Sunday, March 29, 2020

Confession and Forgiveness

All may make the sign of the cross, the sign marked at baptism, as the presiding minister begins.

Blessed be the holy Trinity, one God,

who is present, who gives life,

who calls into existence the things that do not exist.

Amen.

If you were to keep watch over sins, O Lord, who could stand? (Psalm 130:3).

Yet with you is forgiveness, and so we confess.

Silence is kept for reflection.

Gracious God,

Open to me the doors of repentance, O Lifegiver;
For my spirit rises early to pray towards your holy Temple,
bearing the temple of my body all defiled
But in your compassion, deliver me and purify me by the lovingkindness of your mercy.

Lead me on the paths of salvation, my Savior and my God,
for I have profaned my soul with shameful sins,
and have wasted my life in laziness.
But, for the sake of your holy name, deliver me from all impurity.

Have mercy on me, o God, according to your great goodness, and according to the multitude of your compassions, blot out my transgressions.
When I think of the many evil things I have done, wretch that I am, I tremble at the fearful day of judgment. But trusting in your lovingkindness, like David I cry to you:

Have mercy on me, o God, according to your great mercy.

 

Receive good news: God turns to you in love.

“I will put my spirit in you, and you shall live,” says our God.

All your sin is forgiven in the name of Jesus Christ,

who is the free and abounding gift of God’s grace for you.

Amen.

 

 

Prayer of the day

Almighty God, your Son came into the world to free us all from sin and death. we bring our nation before you. We ask that you purge the land of this virus. Restore peace and calm to our nation. Remove the fear and replace it with faith in Your Son. You are the reason we live and we declare that our nation is blessed with every spiritual blessing You pour out upon us as You heal our land and all nations. Through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen.

 

Hymn                            Rock of ages, Clef for Me

 

1st Reading
 

Isaiah 6

6 In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. 2 Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called out to another and said,

“Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts,
The whole earth is full of His glory.”

4 And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke. 5 Then I said,

“Woe is me, for I am ruined!
Because I am a man of unclean lips,
And I live among a people of unclean lips;
For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.”

6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with tongs. 7 He touched my mouth with it and said, “Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away and your sin is forgiven.”

8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!” 9 He said, “Go, and tell this people:

‘Keep on listening, but do not perceive;
Keep on looking, but do not understand.’
10 “Render the hearts of this people insensitive,
Their ears dull,
And their eyes dim,
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
Hear with their ears,
Understand with their hearts,
And return and be healed.”


Word of God. Word of life.

2nd Reading

James 4:7-10

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Lament and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy into dejection. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

Word of God. Word of life

 

Gospel                            Matthew 11:28-30

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

The gospel of the Lord.

Sermon                                                                           Rev. Dr. Niveen Sarras

Hymn                                      Healer of our Every Ill

 

Lockdown – inspired by Brother Richard Hendrick OFM and revised by Rev. Sarras

Yes there is fear.
Yes there is isolation.
Yes there is panic buying.
Yes there is sickness.
Yes there is even death.
But,
They say that in Wuhan after so many years of noise
You can hear the birds again.
They say that after just a few weeks of quiet
The sky is no longer thick with fumes
But blue and grey and clear.
They say that in the streets of New York
People are singing to each other
across the empty squares,
keeping their windows open
so that those who are alone
may hear the sounds of family around them.


They say that schools are shut down in Minnesota

bus drivers bring meals, smiles to home-bound students
 

Today Churches, Synagogues, Mosques and Temples
are closed but are still serving people in new ways


All over the world people are slowing down and reflecting
All over the world people are looking at their neighbors in a new way
All over the world people are waking up to a new reality
To how big we really are.
To how little control we really have.
To what really matters.
To Love.


So we pray and we remember that
Yes there is fear.
But there does not have to be hate.
Yes there is isolation.
But there does not have to be loneliness.
Yes there is panic buying.
But there does not have to be meanness.
Yes there is sickness.
But there does not have to be disease of the soul
Yes there is even death.
But there can always be a rebirth of love.
Wake to the choices you make as to how to live now.


Today, breathe.
Listen, behind the factory noises of your panic
The birds are singing again
The sky is clearing,
Spring is coming,
And we are always encompassed by Love.
Open the windows of your soul
And though you may not be able
to touch across the empty square,
Sing.

 

 

Prayers of Intercession

God of Love, we the people of the Diocese of Clogher turn to you with prayerful hearts and with confidence in your loving presence among us now and in every moment of our lives. We stand before you as a people of hope, trusting in your care and protection. May we be comforted by your love in these anxious times.

 

Generous and Merciful God, fill us with compassion and concern for others, young and old; that we may look after each other in these challenging times, especially those among us who are vulnerable. May your example give us the courage we need to go to the margins, wherever they may be. Heal us of our fear.

 

Healing God, bring healing to those who are sick with the Coronavirus and be with their families and neighbors. We pray especially who those who are isolated, that they may know your love. Stay by our side in this time of uncertainty and sorrow.

God of life, you weep with those who grieve. Unbind all who are held captive by anxiety, despair, or pain especially Thelma, Esther, Barb Peterson, Pam (Rodney Riese’s wife), Kathrine Sylvia, Jezel, Joelle, Ibrahim and Odeh (Rev. Niveen’s family), Norm, April Winters,  Brieanna,  Alice, Charissa Helling, Scott Kurth, Phyllis, Mary Knott, Ashley Nickolai, Laura Beckman, David Schwarm, Sara Sopiesczyk, Jeff Groethe, Edie Smith, Joan Bonstead, Ted Sanders, and Al Solomonson. Fill us with compassion and empathy for those who struggle, and keep us faithful in prayer.

 

God of Strength, accompany all those who serve us with such love and generosity in the medical profession and in all our healthcare facilities. We give thanks for their continued work in the service of people. We ask you to bless them, strengthen them and guide them with your abundant goodness.

 

God of Wisdom, we ask you to guide the leaders in healthcare and governance; that they may make the right decisions for the wellbeing of people.

 

O God of creation and God of life, we, your people here in Wisconsin, place ourselves and our world in your protection and love. May your peace be with us and enfold us today, tomorrow and during the time ahead.

 

God of the living, United with all who have died in the faith, especially those we remember now, we pray that at the end we will join with them in your presence.

 

Merciful God, accompany our journey through these forty days. Renew us in the gift of Baptism, that we may provide for those who are poor, pray for those in need, fast from self-indulgence, and above all that we may find our treasure in the life of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.

 

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.

 

Blessings

May the grace of Christ attend us,
and the love of God surround us,
and the Holy Spirit keep us,
now and ever.
Amen.

Hymn                                     Almighty Fortress is our God

 

______________________

News:

Prayer Concerns: Thelma, Esther, Barb Peterson, Pam (Rodney Riese’s wife), Kathrine Sylvia, Jezel, Joelle, Ibrahim and Odeh (Rev. Niveen’s family), Norm, April Winters,  Brieanna,  Alice, Charissa Helling, Scott Kurth, Phyllis, Mary Knott, Ashley Nickolai, Laura Beckman, David Schwarm, Sara Sopiesczyk, Jeff Groethe, Edie Smith, Joan Bonstead, Ted Sanders, Al Solomonson. (Contact ILC office to update.)

Olive Oil is Here! The 500 ml bottles are available in the church office for $15.00. The purchase of this excellent olive oil supports the Palestinian farmers who are part of the cooperative.  In addition to using it for your own purposes, it also makes a wonderful gift to give someone!

AmazonSmile! Immanuel Lutheran Church is now listed on AmazonSmile!. When you shop from this link: https://smile.amazon.com/ch/39-0848220, Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases. Thank you for supporting Immanuel Lutheran Church.

A Season of Hope. This Lent, we’re joining Lutheran World Relief in A Season of Hope to announce to the world the HOPE of Christ. Our conference is going to be collecting nail clippers starting March 1, 2020 through May 10, 2020. Our delegates, Mary and Tom McDonell, will deliver them to the Synod Assembly on May 15, 2020. (attached file optional – remove packaging). If you have any questions, please contact Pastor Niveen.

To reduce the potential spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), Immanuel Lutheran Church of Wausau has cancelled all in-person services until further notice. During this time, ILC will move all services and ministries online:

  • Our Facebook Page: @ILCWausau
  • Our YouTube Channel: Immanuel Lutheran Church of Wausau Wisconsin, Inc.

Worship Services are on Charter Cable Channel 980 9:00am Sunday or online: Wausau Area Access Media: waam.viebit.com (Left side, scroll to Immanuel Lutheran.)

Our Sister Church is the Lobatla Parish. Address is: c/o Moruti (Pastor) Rev. G.M. Nkale, P.O. Box 160, Motswedi 2870, Republic of South Africa. Email for Pastor: nkalesto@gmail.com