GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH The Lutheran ChurchMissouri Synod Little Rock, Arkansas March 14, 2012

THE ORDER OF VESPERS FOR THE WEEK OF THE THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT

THE WEEK OF THE THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT

PRAYER UNPON ENTERING THE CHURCH
God of grace and mercy, You have shown Your great compassion for me and for all by sending Your one and only Son. Through His Passion, His suffering and death, payment has been made for my sins. Because You raised Jesus from the dead You have given me the hope of everlasting life. As Your child and heir by grace, keep me steadfast in my faith and empower me by Your Gospel to show compassion to others as a part of my daily witness to Your love and grace. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen

Lighting of the Chancel Candles Prelude Ringing of the Church Bell Hymn: Lord of All Hopefulness
Stand Fugue in A Minor - Johann Pachelbel

LSB 738

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.

Versicles

AS WE GATHER
The fourth word from the cross is a word of compassion. Woman, behold, your son! Behold, your mother! The disciples had fled in fear when Jesus was arrested and failed to show any resistance against those who had come out to take Him into custody. When they ultimately took Him out to be crucified only the women remained, along with the disciple whom Jesus loved. While Jesus loved all of His disciples, John, the brother of James and the son of Zebedee, always referred to himself as the disciple whom Jesus loved. Mary, His mother, her sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene together with John were there at Golgatha. These remained near the cross, keeping vigil, watching son and friend give up His life for us all.

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L But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. C Turn to me and be gracious to me; give your strength to your servant, and save the son of your maidservant. L Show me a sign of your favor, that those who hate me may see and be put to shame because you, LORD, have helped me and comforted me. C 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
Sit

Psalmody
Psalm
Psalm 86:117

Readings
Old Testament Reading
And now, go, write it before them on a tablet and inscribe it in a book, that it may be for the time to come as a witness forever. For they are a rebellious people, lying children, children unwilling to hear the instruction of the LORD; who say to the seers, Do not see, and to the prophets, Do not prophesy to us what is right; speak to us smooth things, prophesy illusions, leave the way, turn aside from the path, let us hear no more about the Holy One of Israel. Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel, Because you despise this word and trust in oppression and perverseness and rely on them, therefore this iniquity shall be to you like a breach in a high wall, bulging out, and about to collapse, whose breaking comes suddenly, in an instant; and its breaking is like that of a potters vessel that is smashed so ruthlessly that among its fragments not a shard is found
Isaiah 30:818

L Incline your ear, O LORD, and answer me,for I am poor and needy. C Preserve my life, for I am godly; save your servant, who trusts in youyou are my God. L Be gracious to me, O Lord, for to you do I cry all the day. C Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. L For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you. C Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer; listen to my plea for grace. L In the day of my trouble I call upon you, for you answer me. C There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours. L All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name. C For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God. L Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. C I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. L For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol. C O God, insolent men have risen up against me; a band of ruthless men seek my life, and they do not set you before them.

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with which to take fire from the hearth, or to dip up water out of the cistern. For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength. But you were unwilling, and you said, No! We will flee upon horses; therefore you shall flee away; and, We will ride upon swift steeds; therefore your pursuers shall be swift. A thousand shall flee at the threat of one; at the threat of five you shall flee, till you are left like a flagstaff on the top of a mountain, like a signal on a hill. Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him. L This is the Word of the Lord. C Thanks be to God.

Office Hymn: Jesus, in Your Dying Woes

LSB 447 sts. 79

Public domain 1941 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License .NET, no. 100011479.

The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ:

Stand

III. The Palace of the High Priest

Catechesis
L What is the Sacrament of the Altar? C It is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under the bread and wine, instituted by Christ Himself for us Christians to eat and to drink. L Where is this written? C The holy Evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke, and St. Paul write: Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said, "Take, eat; this is My body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me." In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, "Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me."

Responsory for Lent

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

Sit

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Sermon Words of Life from the CrossThe Compassionate Word

John 19:2627

Canticle
Stand

Antiphon

Psalm 141:2

Sit

Offering

Ubi Caritas et Amor / On My Heart Imprint Your Image (LSB 422)

Prayer
Stand

Kyrie Nunc Dimittis

Mark 10:47

Lord's Prayer
L Taught by our Lord and trusting His promises, we are bold to pray: 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

Matthew 6:913

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Salutation

2 Timothy 4:22

Collect for Peace

L O Lord, our dwelling place and our peace, You have compassion on our weakness. Put far from us all worry and fearfulness that, having confessed our sins and commending ourselves to Your gracious mercy, we may, when night shall come, commit ourselves, our work, and all we love into Your keeping, receiving from You the gift of quiet sleep; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Collect of the Day

L Let us pray. O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy, be gracious to all who have gone astray from Your ways and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of Your Word; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Benedicamus

Psalm 103:1

Benediction Prayer of the Church

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

2 Corinthians 13:14

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Closing Hymn: All Praise to Thee, My God, This Night Postlude

LSB 883

All Praise to Thee, My God, This Night - Michael Burkhardt

THOSE WHO SERVE Pastor: Preacher: Liturgist: Director of Parish Music: Acolyte: Choir: Ushers: Greeter: Altar Guild: Nursery Attendant: Rev. James C. Walter Chaplain David Witte Kevin Ray Nathan Beethe Erich Cline Childrens Choir Shaun Baker, Ron Krueger, Tim Sweeney Debbie Penny Suzanne Raddle and Wilma Richter Mary Ann Dyer

Acknowledgments
Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Created by Lutheran Service Builder 2006 Concordia Publishing House.

Our thanks to the ACTS Group for serving the Lenten dinner this evening.

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