Opening Hymn: 814 Just as I Am, without One Plea
5 Just as I am, thou wilt receive,
wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
because thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
6 Just as I am; thy love unknown
has broken ev’ry barrier down;
now to be thine, yea thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Text: Charlotte Elliott, 1789–1871
Tune: William B. Bradbury, 1816–1868
Text and tune: Public domain
Stand
In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Confession
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just
and will forgive us our sins
and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Let us confess our sins to the Lord.
Holy God, gracious Father,
I am sinful by nature
and have sinned against you in my thoughts, words, and actions.
I have not loved you with my whole heart;
I have not loved others as I should.
I deserve your punishment both now and forever.
But Jesus, my Savior, paid for my sins
with his innocent suffering and death.
Trusting in him, I pray: God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
Silence for meditation and reflection
Our gracious Father in heaven has been merciful to us. He sent his only Son, Jesus Christ, who gave his life as the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. Therefore, as a called servant of Christ and by his authority, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Lord, Have Mercy
Tune: Kermit G. Moldenhauer
Tune: © 2021 Kermit G. Moldenhauer, admin. Northwestern Publishing House. Used by permission: OneLicense no. 728620
The Word
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Prayer of the Day
Let us pray.
O Lord Jesus Christ, by your almighty power you opened the eyes of the blind and showed yourself to them. Turn our eyes away from worthless things, and lead us to love you sincerely; for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
Be seated
First Reading Isaiah 42:14–21
14 I have been silent for a long time.
I have kept still. I have restrained myself.
But now, like a woman giving birth, I will scream.
I will gasp and pant.
15 I will dry up mountains and hills.
I will make all their grass wither.
I will turn rivers into islands.
I will dry up pools.
16 I will lead the blind on a way they do not know.
Along paths they do not know I will direct them.
Ahead of them I will turn darkness into light
and rough places into level ground.
These are the things I will accomplish for them.
I will not abandon them.
17 They will be turned back and completely disgraced—
those who trust in an idol,
those who say to molten images, “You are our gods.”
18 You deaf ones, listen!
You blind ones, watch carefully so that you can see!
19 Who is as blind as my servant?
Who is as deaf as my messenger whom I sent?
Who is as blind as my associate,
as blind as the servant of the Lord ?
20 You, Israel, see many things, but you do not observe.
Israel opens his ears, but he does not hear.
21 Because of his own righteousness,
the Lord was pleased to make his law great and glorious.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Psalm 27 The LORD Is My Light
The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom / shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I / be afraid?
One thing I ask / from the Lord ,
this only / do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house / of the Lord
all the days / of my life,
to gaze on the beauty / of the Lord
and to seek him in his / temple. Refrain
He will hide me in the shelter of his / sacred tent
and set me high up- / on a rock.
I remain confi- / dent of this:
I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land / of the living.
Wait / for the Lord ;
be strong and take heart and wait / for the Lord .
Glory be to the Father and / to the Son
and to the Holy / Spirit,
as it was in / the beginning,
is now, and will be forever. / Amen. Refrain
Text: adapt. Adrian Smith; Christopher Walker
Tune: adapt. Adrian Smith; Christopher Walker
Setting: adapt. Adrian Smith; Christopher Walker
Text and music: © 1996 Christopher Walker. Published by OCP (refrain). Used by permission: OneLicense no. 728620
Second Reading Ephesians 5:8–14
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light, 9 for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth. 10 Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord, 11 and do not participate in fruitless deeds of darkness. Instead, expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention the things that are done by people in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes things visible. 14 Therefore it is said, “Awake, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Stand
Gospel Acclamation Hebrews 12:2
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.
Gospel John 9:1–7,13–17,34–39
1 As Jesus was passing by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that God’s works might be revealed in connection with him. 4 I must do the works of him who sent me while it is day. Night is coming when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the Light of the World.”
6 After saying this, Jesus spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and spread the mud on the man’s eyes. 7 “Go,” Jesus told him, “wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means “Sent”). So he went and washed, and came back seeing.
13 They brought this man who had been blind to the Pharisees. 14 Now it was a Sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. 15 So the Pharisees also asked him how he received his sight.
“He put mud on my eyes,” the man told them. “I washed, and now I see.”
16 Then some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God because he does not keep the Sabbath.” Others were saying, “How can a sinful man work such miraculous signs?”
There was division among them, 17 so they said to the blind man again, “What do you say about him, because he opened your eyes?”
The man replied, “He is a prophet.”
34 They answered him, “You were entirely born in sinfulness! Yet you presume to teach us?” And they threw him out.
35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out. When he found him, he asked, “Do you believe in the Son of God?”
36 “Who is he, sir,” the man replied, “that I may believe in him?”
37 Jesus answered, “You have seen him, and he is the very one who is speaking with you.”
38 Then he said, “Lord, I believe!” and he knelt down and worshipped him.
39 Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, in order that those who do not see will see, and those who do see will become blind.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise be to you, O Christ!
Be seated
Hymn 744 Rise, Shine, You People
Text: Ronald A. Klug, b. 1939, alt.
Tune: Dale Wood, 1934–2003
Text: © 1974 Augsburg Publishing House, admin. Augsburg Fortress. Used by permission: OneLicense no. 728620
Tune: © 1974 Augsburg Publishing House, admin. Augsburg Fortress. Used by permission: OneLicense no. 728620
Sermon: Just What I Need: Sight
Ephesians 5:8-14
Stand
Nicene Creed
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is,
seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation, he came down from heaven,
was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary,
and became truly human.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate.
He suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who in unity with the Father and the Son
is worshiped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Be seated
Prayer of the Church
Brief intercessory prayers may be added in a fitting place.
Eternal Lord, give us peace as we ponder the good news that you forgive our sins in Christ. Lead us to see clearly the path you have laid out for us.
Work in us so that we believe and live the Word we have heard today.
Provide courage and compassion to all who preach and teach your Word. Fill them with a love like yours as they proclaim your grace to us and all people.
Move us to love all ministers of the Word wherever they serve.
Guard and guide the families of our congregation. Lead husbands and wives to love each other with commitment, respect, and patience. Help parents to grasp the eternal value of keeping their children close to Jesus all their lives. Grant joy to those who are single, and make them a blessing to others.
Protect us from the temptations that surround us; give us pure hearts and minds.
Provide wisdom and insight to those who make laws and set policies. Give us respect for those who protect us from crime. Lead us to value the rights of our fellow citizens and to defend those who cannot defend themselves.
Bless our land with peace and prosperity so that the gospel may be proclaimed to all.
Give us passion to share the story of your love with our family and friends. Overcome unbelief, and open the hearts of people everywhere to believe the good news that Jesus has forgiven their sins and opened the gates of heaven.
Fill us with joy over every sinner who repents and comes to trust in you.
Extend your healing power to those who are sick and suffering in body or mind. [Pour out your special blessing on . . . here name the person and the cause of the petition.] Give patience and compassion to all who care for the sick and dying.
Lift the eyes of the distressed to your love in Christ.
Hear us, Lord, as we pray in silence.
Silent prayer
Gracious God, you govern and direct all things and you love all people. Hear our prayers, spoken and silent, and answer them in your wisdom and grace.
In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Offering
The Sacrament
Stand
Preface
Tune: Kermit G. Moldenhauer
Tune: © 2021 Kermit G. Moldenhauer, admin. Northwestern Publishing House. Used by permission: OneLicense no. 728620
It is truly good and right that we should at all times and in all places give you thanks, O Lord, holy Father, almighty and everlasting God, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who brought the gift of salvation to all people by his death on the tree of the cross so that the devil, who overcame us by a tree, would in turn by a tree be overcome. Therefore, with all the saints on earth and hosts of heaven, we praise your holy name and join their glorious song:
Holy, Holy, Holy
Tune: Kermit G. Moldenhauer
Tune: © 2002 Kermit G. Moldenhauer, admin. Northwestern Publishing House. Used by permission: OneLicense no. 728620
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Blessed are you, O Lord of heaven and earth. We praise and thank you for sending your Son, Jesus Christ, and we remember the great acts of love through which he has ransomed us from sin, death, and the devil’s power.
By his incarnation, he became one with us.
By his perfect life, he fulfilled your holy will.
By his innocent death, he overcame hell.
By his rising from the grave, he opened heaven.
Invited by your grace and instructed by your Word, we approach your table with repentant and joyful hearts. Strengthen us through Christ’s body and blood, and preserve us in the true faith until we feast with him and all his ransomed people in glory everlasting.
Amen.
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;
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.
Words of Institution
Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night he was betrayed, took bread; and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my T body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
Then he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; this is my T blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
The peace of the Lord be with you always.
Amen.
O Christ, Lamb of God
Tune: Kermit G. Moldenhauer
Tune: © 2002 Kermit G. Moldenhauer, admin. Northwestern Publishing House. Used by permission: OneLicense no. 728620
Be seated
Distribution
Distribution Hymns
576 Amazing Grace
Text (sts. 1–3): John Newton, 1725–1807, alt.; (st. 4): A Collection of Sacred Ballads, Richmond, 1790
Tune: Columbian Harmony, Cincinnati, 1829, ed. Benjamin Shaw; ed. Charles H. Spilman
Text and tune: Public domain
517 Praise the One Who Breaks the Darkness
Text: Rusty Edwards, b. 1955, alt.
Tune: The Sacred Harp, Philadelphia, 1844
Text: © 1987 Hope Publishing Co. Used by permission: OneLicense no. 728620
Tune: Public domain
477 O Day Full of Grace
Text: Scandinavian, c. 1450; tr. Gerald Thorson, 1921–2001
Tune: Christoph E. F. Weyse, 1774–1842
Text: © 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship, admin. Augsburg Fortress. Used by permission: OneLicense no. 728620
Tune: Public domain
Stand
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his mercy endures forever.
Whenever we eat this bread and drink this cup,
we proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
We give thanks, almighty God, that you have refreshed us with this saving gift. We pray that through it you will strengthen our faith in you and increase our love for one another. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
Blessing
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look on you with favor and T give you peace.
Amen.
Closing Hymn: 713
I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light
Text: Kathleen Thomerson, b. 1934
Tune: Kathleen Thomerson, b. 1934
Text and tune: © 1970, 1975 Celebration. Used by permission: OneLicense no. 728620
Acknowledgments
Setting Four from Christian Worship
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version® (EHV®) © 2017 Wartburg Project. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Liturgical and musical settings of Scripture based on text from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.TM Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
Software distributed in partnership with Northwestern Publishing House.
Created by Christian Worship: Service Builder © 2026 Concordia Publishing House.
