St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church
Second Sunday in Lent
February 28, 2010


Prelude Now Praise We God the Father Dieterich Buxehude

Welcome

We’re delighted to greet everyone in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, who takes away our sin and offers grace to all people. If you are a guest, please fill out the Guest Form. If you’re looking for a meaningful ministry with which to become involved, you are encouraged to speak with the Pastor.

Gathering

(Please stand)
Brief Order for Confession & Forgiveness

P We gather in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C Amen.
P God of all mercy and consolation, come to the help of your people, turning us from our sin to live
for you alone. Give us the power of your Holy Spirit that we may confess our sin, receive your
forgiveness, and grow into the fullness of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
C Amen.

(Please kneel)
Confession
P Most merciful God,
C we confess that we are captive to sin and cannot free ourselves. We have sinned against you
in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We
have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. For
the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that
we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name. Amen.


Absolution
P In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us, and for his sake God forgives
us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of the church of Christ, and by his authority, I
therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father,
and of the
ς Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C Amen.

(Please stand)
Entrance Hymn He Comes to Us as One Unknown Hymn 737



(1)

Greeting
P The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all!
C And, also with you.

Kyrie Music on page 138
P In peace, let us pray to the Lord.
C Lord, have mercy.
P For the peace from above, and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
C Lord, have mercy.
P For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the church of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.
C Lord, have mercy.
P For this holy house, and for all who offer here their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord.
C Lord, have mercy.
P Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.
C Amen.

Prayer of the Day
P God of the covenant, in the mystery of the cross you promise everlasting life to the world.
Gather all peoples into your arms, and shelter us with your mercy, that we may rejoice in the life
we share in your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C Amen.

Mission Moment
Word

Lesson
(Please sit) Genesis 15:1–12, 17–18

God promises a childless and doubting Abram that he will have a son, that his descendants will be as numerous as the stars, and that the land of Canaan will be their inheritance. Abram’s trust in God is sealed with a covenant-making ceremony, a sign of God’s promise.

After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, “Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” But Abram said, “O Lord GOD, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “You have given me no offspring, and so a slave born in my house is to be my heir.” But the word of the LORD came to him, “This man shall not be your heir; no one but your very own issue shall be your heir.” He brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” And he believed the LORD; and the LORD reckoned it to him as righteousness. Then he said to him, “I am the LORD who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to possess.” But he said, “O Lord GOD, how am I to know that I shall possess it?” He said to him, “Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” He brought him all these and cut them in two, laying each half over against the other; but he did not cut the birds in two. And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away. As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram, and a deep and terrifying darkness descended upon him. When the sun had gone down and it was dark, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates.

P The Word of the Lord.
C Thanks be to God.

(2)

Psalmody Psalm 27




The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom then shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
When evildoers close in against me to devour my flesh,
they, my foes and my enemies, will stumble and fall.
Though an army encamp against me, my heart will not fear.
Though war rise up against me, my trust will not be shaken.
One thing I ask of the LORD; one thing I seek;
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life;
to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek God in the temple.
R
For in the day of trouble God will give me shelter,
hide me in the hidden places of the sanctuary, and raise me high upon a rock.
Even now my head is lifted up above my enemies who surround me.
Therefore I will offer sacrifice in the sanctuary, sacrifices of rejoicing;
I will sing and make music to the LORD.
Hear my voice, O LORD, when I call; have mercy on me and answer me.
My heart speaks your message—“Seek my face.” Your face, O LORD, I will seek.
R
Hide not your face from me, turn not away from your servant in anger.
Cast me not away—you have been my helper; forsake me not,
O God of my salvation.
Though my father and my mother forsake me, the LORD will take me in.
Teach me your way, O LORD; lead me on a level path, because of my oppressors.
Subject me not to the will of my foes,
for they rise up against me, false witnesses breathing violence.
This I believe—that I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living!
Wait for the LORD and be strong. Take heart and wait for the LORD!
R

Lesson Philippians 3:17—4:1

Although Paul’s devotion to Christ has caused him to be persecuted, he does not regret the course he has taken. Writing from prison, he expresses confidence in a glorious future and encourages other Christians to follow in his footsteps.

Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears. Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.



(3)


Lenten Acclamation (Please stand)



Gospel Luke 13: 31-35
P The Holy Gospel according to Saint Luke, the thirteenth chapter.
C Glory to you, O Lord.

Neither Herod’s plotting nor Jerusalem’s resistance to maternal love will deter Jesus from his sacrificial mission.

At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” He said to them, “Go and tell that fox for me, ‘Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work. Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.’ Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you. And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.’”

P The Gospel of the Lord.
C Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon (Please sit) Listen to Jesus . . . Pastor Robert Wallace
To His Lament Over Jerusalem

(Please stand)
Hymn of the Day Thy Holy Wings Hymn 613


Nicene Creed

We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.







(4)

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father;
through him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary
and became truly human.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,*
who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.

The Prayer of the People (Please kneel)
The prayers conclude:
P Receive our prayers, holy God, and give us all we need for this day and the days to come, through the power
of the Holy Spirit, and in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
C Amen.


Peace (Please stand)
P The peace of the Lord be with you always.
C And also with you.
(Please feel free to move about and share God’s Peace with one another!)

Meal

Offering (Please sit)

Anthem (8:30 am) My Faith Looks Up to Thee Lowel Mason
Family Choir

Anthem (11:00 am) God So Loved the World John Stainer
Gallery Choir

(5)

Offering Response (Please stand) Tune: Passion Chorale

C What language shall I borrow to thank thee, dearest friend.
For this thy dying sorrow, thy pity without end?
Oh, make my thine forever, and should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never outlive my love to thee.

Offering Prayer

P Holy God, gracious and merciful, you bring forth food from the earth and nourish your whole creation.
Turn our hearts toward those who hunger in any way, that all may know your care; and prepare us now to feast on the bread of life, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
C Amen.

The Great Thanksgiving Music on Page 144
P The Lord be with you.
C And also with you.
P Lift up your hearts.
C We lift them to the Lord.
P Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
C It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Proper Preface

Sanctus Music on Page 144
Holy, holy, holy Lord. God of pow’r and might
heaven and earth are full of your glory, Hosanna, Hosanna.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.

Words of Thanksgiving
P . . . as we proclaim the mystery of faith.
C Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
P . . . Grace our table with your presence.
C Come Holy Spirit.
P . . . Send us forth . . . peace and love.
C Come Holy Spirit.

Lord’s Prayer

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the
time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom,
the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.





(6)

Communion
All baptized Christians are invited to share in the Eucharist. Those who are not baptized, or wish to receive only a blessing, are asked to fold their arms over their chest. Communion will be by intinction (dipping). Please follow the usher’s direction. If you are not physically able to come forward to receive communion, please inform the usher and someone will come to you.

Music at Distribution (Please sit)

Agnus Dei Music on page 146

Lamb of God you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us.
Lamb of God you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us.
Lamb of God you take away the sin of the world: grant us peace.

Hymns 609, 324

Post Communion Blessing and Prayer (Please stand)

P Compassionate God,you have fed us with the bread of heaven. Sustain us in our Lenten pilgrimage: may our fasting be hunger for justice; our alms, a making of peace; and our prayer, the song of grateful hearts, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
C Amen.
P The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord’s face shine on you with grace and mercy. The Lord look upon you with favor and ς give you peace.
C Amen.

Sending Hymn My Hope is Built on Nothing Less Hymn 596

Dismissal
P Go in peace. Serve the Lord.
C Thanks be to God.

Postlude






Music reproduced with permission by Augsburg Fortress.
Liturgies License # 23349


You may use this Bulletin to cover your parking in the Francis Marion or
Hutson Street Garage.



St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church * 405 King Street * Charleston, SC * 843.723.1611



(7)