Grace Lutheran Church Oshawa

March 14, 2020

​

Welcome back 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 sign the communion book at the entrance of the church.

​

COVID 19 PROTOCOL FOR WORSHIP:  While we are here to rejoice in God’s house, we still have to follow the rules for social distancing; wearing a mask and sanitizing hands on your way in and out of church.  If you are wearing gloves, please dispose of them at home.  Please take your masks and bulletins home to limit exposure and the amount of recycling for the church.  A detailed description of worship guidelines is on the small table with the bulletin and offering plates.

 

Jesus Is Lifted Up on the Cross so that We May Look to Him and Live

The people sinned by speaking “against God and against Moses,” and the Lord called them to repentance by sending fiery serpents, which “bit the people, so that many people of Israel died” (Num. 21:4–6). When the people confessed their sin, the Lord provided a means of rescue from death. He instructed Moses to “make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole,” so that “if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live” (Num. 21:8–9). Thus, God sent His Son into the world, in the likeness of our sin and death, and lifted Him up on the pole of the cross, that whoever looks to Him in faith “may have eternal life” (John 3:14–16). By His cross, “the light has come into the world,” not for condemnation, but “that the world might be saved through him” (John 3:17–19). While we “were dead in the trespasses and sins” in which we once lived (Eph. 2:1), God loved us, calling us to repentance and raising us up with Christ to live “with him in the heavenly places” (Eph. 2:4–6).

​

Collect of the Day

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, Your mercies are new every morning; and though we deserve only punishment, You receive us as Your children and provide for all our needs of body and soul.  Grant that we may heartily acknowledge Your merciful goodness, give thanks for all Your benefits, and serve You in willing obedience; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

​

ORDER OF SERVICE:  : Diving Service Setting Three page 184. (Spoken)

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

              The Introit is spoken by the Pastor ( Psalms 69:2, 4-1)

         

​READINGS:   : Numbers 21: 4 - 9                   Ephesians 2: 1 - 10                 John 3: 14 - 21

​

HYMNS:  915,  571,  425

​

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

                                                                                                              Acolyte: Christine

Sound System: Philip                                                                         Webmaster:  Michael

Secretary: Debby  WED 11:45- 1:30                                                 Altar Guild: Minnie                   

​

Bible Class

Sunday 9:00am (virtual)

 

PRAYER INTERCESSIONS:

For Members of Grace: Marshall; Fran; Dennis;  Rob, Debbie & Stephanie; Sherran; Anne; Ray, Bill and Carolyn; Michael; all our shut ins and all who are suffering from depression 1 Peter 5:6-7

​

For Friends and Fellow Christians: parents of Etelka ; father of Rev. Matthew Habermas; Marlene; Donna & Walter; Chris;  Susan; Heather; George & Waldtraut; Mardelle; Corrina ; Rev. Dr. Roger Winger; Kathy;  Annette; Kay and Joe and newborn son Jayden

​

***MIDWEEK LENTEN SERVICE***:  every Wednesday at 7:00pm during Lent.  Come and pray Vespers together and meditate on our Lord’s Passion.

 

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. Contact Wendy for training. If you do not know who she is; ask an usher to introduce you.

 

PORTALS OF PRAYER:  Unfortunately we will not have the funds at this time to purchase them.  Please pick one up and then you can reuse them.  To personally order the second quarter for 2021, phone 1-800-325-3040 by January 10, 2021. You can get an approx. cost in USA$$ in your current Portals of Prayer order forms.  It would be faster by phone. You pay annually or you can order a 2 year subscription.  Shipping cost is $4/yr small AND $6/yr for medium or large.  Its doubles if you buy a 2 year subscription. Call the Debby on Wednesdays if you any questions.

 

REFERENCE MATERIALS:  We have a new reference booklet of who is who from LCC; “Together One”.  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.

 

ONLINE SUNDAY SCHOOL:  Contact Iulia or Lisa for more information.

 

PRAYER CHAIN:  for anyone who is in need.  The prayer chain members will be called with your confidential request. Only the name will be made known to the prayer chain unless instructed otherwise. Call Paula .

 

LUTHERAN WITNESS ANNUAL RENEWAL: – total Annual cost $21.20 CDN(@MAR 3, 21 conversion rate)  per person;  We get a monthly invoice and pay the group payment.  If you would like to be on our group subscription you save $4.00. Please contact the office –gracelutheranoshawa.office@gmail.com. I will need your full name and mailing address, email address and Phone  #. You can put your Fee of $21.20((incl. postage) on your offering envelope and mark it Lutheran Witness. Deadline for renewal, new subscriptions or cancelation by March 17th, 2021. Blessings, Debby Miller

 

CHURCH CLEANING VOLUNTEERS: are needed every other week.  We need at least 3 or 4 volunteers to cover important areas only on the alternate weeks.  See signup sheet on the white board. Please contact Gina or Debby, or leave a message on the church answering machine. Thank you.

 

COVID-19 Vaccine Candidates and Abortion-Derived Cell Lines: Accurate information about the development and production of COVID-19 vaccines is essential, especially because many proposed candidates use newer molecular technologies for production of a viral vaccine. One concern regarding the ethical assessment of viral vaccine candidates is the potential use of abortion-derived cell lines in the development, production or testing of a vaccine. Analysis is available (https://s27589.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/COVID-19-Vaccine-Candidates-and-Abortion-Derived-Cell-Lines-MArch-3-21.pdf)      Which utilizes data from the primary scientific literature when available, along with data from clinical trial documents, reputable vaccine tracking websites, and published commercial information. It is the hope that by providing accurate data, recipients can make well-informed decisions regarding vaccine choices.

 

Astra Zeneca/Oxford is a Viral Vector based vaccine that uses abortion-derived cells for Design & Development, Production and Lab Tests.

 

Moderna and Pfizer are RNA vaccines that may or may not use abortion-derived cells for Lab Tests.

​

​

This Week under Grace

Today (v)        9:00am                     Online Sunday School

                        9:30am                     Bible Study

                        10:30am                   Divine Service

Wednesday     7:00 pm                    Lenten Midweek Service

Sunday (v)      9:00am                     Online Sunday School

                        9:30am                     Bible Study       

                        10:30am                   Divine Service