Grace Lutheran Church Oshawa

Sixth Sunday of Easter         May 21, 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 Lord Jesus Comforts Us with the Preaching of His Resurrection

“The God who … gives to all mankind life and breath and everything” (Acts 17:24–25) wants all people to seek Him that they might “feel their way toward him and find him” (Acts 17:27). But in our sinful ignorance, we humans turn instead to idols “formed by the art and imagination of man” (Acts 17:29). Therefore, God appointed the Man of Righteousness, Jesus Christ, and “has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead” (Acts 17:31). Because He lives, we also live (John 14:19) in His forgiveness, and thus we love Him and keep His commandments (John 14:15). While the risen Lord prepares us for His ascension, He will not leave us “as orphans” (John 14:18), but He gives “another Helper,” the Holy Spirit, to be with us forever (John 14:16) through the preaching of “Jesus and the resurrection” (Acts 17:18). Because He “suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous” (1 Peter 3:18), we “honor Christ the Lord as holy” and are always “prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks” for the reason for our hope (1 Peter 3:15). Our Baptism “now saves” us “as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 3:21).

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Collect of the Day

O God, the giver of all that is good, by Your holy inspiration grant that we may think those things that are right and by Your merciful guiding accomplish them; 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: Divine Service, setting one on page 151.     

      The Introit is sung responsively by half verse and is found on the insert.  “This Is the Feast” is sung on page 155.

 

Introit (sung responsively by half-verse)

 

Your word is a lamp | to my feet,*

           and a light | to my path.    

 

Forever, O | LORD, your word*

          is firmly fixed | in the heavens.

                                                                                                                                                                                 

Your faithfulness endures to all gener- | ations;*

    you have established the earth, and it | stands fast.    

 

By your appointment they | stand this day,*

     for all things are your | servants.

 

If your law had not been | my delight,*

     I would have perished in my af-| fliction.

 

I will never forget your | precepts,*

for by them you have giv- | en me life.

 

            Glory be to the Father and | to the Son

                   and to the Holy | Spirit;

 

            as it was in the be- | ginning,

                   is now, and will be forever. | Amen.

 

 Your word is a lamp | to my feet,*

and a light | to my path.   

 

READINGS:     Acts 17:16–31          1 Peter 3:13–22      John 14:15–21

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HYMNS:   779,  556 (women only st. 5, 7 – men only st. 6, 8),  353 (offering hymn), 469,  821,  725

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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: Owen; Scott; Fran; Dennis; Hannelore; June; Bill; Rev. Kurt; Rev. Greg; Olga; Monika; Edith; David; Kim; Asser;  Gheorghe; Sharon; Autumn; Susan; Mary; Sherran & Larry; Heather; Konrad & Herta; Gene & Margaret; Albina; Debbie; Betty; Lucie; Claudette; Andre & Micheline; Jeanine; George & Waldtraut; Brenda; George & Jeannie; Mardelle; Johanna

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ASCENSION DAY: of our Lord is celebrated this Thursday (40 days after Easter).  The divine service is at 7:30pm with Holy Communion.

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PRAYER CHAIN:  Paula, our Evangelism Team Leader, 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. Paula

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THANK YOU: My heartfelt gratitude for you concern for not only me, but also for my Mum during these past couple of months of medical challenges. I am truly grateful for your prayers. God is good and does answer prayer.  All has gone well with my surgeries and test results. I am recovering much better than I anticipated given what the doctors had originally said.  I thank God for his many blessing and mercy.   Thank you all for your support. In Christ, Johanna…. (And Lorna)

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VBS PIE: We would like to thank everyone for their amazing support, as we have had yet another fantastic fundraiser.   WE are also in need of tissue paper different shades of purple, and red and yellow, gold.  We need 1 teacher and 4 helpers. Prayerfully consider donating your time this summer.  Please let Carolyn know, she will be back by end of May 30.  Thank you, VBS Team.

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REFORMATION SERVICE EVENT FUND RAISER: ending June 11th will be matched by FaithLife Financial up to $300.00

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LADIES OF GRACE: Many thanks from the Ladies of Grace for the donations for our Workday.  We assembled 29 layettes and 47 school kits which will be shipped to CLWR by Home Hardware to Winnipeg. To continue our mission work in the fall, the ladies of Grace will require the following items; For school kits: coloured construction paper, rulers, erasers and blunt nose scissors. For Baby bundles: receiving blankets, sleepers, sweaters, face cloths and undershirts. Thank you for your continued support.        

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CONCORDIA SEMINARY ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT:  Monday June 5th at Sawmill Golf course in Fenwick, ON $100 reg. Details on table.

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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 or table in Narthex. Volunteers needed.

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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.

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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. 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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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 weeks topics include: The Movie “The Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” Responding to Roman Catholic Proof Texts, Martin Luther on Prayer, 4th Century Roman Emperor Constantine and more. You can listen to what you want when you want at www.issuesetc.org and on the Lutheran Public Radio mobile app.

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SPRING CLEANING: Please pick a room or cupboard and come in on any day best for you to clean it. Requirements: just dusting, cleaning spider webs, rodent droppings and washing with a strong cleaner. Bring a mask, gloves and rags. See book on table in Narthex.  Please let a trustee or Pastor know if you are coming so someone can be here during day to let you in.   Thank you, Trustees

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LUTHERAN WITNESS:  Its that time for renewal June 2017; put cost with your offering and mark it on the envelop or write a cheque to Grace Lutheran church label Lutheran Witness.  2017 Pricing $15.96/yr +.75/mth = $9 mailing.= $24.96.

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WE NEED YOUR HELP: Please take a few minutes and do a check of lights, bathrooms and coffee pot. Hydro and Water are one of our major expenses, so we all need to do our part to keep expenses at bay. Thank you. Trustees.

 

REFERENCE MATERIALS:  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 to read or to a friend. Summer clean out will be done in July.

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SAINT VINCENT’S KITCHEN: if anyone would like to help with our team it's the 4th Saturday of every month.  You can Contact Charlie and Christine Farnell at 905-263-8497 or St. Vincent’s kitchen at 905-434-7543; ask for Valerie Moreton. People can come in the morning for prep, or in the afternoon for serving, busing or drying dishes.  Or to help close.  Morning times 9-12 Afternoon 2-5 Evening 5-7.

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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.

 

BIRTHDAY LUNCH & FOOD BANK:  NEEDED - Don’t forget to bring non-perishable food items for the food bank AND on the birthday lunches. Next Birthday lunch is – May 28, 2017.

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BULLETIN: We will be going to our one page summer bulletin starting June 4th.  Any special announcements will be put on the White board.

 

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.

 

​​This Week under Grace

 

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

                                     10:30am                          Divine Service(C) followed by VBS Pie

Wednesday                  9:00am                           Matins and bible study

Thursday                       7:30pm                          Ascension Day Service (c)

Saturday                       4:00pm                           Call Service, CLTS, Grace L.C. St.Catharines

                                                                               St. Vincent’s kitchen

Sunday (w)                    9:30am                          Bible Class /Sunday School

                                     10:30am                          Divine Service (C)