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Bethlehem Lutheran ChurchEstablished 1874

Rev. Kerry B. Eversole, PastorDeacon Cindy Cordes-Eversole, Associate in Ministry

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 314, Lanesboro, MN 55949-0314Physical Address: 200 Kenilworth Ave S, Lanesboro, Minn.Telephone: 507.467.3344E-mail Address: [email protected] Page: www.staronthehill.comFacebook Page: Bethlehem Lutheran Church LanesboroOffice Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.Parsonage Phone: 507.467.3017Pastor Kerry’s Cell Phone: 507.951.3954

Bethlehem Lutheran ChurchLanesboro, Minnesota

Ash WednesdayFebruary 17, 2021 7:00 p.m.

Welcome to worship at Bethlehem Lutheranand the service for Ash Wednesday

GatheringIntroduction to the Season and the Day. Christians gather on Ash Wednesday to mark the beginning of Lent, our annual journey to the baptismal waters of the Great Three Days: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter. During Lent we reflect on the meaning of our baptism into Christ’s death and resurrection. On this special day, and throughout Lent, we hear a solemn call to “Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love” (Joel 2:13), because “now is the acceptable time…now is the day of salvation!” (2 Corinthians 6:2). Today, we also receive an ashen cross. These crosses mimic our baptismal marking and anointing when we were made daughters and sons of God and initiated into the Lord's death and resurrection. The sign of ashes is also a chilling reminder of our human mortality and frailty. However, because our death is now in Christ, what seems like an ending is really an invitation to make each day a new beginning, in which we are washed in God’s mercy and forgiveness. The Lenten disciplines of acts of kindness, prayer, and fasting are signs of this new beginning, our discipleship, which can lead us to the spiritual renewal that flows from the springtime Easter feast to come.

This year’s Lenten worship theme is: Places of The Passion. In this worship series for Lent, we follow in the footsteps of Jesus, contemplating what happened at each spot Jesus stopped along the path of his Passion for the sake of the world, and for each one of us. Each service explores the meaning, history, and spiritual inspiration associated with the location highlighted. We will learn things we may not have known before as we grow to understand more deeply the hard road Jesus traveled so that the way to heaven might be open to us.

The focus of tonight’s Ash Wednesday service is The City of Jerusalem. In this service marking the beginning of Lent, we go to Jerusalem, the place of the Passover, where Jesus gathers with the crowds and sacrifices himself for us.

Worship Resources. Places of the Passion—A Series of Services for the Season of Lent. By Reed Lessing. Art and design: Lindsay Taylor. © 2021 Creative Communications for the Parish, a division of Bayard, Inc., 1564 Fencorp Dr., Fenton, MO 63026. 800-325-9414. www.creativecommunications.com. All rights reserved. Purchase of this kit gives the purchaser the copyright release to use the material in any format for use in worship. Some worship texts are from sundaysandseasons.com. Copyright 2021 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License SAS103296.

Abbreviations. Throughout this worship folder P: refers to the presiding minister or preacher, and C: and/or bold text indicates the congregation.

PRELUDE Sue Holst

OPENING HYMN Let Us Ever Walk with Jesus ELW # 802

Let us ever walk with Jesus, follow his example pure,through a world that would deceive us and to sin our spirits lure.Onward in his footsteps treading, trav’lers here, our home above,

full of faith and hope and love, let us do our Savior’s bidding.Faithful Lord, with me abide; I shall follow where you guide.

Let us suffer here with Jesus, and with patience bear our cross.Joy will follow all our sadness; where he is there is no loss.

Though today we sow no laughter, we shall reap celestial joy:all discomforts that annoy shall give way to mirth hereafter.

Jesus, here I share your woe; help me there your joy to know.

Let us gladly die with Jesus. Since by death he conquered death,he will free us from destruction, give to us immortal breath,

Let us mortify all passion that would lead us into sin;and the grave that shuts us in shall but prove the gate of heaven.

Jesus, here with you I die, there to live with you on high.

Let us also live with Jesus, he has risen from the deadthat to life we may awaken, Jesus, you are now our head,

we are your own living members; where you live, there we shall bein your presence constantly, living there with you forever.

Jesus, let me faithful be, life eternal grant to me.

INVOCATION

P: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

C: And also with you.CALL TO WORSHIP

P: Let us ever walk with Jesus.C: To see the depths of his love.P: To behold the gift of his forgiveness.C: To gaze upon the heights of his grace.P: To marvel at the magnitude of his mercy.C: We walk with Jesus to the City of Jerusalem.P: Because Passover is coming.C: And the Son of Man will be crucified.P: Faithful Lord, with us abide.C: We shall follow where you guide!

CONFESSION

P: Magnificent and merciful Father, because we walk into dark and dangerous places, hear us as we confess our sins.

C: My feet take me to places of compromise and sinful ambition.P: My heart lingers in places of lies and lust.C: My words take me to places of anger, hatred, and rage.P: My ears delight in going to places of gossip, deceit, and ridicule.C: My mind takes me to places of selfishness and pride.P: My eyes lead me to places of envy and greed.All: Lord, have mercy! Christ, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

IMPOSITION OF ASHES

Those who wish to receive ashes may come forward and kneel, as you are comfortably able, or stand, at the altar rail. The minister(s) will sprinkle ashes on top of your head, or the back of your hand and you can form them into a cross, or will apply ashes to your forehead in the shape of a cross. In each case the minister will say the words of God to Adam, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:19). These words remind us that we belong to the creation in all its fullness — both living and finite.

During the placement of ashes, silently reflect on the fact that though our sin is great, God’s love in Christ is greater.

After those who desire ashes have received them, all sit, and the presiding minister continues.

FORGIVENESS

P: Dear friends, hear the good news! Jesus walked to places of rejection, suffering, torment, and death — for you and for me. Jesus was determined to go to Gethsemane, Gabbatha, and Golgotha — for you and for me. That is why Jesus forgives you completely and loves you eternally.Faithful Lord, with us abide!

C: We shall follow where you guide!

PRAYER OF THE DAY

P: Almighty and everlasting God, send forth your Holy Spirit that this Lent we may ever walk with Jesus, follow his example pure, through a world that would deceive us and to sin our spirits lure. We pray through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C: Amen.

WordOLD TESTAMENT READING Exodus 12:1-13

1The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt: 2This month shall mark for you the beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year for you. 3Tell the whole congregation of Israel that on the tenth of this month they are to take a lamb for each family, a lamb for each household. 4 If a household is too small for a whole lamb, it shall join its closest neighbor in obtaining one; the lamb shall be divided in proportion to the number of people who eat of it. 5Your lamb shall be without blemish, a year-old male; you may take it from the sheep or from the goats. 6You shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month; then the whole assembled congregation of Israel shall slaughter it at twilight. 7They shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. 8They shall eat the lamb that same night; they shall eat it roasted over the fire with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. 9Do not eat any of it raw or boiled in water, but roasted over the fire, with its head, legs, and inner organs. 10You shall let none of it remain until the morning; anything that remains until the morning you shall burn. 11This is how you shall eat it: your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you

shall eat it hurriedly. It is the passover of the Lord. 12For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike down every firstborn in the land of

Continued on the next page.Egypt, both human beings and animals; on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the Lord. 13The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live: when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague shall destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.

NEW TESTAMENT READING 1 Corinthians 5:6-86Your boasting is not a good thing. Do you not know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough? 7Clean out the old yeast so that you may be a new batch, as you really are unleavened. For our paschal lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed. 8Therefore, let us celebrate the festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

GOSPEL Matthew 26:1-51When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, 2“You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”3Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, 4and they conspired to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him. 5But they said, “Not during the festival, or there may be a riot among the people.”

SERMON

HYMN Sung to Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart ELW # 800

Draw near and take the body of the Lord,and drink the holy blood for you outpoured.Offered was he for greatest and for least,Himself the victim and himself the priest.

He who his saints in this world rules and shields,to all believers life eternal yields;

with heav’nly bread he makes the hungry whole,gives living waters to the thirsting soul.

Come forward then with faithful hearts sincere,and take the pledges of salvation here.

O Lord, our hearts with grateful thanks endowas in this feast of love you bless us now.

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

P: Onward in Christ’s footsteps treading, travelers here, our home above. Full of faith and hope and love. Let us do our Savior’s bidding, knowing that Jesus will finally deliver us from every storm. And so, we raise our petitions to you.

C: Lord, hear our prayer.P: Deliver the world from the enemies of peace and from injustice and give us

good and faithful leaders to promote virtue and protect the vulnerable.C: Lord, hear our prayer.P: Deliver us from pride and arrogance, lest we fail to acknowledge our sins

and confess them. C: Lord, hear our prayer.P: Deliver the erring from their darkness, the doubting from their uncertainty,

and the wandering from their ways, and return them to you.C: Lord, hear our prayer.P: Deliver us from the terror of death and the grave.C: Lord, hear our prayer.P: Deliver us from selfish desire, from the tyranny of things, and from the

wasteful use of the resources you have entrusted to our care.C: Lord, hear our prayer.P: Deliver us from ingratitude for all your mercies and restore our hearts to

hope and joy.C: Lord, hear our prayer. P: Jesus, deliver us and bring us to the table of your body and blood. C: Jesus let me faithful be, life eternal grant to me. Amen.

The Holy MealGREAT THANKSIVING

Dialogue

P: The Lord be with you.C: And also with you.

Continued on the next page.

P: Lift up your hearts.C: We lift them to the Lord.P: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.C: It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Thanksgiving at the Table

P: We give you thanks, Father, through Jesus Christ, your beloved Son, whom you sent in this end of the ages to save and redeem us and to proclaim to us your will.

He is your Word, inseparable from you, through whom you created all things, and in whom you take delight. He is your Word, sent from heaven to a virgin's womb. He there took on our nature and our lot and was shown forth as your Son, born of the Holy Spirit and of the virgin Mary.

He, our Lord Jesus, fulfilled all your will and won for you a holy people; he stretched out his hands in suffering in order to free from suffering those who trust you.

He is the one who, handed over to a death he freely accepted, in order to destroy death, to break the bonds of the evil one, to crush hell underfoot, to give light to the righteous, to establish his covenant, and to show forth the resurrection, taking bread and giving thanks to you, said: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.

In the same way 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.

Remembering, then, his death and resurrection, we take this bread and cup, giving you thanks that you have made us worthy to stand before you and to serve you as your priestly people.

Send your Spirit upon these gifts of your church; gather into one all who share this bread and wine; fill us with your Holy Spirit to establish our faith in truth, that we may praise and glorify you through your Son Jesus Christ; through whom all glory and honor are yours, almighty Father, with

the Holy Spirit, in your holy church, both now and forever.

C: Amen.

Lord's Prayer Traditional Wording

P: Lord, remember us in your kingdom and teach us to pray.All: 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.

COMMUNION

What We Believe

Who may receive. We welcome all baptized Christians to the Lord's Table. In our congregation baptized children who have entered the 5th grade are instructed in this sacrament and receive their First Communion; younger children come to the altar and receive a blessing. If your baptized child has received such instruction, or if you want your baptized child to receive Communion, then he or she is welcome to partake.

Proper Preparation. In his Small Catechism, Martin Luther asks, "When is a person rightly prepared to receive this sacrament?" He answers, "Fasting and other outward preparations serve a good purpose. However, that person is well prepared and worthy who believes these words, given and shed for you for the remission of sins. But anyone who does not believe these words, or doubts them, is neither prepared nor worthy, for the words for you require simply a believing heart.”

Real Presence. We believe that the bread and wine truly are the body and blood of Christ given and shed for the forgiveness of sins.

Distribution

Holy Communion will be served at the altar rail. The ushers will direct you to the chancel by way of the side aisles. Proceed to the altar rail when space is available. You may kneel as you are comfortably able or stand. Extend your hands, palms up, if you will be receiving the bread and wine. Gluten-free wafers are available; please ask for one. White Grape juice is also available in the center ring of each tray of wine for those who prefer an alcohol-free element. You may say “Amen” after receiving each element. If you will not be receiving Communion, then keep your

hands folded. After receiving Communion, you are free to return to your seat using the center aisle.

Music During Communion Sue Holst

Communion Blessing

P: The holy and precious body and blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, strengthen you and keep you in his grace, now and forever.

C: Amen.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

P: God of steadfast love, at this table you gather your people into one body for the sake of the world. Send us in the power of your Spirit, that our lives bear witness to the love that has made us new in Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

C: Amen.

SendingBENEDICTION

P: Jesus invites us to walk with him to Jerusalem, a place of great suffering and a place of great love. We will walk with Jesus all the way to the empty tomb, and resurrection victory.

C: Amen.

CLOSING HYMN Sung to Restore in us, O God ELW # 328

O Christ, you walked the road our wand’ring feet must go.You faced with us temptation’s pow’r and fought our ancient foe.

No bread of earth alone can fill our hung’ring hearts.Lord, help us seek your living Word, the food your grace imparts.

No blinding sign we ask, no wonder from above.Lord, help us place our trust alone in your unswerving love.

When lures of easy gain with promise brightly shine,

Lord, help us seek your kingdom first; our wills with yours align.

O Christ, you walked the road our wand’ring feet must go.Stay with us through temptation’s hour to fight our ancient foe.

POSTLUDE Sue Holst

*Midweek services will alternate between Bethlehem and Fountain.

DATECHURCH*

NO Supper Before7:00 pm Service

SERIES THEME PLACE

Wednesday, February 24 Bethlehem Bethany

Wednesday, March 3 Fountain The Mount of Olives

Wednesday, March 10 Bethlehem Gethsemane

Wednesday, March 17 Fountain The Courtyard

Wednesday, March 24 Bethlehem Pilate’s Judgment Hall