Midweek Lent Evening Worship Service
March 16, 2022
Our 2022 Lenten Services Theme:
“Seven Times Our Savior Spoke”
Tonight: from Luke 23:39-43…. ”Today You Will Be With Me In Paradise.”
Silent Prayer Pre-service Music
We Approach The Lord With Praise And Prayer
The Service Introduction and Invitation to Worship
at the Pastor’s invitation, the Congregation will rise for
The Invocation
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Opening Psalm: Psalm 38
P: Lord, do not rebuke me in anger. Do not discipline me in wrath. Indeed, Your arrows have stuck in me. Your hand has come down on me. There is no health in my flesh because of Your rage. There is no wellness in my bones because of my sin, because my guilt has gone over my head. Like a heavy burden, it is too heavy for me.
C: My wounds stink and ooze because of my folly. I am drooping. I am completely bent over. All day long I go around mourning. 7 Even my back burns with pain. My whole body is unhealthy. I have become numb. I am totally crushed. I groan loudly because of my anxious thoughts. Lord, all my needs lie before You. My sighs are not hidden from You.
P: My heart beats quickly. My strength leaves me. Even the light of my eyes is gone from me. My loved ones and my friends stand far away because of the blow I have suffered. My neighbors stand at a distance. Those who pursue my life set traps. Those who seek to harm me talk about my ruin. All day long they plot deception.
C: I am deaf. I cannot hear. Like a mute person, I cannot open my mouth. I am like a man who cannot hear. No response comes from his mouth. Yet I wait for You, Lord. You will answer, O Lord my God. So I said, “Do not let them celebrate because of me. Do not let them gloat when my foot slips.”
P: Look! I am about to fall, and I am always in pain, so I declare my guilt, and I am troubled by my sin. My aggressive enemies are numerous. Those who hate me for no reason are many. Those who repay evil for good slander me because I pursue what is good.
C: Do not forsake me, O Lord. My God, do not be far from me. Hurry to help me, O Lord, my salvation.
After which the Congregation may be seated for
The Opening Hymn Hymn 108 “Jesus, Refuge of the Weary”
1 Jesus, Refuge of the weary, Blest Redeemer, Whom we love,
Fountain in life’s desert dreary, Savior from the world above,
Oh, how oft your eyes, offended, Gaze upon a sinner’s fall!
Yet, upon the cross extended, You endured the pain of all.
2 Dare we pass that cross unheeding, Breathing no repentant vow,
As we see You wounded, bleeding, See your thorn-encircled brow?
Since Your sinless death has brought us Life eternal, peace, and rest,
Only what Your grace has taught us Calms the sinner’s deep distress.
3 Jesus, may our hearts be burning With more fervent love for You!
May our eyes be ever turning To behold Your cross anew,
Till in glory, parted never From the blessed Savior’s side,
Graven in our hearts forever, Dwell the cross, the Crucified! Amen
After which the Congregation will rise for
The Order of Vespers/Evening Worship
Pastor “O Lord, open my lips.”
Congregation (Sung) And my mouth shall show forth Your praise.
Pastor “Hasten, O God, to deliver me.”
Congregation (Sung) Hasten to help me, O Lord.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.
We Confess our Sins Excerpted, with modifications, from Daniel 9
O Lord, my great and awesome God, + my merciful Father in heaven, + Who keeps His covenant of love with all who love Him and obey His commands, + I confess that I have sinned and done wrong. + I have been wicked and have rebelled against You. + I have turned away from Your commands and laws. + I have not listened to Your Holy Word faithfully.
Lord, You alone are righteous, + while I am covered with shame because of my unfaithfulness to You. + Indeed, at times I have refused to obey You, + and have repeatedly done wrong in my thoughts, words, and actions.
O Lord, in keeping with all Your righteous acts, + I plead with You to turn away from me Your anger and Your wrath. + O gracious God, hear this humble petition of Your servant. + Look with favor upon me and be gracious to me, an undeserving sinner. + O Lord, listen! + O Lord, forgive me all my sins! + O Lord, hear and act! + I do not make this request of You because I am righteous, + but because of Your great mercy, + and for the sake of the perfect life, + and the innocent sufferings and death of Your Son, + my Savior, Jesus Christ, + in Whose name I pray. + Amen.
Pastor – Upon this, your voluntary confession, and in accordance with the responsibilities entrusted to me as a called and ordained servant of the Living Word, I assure you that God, our heavenly Father, has
forgiven you all your sins. By the perfect life and innocent death of our Lord Jesus Christ, He has removed your guilt and condemnation forever. You are His own dear child – an heir of everlasting life through faith in Christ. May God now give you the strength of faith to live according to His will. Go in His grace and peace. Amen.
We Meditate On God’s Word
The Scripture Reading:
The story of Christ’s Passion,
as recorded in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
Tonight’s Reading: Jesus On Trial Before Caiaphas
While Jesus was still speaking, suddenly Judas (one of the Twelve) arrived. With him was a large crowd with
lanterns, torches, swords, and clubs, who came from the chief priests and elders of the people. Judas was leading them. Jesus, knowing everything that was going to happen to Him, went out and asked them, “Who are you looking for?” “Jesus the Nazarene,” they replied. “I am He,” Jesus told them. Judas, the betrayer, was standing with them. When Jesus told them, “I am He,” they backed away and fell to the ground. Then Jesus asked them again, “Who are you looking for?” “Jesus the Nazarene,” they said. “I told you that I am He,” Jesus replied. “So if you are looking for Me, let these men go.” This was to fulfill the statement He had spoken: “I did not lose any of those you have given me.”
Now the betrayer had given them a sign: “The One I kiss is the Man. Arrest Him.” Immediately he went to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him. Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”
Then they advanced, took hold of Jesus, and arrested Him. When those who were around Him saw what was about to happen, they said to him, “Lord, should we strike with a sword?” Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus. But Jesus responded, “Stop! No more of this! Put your sword back into its place, because all who take the sword will die by the sword. Do you not realize that I could call on My Father, and at once He would provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? But then how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way?” Then He touched the servant’s ear and healed him.
At that same time Jesus said to the crowd, “Have you come out to arrest Me with swords and clubs as if I were a robber? Day after day I was sitting in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest Me. But all this has happened so that the writings of the prophets would be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted Him and fled. The company of soldiers, their commander, and the Jewish guards arrested Jesus and bound Him. First they led Him to Annas, because he was father-in-law to Caiaphas, who was the high priest that year. Now it was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews, “It is better that One Man die for the people.”
Simon Peter and another disciple kept following Jesus. That disciple was known to the high priest, so he went into the high priest’s courtyard with Jesus. But Peter stood outside by the door. So the other disciple, the one known to the high priest, went out and talked to the girl watching the door and brought Peter in. The servants and guards were standing around a fire of coals that they had made because it was cold. While they warmed themselves, Peter was standing with them,
warming himself too. One of the servant girls of the high priest came there. When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked directly at him and said, “You were also with Jesus the Galilean.” But he denied it in front of everyone, saying, “I don’t know what you are talking about. Woman, I do not know Him.” When Peter went out to the entryway, someone else saw him and said to those who were there, “This is one of them. This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.” Again Peter denied it with an oath and said, “I do not know the Man.” After a little while those who stood by came and said to Peter, “Surely you are also one of them, because even your accent gives you away. You are a Galilean!” Then he began to curse and to swear, “I do not know this Man you are talking about! I do not know the Man!” At that very moment, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the Lord’s word, how He had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today you will deny Me three times.” He went outside, broke down, and wept bitterly.
The high priest questioned Jesus about His disciples and His teaching. Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I always taught in a synagogue or at the temple, where all the Jews gather. I said nothing in secret. Why are you questioning Me? Ask those who heard what I told them. Look, they know what I said.” When He said this, one of the guards standing there hit Jesus in the face. “Is that how You answer the high priest?” he demanded. “If I said something wrong,” Jesus answered, “testify about what was wrong. But if I was right, why did you hit Me?”
The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false testimony against Jesus so that they could put Him to death. They found none, even though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward and said, “This Fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’” Yet even on this point, their testimony did not agree. The high priest stood up and said to Him, “Have You no answer? What is this that these men are testifying against You?” But Jesus remained silent. Then the high priest said to Him, “I place You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!” Jesus said to him, “It is as you have said. But I tell you, soon you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? See, you have just heard the blasphemy! What do you think?” They answered, “He is deserving of death!” Then some began to spit on Him. They covered His face, struck Him with their fists, and said, “Prophesy to us, Christ! Who hit You?” The guards also took Him and beat Him. And they went on saying many other blasphemous things against Him.
The Sermon Hymn: Hymn 105 “O Sacred Head Now Wounded”
Verses 1, 4-7
O sacred Head, now wounded, With grief and shame weighed down,
Now scornfully surrounded With thorns, Your only crown.
O sacred Head, what glory, Now from Your face does shine;
Yet, though despised and gory, I joy to call You mine.
My burden in Your Passion, Lord, You have borne for me,
For it was my transgression My shame on Calvary.
I cast me down before You, Wrath is my rightful lot;
Have mercy, I implore You; Redeemer, spurn me not!
What language shall I borrow To thank You, dearest Friend,
For this, Your dying sorrow, Your pity without end?
Oh, make me Yours forever! And keep me strong and true.
Lord, let me never, never, Outlive my love for You.
My Savior, then be near me When death is at my door;
And let Your presence cheer me, Forsake me nevermore!
When soul and body languish, Oh, leave me not alone,
But take away my anguish By virtue of Your own!
Lord, be my Consolation, My Shield when I must die;
Remind me of Your Passion When my last hour draws nigh.
My eyes shall then behold You, Upon Your cross shall dwell,
My heart by faith enfold You. Who dies in faith dies well!
The Evening’s Meditation based on Luke 23:39-43
39 One of the criminals hanging there was blaspheming Him, saying, “Aren’t You the Christ? Save Yourself and us!”
40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God, since you are under the same condemnation? 41 We are punished justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for what we have done, but this Man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom.”
43 Jesus said to him, “Amen I tell you: Today you will be with Me in paradise.”
Today You Will Be With Me In Paradise
We Offer Our Gifts to the Lord
Our Offerings of Love to our Lord
At this point we will pass offering plates through the congregation
for those who wish to make an offering this evening. However, for those
watching tonight’s service online, we would like to make the following suggestions for you
to provide Your thank-offerings to God through our ministry:
1) You can send a check (no cash) in the mail to the church address
(415 N. 6th Place, Lowell, AR 72745)
2) You can go online to our website (www.gracelutherannwa.com)
and use the giving option there.
We Offer our Evening Prayers to the Lord
Tonight’s Special Prayers
P: For the well-being of people everywhere; for the growth of Your church in all the world; and for the strengthening of all who serve and worship here, we pray:
C: Christ have mercy upon us.
P: For one another, young and old; for Your blessings that come with every stage of life, and for joy in doing Your will, we pray:
C: O Lord, have mercy upon us.
P: For our public servants who work day and night to bring protection, justice, learning, and health to this and every place; we pray to You,
C: O Lord, hear our prayer.
P: For favorable weather and bountiful harvests; for clothing and food; for health of body, mind, and spirit; for deliverance from all sin and every form of evil; we pray to You,
C: O Lord, hear our prayer.
P: For the faithful who have gone before us, who have shared with us Your good news, whose souls are now at rest in Your heavenly kingdom, we give You thanks, O Lord:
C: Thanks be to God.
P: In thanksgiving for Your many and varied gifts to us we now commend ourselves to Your care. Be our shield and strength, O Lord. And now, in the name of Your Son, our Savior, Christ Jesus, we also join in praying:
C: Our Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name; Thy Kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil; For Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
We Conclude Tonight’s Worship Service
The Benediction
P: May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen.
The Closing Hymn Hymn 588 “Abide With Me”
verses 1, 5-7
1 Abide with me; fast falls the eventide. The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee, Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me!
5 I need thy presence ev’ry passing hour. What but thy grace can foil the tempter’s pow’r?
Who like thyself my guide and stay can be? Through cloud and sunshine, oh, abide with me!
6 I fear no foe with thee at hand to bless; Ills have no weight and tears no bitterness.
Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory? I triumph still if thou abide with me.
7 Hold thou thy cross before my closing eyes; Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.
Heav’n’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee; In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me!