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PINNACLE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Amazing Grace
Lent Worship Series
Week 3: The Blind Man
Order of Service
Open Hymn # 438 A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth
One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see. John 9:24
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 anew Till in glory, parted never from the blessèd Savior’s side, Graven in our hearts forever, dwell the cross, the Crucified.
Call to Worship … Psalm 146:5-10
P In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C Amen.
P Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God,
C Who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them,
P Who keeps faith forever; who executes justice for the oppressed,
C Who gives food to the hungry.
P The Lord sets the prisoners free;
C The Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
P The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous.
C The Lord watches over the sojourners;
P He upholds the widow and the fatherless,
C But the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.
P The Lord will reign forever, your God, O Zion, to all generations.
C Praise the Lord!
Confession and Absolution
P Jesus showed grace to the blind man and restored his sight. Trusting in God’s compassion and saving love, we confess our sins and ask his forgiveness for Jesus’ sake.
C Almighty God, although we claim to see and know so much, all too often we are lost in the blindness of our sins. We follow tempting pathways instead of walking in your commandments. We act according to our own desires instead of obeying the guidance of your holy Word. Have mercy on us and forgive our sins. Open our eyes so that, by faith, we will see the wonders of your love and grace.
P God has had mercy on us. He sent his Son to be our Savior. The Lord and Messiah, who opened the eyes of the blind, came to lay down his life as the perfect sacrifice for our sins. I announce to you that your sins are forgiven in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
C The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind!
On my heart imprint your image, blessèd Jesus, King of grace, That life’s riches, cares and pleasures never may your work erase; Let the clear inscription be: Jesus, crucified for me, Is my life, my hope’s foundation and my glory and salvation!
Old Testament Reading … Isaiah 35:4-10
Say to those who are fearful-hearted, “Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, With the recompense of God; He will come and save you.” Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then the lame shall leap like a deer, And the tongue of the dumb sing. For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, And streams in the desert. The parched ground shall become a pool, And the thirsty land springs of water; In the habitation of jackals, where each lay, There shall be grass with reeds and rushes. A highway shall be there, and a road, And it shall be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it, But it shall be for others. Whoever walks the road, although a fool, Shall not go astray. No lion shall be there, Nor shall any ravenous beast go up on it; It shall not be found there. But the redeemed shall walk there, And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, And come to Zion with singing, With everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, And sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
Epistle Reading … 2 Corinthians 5:6-9
6 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.
Gospel Reading … John 9:1-7, 24-38
As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but gthat the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 We must hwork the works of him who sent me iwhile it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, jI am the light of the world.” 6 Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. then he anointed the man’s eyes with the mud 7 and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.
This is the End of the Gospel Reading
Your hand, O Lord, in days of old was strong to heal and save; It triumphed over ills and death, o’er darkness and the grave. To you they came, the blind, the mute, the palsied and the lame, The lepers in their misery, the sick with fevered frame.
Your touch then, Lord, brought life and health, gave speech and strength and sight; And youth renewed and frenzy calmed revealed you, Lord of light. And now, O Lord, be near to bless, almighty as before, In crowded street, by beds of pain, as by Gennes’ret’s shore.
Sermon
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found; was blind, but now I see.
Apostles’ Creed
C I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Prayers
P Almighty God, during his earthly ministry, your Son, our Lord Jesus, healed the sick and restored sight to the blind. He fulfilled all that the Scriptures had foretold of the Messiah. His healing miracles proved him to be the Son of God and the promised Messiah. We give you thanks and praise for your saving work through Jesus our Savior. Gracious Lord,
C Have mercy on us and hear our prayer.
P Almighty God, by the power of your Spirit, give us eyes of faith to see the miracles that you have done and continue to do in our lives, especially the miracle of our salvation in Jesus. Help us to see clearly your truth and to grow in grace as we see Jesus revealed in your holy Word. Gracious Lord,
C Have mercy on us and hear our prayer.
P Almighty God, we pray for those who are suffering through illness, fear and grief. According to your will, bring them comfort and healing. Lead us to serve them as we offer help to them in their need. Help them to see clearly the hope and encouragement found in the promises of your Word. Gracious Lord,
C Have mercy on us and hear our prayer.
P Almighty God, the man whose sight was restored worshiped Jesus as Messiah and Lord. Give us the clear sight of faith so that we too will faithfully worship Jesus as our Savior and King. Gracious Lord,
C Have mercy on us and hear our prayer.
Lord’s Prayer
Benediction (2 Corinthians 5:6-7; 2 Corinthians 13:14)
P So we are always of good courage.
C We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight.
P The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
C Amen.
O be our great deliverer still, the Lord of life and death; Restore and quicken, soothe and bless, with your life-giving breath. To hands that work and eyes that see give wisdom’s healing power That whole and sick and weak and strong may praise you ever more.
Closing Hymn
#432 In Silent Pain the Eternal Son
Creative Worship for the Lutheran Parish, Series C, Quarter 3. Copyright © 2022 Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
