Dearest Brothers and Sisters of Hope Lutheran Church.
St. Teresa of Avila wrote: “Christ has no body now but yours. No hands, no feet on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes through which he looks compassion on this world. Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good. Yours are the hands through which he blesses all the world. Yours are the hands, yours are the feet, yours are the eyes, you are his body. Christ has no body now on earth but yours.”
Read that again, slowly. Breathe in and out as you read it and think about the implications. Ask yourself what this means to you and your life. Ask yourself how this impacts the way you act, the way you think, the way you treat others around you.
St, Teresa of Avila was born March 28, 1515 and died early– October , 1582. As a mystic and religious reformer, theologian and author, and Doctor of the Church, she had a huge impact on the Roman Catholic Church of her day and continues to bless those today who read her works. St. Teresa is honored in the Roman Catholic, the Anglican, and Lutheran communions for her wisdom and insight, her faith, and her call to BE the body of Christ in the world.
Like Martin Luther, St. Teresa calls upon each of us as Baptized followers of Jesus to receive the gifts of Holy Communion, the very Body and Blood of Jesus in the Sacrament so that we might become his Body and Blood, sent out for the sake of the world to share Jesus’ compassion, Jesus’ forgiveness, Jesus’ love in a world that so desperately needs it.
YOUR hands, YOUR feet, YOUR eyes, YOUR heart are the very things Jesus uses to make a difference in the world as we do God’s work with our hands and feet and eyes and hearts. How powerful is that? How significant is that? How important is it that you allow Christ to work through you? You might be the only one to reach out to someone in Jesus’ name. As St. Teresa reminds us “…you are his body. Christ has no body now on earth but yours.”
Together, let’s continue to do God’s work with our hands as we are led by the Spirit to serve God and share Christ’s love with all people. The Discipline of Lent with repentance, fasting, prayer, and works of love allow us to do just that.
A blessed Lenten journey to you! In Jesus’ love, Pr. Jen Schaefer+
Fourth Sunday in Lent March 13-14, 2021
PRAYER OF THE DAY – Let us pray. O God, rich in mercy, by the humiliation of your Son you lifted up this fallen world and rescued us from the hopelessness of death. Lead us into your light, that all our deeds may reflect your love, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
READING: John 3:14-21 – To explain the salvation of God to the religious leader, Nicodemus, Jesus refers to the scripture passage quoted in today’s first reading. Just as those who looked upon the bronze serpent were healed, so people will be saved when they behold Christ lifted up on the cross. A reading from John. [Jesus said:] 14“Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. 16“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. 17“Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. 20For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. 21But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.” The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
HOMILY A visitor to Ystad Sweden tells of the little church located there. It is not a particularly beautiful church, and is exceptional in no way except that when you go inside you notice there is a crucifix hanging on the wall opposite the pulpit. The figure of our Lord is life-sized and life-like even to the use of real hair mangled beneath a crown of thorns. How did this unusual crucifix happen to be in a Swedish Lutheran church? Well, it seems that in the early 1700’s the King of Sweden paid an unexpected visit to the church. When the pastor saw the king in attendance he was over-whelmed. He ignored the text for that Sunday, threw away his sermon notes, and replaced it with an outburst of tribute and praise for the king. Soon afterward the church received the crucifix from the king. With it came this command: “Hang this within the church so that whoever stands in the pulpit will be reminded of his proper subject.” ~~~As we are drawing nearer to Holy Week, our eyes turn more and more to the old rugged cross, to the place of death, to the cross upon that hilltop. We see in our Gospel from John a summary for the cross. John is giving us in this Gospel the reason why Jesus died. The reason why the king of Sweden, a faithful Lutheran, thought that the proper subject of any preacher is the death and resurrection of Jesus. When we look at the cross of Calvary, we see death, we see pain, we see suffering, but if we can look beyond that, look beyond the physical realities of the cross, what do we see? We see the love of God. ~~~In John 3:16 we hear, “For God so loved the world.” As we look at the old rugged cross, as we see it coming over the horizon this season of Lent, as we begin to hear the sounds of the hammer pounding the nails into the hands of Jesus, as we hear the cry of pain and suffering, we can see that beyond all of that that the purpose of the cross was love. God so loved us that he had his only son die on a cross so that we might be set free from our bondage to sin. The cross of Calvary is a symbol of pain, of suffering, but at the same time it is a symbol of freedom, it. It is a liberating symbol for us, because through the cross of Calvary we are set free from the bonds of sin. We are set free from the chains of death. We are set free to be with God forever in heaven. ~~~As the words to that famous hymn say: “On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross, The emblem of suffering and shame; And I love that old cross where the dearest and best For a world of lost sinners was slain. So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross, Till my trophies at last I lay down; I will cling to the old rugged cross, And exchange it some day for a crown.” ~~~~God did this because he loves us. He did this because God loves those whom he creates. God did this because he could not bear to see us suffer- to see us separated from him any longer. He knew we could not and can not bridge the gulf , the chasm of sin, that lies between us and him, so God build that bridge for us. And the material he used in constructing that bridge was a tree shaped in the form of a cross. And it was through the cross that God built a means, an avenue, a roadway for us to travel to him. A road of forgiveness of our sins through Jesus’ death on the cross. God was the great architect who designed the bridge for our freedom. But he not only designed it, he built it, and he built it out of materials that no one would of thought of, he built it out of a cross and the body and blood of his Son. He didn’t ask anyone else to do the work, he kept it in the family, and then he shared the completed work with all people who would believe that he did it out of love for us through Jesus.
~~~He shared it with all of us who believe that the work was done for US. Yes, God used the cross of Calvary, the old rugged cross to build a bridge between himself and us. As we see the cross coming closer into view, as we move closer to Holy , let us look beyond the cross to the see the one who loved us enough to use the cross as the bridge so that we might be granted the freedom from sin and released from the bondage to death. As the hymn says: “In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine, A wondrous beauty I see, For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died, To pardon and sanctify me.” ~~~As Good Friday approaches, we can see the form of one hanging on the cross. We see the nails in his hands and feet, the thorns on his head. We can hear his conversations with his Father, and with the people standing by. We can see a man dying for the rest of humanity. We can see one suffering for the people of the earth. We can see a man feeling forsaken, feeling alone, feeling the weight of all the sinfulness of creation on his back. ~~~God not only constructed a way for us to come to him, but he used his Son to help him. He doesn’t ask us to help him bridge the gap, he doesn’t ask us to be punished for our own sinfulness, but he uses his son for that purpose. As John says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son….Gave his only son. “
~~~The sacrifice that Jesus offered was given on our behalf. We can see that he offered himself, he gave of himself, he took the sting of death, the power of death, the pain of death upon himself, so that we won’t have to. The sting-separation from God forever because of our sin is washed away by his blood. In Baptism into Jesus’ death and resurrection, we know now that because Jesus died and God raised him on the third day, that we too will be free from the sting and power of death by the victory of the resurrection. Because Jesus offered himself for us, we no longer have to fear death, the sting has been removed. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son…” The love that God has for us allows us to live in a special way, to live God’s way. God loved us enough so that we would chew have the chance to repent, to change and follow Jesus on the way of the cross.
~~~Robert Hastings reported that more than fifty years ago, at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, a young sociology professor assigned his class the project of interviewing 200 city youth residing in downtown slums. He asked them to predict their future. Students predicted that ninety percent would serve time in prison. Twenty – five years later the same professor asked a class to track down the original boys and’ discover what had happened. One hundred eighty were located; only four had ever been in jail. Why were predictions all askew? Looking for common factors, over 100 of the boys mentioned the strong influence of a teacher they all had in common They then located a seventy-year-old Sheila O’Rourke in a Memphis nursing home. Puzzled by the interest in her, she could only exclaim, “All I ever did was love each of them.”1 LOVE. All God does is love us and it can change us if we let it.
~~~Yes, as the cross, co, the old rugged cross mes into sharper view these next few weeks, we can see the great love that God has for us. Through the cross, we can see the great highway of forgiveness he built for us by using the cross and the body and blood of his son. We can see with even sharpened vision, the one who hung on that cross, we can see the form of Jesus dying for us. We can see the one who took our place, we can see the one who was willing to change places with us. We can see the one who took our sinful lives and gave us lives of freedom, freedom from sin and freedom from the bondage of death. ~~~~Yes, the cross is coming into sharper focus for u-Holy Week and Good Friday are coming. Let us see the cross as a symbol of love, as a symbol of freedom and a symbol of sacrifice so that we might live as free people, forgiven people, LOVED people, who share in the love, the amazing grace and goodness of God. “On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross, The emblem of suffering and shame; And I love that old cross where the dearest and best For a world of lost sinners was slain. So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross, Till my trophies at last I lay down; I will cling to the old rugged cross, And exchange it some day for a crown.” “For God so Loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal 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 sent your Son that the world might be saved through him. Inspire the witness of the church throughout the world. Empower missionaries, Bible translators, and ministries of service in your name. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
From east to west your steadfast love is shown. Nourish seas and deserts, wilderness areas and cities. Give water to thirsty lands; nurture spring growth that feeds hungry creatures; bless farmers as they prepare for the growing season. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
You sustained your people in the wilderness. Give courage to all who lead in times of crisis and scarce resources. Prosper the work of those who aid victims of famine and drought. Bring peace in places where scarce resources cause violence. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
By grace we have been saved. Fill this congregation with your overflowing love so that we might share it freely with others. Nourish any in our midst who are hungry, especially children, and bless our ministries of feeding and shelter especially our Food Pantry here at Hope. Comfort all in any need, especially… Give us patience and courage when the way seems long. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
Your Son was lifted up that whoever believes might have eternal life. We praise you for all who have died in Christ. Bring us with all the saints into the fullness of your promises. 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: Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 5:5-10; John 12:20-33
The April thru June Word in Season Devotionals are available on the narthex table.
LAY SERVANTS Financial Information
Altar Guild: Gail Zahs & Delores Hall February Total Income $10,537.22
Usher: Alan Beicht February Total Expenses $10,152.60
Counters: Lorraine Maass Income Less Expense $ 384.62
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 facilit
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
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 17th and 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.
Good Friday April 2nd at 10:00 AM and 4:30 PM.
Holy Saturday-Easter Vigil April 3rd at 5:30 PM.
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.
WOMEN OF HOPE –Next meeting with be April 18th, 2021.
Leave a Reply