Prelude
Bells, Welcome, Announcements and Sharing
á Hymn Jesus Calls Us, o’er the Tumult (ELW#696)
Cecil Frances Alexander
1 Jesus calls us; o’er the tumult
of our life’s wild, restless sea,
day by day his clear voice sounding,
saying, “Christian, follow me”:
3 Jesus calls us from the worship
of the vain world’s golden store,
from each idol that would keep us,
saying, “Christian, love me more.”
4 In our joys and in our sorrows,
days of toil and hours of ease,
still he calls, in cares and pleasures,
“Christian, love me more than these.”
5 Jesus calls us! By your mercy,
Savior, may we hear your call,
give our hearts to your obedience,
serve and love you best of all.
á Confession and Forgiveness
P Blessed be the holy Trinity, + one God, who brings us out of captivity into freedom, out of the wilderness into the promised land, out of death into life.
.C Amen.
P Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.
Silence is kept for reflection.
P Gracious God,
C we confess that we have sinned in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. Forgive us and give us strength
to turn from sin and to serve you in newness of life. Amen.
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
Hymn Change My Heart, O God (#801)
Eddie Espinosa
Change my heart, O God; make it ever true.
Change my heart, O God; may I be like you.
You are the potter; I am the clay.
Mold me and make me; this is what I pray.
Change my heart, O God; make it ever true.
Change my heart, O God; may I be like you.
Prayer of the Day
P May the grace our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
C And also with you.
P Let us pray…
C God of truth,
Too often we bend truth to fit our needs. Show us how to recognize and follow your truth, shown to us by the love and life of your son, Jesus. Amen.
Kids in the Kingdom
Responsive Reading Psalm 145
10 All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord,
and all your faithful shall bless you.
11 They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom,
and tell of your power,
12 to make known to all people your mighty deeds,
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures throughout all generations.
The Lord is faithful in all his words,
and gracious in all his deeds.
Gospel John 18:28–40
L The Holy Gospel from John in the 18th Chapter
C Glory to you, O Lord
28 Then they took Jesus from Caiaphas to Pilate’s headquarters. It was early in the morning. They themselves did not enter the headquarters, so as to avoid ritual defilement and to be able to eat the Passover. 29 So Pilate went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” 30 They answered, “If this man were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you.” 31 Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him according to your law.” The Jews replied, “We are not permitted to put anyone to death.” 32 (This was to fulfill what Jesus had said when he indicated the kind of death he was to die.)
33 Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered, “Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?” 35 Pilate replied, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?” 36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” 37 Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” 38 Pilate asked him, “What is truth?”
After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, “I find no case against him. 39 But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover. Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” 40 They shouted in reply, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a bandit.
L This is the Gospel of our Lord
C Praise to You O Christ
Sermon Brendan Johnston
á Hymn Lamb of God (ELW #336)
Twila Paris
Your only Son no sin to hide
But You have sent Him from Your side
To walk upon this guilty sod
And to become the Lamb of God
Your gift of love they crucified
They laughed and scorned Him as He died
The humble King they named a fraud
And sacrificed the Lamb of God
Refrain: Oh Lamb of God sweet Lamb of God
I love the holy Lamb of God
Oh wash me in His precious blood
My Jesus Christ the Lamb of God
I was so lost I should have died
But You have brought me to Your side
To be led by Your staff and rod
And to be called a lamb of God Refrain
WE RESPOND TO THE WORD OF GOD
á Affirmation of Faith
We believe in God, the one who comes before us and goes behind us, creating life and opportunities to love and care for the world.
We believe in Jesus Christ who walks with us into real life each day. He is God, yet human like us and experienced all life’s joys and pains and challenges like we do. But his love is so great that not sin nor suffering nor even death could stop it. Today the love of Jesus lives and continues to bring new life to the world.
We believe in the Holy Spirit who comes like the wind and blows in and through us to bring God’s power and light to all the world. The Spirit breathes life into us, the body of Christ we call the church, and enables us to follow the way of Christ.
We believe in God, who goes before and behind, with, in and through us, bringing hope and life and newness to the world.
Offering Prayer
P God our provider,
C you have not fed us with bread alone,
but with words of grace and life.
Bless us and these your gifts,
which we receive from your bounty,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Prayers of Bethlehem
During the prayers, there will be an opportunity for you to lift up a thanksgiving, a prayer concern, the name of someone on your mind today. All are encouraged to join in this time of public prayer.
L … Lord in your mercy …
C … Hear our prayer.
Meal
God feeds us with the presence of Jesus Christ
Words of Institution
á Lord’s Prayer
C 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.
L These are the gifts of God for the people of God
C Thanks be to God
Distribution of Holy Communion
We believe that Jesus is truly present in the elements of communion – and all are welcome to receive Jesus in this food and drink.
Communion in the Pews
Prepackaged communion will be available in pews and as you enter worship. Please open and receive this sacrament after the Words of Institution.
Communion at the Table
Those who wish to receive Holy Communion at the tables in front of the sanctuary will be invited to come forward using the pulpit side aisle, and return to their seat using the piano side aisle.
As you come forward, one at a time, there will be two tables prepared for you. Wafers will be placed on plates on the first table for you to pick up and receive the Body of Christ. Cups of wine or grape juice will be placed on the second table for you to receive the Blood of Christ. Cups can then be placed in a bin.
Children not communing may come forward for a blessing.
Communion Music
á Post Communion Prayer
P O God, the host at every meal,
C at this table you spread out a feast for all peoples,
the bread of life and the cup of salvation.
Send us from this banquet
to invite others into these good things,
to let justice roll down like waters,
and to care for the least of our sisters and brothers;
through Jesus Christ, our Sovereign and our Savior.
Amen
LEAVE TO LIVE THE WORD
á Blessing
P The blessing of God Almighty,
the wisdom and power of + Christ Jesus,
and the light of the Holy Spirit
be among you and remain with you always.
á Sending Hymn Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross (#335)
Fanny J. Crosby
Jesus, keep me near the cross, there’s a precious fountain;
free to all, a healing stream flows from Calv’ry’s mountain.
Chorus: In the cross, in the cross
be my glory ever;
till my ransomed soul shall find
rest beyond the river.
Near the cross, a trembling soul, love and mercy found me;
there the bright and morning star sheds its beams around me. Chorus
Near the cross! O Lamb of God, bring its scenes before me;
help me walk from day to day with its shadow o’er me. Chorus
Near the cross I’ll watch and wait, hoping, trusting ever,
till I reach the golden strand just beyond the river. Chorus
á Dismissal
P Go in peace. Remember the poor.
C Thanks be to God!