March 18th Midweek Service

L: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C: Amen. 

 

L: Oh, that my words were recorded, that they were written on a scroll,

C: That they were inscribed with an iron tool on lead, 

or engraved in rock forever!

 

L: I know that my Redeemer lives, 

and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.

C: And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God.

 

L: I myself will see him with my own eyes, I, and not another. 

How my heart yearns within me!

ALL: I know that my Redeemer lives! 

Jesus, Savior, pilot me

Over life’s tempestuous sea;

Unknown waves before me roll,

Hiding rock and treacherous shoal.

Chart and compass come from Thee.

Jesus, Savior, pilot me. 

 

As a mother stills her child,

Thou canst hush the ocean wild;

Boisterous waves obey Thy will

When thou say’st to them, “Be still!”

Wondrous Sov’reign of the sea,

Jesus, Savior, pilot me. 

L: Gracious God, I confess that I am often like Job,

C: Lost in a sea of pain and confusion.

 

P: Tossed about by storms and dark clouds.

C: Overwhelmed by churning waves and unknown waters. 

 

P: I often feel as though I’m sinking and drowning.

C: Losses and struggles paralyze me and sometimes threaten to destroy me.

 

P: I feel disconnected, despondent, and increasingly desperate. 

C: But like Job, I confess, “There is hope for a tree.”

P: Indeed, “There is hope for a tree. If it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its new shoots will not fail. Its roots may grow old in the ground and its stump die in the soil, yet at the scent of water it will bud and put forth shoots like a plant” (Job 14:7–9).

 

Friends in Christ, we have hope and forgiveness because on the tree of the cross Jesus took away our sin and our wretchedness. On the tree of the cross Jesus identifies with our rejection and pain. And three days later the crucified One is risen!

ALL: I know that my Redeemer lives!

When at last I near the shore   

And the fearful breakers roar

Twixt me and the peaceful rest, 

Then, while leaning on Thy breast,

May I hear Thee say to me, 

“Fear not, I will pilot thee.” 

L: Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we adore you and worship you, for you saw us in our wretched state and sent Christ Jesus to die upon Calvary’s tree so that we might have hope—hope today and hope forever; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C: Amen.

“Man who is born of a woman

is few of days and full of trouble.

He comes out like a flower and withers;

he flees like a shadow and continues not.

And do you open your eyes on such a one

and bring me into judgment with you?

Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean?

There is not one.

Since his days are determined,

and the number of his months is with you,

and you have appointed his limits that he cannot pass,

look away from him and leave him alone,

that he may enjoy, like a hired hand, his day.

 

“For there is hope for a tree,

if it be cut down, that it will sprout again,

and that its shoots will not cease.

Though its root grow old in the earth,

and its stump die in the soil,

yet at the scent of water it will bud

and put out branches like a young plant.

But a man dies and is laid low;

man breathes his last, and where is he?

As waters fail from a lake

and a river wastes away and dries up,

so a man lies down and rises not again;

till the heavens are no more he will not awake

or be roused out of his sleep.

Oh that you would hide me in Sheol,

that you would conceal me until your wrath be past,

that you would appoint me a set time, and remember me!

If a man dies, shall he live again?

All the days of my service I would wait,

till my renewal should come. 

 

L:  This is the Word of the Lord  

C:  Thanks be to God

Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence.  For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

 

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.  For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. 

L:  This is the  Word of the Lord    C:  Thanks be to God. 

The Gospel according to St. Luke the 7th Chapter.

C:  Glory to You, O Lord. 

 

Soon afterward he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him.  As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her.  And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.”  Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.”  And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.  Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!”  And this report about him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country.  

 

P:  This is the Gospel of the Lord

C:  Praise to You, O Christ.

Be still, my soul; the Lord is on your side; 

Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;

Leave to your God to order and provide;  

In ev’ry change He faithful will remain.

Be still, my soul; your best, your heav’nly Friend  

Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end. 

 

Be still, my soul; your God will undertake   

To guide the future as He has the past.

Your hope, your confidence let nothing shake; 

 All now mysterious shall be bright at last. 

Be still, my soul; the waves and wind still know 

His voice who ruled them while he dwelt below. 

 

Be still, my soul; though dearest friends depart

And all is darkened in the vale of tears;

Then you will better know His love, His heart,

Who comes to soothe your sorrows and your fears.

Be still, my soul; your Jesus can repay

From His own fullness all He takes away. 

 

Be still, my soul; the hour is hast’ning on

When we shall be forever with the Lord,

When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,

Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.

Be still, my soul; when change and tears are past,

All safe and blessed we shall meet at last. 

Pastor Matt    (Job 14:1-14)

Please remember your church if you are able.  We understand current circumstances may be causing you to tighten your budgets. Consider Jesus’ words in Luke 6:38:

 

Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” 

L: Almighty Father, we confess our faith in Jesus, 

who died on the tree of the cross to give us a living hope. 

C: We flee to no other refuge, 

 

L: Wash in no other fountain, 

C: Build on no other foundation, 

 

L: Or listen to any other voice. 

C: Enable us in our pain and disappointment,

 

L: To find joy in our Savior 

C: Who is too wise to err 

 

L: And too tender to crush. 

C: And too merciful to cast us away. 

 

 

P:  Lord of all healing, We ask that You would grant mercy all on our prayer list who are afflicted in any way.  We praise You today for Your mercy bestowed upon Ann Lundeby’s father Ted, who has successfully come through a needed surgery.  In Your great compassion, bring healing also to Makayla Krantz, Dean & Cheryl’s young granddaughter, who was hospitalized with the respiratory virus known as RSV.  And continue to watch over Daniel Kusch as You continue to knit His precious unborn body in the womb.  Grant peace of mind and remove any anxieties that accompany these illnesses by Your holy presence.  Protect all caregivers, doctors, nurses, 1st responders, police, firefighters and paramedics as they literally work on the frontlines of our current health crisis.   Help us to recognize You are the Lord!   Our help is in Your holy name!      

 

P:  Bring calm to our troubled world, O Lord, just as you calmed the widow by raising her young son from the dead.  Cause us to be still just as you brought the funeral procession to a halt before demonstrating Your great power.  Give us faith, like Job, to know our Redeemer lives and in the last day we shall celebrate in our own flesh, the glorious resurrection victory of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Remind us again that no virus, or illness, or affliction will overcome the greatness of Your power.   Enfold us, Lord, in your peace. 

 

L: Oh, God, a tree can overcome being cut down. 

C: And so we will persevere.

 

L: A tree can overcome being left for dead.

C: And so we claim renewal and life in Christ’s name. Amen. 

P: Remember us in Your kingdom, Lord, and teach us to pray:

All: 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.

L: The Lord gives,

C: And the Lord takes away,

 

L: Blessed be the name of the Lord. 

C: Yes, blessed be the name of the Lord! 

 

L: And so we go forth confidently in the name of our Lord,

C: The Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Amen. 

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, O abide with me.

 

Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day

Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away

Change and decay in all around I see

O Thou who changest not, abide with me.

Jesus, I believe that there is hope for a tree and there is hope—

enduring hope— for me. Amen.

1. Job 23:10 states, “When he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” 

Why does God test his people? What is your current test?

2. What qualities does gold have that God wants for you?

3. How does God redeem suffering and pain in your life?