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 11th – Midweek #3 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 3: Open My Ears, Lord
Ancient Greek philosophy notes that we have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak. Jesus reminds us that we sometimes hear but don’t listen, listen but don’t understand. Opening our ears isn’t as easy as it sounds.
Prayer of the Day
Open our ears, Lord, to heed your will for our lives. Help us not only to hear, but to listen and understand with our hearts. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Scripture Readings
Isaiah 50:4-5
Psalm 40:1-8
Matthew 13:10-17
Sunday, March 15th – Fourth 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
Baptism is sometimes called enlightenment. The gospel for this Sunday is the story of the man born blind healed by Christ. “I was blind, now I see,” declares the man. In baptism God opens our eyes to see the truth of who we are: God’s beloved children. As David was anointed king of Israel, in baptism God anoints our head with oil, and calls us to bear witness to the light of Christ in our daily lives.
Prayer of the Day
Bend your ear to our prayers, Lord Christ, and come among us. By your gracious life and death for us, bring light into the darkness of our hearts, and anoint us with your Spirit, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Scripture
1 Samuel 16:1-13 David is chosen and anointed
Samuel anointed David even though he was the eighth-oldest son of Jesse and did not match his brothers in height or other physical characteristics. With the anointing came endowment with the Spirit of the Lord, designating David as the Lord’s chosen successor to Saul.
Psalm 23 You anoint my head with oil. (Ps. 23:5)
Ephesians 5:8-14 Awake from sleep, live as children of light
Because we now live in the divine light which is Jesus Christ, we conduct our lives in ways that reflect the light of Christ, so that our activity is truly pleasing to God.
John 9:1-41 Baptismal image: the man born blind
Jesus heals a man born blind, provoking a hostile reaction that he regards as spiritual blindness to the things of God.
Fellowship Time
After worship there is time for refreshments and fellowship in the gathering space.