Sunday, March 23, 2025 – Third Sunday in Lent, Year C

Lent Theme

Follow Jesus on the Journey: Open our Hearts to Reconciliation

Theme Write-up written by Matthew Reece, Director of Music Ministries

Follow Jesus on the Journey: Open Our Hearts to Reconciliation

The season of Lent invites us to embark on a sacred journey with Jesus, walking the path of repentance, renewal, and grace. As we follow Him through the wilderness, His teachings, and ultimately to the cross, we are called to open our hearts to the transformative power of reconciliation. Just as Christ extends His mercy to us, we are urged to seek healing in our relationships—with God, with others, and within ourselves. This journey is not one of mere reflection but of action, as we humbly acknowledge our need for forgiveness and embrace the call to be instruments of peace in a broken world.

Through prayer, fasting, and acts of love, we allow God’s grace to soften our hearts and lead us toward true reconciliation. The Lenten journey is a time to let go of burdens that hinder our relationship with God and to seek restoration in areas where division and hurt have taken root. As we walk with Jesus, may we be reminded that reconciliation is at the heart of the Gospel—a gift freely given and a mission to which we are called. In opening our hearts to God’s mercy, we are empowered to extend that same mercy to others, drawing ever closer to the promise of Easter’s new life.

Call to Worship

Throughout the season of Lent, the worship service begins with a spoken Call to Worship. We will use the a series written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, September 2024.

Ardor (Worship Musicians)

The musicians rehearse from 9:00 – 9:45 am every Sunday morning. All are welcome! The musicians for worship can find the service orders and music in the crate on the back pew in the sanctuary for each week of the month. Contact the office if you plan to help lead worship.

Sunday School

The Sunday class will be taking a break for the foreseeable future. Keep checking the publications for when the class will return.

Worship Information

Join us in-person for the weekly Worship Service at 10:00 am in-person or via Facebook Live if you are unable to attend in person (https://www.facebook.com/allsaintsdavenport/). The service will later be uploaded to YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@allsaintslutheranchurchdav1987) for your viewing. We will receive new members during worship.

If you would like the words for the worship service, contact the office (office@allsaintsdavenport.org) to request the information.

Introduction

The warnings are plentiful and blunt on the third Sunday in Lent. Cut it out or get cut down! The warnings are accompanied by God’s invitation to attentiveness: “Incline your ear, and come to me; listen, so that you may live.” The landowner’s ultimatum is forestalled by the gardener’s readiness to till the ground one more year. That is good news for all of us. Thanks be to God!

Prayer of the Day

Eternal God, your kingdom has broken into our troubled world through the life, death, and resurrection of your Son. Help us to hear your word and obey it, and bring your saving love to fruition in our lives, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

Scripture

Isaiah 55:1-9 Everyone who thirsts, come to the water; seek the Lord

To those who have experienced long years in exile, the return to their homeland is a celebration of abundant life. God calls them into an everlasting covenant of love. Those who return to God will enjoy new life and forgiveness, because God’s ways are not our ways.

Psalm 63:1-8 O God, eagerly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you. (Ps. 63:1)

1 Corinthians 10:1-13 Israel, baptized in cloud and seas, ate the same spiritual food as Christians

Paul uses images from Hebrew Scriptures and prophecy to speak the truth of Jesus Christ: He is our rock, our water, our food, and our drink. Christ is the living sign of God’s faithfulness.

Luke 13:1-9 Unless you repent, you will perish: parable of the fig tree

Asked about current tragic events, Jesus turns a lesson about whether suffering is deserved into a hard call to obedience. He then tells a parable that holds out hope that the timeline for ultimate judgment will be tempered by patience.

Fellowship Time

You are invited to stay after worship for refreshments and fellowship time in the gathering space.