St Stephen Lutheran Church Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Sunday of the Passion/Palm Sunday, 10:30 a.m.

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March 28, 2021, 10:30 am

Sunday of the Passion/Palm Sunday

Cathedral of the Diocese of Tenancingo, Mexico

SUNDAY OF THE PASSION/PALM SUNDAY

The liturgy of a Procession with Palms on the Sunday before Easter originated in 4^th-century Jerusalem. ‘The hero’s welcome accorded Jesus was seen as anticipating his impending victory over death.’ The customary processional hymn, ‘All Glory, Laud, and Honor,’ has been part of Palm Sunday observances since the 8^th century.[1] ‘The faithful usually keep palm or olive branches, or other greenery which have been blessed on Palm Sunday in their homes or in their work places…as a witness to faith in Jesus Christ, the messianic king, and in his Paschal Victory.[2]

The Passion of Jesus has been read on the Sunday before Easter since medieval times. Originally the St Matthew Passion was read on Sunday, St Mark’s on Tuesday, St Luke’s on Wednesday, and St John’s on Good Friday. Our contemporary practice reads the Passion Gospel from the proper lectionary cycle (Matthew in cycle A; Mark in cycle B; Luke in cycle C) on Sunday and according to John on Good Friday.[3]

The accompanying lessons are one of the ‘servant songs’ of Isaiah, which Christians believe point to God’s Son and Servant Jesus, and the great hymn of Christ’s humiliation and exaltation from Philippians 2:5-11.

OPENING MUSIC All Glory, Laud and Honor

Please meditate on the text of the hymn as it is played:

Refrain

All glory, laud, and honor

to you, redeemer, king,

to whom the lips of children

made sweet hosannas ring.

1 You are the king of Israel

and David’s royal Son,

now in the Lord’s name coming,

our King and Blessed One. Refrain

2 The company of angels

is praising you on high;

creation and all mortals

in chorus make reply. Refrain

3 The multitude of pilgrims

with palms before you went.

Our praise and prayer and anthems

before you we present. Refrain

4 To you, before your passion,

they sang their hymns of praise.

To you, now high exalted,

our melody we raise. Refrain

5 Their praises you accepted;

accept the prayers we bring,

great author of all goodness,

O good and gracious King. Refrain

Text: Theodulph of Orleans, c. 760-821; tr. John M. Neale, 1818-1866, alt.

Stand

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna to the Son of David.

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Mercifully assist us, O Lord God of our salvation, that we may enter with joy upon the contemplation of those mighty acts whereby you have given us life everlasting; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

Gospel Mark 11:1-11

The Holy Gospel according to St. Mark.

¹When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, [Jesus] sent two of his disciples ²and said to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. ³If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.’ ” ⁴They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, ⁵some of the bystanders said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” ⁶They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it. ⁷Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. ⁸Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. ⁹Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting,
“Hosanna!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
¹⁰Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
¹¹Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple; and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Thanksgiving

The people raise the palm branches.

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give him thanks and praise.

We praise and thank you, O God, for the great acts of love by which you have redeemed the world through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. On this day he entered the holy city of Jerusalem in triumph, and was acclaimed Son of David and King of kings by those who scattered their garments and branches of palm in his path. We ask that you bless these branches and those who bear them, and grant that we may ever hail him as our Lord and King and follow him with perfect confidence; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest.

Everlasting God, in your endless love for the human race you sent our Lord Jesus Christ to take on our nature and to suffer death on the cross. In your mercy enable us to share in his obedience to your will and in the glorious victory of his resurrection, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen

Sit

HOMILY

First READING Isaiah 50:4-9a

⁴The Lord God has given me
the tongue of a teacher,
that I may know how to sustain
the weary with a word.

Morning by morning he wakens—
wakens my ear
to listen as those who are taught.

⁵The Lord God has opened my ear,
and I was not rebellious,
I did not turn backward.

⁶I gave my back to those who struck me,
and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard;
I did not hide my face
from insult and spitting.
⁷The Lord God helps me;
therefore I have not been disgraced;
therefore I have set my face like flint,
and I know that I shall not be put to shame;

⁸he who vindicates me is near.
Who will contend with me?
Let us stand up together.
Who are my adversaries?
Let them confront me.
^9aIt is the Lord God who helps me;
who will declare me guilty?

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

PsalM 31:9-16

The psalm is read responsively between the pastor and the people.

Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit. (Psalm 31:5)

Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.

⁹ Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am in trouble;

my eye is consumed with sorrow,

and also my throat and my belly.

¹⁰ For my life is wasted with grief, and my years with sighing;

my strength fails me because of affliction,

and my bones are consumed.

¹¹ I have become a reproach to all my enemies and even to

my neighbors, a dismay to those of my acquaintance;

when they see me in the street they avoid me.

¹² I am forgotten like a dead man, out of mind;

I am as useless as a | broken pot.

¹³ For I have heard the whispering of the crowd; fear is all around;

they put their heads together against me;

they plot to take my life.

¹⁴ But as for me, I have trusted in you, O Lord.

I have said, "You are my God.

¹⁵ My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my

enemies, and from those who persecute me.

¹⁶ Make your face to shine upon your servant,*

and in your loving-kindness save me."

Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.

SECOND READING Philippians 2:5-11

⁵Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
⁶who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
as something to be exploited,
⁷but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
⁸he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death—
even death on a cross.
⁹Therefore God also highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
¹⁰so that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
¹¹and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Please remain seated.

VERSE (sung by the cantor)

The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.

John 12:23

THE PASSION ACCORDING TO ST. MARK Mark 14:1—15:47

The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark.

It was two days before the Passover and the festival of Unleavened Bread. The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him; ²for they said, “Not during the festival, or there may be a riot among the people.”
³While he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment of nard, and she broke open the jar and poured the ointment on his head. ⁴But some were there who said to one another in anger, “Why was the ointment wasted in this way? ⁵For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor.” And they scolded her. ⁶But Jesus said, “Let her alone; why do you trouble her? She has performed a good service for me. ⁷For you always have the poor with you, and you can show kindness to them whenever you wish; but you will not always have me. ⁸She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for its burial. ⁹Truly I tell you, wherever the good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.”
¹⁰Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them. ¹¹When they heard it, they were greatly pleased, and promised to give him money. So he began to look for an opportunity to betray him.
¹²On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, his disciples said to him, “Where do you want us to go and make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?” ¹³So he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him, ¹⁴and wherever he enters, say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks, Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ ¹⁵He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.” ¹⁶So the disciples set out and went to the city, and found everything as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover meal.

¹⁷When it was evening, he came with the twelve. ¹⁸And when they had taken their places and were eating, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.” ¹⁹They began to be distressed and to say to him one after another, “Surely, not I?” ²⁰He said to them, “It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the bowl with me. ²¹For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born.”
²²While they were eating, he took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” ²³Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them drank from it. ²⁴He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. ²⁵Truly I tell you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
²⁶When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. ²⁷And Jesus said to them, “You will all become deserters; for it is written,
‘I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep will be scattered.’
²⁸But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” ²⁹Peter said to him, “Even though all become deserters, I will not.” ³⁰Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, this day, this very night, before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.” ³¹But he said vehemently, “Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And all of them said the same.

³²They went to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” ³³He took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be distressed and agitated. ³⁴And he said to them, “I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep awake.” ³⁵And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. ³⁶He said, “Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want.” ³⁷He came and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep awake one hour? ³⁸Keep awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” ³⁹And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. ⁴⁰And once more he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to say to him. ⁴¹He came a third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Enough! The hour has come; the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. ⁴²Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand.”

⁴³Immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; and with him there was a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. ⁴⁴Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.” ⁴⁵So when he came, he went up to him at once and said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. ⁴⁶Then they laid hands on him and arrested him. ⁴⁷But one of those who stood near drew his sword and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear. ⁴⁸Then Jesus said to them, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a bandit? ⁴⁹Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me. But let the scriptures be fulfilled.” ⁵⁰All of them deserted him and fled.
⁵¹A certain young man was following him, wearing nothing but a linen cloth. They caught hold of him, ⁵²but he left the linen cloth and ran off naked.
⁵³They took Jesus to the high priest; and all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes were assembled. ⁵⁴Peter had followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest; and he was sitting with the guards, warming himself at the fire. ⁵⁵Now the chief priests and the whole council were looking for testimony against Jesus to put him to death; but they found none. ⁵⁶For many gave false testimony against him, and their testimony did not agree. ⁵⁷Some stood up and gave false testimony against him, saying, ⁵⁸“We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.’ ” ⁵⁹But even on this point their testimony did not agree. ⁶⁰Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Have you no answer? What is it that they testify against you?” ⁶¹But he was silent and did not answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” ⁶²Jesus said, “I am; and
‘you will see the Son of Man
seated at the right hand of the Power,’
and ‘coming with the clouds of heaven.’ ”
⁶³Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “Why do we still need witnesses? ⁶⁴You have heard his blasphemy! What is your decision?” All of them condemned him as deserving death. ⁶⁵Some began to spit on him, to blindfold him, and to strike him, saying to him, “Prophesy!” The guards also took him over and beat him.
⁶⁶While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant-girls of the high priest came by. ⁶⁷When she saw Peter warming himself, she stared at him and said, “You also were with Jesus, the man from Nazareth.” ⁶⁸But he denied it, saying, “I do not know or understand what you are talking about.” And he went out into the forecourt. Then the cock crowed. ⁶⁹And the servant-girl, on seeing him, began again to say to the bystanders, “This man is one of them.” ⁷⁰But again he denied it. Then after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, “Certainly you are one of them; for you are a Galilean.” ⁷¹But he began to curse, and he swore an oath, “I do not know this man you are talking about.” ⁷²At that moment the cock crowed for the second time. Then Peter remembered that Jesus had said to him, “Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.
^15:1As soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. They bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate. ²Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” He answered him, “You say so.” ³Then the chief priests accused him of many things. ⁴Pilate asked him again, “Have you no answer? See how many charges they bring against you.” ⁵But Jesus made no further reply, so that Pilate was amazed.
⁶Now at the festival he used to release a prisoner for them, anyone for whom they asked. ⁷Now a man called Barabbas was in prison with the rebels who had committed murder during the insurrection. ⁸So the crowd came and began to ask Pilate to do for them according to his custom. ⁹Then he answered them, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” ¹⁰For he realized that it was out of jealousy that the chief priests had handed him over. ¹¹But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas for them instead. ¹²Pilate spoke to them again, “Then what do you wish me to do with the man you call the King of the Jews?” ¹³They shouted back,

“Crucify him!”

¹⁴Pilate asked them, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more,

“Crucify him!”

¹⁵So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.
¹⁶Then the soldiers led him into the courtyard of the palace (that is, the governor’s headquarters); and they called together the whole cohort.

¹⁷And they clothed him in a purple cloak; and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on him. ¹⁸And they began saluting him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” ¹⁹They struck his head with a reed, spat upon him, and knelt down in homage to him. ²⁰After mocking him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.

²¹They compelled a passer-by, who was coming in from the country, to carry his cross; it was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus. ²²Then they brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means the place of a skull). ²³And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh; but he did not take it. ²⁴And they crucified him, and divided his clothes among them, casting lots to decide what each should take.
²⁵It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him. ²⁶The inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.” ²⁷And with him they crucified two bandits, one on his right and one on his left. ²⁹Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, ³⁰save yourself, and come down from the cross!” ³¹In the same way the chief priests, along with the scribes, were also mocking him among themselves and saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. ³²Let the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down from the cross now, so that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also taunted him.
³³When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. ³⁴At three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” ³⁵When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “Listen, he is calling for Elijah.” ³⁶And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.” ³⁷Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last.

Silence is kept.

At the direction of the pastor, the people stand for the remainder of the Passion.

³⁸And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. ³⁹Now when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!”
⁴⁰There were also women looking on from a distance; among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. ⁴¹These used to follow him and provided for him when he was in Galilee; and there were many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem.
⁴²When evening had come, and since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, ⁴³Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. ⁴⁴Then Pilate wondered if he were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he had been dead for some time. ⁴⁵When he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the body to Joseph. ⁴⁶Then Joseph bought a linen cloth, and taking down the body, wrapped it in the linen cloth, and laid it in a tomb that had been hewn out of the rock. He then rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. ⁴⁷Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where the body was laid.

Silence for meditation.

I believe that Jesus Christ,

true God, son of the Father from eternity,

and also true human being,

born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord.

He has redeemed me,

a lost and condemned human being.

He has purchased and freed me from all sins,

from death, and from the power of the devil,

not with gold or silver

but with his holy and precious blood

and with his innocent suffering and death.

He has done this so that I may belong to him,

live under him in his kingdom,

and serve him in eternal righteousness,

innocence, and blessedness,

just as he is risen from the dead

and lives and rules eternally.

This is most certainly true.

Smaller Catechism of Martin Luther

HYMN OF THE DAY Ah, Holy Jesus

Cantor:

1 Ah, holy Jesus, how hast thou offended

that man to judge thee hath in hate pretended?

By foes derided, by thine own rejected,

O most afflicted.

Pastor:

2 Who was the guilty? Who brought this upon thee?

Alas, my treason, Jesus, hath undone thee.

’Twas I, Lord Jesus, I it was denied thee;

I crucified thee.

Cantor:

3 Lo, the Good Shepherd for the sheep is offered;

the slave hath sinnèd, and the Son hath suffered;

for man’s atonement, while he nothing heedeth,

God intercedeth.

Pastor:

4 For me, kind Jesus, was thine incarnation,

thy mortal sorrow, and thy life’s oblation;

thy death of anguish and thy bitter passion,

for my salvation.

ALL:

5 Therefore, kind Jesus, since I cannot pay thee,

I do adore thee, and will ever pray thee;

think on thy pity and thy love unswerving,

not my deserving.

Text: Johann Heermann, 1585-1647; tr. Robert Bridges, 1844-1930, alt.

PRAYERS

Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus, and for all people according to their needs.

A brief silence

For the Church, that in our contemplation of his Passion we may be formed in the mind of Christ. Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

For all pastors, that they may sustain the weary with the word of the cross. Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

For those who live as enemies of the cross, that they may be reconciled to you and to us, and come to know the forgiveness and salvation offered by your Son. Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

For our public servants and for all leaders, that they may never wash their hands of those whom they have been called to serve. Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

For those who work for peace, justice, health and protection in this and every place: Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

For the poor in body, mind, and spirit; for all who are imprisoned, for the dying, the grieving, and those we name before you:

The pastor reads the names submitted for prayer.

The people may voice their petitions aloud or in silence.

Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

In thanksgiving for those who have died, that we may come with them to the promised resurrection. Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Into your hands, Father, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your steadfast love, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

Peace

The peace of the Lord be with you always.

And also with you.

The people exchange a sign of peace with the simple words, Peace be with you.

Sit

The Lord’s Table is prepared.

OFFERTORY John 12:24, 26 Setting by Kevin Norris

Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies it bears much fruit. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.

PRAYER OF PREPARATION

Jesus, true vine and bread of life,

ever giving yourself that the world might live,

let us share your death and passion:

make us perfect in your love.

Amen

GREAT THANKSGIVING

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give him thanks and praise.

We give you thanks, Father,

through Jesus Christ, your beloved Son,

whom you sent in this end of the ages

to save and redeem us and to proclaim to us your will.

He is your Word,

inseparable from you.

Through him you created all things,

and in him you take delight.

He is your Word,

sent from heaven to a virgin's womb.

He there took on our nature and our lot

and was shown forth as your Son,

born of the Holy Spirit and of the virgin Mary.

It is he, our Lord Jesus, who fulfilled all your will

and won for you a holy people;

he stretched out his hands in suffering

in order to free from suffering those who trust you.

It is he who, handed over to a death he freely accepted,

in order to destroy death, to break the bonds of the evil one,

to crush hell underfoot, to give light to the righteous,

to establish his covenant, and to show forth the resurrection,

taking bread and giving thanks to you, said:

Take and eat; this is my body, broken for you.

Do this for the remembrance of me.

In the same way he took the cup, gave thanks,

and gave it for all to drink, saying:

This is my blood poured out for you.

Do this for the remembrance of me.

Remembering, then, his death and resurrection,

we lift this bread and cup before you,

giving you thanks that you have made us worthy

to stand before you and to serve you as your priestly people.

And we ask you:

Send your Spirit upon these gifts of your Church;

gather into one all who share this bread and wine;

fill us with your Holy Spirit to establish our faith in truth,

that we may praise and glorify you

through your Son Jesus Christ.

Through him all glory and honor are yours,

Almighty Father, with the Holy Spirit,

in your holy Church both now and forever. Amen

Christ is in our midst.

By the power of the Spirit,

we pray to his Father, saying:

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

At the name of Jesus every knee should bend,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:10-11

AGNUS DEI (Lamb of God) Sung by the cantor.

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; grant us peace.

Sit

DISTRIBUTION

Admission to the Sacrament is by invitation of the Lord, presented through the Church to those who are baptized.

They may receive the Lord’s Body and Blood who are baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, who commune in their home churches, and who believe that Jesus Christ, crucified and risen, is truly present in, with, and under the forms of bread and wine for the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation.

The communicants will be invited forward one family unit at a time. Please do not come forward until the pastor directs you to come forward, do not approach all the way to the table until the pastor has retreated, and please do not remove your mask until you have reached the table with the elements on it.

When the pastor says ‘The body of Christ, given for you,’ eat the bread. When the pastor says, ‘The blood of Christ, shed for you,’ drink the wine. Please take the plate and the glass(es) and place them on the table that is indicated. Please put your mask on before returning to your seat.

Please meditate on the text of the hymn as it is played.

A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth

1 A lamb goes uncomplaining forth

to save a world of sinners.

He bears the burden all alone,

dies shorn of all his honors.

He goes to slaughter, weak and faint,

is led to die without complaint;

his spotless life he offers.

He bears the shame, the stripes, the wrath;

his anguish, mockery, and death

for us he gladly suffers.

2 This lamb is Christ, our greatest friend,

the Lamb of God, our Savior,

the one, his only Son, God sent

to win us rebels over.

“Go down, my child,” the Father said,

“and free my children from their dread

of death and condemnation.

The painful stripes are hard to bear,

but by your death they all can share

the joy of your salvation.”

3 He answered from his tender heart

that he would take the burden:

“My Father’s will is my command;

I’ll do as I am bidden.”

Oh, wondrous love! Oh, loving might!

To right what mortals cannot right

God sent his Son from heaven.

What love, O Love, who came to save

by loving even to the grave

until the stone was riven.

4 Of death I am no more afraid;

his dying is my living.

He clothes me in his royal robes

that he is always giving.

His love is dress enough for me

to wear through all eternity

before the highest Father,

where we shall stand at Jesus’ side,

his church, the well-appointed bride,

when all the faithful gather.

Text: Paul Gerhardt, 1607-1676; tr. Lutheran Book of Worship, 1978

After all have returned to their places, the people stand at the direction of the pastor.

The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace.

Amen

Lord Jesus Christ,

you humbled yourself in taking the form of a servant,

and in obedience died on the cross for our salvation:

give us the mind to follow you

and to proclaim you as Lord and King,

to the glory of God the Father.

Amen

Silence for meditation.

BENEDICTION

May the Father,

who so loved the world that he gave his only Son,

bring you by faith to his eternal life.

Amen

May Christ,

who accepted the cup of sacrifice

in obedience to the Father’s will,

keep you steadfast as you walk with him the way of his cross.

Amen

May the Spirit,

who strengthens us to suffer with Christ

that we may share his glory,

set your minds on life and peace.

Amen

The blessing of God, Father, X Son, and Holy Spirit,

be upon you and remain with you forever.

Amen

DISMISSAL

Go in peace. Serve the Lord.

Thanks be to God!

CLOSING MUSIC

OUR STEWARDSHIP of GOD’S GIFTS

Last Weekend’s Attendance: 9 + 15 = 24

Offering: 3/21/2021

Towards Budget: $ 1,564.00

Itemized Non Budget:

Food Bank: $ 300.00

Lenten Offering: $ 295.00

Flowers: $ 64.00

Lutheran World Relief: $ 10.00

Total: $ 2,233.00

V IN YOUR PRAYERS

Linda Armento, at home

Matthew Armento, at home

Mary Jo Bondi, at home

Linnese Dawe, at home

Ruth Duessel, at Concordia, Rebecca

The Rev. Carl Hendrickson, at home

Elsie Kemmler and Bill Roth at Concordia, South Hills

Scott Klammer, at Concordia, South Hills

David Noel, at Kane Rehab, Scott Township

Geneva Schrag, at Consulate Health Care, Canonsburg

William Wetzel at Concordia, Cabot

REMINDERS FOR THOSE PLANNING TO ATTEND WORSHIP SERVICES

· If you wish to attend worship, you will need to pre-register every week by either calling the office or sending an email.

· Registration ends Saturday at 12 noon.

· Masks are required to be worn while in the building.

· Upon entering and leaving the church, you must sanitize your hands or wash them with soap and water.

· Everyone must sign in when entering the church. This way we can keep track of who was in the church and when.

WORSHIP SERVICES are held every Saturday evening at 6:30 PM and Sunday morning at 10:30 AM. Pastor Frontz also livestreams Compline (Prayer at the Close of the Day) on Sunday at 9:30 p.m. and Vespers (Evening Prayer) on Wednesday at 7 p.m. These can be accessed on the church’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ststephenpittsburgh).

AN ONLINE BIBLE STUDY meets on Wednesday evenings at 7:30, following the livestreamed service of Evening Prayer. The topic is Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. Please contact Pastor Frontz if you would like the ZOOM link. You can also watch Facebook Live if you do not want to or cannot ZOOM.

FOOD BANK SUNDAY is next weekend. Please consider bringing any non-perishable food items to church next weekend to be donated to the food pantry of St Andrew Lutheran Church in East Carnegie. Monetary donations are also accepted. Thank you.

OUR PURPLE LENTEN OFFERING ENVELOPES will support Carlynton High School’s ‘backpack program,’ which provides free weekend meals to students who might ordinarily go hungry. The backpacks contain two breakfasts, two lunches, and three dinners. Students pick the backpacks up on Friday and return them Monday. The money we give will be used to purchase meals for the students. This is important this year as the normal fund-raisers which support this program have not been able to occur due to COVID-19.

DON’T FORGET TO REGISTER for any of the Holy Week services you would like to attend. The services are as follows:

Maundy Thursday, April 1 at 7:30 PM

Good Friday, April 2 at 12:30 and 7:30 PM

Easter Vigil, April 3 at 6:30 PM

Easter Sunday, April 4 at 10:30 AM

To appropriately plan for these services, we ask that all registrations be submitted by Tuesday, March 30. Please register by either by email at: office@ststephenpittsburgh.org or by calling the church office at

(412) 279-5868. Thank you.

EASTER FLOWERS NOTE Thank you to those individuals and families who signed up for Easter flowers this year. You may take your plant/flowers home after the Easter Sunday Eucharist. Easter Flowers cost: Lilies $9.50, Hyacinths and Tulips $9/each; Mums $8.50;

Easter/Spring Arrangement $20. Please make checks payable to:

St. Stephen Lutheran Church and note “Easter Flowers”. Checks can be placed in offering plate or mailed to the church office.

ALTAR FLOWERS FOR 2021: Please see the sign-up sheet available in the Narthex for altar flowers. If you are unable to sign up in person, you may call or email the office to make a request for a date(s). We will assign date(s) in the order in which the requests are received. The process will repeat until the slots are filled. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding. The cost per arrangement is $20.

DAILY DEVOTIONS, including THE WORD IN SEASON, PORTALS OF PRAYER AND CHRIST IN OUR HOME (April, May and June 2021) are available on the table in the Narthex. Take one or more to share with family and friends. If you are able, a donation would be welcomed to help defray the cost to the congregation for these resources. Thank you!

2021 ‘DAILY TEXTS’ are available in the Narthex. A donation of

$10 per book would be appreciated to help cover the cost of the books. Thank you.

ST STEPHEN COUNSELING CENTER: A site of Pittsburgh Pastoral Institute/PPI). For marriage, family, teen and individual counseling – for first appointment call PPI at 412-661-1239. St. Stephen Center is

412-279-5452. Counseling opens doors to hope. Counselor: Caroline Graham-McGuire.

THIS WEEK FOR THE FAITH FAMILY

Sun/Mar 28 WORSHIP 10:30 AM

Prayer at the Close of the Day (livestream) 9:30 PM

Wed/ Mar 31 Evening Prayer (livestream) 7:00 PM

ZOOM Bible Study 7:30 PM

Thu/ Apr 1 Maundy Thursday 7:30 PM

Fri/ Apr 2 Good Friday 12:30 PM & 7:30 PM

Sat/Apr 3 NA Meeting 11:00 AM

Easter Vigil 6:30 PM

Sun/Apr 4 WORSHIP 10:30 AM

Prayer at the Close of the Day (livestream) 9:30 PM

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #20540.

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.

Additional liturgical material from Common Worship: Times and Seasons,

Agnus Day appears with the permission of www.agnusday.org

Crucifixion, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. http://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=56509 [retrieved March 22, 2021]. Original source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Parroquia_de_la_Asunci%C3%B3n_de_Mar%C3%ADa_(Coatepec_Harinas)_Estado_de_M%C3%A9xico,M%C3%A9xico.jpg.

St Stephen Lutheran Church

55 Forsythe Road

Pittsburgh PA 15220

(412) 279-5868

office@ststephenpittsburgh.org

www.ststephenpittsburgh.org

[1] Pfatteicher, Philip. Commentary on the Lutheran Book of Worship. Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress, 1990; 234.

[2] ‘Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy’: http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=4620#67

[3] Pfatteicher, 233.