FAITH LUTHERAN CHURCH Tel: (519) 753-3833

Email:  faithlutheran1@bellnet.ca

Website: https://faithlutheranbrantford.com

5. SUNDAY IN LENT March 26, 2023

Gathering

Welcome, Land Acknowledgement, Announcements: Call to Worship: All Who Are Thirsty

** Second Chorus is “Holy Spirit, Come” **

Thanksgiving for Baptism:

We thank God for our baptism, we thank God that each day, we are born anew and are given new opportunity to live out lives of compassion.

P: People of God, in the baptismal waters

you traveled with Christ from death to life.

Our past, our sin, our failure,

our hopelessness, are drowned and gone here. Our fear, Our confusion, our self-righteousness, are washed away by grace.

Our pride, our hypocrisy, and other people’s opinions of us

no longer define us.

The Spirit lives and moves through us now, a great and joyful mystery, so we may bring love and mercy into the world as the body of Christ.

We rejoice that God has claimed us in this baptismal grace. Amen

Gathering Hymn: Love Divine, All Loves Excelling ELW 631

Prayer of the Day:

Holy God, Creator of Life, you call us out of our dark places, offering us the grace of new life. When we see nothing but hopelessness, you surprise us with the breath of your spirit. Call us out of our complacency and routines,

set us free from our self-imposed bonds,

and fill us with your spirit of life, compassion, and peace, In the name of Jesus, your anointed one, we pray. Amen.

Word

First Reading: Ezekiel 37: 1-14

Response to Reading: Word of God, Word of life… Thanks be to God.

Gospel Acclamation: Restore in Us O God ELW 328 (Verses 1-3)

Gospel: John 11:1-44

Response: Glory to you, O Lord.

Response to Reading: Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon: Vicar Bethan

Hymn of the Day: Tree of Life and Awesome Mystery ELW 334 (V1-3 & Lent 5 Words)

Prayers of Intercession:

O God, who always listens to us,

who breathes new life into us,

Call us forward to resurrection.

Lord’s Prayer: p. 134

Offertory Hymn: Blessed be your Name

1. Blessed be your name when I’m found, in the desert place, though

I walk through the wilderness, Blessed be your name.

2. Blessed be your name, on the road marked with suffering, though

there’s pain in the offering, Blessed be your name.

Refrain: Every blessing you pour out I’ll turn back to praise. When the darkness closes in, Lord, still I will say, “Blessed be the name of the Lord, Blessed be your name. Blessed be the name of the Lord, Blessed be your Glorious name.

Sharing of the Peace:

Learning in Lent: Colours of the Church Year Sending Blessing Song: The

Peace of The Earth

The Peace of the Earth be with you, the peace of the heavens too. The Peace of the Rivers be with you, the peace of the oceans too. Deep Peace, falling over you. God’s Peace Growing in you. Dismissal:

Go in Peace, we learn from Christ. Thanks be to God

ANNNOUNCEMENTS:

TODAY’S DUTY ELDER IS GRANT BECHTEL

LENTEN OFFERINGS: Special Lenten offering envelopes are available at both entrances. Lenten offerings this year are designated to CLWR for earthquake relief.

LABYRINTH PRAYER WALK: Each Wednesday through Lent (2-3:30 and 6:30-8pm),

a Labyrinth will be set up in the church basement for any and all to come and use

for a meditative time of movement and prayer. A prayer and short explanation by Vicar Bethan will kick off each of these sessions and the remainder is time for quiet contemplation and individual meditation.

EASTER 2023

SERVICES:

Sunday April 2 – Palm Sunday Service at 10:30 am

Thursday April 6 – Maundy Thursday Service at 7 pm

Communion Service and Stripping of the Altar

Friday April 7 – Good Friday Service at 10:30 am

Sunday April 9 – Easter Celebration Service at 10:30 am with Holy Communion

EASTER FLOWERS: If you would like to contribute to the purchase of flowers for

Easter Sunday, you may do so through your offering envelope. If these flowers would be in memory of someone, please include a note indicating that. EASTER CHOIR: Practice today after the service

FLOWER DELIVERY FOR OUR HOMEBOUND MEMBERS: If you can help with delivery, please contact Wilhelm Hilgendag.

ROOF: The goal is to raise $22,000. You may contribute through your offering

envelope marked “roof”.