RECONNECT, RECOMMIT, RECONCILE
Lent 2021 - St. Andrew Lutheran Church of Canyon Lake
March 17, 2021
Prelude
Announcements
RECONNECT
We reconnect with God and one another through confession, song and prayer. We reconnect with partner ministries as one partner shares thoughts about the mission we share.
Confession – From Psalm 51
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are justified in your sentence and blameless when you pass judgement.
You desire truth in the inward being; therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit.
Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.
O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.
Hymn #712 “Lord, Whose Love in Humble Service” sts. 1, 3
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 every gift which you impart.
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 bur-dens your compassion bids us bear, stirring us to ardent service, your abundant life to share.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
And also with you.
Let us pray.
Merciful God, accompany our journey through these forty days. Renew us in the gift of baptism, that we may provide for those who are poor, pray for those in need, fast from self-indulgence, and above all that we may find our treasure in the life of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
Sharing from Partner Ministry
2/24 – New Life Children’s Center, Micaiela Reid, Teacher
3/3 – Cross Trails Camping Ministry, Deanna Christensen, Executive Director
3/10 – CRRC of Canyon Lake, Jason Dersheid, Executive Director
3/17 – Family Promise of Greater New Braunfels, Sarah Dixon, Executive Director
3/24 – SJRC Texas, Tara Roussett, Executive Director
RECOMMIT
We read from the Scriptures of Jesus’ ministry of healing and teaching, offering life and salvation, and hear the Apostle Paul’s reflection on the mission of the church. From the prophet Isaiah, we hear God’s call to be partners in service and compassion and bearers of light in the world.
From the Gospel of Mark:
2/24 – 1:40-45 3/3 – 2:1-12 3/10 – 2:13-17 3/17 – 3:1-6 3/24 – 3:7-12
From Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians:
2/24 – 1:3-7 3/3 – 1:18-20 3/10 – 3:1-6 3/17 – 4:5-7 3/24 – 4:7-12
Litany of Partnership with God - Isaiah 58
God says: Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house? when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin? Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly.
If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil, if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday.
Prayer of Commitment and Intercession
Lord, remember us in your kingdom, and teach us to pray:
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.
RECONCILE
We are given our mission: the same reconciliation that we have experienced in Christ, we now offer in Christ’s name, through our words and actions. Blessed by God, we are sent as God’s people in the world.
Blessing and Commissioning – from II Corinthians 5
If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation:
Everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!
All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ,
Now God gives us the ministry of reconciliation.
In Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself – not counting their trespasses against them - and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us.
So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us.
For our sake God made him to be sin who knew no sin,
So that, in him, we might become the righteousness of God.
We entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
We are ambassadors for Christ.
Hymn #715 “Christ, Be Our Light sts. 4, 5
4. Longing for shelter, many are homeless. Longing for warmth, many are cold. Make us your building, sheltering others, walls made of living stone.
Refrain: Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts. Shine through the darkness.
Christ, be our light! Shine in your church gathered today.
5. Many the gifts, many the people, many the hearts that yearn to belong. Let us be servants to one another, signs of your kingdom come. (Refrain)
Prayer of Blessing for our Partner in Ministry
Sending
Go forth into the world to serve God with gladness; be of good courage; hold fast to that which is good; render no one evil for evil; strengthen the fainthearted; support the weak; help the afflicted; honor all people; love and serve God, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Thanks be to God… and we will!
Postlude