Brothers and sisters, grace and peace to you from God our Father, and our Savior from sin, Jesus Christ His Son. I encourage you to be in Bible class and attending worship Sunday.
Before you go to bed Saturday night, move your clocks ahead one hour to adjust for daylight savings time.
We continue to have midweek services on Wednesdays throughout the season of Lent at 6:30.
March 8 is the third Sunday in Lent. We will follow the liturgy of Divine Service Four beginning on page 203 in the LSB hymnal. The hymns chosen for the day are #423 Jesus, Refuge of the Weary; #422 On My Heart Imprint Your Image; #699 I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say; #616 Baptismal Waters Cover Me; and #602 The Gifts Christ Freely Gives verses 1,2, 5, 6).
Scripture Lessons scheduled to be read include Psalm 19:7-14; Exodus 17:1-7; Romans 5:8; and John 4:5-26. Water is a recurring theme in scripture and in these lessons. Water is an image of cleansing, refreshment, and restoration. I pray the good news of Jesus will refresh and renew your spirit.
Exodus 17 recounts an event that occurred during the Israelite wanderings in the wilderness in the days of Moses. The people ran out of water. Rather than trusting God to provide, they began to complain and question His care for them. To demonstrate His power (and His gracious provision), God brought forth water from solid rock. To remind people how they had again lost trust, God named the place Massah and Meribah, which can be translated as testing and quarreling. St. Paul centuries later connected the rock with Jesus, as the spiritual Rock who accompanied them. The lesson connects with the gospel reading in pointing to Jesus, the Rock of our salvation. As we drink of His blood, our sin is forgiven and our faith is renewed.
In the epistle lesson to the Romans, St. Paul reminds the Church we have been justified (acquitted) by Jesus’ sacrificial redeeming death, and as a result we have been given peace with God. We rejoice in His blessings; even more we can also rejoice in our suffering, assured that God is using our troubles to work endurance, character, and hope in us. Paul gives the assurance that we are forgiven by Jesus, who died for us ungodly sinners.
In John’s gospel account, Chapter 4, the evangelist tells of an encounter with a Samaritan woman by a well in the region near Sychar. Her identity as a Samaritan msrks her as an outsider. Her coming to the well by herself in midday indicates the rejection she had received from the community. Jesus asks the woman to fetch Him some water. He engages her in conversation and promises He will bring her living water that leads to eternal life. Jesus adds encouragement that a time is coming when worshippers from every country will worship Him in spirit and in truth. Jesus has come to bring you waters of spiritual refreshment as well.
COLLECT: O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy, be gracious to all who have gone astray from Your ways, and bring them with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of Your Word,; 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.
Please let me know if you have any prayer requests, or questions about the service or the Scripture readings. God bless you. Pastor Boster
