Grace Lutheran Church Oshawa

Second Sunday in Lent         March 12, 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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The Word of the Gospel Opens the Eyes of Faith and Fixes Them on Christ Jesus

The Lord called Abram (Abraham) to leave his home and go to a land that God would show him. He also promised to make of Abram “a great nation,” to bless him and make his name great as a blessing to “all the families of the earth” (Gen. 12:2–3). “Abram went, as the LORD had told him” (Gen. 12:4), and in Canaan “he built an altar to the LORD and called upon the name of the LORD” (Gen. 12:8). He “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness” (Rom. 4:3). Here the grace of God is manifested, that He “justifies the ungodly” (Rom. 4:5), not by works of the Law, but through faith in His promises. He removes all of our sins and lawless deeds through Jesus Christ, the offspring of Abraham in whom all the Lord’s promises are realized. This forgiveness of sins is the Word of the Gospel, the voice of the Holy Spirit, which “gives life to the dead” (Rom. 4:17). It opens the eyes of faith to behold Christ Jesus, the Son of Man lifted up on the cross, “that whoever believes in him may have eternal life” (John 3:14–15).

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Collect of the Day

O God, You see that of ourselves we have no strength.  By Your mighty power defend us from all adversities that may happen to the body and from all evil thoughts that may assault and hurt the soul; 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.

                                The Gloria on p. 187 and the Alleluias are omitted during Lent

 

Readings:  Genesis 12:1-9                      Romans 4:1 –8, 13 - 17                        John 3: 1 – 17

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HYMNS:   596,  708,  “There is a Redeemer” insert (offering hymn),  673,  798,  918

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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: Debby (Wed. 5-7)                                                             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: family/ friends of Irene (died March 7); Erwin; Brian; Elsie; Olga; 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; Baby Caleb; George

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CONGRATULATIONS: to Hailey and Chris on the birth of their second child, a son, Finnley Hollister on Feb. 28.  God bless you and may He keep Finnley safe until the day of his baptism.

 

​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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PARISH NURSE - JANE, R.N.- Jane has recently retired!.... She will be setting up office hours for those who have medical questions, blood pressure testing or home care concerns. She will be in the counters office Every Thursday starting March 9th, 2017.

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SAINTS ALIVE:  is meeting this Wed. at noon. Come and enjoy lunch and a DVD on Martin Luther.

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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 and Greet! See sign up form on bulletin board and/or table in Narthex.

This week March 5th, our Greeter is: need volunteer. Next 2 weeks our Greeter will be: Marshall; March 26th volunteers needed. Just step in when you arrive.

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LADIES OF GRACE:  Work Day has been re-scheduled for Wed. 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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REFORMATION COMMITTEE: will  meet Tuesday March 21st at 7pm at church.  You can contact Gina Heeger at gheeger@rogers.com or call 905 428 3174 for more information.

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FURNACE REPLACEMENT : As of the end of January 2017,.  donations received have more than covered the cost of the two furnaces which was $10,045.70.  The extra donations will be directed towards the third furnace when it will need to be replaced.
Thank you to all who helped in meeting this unexpected expense so quickly.  Ed B.

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EQUIPPING THE PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS…Issues, Etc. is a radio talk show produced by Lutheran Public Radio in Collinsville, IL and hosted by LCMS Pastor Todd Wilken.  This week’s topics include: Law & Gospel, The Means of Grace, Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, Early Church Martyrs Perpetua & Felicitas, Religious Persecution in China and more.  You can listen on-demand 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.

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REMINDER: Spring cleaning will soon be here Starting week of April 30th.  Please once again pick a room or cupboard and come in on any day best for you to clean it. Requirement just dusting, cleaning spider webs, rodent droppings and washing with a strong cleaner. Bring a mask, gloves and rags. See book table in Narthex. Thank you, Trustees

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VBS FUNDRAISING: We will be having our Coffee and Pie fundraiser on March 19th, April 23rd and May 14.  All funds go towards our VBS this July. See insert for details. Thank you, VBS Team.

 

​​This Week under Grace

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

                                    10:30am                           Divine Service (C)

                                                                              Choir Practice (after service)

Tuesday                       9:00am                            Quilting

                                      9:30am                            Toronto Pastors Conference, St. Matthew’s, Scarborough

Wednesday                  Noon                               Saints Alive

                                     7:30 pm                           Lenten Service

Thursday                     9:30 am                           Parish Nurse in office till Noon- Jane Ibbott             

Saturday                      7:30 am                           Men’s Breakfast

Sunday (v)                   9:30am                            3rd Sunday in Lent-Bible Study/Sunday School

                                    10:30am                           Divine Service(C)

                                                                              Choir Practice (after service)

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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. Next Birthday lunch – March 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.