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 25th – Midweek #5 Supper & Worship
The Midweek Supper is 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 5: Open My Life, Lord
Moses presents us with a choice: death and adversity, or a life cracked open to the love of God. Writing to the Galatians, Paul tells us that we have died to the law so that we might live to God. It is no longer we who live, but Christ who lives in us.
Prayer of the Day
Open our lives, Lord, to reflect your glory. Lead us to the cross, to the grave, to the empty tomb, and into the world as imitators of Christ. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Scripture Readings
Deuteronomy 30:15-20, Psalm 16, and Galatians 2:15-21
Sunday, March 29th – Palm/Passion Sunday
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 service (03.29.2026).
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tlmaJeBuM81OpNc-Fz_VfFOY9Syy5MxO/view?usp=sharing
Introduction
Sunday, we encounter the paradox that defines our faith: Jesus Christ is glorified king and humiliated servant. We too are full of paradox: like Peter, we fervently desire to follow Christ, but find ourselves afraid, denying God. We wave palms in celebration today as Christ comes into our midst, and we follow with trepidation as his path leads to death on the cross. Amid it all we are invited into this paradoxical promise of life through Christ’s broken body and outpoured love in a meal of bread and wine. We begin this week that stands at the center of the church year, anticipating the completion of God’s astounding work.
Prayer of the Day
Everlasting God, in your endless love for the human race you sent our Lord Jesus Christ to take on our nature and to suffer death on the cross. In your mercy enable us to share in his obedience to your will and in the glorious victory of his resurrection, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Scripture
Matthew 21:1-11 Jesus enters Jerusalem
Jesus enters Jerusalem
Isaiah 50:4-9a The servant of the Lord submits to suffering
The servant of the Lord expresses absolute confidence in his final vindication, despite the fact that he has been struck and spit upon. This characteristic of the servant played an important role in the early church’s understanding of the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
Psalm 31:9-16 Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit. (Ps. 31:5)
Philippians 2:5-11 Humbled to the point of death on a cross
Paul uses an early Christian hymn to help us comprehend Jesus’ obedient selflessness on the cross and how God has made Christ lord over all reality. The perspective of the cross becomes the way we rightly understand God, Christ, our own lives, and fellowship within the community of Christ.
Matthew 26:14 — 27:66 The passion of the Lord
In fulfillment of scripture and obedience to God’s will, Jesus goes to the cross so that a new covenant in his blood may bring forgiveness of sins. Even the soldiers who crucify him recognize him to be the Son of God.
Fellowship Time
After worship there is time for refreshments and fellowship in the gathering space.