Lenten Midweek 1 2/21/2024

 

“Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”  (Luke 23:43) 

LENTEN MIDWEEK SERVICE

FEBRUARY 21, 2024 

IN THE NAME OF JESUS, WELCOME TO ST. PAUL’S! 

VESPERS

7:00 p.m.

✠ ✠ ✠

PRELUDE         

ENTRANCE VERSE    (Stand)                                                                                                                      LSB 229

O Lord, open my lips,
   and my mouth will declare Your praise.

Make haste, O God, to deliver me;
   make haste to help me, O Lord.

   Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit;
   as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
   Praise to You, O Christ, Lamb of our salvation. 

LENTEN HYMN                                     Were You There                                                                            LSB 456

1   Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Oh . . .
Sometimes it causes me to tremble,
tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they crucified my Lord? 

2   Were you there when they nailed Him to the tree?
Were you there when they nailed Him to the tree?
Oh . . .
Sometimes it causes me to tremble,
tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they nailed Him to the tree? 

3   Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?
Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?
Oh . . .
Sometimes it causes me to tremble,
tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb? 

4   Were you there when God raised Him from the tomb?
Were you there when God raised Him from the tomb?
Oh . . .
Sometimes it causes me to tremble,
tremble, tremble.
Were you there when God raised Him from the tomb? 

FIRST READING    (Be seated)                                                                                                 Colossians 2:13-15

And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

This is the Word of the Lord.
         Thanks be to God. 

PSALM 22 (SELECTED VERSES) 

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? 

But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people.
All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads.

I am poured out like water, and all of my bones are out of joint.
My heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast. 

My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws;
You lay me in the dust of death. 

For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me.
      They have pierced my hands and feet— 

I can count all my bones—they stare and gloat over me.
      They divide my garments among them, and for my clothing, they cast lots. 

But you, O LORD, be not far off! O you my help, come quickly to my aid!
      Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dog! 

For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted;
      And he has not hidden his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him. 

Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now and will be forever. Amen.

RESPONSORY   (Stand)                                                                                                                                LSB 231

Deliver me, O Lord, my God, for You are the God of my salvation.
Rescue me from my enemies, protect me from those who rise against me.

In You, O Lord, do I put my trust, leave me not, O Lord, my God.
Rescue me from my enemies, protect me from those who rise against me.

Deliver me, O Lord, my God, for You are the God of my salvation.
Rescue me from my enemies, protect me from those who rise against me.

GOSPEL READING                                                                                                                             Luke 23:32-43

Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”

One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

This is the Word of the Lord.
         Thanks be to God. 

SERMON    (Be seated) 

HYMN      (Stand)                     Jesus, In Your Dying Woes  Sts. 4-6                                                     LSB 447

4      Second Word: Luke 23:43
Jesus, pitying the sighs
Of the thief, who near You dies,
Promising him paradise:
Hear us, holy Jesus. 

5      May we in our guilt and shame
Still Your love and mercy claim,
Calling humbly on Your name:
Hear us, holy Jesus. 

6      May our hearts to You incline
And their thoughts Your cross entwine.
Cheer our souls with hope divine:
Hear us, holy Jesus. 

OFFERING    (Be seated)   

Offerings support the church’s mission work – both here and through our many partners. Offerings may be placed in the box at the sanctuary entrance or sent to the church through our website or the mail. Fellowship Cards help us welcome new people and track participation. Please fill one out and place it in the offering box following the service. 

VESPER PRAYERS  (Kneel)                                                                                                                  LSB 233-234

KYRIE                                                                                                                                                                 LSB 233

Lord, have mercy;
Christ, have mercy;
Lord, have mercy.

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.

COLLECT

O Lord, hear my prayer.
    And let my cry come to You.

O Lord God, You led Your ancient people through the wilderness and brought them to the promised land. Guide the people of Your Church that following our Savior we may walk through the wilderness of this world toward the glory of the world to come; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

COLLECT FOR PEACE 

O God, from whom come all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works, give to us, Your servants, that peace which the world cannot give, that our hearts may be set to obey Your commandments and also that we, being defended from the fear of our enemies, may live in peace and quietness; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
      Amen.

BENEDICAMUS                                                                                                                                               LSB 234 

Let us bless the Lord.
    Thanks be to God.

BENEDICTION                                                                                                                                                 LSB 234

The grace of our Lord ✠ Jesus Christ and the love of God and the
communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Amen.                                

SENDING HYMN                        O Christ, Who Art the Light and Day                                                LSB 882

1      O Christ, who art the light and day,
Thou drivest night and gloom away;
O Light of Light, whose Word doth show
The light of heav’n to us below. 

2      All-holy Lord, in humble prayer
We ask tonight Thy watchful care.
O grant us calm repose in Thee,
A quiet night, from perils free. 

3      Our sleep be pure from sinful stain;
Let not the tempter vantage gain
Or our unguarded flesh surprise
And make us guilty in Thine eyes. 

4      Asleep though wearied eyes may be,
Still keep the heart awake to Thee;
Let Thy right hand outstretched above
Guard those who serve the Lord they love. 

5      Behold, O God, our shield, and quell
The crafts and subtleties of hell;
Direct Thy servants in all good,
Whom Thou hast purchased with Thy blood. 

6      O Lord, remember us who bear
The burden of the flesh we wear;
Thou who dost e’er our souls defend,
Be with us even to the end. 

    7      All praise to God the Father be,
All praise, eternal Son, to Thee,
Whom with the Spirit we adore
Forever and forevermore. Amen. 

POSTLUDE   

 

THOSE SERVING:

Greeter: Bob Juenger
Reader: Melissa Hecht

 

Acknowledgments

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV^® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Created by Lutheran Service Builder © 2024 Concordia Publishing House.

456 Were You There Text and tune: African American spiritual, 19th cent., alt. Text and tune: Public domain

447 Jesus, in Your Dying Woes Text: Thomas B. Pollock, 1836–96, alt. Tune: Bernhard Schumacher, 1886–1978 Text: Public domain Tune: © 1941 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110005326

882 O Christ, Who Art the Light and Day Text: Latin, c. 6th cent.; tr. William J. Copeland, 1804–85 Tune: Sarum plainsong, c. 9th cent., mode IV Text and tune: Public domain