Dearest Brothers and Sisters of Hope Lutheran Church:
As we enter this final week of Lent before we embark on the Great and Holy Week, many of us have been following the Discipline of Lent with repentance, fasting, prayer, and works of love. Those reminders for clearing out the debris and sinful obstacles in our relationship with God and with each other are healing us and helping us in our journey of faith with Jesus. Like this past year and all the restrictions that came with it due to Covid, we had to get through it to come out on the other side. Vaccines are helping our world find a new normal so that many of can resume much of the social things we may have taken for granted before, but now cherish ever more deeply. The Lenten discipline helps us in the same way-getting rid of what isn’t necessary or could harm us and allowing us to celebrate with even more joy and wonder at Easter. God’s love has brought us this far. God’s love has sent scientists and medical professionals to find ways to fight pandemic. That’s for life in the here and now. God’s love sent us Jesus to save us all from the plague of sin that separates us from God and each other. That’s for the life to come. Blessings abound.
In these final days of Lent, here are a few other suggestions as faith practices for your journey. Deep breathing – breathing in God’s Spirit of peace and breathing out worry. Light a candle and reflect on the fact that Jesus is the light of the world and you are blessed to share his light in the world. How can you let that light and love shine more brightly in the days to come? Pay attention to all the beauty of nature as God has created it. Smell a flower or watch a sunrise or sunset – and pause to give thanks to God for creating it all so GOOD! Pick a Gospel and read it through – Mark is the shortest but also the easiest to grasp – I call it the “Reader’s Digest” of Gospels since it includes the basics without the frills of Matthew, Luke, or John. Cook a special meal or eat something you love and savor it. Use all your senses. Jesus is the bread of life, and throughout his ministry he sat down and ate with others. As you enjoy another of God’s good gifts, remember that Jesus is present and sharing his love with YOU. Be gracious to yourself. Lent is less about achieving and doing, and more about resting and returning to God who calls us, washes us in Baptism, and loves us through the life, death, and resurrection of his only Son.
A blessed Lenten journey to you! In Jesus’ love, Pr. Jen Schaefer+
Fifth Sunday in Lent, March 20-21, 2021
PRAYER OF THE DAY – Let us pray. O God, with steadfast love you draw us to yourself, and in mercy you receive our prayers. Strengthen us to bring forth the fruits of the Spirit, that through life and death we may live in your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
READING: John 12:20-33 Jesus entered Jerusalem for the last time to celebrate the Passover festival. Here Jesus’ words about seeds planted in the ground turn the disaster of his death into the promise of a harvest in which everyone will be gathered. A reading from John. 20Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. 21They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.
27“Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say—‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. 28Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” 29The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” 30Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. 31Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. 32And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die. The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
27“Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say—‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. 28Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” 29The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” 30Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. 31Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. 32And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die. The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
HOMILY – Years ago there was a new highway being built in England and in its way stood a very old building that was abandoned. The workers tore it down and cleared off the ground on which it stood. After the soil was exposed to the sun and the rain for a few weeks a wonderful thing happened! Flowers began to spring up. Botanists and naturalists from all over England came to study them. Many of the flowers were identified as plants the Romans had brought to England almost 2,000 years before. Some of them were plants that are almost completely unknown today. Hidden in the ground, without air and light, the seeds seemed to have died but there were not dead. As soon as the obstacles were cleared away and the sunshine allowed in, they sprang up in the fullness of their beauty.
~~~It is ironic that it is probably easier for the modern mind to believe that those tiny seeds sown into the ground and long forgotten could spring to life 2000 years later than it is to believe that in God’s plan for us that Jesus of Nazareth, sealed in a tomb for three days, could be raised from the dead.
~~~There is a resistance within human hearts to believe the good news. Many of us live by the old axiom that if we do not expect too much, then we won’t be too disappointed. It’s easy to believe in God. A vast majority of Americans say they do. It is much harder to believe that God became a human and died and rose again. Maybe we have trouble believing and trusting just to what extent God has given to us because if we really did expect so much from God and then we get it, then we would have to make a response to those gifts in our lives, that it would call for a real commitment. Be careful what you wish for, right? Because if God really does what God says through Jesus, then we might have to change, respond, live as if we believe, live as disciples, Christ-followers. ~~~Like those Greeks in today’s Gospel, perhaps all we want is to see Jesus and know that there IS a God. We don’t want it to go so far as to get personal. We don’t want to hear this stuff about him being lifted up from the earth and drawing all people to himself. That would mean making a commitment, a choice, a choice to follow, to to change our lives, our habits, our desires, our wants and look to Christ for direction in how we should live. ~~~But today Christ is asking you and me to take a chance – of not just believing a little – that there IS a God, but to believe a lot – that he lived and died and rose FOR YOU. Aren’t all of us going through death and rebirth all the time in our own lives? We have seen new patterns in life here in our country and around the world because of the pandemic – the death of old ways of gathering and celebrating and socializing in order to stay safe and well and protect those we love in the hope that gives birth to a new normal in the months to come with the vaccine.. ~~~If we are a kid, we die in our total dependence on our parents’ care and go off to first grade, new relationships, new authority figures, new freedom.
~~~If we are teenagers, we die to the childish bond of complete reliance on our parents for everything and move toward adulthood – it isn’t easy – getting a job, learning to pay bills, taking on new responsibilities – but the death of dependence on our parents allows for new life to be produced.
~~~At retirement age we face another death of leaving our job that commands so much of our time and attention , or we face an empty nest, and sometimes we lose even our definition of ourselves, but that can lead to a new life that might allow more freedom and time to do things you like and need and want to do
~~~Throughout our human lives there are lots of deaths, large and small, changes, that we contend with but there are also ample opportunities for new life, new opportunities, and new joy along the way. God, too, uses this process of death and rebirth to create his kingdom and bring about new life. We, as Christ followers, often find that we see a death of sorts in old habits or old ways of doing things and old selfish desires , but that happens in order to produce greater fruit as Jesus calls us. Our Baptism calls us to die to sin – death to selfish desires and sinful ways so that we can live more of a closer walk with Jesus by loving God in loving our brothers and sisters. Jesus said; “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit.” The faithful life and activity of a follower of Jesus, a disciple, are a continual passing through death only to experience new life. By virtue of our Baptism we can be bold enough to believe all of God’s gifts given to us. By virtue of our Baptism, we can know the joy of being with Jesus who was lifted up out of self sacrificing love for us so that we too might die to self and serve others faithfully, all to God’s glory. Faithfulness, service, humility, the glory of God, abundant new and eternal life are the qualities and consequences of a life which lifts up the cross of Jesus. A life that reflects and carries Jesus into the world so that all may know his love. A life we carry into the world as brothers and sisters, that family of God drawn close through Jesus. ~~~When Jesus promises that if we hate our life in this world, we will keep it for eternal life, we may ask: “Can this be possible?” If it weren’t true, how could we explain the phenomenal results of this death and resurrection for the disciples? Peter died to being a fisherman and became a fisher of people, a leader of the Church. Matthew died to being a tax collector and became a soul collector, an evangelist for Jesus. Paul died to being a persecutor of Christians and was born into a new creation, an apostle and leader of the early church. Pr Dietrich Bonhoeffer offered his life as a martyr in Nazi Germany. And when facing death on the gallows at age 39, he said; “This is the end – for me, the beginning of life.”
~~~It’s true – being born again means dying to the old self, clearing away the sin, the clutter and obstacles that prevent us from living the full life Christ would have us live. In dying to ourselves, we are given new life today in living a fulfilling, caring, Christ-centered life that is strengthened and nourished by the Spirit as we serve God and share Christ’s love with all, and the promise for eternal life to come with our Savior, Jesus the Christ who died on the cross for each of us…the true beginning of life.
~~~In our lives of faith, God gives us so much more than we ever dreamed or could ask for. But all those good things don’t come without a cost-it cost one perfect life. Amen.
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION – Relying on the promises of God, we pray boldly for the church, the world, and all in need. A brief silence.
You wash us through and through and remember our sin no more. Make your church a community of forgiveness throughout the world. Give your people courage to forgive; through them show the world new possibilities. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
You fill the earth—from tiny grains of wheat to the mighty thunder—with your presence, and you call us to attend to your will for all creation. Grant weather that prepares the soil for seeds; protect all from violent storms, flooding, and wildfires. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
You promise to write your law on our hearts. Guide citizens throughout the world to shape communities that reflect your mercy, justice, and peace, and give them creativity to work for the welfare of all. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
You sustain us with your bountiful Spirit. Restore the joy of all who need to know your presence: those who are lonely or feel unforgivable, those who need healing of mind or body, those who are dying, and all who grieve, especially… Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
In the cross of Christ, your name is glorified. We praise you for those who have given us words to worship you. With all those who have died in Christ, bring us into life everlasting. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
We entrust ourselves and all our prayers to you, O faithful God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
OUR FATHER…
BLESSING – Almighty God, the Father, + the Son, and the Holy Spirit be with us now and always. Amen.
DISMISSAL – We go in peace with grateful hearts for all God has done for us as together we are led by the Spirit to serve God and share Christ’s love with all! Thanks be to God!!!.
HOPE HAPPENINGS – We welcome all who worship with us today. Please complete one of the visitor cards at our guest table. If you would like to make Hope your church home, please speak to Pastor Jen. Everyone is welcome at Hope Lutheran Church.
Next Week’s Readings: Isaiah 50:4-9a; Philippians 2:5-11; Mark 14:1–15:47
The April thru June Word in Season Devotionals are available on the narthex table.
LAY SERVANTS Weekend of March 13-14, 2021
Altar Guild: Gail Zahs & Delores Hall Saturday Attendance 14
Usher: Mark Packer Parking Lot Attendance 16
Counters: Pr Cheryll & Karl Kaukis Sunday 10:00 Attendance 45
PRAYER LIST – Please call the church office or email Pr. Jen with any prayer requests you may have so they may be shared with the congregation.
Please continue to hold in prayer:
Cyndi and Fred for healing
Ken Zwara for healing
Jenny for healing and God’s love
Alec for healing
Pr. Marilyn for healing & God’s peace
Cindy Beicht for healing after surgery
Vinny for healing
Ian for sure and strong presence of God’s healing grace
Doris Puerner for healing
Marirose for a healthy pregnancy
Helen for healing
Kristin, Ron and Carolyn Rasmussen’s daughter, for healing after surgery
Jean Holcomb for healing
Florence, Lou Szepi’s mom, for God’s comforting presence
Dawn Seibert for healing
Carol for healing, hope, and God’s will.
Laura Everill, daughter of Phyllis and Tom Agness, residing in a healthcare facility.
Walter Crowley, husband of Kathryn and father of Ginger Toomire recovering from pneumonia.
Joyce, sister-in-law of Elaine Dougan, recovering from brain cancer surgery.
John Greene, Millie’s husband, for strength and healing
Cheryl Burke who is in need of healing
Larry and Barbara Brady, as they focus on healing.
Pr. Pat for healing
Susan for healing
Jason for healing
NEW AT HOPE
HOPE LOVE PANTRY – The pantry could use canned meat (no tuna), fruits, juice, iced tea, boxed milk, shampoo, personal products, or monetary donations. Thank you for your continued support and donations. This is our opportunity to serve God and share Christ’s love with all.
EASTER FLOWERS – If you would like to purchase Easter flowers in memory of or in honor of someone, please complete the sign-up sheet in the Narthax or call the office at 941-697-2345.
LENT AT HOPE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Mid-week Lent Worship will be held on March 24th at 10:00 AM and 4:30PM in the parking lot. Leading up to Holy Week, we will meet on Wednesdays in worship to share in prayer and learning on the subject of “The Liturgical Year That Wasn’t” as we explore the seasons of the church year and why we do what we do in worship. Please be sure to join us as we follow the Discipline of Lent with repentance, fasting, prayer, and works of love and focus on walking with Jesus to the cross and beyond.
HOLY WEEK WORKSHIP SCHEDULE
Passion/Palm Weekend March 27th at Saturday 5:30pm. Sunday 8:30 AM & 10:00 AM.
Maundy Thursday April 1st at 10:00 AM and 4:30 PM in the parking lot.
Good Friday April 2nd at 10:00 AM and 4:30 PM in the parking lot.
Holy Saturday-Easter April 3rd at 5:30 PM in the sanctuary.
Easter – The Resurrection of our Lord Sunday, April 4th at 7:00 AM & 8:30 AM in the parking lot and 10:00 AM in the sanctuary.
Please join us as we grow in faith and love together throughout the Lenten season and prepare our lives and our hearts to celebrate the saving events of Holy Week and Jesus’ glorious resurrection at Easter. ALL ARE WELCOME!
DORIS PUERNER is currently recuperating in Windsor House of Canfield. If you would like to send her a card, her address is Windsor House of Canfield, 6445 State Route 446, Canfield, OH 44406-8475.
LUTHERANISM 101!! Monday from 11:00 to 12:00PM. If you have never studied Luther’s Small Catechism or have questions about why we do what we do as Lutherans in our worship and faith, this class is for YOU! Please join Pr. Jen as we explore the five principal parts of the Catechism-Baptism, Holy Communion, The Lord’s Prayer, the Creed, and the Ten Commandments as well as worship and liturgy and more so together we can grow in our understanding of our Christian faith and our Lutheran expression of that faith.
MONDAY BIBLE STUDY on God sightings every Monday at 10:00 AM in the Fellowship Hall. Bible study will be suspended on April 5 th and return on April 12 th.
WOMEN OF HOPE –Next meeting with be April 18th, 2021.
Leave a Reply