MIDWEEK LENTEN WORSHIP
Grace Lutheran Church • Tucson, Arizona
March 18, 2026
OPENING HYMN Savior, When in Dust to You
Please stand
Christian Worship 393
INVOCATION
Minister: In the name of the Father and of the Son (+) and of the Holy Spirit.
Congregation: Amen.
PRAYER
Let us pray.
Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires are known, and from whom no secrets are hidden: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by your Holy Spirit, that we may love you and praise your holy name; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION
Our help is in the name of the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 124:8
Let us confess our sins to God and ask for his forgiveness: Almighty God, merciful Father, I confess to you that I have not loved you with all my heart. In what I have done and left undone, I have pursued my ways instead of your ways. I have not loved others as you command. For this I deserve your punishment now and forever. I am sorry for my sins. I repent of them. I beg for your mercy.
Forgive us for the sake of Jesus Christ, who suffered and died for us. Cleanse me from my sins. Release me from my guilt. Grant me your Holy Spirit to amend my sinful life.
Jesus says to his people, “If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven.” Do you believe this? Yes, I believe.
John 20:23
God, who is rich in mercy, loved us even when we were dead in sin and made us alive together with Christ. By grace you have been saved. Ephesians 2:4-5
In the name of (+) Jesus Christ, I forgive you all your sins.
Amen.
EXHORTATION
Our Lord Jesus Christ has forgiven us, has reconciled us to God, and has promised us the power to forgive and love one another. Relying on his promise, therefore, be reconciled with one another. Brothers and sisters, may the peace of Christ rule in our hearts, in our words, and in our actions.
PRAYER
Let us pray.
God, our Father, by the sacrifice of your Son you reconciled the world to yourself. We thank you for the precious gift of forgiveness. Refresh us with the joy of our salvation, that we may walk in the way of peace with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Renew our minds and wills, that daily we may speak your word of peace; through Jesus Christ our Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
Please be seated
RESPONSIVE READING FROM PSALM 138
I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart;
I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your unfailing love and your faithfulness.
When I called, you answered me; you greatly emboldened me.
Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly; though lofty, he sees them from afar.
Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; with your right hand you save me.
The Lord will vindicate me; your love, Lord, endures forever.
PSALM PRAYER
Lord, we bow down to you in thankful praise. You have made your ways known to both lowly and great on the earth. You have not abandoned the work of your hands, but instead you have redeemed us through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
1Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people reached the decision to put Jesus to death. 2They bound him, led him away, and handed him over to Pontius Pilate, the governor.
3Then when Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he felt remorse. He brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders 4and said, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? That’s your problem.”
5He threw the pieces of silver into the temple and left. Then he went out and hanged himself.
6The chief priests took the pieces of silver and said, “It is not lawful to put these into the treasury, since it is blood money.” 7They reached a decision to buy the potter’s field with the money, as a burial place for foreigners. 8So that field has been called The Field of Blood to this day. 9Then what was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price the sons of Israel had set for him, 10and they gave them for the potter’s field, just as the Lord commanded me.
11When Jesus stood in the presence of the governor, the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”
Jesus said to him, “It is as you say.”
12When he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. 13Then Pilate said to him, “Don’t you hear how many things they are testifying against you?”
14But he did not answer him not even one word, so that the governor was very surprised.
15At the time of the Festival the governor had a custom to release to the crowd any one prisoner they wanted. 16At that time they were holding a notorious prisoner named Barabbas. 17So when they were assembled, Pilate said to them, “Which one do you want me to release to you?
Barabbas or Jesus, who is called Christ?” 18For Pilate knew that they had handed Jesus over to him because of envy.
19While he was sitting on the judgment seat, Pilate’s wife sent him a message. “Have nothing to do with that righteous man,” she said, “since I have suffered many things today in a dream because of him.” 20But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus put to death. 21The governor asked them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?”
“Barabbas!” they said.
22Pilate said to them, “Then what should I do with Jesus, who is called Christ?” They all said to him, “Crucify him!”
23But the governor said, “Why? What has he done wrong?”
But they kept shouting even louder: “Crucify him!”
24When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing and that instead it was turning into a riot, he took water, washed his hands in front of the crowd, and said, “I am innocent of this righteous man’s blood. It is your responsibility.”
25And all the people answered, “Let his blood be on us and on our children!”
26Then he released Barabbas to them, but he had Jesus flogged and handed him over to be crucified.
SERMON
9 The word of the L came to me:
The Kingly Priest Zechariah 6:9-13
10 Take an offering from the exiles from Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, who have come from Babylon and on that very day go into the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah.
11 Take the silver and gold and make a crown, and place it on the head of Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest.
12 Tell him that this is what the Lord of Armies says:
There is a man whose name is the Branch, because he will branch out from his place and build the temple of the L . 13 He is the one who will build the temple of the L . He will be clothed with majesty, and he will sit and rule on his throne. He will be a priest on his throne, and there will be peaceful relations between the two offices.
CONFESSION OF FAITH
Apostles’ Creed with Luther’s Explanation
ALL: I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
What does this mean?
I believe that God created me and all that exists,
and that he gave me my body and soul, eyes, ears, and all my members, my mind and all my abilities. And I believe that God still preserves me by richly and daily providing clothing and shoes, food and drink, property and home, spouse and children, land, cattle, and all I own, and all I need to keep my body and life.
God also preserves me by defending me against all danger, guarding and protecting me from all evil.
All this God does only because he is my good and merciful Father in heaven, and not because I have earned or deserved it.
For all this I ought to thank and praise, to serve and obey him.
This is most certainly true.
ALL: I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
What does this mean?
I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from all eternity, and also true man, born of the virgin Mary, is my Lord.
He has redeemed me, a lost and condemned creature, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil, not with gold or silver but with his holy precious blood and with his innocent suffering and death.
All this he did that I should be his own, and live under him in his kingdom, and serve him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness,
just as he has risen from death and lives and rules eternally. This is most certainly true.
ALL: I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
What does this mean?
I believe that I cannot by my own thinking or choosing believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to him.
But the Holy Spirit has called me by the gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith.
In the same way he calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith.
In this Christian church he daily and fully forgives all sins to me and all believers. On the Last Day he will raise me and all the dead and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ. This is most certainly true.
LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.
PRAYER FOR PEACE
Lord God, all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works come from you. Give to us, your servants, that peace which the world cannot give, that our hearts may be set to obey your commandments. Defend us also from the fear of our enemies, that we may live in peace and quietness; through the merits of Jesus Christ our Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
BLESSING
Go in peace. Christ Jesus has set you free. Thanks be to God.
Please be seated
SEASON OF LENT
The Lenten Season is observed during the six weeks prior to Easter. The traditional goal of Lent is to prepare believers for a proper celebration of the events of Holy Week, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The purple color of the altar paraments and vestments reminds us that Lent is also a season of repentance. The Bible tells us that repentance is always the divine work of the Holy Spirit through the Law and the Gospel. The Law crucifies the old Adam, the sinful nature within us, and the Gospel raises up the new man, the new creation in us. For us, the Lenten focus on the cross and suffering of Jesus is not aimed at an emotional response. It is a pointed proclamation and confession of the Law and the Gospel, a preaching of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Lent is properly a season of repentance when it brings the cross to sinners and sinners to the cross of Christ as the fountain and source of forgiveness, life, and salvation.
This Lenten season, the theme for our midweek services is “It Is Finished.” This series explores the prophecies of Zechariah, offering an enriching look at our Savior Jesus, particularly as these prophecies relate to the events of Jesus’ Holy Week passion, death, and resurrection.
WORSHIP NOTES
The order of worship we will follow is printed in this worship folder for you to follow along and participate. You’ll notice that the service is a dialogue between God and us, his people. The pastor speaks to God along with the congregation and also speaks the Word of God to the people. The hymns we are using come from the blue Christian Worship hymnal, which is found in the hymnal racks in each pew. LARGE PRINT worship folders are available for those who desire one.
Those wishing to leave an offering can do so at either exit today or give online at GraceLutheranSAZ.org/give. (You can also scan the QR code to the right to access the online giving page.)
We would greatly appreciate a record of your attendance in our worship today. Please take a moment to sign the Friendship Register located in the red folder at the end of each row. Thank you!
PARKING
There is no cost to park in our parking lot during worship services. If you receive a citation by mistake, please let our office staff know so it can be cleared
Grace Central Office: Email office@gracelutheransaz.org. Phone (520)623-6633
THOSE ASSISTING IN WORSHIP TODAY
Minister ............................................................................................................. Pastor Seth Scheuerlein
Accompanist ..................................................................................................................... Beth Kassulke
Cello....................................................................................................................Joshua Vierra (7:00 PM)
Vocalist .............................................................................................................Jeff Weinstein (7:00 PM)
Sound and Recording Technicians .................................................. Jeremy Snavely, Danny Koehler