Welcome to ICYMI Worship! ICYMI stands for In Case You Missed It; our ICYMI series gives a brief snapshot of worship each week so that you can worship in your home, on the road, or wherever life takes you.
At Cross of Christ, our basic worship order is based on worship patterns from Hebrew traditions and biblical accounts of the earliest Christians:
We GATHER with songs and prayer,
We HEAR God’s word,
We SHARE a meal of bread and wine,
We are SENT into the world to love and serve.
Let us know how this format works for you.
Today is the Fourth Sunday in Lent.
Our Gathering song at our Mosaic service is “O Praise the Name (Anástasis)”
Prayer of the Day
O God, rich in mercy, by the humiliation of your Son you lifted up this fallen world and rescued us from the hopelessness of death. Lead us into your light, that all our deeds may reflect your love, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
This week’s readings are from Numbers 21:4-9 , Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22, and Ephesians 2:1-10
Numbers 21:4-9
Though God provides food and water for the Israelites in the wilderness, they whine and grumble. They forget about the salvation they experienced in the exodus. God punishes them for their sin, but when they repent God also provides a means of healing: a bronze serpent lifted up on a pole.
4 From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; but the people became impatient on the way. 5 The people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we detest this miserable food.” 6 Then the Lord sent poisonous serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many Israelites died. 7 The people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lordto take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. 8 And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a poisonous serpent, and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten shall look at it and live.” 9 So Moses made a serpent of bronze, and put it upon a pole; and whenever a serpent bit someone, that person would look at the serpent of bronze and live.
Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22
You deliver your people from their distress. (Ps. 107:19)
1-3 Oh, thank God—he’s so good!
His love never runs out.
All of you set free by God, tell the world!
Tell how he freed you from oppression,
Then rounded you up from all over the place,
from the four winds, from the seven seas.
17-22 Some of you were sick because you’d lived a bad life,
your bodies feeling the effects of your sin;
You couldn’t stand the sight of food,
so miserable you thought you’d be better off dead.
Then you called out to God in your desperate condition;
he got you out in the nick of time.
He spoke the word that healed you,
that pulled you back from the brink of death.
So thank God for his marvelous love,
for his miracle mercy to the children he loves;
Offer thanksgiving sacrifices,
tell the world what he’s done—sing it out!
Ephesians 2:1-10
While we were dead in our sinfulness, God acted to make us alive as a gift of grace in Christ Jesus. We are saved not by what we do but by grace through faith. Thus our good works are really a reflection of God’s grace at work in our lives.
1 You were dead through the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once lived, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient. 3 All of us once lived among them in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of flesh and senses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us 5 even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— 9 not the result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.
This week’s Gospel text is from John 3:14-21
To explain the salvation of God to the religious leader, Nicodemus, Jesus refers to the scripture passage quoted in today’s first reading. Just as those who looked upon the bronze serpent were healed, so people will be saved when
they behold Christ lifted up on the cross.
13-15 “No one has ever gone up into the presence of God except the One who came down from that Presence, the Son of Man. In the same way that Moses lifted the serpent in the desert so people could have something to see and then believe, it is necessary for the Son of Man to be lifted up—and everyone who looks up to him, trusting and expectant, will gain a real life, eternal life.
16-18 “This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.
19-21 “This is the crisis we’re in: God-light streamed into the world, but men and women everywhere ran for the darkness. They went for the darkness because they were not really interested in pleasing God. Everyone who makes a practice of doing evil, addicted to denial and illusion, hates God-light and won’t come near it, fearing a painful exposure. But anyone working and living in truth and reality welcomes God-light so the work can be seen for the God-work it is.”
Pastor Judy’s Sermon Snapshot: “The Paradox of Symbols”
Coming soon!
The Hymn of the Day in our Traditional service is “Tree of Life and Awesome Mystery” (ELW 334)
Prayers of the People – 3/11/18
During this season of Lent, there is no verbal congregational response to each petition in the Prayers of the People. Instead, a brief pause allows of silent prayers to be added to the spoken petitions.
Renewed in the promises of baptism, let us pray for the church, the world, and all who are in need.
(A brief silence.)
We pray for the church. Direct and guide us in following your will. Grant us clarity in the midst of confusion and give us courage in the face of challenge. Make us passionate to share the gospel.
(A brief silence.)
We pray for the world you so deeply love. We give you thanks for wilderness places that feed our souls – for deserts and mountains, for prairies and plains, for rivers and oceans. We give you thanks for cultivated lands that feed our bodies – farms and orchards, vineyards and gardens, fields and grasslands. We ask for protection for fragile places, and for recovery for places impacted by weather, flooding, storms or drought.
(A brief silence.)
We pray for the nations. We so long for resolutions for conflicts, the ending of wars, and the ceasing of all forms of violence. Strengthen those who protect human rights, civil rights, and civil liberties. Protect the victims of human wrongs, especially children.
(A brief silence.)
We pray for those in need. For those who lack meaningful employment or stable housing. For those who live with mental illness. For those who have chronic pain, and for all who are grieving, sick, or injured, especially those who have asked for our public prayers: Anna Bero, Brian Constable, Heidi Fine, Phyllis Hahn, Claire Huehnerhoff, Eileen Johnson, Pricilla Kanestrom, Marlys Paulson, John Paulson, Vernette Rae, Corinne Riemer, Roger Stirling, Marilyn Van Brero.
Guide us by your wisdom, fill us with your love, and restore us by your grace, for the sake of your Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray.
Amen.
The Communion song at our Mosaic service is “Above All”
On the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me. Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.
All are welcome to receive Christ’s Body and Blood in the Bread and Wine of the Eucharist.
And because there’s always something going on, the Announcements!
PASTOR DAVE ON VACATION – in Arizona, watching his son David and his university play in a college baseball tournament in Tucson. Pastor Dave will return to the office on Tuesday. In his absence, Pastor Judy Brennan, Coordinator of Caring Ministries, is leading worship and responding the pastoral emergencies. She can be reached at 502-415-5883 and via email at pastorjudybrennan@gmail.com.
CONGREGATIONAL MEETING TODAY – The Church Council has called a special Congregational Meeting between services, beginning at 10:15 am in the Library. The sole purpose of the meeting is to form a Call Committee for the purpose of calling a part-time (15 hours per week) Associate Pastor for Caring Ministries. The Council recommends Pastor Judy Brennan, currently under contract, be officially called by this process. The Synod and Bishop are aware and supportive of this potential call. Per our constitution, the forming of a Call Committee can only take place by Congregational vote at a specially called meeting. Six members and one alternative are needed. Please plan to attend, and please be prayerfully open to considering serving on the Committee.
SUNDAY SCHOOL – Children’s Sunday School is designed to be a drop-in program for 3 through 10. We hope you can join us in the Youth Room between worship services.
YOUNG CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ARE INVITED TO THE “PRAY-GROUND” – This special space in the Sanctuary is designed for our youngest worshippers and their families. Children age 8 and under are welcome to color, play games, enjoy age-appropriate books, and just have their own space in the back of the transept – the southeast corner of the Sanctuary. We LOVE having children in worship! We hope this special place helps make them and their families feel both welcome and comfortable.
SOUP SUPPER AND MIDWEEK WORSHIP – We gather each Wednesday downstairs in the Fellowship Hall for Soup Supper at 6 pm, followed by a 45-minute worship service in the Sanctuary. This year’s Advent Midweek Worship Series is inspired by Henri Nouwen’s book “Can You Drink the Cup?” which is drawn from the question Christ asked of his disciples. Please make plans to join us for Midweek worship.
CONGREGATIONS FOR THE HOMELESS UPDATE – The renovations are now complete at the CFH Day Center and Winter Shelter at Lincoln Center and bunk beds are in place to serve 88 men. The shelter is collecting paper plates/bowls/napkins, foot powder, hand-warmers, pillowcases, and small travel soaps and shampoo. The Community Outreach Team is collecting your donations of any of these items in the CFH wooden box in the Narthex. If you can provide a meal or part of a meal for the shelter, please visit www.cfhomeless.org.
WOMEN’S SPRING LUNCHEON – Sign up today at the Information Desk! The Women’s Spring Luncheon is April 14 at 11:30 am. Pastor Judy Brennan will be our speaker. The theme this year is “Bloom Where You Are Planted”. Donations will be collected for the Lutheran World Relief Shipping Fund.
THIRD SATURDAY HIKERS – We’ll try to hike the Old Sauk trail near Darrington again this month after getting rained out in February. It’s an easy trail perfect for the end of winter. We’ll be going on Saturday, March 17th. If you’re interested in joining us or have questions, please see Erik Paulson.
THE EMERGENCY WINTER SHELTER FOR WOMEN – Supplies of the following items are critically low: paper towels; Clorox wipes; garbage bags; paper plates; hot/cold cups; water; juice; milk; breakfast/granola bars; oatmeal packets; boiled eggs; bagels; fruit; and yogurt. You can help our sisters by delivering these items to Holy Cross Lutheran in Factoria (4315 129th Pl SE Bellevue) at 8:30 pm any night. You can also sign up to bring a meal for 30 women at https://sophiaway.org/donate-meals/ then click on “Emergency Winter Shelter dinner/breakfast Calendar” Any questions? Contact Dorinda Otto at md.otto@hotmail.com.
PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY RESTARTING – Jean Mills is helping to restart the Prayer Shawl Knitting Ministry at Cross of Christ. If you’re interested, please contact Jean at 425-861-9885 or email her at jeanmills13@hotmail.com. Shawls are made following one of several patterns, blessed, and given to members who might be comforted by them during a time of illness, grief, or loneliness. We even have yarn and needles to loan to help you get started!
THRIVANT CHOICE DOLLARS – Since 2010, over $370 million has been distributed to thousands of churches, schools, and other nonprofits just like yours through Thrivent Choice. Eligible members can recommend where Thrivent donates millions of charitable outreach dollars each year. Cross of Chris received $3,862 in charitable outreach funding in 2017 benefiting Congregations for the Homeless, Youth Programs, Tanzania Mission Support, and the Building Fund. As a reminder, 2017 Choice Dollars expire on March 31.
HAVE A HEART FOR THE GOOD SAMARITAN FUND UPDATE – As of last Sunday’s offering, $8329 has been donated during the “Have a Heart” drive to benefit The Good Samaritan Fund. Our bookkeeper Denise Fuentes, in sharing this report, added this very appropriate comment – “WAY TO GO CHURCH!!!”
PRAYERS FOR HOMEBOUND MEMBERS – Marilyn Van Brero, Leona Lenschow, Doris Lundquist, Bill and Betty McConnell, Mary Moen, Jane Pittenger, Corrine Riemer, and Norman Stromer.
Our sending song in our Traditional service is “All My Hope on God is Founded” (ELW #757)
By God’s grace, through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, we are called to
Worship God
Grow in Faith
Share the Gospel
Serve others, and
Welcome all.
Thanks be to God!
