Author: Julie Raffa

Introit Psalm 105:4–7; antiphon: v. 8
He remembers his covenant for- | ever,* the word that he commanded, for a thousand gener- | ations. Seek the Lord | and his strength;* seek his presence con- | tinually! Remember the wondrous works that | he has done,* his miracles, and the judgments he | uttered, O offspring of Abraham, his | servant,* children of Jacob, his | chosen ones! He is the | Lord our God;* his judgments are in | all the earth. 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. He remembers his covenant for- | ever,* the word that he commanded, for a thousand gener- | ations.
Collect of the Day
O God, You see that of ourselves we have no strength. By Your mighty power defend us from all adversities that may happen to the body and from all evil thoughts that may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Old Testament Reading Genesis 12:1–9
1The Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
4So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. 5And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan, 6Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. 7Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him. 8From there he moved to the hill country on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. And there he built an altar to the Lord and called upon the name of the Lord. 9And Abram journeyed on, still going toward the Negeb.
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 4:1–8, 13–17
1What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? 2For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” 4Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. 5And to the one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, 6just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:
7“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; 8blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.” . . .
13For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. 14For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression.
16That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, 17as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.
Holy Gospel John 3:1–17
1Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” 3Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
9Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10Jesus answered
him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? 11Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. 12If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
16“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”
Announcements
Easter Flowers order forms are now available. When you have your form filled out, please put it in the manila envelope outside the church office.
Orders must be in by noon on March 19. If you need an extra form, please see the posters in the Narthex and outside the fellowship hall.
Large Print Hymnals are now available for order. There is a sample on the counter in the Narthex. Sign up sheet to order is on the bulletin board in the Narthex. Cost is $49.99
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.
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.
Cable Worship Schedule Pilgrim’s Sunday 8:00 a.m. Divine Service is broadcast on WB 987 and AT&T Uverse 99 multiple times during the week: Sundays: 6:00 a.m. Mondays: 4:00 p.m. Tuesdays: 11:30 a.m. Wednesdays: 9:00 a.m. Wednesdays: 4:00 p.m. Bible Study, Thursdays: 4:00 p.m. This service is also live streamed and archived on the church’s YouTube channel:
Pilgrim Lutheran Church- West Bend, WI

Second Sunday in Lent
Divine Service
Lutheran Service Book: Page:
Liturgy: Setting 4 Apostles Creed 203 Gloria & Alleluia are omitted in Lent
Hymns:
Preserve Your Word, O Savior 658
Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart 708
Communion Hymns:
When in the Hour of Deepest Need 615
Upon the Cross Extended 453
God Loved the World So That He 571
The Gospel Shows the Father’s 580
Lord Jesus Christ, the Church’s Head 647
Scripture Readings:
Old Testament: Genesis 12:1-9
Epistle: Romans 4:1-8, 13-17
Gospel: John 3-17
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:
Rev. Clark Davis, Jeff Kreuser, Dan Grosskreuz, Michael Ferguson, Dorothy Kroll, Ella Wilkens, 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, Ruth Mertz, 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. Joseph Fisher
Liturgist: Rev. Christopher Raffa
Elder: Ron Kabitzke / Dan Schmidt
Cantor: Tanner S.
Organist: Ben Grosskreuz

Coming Up at Pilgrim
Saturday, March 4:
7:00 a.m. Men’s Breakfast & Bible Study
Sunday, March 5:
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 6:
10:30 a.m. Chapel @Jackson Crossing
11:30 a.m. Chapel @ Vista Pointe
6:30 p.m. Board of Elders Meeting
Tuesday, March 7:
9:00 a.m. Chapel @ Meadowbrook
2:00 p.m. Chapel @ Auxiliary Court
Wednesday, March 8:
9:00 a.m. Pilgrim Quilters
4:00 p.m. Youth Catechesis
6:30 p.m. Adult Class: Lutheran Difference
Thursday, March 9:
9:00 a.m. Adult Class: 2nd Samuel
1:00 p.m. Lenten Divine Service
5:30 p.m. Lenten Dinner/Ladies Guild
7:00 p.m. Lenten Divine Service
Friday, March 10: Office Closed
Saturday, March 18:
7:00 a.m. Men’s Breakfast & Bible Study

Second Sunday in Lent
March 5, 2023
16“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”
John 3:16-17
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