Grace Lutheran Church Oshawa

Fifth Sunday of Easter       Apr 29, 2018

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.

 

Jesus Christ Is the True Vine Who Bears Much Fruit in Us

“God is love,” and He has manifested Himself to us by sending “his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him” (1 John 4:9, 16). By the ministry of the Gospel, “he has given us of his Spirit,” so that we also believe and confess “that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh.” In this way, we “abide in him and he in us,” and we “love one another” (1 John 4:2, 7, 13). Such divine love is exemplified in Philip’s preaching of “the good news about Jesus” to the Ethiopian eunuch. And when “they came to some water,” the eunuch was baptized into the very Gospel that Philip had preached (Acts 8:35–38). That Ethiopian was thereby grafted into “the true vine,” Jesus Christ (John 15:1), just as we are. Already we are clean because of the Word that Christ has spoken to us and by the washing of water with His Word. We now abide in Him by faith in His forgiveness. As He abides in us, both body and soul, with His own body and His blood, He “bears much fruit” in us (John 15:3–5).

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Collect of the Day

O God, You make the minds of Your faithful to be of one will.  Grant that we may love what You have commanded and desire what You promise, that among the many changes of this world our hearts may be fixed where true joys are found; 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 Three on page 184.

                   The Introit is sung responsively by half-verse on the insert. B

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​READINGS:   :  Acts 8: 26- 40      1 John 4: 1 – 11 (12-21)                     John 15: 1 - 8

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HYMNS:  465,  633,  595(offering),  473,  700,  632,  919

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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: Wed or Thurs  5-7pm): Debby Miller                           Parish Nurse: Jane 

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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:

Members of Grace: Verna & family (after Jim’s death); Jane; John; Paula; Marshall; Debbie; Fran; Dennis; Olga; Edith; Sherran; Herta; Eugene & Margaret; Betty ; Jeannie; Claudette; Isabelle; Anne; Monika; Alicia; Delores; Debby

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Friends of Grace:  Rev. Richard; Autumn; Chris;  Susan; Mary; Larry; Heather; Andre & Micheline; Jeanine; George & Waldtraut; George; Rev. Delmar & Mardelle; Kathy & Jack; Ada (Loretta’s mother); Christine; Asser; Gheorghe; Alice; Sharon; Landon; Tammy; Barb

 

MARGARET MACKENZIE: fell asleep in the Lord last Sunday around noon.  While we were here taking Holy Communion, our Risen Lord was welcoming her to the same feast but in heaven.  We pray for Gene and his family as they mourn this loss while still comforted in the Resurrection.

https://www.arbormemorial.ca/en/mountlawn?gclid=CPGRnLu81toCFZaHxQId8u4KZA&gclsrc=ds

Viewing on Fri.5/4/18 4-8 pm at Mount Lawn Funeral Whitby; then on Sat.5/5/18 viewing 10am and Funeral 11am at Grace.

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PRAYER CHAIN: for anyone who is in need of help.  Once a request is made known, the prayer chain members will be called, 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 Paula.

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THANK YOU: Dear Sisters & Brothers of Grace: Reading one of my devotions one morning I came across this passage from “1 Thessalonians 1:3, It was Jim all the way, because I knew he did thank God for all his work produced by Faith, his labour prompted by Love, his endurance inspired by Hope in Jesus Christ our Lord”.  Our family could feel the love and admiration for my husband, their father- grandfather and great-grandfather through all the kind words, visits and treats.  Each and every one at Grace had a special place in his heart.     “He Loved People”.  Our family also heard and felt all the prayers and concerns you had for Jim.  May God bless and Care for you all, In Christian Love, Verna and Family.

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THANK YOU: Thank you to Grace members for the phone calls and cards of get well wishes received during my illness. They are much appreciated, I miss the Christian fellowship of the church. The Lord is my refuge and my strength. In Christian love, Jane

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WWW.LUTHERANHOUR.CA. CHAM 820/AM SUN. 8:00 - April 29- “The Answer to Unhappiness”    (Acts 8:26-40); Speaker of the Lutheran Hour: Rev. Mike Newman; What do you really want? What does your heart yearn for most? A blogger recently asked her readers the question: “If you could say in one word what you want more of in life, what would that be?” Can you guess the number one answer? It was happiness.

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OFFERING COUNTERS: are needed for 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.

 

REAL REFORMATION RADIO...You can listen to Lutheran experts teach on subjects like: Martin Luther's "Heidelberg Disputation," 2 Chronicles, The Number & Use of the Sacraments, Isaac & Rebekah, The First Lutheran Composer of Church Music Johann Walter and more.  Issues, Etc. is a radio talk show and podcast produced by Lutheran Public Radio in Collinsville, IL and hosted by LCMS Pastor Todd Wilken.  You can listen live or on-demand at  www.issuesetc.org and on the LPR mobile app.

 

LADIES OF GRACE:  No Meeting on May 5th, due to funeral; we will have our next meeting on June 2, 2018 @9:30 am.The need is there to replenish our supplies. Anyone who comes across these items at a good, decent price, please feel free to pick them up. NEEDED:   For Baby bundles-1. receiving blankets; 2. sweaters;3. wash clothes;4. small sleepers; For school kits 1. Scissors;2. Sharpeners;3. Rulers;4. construction paper;5. duo tangs; We are planning another work morning on May 1st and would again welcome all to come and help.

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SPECIAL TORONTO CIRCUIT MEETING:  As a result of the decision taken at the Synodical convention in October 2017 regarding restructuring of Synod, it is necessary to amend the bylaws of the East District Corporation. A series of circuit meetings has been arranged in order to explain the proposed changes being proposed to the bylaws and to get comments from members.  The circuit meetings are open to everyone. In particular, pastors and congregation delegates should make a point of attending these meetings, as they will be required to vote on acceptance of the bylaw changes as part of the October 2018 District Convention. A summary document plus the draft bylaw, including explanatory notes, are posted on the district web site. It would be beneficial for attendees to the circuit meetings to bring a copy of the 2015 District Handbook for reference purposes and/or to download the information from the website. For more information, contact: East District Board chairman, Reg;  Toronto Circuit London- Saturday June 2 - 10:30 A.M. Christ Our King Lutheran Church 2150 Dundas St. W., Mississauga 905-822-8931

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VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL:  VBS is scheduled for 4th week of July 23-27. Please pray for the sessions and the children. Volunteers needed (teachers, crafts, snack time, etc ) Please invite children/parents. Please contact Carolyn.

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THANK YOU to Lorna Murray for joining me in the office to help out with Shepherds’ Staff updates and office business while I’m away on medical leave. We will be going to the summer bulletin on June 3, 2018.  Please have all your inserts for May, June, July and August; Also September(start dates for 2018 – 19 church year) as soon as possible so we can get out our summer calendar on time. Send via email: office@gracelutheranchurch.net or post on calendar on whiteboard.  Thanking you in advance.  Debby

 

BULLETIN ANNOUNCEMENTS:  There is a 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

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Birthday Lunch: Don’t forget to bring non-perishable food items for the food bank AND ALSO on the birthday lunches.  NEXT: Birthday Lunch Apr 29th, 2018

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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 or give to a friend. 

 

This Week under Grace

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

                                10:30am                              Divine Service

Wednesday             9:00am                                Matins and Bible Study

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

                                10:30am                              Divine Service followed by birthday luncheon