Welcome! Thank you for joining us for worship today. In our services we gather before our almighty God to receive his gifts and to offer him our worship and praise. Through God’s powerful Word and Sacraments he renews our faith and strengthens us to serve in joy.

“I didn’t know how much I needed that” is a common expression of surprise and realization. It suggests that something new has come to light, and we now now see it as essential or valuable, even if we didn’t see it before. Lent is the season of the Church Year when we recognize our greatest needs. In this season we realize that all our greatest needs are met in Christ. God knows what we need most. If we lack Christ, we have nothing. But if we have Christ, we have exactly what we need.

I recognize that I am spiritually blind when I don’t know Jesus. I cannot see the world as it really is. I am tempted to see what is harmful as good, and what is good as meaningless. I cannot see the danger that lurks behind every temptation. I realize that Jesus gave physical sight to the blind. But he also gives me spiritual vision. He said, “I am the light of the world.” He comes to shine his light into my darkened eyes so that I see him and live.