Where in the world is God?Riding on a Donkey

SHINING MOUNTAINS LUTHERAN CHURCHBozeman, MT

Midweek Lent—February 24, 2021

Tonight’s order of worship is an adapted version of the historic rite called Compline. It is the final service of the day before one retires for the night. This is a time for prayer and meditation. The believer finds peace in God’s forgiveness and security under the shadow of His wings.

OPENING PRAYER M: Blessed are You, O Lord, the God of our Fathers, Creator of the changes of day and night, giving rest to the weary, renewing the strength of those who are spent, giving us reason to sing in the evening. As You have protected us in the day that is past, so be with us in the coming night. Keep us from every sin, every evil, and every fear, for You are our light and salvation and the strength of our life. To You be the glory for endless ages.C: Amen.

OPENING RESPONSES M: The Lord Almighty grant us a quiet night and peace at the last.C: Amen. M: It is good to give thanks to the Lord,C: To sing praise to Your Name, O Most High; M: To herald Your love in the morning,C: Your truth at the close of day. M: Jesus, remember me when you come into Your kingdom.C: Jesus, remember me when you come into Your kingdom.

OPENING HYMN #716 No Tramp of Soldiers’ Marching Feet

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CONFESSION OF SINSM: Dear friends, let us confess our sins in the presence of God and one another.C: Lord of life, I confess that I am by nature dead in sin. For faithless worrying and selfish

pride, for sins of habit and sins of choice, for the evil I have done and the good I have failed to do, you should cast me away from your presence forever. O Lord, I am sorry for my sins. Forgive me, for Jesus’ sake.

A moment of silence for self-examination

ABSOLUTIONM: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. In his great mercy, God made us alive in Christ even when we were dead in our sins. Hear the word of Christ through his called servant: I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son (+) and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen.

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OLD TESTAMENT READING Numbers 22:21-3521 Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab. 22 But God was very angry when he went, and the angel of the LORD stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. 23 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, she turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat her to get her back on the road. 24 Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow path between two vineyards, with walls on both sides. 25 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she pressed close to the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot against it. So he beat her again. 26 Then the angel of the LORD moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, either to the right or to the left. 27 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam, and he was angry and beat her with his staff. 28 Then the LORD opened the donkey’s mouth, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?” 29 Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now.” 30 The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?” “No,” he said. 31 Then the LORD opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown. 32 The angel of the LORD asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? I have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before me. 33 The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she had not turned away, I would certainly have killed you by now, but I would have spared her.” 34 Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, “I have sinned. I did not realize you were standing in the road to oppose me. Now if you are displeased, I will go back.” 35 The angel of the LORD said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but speak only what I tell you.” So Balaam went with the princes of Balak. HYMN #110 (vv.1,3,7) My Song Is Love Unknown

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3. Sometimes they strew his way And his sweet praises sing,Resounding all the day Hosannas to their King.Then “Crucify!” Is all their breath, And for his death They thirst and cry.

7. Here might I stay and sing; No story so divine,Never was love, dear King, Never was grief like thine.This is my friend, In whose sweet praise I all my days Could gladly spend!

SERMON Matthew 21:1-11As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.” 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: 5 “Say to the Daughter of Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ” 6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest!” 10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” 11 The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.” PRAYERS M: Be present, O merciful God, and protect us through the silent hours of this night,C: So that we who are wearied by the changes and chaos of this fleeting world may rest in

Your eternal changelessness. M: O God our Father, by Your mercy and might, the world turns safely into darkness and returns again to light.C: We place into Your hands our unfinished tasks, our unsolved problems, and our

unfulfilled hopes, knowing that only what You bless will prosper.M: To Your great love and protection we commit each other and all those we love,C: Knowing that You alone are our sure Defender. M: Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who watch or work or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep.C: Tend the sick, give rest to the weary, pity the afflicted, soothe the suffering, bless the

dying – all for Your love’s sake.5

M: Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping,C: That awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace; through Jesus

Christ our Lord. Amen.

 THE LORD’S PRAYER C: 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.

BLESSING M: The almighty and merciful Lord, the Father, the Son (+), and the Holy Spirit, bless us and keep us this night and always.C: Amen.

CLOSING HYMN #588 (vv.1-2, 5-7) Abide with Me

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LENTEN SERMON SERIES

Where in the World is God?

February 24th - On a donkeyMarch 3rd - In a Garden, prayingMarch 10th - Under ArrestMarth 17th - On TrialMarch 24th - Under the Whip

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