Grace Lutheran Church Oshawa

Weekly Bulletin

July 7, 2024 - Seventh Sunday after Pentecost

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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. God bless you as we gather before our gracious God!  

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The Ministers of Christ Are Sent with His Authority to Forgive Sins and Give Life 

The prophet Ezekiel was raised up by the Spirit of the Lord and sent to speak an unpopular Word to the rebellious house of Israel. As a prophet, he was not to speak his own word, but to preach the Law and the Gospel: “Thus says the Lord GOD,” whether the people “hear or refuse to hear” (Ezek. 2:4–5). So, too, in the footsteps of the prophets before Him, the Lord Jesus “went about among the villages teaching” (Mark 6:6). In His hometown, as elsewhere, “many who heard him were astonished,” marveling at His wisdom and at the “mighty works done by his hands,” and yet “they took offense at him” (Mark 6:2–3). The offense culminates in His cross, which is, ironically, the heart and center of His “authority over the unclean spirits” (Mark 6:7). It is by that authority of His cross that those He sends preach repentance, “cast out many demons” and heal the sick (Mark 6:12–13). Thus, the apostle Paul boasts in the cross of Christ and in his own weaknesses, knowing that God’s grace is sufficient and that the power of Christ “is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:8–9).

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Collect for the day:  O God, Your almighty power is made known chiefly in showing mercy. Grant us the fullness of Your grace that we may be called to repentance and made partakers of Your heavenly treasures; through Your son, 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 is sung or spoken

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Readings:  Ezekiel 2:1–5               2 Corinthians 12:1–10             Mark 6:1–13

Hymns:  Opening Hymn- 583    Hymn of the day-839  Closing Hymn- 718

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Presiding Minister (P):  Rev. Kevin Fast                                             Assisting minister (A) lay: Shane

Acolyte:  Victor                                                                                     Sound System: Philip/ Nathan

Webmaster Mike Haeussler                                                                 Secretary: Debby

Altar Guild: Gale

PRAYER INTERCESSION: 

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PRAY FOR:  Ed; Leslie, Reg; Eloise (hip/shoulder); Robert; Sherran; Herta; Phil; Minnie; Corinne (nee Tim); Albina; All Ladies travelling this week to the LWMLC Convention in London, Ontario and their safe return home on July 14th.

Friends and Fellow Christians:  Rev. Basil Christi (heart attack); Matthew & Megan; Lynda; Alice; Terry & Brenda; Norma; Kristy; Chris; Susan; Heather; Waldtraut; Kathy; Bev; Elizabeth; Mary (David’s mother), Carolyn (Medina,OH); Rose; Jason

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MISSION PRAYERS FOR JULY:  CANADA: Rev. David Milette l’Eìglise lutheìrienne du Bon Berger (Good Shepherd Lutheran Church) in Moncton, New Brunswick.

NICARAGUA:   Rev. Luis Antonio Dias Turcios Emmanuel Lutheran Church and Lutheran Church Star of Bethlehem in Chinandega ;  Rev. Cesar Augusto Galeano Church Luterna Jesus Our Savior in Santa Patricia;  Rev. Silvio Modesto Sánchez Osaba Lutheran Church Nueva Jerusalen; Rev. Henry Evelerth Ramirez two congregations in the Leon area.

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Next Sunday’s Readings:  Amos 7:7–15  Ephesians 1:3–14        Mark 6:14–29

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BIRTHDAYS And Anniversaries for June; see on back of June calendar, copies available on table at back of church. (July and August are on the table too.  Contact office if I need to update it, throughout the summer.

MEMBER RECORDS:  Thank you to those who have completed the church record update form.  If you have not had a chance to complete it, please take some time to complete these for me by email or if you need assistance, leave a phone message and I will call you back. Thank you, blessing, Debby

**ORDINATION for Daniel Cunningham: Sunday, July 14, 2024 at 4pm. Signup sheets to attend dinner after the Ordination and assist with cleanup are located on the whiteboard in the Narthex. Please register if you plan to attend.

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**PRE-CALL MEETING:  Today after service. 

WELCOME:    Rev. Vishal Paul - Circuit Counselor and Rev. Marvin Bublitz - Regional Pastor; please join us after service for quick lunch before or during our meeting.

*****EMERGENCIES, PLEASE CONTACT AN ELDER OR LEAVE A MESSAGE ON THE CHURCH PHONELINE 905-728-4381**********

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BULLETIN ANNOUNCEMENTS:  may be placed in the holder outside the office door and for the monthly calendar.  They are due by Wednesday of each week.  Calendar events are due by the 3rd Sun of the month.  Email the info to: gracelutheranoshawa.office@gmail.com

FOOD BANK:  Our food cabinet is doing well. Please drop off non-perishable food, in their original container or wrapping. We support our church members, our Seminary students (1/2) and community.

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Ask the Pastor

The Divine Service Part 2

The Invocation

At the beginning of the Divine service, while making the sign of the cross on our foreheads and on our hearts, you may say the following words: “In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” This is known as the invocation (pronounced: in-vo-CAY-shun). The word “invocation” comes from the Latin word “invocatio” meaning “to call upon.”

The second commandment, as well as Martin Luther’s explanation to the second commandment in the Small Catechism, instructs us that we are not to misuse God’s name. Rather we are to “call upon it in every trouble, pray, praise and give thanks.” When the Divine Service begins with the Invocation and the sign of the cross, we are calling upon the one true God who, through the power of the Holy Spirit in Baptism, first called us to faith in Jesus. It is true that because of our sin we do not deserve to have God with us. Yet because of great love for us in Christ, and because he has claimed us as his own children by water and the Word, he comes to be with us and give us what we need most, his salvation: faith, forgiveness, and eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Confession and Absolution

Confession literally means, “same saying.” Essentially, it’s saying what God already says. When we confess our sin to God, it does not come as news to Him. He knows our sin before we commit it, so in confession, we admit to God what He already knows—that we have rebelled and fallen far short of His expectations for us.

Confessing our sins is extremely important! When we confess our sins to God, we are humbled before him as we recognize that we are not perfect as our Heavenly is and demands us to be. We are sinners who have broken God’s Law, his will for our lives, in our thoughts, words, and actions. Our sin warrants his judgment of eternal death and separation from him. Moreover, by the confession of our sin, we openly admit to God that we deserve this, his judgment, forever.

Yet with repentance and confession comes Absolution, which is the forgiveness of all our sins! You see, when you, in repentance and faith, come before God and confess your sin to him, He doesn’t say, “Whoa! You’re in trouble now! I’m going to give you what you deserve.” Rather, the one, true, perfect, holy God says to you, “I have already paid for your sin with the blood of My Son. Because of his sacrifice for you on the cross, you shall receive not what you deserve, but rather what you do not deserve: mercy, forgiveness, and eternal life.”

The Pastor, who is God’s called and ordained servant to the congregation (his representative), then proclaims God’s Word’s of Absolution to you as he says, “As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by his authority, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” These words come not from the pastor, but from God Himself through the mouth of the pastor and are as trustworthy and true as if God himself speaks them. (John 20:22-23)

It is customary after receiving absolution to make the sign of the cross as a personal reminder that your forgiveness comes on Jesus’ behalf because of His death on the cross in our place.

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This week @ Grace:

Today (G)         11:15 am            Divine Service(C) 

                               1:00 pm            Pre-call meeting

Sunday (G)      11:15 am            Divine Service (C)

                               4:00 pm            Ordination of Daniel Cunningham

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