Grace Lutheran Church Oshawa

Fourth Sunday of Easter       April 22, 2018

Welcome in the name of the Risen Lord Jesus Christ. If you are visiting, we are glad that you are here and kindly ask that you sign our guest book at the sanctuary doors. If you would like to become a member please speak to the Pastor. In case of illness, the Pastor should be informed. He will always be glad to speak with those who are confronted with problems of a spiritual nature. The time before worship is a quiet time for prayer and meditation to prepare for worship. Please see the inside cover of the hymnal for prayers and page 329f to prepare for Holy Communion. Communicant members are asked to fill out a communion card found in the pew racks and place it in the offering plates.

 

Jesus, the Good Shepherd, Lays Down His Life for the Sheep

The Lord Jesus is “the good shepherd” who “lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11). His life is not taken from Him, but He lays it down willingly, of His own accord, because He knows and loves the sheep. As the One sent by the Father, He has the “authority to lay it down” and the “authority to take it up again” (John 10:18). So has He done, and now He continues to love and serve as the Good Shepherd of the sheep by the voice of His Gospel. He thus calls all people into the fold of His Church, so that there may be “one flock, one shepherd” (John 10:16). That is why the apostles “were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead” (Acts 4:2). Since “there is salvation in no one else,” His voice rings out to this day through the preaching of His name, “for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). His voice comforts our hearts against all condemnation and gives us courage to “love one another” and “to lay down our lives for the brothers,” as He laid down His life for us (1 John 3:16, 23).

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Collect of the Day

Almighty God, merciful Father, since You have wakened from death the Shepherd of Your sheep, grant us Your Holy Spirit that when we hear the voice of our Shepherd we may know Him who calls us each by name and follow where He leads; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

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ORDER OF SERVICE:   Divine Service Setting Three on page 184.

                   The Introit is sung responsively by half-verse on the insert. B

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​READINGS:   :   Acts 4: 1- 12         1 John 3: 16 – 24                 John 10: 11 - 18

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HYMNS:   475,  709,  781(offering),  740,  625,  588,  737

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Presiding Minister (P):  Rev. Jack Hetzel                                          Assisting minister (A) lay: Shane

Organist/Pianist: Paula                                                                      Acolyte: Christine

Sound System: Anna/Philip                                                              Webmaster:  Michael

Secretary: Wed or Thurs  5-7pm): Debby Miller                           Parish Nurse: Jane 

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Bible Class and Sunday School

Sunday 9:30am

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Holy Communion:

Since the Lord’s Supper gives the forgiveness of sins in the body and blood of Christ to all who believe the words “given and shed” and is also a celebration of oneness in faith, we ask that only those who have professed such faith publicly in a Lutheran Church-Canada (or Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod) congregation come to the Lord’s Altar.  Everyone intending to commune for the first time is kindly asked to speak with the Pastor prior to the service.

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PRAYER INTERCESSIONS:

Members of Grace: Verna & family (Jim was buried on Thurs); Mike & family whose mother died; Jane; John; Paula; Marshall; Debbie; Fran; Dennis; Olga; Edith; Sherran; Herta; Eugene & Margaret; Betty; Jeannie ; Claudette; Isabelle; Anne; Monika; Alicia; Delores, Debby

 

Friends of Grace:  Rev. Richard; Autumn; Chris;  Susan; Mary; Larry; Heather; Andre & Micheline; Jeanine; George & Waldtraut; George; Rev. Delmar & Mardelle; Denise; Kathy & Jack; Ada; Christine; Asser; Gheorghe; Alice; Sharon; Landon; Tammy; Barb

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OUR SYMPATHY: to Verna and family, whose husband Jim died on April 7.  Our Risen Lord Jesus has defeated eternal death and has bound his church together into His glorious Life.

 

VOTERS MEETING: today after service.

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PRAYER CHAIN: for anyone who is in need of help.  Once a request is made known, the prayer chain members will be called, who will only have knowledge of a person in need of support and prayers. All will be confidential, unless otherwise instructed by you. Please call Paula.

 

REMEMBERING OUR DEAD:  With joy and thanksgiving, the Scriptures remind us to be grateful for those who taught us the Christian faith and were living examples of God’s love at work.  In this spirit, Dennis wants to remember his father Robert who fell asleep in Jesus on April 17, 1997.  For the church in heaven there is no longer time, but for us in the midst of so many influences against our faith, it is a difficult struggle.  We pray for endurance and God’s grace as we long to be united with those who have gone before us in Christ Jesus.  Christ is Risen!

 

WWW.LUTHERANHOUR.CA. CHAM 820/AM SUN. 8:00 - April 29- “The Answer to Unhappiness”    (Acts 8:26-40); Speaker of the Lutheran Hour: Rev. Mike Newman; What do you really want? What does your heart yearn for most? A blogger recently asked her readers the question: “If you could say in one word what you want more of in life, what would that be?” Can you guess the number one answer? It was happiness.

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OFFERING COUNTERS: are needed for counting weekly offerings on Sundays.  Currently counting is done by just a few members of the congregation.  It is a rather simple task carried out on a computer.  Please give this request consideration to lighten the load on our Financial Sec’y Wendy. Contact Wendy for training. If you do not know who she is; ask an usher to introduce you.

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COPIES OF THE DIVINE SERVICE: anyone who is shut in or has been ill can catch up with mp3 players of the entire service.  To sign them out, see Paula or Deb.

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ALTAR  EASTER  LILLIES: were donated by Diana in memory of her parents: Florence and Elroy.

 

REAL REFORMATION RADIO...You can listen to Lutheran experts teach on subjects like: Martin Luther's "Heidelberg Disputation," 2 Chronicles, The Number & Use of the Sacraments, Isaac & Rebekah, The First Lutheran Composer of Church Music Johann Walter and more.  Issues, Etc. is a radio talk show and podcast produced by Lutheran Public Radio in Collinsville, IL and hosted by LCMS Pastor Todd Wilken.  You can listen live or on-demand at  www.issuesetc.org and on the LPR mobile app.

 

SPECIAL TORONTO CIRCUIT MEETING:  As a result of the decision taken at the Synodical convention in October 2017 regarding restructuring of Synod, it is necessary to amend the bylaws of the East District Corporation. A series of circuit meetings has been arranged in order to explain the proposed changes being proposed to the bylaws and to get comments from members.  The circuit meetings are open to everyone. In particular, pastors and congregation delegates should make a point of attending these meetings, as they will be required to vote on acceptance of the bylaw changes as part of the October 2018 District Convention. A summary document plus the draft bylaw, including explanatory notes, are posted on the district web site. It would be beneficial for attendees to the circuit meetings to bring a copy of the 2015 District Handbook for reference purposes and/or to download the information from the website. For more information, contact: East District Board chairman, Reg Tiegs at tiehm868@gmail.com;  Toronto Circuit London- Saturday June 2 - 10:30 A.M. Christ Our King Lutheran Church 2150 Dundas St. W., Mississauga 905-822-8931

 

THANK YOU to Lorna for joining me in the office to help out with Shepherds’ Staff updates and office business while I’m away on medical leave. We will be going to the summer bulletin on June 3, 2018.  Please have all your inserts for May, June, July and August; Also September(start dates for 2018 – 19 church year) as soon as possible so we can get out our summer calendar out on time. Send via email: office@gracelutheranchurch.net or post on calendar on whiteboard.  Thanking you in advance for you support.  Debby

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MEN'S BREAKFAST: The April men's breakfast will be on Saturday April 21 at 7:30 am.

 

BULLETIN ANNOUNCEMENTS:  There is a holder outside the office door for weekly inserts for the bulletin and monthly calendar.  Items for the Bulletin are due by Wednesday of each week by noon and 3rd Sunday of each month for calendar.  Or email your dates and events to office@gracelutheranoshawa.net

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Birthday Lunch: Don’t forget to bring non-perishable food items for the food bank AND ALSO on the birthday lunches.  NEXT: Birthday Lunch April 29th, 2018

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REFERENCE MATERIALS:  Please take a few moments over the next few Sundays to review our Church business and community bulletin board; and other resource materials on the tables/shelve and racks in the narthex.  Please take some home or give to a friend. 

 

This Week under Grace

Today (w)               9:30am                                Bible Class/Sunday School

                                10:30am                              Divine Service

Monday                  10:00am                              Circuit Counsellors Meeting, Kitchener

Wednesday             9:00am                                Matins and Bible Study

Saturday                                                              St. Vincent’s kitchen

Sunday (w)             9:30am                                Bible Class/Sunday School        

                                10:30am                              Divine Service followed by birthday luncheon