Order of Service–March 19, 2023

Welcome & Announcements
Greeting *please rise as you are able and comfortable and welcome one another into worship*
Invocation *please remain standing*
“House of the Lord”
“Come As You Are” *please be seated*

Psalm verses responsively Psalm 25:4-7 (Light verses Pastor, dark verses congregation)
With my voice I cry out to the Lord;
with my voice I plead for mercy to the Lord.
I pour out my complaint before him;
I tell my trouble before him.
When my spirit faints within me,
you know my way!
I cry to you, O Lord;
I say, “You are my refuge,
my portion in the land of the living.”

Confession and Absolution
Pastor: Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no
secrets are hid: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we
may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen. Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another….
Congregation: Gracious God, have mercy on us. We confess that we have turned from you
and given ourselves into the power of sin. We are truly sorry and humbly repent. In your
compassion forgive us our sins, known and unknown, things we have done and things we
have failed to do. Turn us again to you, and uphold us by your Spirit, so that we may live
and serve you in newness of life through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
Pastor: God, who is rich in mercy, loved us even when we were dead in sin, and made us alive
together with Christ. By grace you have been saved. In the name of ? Jesus Christ, your sins are
forgiven.
Congregation: Amen

“Blessed Be Your Name” *please rise as you are comfortable and able*

Apostles Creed
Congregation: I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born
of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He
descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge
the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the
forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen

Reading from John 16:25-33 *please be seated*
“I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer
speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. [26] In that day you
will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; [27] for the
Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.
[28] I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and
going to the Father.”
[29] His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech!
[30] Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why
we believe that you came from God.” [31] Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? [32]
Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own
home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. [33] I have said
these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But
take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Children’s Message & Offering

Message: “A Place of Peace”
Theme: The culture of the nation is to try to find peace on earth. They look to cultural reform in
alignment to their causes. They look to the government to solve all problems and give them what they
want. The result is only more tribulation. The tribulation creates only more desire to find peace through
self-made causes. People jump from one cause to another or double down on failed causes. Jesus
promises peace only in Him. We can have a glimpse of true peace which is only fully revealed in heaven
when we have Jesus through Word and Sacrament. Jesus has overcome the world and when we are in
Him we have peace even in the midst of worldly turbulence.

Responsive Prayer and Reflection *please rise as you are comfortable and able*
(Pastor Speaks the light print, the congregation responds with the dark print)
Lord God, heavenly Father, You are the source of all that is good. With Your as our God we
have nothing to fear in our turbulent times. You are our Hope of our salvation. Forgive us, O
Lord, for the times we have looked to ourselves or other human solutions when we are
discontented with our lives. As we walk through the confusion of this world, draw us to the
One who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Grant us power through Your Holy Spirit to trust
in the peace that only Jesus can bring. Help us to lead the world out of human confusion that
leads only to tribulation. Grant us the peace that passes all human understanding. Bless
our nation, grant peace that involves secession from war, from illness, and death.
Lord of true peace, grant all we bring before You for the sake of Jesus, our Savior.

Amen
Lord’s Prayer
Blessing
“Goodness of God”
Go in Peace + Serve the Lord!