Welcome to American Lutheran Church of Sun City! If this is your first time, we invite you to sign our Guest Book located in the Narthex. Also, please fill out the Welcome

Pad placed in your pew.

Our mission is to proclaim the love of Jesus Christ, invite others to participate in

our faith community, and be a blessing to all in word and deed.

Today’s Theme: The fourth of the Old Testament promises providing a baptismal lens this Lent is the promise God makes to Moses: Those who look on the bronze serpent will live. In today’s gospel, Jesus says he will be lifted up on the cross like the serpent so that those who look to him in faith will live. When we receive the sign of the cross in baptism, that cross becomes the sign we can look to in faith, for healing, for restored relationship to God, for hope when we are dying.

Claiming Newness in the

Old, Old Story!

Pastor Gary Benson

Pastor Benson’s Celebration of Ministry tickets ~ $7 Stephen Ministry Banquet tickets ~ $7 Purchase WNA meal tickets ~ $7 WoMin’s Ministry salad potluck sign-up Sign up for Easter Flowers ~ Lilies, Mums & Azaleas

Wednesday Night

Alive!

Mar 14, 2018 ~ Wednesday Night Alive! 4:30 ~ Ed. A/B ~ Diane & Dan Reesor, “Travels to Sri Lanka” Lying off the southern tip of India, the tropical island of Sri Lanka has been colonized by the Portuguese Dutch and British before achieving independence in 1948. Devastated by their Civil War of 25 years and the tsunami in 2004, Sri Lanka is now on the road to recovery. Dan & Diane will share insights from their recent trip. 4:30 ~ Sanctuary ~ Chad & Peggy Farmer are Phoenix residents who have been hiking the Grand Canyon annually since 1993. Their favorite destination is a Phantom Ranch cabin on Bright Angel Creek at the bottom of the Canyon. They’ll be sharing their hiking experiences along the trails, through the geology, the weather, and encounters with birds and animals that make up this wondrous place. It has proved to be a spiritual as well as a physical journey.

5:15 Catered Dinner ~Irish Corn Beef Casserole/Pulled Pork, Boiled Potatoes, Green Beans, Roll/Cake

6:00 Sanctuary—LENTEN WORSHIP SERVICE

Fourth Sunday in Lent March 10, 2018 4:00 p.m.

March 11, 2018 8:30/10:30 a.m.

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WE GATHER

^OPENING HYMN Lift High the Cross LBW 377 (^ Indicates to stand)

GATHERING MUSIC, WELCOME and MINISTRY HIGHLIGHTS PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP (Saturday) Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child arr. Hunscerger Dale White, Trumpet; DIana White, Piano (Sunday) (8:30) My Faith Looks Up to Thee arr. Paul Christiansen Celebration Choir (10:30) The Old Rugged Cross Bennard, arr. C. Dobrinski Christo Bells

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P: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.

C: And also with you.

P: Trusting in the word of life given in baptism, we gather this day with faith and joy to worship in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

C: Amen.

^APOSTOLIC GREETING

OPENING INVOCATION

P: This is the day that the Lord has made! C: Let us rejoice and be glad in it!

P: Holy and loving God, in a world that does not understand repentance, we pray for new understanding, new humility, new patience, and new discipline that will help us die to sin and live for Jesus.

C: Amen.

P: As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, C: so must the Son of Man be lifted up.

P: Lift up your heads, O you nations; be lifted up you ancient peoples. C: Look upon the Lord, your God, and live.

P: Lord, we are sinful. Please take away our sin; C: help us to seek your way.

P: Lord, teach us your ways and make straight our paths C: in this hour of worship and always.

P: This is the day that the LORD has made. C: Let us rejoice and be glad in it! Amen.

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ORDER OF CONFESSION

P: Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

C: Amen. P: If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. But

we know that nothing is able to separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ. Therefore, if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Let us then open ourselves to the Lord and each other and confess our sins in penitence, faith, and hope.

HYMN OF PRAISE In the Cross of Christ I Glory LBW 104

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P: O most merciful God, C: forgive us. Our will is handcuffed to sin, and we cannot break free. We have spoken when we should have kept quiet.

(Silence)

P: O most merciful God, C: forgive us. We were silent when we should have said something.

(Silence)

P: O most merciful God, C: forgive us. We acted when we knew better.

(Silence)

P: O most merciful God, C: forgive us. We were still when we know we should have moved.

(Silence)

P: O most merciful God, C: forgive us. For the wrong we have done, for the good we have failed to do, have mercy on us, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen. ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS

P: Hear the good news! In raising Jesus from the grave, God shatters the power of sin and death. You are no longer captives, but are set free. As a called and ordained minister of the Church of Christ, and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all of your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. God has made you alive together with Christ by nailing your trespasses to the cross. By grace you have been saved. Go in the knowledge of this salvation to serve God and one another.

C: Thanks be to God! Amen.

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SALUTATION AND PRAYER OF THE DAY

P: The Lord be with you. C: And also with you.

P: Let us pray. O God, rich in mercy, by the humiliation of your Son you lifted up this fallen world and rescued us from the hopelessness of death. Lead us into your light, that all our deeds may reflect your love, through Jesus

Christ our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C: Amen.

ANTHEM (Saturday) What a Friend We Have in Jesus Traditional Hymn Dale White, Trumpet; Diana White, Piano (Sunday) (8:30) The Old Rugged Cross Bennard, arr. C. Dobrinski Christo Bells (10:30) My Faith Looks Up to Thee arr. Paul Christiansen Celebration Choir

KYRIE

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FIRST LESSON Numbers 21:4-9

Though God provides food and water for the Israelites in the wilderness, they whine and grumble. They forget about the salvation they experienced in the exodus. God punishes them for their sin, but when they repent God also provides a means of healing: A bronze serpent lifted up on a pole.

L: This is the Word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God!

PSALM 107:1-3, 17, 19-22

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^ LENTEN RESPONSE

^ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE GOSPEL

SECOND LESSON Ephesians 2:1-10

While we were dead in our sinfulness, God acted to make us alive as a gift of grace in Christ Jesus. We are saved not by what we do, but by grace through faith. Thus our good works are really a reflection of God’s grace at work in our lives.

L: This is the Word of the Lord C: Thanks be to God!

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^READING OF THE GOSPEL John 3:14-21

To explain the salvation of God to the religious leader, Nicodemus, Jesus refers to the scripture passage quoted in today’s first reading. Jus as those who looked upon the bronze serpent were healed, so people will be saved when they behold Christ lifted up on the cross.

^RESPONSE TO THE GOSPEL

^CONFESSION OF FAITH The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,

He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit

and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell.

On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven,

and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again

to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

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PULPIT HYMN O Love That Will Not Let Me Go LBW 324

SERMON Claiming Newness in the Old, Old Story! Pastor Gary E. Benson

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HYMN OF THE DAY The Old Rugged Cross

OFFERTORY (Saturday) Come Thou Fount arr. D.R. Heier Dale White, Cornet; Diana White, Piano

(Sunday) O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go arr. R. Powell

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^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;

OFFERTORY RESPONSE

P: Renewed in the promises of baptism, let us pray for the church, the world, and all who are in need.

(Following each petition)

Lord in your mercy… C: Hear our prayer.

P: Trusting in your covenant of mercy, O God, we lift our prayers to you, through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior, who taught us to pray...

^PRAYERS

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^CLOSING HYMN God Loved the World LBW 292

^BLESSING AND RESPONSE Threefold Amen (All sing)

and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those

who trespass against us; and 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.

~Our worship continues in the Chapel as all are invited to partake in Holy Communion~

^DISMISSAL P: Go in peace. Serve the Lord. C: Thanks be to God!

POSTLUDE We, Your People, Praise You ST. ANTHONY CHORALE,

arr. D. Edwards

Please join us for coffee in the Fellowship Hall between the Sunday services

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Christo Bells: So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross, Till my trophies at last I lay down; I will cling to the old rugged cross, And exchange it some day for a crown.

Celebration Choir: My faith looks up to thee, Thou Lamb of Calvary, Savior divine! Now hear me while I pray, Take all my guilt away, Oh, let me from this day be wholly thine!

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PASTORAL STAFF Rev. Gary E. Benson – Senior Pastor

g.benson@alcsuncity.org Rev. Ellis E. Eskritt – Lead Pastor of Care

e.eskritt@alcsuncity.org Rev. Charles T. Paulson – Pastor of Outreach

cpaulson@cox.net Rev. Gary R. Ulrich – Pastor of Care

g.ulrich@alcsuncity.org Rev. Gary R. Garvey – Visitation Pastor

g.garvey@alcsuncity.org

Liturgy, hymns and praise songs are reprinted with permission from Augsburg

Fortress License #9786000167707/ CCLI License #51

SERVING TODAY IN WORSHIP

MUSICIANS (Saturday): Dr. Dale White taught brass instru-ments and conducted jazz and wind ensembles at the College of St. Benedict/St. John's University in Minnesota for many years. Diana White is a CPA who recently retired as the administrator at St. Cloud Medical Group.

LAY READERS: Sharon Friedrichsen, Terri Polk, Robert Schmidt

TODAY’S ALTAR FLOWERS ARE PROVIDED BY: Wally Eklund and children ~ In celebration of Marge’s birthday

Yvonne Saetre ~ In memory of husband, Sydney

Flowers Delivered by: Beverly Flatland

Next Week’s Scripture Lessons: Jeremiah 31:31-34; Psalm 51:1-12 or Psalm 119:9-

16; Hebrews 5:5-10; John 12:20-33

Celebrate Pastor Benson’s 44 years of ministry on Saturday, March 17, 12:00 pm. Program starts in the Sanctuary at 1:00 pm. Lunch tickets are available for $7 today or in the office. You may attend the 1:00 program without purchasing lunch, if you prefer. TICKET PURCHASE DEADLINE IS MON, MAR 12, AT NOON.

ALL ARE WELCOME and encouraged to come celebrate our 10 new Stephen Ministry graduates at the Stephen Ministry Banquet Saturday, March 17, 5:00 pm. The new graduates will be commissioned at the 4:00 pm worship prior to the banquet. Banquet tickets ($7) are available today in the courtyard and Mon. in the office—PLEASE PURCHASE BY MON, MAR 12, NOON.

Don’t miss the WoMin’s Salad Potluck Luncheon, Wednesday, March 21, 10:30 am. Sign up today to bring a salad or dessert. Our program speaker, Cyndy Warnier, (Program and Development

Director, Spirit in the Desert) will share “A Personal Desert Experience for Body, Mind and Soul.”

Pew Crew volunteers needed ~ Please call Carie at the ALC office (623) 974-2512 ext. 115

Volunteer receptionists needed ~ Please call Kay at the ALC office (623) 974-2512.

ALC Good Book Club meets this Monday, March 12, at 9:30 am at El Dorado (10330 W. Thunderbird Blvd., Sun City) to view the last half of the video, “A Town Like Alice.” If you’d like to stay for lunch, please call Nola Mellstrom (1-651-334-5806), as she will collect the money that day. (It will be less than $10). Join us even if you haven’t read the book or seen the video.

Only two more Wednesday Night Alive sessions: March 14 & 21. Please join us!

Help us beautify our sanctuary for Easter with FLOWERS, FLOWERS, FLOWERS! Sign up today on the Easter Flower Chart in the narthex for Easter Lilies ($12), Azaleas ($22) or Mum plants ($12). Simply sign the flower chart and take an envelope to fill out and insert cash or check. Envelopes may be put in the offering or delivered to the office. Deadline: March 26.

If you have purchased and are going to the Arizona Broadway Theatre production of "Hair" on March 16, please be reminded that Mary Hansen will be in the lobby by 5 p.m. with your tickets. If you are riding the bus, please note the bus will be leaving ALC at 5:15 p.m.

Thank you for your support of Watoto African Children’s Choir. Your Love-Offering for them totaled around $3,500.

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THIS WEEK’S AT AMERICAN LUTHERAN Sunday, March 11 8:30/10:30 am Worship 9:30 Coffee Fellowship –5

Monday, March 12 9:00 Sewing/Crafts/Pr. Shawl –5 9:30 ALC Good Book Club @ El Dorado 1:30 WNA Events Committee –19 3:00 Intercessors –11 3:00 Call Committee –10

Tuesday, March 13 10:00 Pastor’s Bible Study –5 12:00 Cactus Conf. Pastors –19 1:30 Trusts –10 2:00 Genesis Bells –1 3:30 Christo Bells –1 6:30 AA – 10 6:30 Al-Anon – 9

Wednesday, March 14 9:00 WoMin’s Ministry Board –10 1:00 Rachel Circle –4 1:30 Staff Meeting –19 4:30 Wednesday Night Alive 5:15 WNA Dinner 6:00 LENTEN WORSHIP –1

Thursday, March 15 8:00 Men’s Bible Study – 9 8:30 Ball Exercise –5 8:30 Quail Run @ Royal Cafe 9-12 Stephen Ministry Training –6 10:00 Brookdale/Palmeras Communion

10:30 Cursillo Small Group –11 10:30 Royal Oaks Communion 2:30 NO Celebration Choir –12 OUTREACH DEADLINE

Friday, March 16 8:00 Bulletin Crew –10 9-11 LAST Beth Moore Bible Study –9 9:30 Faith Exercise @ ALC –6 11:00 Birds of Pray @ Tivoli Gardens

Saturday, March 17 8:00 Early Birds @ JiMichael’s 8:00 Grand West 5C/F @ Memo’s 9:00 Westers 5A @ Coco’s/Bell 9:30 Wanderers 3A in homes 9:30 Paradise RV @ the Park 9:30 New Member Orientation –9 11:00 Clinton Smith Internment 4:00 Worship – 1

Sunday, March 18 8:30/10:30 Worship – 1 9:30 Coffee Fellowship –5 9:30 Blood Pressure Screening –6 3:00 Sam Rotman Piano Concert –1 (free-will)

LOCATION LEGEND: 1 – Sanctuary 2 – Chapel 3 – Narthex

4 – Library/Lounge 5 – Fellowship Hall 6 – Multi-Purpose 9 – Education A & B

10 – Education C 11 – Education D 12 – Choir Room 19 – Admin. Mtg Rm

American Lutheran Church of Sun City 17200 N. Del Webb Blvd., Sun City, AZ 85373

Phone: 623.974.2512, Fax: 623.974.2515

www.alcsuncity.org Office Hours:

Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

WEEKEND PASTORAL CARE – If you have a pastoral care situation on the weekend, please call the church office at 623.974.2512 and press 109 for the Care Pastors’ voicemail. If you have an emergency, call any of the pastors at their home numbers (found in the church directory) until you contact one.

Pastor’s Bible Study— Tues,10:00 am, in the Fellowship Hall. Next study will be March 13 “By Heart, a Conversation of Luther’s Small Catechism” – The Lord’s Prayer. Men’s Bible Study- Thursdays, 8:00 am, in Room A/B. Please join us as we study the Book of Acts. Women’s Bible Study— Apr 4, 9:30. Meets the 1st Wednesday of each month in the Multi-Purpose Room, October through April. Bible Study with Dianne— Fridays, 9-11 am, in Ed A/B. Last session this Fri ~ will return in the Fall.

Maundy Thursday Communion Worship

Mar 29, 10 am & 6 pm

Good Friday Worship, March 30, 6:00 pm

Easter Celebration Worship, Sat, March 31, 4:00

Sun, April 1, 7:00, 9:00 & 11:00 am

Holy Week

Worship

Schedule: