In Life, in Death, Abide With Me Sanctity of Human Life Sunday Prelude Opening Hymn “Lord of Life” (Tune: LW 402) Text: Rev. Gerald Scheperle, 1985. Used by permission. Lord of life, Whose hand has made us, Formed us each with tender care. You had crowned man with Your image, Not intending such despair. Yet through sin the glory faded, Death and doom came in its place. But in spite of our condition, We’ve been rescued by Your grace! God so loved the world, He gave us Jesus Christ to bear our sin. On the cross His life He offered, That we might be His again. And the Holy Spirit calls us By the gospel’s joyful ring. Making us His own dear children Us, eternal life to bring. Lord of Life, Who rose in triumph, Conq’ring death and giving hope, You have called us and equipped us, In a sinful world to cope; Teaching us to love each other, to befriend and help in strife; To forgive and seek to comfort, And preserve the gift of life. Help us, Lord, to see as You do Life is precious in each stage. From the unborn to the feeble, Life is precious in each age. Help us, Lord to be Your witness And to show the world we care. So that people may not perish, But, instead, Your life may share. Invocation Pastor: We call upon the abiding presence of our God as we begin our service in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. People: Amen. Confession Pastor: Brothers and sisters in Christ, we are not worthy to be in the presence of this holy God. But He has promised that if we confess our sins, He will purify us from all unrighteousness. Therefore, let us confess our sins to Him. People: We confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We confess that so often we think, speak, and behave as if Your abiding presence makes no difference in our lives. Instead of allowing Christ to be exalted in all things, we seek to exalt ourselves. We fail to trust that He is present and at work in all our circumstances. Do not cast us from Your presence, Lord. Forgive us, and restore to us the joy of Your salvation. Pastor: Be of good cheer! God holds the cross of His Son before your eyes and assures you that your sins have been paid through His atoning sacrifice. Therefore, as a called and ordained servant of the Word, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. People: Amen! Introit (From Psalm 27) Pastor: Having received the forgiveness of sins, we can now enter with joy into the abiding presence of God, and we can be assured of that presence in all the circumstances of our lives. There is nothing to fear! The LORD is my light and my salvation— People: Whom shall I fear? Pastor: The LORD is the stronghold of my life— People: Of whom shall I be afraid? Pastor: When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, People: When my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Pastor: Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; People: Though war break out against me, even then will I be confident. Pastor: One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: People: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek Him in His temple. Pastor: For in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in His dwelling; People: He will hide me in the shelter of His tabernacle and set me high upon a rock. Pastor: Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; People: At His tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD. All: 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. Hymn of Praise “All People That on Earth Do Dwell” (LW 435 vs. 1-3) All people that on earth do dwell, Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice; Him serve with mirth, His praise forthtell; Come ye before Him and rejoice. Know that the Lord is God indeed; Without our aid He did us make. We are His folk, He doth us feed, And for His sheep He doth us take. Oh, enter then His gates with praise; Approach with joy His courts unto; Praise, laud, and bless His name always, For it is seemly so to do. Collect Pastor: The Lord be with you. People: And with your spirit. Pastor: Let us pray to the Lord. Ever present Lord Jesus, You who are exalted because of what you have done to make death a gain and because of what You do to give life purpose, abide with us so that You may be exalted in our lives and at our death. We pray in Your name, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit is one God, now and forever. People: Amen! Old Testament Reading Habakkuk 3:16-19 “I heard and my heart pounded, my lips quivered at the sound; Decay crept into my bones, and my legs trembled. Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us. Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, Though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, Though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to go on the heights.” Epistle Reading Philippians 1:20-26 “I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; But it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, So that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.” Gospel Reading John 10:7-10 Pastor: The Holy Gospel according to St. John the 10th chapter. People: Glory to You, O Lord. “Therefore Jesus said again, ‘I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before Me were thieves and robbers but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through Me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.’” Pastor: This is the Gospel of the Lord. People: Praise to You, O Christ. Creed Hymn of the Day “Abide with Us, Our Savior” (LW 287) Abide with us, our Savior, Nor let Your mercy cease; From Satan’s might defend us, And give our hearts Your peace. Abide with us, our Helper, Sustain us by Your Word; Let us and all Your people To living faith be stirred. Abide with us, Redeemer, O Light, eternal Light; Your truth direct and guide us To flee from error’s night. Abide in princely bounty With us, large-hearted Lord, Our lives with grace and wisdom Enriching through Your Word. Abide as our protector Among us, Lord our strength; Let world and wily Satan Be overcome at length. Abide among us always, O Lord, our faithful friend, And take us to Your mansions When time and world shall end. Sermon Offering Prayers Pastor: Abiding Savior, we thank and praise You that through faith in Your death and resurrection, we are assured of a heavenly home and our own resurrection. We are confident, therefore, that our death will be a gain and that You will be exalted through it. And so we pray, People: In death, O Lord, abide with me. Pastor: We thank and praise You that through faith in Your death and resurrection, we are assured of Your presence in our lives right here and now. We are confident, therefore, that our life has meaning and purpose regardless of our circumstances, and that You will be exalted through it. And so we pray, People: In life, O Lord, abide with me. Pastor: We thank and praise You that whether we live or die we are Yours and that You will be exalted. And so we pray, People: In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me. Pastor: May Your abiding presence be with those who are facing death. Help them trust in You and Your timing. Help them trust that as long as You give life, You give life meaning and purpose. Remove their fears and give them the joyful and certain hope of eternal life. And so we pray, People: O Lord, abide with them. Pastor: May Your abiding presence be with those who are facing difficult circumstances. Help them trust in You and Your strength and Your ability to be at work in all things. And so we pray, People: O Lord, abide with them. Pastor: May Your abiding presence be with those who have made mistakes and wrong choices in life and death issues. Help them trust in Your grace and mercy and assure them of Your rich and daily forgiveness. And so we pray, People: O Lord, abide with them. Pastor: May Your abiding presence be with Your people that we may be bold in proclaiming the message of Your presence and the difference it can make in the lives of people who are tempted to turn to death as a solution to their problems. And so we pray, People: O Lord, abide with us. Pastor: May Your abiding presence be with those in this congregation who have special joys or needs. [Special petitions may be offered here.] And so we pray, People: O Lord, abide with them. Pastor: Be with our nation. Restore among us a respect for the sanctity of human life and then work through us to have that respect reflected in our laws and rulings. And so we pray, People: O Lord, abide with our nation. Pastor: Be with Lutherans For Life and continue to bless them and use them to equip us to speak truthfully and lovingly on issues of life and death. And so we pray, People: O Lord, abide with them. Pastor: Lord, remember us in Your Kingdom, and teach us to pray, People: Our Father who art in heaven . . . Benediction Pastor: The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you the peace of His abiding presence. People: Amen! Closing Hymn “Abide with Me” (LW 490) Abide with me, fast falls the eventide, The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide. When other helpers fail and comforts flee, Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me. I need thy presence ev’ry passing hour; What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s pow’r? Who like Thyself my guide and stay can be? Through cloud and sunshine, oh, abide with me. Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day; Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away; Change and decay in all around I see; O thou Who changest not, abide with me. I fear no foe with thee at hand to bless; Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness. Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory! I triumph still if Thou abide with me! Hold Thou thy cross before my closing eyes, Shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies; Heav’n’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee; In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me. Postlude Lutherans For Life • 1120 South G Avenue • Nevada, IA 50201-2774 U.S. Toll-Free (888) 364-LIFE • (515) 382-2077 • Fax (515) 382-3020 info@lutheransforlife.org • www.lutheransforlife.org 1