Grace Lutheran Church Oshawa

Transfiguration         February 26, 2017

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.

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God Manifests His Glory in the Body of Christ Jesus, Transfigured for Us by His Cross

The Transfiguration confirms “the prophetic word … to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place” (2 Peter 1:19). The divine glory of Jesus is manifested in the word of His apostles, who were “eyewitnesses of his majesty” (2 Peter 1:16). “He was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun” (Matt. 17:2). Moses and Elijah witnessed the fulfillment of the Old Testament in this Lord Jesus, and the Father testified concerning Him: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Matt. 17:5). By His own blood, shed on the cross, Jesus makes and seals the new covenant with us. Hence, “the appearance of the glory of the LORD” is no longer “like a devouring fire” (Ex. 24:17), but it is graciously revealed in His own body. As “Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel” went up the mountain with Moses and “beheld God, and ate and drank” (Ex. 24:9, 11), we also behold the Lord our God in Christ Jesus, and we abide with Him as we eat and drink His body and blood at the altar.

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Collect of the Day

O God, in the glorious transfiguration of Your beloved Son You confirmed the mysteries of the faith by the testimony of Moses and Elijah.  In the voice that came from the bright cloud You wonderfully fore showed our adoption by grace.  Mercifully make us co-heirs with the King in His glory and bring us to the fullness of our inheritance in heaven; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

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ORDER OF SERVICE: Setting Three page 184.  The Introit on the insert is sung responsively by half verse.

 

Readings:  Exodus 24: 8 - 18                 2 Peter: 1 16 – 21                  Matthew 17: 1 - 9

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HYMNS:    400,  413,  585 (offering hymn),  414,  700,  417

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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: Ann  (Tue.) and Debby (Wed. 5-7 for January)             Parish Nurse: Jane   

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Pastor Available for Confession & Absolution

Tues. & Thurs. (9am – Noon)

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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: Max Hepner; Lea; Monika; Edith; David; Ryan; Kim; Asser;  Gheorghe; Sharon; Autumn; Susan; Mary; Hans, Sherran & Larry; Heather; Konrad & Herta; Gene & Margaret; Albina; Rob & Debbie;  Betty; Lucie; Claudette; Andre & Micheline; Jeanine; George & Waldtraut; Suzanne; Will; Brenda; Nirmala; Anuradha; Anjani; Baby Caleb; George

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FEB BIRTHDAY LUNCHEON & VOTERS’ MEETING: today after service.  All are invited!

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​PRAYER CHAIN:  Paula is our Evangelism Team Leader, she has restarted the prayer chain for anyone who is in need of help.  Once a request is either brought to her and/or from Pastor, she will call the  prayer chain members, 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, we’re here for you.

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CHURCH FUNDRAISER: Sometimes we need a card to say thank you, hope you’re doing okay,  or congratulations. Have a look at our rack of cards outside of the office. Take a card and put a donation in the container on the rack.  All funds are for our debt reduction fund. If you have a stack of cards at home that you want to donate, place them on the rack in the right category. Thank you

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GREETERS:  A welcoming smile and a firm handshake is a warm invitation to our Grace family. Please sign up for either whole month or a few Sundays or if you notice no one is there at 10:15 am. Please step in an  Greet! See sign up form on bulletin board and table/or bulletin board in Narthex.

This week our Greeter was: Mike. Next 2 weeks our Greeter volunteers needed. Just step in when you arrive.

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LADIES OF GRACE:  A Work Day has been re-scheduled for Wednesday March 7TH at 9am. The 14th will now be a quilting day. Any donation for layettes and school bags appreciated.  For more information please contact Carolyn or Minnie.  Thank you for your continued support!

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MISSION QUILTS: We are quilting on the following days:  March 14, 21, 28 at 9:00 am.  No experience required, so please feel free to join in.  Minnie and Ann

 

THE LUTHERAN HOUR BROADCASTS: Hear inspirational messages every Sunday on Hamilton CHAM 820/am at 8:00 AM. See bulletin board for broadcast topics; Streaming audio and pod-casts at:  www.lutheranhour.ca

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GRACE LUTHERAN LIBRARY - BOOK OF THE MONTH - HISTORY OF OUR GRACE CHURCH:  Our library is going to feature a book of the month.  Please take a few moments and look at the book of the month which is just newly released, “Be True and Serve”. It’s an autobiography of our parishioner Monika Stimming’s mother.  A fascinating story of Monika’s family during Germany’s Third Reich, and WWII. It’s also about starting a new life with her family and “Little Monika” in Oshawa. You can find it on top of the white book case in the narthex.  Enjoy reading some history of how God’s grace has been working among us! Also, take some time to browse through our library for interesting Christian books.

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90th ANNIVERSAY COMMITTEE OF GRACE: we met for our first meeting on Tuesday February 14th, so plans are now in development.   Please let Gina know if you are interested in joining the organizing committee.

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MEN’S BREAKFAST: March Saturday March 11th @ 7:30 am

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FURNACE REPLACEMENTS:  We have had to replace two of our three furnaces due to heat exchanger failure. This has resulted in an unplanned expenditure in excess of $10,000.00.  Church council is reviewing how to cover these costs and will report back to our church members in the near future. All donations are welcome towards the cost of this expense. Thank you.

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SHROVE TUESDAY: Please join us on February 28 for Shrove Tuesday, pancake supper@ 6 pm.  Please sign on for cooking, cleanup and food donations; signup lists are on the table in the narthex. Thanks The Ladies of Grace.

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DEFENDING THE FAITH, TEACHING THE TRUTH…Issues, Etc. is a radio talk show hosted by LCMS Pastor Todd Wilken and produced by Lutheran Public Radio in Collinsville, IL.  This week’s topics include: The 95 Theses, The Temptation of Jesus, Christians, Contraception & the Future of the Family, Jesus & Zacchaeus, Ash Wednesday and more.  You can listen at your convenience at www.issuesetc.org and on the Lutheran Public Radio mobile app.

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TWITTER: Our church is now on Twitter! Follow the church at : Grace Lutheran@graceoshawa Thanks Mark Hersey for setting this up for us.

 

 

​​This Week under Grace

 

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

                                    10:30am                            Divine Service (C)

                                                                               Congregational Luncheon

Tuesday                       9:00am                            Quilting

                                      6:00pm                            Shrove Tuesday Supper

Wednesday                  7:30pm                            Ash Wednesday Service (c)

Saturday                     10:00am                           Toronto Circuit Forum, COK, Mississauga

Sunday (v)                    9:30am                            First Sunday in Lent-Bible Study/Sunday School

                                    10:30am                           Divine Service(C)

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OFFERING COUNTERS: We are looking for volunteers to assist in 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.

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BIRTHDAY LUNCH & FOOD BANK:  Don’t forget to bring non-perishable food items for the food bank to the birthday lunches. Birthday lunch this week.  February 26th.

 

BULLETIN ANNOUNCEMENTS:  There is a folder in the 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; Start thinking about 2017 dates for meetings and events. Enter on calendar in narthex on table.  Thank you.