Brothers and sisters, I encourage you to be in worship Sunday. “Remember the Sabbath Day by keeping it holy. What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not despise preaching and His Word, but hold it sacred and gladly hear and learn it.” Our services are designed to proclaim God’s Word, both Law and Gospel, with an emphasis on Christ’s saving work so that you might repent and your faith in Jesus would be strengthened.
Upcoming schedule:
-Sunday March 22 at 4 pm, Immanuel Lutheran Church 1440 Cortlandt St in the Heights is hosting a Lenten concert Houston Lutheran Chorale..
-Wednesday March 25, the last of this season’s Midweek Lenten Services 6:30
-March 29 Palm Sunday, Holy Week begins.
-April 2 Maundy Thursday Service, 6:30
-April 3 Good Friday Services, noon and 6:30. Invite your friends.
-April 5 Easter breakfast 9 am; Bible Class/SS 9:30; Easter egg hunt 10:00; Resurrection Celebration 10:30.
Preparations for the May 2 German Sausage Dinner (GSD) have begun. Publicity Fliers are available for you to share with friends and post at local businesses. Your help and donations are needed to make the event a success. We need baked goods, and items for the Silent Auction and Live Auction
On Sunday March 22 we will use the liturgy of Divine Service Setting Four beginning on page 203 in the LSB Lutheran Service Book hymnal. Hymns chosen for the day are #686 Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing; #422 On My Heart Imprint Your Image; #552 O Christ, Who Shared Our Mortal Life; #433 Glory Be to Jesus; and #701 Draw Us to Thee.
Scripture texts we will be reading are Psalm 130; Ezekiel 37:1-14; Romans 8:1-11; and John 11:1-45.
In the words of the Gospel, God offers forgiveness. And where there is forgiveness there is new life and salvation.
In the Old Testament lesson, God gives the prophet Ezekiel a vision of a valley littered with dry bones. In the vision, Ezekiel is instructed to preach to the bones, and as he does so they begin to be restored into living people. God breaths His spirit into these bodies. The vision describes Israel’s condition (and many people today. The dry bones suggest people are dead (not referring to bodily dead, but to spiritually dead). God gives life to our spirits through His preached words. This imagery in turn points to the raising of the dead on the Last Day, the day Jesus returns. The vision also encourages us to hear and read God’s Word every opportunity we are given.
In the epistle. a portion of St. Paul’s letter to the congregation in Rome. In baptism and the reading of Scripture, the Holy Spirit take up residence in us. the Spirit that raised Jesus’ body from the grave and bought Him back to life, gives is spiritual life. Because of the Spirit bringing Jesus to us, we are free. Since the Spirit lives in us, we ought to act like it, walking according to the Spirit and not according to the desires of the flesh. There is assurance that if we are “in Jesus” God no longer condemns us.
The Gospel lesson is the story of the death of Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha, and friend of Jesus. Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. The miracle reveals Jesus’ divine power. The raising of the dead also reveals Jesus to be the “Resurrection and the Life”. Jesus makes the promise that whoever believes in Him will never perish (referring to the preservation of our spirits, not our bodies. Bodies will be raised to be glorified.) This we can be looking forward to as the Last Day approaches.
COLLECT: Almighty, Gracious God, by Your great goodness mercifully look upon Your people that we may be governed and preserved evermore in body and soul; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord and Savior, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
