Sunday, March 22nd, The Fourth Sunday in Lent

Sunday School this week is a lesson about Esther. Esther is very brave and talks with the King to change his mind. The lesson is a video with some discussion questions, optional activities, Veggies Tales video, Be Bold Be Strong song, and coloring pages. Your family is invited to participate in any or all of these activities throughout the week. Find this week’s lesson here.

Gathering

Music offered by the Quarantones featuring Lorica

This video includes music where you’re invited to join in the song. Follow along with the words and sing along! Music offered by Quarantones featuring Lorica.

We see you, O God, in a refugee family, seeking safety from violence. Lord, have mercy; Christ have mercy; Lord have mercy.

We see you, O God, in the migrant worker, bringing food to our tables, and in the asylum-seeker, seeking justice for herself and her family. Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy; Lord have mercy.

We see you, O God, in unaccompanied children, traveling in a dangerous world, and in the paths we walk with each other. Lord, have mercy; Christ, have mercy; Lord have mercy.

This is the help you have sent: we are not alone.

God calls us to lives of justice and mercy, transforming us along the way. As beloved children of God, we are forgiven+; as sojourners together on this earth, let us walk the journey toward justice for all people. Amen.

Prayer of the Day

God of love and forgiveness, you journeyed with Joseph through famine and fear, through unjust imprisonment and the rise to power, from the deepest valley to the top of the mountain. Remind us of your sure and certain presence no matter where we go, that we, like Joseph, might endure, work for justice, and experience forgiveness that sets us free, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Word

Psalm 46

God is our refuge and strength,
    a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,
    though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
3 though its waters roar and foam,
    though the mountains tremble with its tumult.

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy habitation of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved;
    God will help it when the morning dawns.
6 The nations are in an uproar, the kingdoms totter;
    he utters his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our refuge.

8 Come, behold the works of the Lord;
    see what desolations he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
    he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear;
    he burns the shields with fire.
10 “Be still, and know that I am God!
    I am exalted among the nations,
    I am exalted in the earth.”
11 The Lord of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our refuge

A Reading from the Book of Genesis.

Genesis 37:12-28

12 Now his brothers went to pasture their father’s flock near Shechem. 13 And Israel said to Joseph, “Are not your brothers pasturing the flock at Shechem? Come, I will send you to them.” He answered, “Here I am.” 14 So he said to him, “Go now, see if it is well with your brothers and with the flock; and bring word back to me.” So he sent him from the valley of Hebron.

He came to Shechem, 15 and a man found him wandering in the fields; the man asked him, “What are you seeking?” 16 “I am seeking my brothers,” he said; “tell me, please, where they are pasturing the flock.” 17 The man said, “They have gone away, for I heard them say, ‘Let us go to Dothan.’” So Joseph went after his brothers, and found them at Dothan. 18 They saw him from a distance, and before he came near to them, they conspired to kill him. 19 They said to one another, “Here comes this dreamer. 20 Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits; then we shall say that a wild animal has devoured him, and we shall see what will become of his dreams.” 21 But when Reuben heard it, he delivered him out of their hands, saying, “Let us not take his life.” 22 Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood; throw him into this pit here in the wilderness, but lay no hand on him”—that he might rescue him out of their hand and restore him to his father. 23 So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the long robe with sleeves[b] that he wore; 24 and they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it.

25 Then they sat down to eat; and looking up they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, with their camels carrying gum, balm, and resin, on their way to carry it down to Egypt. 26 Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? 27 Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and not lay our hands on him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers agreed. 28 When some Midianite traders passed by, they drew Joseph up, lifting him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt.

Genesis 50:15-21

15 Realizing that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers said, “What if Joseph still bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong that we did to him?” 16 So they approached[b] Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this instruction before he died, 17 ‘Say to Joseph: I beg you, forgive the crime of your brothers and the wrong they did in harming you.’ Now therefore please forgive the crime of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18 Then his brothers also wept,[c] fell down before him, and said, “We are here as your slaves.” 19 But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid! Am I in the place of God? 20 Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today. 21 So have no fear; I myself will provide for you and your little ones.” In this way he reassured them, speaking kindly to them.

This video includes music where you’re invited to join in the song. Follow along with the words and sing along! Music offered by Quarantones featuring Lorica.

Creed, Prayers, Passing of the Peace

The Creed

We are not alone, we live in God’s world. We have faith in God who lives among us:

We believe in God: who has created and is creating, who has come in Jesus,

the Word made flesh, to reconcile and make new, who works in us and others by the Spirit.

We trust in God. We are called to be the Church:

to celebrate God’s presence, to live with respect in creation,

to love and serve others, to seek peace and resist evil,

to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen, our judge and our hope.

In life, in death, in life beyond death, God is with us. We are not alone. Thanks be to God!

The Offering

We have a number of ways to participate and contribute when you are unable to attend worship in person. You can make a one-time donation, or manage ongoing giving. You may also chose to use the GivePlus App. Simply download the GivePlus app, and then search for “Holy Spirit Lutheran Church” using our zip code: 98034 (there are two other Holy Spirit Lutheran Churches in the country). Through that app you can also set up one-time or ongoing giving from your phone.

One Time Donation

Manage Online Giving

This video includes music where you’re invited to join in the song. Follow along with the words and sing along! Music offered by Quarantones featuring Lorica.

The Meal

This video includes music where you’re invited to join in the song. Follow along with the words and sing along! Music offered by Quarantones featuring Lorica.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come; thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

Sending

Music offered by Quarantones featuring Lorica.

Church is more than a building – church is who we are called to be, no matter where we are. This week, we’ll be working on finding opportunities to be the church in our community and world during this time. What might that look like for you? Here are some emerging opportunities:

If you know how to sew and have been wondering what to do with all that extra fabric at home, join the 100 Million Mask Challenge created by Providence.
The Sofia Way, which provides shelter and resources for women, is looking for additional help in providing meals (several options can be done from home).
The New Bethlehem Project has expanded their hours and is also looking for help in providing meals. Again, many of their options can be done from home, or from a distance.

Worship Reflection

Pastor Mike has provided reflection questions based on his sermon. We invite you to reflect on these questions throughout the week.

Why and how do you think Joseph changed from selfish to generous? How was God involved?

On your journey this Lent, how are you changing? What emotions - positive or negative - would you use to describe yourself?

What are some ways you can serve in place?

What relief agency will you support?

Pick someone to surprise with a random act of kindness.

If you would like to share your reflections, we invite you to tag us on social media.

facebook.com/hslc425

instagram.com/hslckirkland

Permissions Information

Spoken liturgy from sundaysandseasons.com; alt. Used by permission under Augsburg Fortress license #14006-LIT. Additional spoken liturgy from re:worship. Used by permission.

Sung liturgy, including the Kyrie and Lamb of God, from liturgical setting Black Mountain Liturgy by Sally Ann Morris. Music © 2003, 2010. Texts © 1969, 1981, 1997. GIA Publications. Used by permission under OneLicense.net license number A-708353.

Joseph Was His Father’s Favorite. Text (C) 2015 Carolyn Winfrey Gillette. All Rights Reserved. Used by permission of the author. Music: BEACH SPRING, American folk tune from The Sacred Harp, 1844, attributed to Benjamin Franklin White. Music: public domain.

Come and Journey with a Savior. Text: Herbert O'Driscoll , altered. Music: Marty Haugen. © 1998 GIA Publications. All rights reserved. Used by permission under OneLicense.net license number A-708353.

Making copywrited musical and written content online for congregational song has been made possible by the generosity of OneLicense.net,SundaysandSeasons.com and 1517 Media(formerly Augsburg Fortress Publishing), who have coordinated with multiple composers and publishers to waive the significant costs normally associated with making these creative works available online for worship, as they seek to support faith communities hoping to creatively worship during the COVID-19 crisis, currently through mid-April 2020.