4th Sunday in Lent

CALL TO WORSHIP - PSALM 32

Happy are they whose transgressions are forgiven,

and whose sin is put away!

Happy are they to whom the LORD imputes no guilt,

and in whose spirit there is no guile!

While I held my tongue, my bones withered away,

because of my groaning all day long.

For your hand was heavy upon me day and night;

my moisture was dried up as in the heat of summer.

Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and did not conceal my guilt. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD."

Then you forgave me the guilt of my sin.

Therefore all the faithful will make their prayers to you in time of trouble;

when the great waters overflow, they shall not reach them.

You are my hiding-place; you preserve me from trouble;

you surround me with shouts of deliverance.

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way that you should go;

I will guide you with my eye.

Do not be like horse or mule, which have no understanding;

who must be fitted with bit and bridle, or else they will not stay near you."

Great are the tribulations of the wicked;

but mercy embraces those who trust in the LORD.

Be glad, you righteous, and rejoice in the LORD;

shout for joy, all who are true of heart.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Let us pray. God of compassion, you welcome the wayward, and you embrace us all with your mercy. By our baptism clothe us with garments of your grace, and feed us at the table of your love, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

GATHERING SONG “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing” #807

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS

Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.

Silence is kept for reflection

Prodigal, extravagant God,

have mercy on us.

We confess that we have turned from you and given ourselves over to selfish living.

We have squandered your gifts and wallowed in the sinful mire of our making.

We have sinned against heaven and before you and do not deserve

to be called your children.

In your compassion, forgive us our sins, known and unknown, things we have done and

things we have failed to do. By the power of the Spirit, turn our hearts again to you.

Lavish your grace upon us once more so we may live and serve you in newness of life,

through Jesus Christ, the one who calls us home! Amen.

You who once were lost are now found!

You who once were dead now are fully living!

For by Christ and Christ alone, your sins are forgiven.

Almighty God strengthen you with power through the Holy Spirit,

that Christ may live in your hearts through faith.

Thanks be to God! Amen.

THE EPISTLE READING: 2 Corinthians 5:16–21

From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

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

GOSPEL INVITATION “Thy Word”

THE GOSPEL FOR THE DAY: Luke 15

The holy gospel according to Saint Luke. Glory to you, O Lord.

Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them." So he told them this parable:

“Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

The Parable of the Lost Coin

“Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

"There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.' So he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, 'How many of my father's hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands."' So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly, bring out a robe-- the best one--and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!' And they began to celebrate. "Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. He replied, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.' Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, 'Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!' Then the father said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.'"

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

SERMON “There Was A Man” Pastor Phil Wold

HYMN OF THE DAY "Our Father We Have Wandered" #606

THE OFFERING AND OFFERING PRAYER

Let us pray. Blessed are you, O God, maker of all things. Through your goodness you have blessed us with these gifts: our selves, our time, and our possessions. Use us, and what we have gathered, in feeding the world with your love, through the one who gave himself for us, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

THE SERVICE OF PRAYERS FOR HEALING

The leader offers a “bid” inviting the congregation to pray silently, then a prayer is offered. The congregation responds “Amen.”

The prayers conclude:

Praise to you, almighty God and Father. You sent your Son to live among us and to bring us your salvation. Blessed be God.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, incomparable Son of the Father. You humbled yourself to share in our humanity, and you came to heal all our illnesses. Blessed be God.

Praise to you, Holy Spirit, our defender and consoler. You heal our sickness with your mighty and life-giving power. Blessed be God.

Gracious God, in baptism you anointed us with the oil of salvation, and joined us to the death and resurrection of your Son. Bless all who seek your healing presence in their lives. In their suffering draw them more deeply into the mystery of your love, that following Christ in the way of the cross, they may know the power of his resurrection; who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen

THE SIGN OF PEACE IS SHARED

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

NOISY OFFERING

THE LORD’S PRAYER

BLESSING

SENDING SONG “My God How Wonderful Thou Art” #863

SENDING

Go in peace. Share the good news. Thanks be to God.

POSTLUDE “Joy Unspeakable” BASICS

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.