The Second Sunday in Lent
also known traditionally as “Reminiscere Sunday”
March 16, 2025
A Gentile Woman’s Exemplary Faith in Christ to Heal Her Demon-possessed Daughter
Everyone has some kind of faith, because it’s impossible for anyone to go through life without “faith.” For instance, you’ve probably had an experience with a doctor whose name you couldn’t pronounce. He gave you a prescription with a name you couldn’t read…let alone pronounce. Afterward you took it to a pharmacist you’d never done business with before, and he dispensed a medication you’d never taken. And yet, you took the medicine with the confidence that it was going to improve your health condition.
Here are a few other examples: You’re operating with faith when you flip a light switch on that the switch and the electrical wiring behind it, and wherever else the wiring runs, will work. Or, when you get into your car to go somewhere (like you did when you came here this morning) you put your faith in all the car’s components – from the battery, to the starter, to the computers, to the engine, to the transmission, to the brakes, and the tires – that everything will work the way it’s supposed to in order to get you where you want to go….and get you there safely. When we put our letters in the mail, we exercise faith that the US Postal Service will get our letters where we intend them to go, and in a timely manner. And when we go to the bank to deposit funds, or when we draw on monies that we’ve invested, we do so with the faith that our dollars will all be there for us.
The examples noted above are just a few of the many, many daily instances in our lives when we have to live by faith. In fact, I can’t conceive of a single person who can get through a single day without living by faith.
Of course, there are going to be times when your faith and mine end up being misplaced. We put our trust in certain people or things, but then they end up letting us down. Depending on our particular need, that can be a very disappointing, or at least an embarrassing situation.
But in the final analysis, whether or not my light switch, car, or letter carrier proves “worthy” of my faith isn’t going to affect my life eternally. But matters of “Spiritual Faith“ do have eternal significance for me and for you. Buddhists, for example, put their faith in the teachings of the Buddha. Muslims put their trust in Allah and the prophet Mohammed. Hindus put their faith in a variety of gods (millions, actually.) The adherents of these false religions and others – and even plenty of folks who call themselves Christians – have mistakenly put their faith for their eternal future either in the teachings of mere humans, or in in their ability to “keep the rules” in order that they might end up being “good enough” to earn their way into heaven (or whatever destination beyond this life that their religion offers) — or in order to build up some type of good “Karma” for themselves. Ultimately, they all end up putting faith in themselves…….and that’s tragically foolish, since no sinner (and we all are sinners) can ever be good enough to earn a place in heaven.
Incidentally, even when people claim to have no religion at all (including those so-called “atheists”), they still end up living by some sort of faith, since every human invariably puts his/her faith in something…..even if its only in themselves and their instincts. For example, atheists put their “faith” in the belief that there is no god. Regardless of what these people trust in, everyone lives by some form of faith. Yet every faith but one (the Christian faith) will get a person absolutely, eternally nowhere, except to provide them with a one-way ticket to hell!
It is entirely by God’s grace alone, that He chose to bring each one of us to faith in Him Who is the only true, God – the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We didn’t choose to believe and to become Christians. The fact is that, without the enabling power of the Holy Spirit working in us, you and I could never believe in the one, true God. But because the Holy Spirit has created real faith in our hearts, you and I are able to believe in Jesus both for our eternal salvation (as we trust in His righteouness, death and resurrection for our forgiveness and guarantee of heaven), as well as for everything that we encounter in this life – from our successes to our failures….and whatever occurs in between. Knowing, through faith, that our eternal future is secure……by that same faith in the LORD you and I can confidently trust that our God will support and sustain us throughout our earthly lives all the way into heaven, regardless of the obstacles and challenges we encounter.
Our Scripture Readings for Today
In our Epistle Lesson James encourages us to persevere (rather than falter) in our faith whenever we are experiencing trials and temptations and difficulties in life. He urges us not to doubt God’s gracious plan for our lives, or waver in our faith, but to always be confident of God’s mercy for us in Christ.
Faith is also at the center of our Children’s Lesson for this morning, where we’ll talk about how important it is to have “binoculars faith” – that is, faith which ignores all the spiritual distractions of life in order to – instead – stay totally focused on Jesus: on what He has done and will do for us, and on what He means to us as our Lord and Savior.
Today’s Gospel Lesson is the account of Jesus’ raising from the dead the daughter of man named Jairus. For our purposes this morning, please pay attention to the exemplary faith that this father had. He had a huge “obstacle” before him….namely, that his daughter clearly was dead. Yet he approached Christ, in faith asking the “impossible” – that Jesus might return her to life. And his faith was rewarded with a resurrected daughter.
Our Old Testament Reading for this morning is the amazing story of Joshua and the God-toppled walls of Jericho. Can you imagine the kind of faith it took not only for Joshua, but for the people of Israel, to march around a fortified city for seven days, trusting that on the seventh day the Lord would miraculously bring down the city’s walls and let them overcome its occupants…..all by their blowing ram’s horns at the right time? How ridiculous……and yet it worked, because God promised that it would. Faith is taking God at His word, regardless of the obstacles one faces, whether that obstacle is an illness, a family or financial problem, some other “ordinary” challenge….even a fortified city.
And, finally, our Sermon is based on the account of the great faith of the Canaanite woman, who persistently pleaded to Jesus for healing for her demon-possessed daughter. Though Jesus delayed and didn’t immediately answer her request (or even initially acknowledge her), that woman’s confident faith was rewarded when Jesus healed her daughter, driving the demon out of her (proving His power over Satan). In the end, Jesus commended her faith as exemplary.
Some Background Information about
the Season of Lent and this “Reminiscere” Sunday
Across better than 16 centuries, the Christian Church has used the 40 day/roughly six week period of Lent as a time during which its members are to contemplate, in an even more subdued than usual fashion, the spiritual significance of our Savior’s sufferings for our salvation. The “tone” of Lent – particularly the midweek services – has traditionally been a very penitential one…. focusing on the seriousness and significance of our sins that necessitated Christ’s sufferings and death for us, as well as our need to personally repent of those sins, and the undeserved mercy of God in Christ through which He has forgiven us all our sins. However, these “solemn” 40 days of Lent (which begin with Ash Wednesday and continue through “Holy Saturday”) “technically” do not include the six Sundays in Lent. The worship services on those Sundays – as is the case for us this morning – are used as minor “respites” from the heavy repentance-emphasis of the 40 day Lenten season. In fact – as is the case for us today – the centuries’ old “traditional” Scripture lessons for the Sundays in Lent focus less on our sins and much more on the victories that our Savior has won for us against sin, death and Satan’s power. In today’s Sermon text (the historic Gospel lesson for Reminiscere Sunday), we see a mother’s great faith in Jesus to drive one of Satan’s demons out of her daughter, which, of course, Jesus did. Those victories which Christ has won (and continues to win for us) over the Devil and his allies should move us gratefully, yet also with a spirit of determination, to put our faith in Him for all our needs of body and soul….confident that Jesus will never let us down.
As a final observation, the Sundays during Lent have been customarily identified for centuries by Latin names that have been taken from the certain words (in the Latin language used by the early church) from those Psalms that had been traditionally appointed to be read in worship on those days. This Second Sunday in Lent, then, is known as “Reminiscere Sunday.” The term has been taken from verse 6 of today’s Psalm, Psalm 25 (“Reminiscere” means “Remember”). You will find that it has been underlined in today’s reading.
Pre-Service Prayer – Dear Father in heaven, let me rejoice with my fellow Christians gathered here this morning as we worship You in Your house. Reassure me of Your love and forgiveness for me as I confess my sins to You today. Receive my praises and prayers, humble and imperfect though they be. Renew my faith and improve my Christian living through Your Word. And then, return me to my appointed calling in this world, invigorated, equipped, and eager to serve You with all that I am and have, until the day when You call me to that heavenly home which You have promised and prepared for me and all believers, through Your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. In His name I pray. Amen.
The portions of God’s Word used in this worship flyer have been taken from The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version Copyright 2019, The Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission Music and lyrics, as needed, are used with permission via OneLicense.net #A712831
Pre-service Prayer Pre-service Music
We Praise Our God
The Welcoming and Invitation to Worship
following which, at the invitation of the Pastor,
the Congregation will rise for the invocation
The Invocation
Pastor We begin this service
Congregation In the name of the Father
P: Who gave us our lives through His almighty power.
C: And of the Son
P: Who redeemed our lives with His precious blood.
C: And of the Holy Spirit
P: Who gave us eternal life through faith in Christ Jesus.
C: Amen.
The Psalm for Today Psalm 25, selected verses
P: Remember, O LORD, Your compassion and Your mercy, for they are from eternity.
C: Do not Remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways. + According to Your mercy remember me, + because of Your goodness, O LORD.
P: To You, O LORD, I will lift up my soul; in You I have trusted O my God.
C: All who hope in You will ever be put to shame.
P: Make known to me Your ways, O LORD. Teach me Your paths.
C: Make me walk in Your truth and teach me, + because You are the God Who saves me. + In You I hope all day long.
P: Good and upright is the Lord. Therefore He instructs sinners in the right way.
C: He directs the humble to what is just + and He teaches the humble His way.
P: For the sake of Your name, O LORD, You forgive my guilt, although it is great.
C: Turn toward me and be gracious to me, + because I am lonely and afflicted.
P: The distress of my heart increases. Bring me out of my anguish.
C: See my affliction and my trouble, + and take away all my sins.
P: Guard my life and rescue me. Do not let me be put to shame, for I have taken refuge in You.
C: May integrity and uprightness protect me; + because I wait for You.
After which the Congregation will be seated for
The Opening Hymn “God Is Here Among His People”
sung to the melody of “‘Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus” cwh,2001
God is here among His people! As we join in praise and prayer,
May we find in fuller measure, Jesus’ grace which we all share.
Here, though in the world abiding, as God’s children set apart,
We rejoice to join together, one in faith, in love, in heart.
Here the Means of Grace remind us of our life-long need for grace.
Here are altar, font, and pulpit; here Christ’s cross has central place.
Here in faithful Bible preaching, here in silence and in songs,
Here the Spirit, edifying, heart-felt joy in us prolongs.
Here our children find in Baptism entry to the Shepherd’s fold;
Here, in Sacramental Union, Christ sustains us, young and old.
Here the servants of the Servant, seek in worship to explore
What it means in daily living, to believe and to adore.
Lord of all, the Church and Kingdom, in an age of change and doubt,
Keep us faithful to all Scripture; Help us work Your purpose out.
Here, in bringing praise and off’rings, all we have to give, receive;
We who cannot live without You, We adore You! We believe!” Amen.
After which the Congregation will rise
We Make Confession Of Our Sins To God
Pastor Beloved in the Lord! Let us draw near with a true heart and confess our sins to God our Father, asking Him, for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ, to grant us the forgiveness of all our sins. Our help is in the name of the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.
I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord. And, Lord, You forgave the guilt of my sin. Let us now confess our sins to the Lord:
Congregation O Almighty God, merciful Father, I a poor miserable sinner confess unto Thee all my sins and iniquities with which I have ever offended Thee and justly deserved Thy temporal and eternal punishment. But I am heartily sorry for them, and sincerely repent of them, and I pray Thee of Thy boundless mercy, and for the sake of the holy, innocent, bitter sufferings and death of Thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to be gracious and merciful to me, a poor sinful being.
(Sung) Lord have mercy on us.
Christ have mercy on us.
Lord have mercy on us.
Pastor Upon this, your confession, I, by virtue of my office as a called and ordained servant of the Word, announce the grace of God unto you all, and in the place of and according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
(Sung) Glory be to God on high
and on earth peace good will to men.
We praise You, we bless You, we worship You.
We glorify You,
we give thanks to You for Your great glory.
O Lord God heavenly King,
God the Father almighty.
O Lord, the only begotten Son, Jesus Christ,
O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,
You take away the sin of the world.
Have mercy on us.
You take away the sin of the world.
Receive our prayer.
You sit at the right hand of God the Father.
Have mercy on us.
For You only are holy. You only are the Lord.
You only, O Christ, with the Holy Spirit.
Are most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen
The Prayer for this 2nd Sunday in Lent
O Lord God, + You know that we have no strength + to withstand the assaults against our souls + that come from Satan, this wicked world, and our own sinful flesh. + Therefore we pray that You would graciously use Your mighty power + to safeguard us outwardly + from every adversity that could physically harm us + and to protect us inwardly from all doubt + as well as from every obstacle, + and everyone that could harm our faith + and jeopardize our eternal inheritance in heaven. + Please build up our souls this morning and every day + as we meditate upon Your Holy Word + that we might be enabled to resist temptation, + and to persevere through every trial, + in order to serve You faithfully + and to bring honor and glory to Your Holy Name. + All this we ask in the name of Jesus Christ, + Your Son, our Lord, + Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, + one God, now and forever. + Amen.
After which the Congregation may be seated
Feed Us, Lord
The Old Testament Lesson Joshua 6:1-21
Jericho was shut up tight because of the Israelites. There was no one going out and no one coming in.
2 So the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho and its king into your hands even though they are strong warriors. 3 You shall march around the city with all the fighting men. Circle the city one time. Do this for six days. 4 Seven priests shall carry seven special ram’s horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times with the priests blowing the ram’s horns. 5 When there is a long blast on the special ram’s horn of jubilee, when you hear the sound of the ram’s horn, all the people shall shout with a loud war cry. Then the wall of the city will collapse on itself, and the people will go up into the city, one man after another.”
6 So Joshua son of Nun called for the priests and said to them, “Lift up the Ark of the Covenant, and seven priests shall carry seven special ram’s horns in front of the Ark of the Lord.” 7 Then he said to the people, “Move out. March around the city. The armed contingent shall march in front of the Ark of the Lord.”
8 When Joshua had given orders to the people, the seven priests with the seven special ram’s horns moved forward in front of the Lord, blowing the ram’s horns continuously, with the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord following them. 9 The armed contingent was marching ahead of the priests, who were blowing the ram’s horns, and the rear guard was following the ark. The priests kept blowing the ram’s horns as they went. 10 But to the people Joshua had given the order, “Do not shout and do not let your voice be heard. Do not let a word go out of your mouth until the day I say to you, ‘Shout!’ Then you shall shout!” 11 So he had the Ark of the Lord go around the city, sending it out to circle the city one time. Then they came back to the camp and spent the night there.
12 Then Joshua got up early in the morning, and the priests lifted up the Ark of the Lord. 13 The seven priests with the seven special ram’s horns moved forward in front of the Ark of the Lord, blowing the ram’s horns continuously. The armed contingent was marching in front of them, and the rear guard was following behind the Ark of the Lord. The priests kept blowing the ram’s horns as they went. 14 They marched around the city one time on the second day, and then they returned to the camp. They did this for six days.
15 Then on the seventh day they got up early, at daybreak, and they marched around the city seven times, following the directions they had been given. It was only on the seventh day that they marched around the city seven times. 16 Then on the seventh time, the priests blew the ram’s horns, and Joshua said to the people, “Shout, because the Lord has given you the city! 17 The city will be devoted to destruction. The city and everything in it will be devoted to the Lord. Only Rahab the prostitute will live—she along with all who are with her in the house—because she hid the agents whom we sent. 18 But you must keep away from the things devoted to destruction, or you will make yourselves subject to destruction by taking some of the devoted things, and you will make the camp of Israel subject to destruction and bring disaster upon it. 19 But all the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron are sacred to the Lord. They must go into the treasury of the Lord.”
20 So the people shouted, and the priests blew the ram’s horns. When the people heard the sound of the ram’s horns, they shouted with a loud war cry. Then the wall collapsed on itself, and the people went up into the city, one man after another. So they captured the city. 21 Then they applied the decree of destruction by the edge of the sword to everything that was in the city—both men and women, young and old, and also the oxen, sheep, and donkeys.
The Epistle Lesson James 1:2-12
2 Consider it complete joy, my brothers, whenever you fall into various kinds of trials, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces patient endurance. 4 And let patient endurance finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
5 If any one of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, Who gives it to all without reservation and without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, without doubting, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 In fact, that person should not expect that he will receive anything from the Lord. 8 He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. 9 Let the brother of humble circumstances boast in his high position, 10 and the rich one in his humble position, because he will pass away like a flower of the grass. 11 Indeed, the sun rises with burning heat and dries up the grass. Its blossom falls off, and its beauty perishes. In the same way also, the rich person will wither away in his busy pursuits. 12 Blessed is the man who endures a trial patiently, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life, which God promised to those who love Him.
After which the Congregation will rise for
The Gospel Lesson Matthew 15:21-28
21 Jesus left that place and withdrew into the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 There a Canaanite woman from that territory came and kept crying out, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David! A demon is severely tormenting my daughter!” 23 But He did not answer her a word. His disciples came and pleaded, “Send her away, because she keeps crying out after us.” 24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 But she came and knelt in front of Him, saying, “Lord, help me.” 26 He answered her, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to their little dogs.” 27 “Yes, Lord,” she said, “yet their little dogs also eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” 28 Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, your faith is great! It will be done for you, just as you desire.” And her daughter was healed at that very hour.
The Nicene Creed
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light. Very God of Very God. Begotten, not made. Being of one substance with the Father, By whom all things were made; Who for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven And was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary And was made man; And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried; And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures; And ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of the Father; And he shall come again with glory, to judge both the quick and the dead; Whose Kingdom shall have no end. And I believe in the Holy Ghost, The Lord and Giver of Life, Who proceedeth from the Father and the Son, Who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, Who spake by the Prophets. And I believe one holy Christian and Apostolic Church. I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, And I look for the resurrection of the dead, And the life of the world to come. Amen.
After which the Congregation will be seated for
The Children’s Lesson Hebrews 12:1,2
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us get rid of every burden and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and let us run with patient endurance the race that is laid out for us. 2 Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, Who is the Author of our faith and the One Who brings it to its goal. In view of the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken His seat at the right hand of God’s throne. 3 Carefully consider Him Who endured such hostility against Himself from sinful people, so that you do not grow weary and lose heart.
Have a Binoculars Faith
Hymn of the Day Hymn 405 “Oh, For A Faith”
1 Oh, for a faith that will not shrink
Though pressed by many a foe,
That will not tremble on the brink
Of poverty or woe,
2 That will not murmur nor complain
Beneath the chast’ning rod,
But in the hour of grief or pain
Can lean upon its God,
3 A faith that shines more bright and clear
When tempests rage without,
That, when in danger, knows no fear,
In darkness feels no doubt,
4 That bears unmoved the world’s dread frown
Nor heeds its scornful smile,
That sin’s wild ocean cannot drown
Nor Satan’s arts beguile,
5 A faith that keeps the narrow way
Till life’s last spark is fled
And with a pure and heav’nly ray
Lights up the dying bed.
6 Lord, give us such a faith as this,
And then, whate’er may come,
We’ll taste e’en now the hallowed bliss
Of an eternal home.
after which the Congregation will rise for
The Pre-Sermon Greeting
Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ, our Lord! May the words of my mouth and the meditation of our hearts be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.
The Sermon Text Matthew 15:21-28
(today’s Gospel Lesson)
A Believing Woman Enjoys Victory
over Satan Through Jesus’ Power
The Post-Sermon Blessing
May the God of peace, Who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, that Great Shepherd of the sheep, now equip you with everything good for doing His will! Amen.
We Offer Our Gifts to the Lord
We offer you the following suggestions for providing God with Your thank-offerings through our ministry:
1) Those in the chapel can place their offerings in the offering plates
2) You can send a check (no cash) in the mail to Grace Lutheran Church (415 N. 6th Place, Lowell, AR 72745)
3) Or, go online to our website (www.gracelutherannwa.com) and use the giving option there.
We Bring our Prayers Before Our Lord
Included in our Prayers this morning:
A Prayer of Intercession for our brother and sister, Tim and Diane Pfortmiller, ,as they continue to deal with some significant health problems, as they wait for God to provide them with a restoration of their health – according to His will and in His appointed time.
in addition
We offer A Prayer of Intercession on behalf of our sister Carol Ruiz, as she continues to slowly recover from a number of health ailments, confident that our LORD will grant her a full restoration of her health so that she might resume her active, productive life….and, in time, return here to worship our LORD with us – when and as our LORD knows best.
Also,
We ask God’s mercy for our brother George Layton, who has finally been released from Washington Regional Hospital after a three week stay. George is about to begin a physical therapy regimen at the Shiloh Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Springdale. We pray that George will be able to recover his strength sufficiently for him to return home to Laura,
and return to us, his church family.
The Lord’s Prayer
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.
We Celebrate the Lord’s Supper
Pastor – The Lord be with you.
Congregation (sung) And also with you
Pastor – Lift up your hearts.
Congregation (sung) We lift them up unto the Lord,
Pastor – Let us give thanks unto the Lord, our God.
Congregation (sung) It is good and right so to do.
Pastor – It is truly good and right that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, O Lord, holy Father, almighty, everlasting God, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Who brought the gift of salvation to all people by His death on the tree of the cross, so that the devil, who overcame us by a tree, would in turn by a tree be overcome. Therefore with angels and archangel, and all the company of heaven, we praise Your holy name and join their glorious song:
Congregation
(Sung) Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of heav’nly hosts
Heaven and earth are full of Your glory
Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the highest
Blessed is He. Blessed is He.
Blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the highest
Consecration of the Communion Elements (Pastor)
Pastor – The peace of the Lord be with you always.
Congregation – (Sung) Amen.
The Exhortation Regarding the Lord’s Supper (Pastor)
(Please read the following if you have not spoken with
our Pastor about taking communion. Thank you.)
To our Guests this morning, we appreciate your presence among us. It is an honor to have you join with us as we worship our Lord and listen to His Word. We truly consider it a privilege to spend this time with you! It is our hope that you will both return in the future to worship with us again, and – perhaps – that You will even choose to become part of our congregation’s membership and our Synodical (WELS) fellowship, so that you might become even more involved in worship, study of God’s Word, and in Christian ministry and fellowship with us.
In connection with our worship as Christians, we regularly celebrate the Lord’s Supper, or Holy Communion. But, as a key part of our church’s Biblically-based communion practice, before we can ask anyone to commune with us, we are compelled to first sit down with that individual and establish (upon a comprehensive study of the teachings of Scripture) that we are united in full doctrinal/ teaching fellowship…….which Scripture requires of any and all Christians before they can commune together.
Accordingly, we can offer the Lord’s Supper this morning only to those individuals who have completed that course of study, and who have chosen to become confirmed, communicant members of Grace Lutheran congregation or from one of our Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) or Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS) congregations.
For some guests, this Biblical practice of “Close Communion“ is both unfamiliar and (quite possibly) uncomfortable. We realize that, unfortunately, few churches today continue to follow this approach to communion…..though, in the past (when many churches were more concerned about following all of God’s Word than is the case today) nearly all did. We understand that it is not necessarily easy to watch others receiving the Lord’s Supper, while being asked – respectfully — to refrain from receiving it. Many of us who are communing today once also watched others receive the Lord’s Supper, as you are asked to do this morning, while waiting for the privilege of one day being an active partner in this “Close Communion.” We want to assure you that we are not judging your faith in Christ today. Nor it is our desire to offend you. But it also is not our desire to offend or disobey our Lord’s expectations for the proper use of His Supper. Indeed, we must all obey Him above all others, and we want to obey Him.
Consequently, if you have any questions or concerns about our use/practice of the Lord’s Supper (and we invite you to ask or express them — if you do), please feel free to speak with our Pastor after the service, or at your convenience. He considers it a privilege to share with you and others the Biblical reasons for our approach to receiving and offering the Lord’s Supper. In addition, you can also find a brochure in our tract/brochure rack in the entryway; it is entitled “Our Communion Practice.” This brochure also provides our guests and friends with the Scripture-based explanation for our understanding of and use of the Lord’s Supper.
Finally, please know that we truly are grateful for your participation – as a fellow Christian – in this morning’s worship service. We also thank you for your patience and understanding, and for respecting this Biblical approach we must take as we endeavor to faithful make us of our Lord’s Supper. We hope and pray that you will come back to worship with us again — often. And that one day you might become a part of this Christian fellowship, not only as we worship and hear God’s Word from these pews, but as we receive the Lord’s Supper together. May God bless and keep you always!
The Distribution Hymn Hymn 313 “Jesus Christ, Our Precious Savior”
1 Jesus Christ, our blessed Savior,
Turned away God’s wrath forever;
By his bitter grief and woe
He saved us from the evil foe.
2 As his pledge of love undying,
He, this precious food supplying,
Gives his body with the bread
And with the wine the blood he shed.
3 Jesus here himself is sharing;
Take heed how you are preparing,
For if you do not believe,
Judgment instead you shall receive.
4 Useless would be Jesus’ passion
If salvation you could fashion.
Do not come if you suppose
You need not him who died and rose.
5 Christ says, “Come, all you that labor,
And receive my grace and favor;
Those who feel no pain or ill
Need no physician’s help or skill.”
6 Then hold fast with faith unshaken
That this food is to be taken
By the souls who are distressed,
By hearts that long for peace and rest.
7 Praise the Father, who from heaven
Unto us such food has given
And, to mend what we have done,
Gave into death his only Son.
8 If your heart this truth professes
And your mouth your sin confesses,
Surely you will be his guest
And at his banquet ever blest.
We Leave With The Lord’s Blessing
The Closing Prayer
The Benediction
The LORD bless you and keep you.
The LORD make His face shine upon You and be gracious unto you,
The LORD look upon you with favor, and grant you His peace. Amen.
Closing Hymn Hymn 439 “Lord, Take My Hand And Lead Me”
1. Lord, take my hand and lead me
Upon life’s way;
Direct, protect, and feed me
From day to day.
Without your grace and favor
I go astray:
So take my hands, O Savior,
And lead the way.
2. Lord, when the tempest rages,
I need not fear;
For you, the Rock of Ages,
Are always near.
Close by your side abiding,
I fear no foe,
For when your hand is guiding,
In peace I go.
3. Lord, when the shadows lengthen
And nigh has come,
I know that you will strengthen
My steps toward home,
And nothing can impede me,
O Blessed Friend!
So, take my hand and lead me
Unto the end.
silent prayer
announcements
post-service music