Description
John 11:1-45
The story of the raising of Lazarus from the dead in the Gospel of John is a prelude to the Resurrection of Jesus himself. An event which changed human history, and our world. So, The story of Lazarus’ resurrection is ours, too. Like Lazarus, we are bound by the death-dealing powers which surround us – such as narrow-mindedness, long-held grudges, broken relationships, and the inability to see life’s possibilities. Today’s Gospel offers us hope, it calls on us to untie one another, to free one another, and to journey together unfettered, knowing that in freedom, God walks with us. Jesus did not say that the person who believes in him “will” have eternal life. He says that the person who believes in him “has” eternal life. Sure, the Resurrection of Jesus makes all good things possible for us. But what makes it really special for us — here and now — is that it is a gift that transforms our very existence in this world. Like Lazarus in this Gospel, we are called to make the passage from death to new life. May you have the courage this Lent to die to sin so that you may enter more fully into the new life of the Resurrection.
We Lift Our Hearts in Worship
[Preservice options include video countdowns, worship song videos, welcomes), CDs, or live music.]
Welcome & Time of Greeting
Pastor / Worship Leader
Good morning – I welcome you today in the name of Jesus Christ, the one gives us new and lasting life.
Worshipers
Praise be to God who has raised us to new life.
Time of Praise and Worship
All Hail The Power Of Jesus Name
Edward Perronet & Oliver Holden
Available on www.PraiseCharts.com, www.LifewayWorship.com, www.MusicNotes.com
Give Me Jesus
Jeremy Camp, ©2006 Thirsty Moon River Publishing (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) Stolen Pride (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
Cornerstone
Edward Mote, Eric Liljero, Jonas Myrin, Reuben Morgan, William Batchelder Bradbury, ©2011 Hillsong Music Publishing (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
[Traditional Options]
All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name
BH 75 40,41,42; BH 91 200,201, 202; CH 16,43; CHH 91,92; EH 450,451; ELW 634; HWC 96,97; HPW 19; HFG 325,326,327; HLC 62,63; HGP 20,21; HSP 2,3,4; LBW 328,329; LSB 549; LW 272; NCH 304; PH 142,143; RH 30,31; STTL 124,126; WC 93,95; UMH 154,155; WAR 100,106; WHM 4,5; WIS 10,11
Come Thou Almighty King
BH 75 2; BH 91 247; CH 8; CHH 27; EH 365; ELW 408; HWC 26; HPW 3; HFG 341; HLC 4; HGP 53; HSP 11; LBW 522; LSB 905; LW 169; NCH 275; PH 139; RH 212; STTL 3; WC 5; UMH 61; WAR 148; WHM 3; WIS 21
We All Believe In One True God
ELW 411; LW 374; LSB 953/954; LW 213; PH 137
Invocation
Pastor / Worship Leader
Lord God, in a universe that seems so immense it is easy to feel insignificant as we stand here today. Yet we know that we are precious in your sight – unique individuals loved and blessed in so many ways. We stand in awe of the one who has created all things and dedicate this time and all our days to your service. Accept this offering we pray, our sacrifice of praise and worship.
Worshipers
Almighty God: at your command the blind see, the lame walk, the dead are raised to new life. Speak to us now through your Word and Holy Spirit that we may be raised to new life in Christ and serve you with joy all our days. Amen.
Opening Prayer / Theme Introduction
Pastor / Worship Leader
Merciful God, you showed your glory to our fallen race by sending your Son to confound the powers of death. Call us forth from sin’s dark tomb. Break the bonds which hold us, that we may believe and proclaim Christ, the cause of our freedom and the source of life, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, holy and mighty God for ever and ever. Amen.
Worshipers
God of the living, through baptism we pass from the shadow of death to the light of the resurrection. Remain with us and give us hope that, rejoicing in the gift of the Spirit who gives life to our mortal flesh, we may be clothed with the garment of immortality, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor / Worship Leader
Dear Heavenly Father, we lower our heads before you and we confess that we have too often forgotten that we are yours. Sometimes we carry on our lives as if there was no God and we fall short of being a credible witness to You. For these things we ask your forgiveness and we also ask for your strength. Give us clear minds and open hearts so we may witness to You in our world. Remind us to be who You would have us to be regardless of what we are doing or who we are with. Hold us to You and build our relationship with You and with those You have given us on earth.
Worshipers
Gracious God, our sins are too heavy to carry, too real to hide, and too deep to undo. Forgive what our lips tremble to name, what our hearts can no longer bear, and what has become for us a consuming fire of judgment. Set us free from a past that we cannot change; open to us a future in which we can be changed; and grant us grace to grow more and more in your likeness and image, through Jesus Christ, the light of the world. Amen.
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading Ezekiel 37:1-14
Ezekiel 37 is a famous passage that records Ezekiel’s vision of the valley of dry bones. This vision took place while Israel was in Babylonian captivity (so sometime between 586 B.C. and 538 B.C.). Yahweh brought Ezekiel out in His Spirit to a valley of dry bones (37:1). Back in chapter 6, God said He was bringing a “sword” upon Israel and would “scatter” their bones (6:3-5). The bones that are raised to life are then described as “an exceedingly great army” (37:10). So, this scene suggests the aftermath of a battle. Ultimately, this is a picture of resurrection, not of individual resurrection but national resurrection. Remember, the bones stand for the house of Israel. Israel is scattered all over the world, but the bones suddenly come together, are restored to the land and form a nation. They are no longer just bones. Ezekiel was a prophet of hope. He had a message of hope to the hopeless. Ezekiel had a word for them, and he has a word for us. God can do the impossible. No matter how bad things look, God can intervene. These bones were dry and dead. We can’t bring them to life. He can. He can make dry, dead bones live again. God can bring life where there is no life.
The hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. 2 He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. 3 He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I said, “Sovereign Lord, you alone know.” 4 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! 5 This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. 6 I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’” 7 So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. 8 I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them. 9 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’” 10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army. 11 Then he said to me: “Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’ 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. 13 Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. 14 I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord.’”
