About Worship
Worship at All Saints might look and feel a little different. We carefully and prayerfully select a worship theme each season, and we choose songs and liturgical elements that help communicate that theme and bring us closer to God and to one another.
All Saints Lutheran Church is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and participates in the Synod Authorized Ministry (SAM) program offered by the Southeastern Iowa Synod. Bishop Amy Current has authorized Wanda Barber, Matthew Reece, and Julie Schoville to be Synod Authorized Ministers able to preside over all worship services and offer pastoral care. The Synod provides training and instruction throughout the year and fully supports this program.
Seasonal Theme Write-Up
Written by Matthew Reece, Director of Music Ministries
Called to be disciples;
led by the light
For the season of Lent, the worship theme “Called to be disciples; led by the light” invites us into a journey of deepening faith and intentional following. Lent is a time to listen again for Jesus’ call: spoken beside the waters of baptism and echoed in every moment of repentance and renewal. As we walk with Christ through scripture, prayer, and worship, we encounter Jesus as the source of living water, meeting human thirst with grace that cannot be earned and love that does not run dry. In this season of honest reflection, we are reminded that discipleship is not about spiritual perfection but about trusting the promise of God’s mercy and allowing faith to shape how we live.
Led by the light of the world, we follow Jesus’ example of preaching good news, teaching with compassion, healing the broken, and drawing others into life-giving community. The light that guides us through Lent also exposes what needs healing within us and among us, calling us to lives marked by humility, courage, and hope. As disciples formed by grace, we are sent not only to believe but to embody Christ’s love: bearing light into places of shadow and offering living water to a thirsty world. This season prepares us to proclaim, with renewed clarity, that we are called, forgiven, and sent, led always by the light of Christ.
Altarscape
Thank you for creating the beautiful altarscape to emphasize the theme for the season Julie.
Color for the season
Lent: Purple is typically associated with Lent, suggesting repentance and solemnity.
Wednesday, March 4th – Midweek #2 Supper & Worship
Today is the first Midweek Supper at 6 pm with worship following at 7 pm. This year for worship the worship planning team decided to use the Midweek Lenten Series: “Open My Life, Lord” instead of using the Holden Evening Prayer service.
This link will open the congregational text for the five Midweek Worship Services.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uqJXi13VlVufQgxeYk1ighUqSutKQTh6/view?usp=sharing
Week of Lent 2: Open My Hands, Lord
We use our hands to pick up a child, to serve a meal, to play an instrument, to wipe away a tear. Jesus used his hands for healing and for deeds of great power, and the psalmist reminds us that we are always held fast in God’s hands. In Deuteronomy, Moses encourages us to open our hands in service to others.
Consider anointing the hands of the gathered community during worship.
Prayer of the Day
Open our hands, Lord, to reach out to a world in need. May our arms enfold those who sorrow, our palms bear mercy and grace, and our fingers point to your love. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Scripture Readings
Deuteronomy 15:7-11
Psalm 139:1-10
Mark 6:1-5
Sunday, March 8th – Third Sunday in Lent
Ardor (Worship Musicians)
The musicians rehearse from 9:00 to 9:45 am every Sunday morning. You are invited to join us in leading music during the worship service. The musicians for worship can find the service orders and music in the crate on the back pew in the sanctuary for each week. Contact the Director of Music Ministries or the church office if you plan to help lead worship.
This link will open the congregational text for the Sunday worship services (02.22.2026 – 03.22.2026).
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pLVxwrZWlWxp0vYDk7iAIlNUnvZ00Rro/view?usp=sharing
Introduction
In Sunday’s gospel the Samaritan woman asks Jesus for water, an image of our thirst for God. Jesus offers living water, a sign of God’s grace flowing from the waters of baptism. The early church used this gospel and those of the next two Sundays to deepen baptismal reflection during the final days of preparation before baptism at Easter. As we journey to the resurrection feast, Christ comes among us in word, bath, and meal—offering us the life-giving water of God’s mercy and forgiveness.
Prayer of the Day
Merciful God, the fountain of living water, you quench our thirst and wash away our sin. Give us this water always. Bring us to drink from the well that flows with the beauty of your truth through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Scripture
Exodus 17:1-7 Water from the rock in the wilderness
Because the thirsty Israelites quarreled with Moses and put God to the test, Moses cried out in desperation to God. God commanded Moses to strike the rock to provide water for the people. The doubt-filled question—“Is the Lord among us or not?”—received a very positive answer.
Psalm 95 Let us shout for joy to the rock of our salvation. (Ps. 95:1)
Romans 5:1-11 Reconciled to God by Christ’s death
Though we often hear that God helps those who help themselves, here Paul tells us that through Jesus’ death God helps utterly helpless sinners. Since we who had been enemies are reconciled to God in the cross, we now live in hope for our final salvation.
John 4:5-42 Baptismal image: the woman at the well
Jesus defies convention to engage a Samaritan woman in conversation. Her testimony, in turn, leads many others to faith.
Fellowship Time
After worship there is time for refreshments and fellowship in the gathering space.