March 17, 2024 — 9:00 AM Service

PRELUDE
“Nimrod” (Edward Elgar)
Tim Graf

WELCOME

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
We gather in the name of God who creates, redeems, and sustains us.
Amen.

Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.

Holy God,
We confess that we have rejected the refuge you offer.
We try to hide behind self-sufficiency and pride,
but you see us, and love us still.

We confess that we have chosen strife over peace;
we want to be right more than we want to be in right relationship.
Forgive us for the ways we have rebelled against you
and harmed our neighbors in action, thought, or indifference.

We confess that we have settled for convenient comforts,
for palm-sized imitations of mercy and justice.
Your mighty hands break the bow and topple the throne,
yet also gather and shelter us like a mother hen.

We confess that you know what we need and gladly provide it.
Grant us the courage, patience, and trust
to receive and share your love.
Amen.

HYMN
“We Walk by Faith” (St. 1, 3-5) ELW # 635

PRAYER OF THE DAY
Dear God, we live in the age of information overload, and yet, no amount of data can diminish the power of our emotions. A truth that challenges our worldview can feel disappointing, and a lie that supports our biases can feel quite tempting. Through prayer and discernment, Jesus followed your will and spoke words of liberation to the oppressed and words of challenge to the powerful. As we pursue your truth, O God, grant us curious minds and compassionate hearts, like your Son, Jesus Christ our Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.

READING
Acts 12:6-17

The very night before Herod was going to bring him out, Peter, bound with two chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while guards in front of the door were keeping watch over the prison. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his wrists. The angel said to him, “Fasten your belt and put on your sandals.” He did so. Then he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” Peter went out and followed him; he did not realize that what was happening with the angel’s help was real; he thought he was seeing a vision. After they had passed the first and the second guard, they came before the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went outside and walked along a lane, when suddenly the angel left him. Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hands of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.” As soon as he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many had gathered and were praying. When he knocked at the outer gate, a maid named Rhoda came to answer. On recognizing Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed that, instead of opening the gate, she ran in and announced that Peter was standing at the gate. They said to her, “You are out of your mind!” But she insisted that it was so. They said, “It is his angel.” Meanwhile Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the gate, they saw him and were amazed. He motioned to them with his hand to be silent, and described for them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he added, “Tell this to James and to the believers.” Then he left and went to another place.

The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

SERMON
“Altered Through Unbelievable Stories”

OFFERING OF MUSIC
“A Simple Song (from Mass)“ (Leonard Bernstein)
Josh Eidem, Tim Graf

OFFERING PRAYER
Blessed are you, O God, maker of all things. Through your goodness you have blessed us with these gifts: our selves, our time, and our possessions. Use us, and what we have gathered, in feeding the world with your love, through the one who gave himself for us, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

PRAYERS OF GOD’S PEOPLE

THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

PREFACE
It is indeed right, our duty and our joy,
that we should at all times and in all places
give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God,
through our Savior Jesus Christ;
who on this day overcame death and the grave,
and by his glorious resurrection opened to us the way of everlasting life.

And so, with all the choirs of angels,
with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven,
we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY

WORDS OF INSTITUTION

THE LORD’S PRAYER

MUSIC DURING HOLY COMMUNION

“O Sacred Head (Passion Chorale)” (arr. Sandra Eithun)
Bells of Joy, Tim Graf (Bells of Joy Director)

POST-COMMUNION PRAYER

BEFORE YOU GO

BENEDICTION

HYMN
“Praise and Thanks and Adoration” ELW # 783

SENDING:
Go in peace. Live out your faith in daily life. Thanks be to God!

POSTLUDE
“What God Ordains is Always Good” (arr. Paul Manz)
Barb Carroll

The Musicians for Today’s Worship

Tim Graf (Director of Worship & Music)
Barb Carroll (Organist)
Josh Eidem
Bells of Joy

Prayers

As a community of faith we are connected through joy, sorrow, worship, and prayer. Please pray for the people listed below.
Your prayers are greatly appreciated!

We ask for God’s loving embrace to hold all those who mourn, especially:

Eldon and Wendy Berkland on the death of their son, Andre
Nancy Anderson and family on the death of her mother, Della Tufte
Bob and Diane Werth on the death of their nephew, Bruce Voigt
Prayers for Bennett Hanson and family on the death of his grandmother, Barbara Nichols
Prayers for Mary Gustafson and family on the death of her mother, Barbara Jean Burger
Prayers for Gay and Bob Schmidt and family on the death of their 16 year old grandson
Loved ones and all first responders and families in the deaths of two police officers and a medic in Burnsville
Todd and Krista Dammen and family in the death of Julane Dammen
Delores Cornelius and family on the death of her husband, Don

Prayers of Mourning:

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord; O Lord, hear my voice. Psalm 130:1–2
For I am convinced that neither death nor life… nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38–39
Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die’. John 11:25–26

As we are praying for all members of the St. Andrew community, this week we pray especially for God’s comfort, healing, protection, and strength to be present with:

We request your prayers for a faith-enriching mission trip experience for 15 members of St Andrew and all the Belizean friends we will be visiting. We will enjoy meeting our new friends, working closely with two pastors and congregations, home visits to shut-ins, food distributions, kids clubs, and service projects (kitchen construction work and installing ceiling fans).
Prayers of thanks for Laura Hoffer’s successful surgery
Joyce Harstad
Sherry Anderson
Marty Wyland & Starr Bourque’s brother-in-law, Ben
Dan Skoog
Paul Skoog’s Gustavus friend whose 8 month old grandchild just entered hospice with a rare neurological disease
Joyce Harstad
Deb Flach
Maribeth Woitas
Prayers for Dave and Lori Goble’s niece, Mandy
Armon Ross

Long Term Prayers:

Gordon Gilbert
Kathy Hoagland
Dave & Sherri Anderson’s daughter, Sarah Anderson-Jacobson
Ron Wolfbauer
Dick Smith
Tammi Ziesemann as she continues her cancer treatment
For the people of Haiti enduring ongoing political upheaval, severe economic challenges, and gang-related violence.
For the people of the Middle East and Ukraine – non-violence and peace.
All those in the military serving our country

General Prayers:

Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you. Psalm 55:22a
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

Names will remain listed until more are added unless otherwise requested. To add a name to the prayer list, click Prayer Requests or contact Pastor Peter Johnson.