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AMERICAN LUTHERAN CHURCH
OF SUN CITY
“To Forgive and Be Forgiven – How Easy is That?”
Rev. Gary E. Benson
OUR MISSION IS:
To proclaim the love of Jesus Christ, invite others to participate
in our faith community, and be a blessing to all in word and deed.
February 18, 2015
Ash Wednesday Worship
6:00 p.m.
We begin our journey towards baptismal immersion in the death and resurrection of Christ.
This baptismal covenant is made with us individually, but the new life we are given in
baptism is for the sake of the whole world.
WELCOME
MINISTRY HIGHLIGHTS
Ministry Minute
President Paul Pribbenow, Augsburg College, Minneapolis, MN.
PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP
“Chorale Prelude”
Augsburg Centennial Singers
(Indicates to Stand)
 OPENING HYMN
PROCLAIM
“Today, Your Mercy Calls Us”
INVITE
2
#304 LBW
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 THE OPENING INVOCATION
P:
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the
Holy Spirit be with you all.
C:
And also with you.
P:
Trusting in the word of life given in baptism, we are gathered to worship in the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C:
Amen.
P:
Merciful God, you called us forth from the dust of the earth;
C:
you claimed us for Christ in the waters of baptism.
P:
Look upon us as we enter these forty days,
C:
bearing the mark of ashes.
P:
Bless our journey through the desert of Lent,
C:
to the font of rebirth.
P:
May our fasting be hunger for justice; our alms, a making of peace; our prayer, the
chant of humble and grateful hearts. All that we do and pray is in the name of Jesus,
C:
for in his cross you proclaim your love forever and ever. Amen.
 PRAYER OF THE DAY
P:
The Lord be with you.
C:
And also with you.
P:
Let us pray. Almighty and ever-living God, you ate nothing you have made, and
you forgive the sins of all who are penitent. Create in us new and honest hearts, so
that, truly repenting of our sins, we may receive from you, the God of all mercy,
full pardon and forgiveness through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C:
Amen.
PROCLAIM
INVITE
3
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THE LESSON
Joel 2:1-2, 12-17
Because of the coming Day of the Lord, the prophet Joel calls the people to a
community lament. The repentant community reminds God of his gracious character
and asks God to spare the people, lest the nations doubt God’s power to save.
L: This is the Word of the Lord!
C: Thanks be to God.
LENTEN RESPONSE
PROCLAIM
“Special Selection”
Augsburg Centennial Singers
INVITE
4
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PSALM
Psalm 51:1-13
Page 239
(read responsively by whole verse)
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2
3
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13
PROCLAIM
Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your loving-kindness;
in your great compassion blot out my offenses.
Wash me through and through from my wickedness,
and cleanse me from my sin.
For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.
Against you only have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight.
And so you are justified when you speak
and upright in your judgment.
Indeed, I have been wicked from my birth,
a sinner from my mother’s womb.
For behold, you look for truth deep within me,
and will make me understand wisdom secretly.
Purge me from my sin, and I shall be pure;
wash me, and I shall be clean indeed.
Make me hear of joy and gladness,
that the body you have broken may rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins,
and blot out all my iniquities.
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.
Give me the joy of your saving help again,
and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit.
INVITE
5
BLESS
LENTEN RESPONSE
“Special Selection”
Augsburg Centennial Singers
 ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE GOSPEL
 THE GOSPEL
Matthew 6:7-14
 THE GOSPEL RESPONSE
PROCLAIM
INVITE
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 CONFESSION OF FAITH
Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
PROCLAIM
INVITE
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PULPIT HYMN
PROCLAIM
“Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross”
INVITE
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#335 ELW
BLESS
SERMON
Pastor Gary E. Benson
“To Forgive and Be Forgiven - How Easy is That?”
HYMN OF THE DAY
PROCLAIM
“Just As I Am”
INVITE
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#296 LBW
BLESS
OFFERTORY
“Special Selection”
Augsburg Centennial Singers
 OFFERTORY RESPONSE
“Create in Me A Clean Heart, O God”
PROCLAIM
INVITE
10
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EXHORTATION AND CONFESSION
P: Brothers and sisters: God created us to experience joy in communion with him, to love all
humanity, and to live in harmony with all of his creation. But sin separates us from God,
our neighbors, and creation, and so we do not enjoy the life our Creator intended for us. As
disciples of the Lord Jesus we are called to struggle against everything that leads us away
from love of God and neighbor. Repentance, fasting, prayer, and works of love - the
discipline of Lent - help us to wage our spiritual warfare. I invite you, therefore, to commit
yourselves to this struggle and confess your sins, asking our Father for strength to persevere
in your Lenten discipline. Most holy and merciful Father:
C: we confess to you and to one another, and to the whole communion of saints in heaven
and on earth, that we have sinned by our own fault in thought, word, and deed; by
what we have done, and by what we have left undone.
P: We have not loved you with our whole heart, and mind, and strength. We have not loved
our neighbors as ourselves. We have not forgiven others, as we have been forgiven.
C: Have mercy on us, Lord.
P: We have been deaf to your call to serve as Christ served us. We have not been true to the
mind of Christ. We have grieved your Holy Spirit.
C: Have mercy on us, Lord.
P: We confess to you, Lord, all our past unfaithfulness. The pride, hypocrisy, and impatience
in our lives.
C: Have mercy on us, Lord.
P: We confess to you, Lord, our self-indulgent appetites and ways, and our exploitation of
other people.
C: Have mercy on us, Lord.
P: We confess to you, Lord, our intemperate love of worldly goods and comforts, and our
dishonesty in daily life and work.
C: Have mercy on us, Lord.
P: We confess to you, Lord, our negligence in prayer and worship, and our failure to commend
the faith that is in us.
C: Have mercy on us, Lord.
P: Accept our repentance, Lord, for the wrongs we have done and the good we have failed to
do. For our blindness to human need and suffering, and our indifference to injustice and
cruelty.
C: Have mercy on us, Lord.
P: Restore us, good Lord, and let your anger depart from us.
C: Hear us, O God, for your mercy is great. Amen.
PROCLAIM
INVITE
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BLESS
 THE WORDS OF INSTITUTION
P: 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.
 THE LORD’S PRAYER (sung)
Our Father, which 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 debts
as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil,
for Thine is the Kingdom,
and the Power, and the Glory,
forever. Amen.
IMPOSITION OF ASHES AND DISTRIBUTION OF COMMUNION
P: We begin our journey to Easter with the sign of ashes. This ancient sign speaks of
the frailty and uncertainty of human life, calls us to heartfelt repentance, and urges
us to place our hope in God alone. Almighty God, you have created us out of the
dust of the earth. May these ashes remind us of our mortality and penitence and
teach us again that only by your gracious gift are we given everlasting life through
Jesus Christ, our Savior.
C: Amen.
PROCLAIM
INVITE
12
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THE COMMUNION MUSIC AND HYMNS
HYMN
“When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”
COMMUNION ANTHEM
PROCLAIM
“Lord, Feed Your Children”
Courier Quartet
INVITE
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HYMN
PROCLAIM
“The Old Rugged Cross”
INVITE
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POST COMMUNION PRAYER
P: God, as we are in this time of Lent, remind us of your generous and gracious love
for all who believe in you, that all who proclaim “Jesus Is Lord” will truly be saved.
C: Amen.
 BLESSING & RESPONSE
“Threefold Amen”
All Sing
 THE CLOSING HYMN
“Abide With Me”
#272 LBW
PROCLAIM
INVITE
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 DISMISSAL
P: Go in peace. Serve the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
There is no postlude. Please observe silence as you leave the church.
You may also remain and continue your Lenten reflection for as long as you wish.
OFFICIATING COMMUNION PASTORS (Alphabetical listing):
Gary E. Benson, Ellis E. Eskritt, Ralph N. Huget, Lane L. Knouse, Ervin P. Langholz,
Chuck Paulson, Harold J. Peterson, John M. Robertson, Gary Ulrich.
Also assisting:
Dean Stryker, Ann Jones, and Joyce Wikum
PROCLAIM
INVITE
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JOIN US FOR OUR REGULAR WORSHIP SERVICES:
Saturdays – 4:00 p.m.
Sundays – 8:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.
Thank you for joining us this evening
Here is a look ahead at our Lenten schedule:
WHO IS THIS JESUS?
A Lenten Journey of Discovery and Affirmation
February 25
“The Healing Christ” (Pastor Gary Ulrich)
March 4
“The Teaching Christ” (Pastor Ellis Eskritt)
March 11
“The Compassionate Christ” (Pastor Chuck Paulson)
March 18
“The Revealing Christ” (Pastor Lane Knouse)
March 25
“The Compelling Christ” (Pastor Erv Langholz)
PROCLAIM
INVITE
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SPECIAL RECEPTION - For anyone
interested in helping to support the National
Lutheran Choir and its mission, you are
invited to a special pre-concert reception in
our Fellowship Hall on Saturday, February 21 between 4:30 and 5:30 p.m. Refreshments
will be provided and you will have a special opportunity to discover how the choir strives
to strengthen, renew, and preserve the heritage of sacred choral music performance,
recordings, and touring. As a 501(c)3 charitable organization, you will also learn how you
can share in the choir’s mission by providing financial support.
NATIONAL LUTHERAN CHOIR IN CONCERT - Saturday, February 21, at 6:00 p.m.
this Minneapolis, MN, based choir – one of the best in the country – is coming to American
Lutheran. Tickets ($15) are now on sale in the courtyard and in the church office. Through
a special arrangement with the National Lutheran Choir, ALL proceeds from ADVANCED
tickets sales will go to American Lutheran to support our music ministry. If you wait to
buy your tickets at the door on February 21, then we will only receive half of your
contribution.
PROCLAIM
INVITE
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TUEDAY LENTEN ORGAN RECITAL SERIES: We continue our annual series of
organ recitals on the Tuesdays of Lent, beginning on February 24. Each program begins at
1:00 p.m. for approximately 25-30 minutes and features a local organist of note. These are
wonderful opportunities to spend a few minutes contemplating Christ’s journey to the cross
as well as your own Lenten meditation. It’s also another great chance to listen to our
beautiful instrument, the different organists will bring a variety to their programs that will
certain highlight the instruments many fine qualities. The programs are free and open to
the public.
February 24:
March 3:
March 10:
March 17:
March 24:
March 31:
Byron Blackmore
Gordon Stevenson
Ilona Kubiaczyk-Adler
Lorraine Miller
Virginia Harmon
Tom Ohnesorge
PROCLAIM
INVITE
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AMERICAN LUTHERAN CHURCH OF SUN CITY
17200 N. Del Webb Blvd., Sun City, AZ 85373
Church Office (623) 974-2512  Fax: (623) 974-2515
www.alcsuncity.org  facebook.com/American Lutheran Church of Sun City
Rev. Gary E. Benson .................................................................................................... Senior Pastor
Rev. Ellis E. Eskritt...............................................................................Lead Pastor of Care Ministry
Rev. Lane L. Knouse..................................................................... Associate Pastor of Care Ministry
Rev. Charles T. Paulson ......................................................................... Pastor of Outreach Ministry
Rev. Ervin P. Langholz ........................................................................................... Visitation Pastor
Rev. Gary R. Ulrich ................................................................................................ Visitation Pastor
Ann Skidmore.............................................................................. Congregation & Council President
Linda Schmidt .............................................................................................. Business Administrator
Tom Ohnesorge ...................................................................................... Director of Music/Organist
Lori Kellar ............................................................................................ Parish Wellness Coordinator
Communion: First Saturday and Sunday of the month
Other Saturdays and Sundays in Chapel after services
Office Hours: Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 – 4:30 p.m.
Liturgy,
PROCLAIMhymns and praise songs are reprinted
INVITEwith permission from Augsburg Fortress
License #9786000167707
20 and CCLI License #51
BLESS