November

Posted on November 10, 2020 by RushRiverLutheran

The Month of Gratitude

Gratitude is a typical theme for November; in North America, families gather this month to celebrate Thanksgiving and the abundance in their lives. But gratitude is important this time of year not just because of the holiday season; gratitude should naturally follow the season of harvest. Nature has just bestowed upon you her most infinite blessings—another year of health and home, family and loved ones surrounding you, strong crops, and food to eat.

In the Lutheran liturgy for the month of November, the themes focus on The End Times and the end of our earthly lives. The language in the readings and imagery are about judgement. But for those who see through the lens of faith, these themes also provide hope. Yes, thank God for that – back to the gratitude theme of November!

We are entering our shortest days of the year; the news is filled with uncertainty and our tendency as humans is to focus on scarcity. Can we redirect? “Please make a u-turn!”  Think of the abundance of God and give thanks to The One who creates and saves, in whom all our hopes are founded.

We are, all of us – on this side of death and on the other side of it – united in the communion of saints. We all pray for each other and we all pray together for God to heal this broken world: “Your kingdom come.”

~derived from The Book of Blessings and Rituals by Athena Perrakis and Sundays & Seasons

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A Service for Easter Sunday, April 12th, 2020

Posted on April 11, 2020 by RushRiverLutheran

By His Wounds We Are Healed

In this service for Easter Sunday, we remember that in Jesus’ wounds we are healed. Easter Sunday reminds us that though we have been brought low by sin, our Lord will bless us with new life in him through the cross.

Order of Service

Easter Greeting

P   Alleluia! Christ is risen!

C  He is risen, indeed! Alleluia!

Opening Hymn: Christ the Lord is Risen Today!

Response

P   In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

C  Amen.

P   See, my servant shall prosper!

C  Alleluia! Christ is risen!

P   He shall be exalted and lifted up, and shall be very high!

C  Alleluia! Christ is risen!

P   Christ was wounded for our transgressions,

C  crushed for our iniquities;

P   upon him was the punishment that made us whole,

C  and by his wounds we are healed.

P   Christ is risen!

C  He is risen, indeed! Alleluia!

Confession and Forgiveness

P   Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.

C  Most merciful God, we confess to you that we have broken your commandments by our own thoughts, words, and deeds. We have often despaired and not lived as your risen people. We have not loved our brothers and sisters as we ought, and we have not cared for your creation. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us, and give us the healing power of your love that we may walk again in your ways and live to the glory of your holy name. Amen.

P   God is gracious and merciful, and desires that we be made free of the burden of our sins. Through Jesus Christ, who bore the cross for our sake and for the sake of the whole world, there is healing, hope, and life. Your sins are forgiven in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

C  Amen.

Word

•  The Old Testament Reading from Isaiah 53:5-6, 10-12:

But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities;upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have all turned to our own way,and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him with pain. When you make his life an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring, and shall prolong his days;through him the will of the Lord shall prosper. Out of his anguish he shall see light; he shall find satisfaction through his knowledge. The righteous one, my servant, shall make many righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will allot him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong;because he poured out himself to death, and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

•  The Epistle Reading from 1 Corinthians 15:3-11

     For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he  appeared to James, then to all the apostles.

Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace towards me has not been in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them—though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we proclaim and so you have come to believe.

•  The Gospel Reading from Luke 24:1-12:

     But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.”

Then they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.

Children’s Message

Did you hear that word that we used today? It’s a word that we haven’t used in a really long time—at least not for the last forty days. It’s All-le-lu-ia. (See if the children can guess it as you are saying “Alleluia.”) That word means “Praise God!” And we praise God today because God has done something for us on Easter that is truly amazing!

Even though God had sent Jesus to take on the wounds of our death on the cross for us, God did even more. He did not leave Jesus in the grave. God raised Jesus from the dead! God makes sure that life wins over all death! We celebrate that, because it means that we, too, get to enjoy the promise that we will be raised to be with Jesus. Let’s say it again, really loudly! ALLELUIA!

Let us pray. Lord Jesus, you are risen from the dead, and we celebrate that your wounds will always be a reminder of our wholeness and life. Amen. Alleluia!

Sermon –  I Corinthians 15: 1-34

“One of the favorite things I like to smell is newly baked bread…when Dixie bakes bread, it seems the smell carries for miles. The kids and grandkids all seem to sense it.”

One of the favorite things I like to smell is newly baked bread.  Some real estate agents tell sellers to bake bread when buyers come to see their house.  It will bring back memories and make the house seem more livable.  When Dixie bakes bread, it seems the smell carries for miles.  The kids and grandkids all seem to sense it.  Let the bread sit a week and the freshness goes away and quickly becomes stale.

I feel too often the Resurrection becomes dry and stale in the church.  We do the same thing week after week.  Even the doctrine and preaching, we have heard the old story. Resurrection story comes through like dry, stale and tasteless bread.

This must have happened to the Christians in Corinth.  They went back to seeking freshness and life somewhere else.  They found excitement by returning to old Pagan Festivals.  They made God and Religion the instrument of their desire.  Is this what happens to us?  We learn the stories and songs, but miss out on the very wonder and power of what we learned.  Maybe the way back is to go to that first Easter.

“He was buried”. Among the Gentiles it was business as usual.  To the priests and people in Jerusalem it was the religious routine of the Passover.

Religion had triumphed! The troublemaker, Jesus, was out of the way. As for the disciples, they could see only disaster.  The impossible had happened.  The living God had not rescued his own son!  All their plans, their dreams and hopes had ended. 

But then comes the Easter climax.  “He was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures”.  That is what changed everything!  No one took his life from him.  He laid it down himself for us.  The promises of God did not fail.  On the third day, He rose.  This is how we know him, and God in him.  He lives and by his death and resurrection we live.  The key is not death but resurrection.  This is life eternal.  This is the life that can never become stale, never become old and dried out, never die.

It is not a stale faith that has up held me when I stood at my father and mother’s grave, when my sister died and this last year watched my brother die.  I have had funerals at Rush River of people I had learned to love.  It becomes a real faith check.  It is then that Easter becomes real.  Jesus burst from the grave.  In this I can rejoice. 

This Easter may you again see Jesus the Christ Risen and alive.  His grace fresh every day, the spirit of Christ in you breathing joy and life. “I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously!  The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my Salvation”.

Live it!  Sing it!  Shout it! Nothing stale about it.

Peace, Pastor Dave

Creed

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended to the dead. On the third day He rose again; He ascended into heaven, He is seated at the right hand of the Father, and He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Offering

Please continue to give in whatever way you are most comfortable with. You might consider making your offering online at  https://rushriverlutheran.org/give/

Prayers of the People

P   Let us pray for the Church, for all in need, and for the whole of God’s creation. That on this Easter Sunday, we celebrate the hope that is ours through Jesus Christ, our risen Lord, who took the wounds of death into his body on the cross for the sins of the whole world.

C  Heal us always!

P   That we may never doubt you or turn away from the joy of life and light that is ours through Christ’s resurrection.

C  Heal us always!

P   For people who know only travesty and tragedy and grave and have yet to come to the fullness of the knowledge of your risen love,

C  Heal us always!

P   For all of your creation that moan and groan for the day of the final liberation of all your children.

C  Heal us always!

P   For those who have died or are now dying, that the tombs ahead may also be opened in the resurrection of the dead.

C  Heal us always!

P   We pray for all who are held captive by anxiety, despair, or pain, especially the family and friends of Edna Christenson, Allen Halvorson, Sharon Hurajt, Gary Mead, Merle Overvig, Evan Peterson, Wayne Ramberg and Evie Roen.

C  Heal us, always!

 P   Into your risen, healing, wounded hands for our sake, we commend all for whom we pray.

C  By Christ’s wounds, we are healed! Amen. Alleluia!

The Lord’s Prayer

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.

Closing Hymn “Lift High The Cross”

Blessing

P   May the healing presence of almighty God, Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit, be with you now and always.

C  Amen.

P   Alleluia! Christ is risen!

C  He is risen, indeed! Alleluia!

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A Service for Good Friday, April 10, 2020

Posted on April 9, 2020 by RushRiverLutheran

By His Wounds We Are Healed

Join us for the By His Wounds We Are Healed special service for Good Friday. In this service, we remember that Jesus suffers unto death for our sin. Good Friday reminds us that though we have been brought low by sin, our Lord will bless us with new life in him through the cross.

Order of Service

Opening Hymn: Beneath the Cross of Jesus

Response

P   In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

P   It was the will of the Lord to crush him with pain.

C When you make his life an offering for sin,

P   he shall see his offspring, and shall prolong his days;

C through him the will of the Lord shall prosper.

P   Christ was wounded for our transgressions,

C crushed for our iniquities;

P   upon him was the punishment that made us whole,

C and by his wounds we are healed.

Confession and Forgiveness

P   Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.

C Most merciful God, we confess to you that we have broken your commandments by our own thoughts, words, and deeds. We have deserved the penalty of death and condemnation for turning our backs on you. We have not loved our brothers and sisters as we ought, and we have not cared for your creation. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us, and give us the healing power of your love that we may walk again in your ways and live to the glory of your holy name. Amen.

P   God is gracious and merciful, and he desires that we be made free of the burden of our sins. Through Jesus Christ, who bore the cross for our sake and for the sake of the whole world, there is healing, hope, and life. Your sins are forgiven in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

Scripture Readings

•  The Old Testament Reading, Genesis 3:14-19:

     The Lord God said to the serpent,
“Because you have done this,
   cursed are you among all animals
   and among all wild creatures;
upon your belly you shall go,
   and dust you shall eat
   all the days of your life. 
I will put enmity between you and the woman,
   and between your offspring and hers;
he will strike your head,
   and you will strike his heel.” 
To the woman he said,
“I will greatly increase your pangs in childbearing;
   in pain you shall bring forth children,
yet your desire shall be for your husband,
   and he shall rule over you.” 
And to the man he said,
“Because you have listened to the voice of your wife,
   and have eaten of the tree
about which I commanded you,
   ‘You shall not eat of it,’
cursed is the ground because of you;
   in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life; 
thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you;
   and you shall eat the plants of the field. 
By the sweat of your face
   you shall eat bread
until you return to the ground,
   for out of it you were taken;
you are dust,
   and to dust you shall return.”

•  The Epistle Reading, Romans 6:20-23:

     When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. So what advantage did you then get from the things of which you now are ashamed? The end of those things is death. But now that you have been freed from sin and enslaved to God, the advantage you get is sanctification. The end is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

•  The Gospel Reading, John 19:23-30:

     When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier. They also took his tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. So they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see who will get it.” This was to fulfill what the scripture says,“They divided my clothes among themselves,
   and for my clothing they cast lots.” 
And that is what the soldiers did.
Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home. After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfill the scripture), “I am thirsty.” A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the wine, he said, “It is finished.” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Children’s Message

   Today, we remember the cross of Jesus. We remember the cross of Jesus, really, every time we gather for worship. But we especially remember it because it is a special day of remembrance. It is Good Friday, the day on which Jesus died on the cross. Have any of you ever played or heard of the game called “Monopoly”? It’s a board game, and there’s one place on the board that you never want to land. Do you know what it is? It says, “Go to jail.” When you do, you’re kind of stuck there for a while. You don’t get to play with the other players. You just sit there and stay there like a penalty box in hockey. Still, there’s one card in the deck that says, “Get out of jail free!” That’s a nice card to have if you’re stuck in jail, isn’t it? Well, consider the cross our “get out of penalty free.” It’s free for us, and we are forever free through the cross—and that’s good news for us. But it wasn’t free for Jesus. He gave his life for us. We are drawn to him for that because without him we could never really be free. But through him, we are free, indeed.

Let us pray. Lord Jesus, thank you for making me free from death and sin through your cross. Amen.

Sermon

Our theme for lent was “With His Wounds we are Healed”.  I think the symbolism of the Ragman story fits very nicely with Good Friday.  As the Ragman changes our dirty rags for his clean ones, making us whole, taking upon himself our sins. ~Pastor Dave

The Ragman (adapted from the story by Walter Wangerin, Jr. by Scott Ragan)

I saw a sight so strange and experienced something so amazing that it is hard for me to explain it. If you can give me a few minutes, I’ll do my best to describe it to you.

Before dawn one Friday morning I noticed a young man, handsome and strong, walking through the back alleys of the city. He was pulling an old cart filled with clothes both bright and new. As he pulled the cart he was calling out in a clear, powerful voice: “Rags! Rags! New rags for old! I take your tired rags!”

The air was foul in these dark side streets, tainted by the filth and trash that living unleashes on the world. And yet as the man called out, the air became tinged with the faint scent of cleanliness, as though the breeze that carried the sweet music of his voice also carried with it the hope and promise of a cleansing rain and a purifying wind.

“Rags! New rags for old! I take your tired rags! Rags!” The man continued to move through the dim light of early morning, his strong voice echoing from building to building and street to street.

“Now, this is a curious thing,” I thought to myself, for the man stood six- feet-four and his arms were like tree limbs, hard and muscular. His eyes flashed with intelligence. What was he doing here, in a city that had no need for such a useless profession. Who recycled rags anymore? Could he find no better job than this, to be a ragman in the heart of a city? Driven by my curiosity, I followed him. And I wasn’t disappointed.

Soon the Ragman saw a woman sitting on the porch of a small house. She was crying into a handkerchief, wracked with sobs as she shed a thousand tears. Her body language said it all as she seemed folded in on herself, shoulders down, back slumped forward, knees and elbows making a sad X. She had no hope. Her heart was breaking. Her body may have been alive, but her soul wanted to die.

The Ragman stopped his cart. Quietly he walked over to the woman, stepping round empty beer cans and old newspapers, dead toys and broken furniture. “Give me your rag,” he said gently as he knelt beside her, “and I’ll give you another.” The woman looked up into his powerful, compassionate eyes and saw something there that paused her tears. The Ragman slipped the handkerchief from her hand and used it one last time to dry away the flow of tears from her face. Never taking his eyes from hers, he laid across her palm a linen cloth so clean and new that it shined. She looked down at the new cloth and then back again to the eyes of man who had given it to her. The Ragman slowly leaned forward and kissed the woman’s forehead and then turned and walked back to his cart.

As he began to pull his cart again, the Ragman did a strange thing: he put her old, used stained handkerchief to his own face…and then he began to weep. He sobbed as grievously as she had done, his shoulders shaking as the tears flowed down his face in a torrent of grief.

But looking back to the woman on the porch I could see that she was left without a tear. She sat with her shoulders high and a look of wonder on her face.

“This is amazing,” I thought to myself, and I followed the sobbing Ragman. Like a curious child who cannot turn away from a mystery, I watched the Ragman from a distance.

“Rags! Rags! New rags for old!” rang forth his voice. Though it was still strong, it also shook with emotion as he wept. “Rags! I take your old rags! Rags!”

In a little while, the sky showed gray behind the rooftops. It was light enough to make out the shredded curtains and damaged blinds that hung in dark windows. The Ragman came upon a girl sitting curbside whose head was wrapped in a bandage, eyes as vacant as the windows around her. Blood soaked her bandage and a single line of blood ran down her cheek.

The Ragman paused and turned his weeping eyes upon this empty, injured child. Reaching into his cart, he withdrew from it a beautiful yellow hat and walked towards the girl. “Give me your rag,” he said softly, “and I’ll give you mine.” The child did not move and could only gaze at him vacantly while he loosened the bandage, removed it from her head, and tied it to his own instead. I gasped at what I saw: with the bandage went the wound. The girl’s head was left unblemished, while the Ragman’s head began to bleed. He set the hat on the girl’s head and suddenly her eyes took on an understanding and intelligence that had been missing before. She placed her hand to the side of her head where the bandage had covered the wound that was no longer there. Smiling in wonder, she watched as the Ragman rose unsteadily to his feet and moved back to his cart.

“Rag! Rags! I take old rags!” cried out the sobbing, bleeding Ragman. “New rags for old! Rags!” With his powerful arms pulling the cart, he continued on his way. He seemed to be moving faster now with an urgency I hadn’t noticed before.

He stopped again in front of a man who was leaning against a telephone pole. “Are you going to work?” he asked. The man shook his head. The Ragman pressed him: “Do you have a job?”

The man looked him up and down, making note of the Ragman’s weeping eyes and bleeding head before replying. “Are you crazy?” he sneered as he leaned away from the pole, revealing that the right sleeve of his jacket was flat, the cuff stuffed into the pocket. He had no arm.

“Give me your jacket,” said the Ragman firmly, “and I’ll give you mine.” Such quiet authority in his voice! The one-armed man looked into the other’s eyes and then slowly took off his jacket. So did the Ragman. I rubbed my eyes in disbelief as I trembled at what I saw: the Ragman’s arm stayed in its sleeve, and when the other put on the Ragman’s jacket he had two good arms, strong as tree limbs. The Ragman was left with one. “Go to work,” he said as he moved back to his cart.

Struggling to make do with his one arm, the Ragman began to pull his cart again, this time much faster and with greater urgency. He came upon an unconscious old drunk lying beneath an army blanket, hunched, wizened and sick. He took that blanket and wrapped it round himself, but for the drunk he left new clothes.

And now I had to run to keep up with the Ragman. He was weeping uncontrollably, and bleeding freely from the forehead. He struggled to pull his cart with one arm while stumbling from drunkenness, falling again and again, exhausted, old, and sick. Yet he moved with terrible speed nearly sprinting through the alleys of the city covering block after block and mile upon mile.

I wept to see the changes in this man. I hurt to see his sorrow and ached each time I saw him stumble and fall. When he began to move through the industrial area of the city, away from the houses and apartments, I wanted to stop following and turn away from my grief, to leave it behind and go back to my life. But I could not. I needed to see this sad, amazing story to its end. Who was this Ragman? Why had he done what nobody else would have done? Where he was going in such a hurry? How would it end?

The once strong Ragman was now old and frail, weeping and bleeding, staggering and falling, his body wracked with pain, sorrow and disease. I watched as he came to an old abandoned lot that was filled with piles of trash, old furniture, and the rusted out shells of cars and construction equipment. He moved among the garbage pits and piles of human refuse and finally climbed to the top of a small hill made from the trash of a thousand lives. He struggled to pull his cart and its sad, pathetic burden. With tormented labor he cleared a little space on that hill.

With a deep sigh, he slowly made a bed from the contents of his cart and lay down on it. He pillowed his head on a handkerchief and a jacket. He covered his old, aching bones with an army blanket. His body shook under the load of its injuries and pain and disease. His eyes wept and the wound under his bandage continued to bleed. With one last, deep sigh, he closed his eyes and died.

Oh, how I cried to witness that death! I sat down in an old, abandoned car and wailed and mourned as one who has no hope. I wept because I had come to love the Ragman. As I had followed him, I had watched him work wonders and change lives so profoundly that it didn’t seem fair that he was gone. He had taken those things that were soiled and damaged beyond repair and had replaced them with the new and the whole. He had offered hope to the damaged and lost of the city.

But if the Ragman was gone, then my hope was gone as well. I felt such an overwhelming sense of grief and loss that I remained in the private seclusion of the rusted out car and sobbed myself to sleep. I did not know – how could I know — that I slept through Friday night and Saturday and on through Saturday night as well.

But then, on Sunday morning, I was awakened by a violence that shook me to the core of my being. Light – pure, hard, insistent light – slammed against my tear-stained face and demanded that I awake. When I was finally able to open my eyes, I blinked against the light and squinted in the direction of the pile of trash where the Ragman’s body had been. As I looked, I saw the last and the first wonder of all. The Ragman was there, yes! But he was no longer dead. He was alive! There he stood, folding the old army blanket carefully and laying it atop the neatly arranged handkerchief and jacket. Besides the scar on his forehead, there was no other evidence of what he had previously taken upon himself. There was no sign of sorrow or age, no evidence of illness or deformity. His body was whole and strong and all the rags that he had gathered shined for cleanliness.

I wept to see him again. When I thought that hope had died along with Ragman, I had abandoned any hope for my own life. And yet there he stood, healthy and whole. Climbing from my shelter I moved toward the Ragman, trembling from what I had seen and because of what I knew I needed to do. Walking to him with my head lowered, I spoke my name to him with shame. Looking up into his clear, loving, compassionate eyes I spoke with yearning in my voice, “Rags. Please take my tired rags and replace them with new ones.”

And he did just that. Taking the old, tired rags of my existence that covered the griefs and wounds of a life sadly lived, he replaced them with the new clothes of a life spent following Him. He put new rags on me and I am now a reflection of the hope he offers to us all.

The Ragman. The Christ

Peace, Pastor Dave

Sermon Hymn  O Sacred Head Now Wounded

Offering

Please continue to give in whatever way you are most comfortable with. You might consider making your offering online at https://rushriverlutheran.org/give/

Prayers of the People

P   Let us pray for the Church, for all in need, and for the whole of God’s creation. That in these three holy days you may give your people hope that it is Jesus, our Lord, who leads the way and takes into his body on the cross the sins of the whole world.

C Heal us, O God.

P   That the cross of Christ, our Lord, may be our final hope and salvation.

C Heal us, O God.

P   That the cross of Christ may be held before the eyes of all who are seeking hope beyond the depths of despair and doom.

C Heal us, O God.

P   That the cross of Christ may be the throne of grace that is more powerful than all the thrones and kingdoms of this world.

C Heal us, O God.

P   That the cross of Christ may gather all the saints together as the sign and symbol of our victory over death.

C Heal us, O God.

P   Into your healing, wounded hands for our sake, we commend all for whom we pray, especially the family and friends of Edna Christenson, Allen Halvorson, Sharon Hurajt, Gary Mead, Merle Overvig, Evan Peterson, Wayne Ramberg and Evie Roen.

C By Christ’s wounds, we are healed. Amen.

Lord’s Prayer

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.

Blessing

P   May the healing presence of almighty God, Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit, be with you now and always.

C Amen.

Closing Hymn The Old Rugged Cross

By Michael Hoy. © 2020 Creative Communications for the Parish, a division of Bayard, Inc., 1564 Fencorp Dr., Fenton, MO 63026. 800-325-9414. www.creativecommunications.com. All rights reserved.

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A Service for Palm Sunday, April 5, 2020

Posted on April 4, 2020 by RushRiverLutheran

By His Wounds We Are Healed

Order of Service

Opening Response

P   Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!

C  Hosanna in the highest!

P   Christ was oppressed and he was afflicted,

C  yet he did not open his mouth;

P   like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,

C  and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent.

P   Christ was wounded for our transgressions,

C  crushed for our iniquities;

P   upon him was the punishment that made us whole,

C  and by his wounds we are healed.

Processional Hymn: “All Glory, Laud, and Honor”

Confession and Forgiveness

P   Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.

C  Most merciful God, we confess to you that we have broken your commandments by our own thoughts, words, and deeds. In our inner hearts, we have desired glory only for ourselves and not for you alone. We have not loved our brothers and sisters as we ought, and we have not cared for your creation. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us, and give us the healing power of your love that we may walk again in your ways and live to the glory of your holy name. Amen.

P   God is gracious and merciful, and he desires that we be made free of the burden of our sins. Through Jesus Christ, who bore the cross for our sake and for the sake of the whole world, there is healing, hope, and life. Your sins are forgiven in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

C  Amen.

Word

The Old Testament Reading, Exodus 20:17

You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

The Epistle Reading, Philippians 2:5-11

Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself   and became obedient to the point of death —  even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The Gospel Reading, John 12:12-19

The next day the great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord — the King of Israel!” Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it; as it is written:  “Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion. Look, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!” His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written of him and had been done to him. So the crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to testify. It was also because they heard that he had performed this sign that the crowd went to meet him. The Pharisees then said to one another, “You see, you can do nothing. Look, the world has gone after him!”

Children’s Message

Read aloud to your children:

When Jesus came into Jerusalem, the people waved palm branches and cried out, “Hosanna!” What does the word Hosanna mean? (See if the children can answer.) Hosanna means “Please save us!” They were looking to Jesus to be their savior, one who would bring them salvation. And that he would do.

But the way he would do it, for them and for us, was not the way they may have expected. He didn’t come in to Jerusalem with great power and might, did he? He didn’t come in with an army loaded down with weapons, did he? No.

He came in riding humbly on the back of a donkey. And later that same week, he would carry a cross and be crucified on it. Jesus trusted that his whole work in life and in death was a mission of salvation that was always in the hands of God, not as things he desired or wanted for himself or for his own glory.

He gave himself away for the sins of the whole world. And the glory of God is to see to it that you and I and everybody else, even all of creation, receive the benefit of salvation.

Let us pray. Lord Jesus, thank you for taking the path of humility and death for our sake and for the sake of the whole world. Amen.

Especially for the children: Download and print the free ‘Picture the Bible” Holy Week devotional/coloring book here. As they complete the stories, hang them in a row somewhere in your home as a visual timeline of Jesus’ journey to the cross and resurrection.

Pastor Dave’s Sermon (Matthew 21: 1-11)

You probably wonder why or what the accompanying picture is all about.  It is the picture of the back of Josie, our donkey.  Notice the black line on her backbone and the black line over her front shoulders, making the image of the cross.  All donkeys carry the sign of the cross unless they are crossed with other breeds. 

I got to thinking how the donkey played an important part in the Jesus story.  First the pregnant Mary’s ride to Bethlehem, then the donkey carrying her and Jesus to Egypt as they became refugees.  The donkey was also part of their return trip.  Now on Palm Sunday, here again is a donkey being ridden by Jesus into Jerusalem.  Jesus riding on a donkey marked with the cross of Christ to a celebration and shouts of Hosanna.  Even during the celebration there is the shadow of the cross as Jesus knows what will happen on Friday.  My imagination is that he traces his hand over the donkey’s cross, as he thinks about what is to come. 

Jesus knew the cheering would stop all too soon.  He knew people had liked his message when he had talked about Grace.  He also knew that when he had talked about the commitment, the people had not cheered.  He had talked about including the street people, the poor, the lame, the sick, the outcasts.  By bringing in these people, it is his way of saying all people have access to God. 

I remember that wonderful story of the Special Olympics.  Nine children lined up for the 100 yard dash. The gun sounded and the children were off.  Only a few yards into the race, one child fell and began to cry.  These challenged children did not understand the world’s concept of competition and getting ahead and taking advantage when someone else was down.  The other 8 children came back to the fallen child.  A young girl with Down’s syndrome kissed him and brushed him off.  The children lifted him up together and, arm in arm, they crossed the finish line.  The audience rose to their feet in applause; there was not one winner, there were nine winners.

For a fleeting moment these children showed us what the Kingdom of God is like. They challenged the world’s concept that first place is everything. In the race that we’re in, everyone matters. Particularly those who have fallen and are on the outside.

Finally, I would suggest to you that the cheering stopped because Jesus began to talk more and more about a cross.  In the early part of his ministry, Jesus talked about the Kingdom of God.  This they wanted to hear about, especially since they misunderstood this kingdom to be a restoration of Israel to the days of King David’s glory.  But increasingly Jesus began to talk about sacrifice – even giving up your life.

The story is told of a pee-wee baseball game. When the young boy got up to the plate he looked over to the coach, and he saw him give the signal to sacrifice bunt.  He then promptly proceeded to take three big swings and struck out.  The coach ran up to him and said, “Didn’t you see me give you the signal to sacrifice?” “Yes”, the boy replied, “But I didn’t think you meant it.”

Isn’t that what we so often say to God? “Yes, Lord, I heard that talk about sacrifice but I didn’t really think that you meant it.” The cross says emphatically that he did mean it.

Peace, Pastor Dave

Creed

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended to the dead. On the third day He rose again; He ascended into heaven, He is seated at the right hand of the Father, and He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Offering

Please consider making your offering online at https://rushriverlutheran.org/give/

Prayers of the People

P   Let us pray for the Church, for all in need, and for the whole of God’s creation. That as we now enter this holiest of weeks, you may give your people hope that it is Jesus, our Lord, who leads the way and takes into his body on the cross the sins of the whole world.

C  Heal us, O God.

P   That we may put away our own false desires, and boast only of the cross of Christ.

C  Heal us, O God.

P   That all who seek righteousness may find the hope of righteousness in our Lord who bore the cross for them and for all.

C  Heal us, O God.

P   That we may honor all people as our brothers and sisters and share Christ’s blessing of peace and salvation.

C  Heal us, O God.

P   For those who have made the procession from life to death, that they may join the endless chorus of praise at the throne of God.

C  Heal us, O God.

P   We pray for all who are held captive by anxiety, despair, or pain, especially Edna Christenson, Allen Halvorson, Sharon Hurajt, Gary Mead, Merle Overvig, Evan Peterson, Wayne Ramberg and Evie Roen.

C  Heal us, O God.

P Into your healing, wounded hands for our sake, we commend all for whom we pray.

C  By Christ’s wounds, we are healed. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

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.

Sending hymn: Were You There

Blessing

P   May the healing presence of almighty God, Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit, be with you now and always.

C  Amen.

By Michael Hoy. © 2020 Creative Communications for the Parish, a division of Bayard, Inc., 1564 Fencorp Dr., Fenton, MO 63026. 800-325-9414. www.creativecommunications.com. All rights reserved.

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By His Wounds We Are Healed

Posted on April 1, 2020 by RushRiverLutheran

A Series of Services for the Season of Lent

Week 5: The Wounds of Stealing

In this service, we remember that the wounds of stealing and dishonesty we committed against our Lord were laid on Christ on the cross. Here, Jesus is accused of forbidding the paying of taxes. Our Lenten observance reminds us that though we have been brought low by sin, our Lord will bless us with new life in him through the cross.

Order of Service

P   In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

C  Amen.

P   By a perversion of justice, Christ was taken away.

C  Who could have imagined his future?

P   For he was cut off from the land of the living,

C  stricken for the transgression of God’s people.

P   Christ was wounded for our transgressions,

C  crushed for our iniquities;

P   upon him was the punishment that made us whole,

C  and by his wounds we are healed.

Confession and Forgiveness

P   Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.

C  Most merciful God, we confess to you that we have broken your commandments by our own thoughts, words, and deeds. We have stolen from you in our failure to love, serve, and obey you. We have not loved our brothers and sisters as we ought, and we have not cared for your creation. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us, and give us the healing power of your love that we may walk again in your ways and live to the glory of your holy name. Amen.

P  God is gracious and merciful, and desires that we be made free of the burden of our sins. Through Jesus Christ, who bore the cross for our sake and for the sake of the whole world, there is healing, hope, and life. Your sins are forgiven in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

C  Amen.

Readings

Old Testament Reading from Exodus 20:15

You shall not steal.

Epistle Reading from Romans 13:1-7

   Let every person be subject to the governing authorities; for there is no authority except from God, and those authorities that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore, whoever resists authority resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgement. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you wish to have no fear of the authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive its approval; for it is God’s servant for your good. But if you do what is wrong, you should be afraid, for the authority does not bear the sword in vain! It is the servant of God to execute wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore, one must be subject, not only because of wrath but also because of conscience. For the same reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, busy with this very thing. Pay to all what is due to them—taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.

Gospel Reading from Luke 23:1-5

   Then the assembly rose as a body and brought Jesus before Pilate. They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man perverting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to the emperor, and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king.” Then Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” He answered, “You say so.” Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for an accusation against this man.” But they were insistent and said, “He stirs up the people by teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to this place.”

Children’s Message

(read to your children – please improvise as needed!)

Can I tell you a story? Once my oldest son got really mad at his younger brother. The younger brother was always going into his room and picking up one of the older brother’s toys. Has that ever happened to you? (Listen for answers.) Anyway, the older son cried out to me, “Dad, my brother just stole this from me!” So, I sat both of the boys down together, and we had a little talk. I talked to them about what it means to be brothers. To be brothers means to care for one another and to respect one another. And, yes, that means respecting each other’s things, but more importantly, to respect each other as people whom God very deeply loves. God is the source and giver of all gifts, even everything we have. In sending Jesus, God didn’t seek to keep the riches of the kingdom locked up in heaven, but to give them away—even in giving his Son for us all.

Let us pray. Lord God, help us to be people who see all other people as our brothers and sisters in this world in need of your love and care. Amen.

Sermon

The commandment that prohibits stealing addresses more than the matter of our paying taxes. The commandment encourages us to look out for our neighbors and their welfare through love and justice on their behalf. 

The false charge against Jesus that he forbade the payment of taxes to the emperor was only an attempt by dishonest spies who sought to trap Jesus. At the trial of Jesus before Pilate they would try to use this incident as an attempt to make Jesus out to be a revolutionary figure. But Jesus silenced their craftiness by saying to them, “Give to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Luke 20:25).

Jesus did not steal, but his mission was certainly revolutionary. Yet his calling us to give “to God the things that are God’s” is at least partially an indictment for all the ways in which we have stolen from God.

In the culture in which we live, stealing is more and more becoming a common-day occurrence. People today have not only to be protected from being taken advantage of for what are truly their possessions, but even to have their own identity protected. Entitlement, greed, selfishness, and unequal wealth distribution reign supreme among the “haves,” while the “have nots” among the poor and hungry continue to go without. It is not hard to find evidence for all the ways people look out only for themselves, and at the same time take advantage of their neighbors. That is what stealing is: taking advantage of others, acquiring from others by unjust means. The just judgment for this would be more than we could ever bear.

Jesus took his place in the middle of two thieves, himself crucified as a criminal. True, he did not steal, and he did not commit a crime. But he suffered as one who did. He suffered and died for us. The very heart of God is wounded in the death of Jesus for the sins of the world. But by his wounds, we are healed.

The healing that God brings to us through Christ frees our hearts and our lives from judgment. We trust that because of Jesus we are no longer regarded as the criminals with whom Jesus associated even in death but as children of the heavenly Father, graced deeply and daily by God’s love.

In the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15), the son who sought his father’s inheritance essentially wished his father to be dead so that he could take his portion and live on his own. As we know from the parable, that plan didn’t work out very well for the son. The son comes home with a sense of his wrongdoing, his theft from the father’s good graces. But the father is extravagant in grace upon the son’s return, running to him and embracing him, and throwing a feast in his honor. The elder son knew this younger son only as a thief of the father’s property. His heart was cold to both the merciful father and the son who was welcomed home. But even though this elder son is without mercy, the father has an abundance. God welcomes home all of us who are thieves and criminals, living in ways that are contrary to his will. We all get to come home in mercy that does not leave us in the judgment of death. This mercy reaches out to the elder son as well, seeking to melt his cold heart with the mercy of God’s abundant gifts.

The healing of Jesus’ wounds empowers us to be agents of love for our neighbors. We get to take our place with them, among them, for their good and for their well-being. We get to look out for our neighbors, trusting that God is doing all the looking out for us. Instead of looking over our shoulder, we can be people using the head on our shoulders to imagine ways of greater giving and goodness for others. As Jesus would say in his Sermon on the Mount, “Do not resist an evildoer,” but “give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you” (Matthew 5:39-42). We are givers because of the gift we have received in Jesus.

Near the end of the gospel of Matthew, we hear a parable about the sheep and the goats (chapter 25). The goats are those who have spent their lives butting out others from the trough, seeking to get to the head of the line, and not caring all that much about the poor sheep they have butted out of the way or trampled underfoot. The sheep, on the other hand, have looked out for all others—yes, the sheep, but even the goats!—o provide for their neighbors as needs arise. The parable is not meant for us to reduce its meaning to sheer moralism. It is a parable of faith. Those who trust in Jesus live and move like “little Christs” in the world caring for the many needs of people. They see their neighbors as important, treasures in God’s eyes, creatures and children of the one God who has given them to us to love.

This sharing of love, even at the cost of personal wounds to us, is the giving “to God the things that are God’s.” Jesus did this for us. We get to live as the ambassadors of his love for others.

Offering

Please consider making your offering online at https://rushriverlutheran.org/give/

Prayers of the People

P   Let us pray for the Church, for all in need, and for the whole of God’s creation. That throughout these forty days of Lent, you may give your people hope that it is Jesus, our Lord, who leads the way and takes into his body on the cross the sins of the whole world.

C  Heal us, O God.

P   For all that you provide us in this life and for all that you provide for all people everywhere, that we may put away envy and be grateful for your gifts.

C  Heal us, O God.

P   That we may recognize those in need, especially the hungry and the poor, pray for them, work for change in government for their good, and seek to uphold them from the resources of our own charity.

C  Heal us, O God.

P   That those who are sick or suffering may be blessed with better health and wholeness.

C  Heal us, O God.

P   For those who are dying, that, leaving all their earthly things behind, they may come to embrace the greater treasures in your eternal presence.

C  Heal us, O God.

P   Into your healing, wounded hands for our sake, we commend all for whom we pray.

C  By Christ’s wounds, we are healed. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

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.

Blessing

P   May the healing presence of almighty God, Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit, be with you now and always.

C  Amen.

By Michael Hoy. © 2020 Creative Communications for the Parish, a division of Bayard, Inc., 1564 Fencorp Dr., Fenton, MO 63026. 800-325-9414. www.creativecommunications.com. All rights reserved.

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Sunday, March 29th, Fifth Sunday of Lent

Posted on March 28, 2020 by RushRiverLutheran

Introduction

In today’s gospel, Jesus reveals his power over death by raising Lazarus from the dead. The prophet Ezekiel prophesies God breathing new life into dry bones. To those in exile or living in the shadows of death, these stories proclaim God’s promise of resurrection. In baptism we die with Christ that we might also be raised with him to new life. At the Easter Vigil we will welcome the newly baptized as we remember God’s unfailing promise in our baptism.

Confession and Forgiveness

Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God, who is present, who gives life, who calls into existence the things that do not exist. Amen.

If you were to keep watch over sins, O Lord, who could stand? Yet with you is forgiveness, and so we confess.

Gracious God,

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.

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. Amen.

Greeting

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God,

and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

And also with you.

Prayer of the Day

Let us pray:

Almighty God, your Son came into the world to free us all from sin and death. Breathe upon us the power of your Spirit, that we may be raised to new life in Christ and serve you in righteousness all our days, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Word

God speaks to us in scripture reading, preaching, and song.

First Reading: Ezekiel 37:1-14

Ezekiel’s vision of the valley of dry bones is a promise that Israel as a nation, though dead in exile, will live again in their land through God’s life-giving spirit. Three times Israel is assured that through this vision they will know that “I am the Lord.”

1The hand of the Lord came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. 2He led me all around them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry. 3He said to me, “Mortal, can these bones live?” I answered, “O Lord God, you know.” 4Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. 5Thus says the Lord God to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. 6I will lay sinews on you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the Lord.”
  7So I prophesied as I had been commanded; and as I prophesied, suddenly there was a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. 8I looked, and there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them; but there was no breath in them. 9Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the breath: Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.” 10I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood on their feet, a vast multitude.
  11Then he said to me, “Mortal, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely.’ 12Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: I am going to open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you back to the land of Israel. 13And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people. 14I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken and will act, says the Lord.”

Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God.

Psalm 130:

1 Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord;
2     Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive
    to my cry for mercy.

3 If you, Lord, kept a record of sins,
    Lord, who could stand?
4 But with you there is forgiveness,
    so that we can, with reverence, serve you.

5 I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,
    and in his word I put my hope.
6 I wait for the Lord
    more than watchmen wait for the morning,
    more than watchmen wait for the morning.

7 Israel, put your hope in the Lord,
    for with the Lord is unfailing love
    and with him is full redemption.
8 He himself will redeem Israel
    from all their sins.

Second Reading: Romans 8:6-11.

For Paul, Christian spirituality entails living in the reality of the Holy Spirit. The driving force behind our actions and values is not our sinful desire for self-satisfaction but the very Spirit by which God raised Jesus from the dead and will also raise us from the dead.

6To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law—indeed it cannot, 8and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
  9But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you.

Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God.

Gospel John 11:1-45

Jesus is moved to sorrow when his friend Lazarus falls ill and dies. Then, in a dramatic scene, he calls his friend out of the tomb and restores him to life.

11 Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped his feet with her hair; her brother Lazarus was ill. 3 So the sisters sent a message to Jesus,[a] “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” 4 But when Jesus heard it, he said, “This illness does not lead to death; rather it is for God’s glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” 5 Accordingly, though Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, 6 after having heard that Lazarus[b] was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.

7 Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” 8 The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now trying to stone you, and are you going there again?” 9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Those who walk during the day do not stumble, because they see the light of this world. 10 But those who walk at night stumble, because the light is not in them.” 11 After saying this, he told them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to awaken him.” 12 The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will be all right.” 13 Jesus, however, had been speaking about his death, but they thought that he was referring merely to sleep. 14 Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. 15 For your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” 16 Thomas, who was called the Twin,[c] said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

17 When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus[d] had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, some two miles[e] away, 19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life.[f] Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah,[g] the Son of God, the one coming into the world.”

28 When she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary, and told her privately, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” 29 And when she heard it, she got up quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet come to the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31 The Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary get up quickly and go out. They followed her because they thought that she was going to the tomb to weep there. 32 When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. 34 He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Jesus began to weep. 36 So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” 37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”

38 Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, already there is a stench because he has been dead four days.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” 41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus looked upward and said, “Father, I thank you for having heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

45 Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him.

Pastor Dave’s Sermon

In our gospel lesson, the family and friends have gathered and in their deep sorrow, they begin to weep over the loss of their loved one, Lazarus.  The heart of Jesus goes out to them and He weeps with them.  Then Jesus scares them when he says “Roll back the stone!”  Martha, always the realist and ever ready to speak out, protests:  “But Lord, we can’t do that.  He has been in the grave for 4 days.  By now there will be a terrible odor.”  Jesus says to her:  “Martha, only believe and you will see the power of God.”
So they roll the stone away, and Jesus cries out in a loud voice:  “Lazarus come forth!”  And incredibly, miraculously, amazingly, before their very eyes…Lazarus is resurrected!  He comes out of the tomb.  He still has on his grave clothes.  His head and feet are still wrapped with mummy-like bandages.  Jesus then turns to the friends and family and says to them.   “Unbind him and let him go.  Unwrap him and set him free.”
In this graphic and dramatic story, three awesome lessons jump out at us.  Three great truths emerge which can be so helpful to us today.  Let me list them for us:  Jesus wept with those he loved and he still does.  Jesus raised people up and he still does.  Jesus included others in the healing process, and he still does. 
My first year as a Pastor, I had a very real struggle.  I went to a visitation of a father of a member of the church and good friend.  Before I left, I went over Bible verses and comfort I could bring them.  When I walked in, she came and hugged me and all I could say or do was to stand there and cry with her.  I was embarrassed, so ashamed and so humiliated.  When I got home, I immediately began to write a letter to the Bishop.  I wanted to tell him I was unfit to be a pastor.  That I did not have enough faith to be a pastor.  I put the letter in the top drawer of my desk. 
A few months later, I was reading the Lazarus story.  That short verse, “Jesus wept”, jumped out to me.  I realized Jesus wept with those He loved, and still does.  So maybe my tears were not as bad as I thought.  I reached in the drawer and tore up my letter to the Bishop. 
There’s an important lesson I learned.  When people are in grief, they don’t want theological pronouncements.  They just want someone to come and love them.  They just want someone to come and cry with them. 
Jesus wept with those He loved, and He still does.  He hurts with us.  He feels our pain.  We all face suffering some time and when it comes, one thing we can know is that our Lord is hurting with us, and He will love us through it.  He will walk through the valley with us and in time He will bring us out of the valley of sorrow to the mountaintop on the other side.  Jesus wept with those he loved and he still does. 
At one time, I thought I will do funerals like Jesus did.  But surprise, Jesus performed no funerals, only Resurrections!  “Lazarus, come forth.”  That’s personal, to be called by his name.  Sometimes we find ourselves in tombs that are imprisoning us.  Jesus wants to set us free.  Listen for your name and respond in faith.  Jesus will raise you up and give you a new start, a new chance, a new life. 
Notice what happens when Lazarus comes out of the tomb.  Jesus turns to his family and friends and says, “Unbind him and let him go.  Unwrap him and set him free.”  Jesus knew how important it is to have family and friends helping us, surrounding us with love, supporting us, encouraging us, in those moments when we are trying to make a new start with our lives. 
Here we stand on the Fifth Sunday of Lent, one foot in Bethany and one on Calvary.  Here we stand, knowing the unknowable:  that for Lazarus’ fate to be changed.  Jesus’ fate must be sealed.  Here we stand, realizing the unthinkable:  That having come from God, this Jesus must return to God, and the way of return is death.  Death, before any of his friends and relatives can prepare to let him go.  Before any can grasp the dangerous reality of the situation.  Death before any can realize there is nothing they can do to stop it.  Here we stand, believing the unbelievable:  that before us is one who is the resurrection and the life.  In his living presence eternal life begins not at the cave door, not at the funeral home, and not at the end of time, but with him, now, even as we speak.  With him, Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  “I am the resurrection and the life,” he said.  “Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live; and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.  Do you believe this?”  I do!
Amen.

Creed

I believe in God, the Father Almighty Creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; He ascended into heaven, He is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Prayers of Intercession

Turning our hearts to God who is gracious and merciful, we pray for the church, the world, and all who are in need.

God of life, bind your faithful people into one body. Enliven the church with your Spirit and bless the work of those who work for its renewal. Accomplish your work of salvation in us and through us, for the sake of the world. Hear us, O God.

Your mercy is great.

God of life, you love the world you have made, and you grieve when creation suffers. Restore polluted lands and waterways. Heal areas of the world ravaged by storms, floods, wildfires, droughts, or other natural disasters. Bring all things to new life. Hear us, O God.

Your mercy is great.

God of life, show redemption to all who watch and wait with eager expectation: those longing for wars to cease, those waiting for immigration paperwork to finalize, those seeking election, and those in dire need of humanitarian relief. Come quickly with your hope. Hear us, O God.

Your mercy is great.

God of life, you weep with those who grieve. Unbind all who are held captive by anxiety, despair, or pain, especially Edna Christenson, Allen
Halvorson, Sharon Hurajt, Gary Mead, Merle Overvig, Evan Peterson, Wayne Ramberg and Evie Roen. Fill us with compassion and empathy for those who struggle and keep us faithful in prayer. Hear us, O God.

Your mercy is great.

God of life, we give thanks for opportunities for this congregation to collaborate with our community in caring for the needs of our neighbors. Strengthen our ties with other local congregations, agencies, and services. Hear us, O God.

Your mercy is great.

God of life, you are our resurrection. We remember all those who have died and trust that, in you, they will live again. Breathe new life into our dry bones, that we, too, might live with you forever. Hear us, O God.

Your mercy is great.

According to your steadfast love, O God, hear these and all our prayers as we commend them to you; through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Lord’s Prayer

 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.

Blessing

The God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus. Amen.

Dismissal

Go in peace. Christ is with you. Thanks be to God.

From sundaysandseasons.com. Copyright © 2020 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.

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By His Wounds We Are Healed

Posted on March 24, 2020 by RushRiverLutheran

A Series of Services for the Season of Lent

Week 4: The Wounds of Adultery

In this service, we remember that the wounds of adultery and unfaithfulness we committed against our Lord were laid on Christ on the cross. Our Lenten observance reminds us that though we have been brought low by sin, our Lord will bless us with new life in him through the cross.

Order of Service

P In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

P   Out of his anguish Christ shall see light;

C  he shall find satisfaction through his knowledge.

P   The righteous one, my servant, shall make many righteous,

C  and he shall bear their iniquities.

P   Christ was wounded for our transgressions,

C  crushed for our iniquities;

P   upon him was the punishment that made us whole,

C  and by his wounds we are healed.

Confession and Forgiveness

P   Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.

C  Most merciful God, we confess to you that we have broken your commandments by our own thoughts, words, and deeds. We are undeserving of your presence; we deserve to be shunned for the impurity within us. We have not loved our brothers and sisters as we ought, and we have not cared for your creation. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us, and give us the healing power of your love that we may walk again in your ways and live to the glory of your holy name. Amen.

P   God is gracious and merciful, and he desires that we be made free of the burden of our sins. Through Jesus Christ, who bore the cross for our sake and for the sake of the whole world, there is healing, hope, and life. Your sins are forgiven in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

C  Amen.

Scripture Readings

• The Old Testament Reading, Exodus 20:14:

You shall not commit adultery.

•  The Epistle Reading, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11:

Do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! Fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, sodomites, thieves, the greedy, drunkards, revilers, robbers—none of these will inherit the kingdom of God. And this is what some of you used to be. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

•  The Gospel Reading, Matthew 9:9-13:

As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him. And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax-collectors and sinners?” But when he heard this, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.” Go and learn what this means, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.’

Children’s Message

Today we’re going to play a little game. It’s called, “Which one is the tallest?” Let’s all stand up together in a row from the tallest to the shortest. (Have your children line up in a row.) Now what if God only liked the really tall people? That would make the short people feel bad, wouldn’t it? Well, there was a time when some people thought that God liked them better than all the rest. And they frowned on the people they thought God didn’t like at all. But Jesus had good news for all people. He joined them all together at his table. (Have the children join in a circle.) Everyone is loved by God through Jesus’ love. There are no distinctions, no classes, no better than someone else; but all are loved.

Let us pray. Lord, we thank you that you love us all and welcome us all as one to be at your table of fellowship and grace. Amen.

Sermon

The story of Jesus dining at table with tax collectors and sinners is shared in all of the first three gospels—Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The have some variations—and the variations are important for the message of each gospel writer—but the point and the context is the same: Jesus sits at table with outcasts and is unashamed. It is a powerful story at the very heart of the gospel about how we are all welcomed and embraced in spite of the truth of our sins.

Later in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus will speak about how “tax collectors and prostitutes,” because of their faith in him, will enter the kingdom of heaven ahead of others who are self-righteous (21:28-32). In Luke’s Gospel, we hear of Jesus’ intimate encounter with a “sinful woman” at the home of a Pharisee. She washes his feet with her tears and wipes them with her hair. Needless to say, eyebrows are raised and criticisms abound. But Jesus sees it as an act of love and speaks words of endearing forgiveness to her (7:36-50). And in John’s Gospel, we hear the story of a woman who was caught in adultery. Jesus defended her over all her critics: “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” All of them left, and the woman was alone with Jesus. Jesus then said to her, “‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ She said, ‘No one, sir.’ And Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again’” (8:1-11).

Tax collectors and sinners were despised socially and religiously. The impurity of Jesus’ association with them could not go unnoticed. But the legalism of those who criticized such association can still be found in the Church today—when the assembly is cold and uninviting to those who do not seem to “fit in.” Such behavior is counter to the truth of Jesus’ mercy, by which we all have been accepted and loved by grace even though we do not deserve it.

For even the religiously faithful who shun the sin of adultery, Jesus broadens the commandment to include lust in our hearts (Matthew 5:27-30). Such covetousness leads us away from the kingdom of heaven and down a path of being swamped in misguided attractions and sexual acts.

Consider David and Bathsheba as an illustration. The first sin of David was his covetous desire for Bathsheba. Everything else that followed—adultery, Bathsheba’s pregnancy, attempts to conceal what he had done, seeing to the death of her husband Uriah, and then taking her in as his own wife—was all rooted from the time he first spotted her bathing on the rooftop.

David would be confronted about his sin by the prophet Nathan. And David would repent deeply for his wrong; though sadly and tragically, the child that Bathsheba had conceived died. Later she would conceive and give birth to Solomon (2 Samuel 11-12). The opening of the Gospel of Matthew also notes this, but does not leave out the scandal of David’s adultery: “David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah” (Matthew 1:6)

Lest we think we are still off the hook even after consideration of these sexual sins, there are other meanings of adultery in Scriptures that hold the people of God accountable. Hosea the prophet was instructed to marry a prostitute and woman of adultery in order to symbolize the depth of Israel’s own chasing after other gods. How much we all have missed the mark when we have pursued other gods in our lives in both word and deed and have left the kingdom of heaven peripheral to our being. We cannot justify ourselves. Luther’s last words, “We are all beggars” may just as well have said, “We are all adulterers.”

Still it is not our own acts of repentance for our adulteries, however warranted such a response is, that finally overcomes the evil and scandal. Such repentance is but the fruit of the incredible grace of Christ who takes the sin of our offenses into himself. Luther noted this is in one of his most profound expositions of the gospel. Christ takes the sins of all humanity into himself, including those of “David the adulterer” (whom Luther explicitly mentions), and bears them to the cross and death; but we are purged from all sin, death, and every evil by Christ’s “cleansing and righteousness.” “And if any remnants of sin were to remain, still for the sake of Christ, the shining Sun, God would not notice them” (LW 26:280).

What we get to celebrate is that Jesus’ association with the lowliest of outcasts means for us and for all people that there are no bounds to his grace. By his wounds on the cross there is the wholeness of healing that no one gets left out from the mercy of God; and no one is an outcast from God’s love.

Prayers

P   Let us pray for the Church, for all in need, and for the whole of God’s creation. That throughout these forty days of Lent, you may give your people hope that it is Jesus, our Lord, who leads the way and takes into his body on the cross the sins of the whole world.

C  Heal us, O God.

P   That we come to the truth that all are favored in your grace, and that we are all welcomed in your presence.

C  Heal us, O God.

P   That all who have been excluded in life, those who are in prisons, those who are alone, infirm, unloved, or bullied, that they may all know that your love is constant and will not abandon them.

C  Heal us, O God.

P   That people of differing ages, genders, classes or views may put away all malice and work together for wholeness and healing in the world.

C  Heal us, O God.

P   For those who are dying, that they may trust in the banquet with all the saints at the final table in your kingdom with Christ, our Lord.

C  Heal us, O God.

P   Into your healing, wounded hands for our sake, we commend all for whom we pray.

C  By Christ’s wounds, we are healed. Amen.

Lord’s Prayer

Blessing

P   May the healing presence of almighty God, Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit, be with you now and always.

C  Amen.

By Michael Hoy. © 2020 Creative Communications for the Parish, a division of Bayard, Inc., 1564 Fencorp Dr., Fenton, MO 63026. 800-325-9414. www.creativecommunications.com. All rights reserved.

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Sunday, March 22, 2020 Fourth Sunday in Lent

Posted on March 21, 2020 by RushRiverLutheran

Introduction

Baptism is sometimes called enlightenment. The gospel for this Sunday is the story of the man born blind healed by Christ. “I was blind, now I see,” declares the man. In baptism God opens our eyes to see the truth of who we are: God’s beloved children. As David was anointed king of Israel, in baptism God anoints our head with oil, and calls us to bear witness to the light of Christ in our daily lives.

Confession and Forgiveness

Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God,

who is present, who gives life,

who calls into existence the things that do not exist.

Amen.

If you were to keep watch over sins, O Lord, who could stand?

Yet with you is forgiveness, and so we confess.

Gracious God,

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.

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.

Amen.

Prayer of the Day

Bend your ear to our prayers, Lord Christ, and come among us. By your gracious life and death for us, bring light into the darkness of our hearts, and anoint us with your Spirit, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen.

Jesus says, I am the light | of the world;* whoever follows me will have the | light of life. (John 8:12)

Readings and Psalm

1 Samuel 16:1-13

David is chosen and anointed

Psalm 23

You anoint my head with oil. (Ps. 23:5)

Ephesians 5:8-14

Awake from sleep, live as children of light

John 9:1-41

Baptismal image: the man born blind

First Reading: 1 Samuel 16:1-13

Samuel anointed David even though he was the eighth-oldest son of Jesse and did not match his brothers in height or other physical characteristics. With the anointing came endowment with the Spirit of the Lord, designating David as the Lord’s chosen successor to Saul.

1The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul? I have rejected him from being king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and set out; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.” 2Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears of it, he will kill me.” And the Lord said, “Take a heifer with you, and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ 3Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for me the one whom I name to you.” 4Samuel did what the Lord commanded, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, “Do you come peaceably?” 5He said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord; sanctify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” And he sanctified Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
  6When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is now before the Lord.” 7But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” 8Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. He said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 9Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 10Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, and Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen any of these.” 11Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here.” 12He sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. The Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; for this is the one.” 13Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the presence of his brothers; and the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. Samuel then set out and went to Ramah.

Psalm: Psalm 23

You anoint my head with oil. (Ps. 23:5)

 1The Lord| is my shepherd;
  I shall not | be in want.
 2The Lord makes me lie down | in green pastures
  and leads me be- | side still waters.
 3You restore my | soul, O Lord,
  and guide me along right pathways | for your name’s sake.
 4Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall | fear no evil;
  for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they | comfort me. R
 5You prepare a table before me in the presence | of my enemies;
  you anoint my head with oil, and my cup is | running over.
 6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days | of my life,
  and I will dwell in the house of the | Lord forever. R

Second Reading: Ephesians 5:8-14

Because we now live in the divine light which is Jesus Christ, we conduct our lives in ways that reflect the light of Christ, so that our activity is truly pleasing to God.

8Once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light—9for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. 10Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. 11Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12For it is shameful even to mention what such people do secretly; 13but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,
 “Sleeper, awake!
  Rise from the dead,
 and Christ will shine on you.”

Gospel: John 9:1-41

Jesus heals a man born blind, provoking a hostile reaction that he regards as spiritual blindness to the things of God.

1As [Jesus] walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. 4We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. 5As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, 7saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. 8The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” 9Some were saying, “It is he.” Others were saying, “No, but it is someone like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” 10But they kept asking him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” 11He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ Then I went and washed and received my sight.” 12They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.”
  13They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. 14Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. 15Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see.” 16Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not observe the sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?” And they were divided. 17So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” He said, “He is a prophet.”
  18The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight 19and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” 20His parents answered, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; 21but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.” 22His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. 23Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”
  24So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they said to him, “Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner.” 25He answered, “I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” 26They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” 27He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?” 28Then they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. 29We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.” 30The man answered, “Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. 31We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will. 32Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. 33If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” 34They answered him, “You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?” And they drove him out.
  35Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36He answered, “And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him.” 37Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.” 38He said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped him. 39Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind.” 40Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, “Surely we are not blind, are we?” 41Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.”

Devotional from Pastor Dave

The Gospel for today is the healing of the blind man. Jesus used spit and clay on the man’s eyes. Then told him to go wash in the pool of Siloam. He came back able to see much to the dismay of the religious leaders. They quizzed him on how and who healed him. Notice the way the healed man refers to Jesus.

There is growth and a progression here as he sees more and more clearly. He refers to Jesus as a man. He says “The man Jesus did this for me”. Next he calls Jesus a prophet. He says “To be able to do this he must be a Prophet”.

Then towards the end he sees Jesus as the Son of God. Finally he claims him as The Lord of Life. Notice the closer that he gets to Jesus, the more time he spends with Jesus, the clearer he sees God! That’s the way it works for us, because, you see, that’s what it means to have Christ-like eyes. When our eyes have been opened by Christ, we see with our hearts and we realize what Jesus taught long ago. That we are all in this together, that we all are persons for whom Christ came and died. When our eyes are anointed with the spirit of Christ, we see people differently. We see them as part of God’s family. We accept them and embrace them and help them and treat them with respect and love. That’s what it means to have our eyes opened by Christ. It changes the way we see ourselves and the way we see other people.

Prayers of Intercession

Turning our hearts to God who is gracious and merciful, we pray for the church, the world, and all who are in need.

God of insight, open the hearts of the church and the world to all who testify to your deeds of power. Raise up voices in your church that are often silenced or overlooked due to age, gender expression, race, or economic status. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

God of insight, empower us to care for the land and all living things that dwell in it and beneath it. Provide rich soil for crops to grow. Bring rain to lands suffering drought. Protect hills and shorelines from damage caused by erosion. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

God of insight, bring peace to all people and nations. Anoint leaders who seek goodness, righteousness, and truth on behalf of all. Frustrate the efforts of those who would seek to cause violence or terror. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

God of insight, you care for our needs even before we ask. Come quickly to all who seek prayer this day, especially Edna Christenson, Sharon Hurajt, Gary Mead, Merle Overvig, Evan Peterson and Evie Roen. Accomplish healing through the work of doctors, nurses, physical therapists, nutritionists, and all who tend to human bodies. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

God of insight, help this assembly lift up the unique gifts of each person who enters, no matter their physical capacity, cognitive ability, or sensory need. Help us to be creative and brave in making our facilities and our ministries accessible to all. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

God of insight, you call out to those who are asleep and awaken them to new life with you. We give thanks for your saints. Join us together with them as your children in this world and the next. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

According to your steadfast love, O God, hear these and all our prayers as we commend them to you, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

We thank you, living God, for the body and blood of your Son, which sustains us in the wilderness and the garden alike. As Christ has loved us in this feast, so send us to love Christ in our neighbors. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Blessing

Now is the acceptable time. Now is the day of salvation. Holy God, speaking, spoken, and inspiring, bless you, unbind you, and send you in love and in peace. Amen.

Copyright © 2020 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Used with permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #SBT003627.

New Revised Standard Version Bible, Copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Revised Common Lectionary, Copyright © 1992 Consultation on Common Texts, admin Augsburg Fortress. Used by permission.

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By His Wounds We Are Healed

Posted on March 18, 2020 by RushRiverLutheran

A Series of Services for the Season of Lent

Week 3: The Wounds of Murder

In this service for the third week of Lent, we remember that the wounds of murder and violence we committed against our Lord were laid on Christ on the cross. Our Lenten observance reminds us that though we have been brought low by sin, our Lord will bless us with new life in him through the cross.

Prayers:

P   Let us pray for the Church, for all in need, and for the whole of God’s creation. That throughout these forty days of Lent, you may give your people hope that it is Jesus, our Lord, who leads the way and takes into his body on the cross the sins of the whole world.

C  Heal us, O God.

P   That we might put away anger, judgment, and violence in our hearts, and instead embrace your promise of love and mercy.

C  Heal us, O God.

P   That all who are injured by anger, hostility, or cruelty be granted wholeness, love, and restoration.

C  Heal us, O God.

P   That we may seek and work for justice for all who are victims of hatred or violence in our world.

C  Heal us, O God.

P   For all the saints and martyrs, many of whom suffered violence in their own wounding unto death, that they may be the shining examples of the victory of the crucified and risen Lamb and the wounds of love that he bears for us still.

C  Heal us, O God.

P   Into your healing, wounded hands for our sake, we commend all for whom we pray.

C  By Christ’s wounds, we are healed. Amen.

Scripture Readings:

•  The Old Testament Reading, Exodus 20:13

You shall not murder.

•  The Epistle Reading, 1 Peter 2:13-17

For the Lord’s sake accept the authority of every human institution, whether of the emperor as supreme, or of governors, as sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing right you should silence the ignorance of the foolish. As servants of God, live as free people, yet do not use your freedom as a pretext for evil. Honor everyone. Love the family of believers. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

•  The Gospel Reading, John 11:47-53

So the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the council, and said, “What are we to do? This man is performing many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and destroy both our holy place and our nation.” But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all! You do not understand that it is better for you to have one man die for the people than to have the whole nation destroyed.” He did not say this on his own, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus was about to die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but to gather into one the dispersed children of God. So from that day on they planned to put him to death.

Sermon:

Jesus did not murder, but he was killed. Jesus did not engage in violence, but violence was perpetrated against him. Jesus did get angry, but he never encouraged others to use anger as a means or rationale for harming anyone, even those who despised him. Indeed, in his final act upon the cross, he called for his Father in heaven to forgive them (Luke 23:34). His disciples once wondered whether Jesus should call down fire from heaven against those who would not receive Jesus, but Jesus rebuked his disciples for thinking and speaking along those lines (Luke 9:54-55).

Jesus did, however, broaden the commandment against murder. In his Sermon on the Mount, he spoke of how anger against a brother or sister makes us liable for judgment; insulting a brother or sister makes us liable to the council; and saying, “You fool” makes us liable for the hell of fire (Matthew 5:21-26). All of that Jesus spoke in the context of encouraging us to reconcile with those who hold us in judgment.

Jesus was on a mission of love. Those who became his followers—including we ourselves—recognize this and trust him as the Lord of love. How deeply we need that love because we do get angry and insulting and speak mean-spirited words about our brothers and sisters. And if you think otherwise, consider this the next time someone cuts you off on the highway.

All of humanity is, by virtue of the Creator’s creation, brother and sister. That Creator’s creation also includes the very environment of our planet. And there are also the brothers and sisters we have by faith who are part of the community called Church. We have a lot of work to do toward reconciling in love with all of these.

Indeed, the task is one that overwhelms us all. How can we reconcile?

Caiaphas had a plan. Just let one die so that peace can prevail. It sounds so logical a utilitarian principle, like Spock’s famous line in Star Trek, “the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the one.” It was a political peace that Caiaphas had in mind—and make no mistake, political peace would be a major accomplishment. But the fait accompli of Jesus is to accept being that One and to bring a peace that would go far beyond anything Caiaphas had in mind. It would be a peace that would reconcile us to God and to one another in a way that we could never do on our own.

The plans of evil are ever active, ever stirring in the hearts of so many. Jesus called the devil a murderer, but the murder begins with a lie—a lie about who we are, and most importantly, whose we are (John 8:44). While his critics could not see the love of God at work in Jesus, it did not mean that Jesus gave up on them. He did not give up on anyone. He does not give up on any of us. We are not consigned to the judgment of being abandoned, even though he was abandoned on the cross.

The wounds of Jesus, the wounds of his death, are borne so that murder and death do not receive the last word. Love, reconciliation, everlasting peace—these are the last word of the cross. We see the world and all of humanity cross-eyed—through the lens of the cross. That is how we hear the challenge of discipleship when it comes to our brothers and sisters.

The ministry of reconciliation, love and peace is entrusted to us; our trespasses are not counted against us because of the wounds of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:18-19). Yes, we are like “clay pots” carrying out this mission, and our own foibles and failings are going to show (2 Corinthians 5:7-12). But it was and is never really about us. It is about the One who gave his life for the sake of the people­—for the sake of the whole world. We come to our brothers and sisters with this gift in the clay pots of our lives—­even if it wounds us; even when it kills us; but love­—yes, love—will be heard over all the terrors of this world. And the wounds of Christ will be all the more visible for all to behold.

Children’s Message (to read aloud to your children)

Have any of you ever been mad or angry before? (Let the children answer) I think we all have been mad or angry in our lives, all of us here, and probably everyone else everywhere. Even Jesus sometimes got angry when people were mean to other people, but he didn’t stay angry. The Bible says, “If you do get angry, don’t let it lead you into sin” (Ephesians 4:26). When we’re angry we might start resenting people, and sometimes that can lead to even worse things like cruelty and violence. People were feeling violent thoughts about Jesus and even wanted him put to death. That’s pretty sad, isn’t it? Especially because Jesus was all about love, even for those who were his enemies. But here’s the thing. For all their anger toward him, and even their desire to have him crucified, he still loved us all. He said from the cross, “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing (Luke 23:34).” Love conquers anger.

Let us pray. “Father, forgive us when we are angry, and give us the love of Jesus to lead us to better children of your kingdom. Amen.”

Blessing

P   May the healing presence of almighty God, Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit, be with you now and always.

C  Amen.

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Ways to Give: Passive Income

Posted on June 10, 2018 by RushRiverLutheran

Passive income has been a loosely used term in recent years. Colloquially, it’s been used to define money being earned regularly with little or no effort on the part of the person receiving it. That’s our story and we’re sticking with it! This kind of fundraising has become very popular and it is easy to see why.

Rush River Lutheran has established several passive income fundraisers:

Amazon Smile

AmazonSmile is a website operated by Amazon with the same products, prices, and shopping features as Amazon.com. The difference is that when you shop on AmazonSmile, the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price of eligible products to the charitable organization of your choice.

This is a simple and automatic way for you to support Rush River Lutheran Church every time you shop, at no cost to you! When you shop at smile.amazon.com, you’ll find the exact same shopping experience as at Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to the church.

To get started, visit smile.amazon.com and search for Rush River Lutheran Church from their list of approved organizations.  It’s that simple!  Remember to use the smile.amazon.com site rather than the usual Amazon.com site each time you make a purchase in order for a donation to be generated.

Please go to AmazonSmile and select Rush River Lutheran as your charity of choice! Proceeds are automatically deposited to the general fund at RRLC.

Kwik Trip/Kwik Star Car Wash Cards

Our Car Wash card fundraising program allows Rush River Lutheran Church to purchase Kwik Trip, Inc. 5-count Ultimate Car Wash cards for $20 a card. We sell the cards for $36 each, the cost of retail. That is a $16 profit per card for Rush River Lutheran Church supporting the general fund of RRLC – can’t beat that!

Direct Your Dollars

Thanks to the Direct Your Dollars program, Rush River Lutheran Church has the opportunity to earn $1,000 from SpartanNash, simply by shopping at any local Family Fresh and Econofoods. Through the Direct Your Dollars program, we can turn receipts into cash for RRLC!

It’s easy to help us “Direct Your Dollars.” Every time you shop at any Family Fresh Market or Econofoods, save your receipts.  The entire, original receipt must be turned in. For every $150,000 in receipts we collect, we earn $1,000 donation from SpartanNash.

Receipts may be sent via mail or dropped off in person at Rush River Lutheran Church (the jar on the collection table near the upper entry). This is an ongoing collection and has no deadline. With your support – and your receipts – we’ll be raising money for the general fund of RRLC.

 Aluminum Can Collection

Remember to save your aluminum cans and place them in the trailer in the Rush River Lutheran parking lot! Proceeds support the youth program at Rush River Lutheran Church.

Aluminum can factoids from Waste Management:

  • With approximately a half-ounce of aluminum per can, or 32 cans per pound, that makes each one worth about 1.7 cents.
  • On average, Americans drink one beverage from aluminum cans every day, but we recycle just over 49% of the cans we use.
  • Since the cans are 100% recyclable, we could drastically reduce the energy needed to produce brand new cans simply by recycling our empties.
  • An aluminum can is able to be returned to the shelf, as a new can, as quickly as 60 days after it’s put into your recycling container.
  • Recycling aluminum cans is a $1 billion/year industry in this country.
  • Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to run a television for three hours.
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