Author: Julie Raffa

Introit Psalm 116:1–4, 8; antiphon: v. 15
Precious in the sight | of the Lord* is the death | of his saints. I love the Lord, because | he has heard* my voice and my pleas for | mercy. Because he inclined his | ear to me,* therefore I will call on him as long | as I live. The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid | hold on me;* I suffered distress and | anguish. Then I called on the name | of the Lord:* “O Lord, I pray, deliv- | er my soul!” For you have delivered my | soul from death,* my eyes from tears, my feet from | stumbling. Glory be to the Father and | to the Son* and to the Holy | Spirit; as it was in the be- | ginning,* is now, and will be forever. | Amen. Precious in the sight | of the Lord* is the death | of his saints.
Old Testament Reading Ezekiel 37:1–14
1The hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones. 2And he led me around among them, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley, and behold, they were very dry. 3And he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord God, you know.” 4Then he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. 5Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. 6And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the Lord.”
7So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I prophesied, there was a sound, and behold, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. 8And I looked, and behold, there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them. But there was no breath in them. 9Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.” 10So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army.
11Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are clean cut off.’ 12Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will open your graves and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will bring you into the land of Israel. 13And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people. 14And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the Lord.”
Gradual Hebrews 12:2
[O come, let us fix our eyes on] Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Epistle Romans 8:1–11
1There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. 8Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
Holy Gospel John 11:1–53
Page 897 in the pew Bible
Announcements
Lenten Services will continue at 1 & 7:00 p.m. on Thursdays during Lent.
Lenten Dinners will be served at 5:30 p.m. on Thursdays during Lent.
Lenten Meal for Thursday, March 30 is being sponsored by: The Men’s Bible Breakfast and Thrivent. Pizza Ranch pizza is on the menu with some non-meat and dessert pizzas. Pizzas arrive at 5:15 p.m. and serving at 5:30 p.m.
We are looking for Electric Fry pans, to be used in the Church kitchen.
If you are donating a used electric fry pan, please make sure it is in good condition.
Aluminum tabs are being collected to help support Children’s Hospital. Please save your aluminum tabs and place them in the containers you can find in the Narthex and the Fellowship hall.
Needed for the Pilgrim Pantry Toilet paper, if you get the larger packages of toilet paper please make sure they are able to be separated. The pantry is also in in need of Kleenex and storage bags assorted sized. Thank you.
Holy Week Services:
Palm Sunday, April 2:
8 & 10:30 a.m. Divine Service
Maundy Thursday, April 6:
1 & 7:00 p.m. Divine Service
Good Friday, April 7:
1 & 7:00 p.m. Tenebrae Vespers Service
Easter Vigil Saturday, April 8
6:30 p.m. Divine Service
Easter Sunday, April 9
6:00 a.m. Easter Sunrise Matins Service
7:00 a.m. Easter Breakfast
8 & 10:30 a.m. Divine Service

Fifth Sunday in Lent
Divine Service
Lutheran Service Book: Page:
Liturgy: Setting 2 Apostles Creed 167 During Lent Hymn of Praise is omitted . Please use Verse for Lent 173
Hymns:
O Christ, Who Shared our Mortal (9-10) 552 My Song is Love Unknown 430
Communion Hymns:
Jesus, Grant That Balm and Healing 421
Jesus, I Will Ponder Now 440
Glory Be to Jesus 433
Jesus Christ, My Sure Defense 741
Sing My Tongue , the Glorious Battle 454
Scripture Readings:
Old Testament: Ezekiel 37:1-14
Epistle: Romans 8:1-11
Gospel: John 11:1-53
In our prayers, we remember:
X all who live under the flag of our nation,
X our government and judicial officials,
X law enforcement officers, military personnel, and their families,
X those struggling with health issues:
Lynn Lutz, Rev. Kurt Ziemann, Deb Brathovde, Rev. Clark Davis, Jeff Kreuser, Dan Grosskreuz, Michael Ferguson, Dorothy Kroll, Rev. John Wille, Mary Margaret Hatfield, Phyllis Laabs-Darkow, Suzanne Stadelmayer, George Muth, Joyce Virchow, Rev Donald & Carolyn Bren, Jerry Sullivan, Richard Lewandowski, Mark Selzler, Ethan Tinlin, Sheryl Pajewski, Paul Lierman, Judy Clark, Louise Kreis, Betty Steely, Inez Schwoch, Elaine Kuenzel, Diane Behrens
X pastors, missionaries, and those who serve God’s people with the gifts of Christ,
X Christians persecuted for the confession of the faith, and especially we remember
X all who have forsaken the faith, that they may be restored to gladness of heart and be made wise to salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.
Preacher: Rev. Christopher Raffa
Liturgist: Rev. Joseph Fisher
Elder: Tim Kreuser, Dan Schmidt
Cantor: Samuel Boehlke
Organist: Ben Grosskreuz

Coming Up at Pilgrim
Sunday, March 26:
8:00 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. Divine Service
9:15 a.m. Sunday School: Bible Studies
9:30 a.m. Adult Class: Small Catechism
12:30 p.m. Bible Study: 2nd Samuel
Monday, March 27:
Tuesday, March 28:
2:00 p.m. Chapel @ Auxiliary Court
Wednesday, March 29:
4:00 p.m. Youth Catechesis
6:30 p.m. Adult Class: Lutheran Difference
Thursday, March 30:
9:00 a.m. Adult Class: 1st Samuel
1:00 p.m. Midweek Lenten Service
5:30 p.m. Lenten Dinner/ Men’s Breakfast
7:00 p.m. Midweek Lenten Service
Friday, Marc h 31: Office Closed
Saturday, April 1:
7:00 a.m. Men’s Breakfast & Bible Study

Fifth Sunday in Lent
March 26, 2023
And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.”
John 11:41b-42
Welcome and blessings to you through our Lord Jesus Christ!
We welcome all who gather with us around the Altar and Pulpit to hear the Word of God. If you are visiting, we are happy that you could join us today. Please sign the guest book in the narthex and fill out one of the pew cards and pass it in with the offering plate to leave a record of your visit.
Communion Statement: By the design and specific warning of our Lord Jesus Christ in His Word, the precious gift of the Lord’s Body and Blood is to be shared with His blessing only with those prepared to take it rightly. (1 Cor 11:23-32) At the first communion our Lord did not commune all believers, but only those who had been instructed by Him daily for three years. The custom of our church is to offer the Sacrament only to confirmed members of The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. So that our pastors would faithfully fulfill their obligations, (1 Cor 4:1; Heb 13:17; 1 Cor 11:27), all first-time visitors should speak to one of the pastors prior to communing. Our pastors are eager and available to provide instruction leading to a right and salutary reception our Lord’s holy Body and Blood, so that in the future you may join us in the blessing of this sacrament.

Pilgrim Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Unaltered Augsburg Confession
The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod
462 Meadowbrook Drive, West Bend, WI 53090
(262) 334-0375 www.pilgrimlutheran-westbend.org