Grace Lutheran Church – WELS
415 N. 6th Place, Lowell, AR 72745
The Eighth Sunday after the Festival of Epiphany
Quinquagesima (50) Sunday – March 02, 2025
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
Jesus’ Mercy on the Road to the Cross
This day on the traditional church calendar is known as Quinquagesima Sunday. Quinquagesima comes
from the Latin language and means “fifty.” Across the centuries the main emphasis of this worship service has been to remind Christians of what was ahead for our Savior 50 days from this day: namely that, after His sacrificial, substitutionary sufferings and death for our sins, Jesus would rise from His grave, victorious over sin, death and Satan’s power over us.
Among the centuries-old customs that have been associated with Quinquagesima Sunday, some churches refrain from using the world “alleluia” during worship until the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection on Easter Sunday. In earlier times Christians were also encouraged to refrain from eating meat from Quinquagesima until Lent – which begins in three days, on Ash Wednesday, concluded.
Incidentally, this coming Tuesday is known as Shrove Tuesday, a designation that dates back to the Middle Ages. On Tuesday, it was customary for a person to make a formal confession of his/her sins as a final preparation for observing Lent. This Tuesday preceding Ash Wednesday was, in some places in the past, also known as “Pancake Day.” On that day Christians would use up all their eggs and fat, making pancakes with them, since eggs and fat were forbidden (legalistically) to be eaten throughout Lent (and eggs could not be safely kept until Easter).
Today’s Scripture lessons all point us toward Lent and, particularly, Jesus’ Cross. Our Sermon Text begins: “He took the Twelve aside and said to them, “Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished. Indeed, He will be handed over to the Gentiles. They will mock Him, mistreat Him, spit on Him, flog Him, and kill Him. On the third day, He will rise again.” Luke also makes it clear for us that all the sufferings of Christ occurred in fulfilment of the Scriptures, since the Old Testament prophets had been inspired to write about the hardships that Jesus had to undergo and full for our forgiveness and salvation as the Promised Savior. As we compare those Old Testament prophecies to their fulfillment in the New Testament, our faith in Christ as our one and only Savior is strengthened.
Our Children’s Lesson today will remind us that even when Christ spoke very plainly about His sufferings and death, and when He also spoke of His resurrection three days later, His disciples didn’t really understand what He was saying to them about all that was going to take place. (Sometimes we also have problems understanding what God tells us in His Word…..). In the case of His disciples, their failure to understand His clear words about His upcoming death was, in part, because it was so contrary to the notions that they, as Jews – had been (falsely) taught about the Coming Messiah and the Kingdom He was supposed to establish. They still wrongly believed that the Messiah’s Kingdom would be a glorious earthly kingdom, restoring Judah to the kind of power David’s kingdom had possessed 1000 years earlier. And so they had a hard time believing that anything good could come about through the disgrace and death by crucifixion of the Messiah.
Just as the disciples accompanied Jesus on His journey to Jerusalem……starting this morning, and certainly throughout the coming season of Lent, we are also going to follow Jesus through the various events that led up to His sufferings and death on the cross, His burial, and His glorious bodily resurrection for our salvation on Easter Sunday.
This morning’s Epistle Lesson puts our Savior’s cross “front and center” in connection with our Christian faith, since the cross has become the premier symbol of God’s love, forgiveness and salvation for us through the redeeming work of Jesus. Across the centuries, the cross – which was once a symbol of disgrace, since only the worst of criminals and rebels were executed on it – has become both a positive sign of Christ Himself and the dominant symbol of the faith we have in Him as our Lord and Savior.
Interestingly, prior to the time of the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great (at the beginning of the 4th century), Christians were extremely careful about using the sign of the cross in any way, since displaying it too openly could expose them to persecution and death. However, after Constantine was brought to faith in Jesus, he abolished the act of crucifixion as a death penalty. He also encouraged the promotion of the cross as one of the chief symbols of the Christian faith. Another interesting note about the cross…..the earliest crucifixes depict Christ alive, with eyes open, arms extended, and wearing a royal crown. But by the 9th century this was changed instead to display Christ’s suffering and His death, with the royal crown being replaced by Jesus’ more familiar crown of thorns.
It is also worth our noting that each time you and I go into a church we always see a cross — sometimes on the altar, and some times above it. In addition, crosses are found throughout the building. Some churches have even been built in the shape of a cross.
Ultimately, as our Gospel Lesson reminds us, Jesus’ willingness to be lifted up (to die for us on the cross) declares the incomprehensible depth of God’s love for us sinners. As a result of this great love, through faith instilled in us by God Holy Spirit, you and I have the assurance that we have been forgiven all our sins, are reconciled to God, and possess the guarantee of everlasting life in heaven, through faith in Christ….perfect, crucified and risen for us.
Finally, the cross is also a symbol of the sort of life we Christians ought to live. Jesus has urged us, as His modern-day disciples to sacrificially take up our cross in life to follow Him (Luke 9:23). Instead of living sinfully for ourselves, we are blessed to live godly lives – as the Spirit enables us – out of gratitude for Christ’s sacrifice on the cross that has saved us. Paul, in his letter to the Galatians (2:20) described how he was motivated to live for the LORD because of Christ’s cross: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; And the life, I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
Pre-service Silent Prayer Heavenly Father, please guide me in wisdom and truth through Your Holy Spirit, as I spend this hour meditating on Your Word and rejoicing in Your limitless love for me. Assist me in being attentive in heart and mind to Your Word, as well as to the hymns of praise, the various petitions, and the prayers of thanksgiving my voice directs toward You. Use this worship service, O Lord, to deepen my love for You, to strengthen my trust in You, and to renew my commitment to You. All this I ask for the sake of and in the name of Your One and only Son, Jesus Christ, my Savior. Amen.
Prayer upon entering the sanctuary Pre-service Music
Let Us Praise The Lord
The Greeting and Invitation to Worship
The Invocation
P: We begin this service in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Opening Hymn Hymn 256 “How Great Thou Art”
1 O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the works thy hand hath made,
I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder,
Thy pow’r throughout the universe displayed.
Refrain:
Then sings my soul, my Savior-God, to thee,
“How great thou art! How great thou art!”
Then sings my soul, my Savior-God to thee,
“How great thou art! How great thou art!”
2 When through the woods and forest glades I wander,
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;
When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur
And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze, [Refrain]
3 And when I think that God, his Son not sparing,
Sent him to die, I scarce can take it in,
That on the cross my burden gladly bearing
He bled and died to take away my sin. [Refrain]
4 When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!
Then I shall bow in humble adoration
And there proclaim: “My God, how great thou art!” [Refrain]
after which the Congregation will rise
We Make Confession Of Our Sins To God
Pastor God, our Heavenly Father, invites us to come into His presence and to worship Him with humble and penitent hearts. Therefore, let us now turn to Him, acknowledging our sinfulness and seeking His forgiveness for all our sins.
Congregation Holy and merciful Father, + I confess that I am by nature sinful + and that I have disobeyed
You in my thoughts, words, and actions; + I have done what is evil in Your sight + and have failed to do what is good. + For this I know that I deserve Your punishment, + both now and for eternity. + But I am truly sorry for all my sins, + and trusting in the perfect life + and innocent death of my Savior, Jesus Christ, + I plead: + God have mercy on me, a sinner.
Pastor Our gracious Lord and Master has shown us His mercy: He has given His one and only Son to save us from all our sins. And now, by His command and under His authority, I assure you that your sins are all forgiven – and that eternal life is yours, by grace through faith…….in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. May the peace of God rest upon all of you. Amen.
Lord Have Mercy
P: For all that we need in life, and for the wisdom to use all Your gifts with gratitude and joy, hear our prayer, O Lord.
C: (sung) Lord have mercy
P: For the steadfast assurance that nothing can separate us from Your love and for the courage to stand firm against the assaults of Satan and every evil, hear our prayer, O Christ:
C: (Sung) Christ have mercy.
P: For the well-being of Your holy Church in all the world and for those who offer here their worship and praise, hear our prayer, O Lord
C: (Sung) Lord have mercy.
P: Merciful God, Maker and Preserver of life, uphold us by Your power, and keep us in Your tender care:
C: (sung) Amen.
P: The works of the Lord are great and glorious; His name is worthy of praise.
(Sung) O Lord, our Lord,
How glorious is Your name in all the earth.
Almighty God, merciful Father,
Your crown our life with Your love.
You take away our sin; You comfort our spirit;
You make us pure and holy in Your sight.
You did not spare Your only Son,
but gave Him up for us all.
O Lord, our Lord,
How glorious is Your name in all the earth.
O Son of God, eternal Word of the Father,
You came to live with us;
You made Your Father known;
You washed us from our sins in Your own blood.
You are the King of glory; You are the Lord!
O Lord, our Lord, How glorious is Your name in all the earth
Our Prayer for “Quinquagesima” Sunday
Lord Jesus Christ, + You are a safe refuge in this troubled world. + In Your Word You assure us + that You are our Great High Priest + Who offered Yourself as the supreme + once-for-all-time sacrifice + to deliver us from the curse of our sins + from the fear of death, + and from the Devil’s power. + In Your mercy You have exalted us + to be members of Your Church now and forever. + Precious Savior, as we mediate upon Your Word today, —- through the Holy Spirit’s working + fill our hearts with the desire to always love what is right + and to avoid what is evil in Your sight. + Enable us to follow You obediently + and to serve You faithfully all our lives + until that day comes + when You call our earthly pilgrimage to a close + and graciously grant us the fullness + of everlasting life and glory in heaven with You. + Hear and answer our prayer, dear Lord, + as we offer it in Your name. + and for Your sake. + Amen.
After which the Congregation may be seated
Feed Us, Lord
The Children’s Lesson Mark 9:30-32
30 They went on from there and passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know this, 31 because He
was teaching His disciples. He told them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Hm. But three days after He is killed, He will rise.”
32 But they did not understand the statement and were afraid to ask Him about it.
Jesus’ Disciples Didn’t Always Understand Him.
(And Sometimes We Also Don’t Understand)
The Epistle Lesson 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God. 19 In fact, it is written: I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will bring to nothing.
20 Where is the wise man? Where is the expert in the Jewish law? Where is the probing thinker of the present age? Has God not shown that the wisdom of this world is foolish? 21 Indeed, since the world through its wisdom did not know God, God in His wisdom decided to save those who believe, through the foolishness of the preached message. 22 Yes, Jews ask for signs, Greeks desire wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified—which is offensive to Jews and foolishness to Greeks, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 We preach Christ crucified, because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
26 For example, consider your call, brothers. Not many of you were wise from a human point of view, not many were powerful, and not many were born with high status. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to put to shame those who are wise. God chose the weak things of the world to put to shame the things that are strong, 28 and God chose the lowly things of the world and the despised things, and the things that are not, to do away with the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before God. 30 But because of Him you are in Christ Jesus, Who became for us the wisdom from God, namely, our righteousness and sanctification and redemption. 31 God did this so that, just as it is written, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”
After which the congregation will rise for
Our Gospel Lesson John 12:20-33
20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Festival. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we want to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went to tell Andrew. Andrew came with Philip and told Jesus.
23 Jesus answered them, “The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Amen, Amen, I tell you: Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it continues to be one kernel. But if it dies, it produces much grain. 25 Anyone who loves his life destroys it. And the one who hates his life in this world will hold on to it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me. And where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.
27 “Now my soul is troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, this is the reason I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify Your name!”
A voice came from heaven: “I have glorified My name, and I will glorify it again.”
29 The crowd standing there heard it and said it thundered. Others said an angel talked to him. 30 Jesus answered, “This voice was not for My sake but for yours.
31 “Now is the judgment of this world. Now the ruler of this world will be thrown out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to Myself.” 33 He said this to indicate what kind of death He was going to die.
The Baptism of Theodore James Boatright
The Baptism Choral Hymn “Word and Water, Filled with Promise”
After the choral selection is done,
Teddy and his family will come before the baptismal font
The Blessings and Purpose for Baptism
The Lesson Mark 10:13-16
13 Some people began bringing little children to Jesus so that He would touch them. But the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, He was indignant. He said, “Let the little children come to me! Do not hinder them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Amen I tell you: Whoever will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 And He took the little children in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.
The Exhortation to the Parents
After which the Congregation will rise for
The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost; Born of the Virgin Mary; Suffered under Pontius Pilate; Was crucified, dead and buried; He descended into hell; The third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; The Holy Christian Church, the Communion of Saints; The forgiveness of sins; The resurrection of the body; And the life everlasting. Amen.
The Sacrament of Baptism
The Exhortation to Grace Lutheran Congregation
Our Prayer for Theodore James Boatright
Afterward, Teddy and his family will return to their seats
Sermon Hymn Hymn 362 “Lord Jesus Christ, My Savior Blest”
1 Lord Jesus Christ,
My Savior blest,
My Hope and my Salvation!
Lord, hear my plea:
Deliver me
From misery!
Your Word brings consolation.
2 Lord, as you will,
So lead me still;
Your mercy fails me never.
My God, I pray:
Teach me your way
To my last day;
From evil keep me ever.
3 I have your Word,
Christ Jesus, Lord:
You never will forsake me!
This will I plead
In time of need.
Oh, help with speed
When troubles overtake me!
4 Now henceforth must
I put my trust
In you, O dearest Savior.
Your gracious choice,
Your Word and voice,
Make me rejoice
Though sinful my behavior.
5 Grant, Lord, I pray,
Your grace each day,
That I, your name revering,
Your glory see
And happy be
Eternally,
Before your throne appearing.
after which the Congregation will rise
The Greeting
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ! O Lord, open my lips, that my mouth may declare Your praise. Amen.
Today’s Sermon Luke 18:31-43
31 He took the Twelve aside and said to them, “Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished. 32 Indeed, He will be handed over to the Gentiles. They will mock Him, mistreat Him, spit on Him, 33 flog Him, and kill Him. On the third day, He will rise again.”
34 They did not understand any of these things. What He said was hidden from them, and they did not understand what was said.
35 As He approached Jericho, a blind man sat by the road, begging. 36 When he heard a crowd going by, he asked what was happening. 37 They told him that Jesus the Nazarene was passing by. 38 He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 39 Those who were at the front of the crowd rebuked him, telling him to be quiet. But he kept calling out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
40 Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to Him. When he came near, He asked him, 41 “What do you want Me to do for you?”
He said, “Lord, I want to see again.”
42 Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight. Your faith has saved you.”
43 Immediately he received his sight and began following Jesus, glorifying God. All the people, when they saw this, gave praise to God.
Jesus’ Merciful Stop on the Road to the Cross
Post-Sermon Blessing
May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God our Father, Who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, now encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. 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 is:
Prayers of Intercession for:
Tim Pfortmiller who is receiving treatments for cancer;
for Diane Pfortmiller, who is contending with a number of health issues;
for Carol Ruiz, recovering from a respiratory infection
for George Layton, who is in Washington Regional Hospital;
Plus
A Prayer of Thanksgiving
on behalf of Karen & Kent Swogger, whose anniversary is today
Today’s Prayer concluding with…..
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 for ever and ever. Amen.
We Celebrate the Lord’s Supper
P: The Lord be with you.
C: (sung) And also with you.
P: Lift up your hearts.
C: (sung) We lift them up to the Lord.
P: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God
C: (sung) It is right to give Him thanks and praise.
P: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In love He has blessed us with every Spiritual blessing. In the past He spoke to us through the prophets, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, Who is the Radiance of His glory. Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ. To Him Who sits on the throne and to the Lamb, be praise and thanks and honor and glory for ever and ever.
(Sung) Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts.
The whole earth is full of Your glory
You are my God and I will exalt You.
I will lift You up for You have become my salvation.
Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts.
The whole earth is full of Your glory
The Words of Institution
P: The peace of the Lord be with you always.
C: (sung) Amen.
After which the Congregation may be seated.
The Exhortation Regarding the Lord’s Supper
The Distribution of the Sacramental Elements
Distribution Hymn Hymn 312 “Lord Jesus Christ You Have Prepared
verses 1-4; 5-8
1 Lord Jesus Christ, you have prepared This feast for our salvation;
It is your body and your blood, And at your invitation
As weary souls, with sin oppressed, We come to you for needed rest,
For comfort, and for pardon.
2 Although you did to heav’n ascend, Where angel hosts are dwelling,
And in your presence they behold Your glory, all excelling,
And though your people shall not see Your glory and your majesty
Till dawns the judgment morning,
3 Yet, Savior, you are not confined To any habitation,
But you are present ev’rywhere And with your congregation.
Firm as a rock this truth shall stand, Unmoved by any daring hand
Or subtle craft and cunning.
4 We eat this bread and drink this cup, Your precious Word believing
That your true body and your blood Our lips are here receiving.
This Word remains forever true, And there is naught you cannot do,
For you, Lord, are almighty.
5 Though reason cannot understand, Yet faith this truth embraces:
Your body, Lord, is ev’rywhere At once in many places.
I leave to you how this can be; Your Word alone suffices me;
I trust its truth unfailing.
6 Lord, I believe what you have said; Help me when doubts assail me.
Remember that I am but dust, And let my faith not fail me.
Your supper in this vale of tears Refreshes me and stills my fears
And is my priceless treasure.
7 Grant that we worthily receive Your supper, Lord, our Savior,
And, truly grieving for our sins, May prove by our behavior
That we are thankful for your grace And day by day may run our race,
In holiness increasing.
8 For your consoling supper, Lord, Be praised throughout all ages!
Preserve it, for in ev’ry place The world against it rages.
Grant that this sacrament may be A blessed comfort unto me
When living and when dying.
(Please read the following if you have not spoken with our Pastor about taking Communion. Thank you.)
TO OUR GUESTS AND FRIENDS
We ask that only “Confirmed, Communicant” members of this congregation, or of one of our Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod congregations come forward to receive the Lord’s Supper at this time. To us the Lord’s Supper is both an expression of our common faith in Christ (which we share with all our fellow Christian worshipers this morning), and also a public expression of our complete doctrinal agreement as a congregation and church body (as I Corinthians 1:10 and 10:17, as well as Romans 16:17 and I John 4:1 require of us).
Accordingly if you are not a communicant member of Grace Lutheran Church or our Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, we are not, in any way, judging your Christian faith by respectfully asking you not to join us in the Lord’s Supper this morning. Rather, we pray that our Scripture-based practice of “Close Communion” will encourage all those Christians who are not presently in full fellowship with us to seriously examine the teachings and practices of their church in order to determine if those teachings and practices are really in full agreement with God’s Word. It is our earnest desire that you might become familiar with the doctrines of our congregation, so that you might one day join with us at the Lord’s altar in this public expression of full unity of doctrine and practice. Until then, please know that we are most grateful for your participation as a fellow Christian in this worship service, and that we appreciate your patience and understanding of our Communion practice. Finally, if you do have any questions or concerns about our “Close Communion” practice, please speak with our Pastor following this worship service, or at your convenience.
We Leave with the Lord’s Blessing
The Closing Prayer
Hear the prayer of Your people, O Lord, that the lips which have praised You here may glorify You in the world, that the eyes which have seen the coming of Your Son may long for His coming again, and that all who have received in his true body and blood the pledge of Your forgiveness may be restored to live a new and holy life, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
The Benediction
P: Brothers and sisters, go in peace. Live in harmony with one another. Serve the Lord in gladness.
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 327 “God Be with You ‘Til We Meet Again”
1 God be with you till we meet again, By his counsels guide, uphold you,
With his sheep securely fold you– God be with you till we meet again.
Refrain:
Till we meet, Till we meet, Till we meet at Jesus’ feet.
Till we meet, Till we meet– God be with you till we meet again.
2 God be with you till we meet again, ‘Neath his wings protecting hide you,
Daily manna still provide you– God be with you till we meet again. [Refrain]
Silent Prayer, Announcements,
Post-service music