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evening prayer March 18, 2020

7:00 pm

Grace of God Lutheran Church

Oakdale, Minnesota

WELCOME

This series of Evening Prayer for Lent centers on questions asked of Jesus

during his ministry on earth. These questions parallel questions we have of

Jesus today! We learn from Jesus that it is ok to wrestle and struggle with

things that are hard to understand and accept. Lent gives us opportunity to

bring these questions to Jesus, keep our focus on his cross and take time to

listen to him direct us and guide with his love.

ALL ARE WELCOME HERE TONIGHT!

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GATHERING

OPENING DIALOGUE

EVENING HYMN (all sing)

P

a

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EVENING THANKSGIVING

P We give you thanks and praise, O God without beginning and without end. Through your Son, Jesus Christ, you have created and preserved the world

and in him you rule over all creation. The day you have made for the

works of light and the night for refreshment and strength. O Lord of love

and source of all good, receive our evening praise. You have guided us

through this day to the beginning of night. Grant us, in Christ, an evening

filled with peace and rest. And when we come to our own end, bring us

into the everlasting life of your kingdom. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

PSALMODY Psalm 141

L antiphon a antiphon

v v

P a

v

a

v

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L Hurry, Lord! I call and call. Listen! I plead with you. Let my prayer rise like incense, my upraised hands, like an evening sacrifice.

a antiphon

L Lord, guard my lips; Watch my ev’ry word. Lord my God, I turn to you, in you I find safety. Do not strip me of life.

a antiphon

L Glory 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

a antiphon

SERVICE OF THE WORD

John 14:1-6

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my

Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have

told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place

for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there

you may be also. 4 And you know the way to the place where I am

going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going.

How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth,

and the life.”

QUESTIONING JESUS: how can we know the way? HOMILY

NEW TESTAMENT CANTICLE

L antiphon a antiphon

L Though in the form of God. Jesus did not claim equality with God. But emptied himself, taking the form of a slave.

Human like one of us.

a antiphon

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L Flesh and blood, he humbled himself, obeying to the death, death on a cross For this very reason, God lifted him high

And gave him the name above all names

a antiphon

L For at the name of Jesus every knee will bend In heaven, on earth and in the world below

And every tongue exclaim to the glory of God the Father

“Jesus Christ is Lord.

a antiphon

L Glory 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

a antiphon

OFFERING

(loose change collected in our offering will go towards high school scholarships for

students in Tanzania sponsored by Grace of God and other projects in Tanzania.

When the offering basket has passed, those who have loose change may come

forward and empty their “alms bowls” into the glass bowl.)

PRAYERS

P For peace from above and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord. C

P For the welfare of the church and for the unity of the human family, let us pray to the Lord.

C Lord in your mercy hear our prayer.

P For our nation, its government, and for all who serve and protect us, let us pray to the Lord.

C Lord in your mercy hear our prayer.

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P For the good earth which God has given us, and for the wisdom and will to conserve it

C Lord in your mercy hear our prayer.

P For the safety of travelers, the recovery of the sick, the care of the poor and the release of prisoners.

C Lord in your mercy hear our prayer.

P For a peaceful evening and a night free from harm and danger, C Lord in your mercy hear our prayer.

P Let us commend ourselves and one another to the living God through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

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P Lord God, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot

see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give

us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go, but only

that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us; through Jesus

Christ our Lord.

C Amen

LORD’S PRAYER

SENDING

BLESSING ‘ P May the Lord bless and keep you.

C

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P May the Lord’s face shine upon you and be gracious to you.

C P May the Lord look upon you with kindness and give you peace.

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P May almighty God bless you (+): the Father, and the Son and the

Holy Spirit.

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serving in worship tonight Worship leader Jon Marxhausen

Piano Mary Dinesen

Dialogue Jacob Fahey and Riley Benson

Elder Chris Fallert

Clarinet Heidi Zetterwall

Lector Jeff Olofson

Ushers Allen and Sally Warren

Greeters Paul and Cami Hartleben