GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH The Lutheran ChurchMissouri Synod Little Rock, Arkansas March 7, 2012

THE ORDER OF VESPERS FOR THE WEEK OF THE FIRST SUNDAY IN LENT
Lighting of the Chancel Candles Prelude
Fugue in G Minor - Johann Pachelbel

THE WEEK OF THE SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT

PRAYER UNPON ENTERING THE CHURCH
Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, You made man in Your image, yet that image was lost along with the Paradise in which You placed man, male and female. Yet You sent the second Adam, Your Son, my Lord Jesus who has restored paradise for all who believe. Grant me to know the power of this great promise even as by the power of the Gospel in the waters of Holy Baptism I have been born from above. Keep me steadfast in the true faith unto life everlasting with You in Paradise. In Jesus name I pray. Amen

Ringing of the Church Bell Hymn: O Christ, You Walked the Road
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LSB 424

Versicles

WELCOME
As our Lords Passion neared, Jesus went to Gethsemane to pray. There Jesus said to His disciples Peter, James and John, whom He found sleeping, Could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak. (Matthew 26:41) It is indeed good for you to be here this evening for this time of Vespers as we gather around Gods Word to be strengthened in our faith through the forgiveness of our sins and thereby given resolve to live as Gods people through the trials and temptations of life. If you are visiting we would especially like to welcome you and encourage you to come and worship with us again. If you have any questions about Grace Lutheran Church we invite you to visit with our Pastor. If you are in need of restroom facilities they are located downstairs in this building or across the bridge on this floor level before entering the Fellowship Hall. A nursery for infants and toddlers is located downstairs for those who have need. If you have any questions please speak with an Usher or Greeter.

AS WE GATHER
This evening the word from Jesus dying lips is a word of promise and salvation: Truly I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise. These words are spoken not to a religious man or to a fine upstanding citizen or to one of Jesus disciples. They are spoken to a convicted man guilty of a capital crime. He and a fellow convict were hung on crosses with Jesus between them. Jesus is the innocent One among the guilty, the Man among the thieves. These two convicted criminals are the ones given the privilege of being at Jesus left and His right when He comes into His kingdom, a privilege the disciples bickered over but had no idea what they were asking. Who could have known?

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Psalmody
Psalm
P C P C P C P C P C P C P C P C P C P C P C P C P C
Psalm 25:122

To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me. Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame; they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous. Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. Remember your mercy, O LORD, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O LORD! Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way. All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies. For your names sake, O LORD, pardon my guilt, for it is great. Who is the man who fears the LORD? Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose. His soul shall abide in well-being, and his offspring shall inherit the land. The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.

P C P C P C P C P C P C P C P C C

My eyes are ever toward the LORD, for he will pluck my feet out of the net. Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses. Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins. Consider how many are my foes, and with what violent hatred they hate me. Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me! Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you. Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen

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Readings
Old Testament Reading
Listen to me, O Jacob, and Israel, whom I called! I am he; I am the first, and I am the last. My hand laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand spread out the heavens; when I call to them, they stand forth together. Assemble, all of you, and listen! who among them has declared these things? The LORD loves him; he shall perform his purpose on Babylon, and his arm shall be against the Chaldeans. I, even I, have spoken and called him;
Isaiah 48:1221

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I have brought him, and he will prosper in his way. Draw near to me, hear this: from the beginning I have not spoken in secret, from the time it came to be I have been there. And now the Lord GOD has sent me, and his Spirit. Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go. Oh that you had paid attention to my commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea; your offspring would have been like the sand, and your descendants like its grains; their name would never be cut off or destroyed from before me. Go out from Babylon, flee from Chaldea, declare this with a shout of joy, proclaim it, send it out to the end of the earth; say, The LORD has redeemed his servant Jacob! They did not thirst when he led them through the deserts; he made water flow for them from the rock; he split the rock and the water gushed out. P C This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Christian congregation and absolve those who repent of their sins and want to do better, this is just as valid and certain, even in heaven, as if Christ our dear Lord dealt with us Himself.

Office Hymn: Jesus, in Your Dying Woes

LSB 447 sts. 1012

The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ: Part 2

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Responsory for Lent

Psalm 51:14; Psalm 59:1; Psalm 141:8

Catechesis
P What is the Office of the Keys? C The Office of the Keys is that special authority which Christ has given to His Church on earth to forgive the sins of repentant sinners, but to withhold forgiveness from the unrepentant as long as they do not repent. P Where is this written? C This is what St. John the Evangelist writes in chapter twenty: The Lord Jesus breathed on His disciples and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven." (John 20:2223) P What do you believe according to these words? C I believe that when the called ministers of Christ deal with us by His divine command, in particular when they exclude openly unrepentant sinners from the

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Sermon

Canticle
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Antiphon

Psalm 141:2

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Offering

In Adam We Have All Been One - John Behnke (Adult Choir)

Nunc Dimittis

Prayer
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Kyrie

Mark 10:47

Lord's Prayer Matthew 6:913 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. Salutation
2 Timothy 4:22

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Collect of the Day P O God, You see that of ourselves we have no strength. By Your mighty power defend us from all adversities that may happen to the body and from all evil thoughts that may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Benediction

2 Corinthians 13:14

Prayer of the Church P Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
Each petition ends with the following: P C Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

The prayers conclude with the following: P C Into Your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy; through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen

Closing Hymn: Now Rest beneath Night's Shadow Postlude

LSB 880

Now Rest beneath Night's Shadow - Paul Manz

Collect for Peace P Direct us, O Lord, in all our doings with Your most gracious favor, and further us with Your continual help that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in You we may glorify Your holy name and finally by Your mercy obtain eternal salvation; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

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Benedicamus

Psalm 103:1

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WORDS OF LIFE FROM THE CROSS

LENTEN VESPERS and Dinners Lenten Vespers 7:00 p.m. Lenten Dinners 5:30 p.m. in Parker Hall *********** Lenten Midweek March 7th - The Faithful Word (Matthew 27:46) Dinner served by JOY Club - Tacos Lenten Midweek March 14th - The Compassionate Word (John 19:26-27) Dinner served by the ACTS - Spaghetti Lenten Midweek March 21st - The Suffering Word (John 19:28) Dinner served by the LWML Evening Guild - Meatloaf Lenten Midweek March 28th - The Dying Word (Luke 23:46) Dinner served by the Board of Evangelism and Young Women of Grace Chicken Soft Tacos and Mexican Rice Maundy Thursday April 5th - The Remembering Word (1 Corinthians 11:23-26) Dinner will be served Watch the bulletin for more Good Friday April 6th - The Fulfilled Word (John 19:30)

THOSE WHO SERVE Pastor: Director of Parish Music: Acolyte: Reader: Trombone: Ushers: Greeter: Altar Guild: Nursery Attendant: Rev. James C. Walter Nathan Beethe Lauren Faulkner Carter Stein Joel Junkans Roy Andrews, Roy Bullard and Gary Proud Debbie Penny Suzanne Raddle and Wilma Richter Mary Ann Dyer

Our thanks to the Board of Parish Fellowship for serving the Lenten dinner this evening. - 11 - 12 -