WELCOME TO WORSHIP
In the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, we welcome you to St. Paul’s. We especially welcome our guests who have joined us today. We pray that your soul will be strengthened by the good news of God’s forgiveness through Jesus.
PRAYER IN PREPARATION FOR TODAY’S WORSHIP
Jesus, I couldn’t defeat Satan. I constantly fall for his temptations. I give in to sin’s delusions. I stand defeated in my guilt and shame. Thank you for coming to this earth and being exactly what I greatly needed: a champion. Build my appreciation of your every victory over Satan and sin for me. Strengthen me in your Word and promises that I can live in the freedom your won on my behalf. In your name I pray with confidence. Amen.
OPENING HYMN All Mankind Fell in Adam’s Fall | 378
INVOCATION
CONFESSION
ABSOLUTION
Prayer and Praise
OH, TASTE AND SEE
PRAYER OF THE DAY
The Word
FIRST LESSON Genesis 3:1-15
PSALM OF THE DAY (8:00 am) Psalm 130, p.114
GRADES 3-8 CHOIR (10:00 am) A Purple Robe
SECOND LESSON Romans 5:12–19
VERSE OF THE DAY Matthew 4:10b
GOSPEL Matthew 4:1-11
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE
HYMN OF THE DAY A Mighty Fortress Is Our God | 201
SERMON Genesis 3:1-15 Why Did God Send Jesus?
because we all ____________________________________________
because we _______________________________________________
because God ______________________________________________
because he ________________________________________________
APOSTLES’ CREED
Thanksgiving
OFFERING
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
LORD’S PRAYER
HYMN The Tree of Life | 754
PRAYER
BLESSING
CLOSING HYMN Jesus, Lead Us On | 422
NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
MIDWEEK…STUDY
Our midweek study is How to Study the Bible. This study is a tool to help Christians meditate on God’s Word. In this meditation is defined as a combination of Bible study and prayer. The class members are taught to use Luther’s four strands and are given an opportunity to develop their own personal Bible reading plans.
MIDWEEK LENTEN SERVICES CONTINUE
Our Wednesday Lenten services continue this week at 7:00 pm. The overall theme for the 2023 Lenten services is “His Final Steps.” The series ponders the significance of the people and places on Jesus’ resolute final steps to the cross and three days later, his first steps from the tomb.
2022 ANNUAL REPORT
St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church’s 2022 Annual Report has been prepared and printed for you. You can find copies in the narthex. God be praised for another year of gospel ministry in his grace!
NEW CHRISTIAN WORSHIP HYMNAL
The Council would like to thank the New Hymnal Committee for their year and a half of diligent, thoughtful and thorough analysis in coming up with a recommendation concerning our synod’s new Christian Worship hymnal. This hymnal was released at the end of 2021. The Committee consisted of Pastor Groth, Brian Berg, Harriet Langrehr, Mark Larson, Brad Gollnik, Penny Adickes and Sam Lindemann.
Based upon that committee’s recommendation, the council has approved proceeding with the purchase of new hymnals. Implementation will be gradual, and the introduction will start this September. Some people like to purchase their own hymnals for home. While the congregation will be providing all hymnals necessary for worship, if you or anyone you know wish to purchase a hymnal yourself, please notify Pastor Groth, and we will order the hymnal for you. The total cost for the new hymnals and all supporting materials will be approximately $9,000. Currently we have about $225 in the New Hymnal Fund, and the Ladies Aid has expressed an interest in contributing to the cost. In the past, memorials and special donations have covered much of the hymnal cost. We anticipate this will again be the case, and any special donations or memorials designated to the new hymnals will be appreciated.
HOLY WEEK DEVOTIONS FROM MLC
To assist you in your Holy Week observance this year, Martin Luther College is once again providing a set of devotions as a gift to you: 7 + 1 Words from the Heart of God. In these devotions, you’ll ponder Christ’s seven words from the cross—plus an additional Easter word. As Jesus suffers, what are his thoughts bent toward? What is he most concerned about? What is he personally experiencing? His own words give us a glimpse into the heart of the omnipotent God himself, who somehow feels sorrow and suffering as he defeats sorrow and suffering. Some of Jesus’ words are somber. Some are sublime. Others signify victory. And all of them matter. You can read these devotions online or request them to be sent to your personal email on a daily basis, Palm Sunday to Easter, April 2-9. In the email, you’ll receive the written devotion and the link to the author’s audio recording. https://mlc-wels.edu/publications/seasonal-devotions/
BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES?
If you notice that your name or the name of a family member is not being mentioned for birthday and anniversary prayers on Sunday, it means we don’t have them in our church management system. Feel free to email the dates to Pastor Groth (pastor@stpaulsbangor.com) or to our church secretary, Shelly Lafky (churchoffice@stpaulsbangor.com). Also, fear not! We do technically pray “for all those with…” birthdays and anniversaries, and the Lord knows. 🙂
ALTAR FLOWERS
If you’d like to contribute flowers for the church altar for worship services, there’s a signup in the lobby on the bulletin board. Also, if you’d like to have the reason/memorial for the flowers in the New and Announcements, send Pastor Groth an email and he’ll make sure to include it.
CALENDAR
TODAY 8:00 am Worship
9:10 am Sunday School
9:15 am Bible Study
10:00 am Worship
MONDAY 6:00 pm Bible Basics Class
7:00 pm Choir Practice
TUESDAY 7:00 pm Bible Study
WEDNESDAY 9:00 am Bible Study (same as Tues.)
7:00 pm Lenten Service
NEXT SUNDAY 8:00 am Worship with Communion
9:10 am Sunday School
9:15 am Bible Study
10:00 am Worship with Communion