INTRODUCTION
The psalm sets the tone this day: “Happy are they whose transgressions are forgiven, and whose sin is put away!” Happy are those who have “become the righteousness of God” in the merits of Christ Jesus. Happy are those for whom the forgiveness of God has “rolled away . . . the disgrace” of former times. Happy is the father at the return of his prodigal son. Happy are we that our sins are forgiven for Jesus’ sake. Rejoice!
ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRELUDE Amazing Grace
* CONFESSION AND FORGIVNESS
Blessed be the holy Trinity, one God, who forgives all our sin, whose mercy endures forever. Amen.
Let us return to God, confessing our sin in the assurance of God’s abiding love.
Compassionate One,
you are slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, but our lives do not always reflect you and your love for the world. We do not show others the tender compassion you have shown to us. We do not welcome others with the radical hospitality you grant to all people.
We oppress others, even though you have set us free again and again.
We squander the abundant gifts of the earth. Transform our lives
and guide us again in the way of the cross. Amen.
Beloved in Christ, God’s arms are always stretched open wide to welcome the wandering ones home. In ? Christ your sins are forgiven. You have a place in God’s house forever. Amen.
* PRAYER OF THE DAY
Let us pray.
God of compassion, you welcome the wayward, and you embrace us all with your mercy. By our baptism clothe us with garments of your grace, and feed us at the table of your love, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
GATHERING SONG Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing (ELW 807)
FIRST READING: Joshua 5:9-12
9?The LORD said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away from you the disgrace of Egypt.” And so that place is called Gilgal to this day.
? 10?While the Israelites were camped in Gilgal they kept the passover in the evening on the fourteenth day of the month in the plains of Jericho. 11?On the day after the passover, on that very day, they ate the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain. 12?The manna ceased on the day they ate the produce of the land, and the Israelites no longer had manna; they ate the crops of the land of Canaan that year.
PSALM: Psalm 32
?1?Happy are they whose transgressions | are forgiven,
??and whose sin is | put away!
?2?Happy are they to whom the LORD imputes no guilt,
??and in whose spirit there | is no guile!
?3?While I held my tongue, my bones withered away,
??because of my groaning | all day long.
?4?For your hand was heavy upon me | day and night;
??my moisture was dried up as in the | heat of summer.
?5?Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and did not conceal my guilt.
??I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD.” Then you forgave me the guilt | of my sin.
?6?Therefore all the faithful will make their prayers to you in | time of trouble;
??when the great waters overflow, they | shall not reach them.
?7?You are my hiding-place; you preserve | me from trouble;
??you surround me with shouts | of deliverance.
?8?“I will instruct you and teach you in the way that | you should go;
??I will guide you | with my eye.
?9?Do not be like horse or mule, which have no | understanding;
??who must be fitted with bit and bridle, or else they will | not stay near you.”
?10?Great are the tribulations | of the wicked;
??but mercy embraces those who trust | in the LORD.
?11?Be glad, you righteous, and rejoice | in the LORD;
??shout for joy, all who are | true of heart.
SECOND READING: 2 Corinthians 5:16-21
16?From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. 17?So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! 18?All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; 19?that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. 20?So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21?For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
GOSPEL: Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
The holy gospel according to Luke. Glory to you, O Lord.
1?Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to [Jesus.] 2?And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
? 3?So he told them this parable: 11b?“There was a man who had two sons. 12?The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’ So he divided his property between them. 13?A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. 14?When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. 15?So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. 16?He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. 17?But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! 18?I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; 19?I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.”?’ 20?So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. 21?Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22?But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23?And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24?for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate.
? 25?“Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26?He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. 27?He replied, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.’ 28?Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. 29?But he answered his father, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. 30?But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’ 31?Then the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32?But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.’?”
The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
MEDITATION Pastor Wende Bleam
*HYMN OF THE DAY Our Father, We Have Wandered (ELW 606)
* APOSTLES’ CREED
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s 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 to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come 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.
OFFERING OF TITHES AND GIFTS TO GOD
Please place your offering in the plate near the Sanctuary door any time during or following worship. Your offering and tithes may be made on line through our website: stjohnslutheranfolcroft.org or sent by mail to
St. John’s Lutheran church, 1500 Glen Avenue, Folcroft, PA 19032.
* OFFERING PRAYER
*PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
Led by the Spirit, let us turn to God in prayer for the church, the world, and all those in need.
God of faithful promise, make your church a new creation in Christ. As you reconcile us to yourself, guide us also in your way of reconciliation, that through confession and forgiveness, repentance and reparations, your church may bear witness to your love. God, in your mercy, receive our prayer.
God of new beginnings, restore balance to the earth. Send rain to places of drought and sunshine to places of flooding, that the produce of the land may again support life. God, in your mercy, receive our prayer.
God of prodigal grace, unite the nations as fellow members of the human family. Give leaders the courage to put aside pride and ego, to cease squandering lives and time, and to work for the well-being of all. God, in your mercy, receive our prayer.
God of boundless love, receive with open arms any in need of compassion. Embrace all who are far from home or estranged from loved ones, and all who live with regret. Embolden your people to offer and to seek forgiveness. We pray especially for Ana, for the family, friends, and colleagues of Gregg Hallom, for baby Evelyn, for the family of Shawn Bell, Trena, Keyasi, Sorie, Bill, Carol, Vince, Danielle, Barbara, Deb, Connor, Dawn, Elaine, Rich, Robert, Anna, Don, Bryant, Lois, Curt, Calvin, Robin, Ana, Helen, Hoon, Pat, Joe, Ruth, Lisa, Jacklyn, Lillian, Alexis, and those we now raise before you in our hearts. We pray for those affected by the Covid virus in mind, body or spirit. Grant them healing and wholeness. God, in your mercy, receive our prayer.
God of radical inclusion, widen human circles to welcome all who are excluded. Bless the work of disability ministries, ministries by and with neurodivergent people, and multicultural and ethnic-specific ministries; that the welcome of Jesus be extended to all. God, in your mercy, receive our prayer.
God of resurrection life, welcome home all who have died. We thank you for their lives and entrust them into your keeping, where true reconciliation and eternal peace are found. God, in your mercy, receive our prayer.
Receive the prayers of your people and draw all things together in your love, in the name of Jesus, who leads us from death to life. Amen.
* LORD'S PRAYER
Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us.
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.
*BLESSING
God our tender parent, God the crucified one, God the reconciling Spirit,
? bless you now and forever. Amen.
* SENDING SONG My Life Flows On in Endless Song (ELW 763)
DISMISSAL - Go in peace. Care for others as God cares for you Thanks be to God.
The Eternal Candle is sponsored for the month of March by the Shortt family in memory of Beatrice and Edwin Shortt.
Mid-Week Lenten Services
Each service, using Bread of Life series, will be Dinner Church with more traditional hymns. The time of Dinner Church – 5:30 PM. The Host church will decide their menu. The offering will go towards Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry
3/12 at Immanuel, Norwood, Pr. Marie
3/19 at Holy Spirit, Secane Pr. Marie
3/26 at St. Timothy’s, Aston Pr. Scott
4/2 at St. Matthew, Springfield Pr. Terri
4/9 at St. John’s, Folcroft Pr. Terri
YOU CAN HELP! You can be a good steward AND get your grocery shopping done. Did you know that if you purchase a grocery food gift card from St. John’s, our congregation will receive 5% of all sales of gift cards. Please see MaryAnne Rossi if you wish to purchase and gift cards. Thank you for helping us raise that 5% for helping to continue our ministry.
Each week, we collect food for our hungry neighbors in need in our SHARING GOD'S BOUNTY WAGON. Hunger doesn’t take a vacation. Please consider making a donation of a food item each week. If you are in need of food, please notify Pastor Wende and she will let you know what we have available.
The Social Ministry Committee would love to hear from you if you have any ideas for small fundraising and/or social ministry events that we could pull off with minimal effort. Challenge us with your ideas!!
With our church building getting older, we need everyone’s eyes and ears to help keep her in good repair. If you see any problems like a burnt out light bulb, please let Barb or Bud know or drop a note in the offering plate on Sunday. We need to get a jump on current or upcoming problems.
Our Financial Response (February)
CURRENT
Budgeted costs per month $ 7,263.55
Offering last month $ 4,483.14
Budget required to date (2 months) $.. 14,527.10
Total received to date $ 9,370.28
MISSION SUPPORT
Budget required to date (2 months) $ 4,800.00
Total received to date $ 700.44
Please continue to support St. John's. Our expenses continue each month.
Your offering and tithes may be made on line through our website: stjohnslutheranfolcroft.org or sent by mail to
St. John’s Lutheran church, 1500 Glen Avenue, Folcroft, PA 19032.
Easter flowers are beautiful, and this year, again, we would love to see them in our sanctuary. Make your check payable to St. John’s and send to the church office along with the Easter Flower tear-off included. You may also call the office and leave a message with your specific wishes, or send an email to the office, stjohns1500@gmail.com. Be sure to specify your wishes on the tear-off, and if you are giving in honor of or in memory of someone. We will list all who have made flower dedications in the Easter bulletin.
This year we are offering Lilies ($9), Mums ($10) and Tulips, Daffodils and Hyacinths ($7).
You may also choose to make a donation to the World Hunger Fund.
There are extra forms available on the hallway table to sponsor Easter flowers.
Deadline for ordering flowers is April 13.
Easter Flowers
Choose from:
? Lilies ($9) ? Mums ($10)
? Daffodils ? Hyacinths ? Tulips (all $7)
? A donation to World Hunger
Given by _________________________________________________________
In memory of ______________________________________________________
In honor of ________________________________________________________
Make checks payable to St. John’s Lutheran Church. Please include this form with your payment with your offering, or return to the Church Office.
Deadline for ordering: April 13!
