First Service
FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT
Jesus Turns Our Darkness into Light
March 15, 2026
AS WE GATHER
The Lord is grieved by the spiritual blindness of His people, but He does not forsake them. Instead, He promises to turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground (Isaiah 42:16). The Lord does not give up on His servant, Israel, but sends another Servant who is the light of the world (John 9:5). Jesus’ light comes to us in His Word, His water, and His Supper. These are His means for opening our eyes to see and to live as children of light (Ephesians 5:8). Baptized into Christ, we look forward to the day when these words will come pass: “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you” (Ephesians 5:14).
+ PREPARATION +
HYMN When I Survey the Wondrous Cross TLH 175 (1st tune)
When I survey the wondrous cross On which the Prince of Glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss And pour contempt on all my pride.
Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast Save in the death of Christ, my God;
All the vain things that harm me most, I sacrifice them to His blood.
See, from His head, His hands, His feet, Sorrow and love flow mingled down.
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet Or thorns compose so rich a crown?
Were the whole realm of nature mine That were a tribute far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all.
INVOCATION
Pastor: In the name of the Father and of the +Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION Psalm 142:1
Pastor: With my voice I cry out to the Lord;
People: with my voice I plead for mercy to the Lord.
Silent reflection on God’s Word and for self-examination.
Pastor: Let us then confess our sins to God our Father.
People: Most merciful God, we confess that we were born in utter sin. To this day and by nature, we have eyes that do not see and ears that do not hear. We have trusted in the things we have made rather than You. Our thoughts, words, and actions have been unfruitful and dark. We have been blind to our sin, but You have seen it. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, open our eyes. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.
Pastor: Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. Jesus is the light of the world and your salvation. He has enlightened you with His gifts and given you ears to hear Jesus’ words. It is He who is speaking to you. As a called and ordained servant of Christ and by His authority, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the +Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
+WORD +
KYRIE
Pastor: In peace let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Pastor: For the peace from above and for our salvation let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Pastor: For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the church of God, and for the unity of all let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Pastor: For this holy house and for all who offer here their worship and praise let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Pastor: Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.
People: Amen.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Pastor: Let us pray. Almighty God, our heavenly Father, Your mercies are new every morning; and though we deserve only punishment, You receive us as Your children and provide for all our needs of body and soul. Grant that we may heartily acknowledge Your merciful goodness, give thanks for all Your benefits, and serve You in willing obedience; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
People: Amen.
OLD TESTAMENT READING Isaiah 42:14–21 (The Lord will lead His people in a new way, turning darkness into light.)
14 For a long time I have held my peace; I have kept still and restrained myself; now I will cry out like a woman in labor; I will gasp and pant. 15 I will lay waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their vegetation; I will turn the rivers into islands, and dry up the pools. 16 And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them. 17 They are turned back and utterly put to shame, who trust in carved idols, who say to metal images, “You are our gods.” 18 Hear, you deaf, and look, you blind, that you may see! 19 Who is blind but my servant, or deaf as my messenger whom I send? Who is blind as my dedicated one, or blind as the servant of the Lord? 20 He sees many things, but does not observe them; his ears are open, but he does not hear. 21 The Lord was pleased, for his righteousness' sake, to magnify his law and make it glorious.
EPISTLE Ephesians 5:8–14 (The Lord positions us to walk as children of light.)
8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
HOLY GOSPEL John 9:1–41 (Jesus heals a man born blind.)
As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 And 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 the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 We must work 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 Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man's eyes with the mud 7 and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing. 8 The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar were saying, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some said, “It is he.” Others said, “No, but he is like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” 10 So they said to him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” 11 He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed and received my sight.” 12 They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.” 13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. 14 Now it was a Sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. 15 So the Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight. And he said to them, “He put mud on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.” 16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division among them. 17 So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him, since he has opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.” 18 The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight 19 and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” 20 His parents answered, “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. 21 But how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.” 22 (His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess Jesus to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue. 23 Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”) 24 So for the second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, “Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner.” 25 He answered, “Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” 26 They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” 27 He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?” 28 And they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. 29 We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.” 30 The man answered, “Why, this is an amazing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. 32 Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” 34 They answered him, “You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?” And they cast him out. 35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36 He answered, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” 37 Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.” 38 He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him. 39 Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” 40 Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?” 41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE
HYMN I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light LSB 411
I want to walk as a child of the light I want to follow Jesus
God sent the stars to give light to the world
The star of my life is Jesus
Refrain: In Him there is no darkness at all
The night and the day are both alike
The Lamb is the light of the city of God
Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus
I want to see the brightness of God I want to look at Jesus
Clear Sun of Righteousness, shine on my path
And show me the way to the Father (Refrain)
I'm looking for the coming of Christ I want to be with Jesus
When we have run with patience the race
We shall know the joy of Jesus (Refrain)
SERMON
NICENE CREED
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of his Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made: who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried. And the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father. And he will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And I believe one holy Christian and apostolic Church, I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.
GREETING/ANNOUNCEMENTS
OFFERING
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
Pastor: As children of light, we cry out to the Lord who sees us and hears us, and deals bountifully with us in our time of need:
Lord of Light, in Your Son You brought light into this dark world. Bless all pastors and church workers, especially those who minister to those who are deaf and blind, that they faithfully point us to all that is good and right and true, and that we discern what is pleasing to You. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: shine on us.
Pastor: Loving Father, You claimed us as children in Holy Baptism, bringing us out of darkness and into Your marvelous light. Help us to walk as children of light, that Your works be displayed in us while it is still day. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: shine on us.
Pastor: Patient Lord, in the face of deep darkness, You remain slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. Give us Your patience in our encounters with the darkness, that we graciously and fearlessly lead those who are blinded by sin back to You. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: shine on us.
Pastor: Sovereign Lord, You are our refuge and portion in the land of the living. Strengthen our leaders, our government, and all You have put in place to protect us. Open their eyes to see the needs of Your people and Your creation. Help them to establish laws that are good and right and true. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: shine on us.
Pastor: Merciful Lord, You deliver those who cry to You from the darkness of pain, sickness, and grief. Visit all who are in need and struggling to see beyond what is before them, [especially . . .]. Bring them Your light and Your peace. Hide them in Your shelter and restore to them the joy of being Your children. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: shine on us.
Pastor: Believing that Jesus truly is the light who overcomes all darkness, we trust that You hear and answer us according to Your good and gracious will; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
People: Amen.