Grace Lutheran Church Oshawa
540 Cromwell Ave. Oshawa, Ontario + Phone: 905-728-4381 + email: gracelutheranoshawa.office@gmail.com
Weekly Bulletin
Oct 6, 2024 - Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost
​
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!
​
Marriage Is a Sign that Manifests the Gospel of Christ and His Church
Humanity is created in the image and likeness of God. “It is not good that the man should be alone” (Gen. 2:18). For the Lord Himself is a perfect communion of three Persons — the Father, Son and Holy Spirit — in one God. Therefore, “the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs,” which “he made into a woman” and brought “to the man” (Gen. 2:21–22). It is for this reason that “a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Gen. 2:24; Mark 10:7). This great mystery of holy marriage signifies Christ Jesus, the incarnate Son of God, and His Bride, the Church. Divorce and all manner of adultery contradict and undermine this sign, and in doing so, they confess a false Christ and a false gospel. “What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate” (Mark 10:9). In truth, Christ Jesus has atoned for all such sins, and He has perfected marriage in Himself “through suffering,” that He might bring “many sons to glory” in His resurrection (Heb. 2:8–10).
​
www.lutherancanada.ca – INFODIGEST
Presiding Minister (P): Rev. Kevin Fast Assisting minister (A): Reg
Acolyte: Victor Sound System: Philip/ Nathan
Webmaster -Mike Secretary: Debby
Altar: Julia
PRAY FOR: Gina; Cristina; Willie (car accident) & Minnie; Debbie; Julia (Broken ankle); Ed; Eloise (hip/shoulder); Robert; Sherran; Herta; Phil; Corinne; Albina.
Friends and Fellow Christians: Holly (daughter of Del), Christy (Niece of Norman) Rev. Basil Christi (heart attack); Matthew & Megan; Lynda; Alice; Terry & Brenda ; Norma (home); Kristy (recovering); Chris; Susan; Heather; Waldtraut; Kathy; Bev; Elizabeth; Mary (David’s mother), Carolyn (Medina,OH); Rose ; Jason; Joan ; .Adian & family
MISSION PRAYERS FOR October - CANADA: Rev. Dr. David Somers - Missionary-at-Large & pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Ascension in Montreal, Quebec.; Rev. Walta Clercius - Assistant Missionary-at-Large for LCC’s French Ministries in Quebec; Rev. Frank Morgret- Resident Pastoral Advisor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Holy Trinity in Sainte-Foy (Quebec City); Rev. Razafy Razandrakoto- Evangelical Lutheran Church of Reconciliation in Sherbrooke, Quebec
BIRTHDAYS, Baptisms And Anniversaries for October: see on back of October calendar, copies available on table at back of church. Please let me know if anyone is missing.
​
QUILTING: Every Tuesday in September @9:00 am. All are welcome, no experience necessary, we do tie quilting. Come and try it out. Blessings
​
EAST – EDLYA RETREAT! The Fall East District Lutheran Young Adults (EDLYA-18-35 yrs) Retreat is October 18-20 at St. Paul’s Lutheran (Cobourg, ON). Rev. Dr. Kevin Fast will be speaking on the topic: "That's Catholic: A study in the history, meaning and use behind the traditions of the catholic church". Please encourage the young adults in your congregation to attend! Register, or learn more, here. (Via Infodigest link above)
CATECHISM STUDIES. Tuesday October 8 @ 07:00 pm at Grace; contact Reg if you have any questions.
LADIES OF GRACE: Mites Sunday Today!! Also annual $10.00 collection for Seminary Guild In St. Catherines. To help support our seminary Students/families who will be becoming Pastors. Thank you so much, Carolyn
HARVEST DAY: October 19th , Seminary St Catherines, Prayers for all who are travelling. We will be taking food from the Pantry to help stock their shelves.
​
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: We are in need of canned fruit easy open lids, were running low. Please drop off non-perishable food, that can be eaten without cooking for homeless (Pull off lids tins), in their original container or wrapping. (Cereal bars, pudding/fruit cups.); We have some can openers and spoons for now. We support our church members, our Seminary students (1/2) and community. Thank you, Colleen & Karen Ikonomu for managing the food bank items.
ATTENTION: Please do not leave any offerings, cash or cheque, and personal information, in the outside church mailbox. It’s been vandalized 3 times in less than a Month. Please call the church, 905-728-4381, if you need to arrange a drop off time. **Our new mailing address is PO BOX 30623, Oshawa, ON L1J 8L8. Please refer to your letter in your mailbox for more details, Blessings, Debby, Church Secretary/Trustees.
​
ATTENTION: Please do not leave any offerings, cash or cheque, and personal information, in the outside church mailbox. It’s been vandalized 3 times in less than a Month. Please call the church, 905-728-4381, if you need to arrange a drop off time. **Our new mailing address is PO BOX 30623, Oshawa, ON L1J 8L8. Please refer to your letter in your mailbox for more details, Blessings, Debby, Church Secretary/Trustees.
​****EMERGENCIES, PLEASE CONTACT AN ELDER OR LEAVE A MESSAGE ON THE CHURCH PHONELINE 905-728-4381********
​
********Next week Ask the Pastor will be moving to the Divine Service bulletin. ************​​
​
*Ask the Pastor*
The Divine Service Part 14 Final Chapter - Benediction
The Benediction concludes the Divine Service. Benediction literally means “to speak well of” or “to speak good upon” and from that, we get its common meaning “to bless.” So the Benediction is the final blessing of the Divine Service.
The Benediction comes from Num. 6:22-27. Here God told Moses that the priests were to end the OT divine service by saying this blessing over the people of Israel. Why did God command that this be done? In verse 27 God explains why. The speaking of these words puts God’s name upon the people and God says he will bless them. God’s name cannot be separated from God himself. If God’s name is placed upon someone then God is with that person. Since God is good and gracious, wherever he is present with someone, he brings blessing to them. Notice that God says whenever you speak these words over the people, “I will bless them.” God absolutely promises to bless them.
Whether the OT people of God (Israel) or the NT people of God (the new Israel of God – all who have faith in Jesus), God is with his people and God promises to bless his people. So the words spoken by the priests upon the people in the OT divine service can also be spoken to the NT people of God. God’s promise to be with them and bless them holds for them too.
Another reason that these words are most appropriate for the NT Divine Service is that it is a reminder and reenactment of Jesus blessing his disciples when he ascended into heaven (Luke 24:50-51). Through the pastor God blesses his people. As the pastor says the blessing, he raises his arms to his side to the same position that Jesus held upon the cross. It is a visual reminder that all of God’s blessings flow from the crucified Christ. God told man in the Garden that if he sinned he would die; that is the threat of the law that we have and cannot overcome. But the blessing (“The LORD bless you and keep you”) has God doing what we cannot do, preserving us because He destroyed Christ instead of us. God frowned on us because of sin, but the blessing has God smiling on us (“the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you”) in Christ. God turned His face away from us in disgust over our lack of holiness, and the blessing has Him gazing at us with open arms (“the LORD lift up his countenance upon you”). We were His enemy, but now in Christ He gives us peace. Amen. Amen. Amen! The closing blessing is pure Gospel.
Closing Hymn and Recessional
The Divine Service ends with a closing hymn and the recession of the cross. Our closing hymn one last time reflects the theme for the day. On those days it is used, as the recessional cross passes, we turn towards it and focus upon it. We follow Christ as He leads us and goes with us back into the world. As He guided us into God’s holy presence in the Divine Service, so now He guides us back into the world to the places of our various callings to live by the mercy he has bestowed upon us in Christ by loving and serving our neighbor as Christ has first loved and served us. He is with us and guides us throughout our earthly life. And in the end he will guide us safely to our heavenly home.
​
​This week @ Grace:
Today (G) 11:15 am Divine Service (C)
Tuesday 9:00 am Quilting
7:00 pm Catechism Studies
Saturday 9:00 am Ladies of Grace Monthly meeting
Sunday (G) 11:15 am Divine Service ©
​
​
​
​