. Gospel Response P The Gospel of the Lord for you this day. C Thanks be to God. [Please be seated] Gospel Message Pastor Matthew Kruse [Please stand] Hymn of the Day #326 Bless Now, O God, the Journey [Prayer cards will be collected during the Hymn of the Day] The Nicene Creed Inside back cover of the Hymnal Prayers of Intercession 5 P As we journey through this season of repentance and renewal, let us turn to God who mercifully gives us new life.

P …we pray to the Lord; C Lord, hear our prayer.

P Merciful God, hear our prayers to you; renew and uphold us with your living Spirit, through Christ Jesus our Lord. C Amen.

Sharing the Peace of Christ page 206 During cold and flu season, some worshipers may be reluctant to shake hands or embrace for health reasons. We ask that you respect others’ concerns over transmission of illness by refraining from shaking hands if you are feeling ill.

Meal [Please be seated] Musical Offering

Offertory When Grains of Wheat Fall in the Ground 6

[Please stand] Offertory Prayer A Let us pray. Holy God, you provide us with every gift of creation, and you quench our thirst with living water. Receive these tokens of your goodness to us. May our lives be bread for the hungry and streams in the wilderness, signs of the abundance of your grace. This we pray through Jesus Christ our Lord. C Amen.

Words of Institution The Lord’s Prayer page 208 [Traditional Version] Invitation to Communion [Please be seated] Call to Communion #481 Come to the Table 7 Communion Hymn #484 You Satisfy the Hungry Heart [Please stand] P May the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which you have now just received, strengthen you and keep you in his love and grace. C Amen.

Prayer after Communion A Let us pray. Lord Jesus Christ, as the manna miraculously nourished your wandering children, so, too, this gift of life refreshes us. We do not live by bread alone so teach us to prefer this nourishment. Teach us to hunger for this food. Teach us to follow where the Spirit leads. You are the Lord forevermore. C Amen.

Sending Today’s Highlights For more information on the church’s activities, please see your bulletin, St. Matthew’s website or ask in the church office.

Blessing P The blessing of God’s eternal love, the courage to follow the way of the cross, and the guidance of the Spirit in the desert places of our world, be among us. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, bless and preserve us both now and forever.

C Amen.

Dismissal Postlude

Your presence has blessed our worship service. May you be strengthened by the strong word of God expressed through music and worship today. The peace of the Lord be with you as you go.