Sunday, April 3, 2011
Fourth Sunday in Lent

Confession

Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.

Silence is kept for reflection.

Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal,
have mercy on us.

For self-centered living, and for failing to walk with humility and gentleness:
Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, have mercy on us.

For longing to have what is not ours, and for hearts that are not at rest with ourselves:
Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, have mercy on us.

For misuse of human relationships, and for unwillingness to see the image of God in others:
Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, have mercy on us.

For jealousies that divide families and nations,and for rivalries that create strife and warfare:
Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, have mercy on us.

For reluctance in sharing the gifts of God, and for carelessness with the fruits of creation:
Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, have mercy on us.

For hurtful words that condemn, and for angry deeds that harm:
Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, have mercy on us.

For idleness in witnessing to Jesus Christ, and for squandering the gifts of love and grace:
Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, have mercy on us.

In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us and for his sake God forgives us all our sins.  May God give us time for amendment of life and the grace and power of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

PrayerS of the Day (LBW)

Let us pray. God of all mercy, by your power to heal and to forgive, graciously cleanse us from all sin and make us strong; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Almighty and ever-living God, you hate nothing you have made, and you forgive the sins of all who are penitent.  Create in us new and honest hearts, so that, truly repenting of our sins, we may receive from you, the God of all mercy, full pardon and forgiveness through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Gospel Acclamation (ELW)
Jesus says, I am the light | of the world;*
	whoever follows me will have the | light of life. (John 8:12)

Verse (LBW)
Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. (John 3:14-15)

Readings
1 Samuel 16:1–13
Psalm 23
You anoint my head with oil. (Ps. 23:5)
Ephesians 5:8–14
Saint John 9:1–41

First Reading: 1 Samuel 16:1–13

The LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you grieve over Saul? I have rejected him from being king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and set out; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons."  2Samuel said, "How can I go? If Saul hears of it, he will kill me." And the LORD said, "Take a heifer with you, and say, 'I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.'  3Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for me the one whom I name to you."  4Samuel did what the LORD commanded, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, "Do you come peaceably?"  5He said, "Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD; sanctify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice." And he sanctified Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
	 6When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, "Surely the LORD's anointed is now before the LORD."  7But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the LORD does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart."  8Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. He said, "Neither has the LORD chosen this one."  9Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, "Neither has the LORD chosen this one."  10Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, and Samuel said to Jesse, "The LORD has not chosen any of these."  11Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all your sons here?" And he said, "There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here."  12He sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. The LORD said, "Rise and anoint him; for this is the one."  13Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the presence of his brothers; and the spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David from that day forward. Samuel then set out and went to Ramah.
	
Psalm (ELW): Psalm 23

You anoint my head with oil. (Ps. 23:5)

1The LORD | is my shepherd;
	I shall not | be in want.
2The LORD makes me lie down | in green pastures
	and leads me be- | side still waters.
3You restore my | soul, O LORD,
	and guide me along right pathways | for your name's sake.
4Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall | fear no evil;
	for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they | comfort me.   R
5You prepare a table before me in the presence | of my enemies;
	you anoint my head with oil, and my cup is | running over.
6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days | of my life,
	and I will dwell in the house of the | LORD forever.   R

Second Reading: Ephesians 5:8–14

8For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light —  9for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true.  10Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord.  11Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.  12For it is shameful even to mention what such people do secretly;  13but everything exposed by the light becomes visible,  14for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,
	"Sleeper, awake!
	Rise from the dead,
	and Christ will shine on you."\

Gospel:  Saint John 9:1–41

As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth.  2His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"  3Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God's works might be revealed in him.  4We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work.  5As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."  6When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man's eyes,  7saying to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see.  8The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, "Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?"  9Some were saying, "It is he." Others were saying, "No, but it is someone like him." He kept saying, "I am the man."  10But they kept asking him, "Then how were your eyes opened?"  11He answered, "The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, 'Go to Siloam and wash.' Then I went and washed and received my sight."  12They said to him, "Where is he?" He said, "I do not know."
	 13They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind.  14Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes.  15Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, "He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see."  16Some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, for he does not observe the sabbath." But others said, "How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?" And they were divided.  17So they said again to the blind man, "What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened." He said, "He is a prophet."
	 18The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight  19and asked them, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?"  20His parents answered, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind;  21but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself."  22His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue.  23Therefore his parents said, "He is of age; ask him."
	 24So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they said to him, "Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner."  25He answered, "I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see."  26They said to him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?"  27He answered them, "I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?"  28Then they reviled him, saying, "You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses.  29We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from."  30The man answered, "Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes.  31We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will.  32Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind.  33If this man were not from God, he could do nothing."  34They answered him, "You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?" And they drove him out.
	 35Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?"  36He answered, "And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him."  37Jesus said to him, "You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he."  38He said, "Lord, I believe." And he worshiped him.  39Jesus said, "I came into this world for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind."  40Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, "Surely we are not blind, are we?"  41Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, 'We see,' your sin remains.

040311 Prayers of the people

As we return to the waters of baptism, let us pray for the church, those in need, and all of God's creation.

A brief silence.

Let us pray for Christians around the world, made one in baptism;. God of mercy,
hear our prayer.

For the churches and peoples of East Timor, Indonesia and the Philippines; for the Lutheran communion in New York and throughout the world; for the faith communities of this city; for ecumenical partnerships and dialogues; and for all who lead the church.  God of mercy,
hear our prayer.

Let us pray for peace.  God of mercy,
hear our prayer.

Let us pray for receding polar ice caps and disappearing glaciers; for polluted waterways and garbage-filled oceans; for the shrinking rain forests and the many creatures that call them home. God of mercy,
hear our prayer.

Let us pray for kings and queens; for presidents and prime ministers; for legislatures and court systems; and for local governments, that all these may serve their peoples with justice. God of mercy,
hear our prayer.

For Barack our President, Congress and the Supreme Court; for Andrew our Governor, our state legislature and judiciary; for Michael our Mayor, our City Council and municipal courts.  God of mercy,.
hear our prayer.

For the United States of America; for a just balance of security and openness for our leaders, in our communities and among our people; for the gifts of wisdom and prudence to all who shape public opinion that all incendiary public language that fuels anger, breeds prejudice and incites hatred and violence may cease so that, in our common life, we may work together with mutual forbearance for the well-being of all.  God of mercy,
hear our prayer.

For Timothy, Lennart, Matthew, Shaun, Dan, Tanya and Ashley who have asked for our prayers, and all who live, work and serve in harms’ way.
God of mercy,
hear our prayer.

Let us pray for day-care providers and librarians; for business owners and artists; for social workers and custodians; for farmers and scientists; for the umeployed, underemployed and for all who cannot find work. God of mercy,
hear our prayer.
For all who have asked for our prayers:

God of mercy,
hear our prayer.

Let us pray for this assembly, and particularly the guests among us, that we see and proclaim Christ, the light of the world. God of mercy,
hear our prayer.

Let us pray for those, known or unreported, who have died in our wars this week:

God of mercy,
hear our prayer.

Let us give thanks for the many witnesses, living and dead, who have served you in astonishing ways and for all those who grieve for the dead. Led by Mary, Mother of God and in communion with Benedict the African, confessor; Albrecht Duerer, Matthias Gruenewald and Lucas Cranach, artists; Dietrich Bonheoffer, theologian and martyr; Mikael Agricola, bishop, our departed loved ones (silence) and in the company of all the saints, we praise and glorify you.  God of mercy,
hear our prayer.

From Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2011 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.
Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #26185.

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

COMMEMORATIONS FOR THE WEEK

Monday, April 4, 2011
Benedict the African, confessor, died 1589
Born a slave on the island of Sicily, Benedict lived as a hermit until the pope ordered all hermits to attach themselves to a monastery, at which time Benedict joined the Franciscans. Though illiterate, he was highly respected as a confessor and later superior of his community.

Wednesday, April 6
Albrecht Dürer, died 1528; Matthias Grünewald, died 1529; Lucas Cranach, died 1553; artists
These great artists revealed through their work the mystery of salvation and the wonder of creation. Dürer's work reflected the apocalyptic spirit of his time. Though he remained a Roman Catholic, he was sympathetic to Martin Luther's reforming work. Grünewald's paintings are known for their dramatic forms, vivid colors, and depiction of light. Cranach's work includes many fine religious examples and several portraits of Martin Luther. Cranach was also widely known for his woodcuts.

Saturday, April 9
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, theologian, died 1945
Bonhoeffer was a German theologian who wrote profoundly, yet in an accessible manner. In the Second World War, he became a leader of the Confessing Church in Germany that resisted the Nazi movement. Linked to a plot to kill Hitler, he was hanged shortly before the end of the war.

Sunday, April 10
Mikael Agricola, Bishop of Turku, died 1557
Consecrated bishop of Turku, Finland, without the approval of the pope, Agricola began a reform along Lutheran lines. In only three years, he translated the New Testament and worship texts into Finnish, in the process establishing the rules of Finnish writing that are still used today.

From Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2011 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.
Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #26185.