Third Sunday of Lent
March 8, 2026
Scripture Texts: Exodus 17:1–7; Psalm 95:1–9; Romans 5:1–8; John 4:5–30, 39–42
Sermon: Sir, Give Me this Water
Join us in our service of worship Sunday at 10:30am that includes a message from Pastor Lord, as well as sacred music, readings from the four major sections of the Holy Bible, the Lord's Supper, and a chat with our children and Pastor Ryman.
Crossword Puzzle based on today's readings
Today's Bulletin PDF • Today's Sermon Manuscript
Third Sunday of Lent
Order of Worship
Download today's bulletin PDF for the entire order of worship and more.
Let us pray for the whole people of God, in Christ Jesus, and for all people according to their needs.
O Lord, our Rock, forgive us our grumbling ways. Give us the grace to trust you on our journey together through this life, and grant us unity, the living water that we need so desperately, and the faith to believe that you are with us always, even to the end of the age. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We come before you this morning, Father, to worship you. Help us leave behind, at least in this hour, the petty concerns of daily life, trusting you for daily needs. Give us this day — this Lord’s Day — yourself, that we may be sustained. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord Jesus, give us joyous peace in the face of sufferings, and the Christian character of enduring hope. We pray this especially for our homebound and those who mourn, particularly the family of Nancy Menius, whom we commend to your loving care. For all those who cannot be or would not be in the physical communion of their church family this morning, we request your singular grace to believe that you died for them. Through this knowledge of your abounding love, help them to stand in your grace. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Holy Spirit, lead us to the one who offers the living water that wells up into a spring of eternal life. Inspire us this week to hear you in the Word, and so, move us each day beyond a focus on ourselves and our sins to yourself, the source of all life and peace— the only one who is indeed the Savior of the world. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Into your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy — through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Teaching
Open or download this week's preview of the lessons. We send this to our homebound with a bulletin each week and thought you might like to have a copy as well. You may read it online or print it out. It includes prayers, brief teaching on each of the four lessons for Sunday, an overview, and an additional Word Search based on the Gospel Lesson.
Announcements
Daylight Savings Time begins Sunday, March 8. Turn your clocks forward an hour Saturday night.
Mid-week Lenten service, Wednesday, March 11, at 6pm
Vespers

Join us for Vespers this evening in the parsonage (across the street from the church) at 6:00. We will be eating and laughing, singing and praying, and reading and discussing the readings for the third week of Lent are: Genesis 44:1–17; Romans 8:1–10; John 5:25–29
Morning Prayer
Join us for Morning Prayer in the chapel, Monday through Friday at 8:30am, where we read and discuss Scripture and pray together. Our readings for the second week of Lent follow below, and are found beginning on page 895 of For All the Saints, volume III.
Sunday: Genesis 44:1–17; Romans 8:1–10; John 5:25–29
Monday: Genesis 44:18–34; 1 Corinthians 7:25–31; Mark 5:21–43
Tuesday: Genesis 45:1–15; 1 Corinthians 7:32–40; Mark 6:1–13
Wednesday: Genesis 45:16–28; 1 Corinthians 8:1–13; Mark 6:13–29
Thursday: Genesis 46:1–7, 28–34; 1 Corinthians 9:1–15; Mark 6:30–46
Friday: Genesis 47:1–26; 1 Corinthians 9:16–27; Mark 6:47–56
*Saturday: Genesis 47:27–48:7; 1 Corinthians 10:1–13; Mark 7:1–23
*We do not meet in the chapel on Saturdays. On Sundays, we meet in the parsonage but in the evening. See above.
Visitor Info
If you live in the area or are passing through, please worship with us in-person. We also livestream our services on this page.
Expect traditional worship with liturgy and Holy Communion each Sunday and a message grounded in the Scriptures and guided by the Lutheran Confessions — all in a friendly, multigenerational environment.
We welcome and encourage children to worship with us. Just before the sermon, our children take up a spare change offering for mission. Then they join one of our pastors on the chancel steps for a chat about today's Scriptures. We think you will love this part of the service.
Giving
You may give an offering online to the General Fund and to some specific funds, using this secure link. If you do not have an account with Tithely, it will only take a few minutes to set that up. If you need help, please call the church office at 704-633-0922. Please note that a small, typical percentage is retained by Tithely.
You may also mail offerings to:
St. Paul's Lutheran Church
205 St. Paul's Church Road
Salisbury, NC 28146
License
Streaming License: Licensee: St. Paul's Lutheran Church 205 St Paul Church Rd Salisbury, NC 28146 Term: Dec 22, 2021 - Dec 22, 2022 Average Weekly Attendance: 1 - 199 License #: 14408 URL: stpaulslutheran.church GRANT OF LICENSE. St. Paul's Lutheran Church is granted a non-exclusive, non-transferable license during the term of the agreement to publicly play, perform, and transmit via the website noted above, any musical composition controlled by one or more of the domestic Performing Rights Organizations (ASCAP, BMI and SESAC),as stated in the CCS WORSHIPcast License Terms and Conditions.
Performance License: Licensee: St. Paul's Lutheran Church 205 St Paul Church Rd Salisbury, NC 28146 Term: Dec 22, 2021 - Dec 22, 2022 Average Weekly Attendance: 1 - 199 License #: 14408 GRANT OF LICENSE. St. Paul's Lutheran Church is granted a non-exclusive, non-transferable license during the term of the agreement to publicly play and perform in any of the Licensee’s facilities within the United States any musical composition controlled by one or more of the domestic Performing Rights Organizations (ASCAP,BMI and SESAC), as stated in the CCS PERFORMmusic License Terms and Conditions.
CCLI License # 11395633