St Stephen Lutheran Church Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: The Holy Communion on the Fifth Sunday of Lent, 10:30 a.m.

March 21, 2021

The Fifth Sunday in Lent

THE FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT

The color purple is used for the vestments and paraments in Lent. After he was condemned to death, Jesus was clothed in a purple robe and mocked as ‘King of the Jews’ (Mark 15:17-20). We clothe our icons and symbols of the Lord in purple to remind us of both the suffering and the royalty of Jesus.

OLD TESTAMENT: The old covenant was not broken by God, but by his people. This new covenant is purely by God’s initiative, like the first, but it will be different in the sense that the written law will be replaced by a law that is written on the heart.

Christians understand this ‘new covenant’ as the covenant established by Christ in his blood, shed for the forgiveness of sins. ‘The written code kills, but the Spirit gives life’ (2 Corinthians 3:6). Salvation comes not from keeping God’s Law perfectly but instead by the gift of the Spirit in Christ Jesus.

NEW TESTAMENT: The epistle and Gospel readings speak of Christ’s suffering and death. The letter to the Hebrews shows us Christ acting on our behalf as a priest. His sacrifice is acceptable to God because of the total obedience to the Father he shows in suffering for our sake.

GOSPEL: While Jesus is in Jerusalem during the events of Holy Week, some Gentiles (non-Jews) approach his disciples, asking for an audience with Jesus. For Jesus, this is the sign that he is to be ‘glorified.’ The suffering and death of Jesus is his glorification. Jesus’ will to glorify the Father’s name, despite the trouble of his soul, is the Gospel of John’s version of Jesus’ agony in the garden of Gethsemane as related in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

OPENING MUSIC What Wondrous Love Is This

Samuel Barber

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

1 What wondrous love is this,

O my soul, O my soul!

What wondrous love is this, O my soul!

What wondrous love is this

that caused the Lord of bliss

to bear the dreadful curse

for my soul, for my soul,

to bear the dreadful curse for my soul?

2 When I was sinking down,

sinking down, sinking down,

when I was sinking down, sinking down,

when I was sinking down

beneath God's righteous frown,

Christ laid aside his crown

for my soul, for my soul,

Christ laid aside his crown for my soul.

3 To God and to the Lamb

I will sing, I will sing;

to God and to the Lamb I will sing;

to God and to the Lamb,

who is the great I AM,

while millions join the theme,

I will sing, I will sing,

while millions join the theme, I will sing.

4 And when from death I'm free,

I'll sing on, I'll sing on;

and when from death I'm free, I'll sing on;

and when from death I'm free,

I'll sing God's love for me,

and through eternity

I'll sing on, I'll sing on;

and through eternity I'll sing on.

Text: North American folk hymn, 19th cent., alt.

CONFESSION OF SIN

(Though God’s promise knows no season, we fast from hearing the public announcement of the forgiveness of sins during the forty days of Lent. The Great Three Days begin on Maundy Thursday with the pronouncement of forgiveness.)

Stand

Blessed be God: Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit,

And blessed be his kingdom, now and forever. Amen

Hear the commandments of God to his people:

I am the LORD your God,

who brought you out of the house of slavery.

You shall have no other gods.

Amen. Lord, have mercy.

You shall not make wrongful use

of the name of the LORD your God.

Amen. Lord, have mercy.

Remember the Sabbath day, and keep it holy.

Amen. Lord, have mercy.

Honor your father and your mother.

Amen. Lord, have mercy.

You shall not murder.

Amen. Lord, have mercy.

You shall not commit adultery.

Amen. Lord, have mercy.

You shall not steal.

Amen. Lord, have mercy.

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

Amen. Lord, have mercy.

You shall not covet your neighbor’s house.

Amen. Lord, have mercy.

You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife,

or his male or female slave, or his ox, or his donkey,

or anything that belongs to your neighbor. Exodus 20:2-17

Amen. Lord, have mercy.

These are the commandments of the LORD our God.

Lord, have mercy on us sinners,

and incline our hearts to keep your law.

The almighty Lord bless us,

forgive us our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ,

strengthen us in all goodness,

and by the power of the Spirit keep us in eternal life.

Amen

THE HOLY COMMUNION

APOSTOLIC GREETING

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God,

and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 2 Corinthians 13:13

And also with you.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Upon our hearts, O God,

you have written a covenant of grace,

sealed by the obedience of Jesus, your Son.

Raise us up with Christ,

the grain fallen to earth

that yields a harvest of everlasting life.

Bring us to glorify your name

by following faithfully where he has led.

We ask this through Christ, our deliverance and our hope,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen

CALL TO THE WORD

God will put his law within us,

and he shall write it on our hearts.

Let us hear the Word of the Lord. Jeremiah 31:33

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First READING Jeremiah 31:31-34

³¹The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. ³²It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt—a covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, says the Lord. ³³But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. ³⁴No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, “Know the Lord,” for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more.

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

PSALM 119:9-16

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

I treasure your promise in my heart. (vs. 11)

I treasure your promise in my heart.

⁹ How shall a young man | cleanse his way?*

By keeping | to your words.

¹⁰ With my whole | heart I seek you;*

let me not stray from | your commandments.

¹¹ I treasure your promise | in my heart,*

that I may not | sin against you.

¹² Blessed are | you, O Lord;*

instruct me | in your statutes.

¹³ With my lips will | I recite*

all the judgments | of your mouth.

¹⁴ I have taken greater delight in the way of | your decrees*

than in all man- | ner of riches.

¹⁵ I will meditate on | your commandments*

and give attention | to your ways.

¹⁶ My delight is | in your statutes;*

I will not for- | get your word.

I treasure your promise in my heart.

SECOND READING Hebrews 5:5-10

⁵Christ did not glorify himself in becoming a high priest, but was appointed by the one who said to him,
“You are my Son,
today I have begotten you”;
⁶as he says also in another place,
“You are a priest forever,
according to the order of Melchizedek.”
⁷In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. ⁸Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; ⁹and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, ¹⁰having been designated by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Stand

VERSE

The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve,

and to give his life as a ransom for many. Mark 10:45

Gospel John 12:20-33

The Holy Gospel according to St. John.

Glory to you, O Lord.

²⁰Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. ²¹They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” ²²Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. ²³Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. ²⁴Very 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. ²⁵Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. ²⁶Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.
²⁷“Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say—‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. ²⁸Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” ²⁹The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” ³⁰Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. ³¹Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. ³²And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” ³³He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

Sit

Sermon

HYMN OF THE DAY My Faith Looks Up to Thee

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

1 My faith looks up to thee,

thou Lamb of Calvary,

Savior divine!

Now hear me while I pray,

take all my guilt away,

oh, let me from this day

be wholly thine!

2 May thy rich grace impart

strength to my fainting heart,

my zeal inspire;

as thou hast died for me,

oh, may my love to thee

pure, warm, and changeless be,

a living fire!

3 While life's dark maze I tread

and griefs around me spread,

be thou my guide;

bid darkness turn to day,

wipe sorrow's tears away,

nor let me ever stray

from thee aside.

4 When ends life's transient dream,

when death's cold, sullen stream

shall o'er me roll;

blest Savior, then, in love

fear and distrust remove;

oh, bear me safe above,

a ransomed soul!

Text: Ray Palmer, 1808-1887

Stand

CONFESSION OF FAITH

The pastor and people confess the faith of the Church in the words of the Nicene Creed.

X At the words ‘For us and for our salvation,’ and continuing through ‘and was made man,’ a solemn bow is appropriate to praise the incarnation of our Lord.

We believe in one God,

the Father, the Almighty,

maker of heaven and earth,

of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,

the only Son of God,

eternally begotten of the Father,

God from God, Light from Light,

true God from true God,

begotten, not made,

of one Being with the Father.

Through him all things were made.

X For us and for our salvation

he came down from heaven;

by the power of the Holy Spirit

he became incarnate from the virgin Mary, and was made man. X

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;

he suffered death and was buried.

On the third day he rose again

in accordance with the Scriptures;

he ascended into heaven

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,

and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,

who proceeds from the Father and the Son.

With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.

He has spoken through the prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.

We acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

We look for the resurrection of the dead,

and the life of the world to come. Amen

PRAYERS

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

Silence is kept.

That God would glorify his name by the proclamation of the death and resurrection of his Son: let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

That God would strengthen and bless our congregation; our bishop, Dan; our pastors, Maurice and Harvey, and all pastors in Christ: let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

That God would raise up faithful leaders and servants of our cities, communities, our nation, and the world, and that he would give us peace, decency, and honor: let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

That expectant mothers may know health and strength, that the hearts of parents may be turned to their children and children to their parents: let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

That all who suffer from any illness, injury, or need might be given comfort, aid, and healing, and that God would richly bless those who have asked us for our prayers:

The pastor reads the names on the prayer list.

The people are invited to offer intercessions and thanksgivings.

Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

That together with all who have died in your peace, we might be drawn to your Son who died for us that we might live in him: let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

Into your hands, Father, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy, 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.

Stand

PRAYER OF PREPARATION

God of mercy and compassion,

your Word calls us home to faith and love.

accept all we offer you this day,

and prepare us to receive Him

who in great mercy is offered for us:

Jesus Christ, our Lord.

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.

It is indeed right and salutary that we should at all times and in all places offer thanks and praise to you, O Lord, holy Father, through Christ our Lord.

He is our great high priest who shed his own blood upon the cross to establish his covenant and free the world from the rule of the evil one. He is the seed who bears much fruit in those who have been baptized into him, and his Spirit dwells in our hearts, forgiving and cleansing us for the life he has prepared for us.

And so, with the Church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

Holy, holy, holy LORD, God of power and might!

Heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest!

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!

Hosanna in the highest!

Blessed are you, O Lord our God.

You created us in your image;

and in the mystery of your great love for us

you sent your only Son, Jesus Christ,

born of Mary by the power of the Spirit.

Led by that Spirit he was tempted as we are tempted;

He proclaimed your forgiveness to sinners;

he loved even his enemies.

Despised and rejected,

he bore the alienation of the world

as he stretched out his arms on the cross;

and by this all-sufficient sacrifice

he has drawn all people to himself,

giving his life as a ransom for many.

As we gather in his name and celebrate his testament,

send your Spirit upon us

and upon these gifts of bread and wine,

that they may be for us

the very body and blood of your Son,

Christ Jesus, redeemer of the world.

In the night in which He was betrayed

our Lord Jesus took bread and gave thanks,

broke it, and gave it to His disciples, saying:

Take and eat; this is my Body, given for you.

Do this for the remembrance of me.

Again, after supper, He took the cup, gave thanks,

and gave it for all to drink, saying:

This cup is the new covenant in my Blood,

shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin.

Do this for the remembrance of me.

Let us proclaim the mystery of faith:

Christ has died.

Christ is risen.

Christ will come again.

Blessed are you, O Lord our God.

By your Son's life-giving passion and death,

and by His resurrection and ascension into glory,

our Lord Jesus continually intercedes for us

and for all he has claimed as his own.

As we now share together

this Bread of Life and this Cup of Salvation,

unite us with all your faithful people

in the forgiveness of sins,

and bring us, at length, to that eternal celebration of life

at the Lamb's high feast.

Through him, with him, in him,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

all honor and glory is yours,

almighty Father, 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

Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies,

it remains a single grain;

but if it dies, it bears much fruit.

Thanks be to God. John 12:24

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. John 1:29, see also Luke 17:13

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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.

There in God's Garden

1 There in God's garden

stands the Tree of Wisdom,

whose leaves hold forth

the healing of the nations:

Tree of all knowledge,

Tree of all compassion,

Tree of all beauty.

2 Its name is Jesus,

name that says, "Our Savior!"

There on its branches

see the scars of suff'ring;

see where the tendrils

of our human selfhood

feed on its lifeblood.

3 Thorns not its own

are tangled in its foliage;

our greed has starved it,

our despite has choked it.

Yet, look! it lives!

its grief has not destroyed it

nor fire consumed it.

4 See how its branches

reach to us in welcome;

hear what the Voice says,

"Come to me, ye weary!

Give me your sickness,

give me all your sorrow,

I will give blessing."

5 This is my ending,

this my resurrection;

into your hands, Lord,

I commit my spirit.

This have I searched for;

now I can possess it.

This ground is holy.

6 All heav'n is singing,

"Thanks to Christ whose passion

offers in mercy

healing, strength, and pardon.

Peoples and nations,

take it, take it freely!"

Amen! My Master!

Text: Király Imre von Pécselyi, c. 1590-c. 1641; tr. Erik Routley, 1917-1982

When all have received, the congregation stands 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, now you let your servant go in peace;

your word has been fulfilled.

My own eyes have seen the salvation

which you have prepared in the sight of every people:

A light to reveal you to the nations

and the glory of your people Israel.

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 Song of Simeon (Luke 2:29-32)

Almighty God,

you gave your Son both as a sacrifice for sin

and a model of the godly life.

Enable us to receive him always with thanksgiving,

and to conform our lives to his;

through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

BENEDICTION

God the Father,

who does not despise the broken spirit,

give to you a contrite heart.

Amen

Jesus Christ, the Son of God,

who bore our sins in his body on the tree,

heal you by his wounds.

Amen

God the Holy Spirit,

who leads us into all truth,

speak to you words of pardon 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 + 19 = 28

Offering: 3/14/2021

Towards Budget: $ 1,995.00

Itemized Non Budget:

Flowers: $ 74.50

Food Bank: $ 70.00

Lenten Offering: $ 60.00

Total: $ 2,199.50

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.

CHURCH COUNCIL MEETING this evening at 7:00 PM. Please pray for our council.

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.

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.

EASTER FLOWER SIGN UP SHEETS are available in the Narthex. Please make your selections by TOMORROW. Lilies, Mums, Hyacinths, and Tulips are available. Costs and color selections are listed on the sheets.

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.

KINDLY REMEMBER TO PAY FOR THE FLOWERS you ordered for the weekend Altar and for the special occasions. Altar flowers are $20/vase. Checks can be made out to St. Stephen Lutheran Church with a notation “flowers” and placed in the offering plate.

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 (January, February, and March 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 21 WORSHIP 10:30 AM

Church Council meeting 7:00 PM

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

Wed/ Mar 24 Evening Prayer (livestream) 7:00 PM

ZOOM Bible Study 7:30 PM

Sat/Mar 27 NA Meeting 11:00 AM

SATURDAY EVENING WORSHIP 6:30 PM

Sun/Mar 28 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.

Common Worship: Times and Seasons, material from which is included in this

Prayer of the Day from Opening Prayers: Collects in Contemporary Language,

Cross with Wheat Chaff, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. http://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=46037 [retrieved March 10, 2021].

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