Welcome to Third Sunday in Lent “Laborers in the Vineyard” Sunday, March 15, 2020
Welcome & Announcements
Confession and Forgiveness P: Blessed be the holy Trinity, ✟ one God, who is present, who gives life, who calls into existence the things that do not exist. C: Amen
P: If you were to keep watch over sins, O Lord, who could stand? Yet with you is forgiveness, and so we confess. (Silence is kept for reflection)
P: Gracious God, C: have mercy on us. We confess that we have turned away from you, knowingly and unknowingly. We have wandered from your resurrection life. We have strayed from your love for all people. Turn us back to you, O God. Give us new hearts and right spirits, that we may find what is pleasing to you and dwell in your house forever. Amen.
P: Receive good news: God turns to you in love. "I will put my spirit in you, and you shall live," says our God. All your sin is forgiven in the name of ✟ Jesus Christ, who is the free and abounding gift of God's grace for you. C: Amen
Gathering Song “Amazing Grace” ELW 779 vs. 1-3
ELW 779 Verse 1 Amazing grace! how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found; was blind, but now I see.
ELW 779 Verse 2 'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved; how precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed!
ELW 779 Verse 3 Through many dangers, toils, and snares I have already come; 'tis grace has brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.
Greeting P: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. C: And also with you.
Kyrie | p. 138 P: In peace, in peace, let us pray to the Lord. C: Lord, have mercy.
P: For the peace from above, and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord. C: Lord, have mercy.
P: For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord. C: Lord, have mercy.
P: For this holy house, and for all who offer here their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord. C: Lord, have mercy.
P: Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord. C: Amen.
Prayer of the Day
Bible Reading Psalm 16:5-8
Bible Reading: Psalm 16:5-8 The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; I have a goodly heritage.
I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I keep the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
L: Word of God, word of life. C: Thanks be to God.
Children’s Hymn “Jesus Loves Me” ELW 595, vs. 1
ELW 595 Verse 1 Jesus loves me! this I know, for the Bible tells me so; little ones to him belong, they are weak, but he is strong.
ELW 595 Refrain Yes, Jesus loves me, yes, Jesus loves me, yes, Jesus loves me, the Bible tells me so.
Children’s Word The Cat’s Pajamas!
Gospel Acclamation “Return to the Lord” | ELW 142 Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and abounding in steadfast love.
GOSPEL: Matthew 20:1-16 P: The holy Gospel according to Matthew, the 20th chapter. C: Glory to you, O Lord.
GOSPEL: Matthew 20:1-16 For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard.
When he went out about nine o'clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace; and he said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.' So they went. When he went out again about noon and about three o'clock, he did the same. And about five o'clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, 'Why are you standing here idle all day?'
They said to him, 'Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard.' When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, 'Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.' When those hired about five o'clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage.
Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, saying, 'These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.'
But he replied to one of them, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?' So the last will be first, and the first will be last."
L: The Gospel of the Lord. C: Praise to you, O Christ.
Sermon Unexpected Extravagance
Hymn of the Day “O Master, Let Me Walk With You” ELW 818
ELW 818 Verse 1 O Master, let me walk with you in lowly paths of service true; tell me your secret; help me bear the strain of toil, the fret of care.
ELW 818 Verse 2 Help me the slow of heart to move by some clear, winning word of love; teach me the wayward feet to stay, and guide them in the homeward way.
ELW 818 Verse 3 Teach me your patience; share with me a closer, dearer company, in work that keeps faith sweet and strong, in trust that triumphs over wrong,
ELW 818 Verse 4 In hope that sends a shining ray far down the future's broad'ning way, in peace that only you can give; with you, O Master, let me live.
Prayers of Intercession
Gathering of Gifts In this time of interruption, your support of God’s work through Bethel is still vitally important. There are many ways to offer your gifts:
Offering Prayer P: God of abundance, we have all that we need, and yet so often we feel that we deserve more. May these gifts that we offer be given in gratitude for your many blessings, for the sake of furthering your justice toward all people. For the sake of our Savior, Jesus Christ. C: Amen.
Blessing P: Now is the acceptable time. Now is the day of salvation. May our forgiving God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, ✟ bless you, unbind you, and send you in love and in peace. C: Amen
Sending Song “Lord, Whose Love in Humble Service” ELW 712, vs. 1, 3 & 4
ELW 712 Verse 1 Lord, whose love in humble service bore the weight of human need, who upon the cross, forsaken, worked your mercy's perfect deed: we, your servants, bring the worship not of voice alone, but heart; consecrating to your purpose ev'ry gift which you impart.
ELW 712 Verse 3 As we worship, grant us vision, till your love's revealing light in its height and depth and greatness dawns upon our quickened sight, making known the needs and burdens your compassion bids us bear, stirring us to ardent service, your abundant life to share.
ELW 712 Verse 4 Called by worship to your service, forth in your dear name we go, to the child, the youth, the aged, love in living deeds to show; hope and health, good will and comfort, counsel, aid and peace we give, that your servants, Lord, in freedom may your mercy know and live.
Dismissal P: Go in peace. Share the good news. C: Thanks be to God.
Sending Music “Come Let Us Sing” Organ
Recommend
More recommend
