The Fourth Sunday in Lent
also known as Laetere Sunday
(Latin for “Rejoice”) March 15, 2026
Our Upside Down Message of Salvation
Mr. Irrelevant is the nickname given to a player selected with the final pick in an NFL draft. Players chosen with this pick are often released from the team that drafted them before the regular season begins. One of the biggest exceptions is the Mr Irrelevant of 2022, current San Francisco 49-ers starting quarterback, Brock Purdy. “Mr. Irrelevant” and “Irrelevant Week” began in 1976 when former college and pro football player, Paul Salata, founded the event in Newport Beach, California. After each draft the new Mr. Irrelevant — last player selected in the annual NFL draft — and his family are invited to spend a week during the summer in Newport Beach. A trip to Disneyland, a golf tournament featuring a main foursome consisting of the highest-handicapped golfers from each of four neighboring courses, a No Start/No Finish regatta, a roast giving advice to the new draftee, and a ceremony awarding him the Lowsman Trophy are traditional activities associated with “Irrelevant Week”. The trophy mimics the Heisman Trophy but depicts a player fumbling a football.
In many ways, Jesus was Mr. Irrelevant throughout His public ministry….at least as far as the Jewish religious leadership was concerned. If it had been up to them, He was the last person that would have been picked to be the Promised Messiah. That’s because His Gospel message of salvation by grace alone, through faith alone – without works…..contrasted greatly with their legalistic view that God offered salvation especially to faithful Jews who were obedient to His Laws, thus earning His favor and a place in heaven. Initially, no doubt, they viewed Jesus as a Galilean “nuisance” and an irrelevant rabbi. But His preaching, miracles, and rapidly growing following among the people quickly forced the Law-oriented Jewish religious hierarchy to reject Jesus and His Gospel-driving message as dangerous. It wasn’t long before the decided He had to be eliminated “for the good of the people” (actually…”for the sake of the Jewish religious leaders’ continued influence over the people). And so they had Jesus illegally executed by crucifixion on Good Friday.
Judaism’s legalistic (and damnably wrong) message that salvation is earned by an individual’s goodness and obedience. Other than our Christian faith, all the world’s religions join Judaism in teaching, in one form or fashion, salvation by works. Only our Christian faith teaches the truth about salvation….that sinful man can never be good enough to earn God’s favor and a place in heaven. Instead, Christ came to earth as the God-Man, commissioned by God the Father, to earn our righteousness for us through His sinless, obedient life, and to secure the forgiveness of all our sins through His sacrificial, substitutionary death on Calvary’s cross. Three days later, Jesus’ rose from His grave, proving that our sins are forgiven, that we will one day rise from our graves by His power, and that He is the Almighty God Who is worthy of our worship and faith. Far from Irrelevant…..Jesus is Mr. Essential when it comes to salvation. And far from being an “alternative” to legalism, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only means by which any person can be saved from his/her sins, for eternal life in heaven, through faith in Him.
Consequently, the Gospel turns “upside down” and “inside out” natural religion’s lie that a person can save him-/herself. For it teaches us that our souls are truly saved by God’s grace alone, through Holy Spirit-given faith alone, in the redeeming life and death of Jesus Christ for us.
The Apostle Paul (formerly known as the Pharisee Saul) had
lived his youthful and early adult life zealously believing Judaism’s basic tenet (teaching) of faith: that salvation is earned by a person’s goodness and obedience, as well as his/her ethnicity (being a Jew). Consequently Paul hated Christ and Christianity’s Gospel message of salvation by God’s grace, apart from works, through faith in Jesus. In our Opening Lesson Saul is on his way to Damascus to persecute Christians there. But Christ dramatically meets him in a vision just outside the city, deprives Saul of his sight and challenges him with the question: “Why are you persecuting Me?” After being led into the city, Saul contemplated what had occurred to him and – through the gracious power of the Holy Spirit – was brought to faith in Christ. Consequently, Christianity’s greatest foe became one of it’s greatest assets and advocates.
Our Epistle Lesson, written years after his Damascus road conversion, Paul goes into some detail about how Christ had turned his life upside down and inside out. What had been “everything” to Paul – being an up-and-coming Pharisee (headed for hell because of his legalism…though he didn’t realize that at the time)…became “nothing” to him once God brought him to saving faith in Christ. And for Jesus’ sake, Paul was willing – even eager – to give up everything including his life….since he knew that he was truly saved, by grace alone, through faith in Christ alone.
Today’s Gospel Lesson, Jesus’ Parable of the Tenants,” is a very appropriate reading for the Season of Lent, since the owner of the vineyard symbolizes God the Father. The vineyard tenants represent the Jewish nation, to which God had given the Promised Land. The messengers he sent to the vineyard tenants were the Old Testament prophets, many of which were abused by God’s chosen people. And the owner’s son, whom the vineyard tenants murdered, is none other than God’s Son, Jesus Christ.
This morning’s Sermon ties together all three of these lessons, and will contrast salvation by legalism (which Paul, many Jews, and many people today embrace) with salvation by the Gospel of God’s grace alone, by faith (and not works) alone, through the redeeming work of Jesus Christ alone. Our theme will be: Our Upside Down Message of Salvation.
Finally, today’s Children’s Lesson is Jesus’ parable of the lost coin – and its finder’s celebration when that coin was found. It ties in well with the traditional emphasis of Laetere (Joy) Sunday. Specific-ally, we’ll talk about the joy of heaven’s angels whenever a person is brought to faith, and about how our real joy in life should (and can) come – not from our earthly situations and successes – but from the spiritual blessings that we receive from God and share with others!
Today is “Laetere”….a Sunday to “Rejoice”
As we work our way through the season of Lent, we arrive this morning at the Sunday traditionally known as Laetere Sunday (Latin for “Rejoice”). This name is taken from a word in the opening verse of our composite Psalm reading for today: Psalm 122:1, “I rejoiced when the said to me, let us go to the house of the Lord.” As David rejoiced at the opportunity to worship the Lord nearly 3000 years ago, so today we rejoice at the privilege of entering our Lord’s “house,” here to worship Him, to confess our sins, to receive the good news of His forgiveness in the Gospel, to offer Him our prayers, and to gain wisdom and guidance for Christian living through our study of His Word.
One of the more interesting historical facts connected to Laetere (“Rejoice”) Sunday is this: in the early days of the Christian Church, Lent was originally celebrated as a three (instead of a six) week season. Accordingly, if we were still following that three week approach, tomorrow would mark the formal/official beginning of the penitential season of Lent. For the early Christians, then, Laetere Sunday was actually the last Sunday (until Easter) to “rejoice” before the more subdued and sober atmosphere of Lent dominated the public worship services. To this day, “Laetere” Sunday is viewed as something of a mid-point “reprieve to rejoice” during the otherwise serious penitential season of Lent.
Pre-Service Prayer –
In the name of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
My heavenly Father, I thank You through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, for keeping me through this day from all harm and danger. Forgive me all my sins, wherever I have done wrong, and graciously keep me through this night. Into Your hands I commend my body and soul and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, so that the devil may have no power over me. 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
Silent Prayer Pre-service Music
We Praise Our God
The Introduction and Invitation To Worship
following which, the Congregation will rise for the invocation
The Invocation
Pastor We begin this service in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Opening Psalm selected verses of Psalms 122, 32, and 138
P: I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”
C: I will praise You, O God, with all my heart; before the “gods” I will sing Your praise.
P: If You, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?
C: But with You there is forgiveness; therefore You are feared.
P: When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.
C: For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; + my strength was sapped like in the heat of summer.
P: Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord” — and You forgave the guilt of my sin.
C: and You forgave the guilt of my sin.
P: O Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love, and with Him is full redemption.
C: He Himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.
P: The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me;
C: Your love, O Lord, endures forever.
after which the Congregation will be seated for
The Opening Hymn “Joyful, Joyful We Adore You” (CW 169)
v 1 alt, vv 2-3 cwh, 1999
Joyful, joyful we adore You, God of glory, God of love!
Heav’n and earth bow down before You, Praising You, our Lord above.
You our Father, Christ our Savior, With the Spirit faith provides,
Life eternal we’ve been granted, gracious gift that e’er abides.
You are giving and forgiving, Ever glorious, Ever blest.
Source of every kind of blessing, Giver of eternal rest.
You have claimed us as Your children
Heaven’s heirs through faith alone —
In the Rock of our salvation, Jesus Christ, our Lord, Your Son.
Lord, receive our prayers and praises,
weak and humble though they be.
Yours the power, Yours the glory, Both today and endlessly.
None beside You, None before You, God of mercy, full and free.
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Ever blessed Trinity. Amen.
After which the Congregation will rise
The Confession of our Sins
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.
(Sung) Lord have mercy on us.
Christ Have Mercy on Us
Lord have mercy on us.
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, having humbly and sincerely confessed your sins before Almighty God, be strengthened in your faith, mindful that our Lord is not willing that anyone should perish eternally, but that everyone should come to repentance, turning from their evil ways and receiving from Him everlasting life. God has commanded His ministers to declare His forgiveness of sins to all who are penitent. Therefore, addressing you as a called servant of Christ, and according to His command and under His authority, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
May the peace of God rest upon all of you. 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
after which, the Congregation will be seated as
We Give Our Attention To God’s Word
The First Lesson Acts 9:1-19
Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord. He went to the
high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any men or women belonging to the Way, he might bring them to Jerusalem as prisoners. 3 As he went on his way and was approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” 5 He asked, “Who are You, Lord?” He replied, “I am Jesus, Whom you are persecuting. 6 But get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you need to do.”
7 The men traveling with him stood there speechless. They heard the voice but did not see anyone. 8 They raised Saul up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes, he could not see anything. They took him by the hand and led him into Damascus. 9 For three days he could not see, and he did not eat or drink.
10 There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias!” He answered, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 The Lord told him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. In fact, at this very moment he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he can regain his sight.” 13 Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many people about this man and how much harm he did to Your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And he has authority here from the chief priests to arrest all who call on Your name.” 15 The Lord said to him, “Go! This man is My chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. 16 Indeed, I will show him how much he must suffer for My name.”
17 Ananias left and entered the house. Laying his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, Whom you saw on your way here, has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized. 19 And after taking some food, he regained his strength.
The Epistle Lesson Philippians 3:4-14
If anyone else thinks that he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the
eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 in regard to zeal, persecuting the church; in regard to the righteousness that is in the law, blameless.
7 But, whatever things were a profit for me, these things I have come to consider a loss because of Christ. 8 But even more than that, I consider everything to be a loss because of what is worth far more: knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord. For His sake, I have lost all things and consider them rubbish, so that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own, which comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness that comes from God by faith. 10 I do this so that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 in the hope that in some way I may arrive at the resurrection from the dead.
12 Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus also took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it yet, but there is one thing I do: Forgetting the things that are behind and straining toward the things that are ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal, for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
After which, out of respect for the words of Christ,
the Congregation will rise for
The Gospel Lesson Luke 20:9-20
9 He began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, leased it to some tenant farmers, and went away on a journey for a long time. 10 When it was the right time, he sent a servant to the tenants to collect his share of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenant farmers beat the servant and sent him away empty-handed. 11 The man went ahead and sent yet another servant, but they also beat him, treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. 12 He then sent yet a third. They also wounded him and threw him out. 13 The owner of the vineyard said, ‘What should I do? I will send my son, whom I love. Perhaps they will respect him.’
14 “But when the tenant farmers saw him, they talked it over with one another. They said, ‘This is the heir. Let’s kill him, so that the inheritance will be ours.’ 15 They threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. So what will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16 He will come and destroy those tenant farmers and give the vineyard to others.”
When they heard this, they said, “May it never be!” 17 But He looked at them and said, “Then what about this that is written: The Stone that the builders rejected has become the Cornerstone? 18 “Everyone who falls on that Stone will be broken to pieces, and It will crush the one on whom It falls.”
19 That very hour the chief priests and the experts in the law began looking for a way to lay hands on Him, because they knew He had spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people.
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.
The Children’s Lesson Luke 15:8-10
8 “Or what woman who has ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, would not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls together her friends and neighbors and says, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found the lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Joy Over Every Soul’s Salvation
The Sermon Hymn “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”
Hope Publishing, used under OneLicense.net #A712831
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be. (REFRAIN)
(REFRAIN) Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love. (REFRAIN)
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside! (REFRAIN)
After which, the Congregation will rise for
The Salutation
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 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 Today’s 3 Scripture Lessons
Looking at Life – and Salvation –
Upside Down and Inside Out
after which the Congregation will REMAIN SEATED for
The 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
The Offerings are gathered and presented to our Lord
After which the Congregation will be invited to rise
Lord, Receive our Prayers
P: Lord God, on account of Your rich mercy poured out on us through Jesus Christ our Savior, hear our prayers. Continue to look graciously on us and Your whole Christian Church on earth.
C: We rejoice in the freedom from condemnation and in the redemption that is ours through Christ. + On account of Jesus’ saving work we are Your treasured possession. + We thank You for all those persons in our past + which You used to proclaim to us the Gospel of the crucified and risen Savior, + through which Your Holy Spirit caused faith to arise in our hearts.
P: As the Gospel continues to be proclaimed throughout the world, we pray that the leaders of its many nations would make the kind of decisions, O Lord, that reflect Your love for the whole human race. Guide and protect our nation’s citizens from all harm – physical and spiritual – especially in this time of war. Also cause all the governments of the world to work for the well-being of all people. We especially pray that You would move the world’s leaders to give the Gospel free course in their lands, so that it might find fertile ground in the hearts of all who hear it.
C: We also pray for our own congregation, + that in our Christian lives we might consistently walk + not according to the flesh, + but according to the Spirit, + caring for one another, + and showing generosity toward all those whose needs are evident. + But enable us also to look outside these walls where we worship, + to the many other treasured souls all around us + for which Christ also went to cross, + and lead us to do all within the means that You have given us to proclaim Jesus’ love to them.
P: Through Holy Baptism and the ministry of Your Word we became – and have remained – members of Your family of faith. As we reflect upon this great blessing, move us to joyfully raise our hearts and hands in grateful and faithful service to You – the God of our salvation.
C: Bless all who worship and serve You through this family of faith. + Let Your Word touch the lives of everyone here + as we meditate upon the mysteries of Your great love for us in Christ Jesus. + Help us also to remember our responsibility + to work together with the other congregations of our Synod, + to see to it that the Gospel is proclaimed + throughout our country and around the world. + Also, watch over our Synod’s missionaries + who have gone out into the world on our behalf with the Gospel of Jesus.
P: Lord, we know that the devil will do his upmost to ruin our lives on this earth and our hope for going to heaven. When Your children are damaged by the struggles of this life and challenged by difficult decisions, continue to strengthen and sustain them with the blessed assurance that they are Your treasured possession, and that You are always working for their earthly and eternal good. In particular this morning, we pray for:
Kent Mayer, who underwent knee replacement surgery this past Monday and who is recovering successfully from that operation.
Judy Siirila, (Debbie Huebner’s sister), who has been diagnosed with cancer and will be undergoing surgery for it in the coming weeks.
In addition, we pray for our those brothers and sisters within our church and extended family who are facing health and personal problems ranging from cancer to diabetes, from vision disorders to fibromyalgia, from respiratory distress to heart disease, from Parkinson’s Disease and depression to various physical injuries and their complications…… and other ailments and afflictions, as well as loneliness, marital and family problems, employment and financial difficulties, and more.
We are so small, so frail, so powerless to manage life’s challenges and even life’s ordinary situations. Lord, please help all those we know and care about who are in need – granting them Your gifts of healing and health, support and success….and the continuing assurance that You are fully aware of their personal and spiritual needs, and that You have the ability and commitment to meet them….. indeed, that You have a perfect plan for the lives of every one of us (whether or not we understand and appreciate it), and that You will never take us into any circumstances in which You will not work things out, in the end, for our best personal and spiritual interests, and particularly for Your glory and honor.
P: Hear us also, LORD, as we take a few moments to silently offer You our personal petitions and praises.
A Moment For Silent Prayer
P: Finally, Lord God, accept our thanks for the tremendous privilege of being called Your children, and of being able to come to You now and at any time in prayer. Help us to grow intellectually, emotionally, spiritually through Your Word, so that we may be faithful servants for You in our homes, and communities, in our congregations, and as members of Your Church on earth. Mercifully hear our prayer, and bless us one and all, for the sake and in the name of Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, Who lives and rules with You and the Holy Spirit, eternally one God, forever and ever. And in Whose name we also offer our 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 un to the Lord,
Pastor – Let us give thanks unto the Lord, our God.
Congregation (sung) It is good and right so to do.
P: 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 Distribution of the Elements
(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 nearly all did (when many churches were more concerned about following all of God’s Word than is the case today). 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 being 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 faithfully make use of our Lord’s Supper. We hope and pray that you will come back to worship with us again — often. And it’s also our prayer 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!
Distribution Hymns Hymn 302 “Lord, To You I Make Confession”
Hymn 312 “Lord Jesus Christ, You Have Prepared”
We Leave With The Lord’s Blessing
The Closing Prayer
The Benediction
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you.
The Lord look with favor upon you, and give you His peace. Amen.
The Closing Hymn “O Dearest Friend”
text by Jaraslov Vajda, MorningStar Music
used with permission, OneLicense.net A715676
O Dearest Friend, my kindest and most faithful Friend,
Do not discard me, Though I grieve You much.
I look for You, at ev’ry cliff-walled trail’s end,
In crowds and lonely rooms, to feel Your touch.
I mourn the vows of love I made, but have not kept,
I call You from a heart You made Your own.
Remember me, as one who in the garden slept
While You were on Your way to earn my fadeless crown.
Create in me a heart that’s clean as newest born,
A heart, my God, that beats for You alone.
Make it a temple Your free spirit would adorn,
With living flesh replace my heart of stone.
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
Recapture, Oh, the thrill of our first love.
Securely hold me, mold me, Your creation,
Delight me yet again with Your disarming love.