Livestream at 8:30am
Bulletin for the service

Prayer of the Day
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. Amen.

Scripture
Numbers 21:4-9
Psalm 107:1-3, Psalm 107:17-22
Ephesians 2:1-10
John 3:14-21

Sermon
"Do Not Look Away"
Numbers 21:4-9, John 3:14-21

In Numbers the people of God have grown impatient with wilderness wandering. In judgement God sends poisonous serpents in their midst. This judgement turns out to also be their healing. Moses lifts up a bronze serpent and those who look upon it live. In facing what they are most afraid of they find healing. From there we hear the familiar words of John chapter 3. When Jesus is lifted on the cross for all to see, humanity comes face to face with all the forces of sin and death and all that we are most afraid of. If we do not look away, we will see that Jesus has transformed this instrument of death into the very means of life. From the throne of the cross the judge of the cosmos does not condemn but offers himself as salvation for all. Those who look upon it live.

 

Hymns

 In our prayers we remember Lutheran Social Services of Illinois.