The Third Sunday In Lent

February 24, 2008 9:00am

Thank You for sharing this time of worship with us. Do come again! If you do not have a local church home, we invite you to make your home with us. You will find Christian love, opportunities for spiritual growth, warm friendships, and an appreciation of being part of God’s family. Visitors: Please include your email address in the Friendship Register information. Thanks!

Please Don’t Rush Off After The Worship Service. Stick around for some refreshments and a little conversation. We hope you are able to stay!

Assisting Us In Worship This Morning

Don & Ann Karpenko, greeters

Nicole Burkhardt, organ and Clavinova

Pastor Jonathan Rossman, guest pastor

We Gather To Worship The Lord

Words of Welcome

Opening Hymn Hymn #570

“O Christians, Haste”

Invocation

Pastor: Please join me as we confess our sins together.

People: Dear Lord, we confess that we have sinned against You by our thoughts, words and deeds. We confess that we don’t always do what we should, and all too often do what we shouldn’t. We haven’t loved You with our whole heart, soul and mind. We haven’t loved our neighbor as much as we love ourselves. We humbly and confidently come to You, Lord Jesus, for forgiveness.

Pastor: You are forgiven because of what Jesus has done for us. He came to live as our perfect substitute. He came to die as our perfect sacrifice. He came to rise again to show that we have been redeemed. Now, our ascended Savior tells us to go and tell others the good news of salvation.

People: (sing) Hymn #308

As surely as I live," God said,

"I would not have the sinner dead,

But that he turn from error's ways,

Repent, and live through endless days."

To us, therefore, Christ gave command:

"Go forth and preach in ev'ry land;

Bestow on all My pard'ning grace

Who will repent of sinful ways.

Prayer

Pastor: Lord Jesus, You commanded us to go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Bless our every effort to proclaim the message of salvation to the multitudes of people who have never heard of Jesus, the Savior of nations. Help us to send out more missionaries to tell more people the good news of deliverance from sin, death, and Satan - of forgiveness, peace, and salvation through You. We pray this in Your name, Lord Jesus.

People: Amen.

Old Testament Isaiah 40:1-11

Psalm Psalm 98, page 103 in the front of the Hymnal

Epistle Romans 10:1-17

Response: "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”

Gospel Matthew 28:16-20

Sermon Hymn Hymn #575

“How Shall They Hear the Word of God”

Sermon Matthew 28:18-20

Does God Give Us A Mission Impossible?

1. He gives us His task.

2. He gives us His tools.

3. He gives us His help.

Confession of Faith

People: I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the virgin Mary, is my Lord. He has redeemed me, a lost and condemned creature, purchased and won me from all sins, from death and from the power of the devil, not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death. All this He did that I should be His own, and live under Him in His kingdom, and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence and blessedness, just as He has risen from death and lives and rules eternally. This is most certainly true.

Thank Offering

Prayer

Pastor: Dear Lord God, You have invited us to pray and promised that You will hear us, therefore we come to You today praying:

People: Our Father who art in heaven.

Pastor: We thank You dear heavenly Father that You have made us Your children by calling us to faith. We thank You that You have joined us together in Your family as members of our congregation and of our synod.

People: Hallowed be Thy name.

Pastor: We ask that You would help us as individuals, as congregations and as a synod to keep Your name holy. Help us to continue to teach Your word in its truth and purity, and to reflect that in our lives and in the practices of our church.

People: Thy kingdom come.

Pastor: We entreat You to bless our work in spreading Your kingdom. Keep our schools strong and viable. Guide us as we spread Your word though our missions at home and abroad.

People: Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Pastor: While we are here in this sinful world, we know that Your will is opposed by the devil, the world and our flesh. Strengthen us in our faith. Keep us firm in our resolve to carry out Your work as a congregation and as a synod.

People: Give us this day our daily bread.

Pastor: We thank You for all the physical blessings which You have given us. We trust You to continue to take care of us. Help us to use to blessings to continue to carry out Your work and to help those in need.

People: Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.

Pastor: Forgive us for our sins of greed, covetousness and selfishness. Forgive us for these and all the other sins which we daily commit against You. We thank You that You have given Your Son so that all of our sins are forgiven. Move us also to forgive those who sin against us.

People: Lead us not into temptation.

Pastor: As we live our lives, and carry out Your work as a congregation and as a synod, we face many temptations. We are tempted to sin against You by doing the things that You have forbidden and not doing the things that You have commanded. We are tempted to place our faith in other things rather than in You and Your Word. We are tempted to throw up our hands in despair thinking that Your will can not be done. Help us to overcome these temptations and win the victory.

People: But deliver us from evil.

Pastor: We know that we will face evil in this world. Renew our resolve with the assurance that You will either keep this evil away from us or use it for our good. Give us the strength to face our trails and carry our crosses knowing that You are the One who gives us strength.

People: For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever.

Pastor: We give You glory because You have all power in heaven and earth and because the gates of hell will never overcome Your kingdom. Yes, Lord, Your will is done.

People: Amen.

Hymn Hymn #579

“Lift High the Cross”

Closing Prayer and Benediction

Closing Hymn Hymn #576

“Spread, Oh, Spread the Mighty Word”

Pastor Jonathan Rossman of West Salem, WI, the Christian Giving Counselor for our district, is leading our worship here at Mt. Olive this morning. We thank him for his message! Mr. Rick Gibson from St. Croix Lutheran High School will also be here to present a picture of our church to our congregational chairman, Mr. Ted Lau. Pastor Rossman will also be conducting this morning’s Adult Education Hour. All welcome!

The New Issue Of “Meditations” is available in the back of church along with several other publications. Please help yourselves!

Books! Books! Books! We have a cart full of FREE books located in the upper hallway by the Fireside Room. Most are brand new! Please help yourselves to as many as you want. They’re yours to keep. Enjoy!

Lenten Worship Services continue this Wednesday evening, beginning at 6:30pm. Pastor Henkel will preach the sermon. “Crossroads: Traveling With Our Savior” is this year’s worship theme, and this Wednesday’s focus is “Crossroad 4 – From Gethsemane to the Sanhedrin”. Each Wednesday service is preceded by a Lenten Supper. This Wednesday’s meal will be served by the Almond Limb. Serving time is 5:30pm. See you here!

Kids C.A.R.E. Boxes: Last fall these boxes were handed out to collect money to benefit WELS Mission to the Children. This mission serves poor children in Mexico. Let's bring these boxes back for Lent. We will continue to collect these boxes the entire month of February. Additional boxes are also available in the back of church.

Needed: Auction donations for “Back To The Future”. Thank you. www.sclhs.org 651-455-1521 x 106 Plan to come for the fun Saturday, March 8^th.

This Week At Mt. Olive

Today: 8:45am Prayer Time in the Fireside Room

9:00am Family Worship Service

10:00am Refreshments and Social Time

10:00am Limb Meetings (please gather at your Limb tables)

10:30am Sunday School and Adult Education Hour

Monday: 7:00pm “Beautiful Feet” Bible Study

Tuesday: 7:00pm Choir Rehearsal

7:30pm Special SCLHS General Board Meeting (Middle School Vote)

Wednesday: 5:30pm Lenten Supper (served by the Almond Limb)

6:30pm Lenten Worship Service

7:30pm Sunday School Teachers’ Meeting

Thursday: 10:00am “Explorers of the Word” Bible Study

7:00pm “Women in the Word” Bible Study

Saturday: 9:00am Church Ministry Workshop at Belle Plaine

Next Sunday: 9:00am Family Worship Service with Holy Communion

5:00pm Starlight Dinner Concert at SCLHS