Download - Our Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Visitors: We would like to welcome all of our visitors here this morning. If you are visiting for the
first time, we ask that you would please sign one of our Guest Cards located on the pew back.
Next Sunday we will be celebrating the Sacrament of Holy Communion. Please take time out
during this week to consider the great sins which we commit and the complete forgiveness that is
found in the body and blood of Christ that is in, with and under the bread and the wine of this
Sacrament.
Last Week in Worship: 67 people worshiped with us on Sunday and 36 joined us for Wednesday,
March 23rd Lenten Worship. Regular offerings for the week of March 20th came to $2268.80 in
offerings with an additional $20.00 given to Debt Retirement and $130.00 given to a new MIDI
player. Our Wednesday, March 16th Lenten offering was $127.00. Our total weekly deposit was
$2453.80.
The flowers on the altar are given in honor of Terry and Pam Wojciak’s wedding anniversary.
Happy Anniversary, Pam and Terry, and may God grant to you many more years together with the
joy and blessings only He can give.
Bible Academy quote of the Week.
In God’s promise to destroy Israel, one of the reasons was their lack of concern in raising faithful
children.
“They do not direct their deeds toward turning to their God, for the spirit of harlotry is in their
midst, and they do not know the Lord. The pride of Israel testifies to His face; Therefore Israel and
Ephraim stumble in their iniquity; Judah also stumbles with them. With their flocks and herds they
shall go to seek the Lord, but they will not find Him; He has withdrawn Himself from them. They
have dealt treacherously with the Lord, for they have begotten heathen children. Now a New Moon
shall devour them and their heritage.” Hosea 5:4-7
This year we have ordered 10 lilies at a cost of $8.00 each. The lilies are in a 6 inch pot and have 5
to 6 looms each. If you wish to purchase a lily, please sign up in the entryway and give the money to
Pattie Gillis of the Ladies of Our Shepherd. The lilies will be on the altar for Easter Sunday and may
be taken home following the Easter services.
With the advent of warmer weather it will not be long before the mowing season will begin. If you
would like to help out with mowing this year please sign up on the sheet in the entryway. If you
have any questions, please speak with Properties Chairman Ralph Guernsey. IF you have never
mowed before but would like to help out, please speak to Ralph. We would appreciate any help
given to take care of the property which God has given to us.
The recent survey concerning the steeple showed a 26-14 preference to purchase steeple model #3
at a lower price rather than seeking more offerings to purchase the more expensive model. The
Steeple Committee headed by Vernon French will follow through and order the steeple the coming
week. If you have any comments or suggestions, please direct them to Vernon French or members
of the Church Council.
We are now celebrating the season of Lent. We have special Wednesday evening Lenten services
beginning at 7:00pm . We will also have a Soup and Bread supper before the service at 6:15pm . All
are invited to join us for both the service and the meal.
If you would like to serve at one of the meals, there is a sign-up sheet in the entryway.
This morning our Bible Class is an open question class. IF you have any questions, please bring
them up at this class and we will do our best to answer them. We will also be picking out our next
topic for Bible Class so bring your suggestions and ideas for our next course of study.
Next Sunday the Church Council will meet at 11:30am for our regular monthly meeting. Due to
scheduling problems we needed to meet at this time and we hope that all of our councilmen can join
us. Lunch will be provided.
First Lesson: Isaiah 42:14-21
“For a long time I have kept silent, I have been quiet and held Myself back. But now, like a woman
in childbirth, I cry out, I gasp and pant. I will lay waste the mountains and hills and dry up all their
vegetation; I will turn rivers into islands and dry up the pools. I will lead the blind by ways they
have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before
them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them. But
those who trust in idols, who say to images, ‘You are our gods,’ will be turned back in utter shame.
Hear, you deaf; look, you blind, and see! Who is blind but My servant, and deaf like the Messenger I
send? Who is blind like the one committed to Me, blind like the servant of the LORD? You have
seen many things, but have paid no attention; your ears are open, but you hear nothing. It pleased the
LORD for the sake of His righteousness to make His law great and glorious.
Recitation: Ms. Krista & Mrs. Elaine French’s Class – Lord’s Supper 1 & 2
Second Lesson: Ephesians 5:8-14
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit
of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.
Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful
even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes
visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise
from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
Verse of the Day: Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be
lifted up, that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.
The Alleluias are omitted during the season of Lent.
Gospel Lesson: John 9:1-39 various
As He went along, He saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned,
this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God
might be displayed in his life. As long as it is day, we must do the work of Him who sent Me. Night
is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
Having said this, He spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s
eyes. “Go,” He told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means Sent). So the man went and
washed, and came home seeing.
They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. Now the day on which Jesus had made
the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath. Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he
had received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.”
Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for He does not keep the Sabbath.” But
others asked, “How can a sinner do such miraculous signs?” So they were divided. Finally they
turned again to the blind man, “What have you to say about Him? It was your eyes He opened.”
The man replied, “He is a prophet.”
To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw
him out.
Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when He found him, He said, “Do you believe in the
Son of Man?”
“Who is He, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in Him.”
Jesus said, “You have now seen Him; in fact, He is the one speaking with you.” Then the man said,
“Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped Him. Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so
that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.”