Fifth Sunday of Lent
March 22, 2026
Scripture Texts: Ezekiel 37:1–14; Psalm 130:1–7; Romans 8:1–11; John 11:1–53
Sermon: Naomi's Heart Mission
Join us in our service of worship Sunday at 10:30am that includes a message from the founder of Naomi's Heart Mission, Kristie Ward, sacred music, readings from the four major sections of the Holy Bible, the Lord's Supper, and a chat with our children and Kristie.
Crossword Puzzle based on today's readings
Fifth 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.
Eternal Father, breathe into your church your holy spirit and give us life that we would walk in confident faith all the days of our lives. Raise all those who are dead in sin to the sound of your voice that they would awaken and be brought into the fold of your promise of life eternal. Make us instruments of your mission that we might carry your holy word to the nations, that through hearing and understanding, many dry bones would be raised as a new creature of faith. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
O God of our salvation, we thank you for the beloved saints who have passed and now rest with you in glory. Comfort all who presently mourn. Grant patience and endurance in the coming weeks as we pray for the family and friends of Tommy Huffman and Rev. Craig Honbarger. Lord, we ask you to be with them during their grief and suffering, and fill them with the peace, presence, and power of your son, who promises whoever believes, though he die, yet shall he live. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Father, we pray for those serving you worldwide. Strengthen the churches and missions grounded in your word. Provide both physical and spiritual nourishment, aligning their efforts with your purpose. Help us to support one another, enabling us to better serve those called to your church through faith in your Son. We pray especially for Naomi’s Heart Mission. Bless them, and make them fruitful in all their missional works that your spirit would fill the communities and families in which they serve. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord Jesus, help us to live according to the spirit, that we would always trust in the salvation that you have given us in your cross. Help us to remember the forgiveness you offer to us, and that you alone have the power to call the dead out of their tombs to new life. Help us to apprehend your promise of mercy, forgiveness, and life through the gifts you offer — through holy communion, in your preached word, in the hearing of the gospel, that your spirit would breathe life in us and sustain us forever. 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
• Mid-week Lenten Services with dramatic readings by our youth — Wednesday March 25, at 6pm
• Maundy Thursday Service, 7pm, April 2nd
• Good Friday Service, 7pm, April 3rd
• Easter Sunrise Service, 7am, April 5th
• Easter Breakfast served by youth, April 5th after Sunrise Service
• Easter Resurrection Service, 10:30am, April 5th
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 Fifth Sunday of Lent: Exodus 3:16–4:12; Romans 12:1–21; John 8:46–59.
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 fifth week of Lent are listed below, and are also found beginning on page 964 in For All the Saints, volume III.
Sunday: Exodus 3:16–4:12; Romans 12:1–21; John 8:46–59
Monday: Exodus 4:10–31; 1 Corinthians 14:1–19; Mark 9:30–41
Tuesday: Exodus 5:1–6:1; 1 Corinthians 14:20–33a, 39–40; Mark 9:42–50
Wednesday: Exodus 7:8–24; 2 Corinthians 2:14–3:6; Mark 10:1–16
Thursday: Exodus 7:25–8:19; 2 Corinthians 3:7–18; Mark 10:17–31
Friday: Exodus 9:13–35; 2 Corinthians 4:1–12; Mark 10:32–45
*Saturday: Exodus 10:21–11:8; 2 Corinthians 4:13–18; Mark 10:46–52
*We do not meet in the chapel on Saturdays. On Sundays, we meet in the parsonage at 6pm to discuss the readings.
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