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3rd Sunday in Lent & Commitment Sunday

Kurt Christenson

Sunday, March 23, 2025

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THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT

Magnifying Christ’s Light

Commitment Sunday

March 23, 2025

10:00 a.m.

PRELUDE Nearer My God, to Thee /Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross

Lowell Mason / William Doane 1832-1915 - setting Engel

As it is Women's History Month, I choose these two pieces to reflect on during Lent. The English poet Sarah Adams (1805-1848) was surrounded by liberal writers. The men in her life were devoted to political activity and reform. She was the daughter of Benjamin Flower, the editor of a radical weekly paper, The Cambridge Intelligencer, who was imprisoned for six months by the House of Lords for criticizing a local bishop. Her pastor in London was William J. Fox, an English Unitarian, who, according to hymnologist Albert Bailey, “fought for larger rights of women [and the] freedom of the press,” finally leaving the ministry to take a seat in Parliament. Adams contributed both prose articles and poetry to Fox’s publication for church people, The Repository. Sarah wrote the words to Nearer My God to Thee.

Nearer, my God to thee, | Nearer to thee! / E’en though it be a cross | That raiseth me,

Still all my song shall be, | Nearer my God, to thee;

Fanny J. Crosby (1820-1915) was the author of over 8,500 gospel songs. She wrote the word to Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross. Though blind at 6 weeks of age, Crosby began composing texts at age 6. Blessed Assurance was one of her gifts to all generations.

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Why the Veils? During the season of Lent we recognize, in word, song and image, that our vision of the divine is obscured by sin. The cross, paschal candle, and the beauty of God’s creation in art are veiled to help us understand that without the heart of Christ we live in a darker, more blurred world. As St. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 3:13-4:5 “16but when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” We also remember that Easter is coming.

WELCOME

KYRIE Congregation chants “Lord Have Mercy” following the Cantor:

In peace let us pray to the Lord

For the peace from above, and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord

For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the church of God,

and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.

For this holy house, and for all who offer here their worship and praise,

let us pray to the Lord.

Help, save, comfort and defend us, gracious Lord.

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS

Blessed be the holy Trinity, one God, who forgives all our sin, whose mercy endures forever. Amen. Silence is kept for reflection.

God of all mercy and consolation, come to the help of your people, turning us from our sin to live for you alone. Give us the power of your Holy Spirit that we may confess our sin, receive your forgiveness, and grow into the fullness of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

Amen. Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.

Gracious God, have mercy on us. We confess that we have turned from you and given ourselves into the power of sin. We are truly sorry and humbly repent. In your compassion forgive us our sins, known and unknown, things we have done and things we have failed to do. Turn us again to you, and uphold us by your Spirit, so that we may live and serve you in newness of life through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

Amen.

God, who is rich in mercy, loved us even when we were dead in sin, and made us alive together with Christ. By grace you have been saved. In the name of Jesus Christ, your sins are forgiven. Almighty God strengthen you with power through the Holy Spirit, that Christ may live in your hearts through faith. Amen.

Having been unburdened by sin and set free for God’s work in the world we will magnify Christ’s Light…

By continuing our commitment to welcome all people into this community of faith.

We will Magnify Christ’s Light…

By continuing to grow in God’s love and share God’s love with others.

We will Magnify Christ’s Light…

By continuing to work for justice and peace.

We will Magnify Christ’s Light...

By renewing our building and ministries.

We will Magnify Christ’s Light…

By finding new ways to be the heart of Christ in the heart of the City.

OPENING HYMN Light Dawns On A Weary World

GREETING

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. And also with you.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Let us pray together: Eternal God, your kingdom has broken into our troubled world through the life, death, and resurrection of your Son. Help us to hear your word and obey it, and bring your saving love to fruition in our lives, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

READING FROM THE HEBREW SCRIPTURES: Isaiah 55:1-9

1 Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you that have no money,

come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that

which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and delight

yourselves in rich food.

3 Incline your ear, and come to me; listen, so that you may live. I will make with you an

everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.

4 See, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples.

5 See, you shall call nations that you do not know, and nations that do not know you shall

run to you, because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he

has glorified you.

6 Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near;

7 let the wicked forsake their way, and the unrighteous their thoughts;

let them return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on them, and to our God, for he

will abundantly pardon.

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Word of God, Word of Life. Thanks be to God.

PSALM Psalm 63 Congregation sings refrain after Cantor

As a dry and weary desert land, so my soul is thirsting for my God, and my flesh is faint for the God I seek, for your love is more to me than life.

I think of you when at night I rest, I reflect upon your steadfast love, I will cling to you, O Lord my God, in the shadow of your wings I sing.

I will bless your name all the days I live, I will raise my hands and call on you, my joyful lips shall sing your praise, you alone have filled my hungry soul.

EPISTLE LESSON: 1 Corinthians 10:1-13

1 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, 2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 and all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them, and they were struck down in the wilderness.

6 Now these things occurred as examples for us, so that we might not desire evil as they did. 7 Do not become idolaters as some of them did; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and they rose up to play.” 8 We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. 9 We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by serpents. 10 And do not complain as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11 These things happened to them to serve as an example, and they were written down to instruct us, on whom the ends of the ages have come. 12 So if you think you are standing, watch out that you do not fall. 13 No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.

Word of God, Word of Life. Thanks be to God.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION FOR LENT

Jesus began | to proclaim,* Repent, for the kingdom of heaven | has come near. (Matt. 4:17)

GOSPEL: Luke 13:1-9 Glory to you, O Lord.

1 At that very time there were some present who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.2 Jesus asked them, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans?3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. 4 Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them—do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did.”

6 Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. 7 So he said to the gardener, ‘See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?’ 8 He replied, ‘Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. 9 If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’ ”

The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.

SERMON Pastor Kurt Christenson

HYMN OF THE DAY Lord, Thee I Love Choir sings v2

MAGNIFYING CHRIST’S LIGHT Mission Moment

“To be the heart of Christ in the heart of the city”

Under the shelter of Your wings, O Lord, we pray.

May we mirror Mary’s soul as she magnified you.

We pray this “lowly” place on Third and Ash be exalted to be Your heart in the heart of our city.

We give thanks for our church family and the ministries that spread far beyond our walls.

Take the little we have, the little we are, and create in us the abundance needed to do your work in this sacred place.

As we step into this capital appeal, we ask for a renewal of Your Spirit in our lives as individuals and as a community of faith.

Enable us to envision this place furthering your kingdom here on earth;

As You, through our hands, hearts, and gifts- Fill the hungry with good things.

Protect the vulnerable, tend to the poor and the unhoused,

Welcome the stranger, the immigrant, the refugee,

Rejoice in your children who do not conform to specific gender roles, orientations or identities,

Shelter anyone fearing for their safety and well being,

and Inspire us through word and sacrament

Bless this church home. May it be Your hands holding us, grounding us, sheltering us as we continue to see and serve the least of these, knowing that we are all your precious children, made whole by your presence in our lives. Your will be done!

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen

COMMITMENTS AND OFFERINGS

Please come forward at this time to place your Magnifying Christ’s Light Commitments and Offerings before the Altar.

Extra cards are available from the ushers.

You may also give online using the button at the top right of this screen.

or Text “Give” to (866) 870-5222

Music Lamb of God Your Only Son

Words and music Twila Paris b. 1958

Paris’s text stresses a sinless Christ with “no sin to hide” who was sent by

God “to walk upon this guilty sod.” Christ’s sacrificial atonement is emphasized as “they laughed and scorned him as he died.”

PRAYER OF DEDICATION

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

*each petition will end with the phrase “God, in your mercy” your response is “receive our prayer.”

APOSTLES CREED We share together in the ancient story of faith.

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.

EXCHANGE OF PEACE

The Peace of Christ be with you always. And also with you.

COMMUNION LITURGY FOR LENT

The Lord be with you. And also with you.

Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, … with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven,

we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the highest.

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER

In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, …

With this bread and cup we remember our Lord’s passover from death to life as we proclaim the mystery of faith: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

O God of resurrection and new life: Pour out your Holy Spirit on us and on these gifts of bread and wine. Bless this feast. Grace our table with your presence. Come, Holy Spirit.

Reveal yourself to us in the breaking of the bread. Raise us up as the body of Christ for the world. Breathe new life into us. Send us forth, burning with justice, peace, and love.

Come, Holy Spirit.

With your holy ones of all times and places, with the earth and all its creatures, with sun and moon and stars, we praise you, O God, blessed and holy Trinity, now and forever.

Amen.

OUR LORD'S PRAYER

Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.

INVITATION TO COMMUNION

All who are hungry, come! The feast of grace is spread.

COMMUNION DISTRIBUTION

First Lutheran invites all who trust that God is somehow present in the bread and wine, however full of mystery that might be for you, to join us at the Table of Grace and Thanksgiving. In the center of each tray there is white grape juice for those who prefer. We also have gluten free wafers. If you wish for those please indicate when you approach the Pastor.

AGNUS DEI

COMMUNION HYMN Somebody’s Knockin’ at Your Door Choir

feel free to join in the singing as the Spirit calls

Somebody’s knockin’ at your door. Somebody’s knockin’ at your door.

Refrain: O sinner, why don’t you answer? Somebody’s knockin’ at your door.

Knocks like Jesus, Somebody’s knockin’ at your door. (repeat) Refrain

Can’t you hear him? Somebody’s knockin’ at your door. (repeat) Refrain

Jesus calls you, Somebody’s knockin’ at your door. (repeat) Refrain

Can’t you trust him? Somebody’s knockin’ at your door. (repeat) Refrain

COMMUNION BLESSING & PRAYER

Now may the body and blood of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ strengthen and keep you in his grace. Amen.

Generous Host, you have shared your feast with us and made us new. Send us now to set tables of love and grace in our communities, that your liberating love might nourish the world into freedom, in the name of the crucified one, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

MAGNIFYING CHRIST’S LIGHT IN SONG Christ Be Our Light

2 Longing for peace, our world is troubled. / Longing for hope, many despair.

Your word alone has pow'r to save us. / Make us your living voice. Refrain

5 Light of the World and light of creation. / Shine in this place and teach us to be

Beacons of love for all your people / Hope for a world in need.

v5 composed by Rev. Bill Radatz

BLESSING & BENEDICTION

The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you in favor and give you peace. Amen.

Go in peace. Let Your Light So Shine. Thanks be to God.

POSTLUDE Herzlich lieb hab ich dich, o Herr Lord,

Lord, Thee I Love With All My Heart / Christ Be Our Light!

Had there been a Top-40 list of hymns in the 16th century, “Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart” might have topped the charts. As far as we know, it is the only hymn composed by Martin Schalling. His German text was translated into English by the inimitable Catherine Winkworth and appears in her 1858 edition of Lyra Germanica. For me, one of my all time favorite hymns and especially during Lent - Engel

Sanctuary Flowers are given by Pastor Lee Precup for all who have birthdays during Lent.

The Rev. Kurt Christenson, Pastor

Bill Engel, Music Director

Earl Vaults, Tenor Sax

Jan Neuhaus, Cantor

Paul Engel, Lector

Richard Phillips, Assisting Minister

David Pohl, Joann Masters, Deacon Randy Sensmeier, Joyce Sensmeier, Paul Engel,

Ellen Beck, Jan Neuhaus, Billie Thompson, Elizabeth Connolly, Victoria Pearson, Singers

Brian Jensen, Rebecca Kjonegaard, Melodie Baker, Sound, Video, & Computer

Ruth Clayton, CarolAnn White, Melinda Person, Dan Kjonegaard, Ushers

Hymns, Prayers, Liturgy

from Sundays and Seasons 2020, Year C

reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies annual license #SB137579

Lord Thee I Love

Light Dawns on a Weary World

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Keeping it out Front…Our Strategic Ministry At Work

First Lutheran Church Congregational Priorities:

Connecting with each other
Fostering leadership
Attending to our Virtual Community
Incorporating Children, Youth, & Families into the Life of the Congregation.
Justice focus of Anti-Racism, Diversity and Racial Justice

“Magnifying Christ’s Light” Capital Appeal

Today is Commitment Sunday!

During worship, we will collect and bless the commitments we’ve made to our campaign. Please plan to join us after worship for another festive celebration!

Art Installation

Please take a moment to journey through the time of First Lutheran Church’s History and future as we, together, Magnify Christ’s Light. The pictures along the Lounge gallery walls are from the past and present and invite us to look toward this congregation’s future. The How Great a Cloud of Witnesses quilt is particularly poignant as it was crafted in 1991 for prayer; prayer for Firsts future. Here we are, once again, placing the congregation and its ministries into God’s hands.

Lenten Weekly Schedule

Each of the five Wednesdays in Lent March 12-April 9 we gather for a “time out” together. Please join us for as much or as little as you can! Our Lenten offering collected this year will be given to TACO to support the new shower program.

Dinner sign-up sheet is in the lobby.

4:30 City Walk: this is an hour walk (stroll) together through our city. A reflection is offered at each stop along the way. Meet Pastor Kurt in the Courtyard.

5:45 Soup & Salad Dinner: we gather for a simple meal in the lounge for strengthening existing relationships and meeting new folks. Our meals echo the disciples gathering with Jesus for nourishment.

6:30 Evening Prayer: We gather in the sanctuary to sing evening prayer together. There are many musical settings to the classic form. We use one developed at Holden Village and written by Marty Haugen.

7:00 Classes: Following Evening Prayer it is traditional for us to share together in a new learning. This year Pastor Kurt will be teaching out of a new book titled Ordinary Mysteries: Faith, Doubt and Meaning by James Hazelwood. You can find it online in digital, paperback or hardcover form. If you are committed to the class but cannot afford a copy please contact Pastor Kurt. The class will also be streamed on request.

April 4th 6:00 Shabbat Dinner at FLC: RSVP REQUIRED!

Embrace the tradition of renewal! Every Friday night, households worldwide welcome the serenity of Shabbat, a time to reset and connect with loved ones. We extend a warm invitation to our friends and neighbors to join us for a special Shabbat dinner and celebration at the First Lutheran, hosted by the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center and representatives of the San Diego Jewish Community. Let's come together to illuminate our worlds with light, warmth, and friendship. RSVP is required through the link in Heartbeat by March 31.

TACO Bites

Showers with our new trailer commenced on Wednesday, where we were able to provide 40 showers to clients.
TACO was featured in a news video. Check it out! Link is in Heartbeat.
Calling all crafters! Got any spare yarn around your house? Donate it to FLC! Nancy Sutter’s knitting/crochet group will use it to make hats for TACO clients.
Empty Bowls is back! May 10 at La Jolla United Methodist Church. See Heartbeat for more info.
Did you know TACO has a Facebook page (Third Avenue Charitable Organization)? Follow the page for event updates, pics/videos, and more!

This week at FLC

Monday	12:00 AA in the lounge 4:00 TACO dinner and clinics
Wednesday	10:00 TACO Starbucks and snacks; Clothing closet
Thursday	12:00 Al Anon in the library
Friday	9:00 TACO meal 12:00 AA in the lobby
Sunday	9:00 Bible Study 10:00 Worship 3:00 Chinese Bible Church Worship