RUSHFORD LUTHERAN CHURCH
FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT
MARCH 30 & 31, 2025
SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICES
8:00 & 9:15 AM Led by: Pastor Steve Chellew
Scripture Reader
8:00 AM: Glen Kopperud
9:15 AM: Lauren Volkman
Organist
8:00 & 9:15 AM: Shary Evavold
Projectionist
8:00 AM: Lisa Chellew
9:15 AM: Donny Kjos
Videographer
9:15 AM: Barb Johnson
Ushers
8:00 AM: RLCW Ladies
9:15 AM: RLCW Ladies
Altar Guild:
Joyce Miller, Deb Heiden, Kathy Ingram
(9:15 AM SERVICE IS LIVE STREAMED ON YOU TUBE.)
MONDAY COFFEE HOUSE WORSHIP
5:30 PM Led by: Pastor Steve Chellew; Pianist: Portia Lee
PRELUDE
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
GREETING ONE ANOTHER
OPENING HYMN (Remain standing) Christ the Life of All the Living
Reclaim 218
Christ the life of all the living,
Christ, the death of death, our foe.
Christ, yourself for me once giving
To the darkest depths of woe:
Through your suff’ring, death, and merit
Life eternal I inherit.
Thousand, thousand thanks are due,
Dearest Jesus, unto you.
You have suffered great affliction
And have borne it patiently,
Even death by crucifixion,
Fully to atone for me;
For you chose to be tormented
That my doom should be prevented.
Thousand, thousand thanks are due,
Dearest Jesus, unto you.
Then, for all that bought my pardon,
For the sorrows deep and sore,
For the anguish in the garden,
I will thank you evermore,
Thank you for the groaning, sighing,
For the bleeding and the dying,
For that last triumphant cry,
Praise you evermore on high.
INVOCATION
Pastor: In the name of the Father, and of Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
Pastor: Behold, God is my salvation;
People: I will trust, and will not be afraid;
Pastor: For the Lord God is my strength and my song,
People: And He has become my salvation.
CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
Pastor: Beloved in the Lord, Paul reassures us, saying, “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability.” Let us with confidence and gladness enter God’s presence, confessing our sins and receiving His grace, assurance, and forgiveness.
People: Lord God, we are exceedingly glad to enter Your house this day, for we have heard and believe in the invitation of Your loving kindness and redemption through Jesus Christ, Your Son.
Pastor: In the trust and hope of the faith You have given us as Your baptized children, we confess to You all our sins and failures to share Your gifts of mercy with others. People: Grant us the forgiveness for which we ask and give us a renewed heart and spirit to sing Your praises in worship of You and to the joy of all.
Pastor: “Sing to the Lord, bless His name; tell of His salvation from day to day.” Upon this, your confession, I, by virtue of my office, as a called and ordained servant of Christ, announce the grace of God to all of you, and in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the X Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
RESPONSIVE PSALM Psalm 43 (ESV)
Pastor: Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause against an ungodly people,
People: From the deceitful and unjust man deliver me!
Pastor: For you are the God in whom I take refuge; why have you rejected me?
People: Why do I go about mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
Pastor: Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me;
People: Let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling!
Pastor: Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy,
People: And I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God.
Pastor: Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? People: Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.
SPECIAL MUSIC Seth & Emily Cichoski
“Blest Are They”
By David Haase
OLD TESTAMENT (Be seated) Isaiah 53:1-6 (ESV)
Lector: A reading from the prophet Isaiah, chapter fifty-three, verses one to six.
1 Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Lector: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
EPISTLE 1 Peter 2:1-10 (ESV)
Lector: A reading from First Peter chapter two, verses one to ten.
1 So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. 4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” 7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” 8 and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Lector: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
HOLY GOSPEL (Please stand) Matthew 21:42-46 (ESV)
Pastor: The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the twenty-first chapter.
People: Glory to You, O Lord.
42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “ ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’? 43 Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits. 44 And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.” 45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he was speaking about them. 46 And although they were seeking to arrest him, they feared the crowds, because they held him to be a prophet.
Pastor: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to You, O Christ.
CONFESSION OF FAITH The Apostle’s 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 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.
HYMN OF THE DAY (Please be seated) O Christ the Same With One Voice, 778
O Christ the same,
through all our story’s pages –
Our loves and hopes,
our failures and our fears;
Eternal Lord,
the king of all the ages,
Unchanging still –
amid the passing years:
O living Word,
the source of all creation,
Who spread the skies
and set the stars ablaze;
O Christ the same,
who wrought our whole salvation,
We bring our thanks
for all our yesterdays.
O Christ the same,
the friend of sinners, sharing
Our inmost thoughts,
the secrets none can hide;
Still as of old –
upon your body bearing,
The marks of love,
in triumph glorified:
O Son of Man,
who stooped for us from heaven –
O Prince of life,
in all your saving power;
O Christ the same,
to whom our hearts are given:
We bring our thanks
for this the present hour.
O Christ the same,
secure within whose keeping,
Our lives and loves,
our days and years remain;
Our work and rest,
our waking and our sleeping,
Our calm and storm,
our pleasure and our pain:
O Lord of love,
for all our joys and sorrows,
For all our hopes,
when earth shall fade and flee;
O Christ the same,
beyond our brief tomorrows,
We bring our thanks
for all that is to be.
TODAY’S MESSAGE
Jesus: Strong and Kind – Forsaken
Matthew 27:46 (ESV)
PRAYERS OF GOD’S PEOPLE (Please stand)
Pastor: Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus, and for all people according to their needs.
Each petition ends with: Lord, in your mercy,
To which we respond: Hear our prayer.
LORD’S PRAYER
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.
BENEDICTION
Pastor: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all.
People: Amen.
DISMISSAL
Pastor: Go in peace. Serve the Lord!
People: Thanks be to God!
CLOSING HYMN (Please be seated) Go, My Children
Reclaim 53
“Go, my children, with my blessing, never alone.
Waking, sleeping. I am with you, you are my own.
In my love’s baptismal river,
I have made you mine forever.
Go, my children, with my blessing, you are my own.”
“Go, my children, sins forgiven, at peace and pure.
Here you learned how much I love you, what I can cure.
Here you heard my dear Son’s story,
here you touched him, saw his glory.
Go, my children, sins forgiven, at peace and pure.”
“Go, my children, fed and nourished, closer to me.
Grow in love and love by serving, joyful and free.
Here my Spirit’s power filled you,
Here my tender comfort stilled you.
Go, my children, fed and nourished, joyful and free.”
OFFERING THANK YOU FOR WORSHIPPING WITH US TODAY
All songs and hymns CCLI 11170614. Parts of the liturgy © Creative Worship, Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, MO, 1994 to today; or © Lutheran Book of Worship, Augsburg Fortress Publishers, Minneapolis, MN, 1978, or © Reclaim Resources, St. Paul, MN, 2013 Scripture references, unless otherwise noted, from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version, © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The following individuals have requested prayer:
Emily Heiden-Michaelis, Evadine Eide, Renee (Magaard) Kluis (Alysha Mohs Aunt), Chris Hoiland (Mary & Phil Hoiland’s son), Jacob Welti (Marlene Boehmke’s son), Alice Sievers, Sharon Erickson, Marlys Johnson, Arlene Wenzel, Deanna Stennes, Scott Bestul, Corrine Hill
Prayer Concerns: Please contact Pastor Steve by emailing steve.chellew@gmail.com or calling 507.703.1221. You may also call the church office at 507-864-7152
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Easter Plants from Root River Floral: Call 864-2381 to order by April 4. Lillies 6” $16.99, 8” $38.99, and Hydrangeas 6.5” $39.99. Please notify the office if you want to be listed in the Easter Bulletin “In memory or honor of”.
THANK YOU: to Jeff Michel for designing and crafting a new cross for our Fellowship Hall. The Fellowship Hall is our second “sanctuary” here at RLC, used for worship almost every Monday night at 5:30 p.m. The cross is made from maple and walnut wood.
Youth Living Color Plant Sale & Cemetery Urns: Living Color Plant Sale & Cemetery Urns: RLC Youth’s annual flower fundraiser is happening now until April 6th! Plants will be delivered mid-May, date TBD. RLC Youth is also partnering with Rushford Hardware to get cemetery urns ready for Memorial Day. You provide the urn/planter, and students will fill with flowers and deliver to local cemeteries for a cost of $50. Watch for more details or contact a youth committee member for more information.
Checks payable to RLC; proceeds support youth activities at RLC.
THRIVENT CHOICE DOLLARS: If you have life insurance or financial products with Thrivent Financial, you likely also have “Choice Dollars” waiting to be allocated to your favorite charitable organization (hint, hint, that’s us!) Designations need to be made before the end of March. There is no cost to you, other than the time it takes to log into your Thrivent Financial account and follow the prompts to allocate this “free money.” As a fraternal benefit society, Thrivent gives away buckets of money every year.
Why not keep it close to home by allocating it to your home congregation? If you need assistance accessing your account, our local Thrivent Financial Advisor, Jeff Metz, is available at 507-450-4317. (Or you can contact Thrivent at 800-847-4836, thrivent.com/thriventchoice.)
SERVING/BAKING DISHES: There are over two dozen various serving and baking dishes left behind from Fellowship and Funerals. Please check in the Fellowship Hall for something you may be missing from home.
Highland Prairie Lutheran Church: Annual Meatball Dinner, Sunday, April 6, 10:30am-1:30pm. $15.00 adults, 6-12 $8.00, under 6 are free.
Luren Singers: Friday, April 4, 6:00 pm at the Fest Building in Spring Grove, catered meal follows the concert. Get your tickets at giantsoftheearth.org or call 507-498-5070 between 10 am to 5pm. Please specify entrée choice of salmon or sirloin tips, $75.00 $65.00 for Giants members. This is a benefit for the Giants of the Earth Heritage Center.
CALENDAR
SUNDAY, MARCH 30 FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT
8:00 AM & 9:15 AM Worship service
Coffee served by Adah Circle-Fellowship Hall
10:15 AM Bible Study & Sunday School
11:15 AM Praise Team
MONDAY, MARCH 31
5:30 PM Coffee House Worship
6:30 PM Property Committee Meeting
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2
9:00 AM Men’s Helping Hands & Ladies Mission Work
5:00 PM Choir Practice
5:30 PM Lenten Potluck
6:00 PM Confirmation Class
6:00PM Women’s Bible Study
6:00 PM Family Ed. Committee Meeting
7:00 PM Lenten Service
SUNDAY, APRIL 6 FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT
8:00 AM & 9:15 AM Worship service w/Communion
Coffee served by Hannah Circle-Fellowship Hall
10:15 AM Bible Study & Sunday School
11:15 AM Praise Team