Worship Resources

St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church
Chambersburg, Pennsylvania

FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT

March 22, 2020

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.

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

Lord have mercy

Christ have mercy

Lord have mercy

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

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  The man born blind

Meditation

Offering

Offering Prayer

God of the wilderness,

We give these offerings in gratitude,

rejoicing in the abundance of your gifts to us.

We give these offerings in faith,

trusting that you will provide for our needs.

We give these offerings in hope,

knowing you can use them to spread your love in this world.

And with these offerings, we give ourselves;

May we live with generous hearts, with open hands. 

We ask this all in the name of Jesus, the Christ of God.  Amen

In times of restraint and physical distancing, when the body of Christ cannot meet in one place, we gather through the Holy Spirit in our many different places – house, apartment, room – and call out to you. Hear our cry, O God, Listen to our prayer. 

Give courage and wisdom to national governments and local authorities to enforce public health regulations for the welfare of all and increase efforts to stop the spread of the virus that affects every human being. Hear our cry, O God, Listen to our prayer. 

Breathe a spirit of love and self-discipline into your church that it continually promote and protect regulations and restrictions for the well-being of all. Strengthen our witness to embody examples of compassionate self-restraint. Hear our cry, O God, Listen to our prayer. 

God, have mercy! Heal the sick, strengthen the elderly and vulnerable, protect all from the spread of COVID-19. Hear our cry, O God, Listen to our prayer. 

God, have mercy! Support and protect all health care workers and all who serve the sick and those at high risk of infection. We remember in particular refugees and those serving them today. Reinforce all agencies that support public health. Hear our cry, O God, Listen to our prayer. 

God, have mercy! Comfort and uplift those who are alone, isolated, oppressed by solitude and anxiety. Hear our cry, O God, Listen to our prayer. 

God, have mercy on the whole human family and on your creation, especially hear our specific prayers that are now spoken out loud or in the silence of our hearts (… for Steve Horton as he mourns the death of his mother, Doris; for Pat,  Angelo, Luther, Sherry . . . ) Hear our cry, O God, Listen to our prayer. 

Fill each and every heart with that trust in your grace that frees us and binds us together in communion in the one body of your son, Jesus Christ. Hear our cry, O God, Listen to our prayer. 

Send your Holy Spirit. Renew your church in its prayer and in solidarity with all its neighbors. Hear our cry, O God, Listen to our prayer. 

Remember in your mercy all those who have died and will die today. [pause] Hear our cry, O God, Listen to our prayer. 

Trusting in your great compassion and unconditional promise always to be with us, we pray.  Amen.

Lord, remember us in your kingdom and teach us to pray:

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.

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, keep our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus.  Amen

Be at Peace.  Christ is with you.  Thanks be to God!

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Faith Formation

While all activities are canceled into the unforeseen future, we at St Luke are working with you in keeping the Faith.

Small Groups are encouraged to reach out to it’s members and possible still have their meetings via phone, Zoom, Face Time or even Skype 

Children and Youth, parents keep an eye out for a packet  “ Bible Time With Shelly” in your inbox.

Announcements

Tuesday Book Group is planning a Zoom meeting March 31

Due to the Pandemic there will not be doing the Easter Flowers this year.

ELCA World Hunger: Make your check payable to “St. Luke Lutheran Church” and write ELCA World Hunger in the memo line. Or give online using Vanco.

Staying connected

During this time of seperation, take advantage of ways to stay connected with one another. Maybe you have questions about today's readings and would like to get a discussion going. Please use the comment section below.  Or, you may want to share prayer concerns or needs for assistance. You can do that in the comment section below. Maybe you have found a creative way of manageing and would like to share it. Post your pictures or videos on our facebook page. There are a fair amount of people in our congregation and community who do not have email and do not engage with social media. Please be ambasadors and evangelists! Reach out to your neighbors with phone call or note. Remember, we're all in this together. God's got the whole world in his hands!

2695 Luther Drive, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania 17202