From Our Savior S Passion

Searching Questions

From Our Savior’s Passion

GoodShepherdEvangelicalLutheranChurch and School

Pastors David N. Rutschow and Matthew E. Schwartz

525 Sixty-Third Street – Downers Grove, IL60516

Ash Wednesday,February 22nd, 2012

Welcome! Ash Wednesday is a day of repentance. As we stand before God with broken and contrite hearts, we confess our sins to God and look to Jesus, “the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.”

“Prayer at the Close of Day” is a version of the historic rite called Compline. It is the final service of the day before one retires for the night. It is a time for prayer and meditation. The believer finds peace in God’s forgiveness and security under the shadow of his wings.

Prayer at Close of Day – Compline: Setting llby Dale Witte

Opening Anthem by the Choir – “Kyrie Eleison”

Choir Director: Jan Henriksen

Accompanist: Casey Kippes

Kyrie eleison, Lord have mercy on me.

Christe eleison, Christ, have mercy on me.

Most Holy One, Father, Righteous Son,

You who called my name before You spoke the worlds to be.

From Your place on high, hear a sinner’s cry for mercy,

Lord, I pray: Kyrie eleison, Lord have mercy on me.

Christe eleison, Christ, have mercy on me. Lord I pray. Kyrie.

L – Leader ( Minister )

G – Group ( Congregation )

( ♪ )Behold the Lamb of God For guilty sinners slain;

Let it not be in vain That you have died!

You for my Savior let me take;

My only refuge let me make Your pierced side.

Behold the Lamb of God! Into the sacred flood

Of your most precious blood My soul I cast.

Wash me and make me pure and clean;

Uphold me through life’s changing scene Till all is past.

Behold the Lamb of God! All hail, incarnate Word!

O everlasting Lord, Purge out our leav’n.

Clothe us with godliness and good;

Feed us with your celestial food, Manna from heav’n.

Confession and Absolution

L:Brothers and sisters in Christ, God created us to know joy in communion with him, to love all humanity, and to live in harmony with all creation. But sin separates us from God, our neighbors, and creation, and so we do not enjoy the life our Creator intended for us. By our sin we grieve our Father, who does not desire us to come under his judgment, but to turn to him and live. Therefore, God in his mercy has sent our Lord Jesus Christ to take our place under the law, to suffer for us, and to die the death we deserve. God made Jesus, who had no sin, to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

During the forty days of Lent we fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of God. The time of Lent reminds us that to know Christ and the power of his resurrection, we must also know the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death. As disciples of the Lord Jesus we are called to struggle against everything that leads us away from love of God and neighbor. I invite you, therefore, to confess your sins, ask our Father for forgiveness, and commit yourselves to this struggle.

L:Most holy and merciful Father,

G: We confess to you that we have sinned by our own grievous fault 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, mind and strength. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We have not forgiven others as we have been forgiven.

L:We have been deaf to your call to serve as Christ served us. We have not always been true to the mind of Christ.

G:Have mercy on us, Lord.

L:We confess to you, Lord, all of our past unfaithfulness. The pride, hypocrisy, and impatience in our lives. Our self-indulgent appetites and ways and our manipulation of others.

G:We confess to you, O Lord.

L:Our anger when our selfish aims are denied, and our envy of those more fortunate than ourselves. Our love of worldly goods and comforts, and our dishonesty in daily life and work. Our negligence in worship and prayer, and our failure to show our faith in you.

G: We confess to you, O Lord.

L:Forgive us, Lord, for the wrongs we have done. For our blindness to human need and suffering, and our indifference to injustice and cruelty.For all false judgments, for uncharitable thoughts toward others, and for our prejudice and contempt for those who differ from us. For everything we think or say or do that is at variance with your will.

G: Forgive us, O Lord. Restore us, O Lord, for your mercy is great.

L:The Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, does not desire the death of sinners, but rather that they turn from their wickedness and live. Therefore, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son (†) and of the Holy Spirit.

During these days of Lent, let us ask God to give us renewal by his Holy Spirit. May we continue to abide in the true faith, and at the last, be received through the merits of Jesus Christ, our Lord.

G: Amen

Psalm of the Day –Psalm 51a

Passion Reading # 1 –Jesus’ Readiness to Suffer and Die

Sermon Hymn454 – I Gave My Life for Thee

Sermon Text – John 13: 36 – 38

Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.”

Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!

Sermon Theme – Will You Really Lay Down Your Life For Me?

Offering

Prayer for Ash Wednesday

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.

Liturgy For The Lord’s Supper

( to the tune of “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded” )

L: ( ♪ )The Lord is with his people, now may he be with you.

G: The Lord is with his servants; May he be with you, too.

L: Now lift your hearts to praise him.

G: To God we lift them high.

‘Tis right to praise and thank him

Who to his church draws nigh.

Proper Preface

( to the tune of “Drawn to the Cross, Which You Have Blessed” )

G: ( ♪ )Holy are you, O Heavenly King.

With angel hosts we join to sing:

“Your majesty fills everything.”

Blessed is He who comes!

Holy are you! Be glorified

By humble sinners far and wide –

For us you suffered and you died.

Blessed is He who comes!

Holy are you through endless days.

Our glad hosannas now we raise

To greet you with exalted praise.

Blessed is He who comes!

Consecration and Song of the Lamb

( to the tune of “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” )

G: ( ♪ )The night when Jesus was betrayed

He took the bread, with thanks he prayed,

Then broke and gave them of the bread

And unto his disciples said:

L: “This is my body giv’n for you.

Receive and eat it, that the true

Remembrance of my bitter pain

May always in your hearts remain.”

G: After the sacred meal was o’er;

Our Lord and Savior spoke once more;

He offered thanks, and lifted up,

To give to all, the blessed cup:

L: “Drink this, my blood, poured out for you.

Remember me each time you do.

Forgiveness for your sins I grant

By my new, gracious covenant.”

G: O Lamb of God, you take away

The sin of all. Oh, hear us pray,

And give us from our guilt release.

Have mercy on us! Grant us peace!

Communion Distribution Hymns

Hymn 307 – Wondrous Are Your Ways, O God

Hymn 129 – Alas! and Did My Savior Bleed

Hymn 304 – Jesus Sinners Does Receive

Blessing

L: The almighty and most merciful Lord, the Father, the Son, ( + ) and the Holy Spirit, bless and keep us.

G: Amen.

Extinguishing of the Candles