The kingdom of God exists wherever the loving activity of God is playing out.

Immanuel Lutheran Church * St. Charles, MO www.ImmanuelStCharles.org

Return to the Kingdom of God March 24, 2021—4:00 & 6:30 pm

* - Congregation will rise

As We Gather

In the conclusion of his First Letter to his co-worker Timothy, Paul encourages his young friend with a shared vision of what is to come as God fulfills all things. He writes of “the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which He will display at the proper time—He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords” (1 Timothy 6:14–15). As Jesus stood before Pilate, who seemed to have the full authority of life and death over Him, our Savior knew who He was and what His kingdom was and is and will be. “My kingdom is not of this world,” Jesus stated (John 18:36a). With the psalmist, we affirm, “The Lord will reign forever” (Psalm 146:10). The very best and most blessed time under His gracious kingship is yet to be!

Please stand

Leader: O Lord, open my lips, People: and my mouth will declare Your praise.

Leader: Make haste, O God, to deliver me; People: make haste to help me, O Lord.

All: Glory be 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. Praise to You, O Christ, Lamb of our salvation.

† Psalmody † Psalm of the Day Psalm 145:8-13

8The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. 9The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made. 10All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord, and all your saints shall bless you! 11They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom and tell of your power, 12to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. 13Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations.

The Lord is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works.

Glory be 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.

Please be seated

Office Hymn “In the Cross of Christ I Glory” - #427

Public Domain

† Word †

First Reading Exodus 19:1-6

Leader: A reading from Exodus, the first chapter.

1On the third new moon after the people of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that day they came into the wilderness of Sinai. 2They set out from Rephidim and came into the wilderness of Sinai, and they encamped in the wilderness. There Israel en-camped before the mountain, 3while Moses went up to God. The Lord called to him out of the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel: 4You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on ea-gles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; 6and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”

Leader: O Lord, have mercy on us. People: Thanks be to God. Second Reading Romans 14:13-17

Leader: A reading from Romans, the fourteenth chapter.

13Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. 14I know and am persuad-ed in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who

1 In the cross of Christ I glory, Tow’ring o’er the wrecks of time. All the light of sacred story Gathers round its head sublime.

2 When the woes of life o’ertake me, Hopes deceive, and fears annoy, Never shall the cross forsake me; Lo, it glows with peace and joy.

3 When the sun of bliss is beaming Light and love upon my way, From the cross the radiance streaming Adds more luster to the day.

4 Bane and blessing, pain and pleasure By the cross are sanctified; Peace is there that knows no measure, Joys that through all time abide.

thinks it unclean. 15For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walk-ing in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. 16So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. 17For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Leader: O Lord, have mercy on us. People: Thanks be to God.

Please stand

*Holy Gospel John 18:28-38

Leader: A reading from St. John, the eighteenth chapter.

28 Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor’s headquarters. It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor’s headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover. 29 So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” 30 They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered Him over to you.” 31 Pilate said to them, “Take Him yourselves and judge Him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.” 32 This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death He was going to die.

33 So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about Me?” 35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You over to me. What have You done?” 36 Jesus an-swered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My serv-ants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But My kingdom is not from the world.” 37 Then Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice.” 38 Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?”

After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in Him.”

Leader: O Lord, have mercy on us. People: Thanks be to God.

Lenten Responsory Leader: Deliver me, O Lord, my God, for You are the God of my salvation. People: Rescue me from my enemies, protect me from those who rise against me. Leader: In You, O Lord, do I put my trust, leave me not, O Lord, my God. People: Rescue me from my enemies, protect me from those who rise against me. Leader: Deliver me, O Lord, my God, for You are the God of my salvation. People: Rescue me from my enemies, protect me from those who rise against me.

Please be seated

Children’s Message (4:00)

Hymn of the Day “Break Your Hearts”

Text: Copyright © 2020 Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved. Tune: Public Domain

Sermon “Return to the Kingdom of God”

Antiphon “Let My Prayer Rise Before You as Incense”

Cantor: O Lord, I call to You; come to me quickly; hear my voice when I cry to You.

Cantor: Set a watch before my mouth, O Lord, and guard the door of my lips. Let not my heart incline to any evil thing;

let me not be occupied in wickedness with evildoers. But my eyes are turned to You, O God; in You I take refuge.

Strip me not of my life.

Offering Please stand

† Prayer †

*Kyrie

People: Lord, have mercy; Christ, have mercy; Lord, have mercy. *Lord’s Prayer

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.

*Collects Leader: O Lord, hear my prayer. People: And let my cry come to You.

*Collect of the Day

Leader: Almighty God, Your kingdom is not like the kingdoms of this world. Instead of force, You reign by grace; instead of corruption, You reign by the truth; instead of favoritism, You reign by serving all. Help us not to fall into the ways of the kingdoms of this world, but to welcome Your gracious reign in our lives; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

People: Amen.

Additional Collects of Intercession and Thanksgiving

*Collect for Lent

Leader: Faithful God, through the ancient prophets You call us to return to You with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Let these Lenten days be a time when, remembering how You relentlessly return to us in mercy, we return also to You; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

People: Amen.

*Collect at Evening

Leader: As the darkness of nighttime comes, remember Your mercy, O Lord, and Your stead-fast love, for they have been of old. Remember not our transgressions of the day. And raise us up in the morning ready to serve in Your kingdom; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

People: Amen.

*Collect for Peace

Leader: Merciful God, as the kingdoms of this world rage and spite, through it all You re-main constant in bringing calm to troubled hearts. Grant peace in our nation, peace in our community, and peace in our homes; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

People: Amen.

*Benedicamus

Leader: Let us bless the Lord. People: Thanks be to God.

*Benediction

Leader: The grace of our Lord † Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

People: Amen.

*Closing Hymn “Jesus, Refuge of the Weary” - #423

3 Jesus, may our hearts be burning With more fervent love for You; May our eyes be ever turning To behold Your cross anew Till in glory, parted never From the blessèd Savior’s side, Graven in our hearts forever, Dwell the cross, the Crucified.

Text: Public Domain

PARTICIPANTS

Preacher .................................................................................................................................... Rev. Allen Schade Liturgist/Children’s Message ........................................................................ Vicar Kurt Hellwig (4:00) Organist ....................................................................................................................................... Mrs. Karen Haak Acolyte ......................................................................................... Adison Budde (4:00); Ella Creecy (6:30) Video/Sound Technician ................................................................................................. Rob Covey (6:30)

Acknowledgments Vespers from Lutheran Service Book; Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Stand-ard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

1 Jesus, refuge of the weary, Blest Redeemer, whom we love, Fountain in life’s desert dreary, Savior from the world above: Often have Your eyes, offended, Gazed upon the sinner’s fall; Yet upon the cross extended, You have borne the pain of all.

2 Do we pass that cross unheeding, Breathing no repentant vow, Though we see You wounded, bleeding, See Your thorn-encircled brow? Yet Your sinless death has brought us Life eternal, peace, and rest; Only what Your grace has taught us Calms the sinner’s deep distress.