Watchword

Our good Lord says: I tell you the solemn truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it produces much grain.

John 12,24

Introit

How lovely is the place where you live, O Lord of Heaven’s Armies! I desperately want to be in the courts of the Lord’s temple. My heart and my entire being shout for joy to the living God. Even the birds find a home there, and the swallow builds a nest, where she can protect her young near your altars, O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, my King and my God. How blessed are those who live in your temple and praise you continually. (Selah)

How blessed are those who find their strength in you, and long to travel the roads that lead to your temple. As they pass through the Baca Valley, he provides a spring for them. The rain even covers it with pools of water. They are sustained as they travel along; each one appears before God in Zion. O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies, hear my prayer. Listen, O God of Jacob. (Selah)

O God, take notice of our shield. Show concern for your chosen king. Certainly spending just one day in your temple courts is better than spending a thousand elsewhere. I would rather stand at the entrance to the temple of my God than live in the tents of the wicked. For the Lord God is our sovereign protector. The Lord bestows favor and honor; he withholds no good thing from those who have integrity. O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, how blessed are those who trust in you.

Psalm 84,2-13

Old Testament lesson

For a short time I abandoned you, but with great compassion I will gather you. In a burst of anger I rejected you momentarily, but with lasting devotion I will have compassion on you,” says your Protector, the Lord. “As far as I am concerned, this is like in Noah’s time, when I vowed that the waters of Noah’s flood would never again cover the earth. In the same way I have vowed that I will not be angry at you or shout at you. Even if the mountains are removed and the hills displaced, my devotion will not be removed from you, nor will my covenant of friendship be displaced,” says the Lord, the one who has compassion on you.

Isaiah 54,7-10

Collect for this fourth Sunday in Lent (Laetare)

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, Your mercies are new every morning; and though we deserve only punishment, You receive us as Your children and provide for all our needs of body and soul. Grant that we may heartily acknowledge Your merciful goodness, give thanks for all Your benefits, and serve You in willing obedience; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Lutheran Service Book Altar Book Pg. 874

Epistle

Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles so that we may be able to comfort those experiencing any trouble with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow toward us, so also our comfort through Christ overflows to you. But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort that you experience in your patient endurance of the same sufferings that we also suffer. And our hope for you is steadfast because we know that as you share in our sufferings, so also you will share in our comfort.

2. Corinthians 1,3-7

Gradual

I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord!” Peace be within Your walls and security within Your towers!

Psalm 122,1.7

Tract

Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, from this time forth and forevermore. Peace be upon Israel!

Psalm 125,1-2.5b

Holy Gospel

Now some Greeks were among those who had gone up to worship at the feast. So these approached Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and requested, “Sir, we would like to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew, and they both went and told Jesus. Jesus replied, “The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I tell you the solemn truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it produces much grain.

John 12,20-24

Christian Creed

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried. And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father. And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church, I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Nicene Creed

Hymn of the week

1 Jesus, priceless treasure, source of purest pleasure,
friend most sure and true: long my heart was burning,
fainting much and yearning, thirsting, Lord, for you.
Yours I am, O spotless Lamb, so will I let nothing hide you,
seek no joy beside you!

Let your arms enfold me: those who try to wound me
cannot reach me here. Though the earth be shaking,
every heart be quaking, Jesus calms my fear.
Fires may flash and thunder crash; yea, though sin and hell assail me,
Jesus will not fail me.

Hence, all worldly treasure! Jesus is my pleasure,
Jesus is my choice. Hence, all empty glory!
What to me your story told with tempting voice?
Pain or loss or shame or cross shall not from my Savior move me,
since he chose to love me.

Banish thoughts of sadness, for the Lord of gladness,
Jesus, enters in; though the clouds may gather,
those who love the Savior still have peace within.
Though I bear much sorrow here, still in you lies purest pleasure,
Jesus, priceless treasure!

Johann Franck 1618-1677 tr. Catherine Winkworth 1827-1878.

Sermon text

Having arrested our Lord Jesus Christ, they led Him and brought Him into the high priest’s house. But Peter followed at a distance. Now when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. And a certain servant girl, seeing him as he sat by the fire, looked intently at him and said, “This man was also with Him.”But he denied Him, saying, “Woman, I do not know Him.”And after a little while another saw him and said, “You also are of them.”But Peter said, “Man, I am not!” Then after about an hour had passed, another confidently affirmed, saying, “Surely this fellow also was with Him, for he is a Galilean.”But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are saying!” Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” So Peter went out and wept bitterly.

Luke 22,54-62

Prayer of the church

Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.

Blessed Lord, You give sight to the blind, You open the ears of the deaf and You make the lame to walk. In the darkness of sin, we cry to You, O Lord. Open our ears by Your Word, our minds by Your Spirit and our hearts by Your grace, that we may know You and give You thanks for all Your benefits to us in Christ. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Lord God, heavenly Father, through Your Church You nourish and sustain our faith. Give peace to Your Church during the turmoil and warfare of this world, and cause us to rejoice in Your goodness despite every cross and trial. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Heavenly Father, restore to all Christian hearts the joy of Your salvation by the blood of Christ, and make us eager to hear the voice of the Gospel in the forgiveness of sins. So, in turn, lead every Christian household — husbands, wives and children — to speak the truth with our neighbors and to forgive one another as Christ has forgiven us. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Almighty God, send Your Holy Spirit and sustain our hope while in this world, that though we cannot see the heavenly Jerusalem, yet we may know her to be our true mother and come at last to dwell in that eternal city. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

O God, our Shepherd, protect, comfort and guide all who call upon You in need especially Ingrid, Karin, Vivian, Isabel, Christoph, Friederike & Olly, Max & Louis, Elle, Detlev & Biljana, Matthias, Timo, Matt & Cathy, Scott & Maryann, Daniel & Linda, Rudolf & Cornelia, Markus, Grace, June, Vazlav, Thomas & Annette, Mario, Eleonore, Harriet, Dietmar & Angela, Klaus, Thomas, Jochen, Götz & Sylvia, Thomas & Nancy, Mark & Mindy, Abigail, Emma, Grant healing and peace, that they may continue to serve You with joy in this life and finally come to that good land in Your eternal kingdom. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Lord God, heavenly Father, by Your Son You fed 5,000 men in the wilderness with five loaves and two fish. Graciously abide with us also in the fullness of Your blessing. Preserve us from greed and the cares of this life. Grant that we would seek first Your kingdom and Your righteousness and perceive Your fatherly goodness in all things; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

LCMS Prayers

+ Dominum vobiscum +

The Lord bless Thee, and keep Thee;

The Lord make His face shine upon Thee, and be gracious unto Thee;

The Lord lift up His countenance upon Thee + give Thee peace.

Numbers 6,24-27

If you are called to preach this weekend, may the triune God give you joy and strength, wisdom, knowledge and insight, that You preach His holy will faithfully and His gracious promises invitingly. His most precious Gospel is “the power of God to save all who believe.” (Rom 1:16) and His good Word remains forever – just as His one, holy Christian Church + Amen.