Service for Lent 3 Midweek
Rev. Gregory Mech, pastor | March 23, 2022 | Lenten Midweek Service | Immanuel Lutheran Church – Joplin, Missouri | 4:00 or 7:00 pm
Lent 2022 has begun! Join us for a special Lenten Service, Wednesdays until Easter at 4 or 7pm.
We hope to see you back for an In-Person Service! Learn more at immanueljoplin.com/COVID
Special thanks to all who helped to make this broadcast possible today:
Rev. Gregory Mech, DCE Jason Glaskey, organist Betty Lingenfelter, Altar Guild, Board of Elders, and all of our volunteers!
Be a witness to the Resurrection.
Watch Christ’s resurrection through the Gospel of John and each biblical figure’s point of view. As you move through each account, you, too, can begin to understand the full picture of Christ’s sacrifice for all.
Please join us each Wednesday of Lent 2022 for Pastor Mech’s sermon series — Witnesses to Christ: People from His Passion.
Midweek of Lent 3
Wednesday, March 23, 2022
Witnesses to Christ: PETER
Simon Peter witnessed much of Christ’s ministry on earth. He is featured in many highlights of the four Gospels, but today we see Peter at his lowest point, as he denies Jesus three times. The result of Peter’s denial is a massive amount of guilt. Each of us can relate to that unwanted flood of self-disgust that comes when we remember past sin. But guilt is not the final word for Peter, and it is not the final word for us. After His resurrection, Jesus restores and forgives Peter. Jesus offered Peter grace. Jesus also gives us grace, forgiveness, and restoration at the cross.
Psalm 130:1-8
Out of the depths I cry to You, O LORD!
O Lord, hear my voice!
Let Your ears be attentive
to the voice of my pleas for mercy!
If You, O LORD, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
But with You there is forgiveness,
that You may be feared.
I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
and in His word I hope;
my soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen for the morning,
more than watchmen for the morning.
O Israel, hope in the LORD!
For with the LORD there is steadfast love,
and with Him is plentiful redemption.
And He will redeem Israel
from all his iniquities.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be forever. Amen.
PRAYERS for Midweek of Lent 3
Let us pray to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who hears our prayers and helps us in our afflictions.
Lord, encourage all those who struggle with lingering guilt from past sins. Remind them that by Your death and resurrection, You have conquered sin and removed their guilt forever. Shield all those who suffer the attacks of Satan. Clothe them with Your full armor so that they might believe Your Word rather than the lies of Satan. O my Savior, help afford,
by Your Spirit and Your Word.
Lord, grant seasonable weather upon the earth that will nourish Your good creation. Protect us from fire, storm, and flood. Teach us how to better love, appreciate, and care for Your creation. O my Savior, help afford,
by Your Spirit and Your Word.
Lord, thank You for the gifts of community and friendship. Thank You for all the joy and laughter You have placed into our lives. Help us always to recognize these as Your good gifts. O my Savior, help afford,
by Your Spirit and Your Word.
Lord, comfort all those who worry about family and friends who have wandered from the faith. Give us patience, knowing that You continually pursue Your sheep. Help us welcome them back into Your fold with grace and love. O my Savior, help afford,
by Your Spirit and Your Word.
Lord, bring healing and patience to those who suffer illness and injury. Bring hope to all those who are grieving. By Your resurrection victory, remind them of the victory to come in Your return. O my Savior, help afford,
by Your Spirit and Your Word.
O God, from whom come all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works, give to us, Your servants, that peace which the world cannot give, that our hearts may be set to obey Your commandments and also that we, being defended from the fear of our enemies, may live in peace and quietness; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
HOLY GOSPEL John 18:12-27
The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the eighteenth chapter.
Glory to You, O Lord.
So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him. First they led Him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people.
Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the court of the high priest, but Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in. The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.
The high priest then questioned Jesus about His disciples and His teaching. Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard Me what I said to them; they know what I said.” When He had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, “Is that how You answer the high priest?” Jesus answered him, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike Me?” Annas then sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.
Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You also are not one of His disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed.
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to You, O Christ.
HYMN “Jesus, Refuge of the Weary” 423
Jesus, refuge of the weary,
Blest Redeemer, whom we love,
Fountain in life’s desert dreary,
Savior from the world above:
Often have Your eyes, offended,
Gazed upon the sinner’s fall;
Yet upon the cross extended,
You have borne the pain of all.
Do we pass that cross unheeding,
Breathing no repentant vow,
Though we see You wounded, bleeding,
See Your thorn-encircled brow?
Yet Your sinless death has brought us
Life eternal, peace, and rest;
Only what Your grace has taught us
Calms the sinner’s deep distress.
Jesus, may our hearts be burning
With more fervent love for You;
May our eyes be ever turning
To behold Your cross a-new
Till in glory, parted never
From the blessed Savior’s side,
Graven in our hearts forever,
Dwell the cross, the Crucified.
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- About Immanuel Lutheran Church
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