Holy Cross Lutheran Church of Wartburg
5765 Maeystown Road – Waterloo, IL 62298
Pastor Dan Ostlund
Office: 618-939-7094 – cell 618-301-6358
Office: hcwartb@htc.net, Pastor: wartburg.pastor@gmail.com
Website: www.holycrosswartburg.com
Palm Sunday/Sunday of the Passion
Our Service can be found on your radio at 87.9 FM
March 29, 2026
Guests Welcome! We are delighted that you are with us for worship this morning. Consider us your church home– at least for today. We hope we will see you again soon!
We celebrate Holy Communion: In this Supper of our Lord we receive the true body and blood of Jesus Christ under the earthly forms of bread and wine for the forgiveness of our sins and the strengthening of our faith. Since this Holy Communion is also a sign of how we commonly confess the Christian faith, we welcome to the Lord’s Table those who are confirmed members of congregations of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. If this is your first time communing with us, please speak with the pastor or an usher before the service begins. If you are a guest who has not been instructed concerning the Lord’s Supper and our church’s teaching, and desire to commune with us, we invite you to first attend our instructional classes.
Divine Service Setting 5 – page 213
Ringing of the Bell – Congregation will gather around processional
cross in front of church steps.
Greeting
P The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and
the communion of the Holy Spirit + be with you all.
C Amen.
P Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord.
C Hosanna to the Son of David.
P The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the 12th chapter. John 12:12-19
C Glory be to You, O Lord!
The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and
went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!”
His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him. The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.”
P This is the Gospel of the Lord.
C Praise be to You, O Christ.
P Let us go forth in peace.
C In the name of the Lord.
The Procession into the Church
Procession Hymn #443 Hosanna, Loud Hosanna
Text: Jeannette Threlfall, 1821–80, alt.
Tune: Gesangbuch der Herzogl. Hofkapelle, 1784, Württemberg
Text and tune: Public domain
Sit
Children Sing “Hosanna, Hosanna”
P Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
CHILDREN: Hosanna in the Highest!
Confession and Absolution
Please stand if you are able
The sign of the cross may be made by all in remembrance of their Baptism.
P In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C Amen.
P Beloved in the Lord! Let us draw near with a true heart and confess our sins unto God our Father, beseeching Him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to grant us forgiveness.
P Our help is in the name of the Lord,
C who made heaven and earth.
P I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord,
C and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.
Silence for reflection on God’s Word and for self-examination.
P O almighty God, merciful Father,
C I, a poor, miserable sinner, confess unto You all my sins and iniquities with which I have ever offended You and justly deserved Your temporal and eternal punishment. But I am heartily sorry for them and sincerely repent of them, and I pray You of Your boundless mercy and for the sake of the holy, innocent, bitter sufferings and death of Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to be gracious and merciful to me, a poor, sinful being.
P Upon this your confession, I, by virtue of my office, as a called and ordained servant of the Word, announce the grace of God unto all of you, and in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C Amen.
Service of the Word
944 Kyrie — II
1e Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
2e Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
3e Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Text: Traditional
Text: Public domain
Salutation and Collect of the Day
P The Lord be with you.
C And also with you.
P Let us pray.
Almighty and everlasting God, You sent Your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, to take upon Himself our flesh and to suffer death upon the cross. Mercifully grant that we may follow the example of His great humility and patience and be made partakers of His resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C Amen.
Sit
Old Testament Reading Isaiah 50:4–9a
4The Lord God has given me
the tongue of those who are taught,
that I may know how to sustain with a word
him who is weary.
Morning by morning he awakens;
he awakens my ear
to hear as those who are taught.
5The Lord God has opened my ear,
and I was not rebellious;
I turned not backward.
6I gave my back to those who strike,
and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard;
I hid not my face
from disgrace and spitting.
7But the Lord God helps me;
therefore I have not been disgraced;
therefore I have set my face like a flint,
and I know that I shall not be put to shame.
8He who vindicates me is near.
Who will contend with me?
Let us stand up together.
Who is my adversary?
Let him come near to me.
9Behold, the Lord God helps me;
who will declare me guilty?
A This is the Word of the Lord.
C Thanks be to God.
Epistle Philippians 2:5–11
5Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
A This is the Word of the Lord.
C Thanks be to God.
Hymn of the Day #442 All Glory, Laud, and Honor
Please stand if you are able
Holy Gospel Matthew 27:11–66
P The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the twenty-seventh chapter.
C Glory to You, O Lord.
11Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You have said so.” 12But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer. 13Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?” 14But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.
15Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted. 16And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. 17So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up. 19Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream.” 20Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. 21The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” 22Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!” 23And he said, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!”
24So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.” 25And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” 26Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified.
27Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor’s headquarters, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. 28And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. 31And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him.
32As they went out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. They compelled this man to carry his cross. 33And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), 34they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall, but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. 35And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots. 36Then they sat down and kept watch over him there. 37And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” 38Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left. 39And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads 40and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” 41So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, 42“He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way.
45Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. 46And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 47And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.” 48And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink. 49But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.” 50And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.
51And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. 52The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, 53and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. 54When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”
55There were also many women there, looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him, 56among whom were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
57When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. 58He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. 59And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud 60and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away. 61Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.
62Next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate 63and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’ 64Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.” 65Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” 66So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.
P This is the Gospel of the Lord.
C Praise to You, O Christ.
Creed – #953 We All Believe in One True God
Sit
Sermon John 12: 12-19 “For Us”
Please stand if you are able
Prayer of the Church
P Friends in Christ, I urge you all to lift up your hearts to God and pray with me as Christ our Lord has taught us and freely promised to hear us.
God, our Father in heaven, look with mercy on us, Your needy children on earth, and grant us grace that Your holy name be hallowed by us and all the world through the pure and true teaching of Your Word and the fervent love shown forth in our lives. Graciously turn from us all false doctrine and evil living whereby Your precious name is blasphemed and profaned. Lord, in Your mercy,
C hear our prayer.
P May Your kingdom come to us and expand. Bring all transgressors and those who are blinded and bound in the devil’s kingdom to know Jesus Christ, Your Son, by faith that the number of Christians may be increased. Lord, in Your mercy,
C hear our prayer.
P Strengthen us by Your Spirit according to Your will, both in life and in death, in the midst of both good and evil things, that our own wills may be crucified daily and sacrificed to Your good and gracious will. Into Your merciful hands we commend [name(s)] and all who are in need, praying for them at all times: Thy will be done. Lord, in Your mercy,
C hear our prayer.
P Grant us our daily bread, preserve us from greed and selfish cares, and help us trust in You to provide for all our needs. Lord, in Your mercy,
C hear our prayer.
P Forgive us our sins as we also forgive those who sin against us so that our hearts may be at peace and may rejoice in a good conscience before You, and that no sin may ever frighten or alarm us. Lord, in Your mercy,
C hear our prayer.
P Lead us not into temptation, O Lord, but help us by Your Spirit to subdue our flesh, to turn from the world and its ways, and to overcome the devil with all his wiles. Lord, in Your mercy,
C hear our prayer.
P And lastly, O heavenly Father, deliver us from all evil of both body and soul, now and forever. Lord, in Your mercy,
C hear our prayer.
P We trust, O Lord, in Your great mercy to hear and answer us; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
C Amen.
Sit
Offering
Service of the Sacrament
If you are visiting and desire to receive Holy Communion, please see our
Communion statement on the front of our bulletin
Please stand if you are able
Preface LSB 216
P The Lord be with you.
C And also with you.
P Lift up your hearts.
C We lift them to the Lord.
P Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
C It is right to give Him thanks and praise.
P It is truly good, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, O Lord our God, king of all creation, for You have had mercy on us and given Your only-begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. Grant us Your Spirit, gracious Father, that we may give heed to the testament of Your Son in true faith and, above all, firmly take to heart the words with which Christ gives to us His body and blood for our forgiveness. By Your grace, lead us to remember and give thanks for the boundless love which He manifested to us when, by pouring out His precious blood, He saved us from Your righteous wrath and from sin, death, and hell. Grant that we may receive the bread and wine, that is, His body and blood, as a gift, guarantee, and pledge of His salvation. Graciously receive our prayers; deliver and preserve us. To You alone, O Father, be all glory, honor, and worship, with the Son and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C Amen.
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.
P In the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, at His command, and with His own words, we receive His testament:
The Words of Our Lord LSB 217
P Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: “Take, eat; this is My + body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.”
In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying: “Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My + blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
Pax Domini
P The peace of the Lord be with you always.
C Amen.
Agnus Dei LSB 198
C O Christ, Thou Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us.
O Christ, Thou Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us.
O Christ, Thou Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world, grant us Thy peace. Amen.
Sit
Distribution
Distribution Hymns:
#441 Ride On, Ride On in Majesty
#444 No Tramp of Soldiers’ Marching Feet
#420 Christ, the Life of All the Living
Dismissal
Please stand if you are able
Post-Communion Collect
A Let us pray.
O God the Father, the fountain and source of all goodness, who in loving-kindness sent Your only-begotten Son into the flesh, we thank You that for His sake You have given us pardon and peace in this Sacrament, and we ask You not to forsake Your children but always to rule our hearts and minds by Your Holy Spirit that we may be enabled constantly to serve You; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C Amen.
Benedicamus LSB 218
A Let us bless the Lord.
C Thanks be to God.
Benediction
P The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look upon you with favor and + give you peace.
C Amen.
Closing Hymn
#560 Drawn to the Cross, Which Thou Hast Blessed
Acknowledgments
Divine Service, Setting Five from Lutheran Service Book
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Created by Lutheran Service Builder © 2026 Concordia Publishing House.
OUR PRAYERS
For the sick and/or injured – Rich Brege (hospitalized), Brandy Burkemper (health complications), Hailey Marlow (recovery from surgery), Barb Schmeding (heart issues), Howard Schmidt (cancer), Jody Woodcock (recovering from surgery).
Cindy Kerr (cancer – Arlene Baum’s niece), Bill Keel (hospice – brother-in-law of Arlene Baum and Howard & Mike Schmidt), David Marler (cancer – Rejona Reichert’s brother-in-law), Susan McFadden (cancer – friend of Pastor & Deb), Dave Moore (cancer- Ron Braun’s niece’s husband), Herb Phillips – (stroke- cousin of Connie Kostecki), Leo David Trost (many health challenges/born with scoliosis – grandson of Kathy Bollinger), Beth Vincent (ALS – friend of Kenny & Radar), Janice Whelan (surgery-friend of Ron & Pearl Braun).
For those in Nursing Homes, the home bound, and those unable to be
with us in worship.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Serving Today
Organist: Connie Kostecki
Asst. Elder: Greg Reinhardt & Dwight Boehm
Ushers: Mike Fausz & John Fausz
Acolyte: Kelsey Crook
Altar Care: Pearl Braun/Rejona Reichert
Serving Maundy Thursday
Organist: Connie Kostecki
Asst Elder: Carl Brewer & Rob Mallon
Acolyte: Tyler Johanning
Altar Care: Pearl Braun/Rejona Reichert
Serving Good Friday German Service (10:00 am)
Organist: Barb Boeder
Serving Good Friday (7:00 pm.)
Organist: Connie Kostecki
Acolyte: Colton Glessner
Altar Care: Pearl Braun/Rejona Reichert
Serving Next Sunday April 5, 2026 Sunrise (6:00 a.m)
Organist: Barb Boeder
Serving Next Sunday April 5, 2026 EASTER
Organist: Connie Kostecki
Assist Elder: Greg Reinhardt & Darren Johanning
Ushers: Spencer & Tyler Kostecki
Acolyte: Jacob Mudd
Altar Care: Pearl Braun/Rejona Reichert
This Week at Holy Cross
Today 9:00 a.m. Worship Service
10:00 a.m. Fellowship
10:15 a.m. Bible Study/Sunday School
Monday Pastor Day Off
Wednesday 5:00 p.m. Confirmation Class
6:00 p.m. Choir Practice
Thursday April 2nd 9:30 a.m. Ladies Aid Meeting
7:00 p.m. Maundy Thursday Service
Good Friday April 3rd 10:00 a.m. Good Friday German Service
7:00 p.m. Good Friday Service
Easter Sunday, April 5th 6:30 a.m. Sunrise Service (Camp Wartburg)
9:00 a.m. Easter Service
Birthday
Barb Schmeding Mar. 29 Jilliane Dunker Mar. 30
Damien Mollet Apr. 1
Anniversary
Leon & Kathy Kohlmeier April 4, 1970
Palm branches are given today by the Altar Guild. Palm branches are a part of Christian worship on Palm Sunday and Jesus Christs’ Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem with the waving of Palm branches; is found in John 12: 12-15 Jesus found a young donkey and rode on it, fulfilling the prophecy that said; “Don’t be afraid, people of Jerusalem, your King is coming, riding on a donkeys’ colt.
The Altar Guild is asking Families to participate by placing an Easter Lily or Spring Flower around the rugged cross for Easter. Families may send their name to the bulletin in honor of, or in memory of by April 1. Flowers can stay or can be taken home after service. A Blessed Easter and Thank You from the Altar Guild.
2025 Choice Dollars
If you would like to direct any Choice Dollars you may have available to Holy Cross, you must direct by March 31 or they will be lost. Go to thrivent.com/thriventchoice or call 800-847-4836 to find out if you have any Dollars available to direct them.
Our Good Friday Service in the German language will be April 3, beginning at 10:00 a.m. The Rev. Dr. Darwin Schrader of Lebanon will be the guest preacher. Rev. Lyle Buettner, son of the congregation and pastor of St. Paul, New Athens and Trinity, Darmstadt, Illinois will serve as the liturgist. Worldwide KFUO AM Radio will again broadcast the service, and it will be live streamed on kfuo.org. It will be available on KFUO App. on your mobile device. The Gospel will reach many in the German language. A luncheon will be served by the ladies of the congregation after the service. All are welcome to attend the service and perhaps experience worship as it was in times past. German immigrants organized the church in 1841 under the leadership of Rev. G.A. Schieferdecker.
Council Meeting will be April 7, 2026 at 7:00
Voter’s Meeting will be April 12, 2026 at 10:15
Missing some items from church?
Please check the narthex for the LOST & FOUND items. There are some items collected that have been left behind in church.
Spring Rally and Prayer Service is on Saturday April 25th from 8:30 -12:30 at Immanuel Lutheran Church – Waterloo. Everyone is invited. Please let Kathy Bollinger know by April 15th if you like to attend.
LWML/Ladies Aid is asking if anyone is interested in joining our Ladies Aid committee. Our Ladies Aid meets on the first Thursday of the month from 9:30-12:00. Please contact Kathy B., Connie K. or
Arlene B. if you are interested.
Holy Cross Lutheran Church – Wartburg 3rd Golf Tournament on
Friday May 29, 2026 at Acorns in downtown Wartburg Illinois. So, get those clubs and gather some friends to create a team and have a great day.
Golf information is on the Bulletin Board in Narthex with extra sheets to create a team.
For Those Interested: Hole Sponsors would be welcomed, $100 will purchase a hole that would have a sign presented a business, friends or in memory of a loved one you desire. 100% of this money will go to the church. If anyone is interested, please contact Alex Wolf – alexwolfe12@gmail.com
Checks should be made out to Holy Cross Wartburg.
Other options to donate to church is to use the QR code to make a
donation to support Holy Cross Lutheran Church of Wartburg.
Thank you!
If you have any questions, contact Kathy Reifschneider 618-444-2188
Or kreifschneider4@gmail.com
Other ways to gift to Holy Cross Lutheran Church of Wartburg
Donate stock How to donate stock to Holy Cross Lutheran Church of Wartburg in 3 simple steps:
1. Holy Cross Lutheran Church of Wartburg has a brokerage account set up with Edward Jones. Our financial advisor is Adam Brewer 618-939-7153.
2. Our brokerage account number is xxx-xx148. Provide this information to your broker to initiate the transfer. Keep in mind that brokerage firms tend to be extremely busy with tax donations and other end-of-year items every December, so it’s wise to get started before then, if possible. It’s also important to remember to report your stock donation, which is considered a non-cash charitable contribution, to the IRS with Form 8283. 3. You should report the donation for the tax year in which it was made.
Read more about charitable giving in this article from Thrivent.
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