Mount Calvary Lutheran Church
February 21, 2021 The First Sunday in Lent
**INVOCATION (Matthew 28:19)
**CONFESSION/ABSOLUTION (1 John 1:8-9)
Pastor: If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
People: But, if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
(silence for reflection and self examination)
Pastor: Let us then confess our sins to God our Father.
People: Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve your present and eternal punishment. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways to the glory of your most Holy Name. Amen.
Pastor: Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake….
**KYRIE ELEISON
Pastor: …in peace let us pray to the Lord:
People: Lord, have mercy.
**PRAYER FOR TODAY
O Lord God, You led Your ancient people through the wilderness and brought them to the promised land. Guide the people of Your Church that following our Savior we may walk through the wilderness of this world toward the glory of the world to come; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
HYMN ~ LSB#657 A Mighty Fortress Is Our God sts. 1–4
1 A mighty fortress is our God,
A sword and shield victorious;
He breaks the cruel oppressor’s rod
And wins salvation glorious.
The old satanic foe
Has sworn to work us woe.
With craft and dreadful might
He arms himself to fight.
On earth he has no equal.
2 No strength of ours can match his might.
We would be lost, rejected.
But now a champion comes to fight,
Whom God Himself elected.
You ask who this may be?
The Lord of hosts is He,
Christ Jesus, mighty Lord,
God’s only Son, adored.
He holds the field victorious.
3 Though hordes of devils fill the land
All threat’ning to devour us,
We tremble not, unmoved we stand;
They cannot overpow’r us.
Let this world’s tyrant rage;
In battle we’ll engage.
His might is doomed to fail;
God’s judgment must prevail!
One little word subdues him.
4 God’s Word forever shall abide,
No thanks to foes, who fear it;
For God Himself fights by our side
With weapons of the Spirit.
Were they to take our house,
Goods, honor, child, or spouse,
Though life be wrenched away,
They cannot win the day.
The Kingdom’s ours forever!
OLD TESTAMENT Genesis 3:1-21
EPISTLE READING Hebrews 4:14-16
LSB#422 On My Heart Imprint Your Image
On my heart imprint Your image,
Blessèd Jesus, King of grace,
That life’s riches, cares, and pleasures
Never may Your work erase;
Let the clear inscription be:
Jesus, crucified for me,
Is my life, my hope’s foundation,
And my glory and salvation!
**THE GOSPEL Matthew 4:1-11
**WHAT WE BELIEVE The Apostle’s Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
SERMON HYMN ~ I’m So Glad Jesus lifted Me.
1 I’m so glad Jesus lifted me
I’m so glad Jesus lifted me
I’m so glad Jesus lifted me;
singing glory hallelujah
Jesus lifted me!
2 Satan had me bound, Jesus lifted me.
Satan had me bound, Jesus lifted me.
Satan had me bound, Jesus lifted me;
singing glory hallelujah
Jesus lifted me!
3 When I was in trouble, Jesus lifted me.
When I was in trouble, Jesus lifted me.
When I was in trouble, Jesus lifted me;
singing glory hallelujah, Jesus lifted me!
THE MESSAGE
OFFERTORY
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with your free Spirit
SONG ~ LSB#918 Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer
1 Guide me, O Thou great Redeemer,
Pilgrim through this barren land.
I am weak, but Thou art mighty;
Hold me with Thy pow’rful hand.
Bread of heaven, bread of heaven,
Feed me till I want no more;
Feed me till I want no more.
2 Open now the crystal fountain
Whence the healing stream doth flow;
Let the fiery, cloudy pillar
Lead me all my journey through.
Strong deliv’rer, strong deliv’rer,
Be Thou still my strength and shield;
Be Thou still my strength and shield.
3 When I tread the verge of Jordan,
Bid my anxious fears subside;
Death of death and hell’s destruction,
Land me safe on Canaan’s side.
Songs of praises, songs of praises
I will ever give to Thee;
I will ever give to Thee.
PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL ~ THE LITANY
L: O Lord, C: have mercy. L: O Christ, C: have mercy.
L: O Lord, C: have mercy.
L: O Christ, C: hear us.
L: God the Father in heaven, C: have mercy.
L: God the Son, Redeemer of the world, C: have mercy.
L: God the Holy Spirit, C: have mercy.
L: Be gracious to us. C: Spare us, good Lord.
L: Be gracious to us. C: Help us, good Lord.
L: From all sin, from all error, from all evil; From the crafts and assaults of the devil; from sudden and evil death; From pestilence and famine; from war and bloodshed; from sedition and from rebellion; From lightning and tempest; from all calamity by fire and water; and from everlasting death:
C: Good Lord, deliver us.
L: By the mystery of Your holy incarnation; by Your holy nativity; By Your baptism, fasting, and temptation; by Your agony and bloody sweat; by Your cross and passion; by Your precious death and burial; By Your glorious resurrection and ascension; and by the coming of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter:
C: Help us, good Lord.
L: In all time of our tribulation; in all time of our prosperity; in the hour of death; and in the day of judgment:
C: Help us, good Lord.
L: We poor sinners implore You
C: to hear us, O Lord.
L: To rule and govern Your holy Christian Church; to preserve all pastors and ministers of Your Church in the true knowledge and understanding of Your wholesome Word and to sustain them in holy living; To put an end to all schisms and causes of offense; to bring into the way of truth all who have erred and are deceived; To beat down Satan under our feet; to send faithful laborers into Your harvest; and to accompany Your Word with Your grace and Spirit:
C: We implore You to hear us, good Lord.
L: To raise those who fall and to strengthen those who stand; and to comfort and help the weak hearted and the distressed: C: We implore You to hear us, good Lord.
L: To give to all peoples concord and peace; to preserve our land from discord and strife; to give our country Your protection in every time of need; To direct and defend our president and all in authority; to bless and protect our magistrates and all our people; To watch over and help all who are in danger, necessity, and tribulation; to protect and guide all who travel; To grant all women with child, and all mothers with infant children, increasing happiness in their blessings; to defend all orphans and widows and provide for them; To strengthen and keep all sick persons and young children; to free those in bondage; and to have mercy on us all: C: We implore You to hear us, good Lord.
L: To forgive our enemies, persecutors, and slanderers and to turn their hearts; to give and preserve for our use the kindly fruits of the earth; and graciously to hear our prayers:
C: We implore You to hear us, good Lord.
L: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, C: we implore You to hear us.
L: Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, C: have mercy.
L: Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, C: have mercy.
L: Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, C: grant us Your peace.
L: O Christ, C: hear us.
L: O Lord, C: have mercy.
L: O Christ, C: have mercy.
L: O Lord, C: have mercy. Amen.
**THE LORD’S PRAYER
PREFACE
Pastor: The Lord be with you.
People: And with your spirit.
Pastor: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them to the Lord.
Pastor: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is good and right so to do.
Pastor It is truly, good, right and salutary…
People: Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Sabaoth. Heaven and earth are full of Your glory. Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He, blessed is He, blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord. Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest.
**WORDS OF INSTITUTION & PEACE OF THE LORD
**AGNUS DEI
O Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, have mercy on us. O Christ the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, have mercy on us. O Christ the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world; Grant us your peace. A–men.
DISTRIBUTION
TFBF#265 & #266, “In the Name of Jesus, Victory in Mine”
In the name of Jesus,
In the name of Jesus,
We have the victory.
In the name of Jesus,
In the name of Jesus,
Satan will have to flee
Oh, tell me who can stand against us,
When we call on that great Name?
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus; We have the victory.
1.)Victory is mine; victory is mine;
Victory is mine today.
I told Satan, “Get thee behind.”
Victory is mine today.
2.) Joy is mine…
3.) Peace is mine…
POST-COMMUNION CANTICLE
People: Lord, now let Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word, for my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared before the face of all people, a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of Your people Israel. 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.
Pastor: O give thanks to the Lord for He is good!
People: And His mercy endures forever.
BENEDICTION (Numbers 6:24-27)
The First Commandment – You shall have no other gods.
What does it mean to have a god? or, what is God? 2] Answer: A god means that from which we are to expect all good and to which we are to take refuge in all distress, so that to have a God is nothing else than to trust and believe Him from the [whole] heart; as I have often said that the confidence and faith of the heart alone make both God and an idol. 3] If your faith and trust be right, then is your god also true; and, on the other hand, if your trust be false and wrong, then you have not the true God; for these two belong together, faith and God. That now, I say, upon which you set your heart and put your trust is properly your god.
… But let this be said to the simple, that they may well note and remember the meaning of this commandment, namely, that we are to trust in God alone, and look to Him and expect from Him naught but good, as from one who gives us body, life, food, drink, nourishment, health, protection, peace, and all necessaries of both temporal and eternal things. He also preserves us from misfortune, and if any evil befall us, delivers and rescues us, so that it is God alone (as has been sufficiently said) from whom we receive all good, and by whom 25] we are delivered from all evil.
… For even though otherwise we experience much good from men, still whatever we receive by His command or arrangement is all received from God. For our parents, and all rulers, and every one besides with respect to his neighbor, have received from God the command that they should do us all manner of good, so that we receive these blessings not from them, but, through them, from God. For creatures are only the hands, channels, and means whereby God gives all things, as He gives to the mother breasts and milk to offer to her child, and corn and all manner of produce from the earth for nourishment, none of which blessings could be produced by any creature of itself.
The Second Commandment – You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God
If, then, it be asked: How do you understand the Second Commandment, or what is meant by taking in vain, or misusing God’s name? answer briefly thus: It is misusing God’s name when we call upon the Lord God, no matter in what way, for purposes of falsehood or wrong of any kind. Therefore this commandment enjoins this much, that God’s name must not be appealed to falsely, or taken upon the lips, while the heart knows well enough, or should know, differently; as among those who take oaths in court, where one side lies against the other. 52] For God’s name cannot be misused worse than for the support of falsehood and deceit. Let this remain the exact German and simplest meaning of this commandment.
…But, the greatest abuse occurs in spiritual matters, which pertain to the conscience, when false preachers rise up and offer their lying vanities as God’s Word.