First Sunday in Lent* March 9, 2025
*Indicates please stand in body or in spirit
WE BECOME AWARE OF GOD’S PRESENCE
PRELUDE Diane Alveshere
WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS Rev. Dr. Jill Sanders
POURING OF THE BAPTISMAL WATER Pastor Jill
INTROIT Just as I am
*CALL TO WORSHIP Lee Becker
One: Please stand in body or spirit until the Passing of the Peace
One: Here in this place, we can ask big questions.
Many: Who is my neighbor?
How can I help?
What do I have to learn?
Where is God in it all?
One: Here in this place, we can ask big questions.
Many: So may we listen. May we learn. May we stay curious, and may we look for God.
One: This is our invitation to lean in. Let us worship our holy God.
*OPENING HYMN Christ for the World We Sing, W & R # 561, Vs. 1-3
*CALL TO CONFESSION Lee
One: Our faith tells us to love our neighbor as we love ourselves, but you and I know that is often easier said than done. Fortunately for us, prayer can be a tool for transformation. When we are honest before God and each other, we open the door to growth and change. So join me in the prayer of confession. Join me now, so that tomorrow, we will be even better at loving our neighbors as ourselves. Let us pray:
*PRAYER OF CONFESSION (UNISON): Lee
Holy God, you have told us to love our neighbors as ourselves, but we get tripped up on logistics. We want to know: who is our neighbor? Do we have to love the stranger? Must we have compassion for our enemy? Forgive our human tendency to create exceptions in the face of love. Rewire our hearts so that we might see the face of a neighbor in every stranger we pass. With hope we pray, Amen.
*WORDS OF FORGIVENESS Lee
One: Family of faith, when we set limits on love,
Many: God loves extravagantly.
One: When we forget that we are neighbors,
Many: God claims us as God’s own.
One: When we judge, hold back, or harm,
Many: God surrounds us with grace.
One: There is nothing we can do or leave undone that could separate us from the love of God.
Many: This is the good news of the gospel. Thanks be to God! Amen.
*GLORIA
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost:
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be,
World without end. Amen.
PASSING OF THE PEACE Lee
GOD SPEAKS TO US
ANTHEM A Time For All Things Douglas Wagner
MOMENT WITH THE YOUNGER CHURCH Pastor Jill
READING FROM THE HEBREW BIBLE Isaiah 58:5-9 Lee
5 Is such the fast that I choose, a day to humble oneself? Is it to bow down the head like a bulrush and to lie in sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord?
6 Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them and not to hide yourself from your own kin?
8 Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
9 Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say, “Here I am.” If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil,
Reading from the GOSPEL Luke 10:25-37 Pastor Jill
25 An expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?”
27 He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and your neighbor as yourself.”
28 And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.” 29 But wanting to vindicate himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and took off, leaving him half dead.
31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.
33 But a Samaritan while traveling came upon him, and when he saw him he was moved with compassion.
34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, treating them with oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
35 The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him, and when I come back I will repay you whatever more you spend.’
36 Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
Hymn of Preparation They asked, Who’s my neighbor, Blk #541, Vs 1-4
SERMON Everything In Between: Strangers & Neighbors Rev. Dr. Jill Sanders
MUSIC FOR REFLECTION Diane Alveshere
WE RESPOND TO GOD
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
One: Church, if God asked you, “Who is your neighbor?” what would you say?
Many: We would say, every child, every person, every weeping willow, and every morning lark. Every freckled face, every wrinkled pair of hands, every tail-wagging dog, and every crisp ripe apple. We would say, we are connected— to one another, to all of God’s creation. There are no strangers in God’s house. We are all family here.
One: I think God would delight in that answer. For it is said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
Many: with all your soul,
One: with all your strength,
Many: with all your mind,
One: and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Many: We believe. Help our unbelief. Amen.
SHARING OF JOYS AND CONCERNS, PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE & THE PRAYER OF OUR SAVIOR
The Prayer of Our Savior
Our Father who art 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 GIVE, GIVING OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS: Pastor Jill
PRAYER OF CONSECRATION OF OUR LILLY GRANT APPLICATION
We gather today, hearts united, as a congregation seeking to make a difference in our community. Our hands have labored diligently, weaving hope and compassion into the fabric of this grant proposal. We lift our voices in prayer, dedicating our efforts to Your divine purpose. Gracious God, as our proposal finds its way to decision-makers’ desks, we surrender the outcome. May their hearts be open, their discernment keen. May they recognize the potential within these pages. We offer our effort and this prayer in Jesus’ name. Amen.
*DOXOLOGY Old Hundredth, Mary Luti
Praise God, the source of breath and birth,
Who formed us from the dust of earth,
And made us one humanity
To love and set each other free.
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
*CLOSING Hymn. Community of Christ, W&R # 615 Vs. 1-3
*BLESSING AND SENDING FORTH Pastor Jill
May you know that the world is bigger than two sides.
May you trust that you are made in the image of God, and therefore, you contain multitudes.
So may you move through this world with an open heart, with a curious mind, and with the confidence that you do not go alone.
God is with you in the mountains, in the valleys, and everywhere in between. Believe that good news–and go in peace.
*CHORAL BLESSING Into The Desert, Stephen & Hart
Postlude Diane Alveshere
Liturgy is from Everything In Between series by A Sanctified Art.
We welcome all who are joining us for worship virtually, on YouTube, https://tinyurl.com/firstcongalex or Cable Channel #181 (each weekday). Our service is broadcast on KXRA 1490 AM at 11 am the second Sunday of the month.
NEWS IN THE PEWS: SUNDAY March 9, 2025
Sunday March 9, KXRA Sunday
9:15 Choir
10:00 Worship in person and online
11:00 Coffee Fellowship
11:30 Visio Divina Bible Study
Monday March 10
10 “Caffeinated Christianity” @ Dunn Bros
2-7 Voice lessons with Heather Hjelle
Tuesday March 11
8-4 VITA Tax prep
9:00 Friendly Service
12-4 Elder network (fellowship hall)
Wednesday March 12
8-4 VITA Tax prep
10:30 Connections
5:15 Lenten meal and program
Thursday March 13
9:00 Walking group@Mall
4:30 Holy Happy Hour
5:15 Choir practice
5:30 Community Potluck
Saturday March 15
7:30 FROG Power sleep over
Sunday March 16 FROG Power Sunday
9 am FROG Fellowship
10:00 Worship in person and online
11:15 Visio Divina Bible Study
Pastor Jill’s Office Hours
Pastor Jill is available throughout the week for pastoral care, conversation, or coffee! She is typically in the office on Tuesday mornings—and other times as well. It is always best to schedule a time if you want to talk. She can be reached directly at jill@firstcongregationaluccalex.com or (319) 361-0737. Shetypically takes Fridays off.
Choir Rehearsal
Choir rehearses at 5:15 on Thursdays. Note this is a change during Lent to accommodate the Lenten Wednesday night discussion group.
Visio Divina Bible Study
Visio Divina is a form of meditation, reflection, and prayer through a process of intentional seeing. Visio Divina extends the 6th century Benedictine practice of Lectio Divina by the use of visual imagery. Traditionally, Visio Divina was accompanied by Benedictine iconography and illuminations, however, different faith traditions have adopted the process over time, utilizing both secular and nonsecular images.
Beginning March 9, for five weeks following Worship and Coffee time, 11:30 to 12:15 p.m., we will be using this ancient practice to look deeper into the Bible passages we read in Worship. Just show up, no sign up is necessary.
FRIENDLY SERVICE
will meet on Tuesday, March 11 at 9 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall to assemble quilts. All are welcome to come and help or just to visit and have treats and coffee.
Lenten Devotionals
Devotional books and cards that complement The Everything In Between Lenten sermon series are available to pick up at the back of the sanctuary.
Lenten Discussion series begins March 12
We are screening the video series How Did We Get…? It gives us an introduction on key tenets of Christianity. Each video has discussion questions to guide us. A light meal will be provided at each meeting. We need volunteers to serve on March 26 and April 9.
FROG Power Sleep Over
Frog power will have a sleep over at church on March 15 beginning at 5:30. They will serve fresh caramel or cinnamon rolls before church on March 16 from 9-10 am.
Worship Service volunteers needed
We need readers, ushers, greeters, tech staff and coffee fellowship servers through the end of the year. Sign up is at the back of the sanctuary.
Virtual Giving Options: Online and Text
Check out our updated website: firstcongregationaluccalex.com.
Click on the word “Give” at the top of the screen. You can also text (844)987-4483 to give to our general fund. Please contact the office if you need help setting up a giving account online using our provider, Churchtrac.
Bountiful Basket
March’s Bountiful Basket is for the food shelf. Please pick up a list of most needed items from the Basket.
Upcoming Birthdays and Anniversaries
Kathy Midtvedt 03/18
Henrickson anniversary 03/18
Pastor Michael Fritz 03/21
If the office has missed your birthday or anniversary, please contact us.
Bell Choir
Mary Jane Westra has volunteered to lead a bell (and maybe chime) choir for our church. She would like to have about 6 practices and at least two performances this spring when she returns from her travels, starting in March. She would like 10-12 participants, all of whom need to be able to read music. If you or anyone you know would like to join, please contact Katy Mohabir. Exactly times and dates will be announced later.
Direct Thrivent Choice Dollars by March 31st
Eligible Thrivent Financial members with available Choice Dollars have until March 31, 2025, to direct them. Don’t miss this opportunity to recommend that Thrivent Financial provide funding to your church! Go to Thrivent.com/thriventchoice to learn more. Or call 800-847-4836 and say “Thrivent Choice” after the prompt.
Tax Statements
Check your mailboxes for your 2024 Giving Statements. If you need additional copies, would prefer it as an electronic copy or if you need revisions let the office know.
VITA Tax Prep
We will again be hosting West Central Community Action’s VITA tax services on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from Jan 29-April 15. If you would like to use their tax preparation services, please call 218-685-7004. Scheduling opens January 13.
Spiritual Direction Opportunity
Spiritual direction, a.k.a. spiritual companionship, is a way of paying attention to how God or the Divine is present and acting in your life. Julie McCarty is a trained and experienced spiritual listener who offers confidential, nonjudgmental, monthly, one-on-one spiritual direction in person or online. More info in newsletter or contact Julie at 320-766-6176 or e-mail juliemccarty@usfamily.net .
Updating the Church Directory
We are working on an update to the Church directory. Beginning in March there will be a form at the back of the sanctuary for you to confirm what information you want to include in the directory or what you want to opt out of including.
Community Events and News
Empty Bowls Project
March 20 at the Alexandria Area High School Commons from 5-7 pm. $10 for a meal or $15 for a meal and a student-made bowl. All donations go to the Outreach Food Shelf and the United Way Backpack Attack Program. All checks must be addressed to Calvary Lutheran Church with memo line Empty Bowls Project. Venmo is accepted too @calvarychurchalex. There will be a silent auction, live entertainment and the AAHS Art Show.
Special Olympics
Can you help? Alexandria Special Olympics needs a Head Coach for the Golf Program. Will you volunteer for this rewarding position/adventure? Contact Karyn Sportel at (320) 491-8759 or Gail Feriancek at (320)-808-8176. Thank you!
We are an inclusive community that welcomes extravagantly, seeks God and follows Jesus into the world.
We are also a member of the Open and Affirming Coalition of the United Church of Christ and honor the dignity of each person created in God’s image. All are welcome here.
