Grace Lutheran Church Oshawa

Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany          February 5, 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.

 

The Righteousness of Christ

Jesus warns that “unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:20), but He also calls His imperfect people “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world” (Matt. 5:13, 14). That’s because the Lord Jesus came not to abolish the Law or the prophets, “but to fulfill them” (Matt. 5:17) in perfect faith and love. Since He does and teaches all of God’s commandments, He is “called great in the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:19). God manifests His “demonstration of the Spirit and of power” in “Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Cor. 2:2–4), and through the preaching of the Gospel He gives His “secret and hidden wisdom” (1 Cor. 2:7). Christ gives this perfect righteousness to His people, and it leads them to true fasting, which is “to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free” (Is. 58:6) and “to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house” (Is. 58:7).

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Collect of the Day

O Lord, keep Your family the Church continually in the true faith that, relying on the hope of Your heavenly grace, we may ever be defended by Your mighty power; through 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: Setting Three page 184.  The Introit on the insert is sung responsively by half verse.

 

Readings:  Isaiah 58: 3 – 9a                   1 Corinthians  2: 1 – 12 (13-16)                         Matthew 5: 13 – 20

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HYMNS:   : 560,  578,  698 (offering hymn),  580,  401,  702

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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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PRAYER INTERCESSIONS:family & friends of Nancy, Phyllis, Mihaly, Fred; Monika; Vada; Edith; David; Ryan; Kim; Asser;  Gheorghe; Sharon; Autumn; Susan; Mary; Hans, Sonya; Sherran & Larry; Heather; Konrad & Herta; Gene & Margaret; Albina; Rob & Debbie;  Betty; Lucie; Claudette; Andre & Micheline; George & Waldtraut; Suzanne; Will; Brenda; Nirmala; Anuradha; Anjani; Baby Caleb; George;

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LADIES OF GRACE-DONATIONS NEEDED FOR 2017:  We continue to accept donations for layettes and school bags.  Thanks!

 

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.

 

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

 

MISSION QUILTS: We are quilting on the following days:  February 7, 14, and 21 at 9:00 am.  No experience required, so please feel free to join in.  Minnie and Ann

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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.

 

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.

 

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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90th ANNIVERSAY COMMITTEE OF GRACE: meeting on Tuesday February 14th at 7:00PM.  We will be having our 1st brainstorm meeting to celebrate Grace Lutheran 90th anniversary.  We need everyone’s input for this celebration.  Please let Gina know if you are interested in joining the organizing committee.

 

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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TALK RADIO FOR THE THINKING CHRISTIAN…You can listen to in-depth conversations on topics like: An Interview with President Obama’s Faith Vote Director, The Bible & Immigration, The Story of a Philadelphia Abortionist Convicted of Mass Murder, The Apology of the Augsburg Confession and more.  Issues, Etc. is a radio talk show produced by Lutheran Public Radio in Collinsville, IL and hosted by LCMS Pastor Todd Wilken.  You can listen at your convenience at www.issuesetc.org and on the Lutheran Public Radio mobile app.

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EVANGELISM: an open invit+ation has been expended for a conference to be held at Christ Our King in Mississauga on Feb. 11, 2017 from 9am to 4pm.  There will be opportunity to share and discuss ideas for outreach to the lost.  Paula and Carolyn will be leaving the church parking lot at 7:30am--please contact one of us if you want to join us.

 

DEBT REDUCTION: We are running another Debt Reduction campaign with a matching grant from Faith Life of $300.00 which ends February 5th.  Reg

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SAINTS ALIVE: Due to the prediction of a storm moving in on Wednesday Feb 8th, we will reschedule for February 15th… Thanks, Reta

 

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

 

 

​​This Week under Grace

 

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

                                    10:30am                           Divine Service (C)

Tuesday                       9:00am                            Quilting

Wednesday                 9:00am                            Matins & Bible Study

                                    12:00 noon                       Saints Alive CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER(Rescheduled Feb 15)

Saturday                                                               Men’s Breakfast and EJANA Meeting Christ Our King Mississauga

Sunday (g)                   9:30am                            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. Thanks  See you on January 29th for the next Congregational Luncheon.

 

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.