St. Johns - Last Week's Bulletin

Palm Sunday Procession
After the tolling of the bell, rise and turn to the rear of the nave for the invocation and reading. 

Invocation
P  The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the 12^th chapter.
C  Glory to You, O Lord.  
 
¹² The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. ¹³ So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” ¹⁴ And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written,
¹⁵ “Fear not, daughter of Zion;
behold, your king is coming,
    sitting on a donkey's colt!”
¹⁶ His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about Him and had been done to Him. ¹⁷ The crowd that had been with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. ¹⁸ The reason why the crowd went to meet Him was that they heard He had done this sign. ¹⁹ So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.”

P  This is the Gospel of the Lord.
C  Praise to You, O Christ.   
 
Processional Hymn: All Glory, Laud, and Honor               LSB 442

P    Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.
C    Hosanna in the highest.

Salutation and Collect of the Day     
   P   The Lord be with you.
   C   And with thy spirit.

P   Let us pray.
Almighty and everlasting God, You sent Your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, to take upon Himself our flesh and to suffer death upon the cross. Mercifully grant that we may follow the example of His great humility and patience and be made partakers of His resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C   Amen.  

Sit

Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 50:4-9a
⁴The Lord God has given me
      the tongue of those who are taught,
that I may know how to sustain with a word
      him who is weary.
Morning by morning he awakens;
      he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught.
⁵The Lord God has opened my ear,
      and I was not rebellious;
      I turned not backward.
⁶I gave my back to those who strike,
      and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard;
I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting.
⁷But the Lord God helps me;
      therefore I have not been disgraced;
therefore I have set my face like a flint,
      and I know that I shall not be put to shame.
      ⁸He who vindicates me is near.
Who will contend with me?
      Let us stand up together.
Who is my adversary?
      Let him come near to me.
⁹Behold, the Lord God helps me;
      who will declare me guilty?

P  This is the Word of the Lord.
C  Thanks be to God.

Gradual                                 Hebrews 9:12a, c, 15a; Psalm 111:9a
C [Christ] entered once for all into the holy places,
by means of | His own blood,*
      thus securing an eternal re- | demption.
Therefore He is the mediator of a new | covenant,*
      so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal in- | heritance.
He sent redemption to His | people;*
      He has commanded His covenant for- | ever.

Epistle: Philippians 2:5-11
                ⁵Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, ⁶who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, ⁷but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. ⁸And being found in human form, He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. ⁹Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

P  This is the Word of the Lord.
C  Thanks be to God.

Stand

Gospel: Matthew 27:11-66
            ¹¹Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You have said so.” ¹²But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer. ¹³Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?” ¹⁴But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.
            ¹⁵Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted. ¹⁶And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. ¹⁷So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” ¹⁸For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up. ¹⁹Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream.” ²⁰Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. ²¹The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” ²²Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!” ²³And he said, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!”
            ²⁴So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.” ²⁵And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” ²⁶Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified.
            ²⁷Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor’s headquarters, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. ²⁸And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, ²⁹and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” ³⁰And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. ³¹And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him.
            ³²As they went out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. They compelled this man to carry his cross. ³³And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), ³⁴they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall, but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. ³⁵And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots. ³⁶Then they sat down and kept watch over him there. ³⁷And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” ³⁸Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left. ³⁹And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads ⁴⁰and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” ⁴¹So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, ⁴²“He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. ⁴³He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” ⁴⁴And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way.
            ⁴⁵Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. ⁴⁶And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” ⁴⁷And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.” ⁴⁸And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink. ⁴⁹But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.” ⁵⁰And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.
            ⁵¹And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. ⁵²The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, ⁵³and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. ⁵⁴When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”
            ⁵⁵There were also many women there, looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him, ⁵⁶among whom were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
            ⁵⁷When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. ⁵⁸He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. ⁵⁹And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud ⁶⁰and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away. ⁶¹Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.
            ⁶²Next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate ⁶³and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’ ⁶⁴Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.” ⁶⁵Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” ⁶⁶So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.

P  This is the Gospel of the Lord.
C  Praise be to Thee, O Christ.
 
Nicene Creed (p.191)

Sit
Office hymn: A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth            LSB 438

Sermon

Stand
Offertory (p.192)
Prayer of the Church

Preface (p.194)
Sanctus (p.195)
The Lord’s Prayer (spoken)
The Words of Institution (p.197)
Pax Domini
Agnus Dei (p.198)

Sit
Distribution of the Sacrament                                    

Distribution Hymns
Christ, the Life of All the Living                                           LSB 420
Your Table I Approach                                                         LSB 628

Stand
Nunc Dimittus (p.199)
Post Communion Collect (p.201)
Benedicamus & Benediction (p.201)

Sit
Announcements
Hymn: Ride On, Ride On in Majesty                                   LSB 441

Acknowledgments
Divine Service, Setting Three from Lutheran Service Book. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Created by Lutheran Service Builder © 2026 Concordia Publishing House.

Prayers – For the home-bound: Betty Zundel, Charlotte Scepaniak, Ken & Dorothy Maas, Betty Meints, Verdena Dabbert, Lloyd Jerde, Phyllis Lassanske, Maralyn Hoops, Muriel Pigors, Larry & Sandra Grieben.
For those sick, injured, or recovering: Nathaniel Wendt, Michael Wendt, Phyllis Yeske, Kevin Fehn, Daryl Swanhorst, Tom Hanson, Dorothy Maas, Annikki Marttila, Keith Underberg, Doris Larson, Dwain Buntrock, Russ Brandt, Kathie Lassanske, Betty Meints, Doris Vilhauer, Joyce Hermansen, Cheryl Markovetz, Larry Vietmeier, Mark Christianson, Sheila Christofferson, and Tami Schopp.
For expectant mother Eliana (Klipfel) Harrier.  
For the children we sponsor through Mission Haiti: Michelet Voltaire, Michel Djoury, and Orgea Djouna.
For Pastor Andreasen & family, and all our LCMS missionaries.

St. John’s
Ushers: Brent & Barb Miller
Next Week: Lyle & Cathi Podoll
Last Week: Attendance – 24; Offering – $820

Our Savior
Altar Guild: Sarah Rausch & Rachel Rausch
Acolytes: Jaylynn Siebert & Rhyan Johnson
Last Week: Attendance – 103; Sunday School – 25; Wed. – 70

Schedule for the Week
Sunday             St. John’s Divine Service – 8:00 am
                        Our Savior Sunday School – 9:30 am
                        Our Savior Bible Study – 9:45 am
                        Our Savior Divine Service – 10:45 am
                        with 3^rd Grade Bible Presentation
                        In-House Bible Bowl at Our Savior – 12:30 pm
Monday            Mat Ladies – 1:00 pm
Tuesday           Coffee & Confessions – 6:30 am
                        Christian Foundations Class – 6:00 pm
Wednesday       Catechism Class – 5:00 pm
Thursday          Supper & Pie at St. John’s – 5:30 pm
                        Maundy Thursday Service at St. John’s – 6:30 pm
Friday               Good Friday Service at Our Savior – 6:30 pm
Saturday           Circuit Easter Vigil at Our Savior – 7:30 pm
Next Sunday     St. John’s Divine Service – 8:00 am
                        Breakfast at Our Savior – 9:30 am
                        Our Savior Divine Service – 10:45 am

Easter Lilies – Today is your last chance to turn in an order for an Easter lily! Put your order in the plate with check or cash attached, or give your orders to Cherise Johnson. Thank you!

In-House Bible Bowl for both congregations is today at 12:30 pm at Our Savior. The topics are the Life of David: 1 Samuel 16 – 1 Kings 2, Psalm 51, and Luther’s Small Catechism: Confession. If you don’t want to participate, you are still welcome to come and listen and learn and enjoy fellowship! We’ll have pizza for lunch.

Trinity Men’s Club Pancake Supper – Today at 5:00-7:00 pm at Trinity Lutheran Church in rural Mansfield - 14908 377th Ave. Proceeds to benefit the Rural Gospel Initiative.

Holy Week Schedule:
Maundy Thursday – Supper & Pie at St. John’s at 5:30 pm, followed by the Divine Service at 6:30 pm
Good Friday – Chief Service at Our Savior at 6:30 pm
Holy Saturday – Circuit Easter Vigil Service at Our Savior at 7:30 pm
Easter Sunday – St. John’s Divine Service at 8:00 am
                           Breakfast served by the Youth at Our Savior 9:30 am
                           Our Savior Divine Service at 10:45 am

St. John’s – We need pies for the Maundy Thursday supper. If you’d like to contribute, please bring two pies of whichever kind you’d like.

If you need a ride in the van for Lent or Easter services, call Eric Johnson 605-216-6701, or the church office 605-225-7106. The van will take people to St. John’s on Maundy Thursday.

Food Drive – The Board of Social Ministry & Evangelism will sponsor a food drive during Lent, to benefit the Journey Home. They need non-perishable food items (especially peanut butter, cereals, canned meats, canned veggies, mac & cheese or any pasta/rice sides) and household items (such as paper products, garbage bags, laundry detergent, and personal care items). Place your donations on the table on the south wall of the fellowship hall at Our Savior. Thank you!

Portals of Prayer for April – June are available in the narthex.

Blood Drive – Help save a life! Vitalant Blood Services will be at Our Savior on Monday, April 6^th from 2:00–6:00 pm.  To schedule your donation, call Vicky at 605-216-8967.

Higher Things Regional Youth Retreat – Where is my burning bush? Paths to professional church work. At Our Savior April 10 & 11. Registration begins at 5:00 on Friday. A fun weekend of worship, teaching, and games. Includes supper on Friday, breakfast and lunch on Saturday.

Our Savior Voters Meeting – The quarterly voters meeting will be Sunday, April 12^th at 9:30 am.

Men’s Club will meet Monday, April 13^th at 7:00 pm at Our Savior.

Family Game Day & Potluck, with Teacher Recognition – Sunday April 26^th at Our Savior we’ll have a potluck after the service, followed by Bingo and other games. Hosted by the Board of Education. Come enjoy the afternoon with your church family!

LCMS Stewardship Ministry – Palm Sunday
Matthew 21:3 – “If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” Did Jesus really need the donkey? If the man had refused to give the donkey, would the work of salvation have been derailed? Of course not. But what an honor for the man who owned this donkey and foal! Likewise, with us — the Lord needs none of us, but what an honor for God to choose to use our generosity in the work of His church.

Building Healthy Families – If it weren’t for the events of nearly 2000 years ago this week, it really wouldn’t matter what we do or say here at Lutheran Family Service. At best, all counseling would be a temporary fix. But thank God, it did happen and it does matter. During Holy Week we reflect with you on Jesus’s life, Passion, sacrifice, and death – but not without a sure, confident hope. As Easter People, we walk through this dark week with solemnity while preparing in our hearts to celebrate Christ’s triumphant resurrection from the dead. With you, we believe in God who raised Jesus. The reality of these historic events gives meaning and purpose to every one of our days. His redeeming love guides all our choices and relationships. LFS counselors who share your confident hope and faith are available to support you through whatever life circumstance or unresolved issue may be trying to steal your joy today. Call us – it’s why we’re here! Learn more at www.LutheranFamilyService.org
Email: info@lutheranfamilyservice.org  or call 605-271-1081

Main Street Living – 10:00 AM- This Is the Life – “The Twisting Road” – A young man and his wife deal with life, future, and regrets of things left unspoken. 10:30 AM- Rev. Zachary Wessel, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hartford, SD, presents the message “Behold Your King” based on Matthew 21:1-9. Watch Main Street Living on Sunday mornings on KDLT NBC TV. Past shows are archived at www.mainstreetliving.com.
 
The Lutheran Hour – God doesn’t look for valuable, desirable, beautiful people so that He can love them. God loves first, and by loving them He makes people valuable, desirable, and beautiful.  Speaker Rev. Dr. Michael Zeigler delivers the message “Dime-Sized” based on 1 Corinthians 13:11. Listen to The Lutheran Hour on Sunday mornings at 9:00 on KAWZ 88.1 FM, or on Sirius-XM Family Talk 131 at 9:00. Sermons are also archived on the website www.lutheranhour.org.
PODCAST PROGRAMMING FOR HOLY WEEK… Issues, Etc. is a podcast produced by Lutheran Public Radio in Collinsville, IL, and hosted by LCMS Pastor Todd Wilken.  This week's teachings include: Judas; the Lord’s Supper & Closed Communion; The Holy Week Hymns “The Royal Banners Forward Go,” “Sing My Tongue the Glorious Battle,” “O Sacred Head Now Wounded”  and more.  You can listen at your convenience at issuesetc.org, the LPR mobile app, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomePod, TuneIn or a podcast provider.

The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod’s Statement on Close Communion:
The Lord’s Supper is celebrated at this congregation in the confession and glad confidence that, as He says, Our Lord gives into our mouths not only bread and wine but His very body and blood to eat and drink for the forgiveness of sins and to strengthen our union with Him and with one another. Our Lord invites to His table those who trust in His words, repent of all sin, and set aside any refusal to forgive and love as He forgives and loves us, that they may show forth His death until He comes.
Because those who eat and drink our Lord’s body and blood unworthily do so to their great harm and because Holy Communion is a confession of the faith which is confessed at this altar, any who are not yet instructed, in doubt, or who hold a confession differing from that of this congregation and the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, and yet desire to receive the Sacrament, are asked to first speak with the Pastor.
(CTCR, Admission to the Lord’s Supper, Nov 1999)