Second Sunday in Lent
Jacob’s Dream by Giorgio Vasari II (circa 1558)
Grace Lutheran Church Tucson, AZ February 25, 2018
Our mission at Grace is to teach the inspired and inerrant Word of God, to proclaim that Jesus Christ is the crucified and risen Savior of the world, and to nurture believers for lives of Christian service. We are very pleased that you have joined us for worship today at Grace-Tucson! We pray that this time will be a blessing for you as God comes to you with his Word and promises and as you offer him your thanks and praise.
Worship Notes The order of service we follow is printed out in this worship folder. You’ll notice that the service is a dialogue between God and us, his people. The pastor speaks to God along with the congregation and also speaks the Word of God to the people.
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stand for a few moments in the entryway, sometimes that’s all that’s needed;
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go down the stairs to the left in the entryway—they will lead down to the Child Care Room where you will still be able to see and hear the service;
Hymns are found in our hymnal, Christian Worship, which is the red book in the pew rack in front of you.
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visit the private Mother’s Room across the courtyard in the women’s restroom—you will be able to hear the service there also.
Large print hymn sheets are available in the entryway. You may also ask an usher or greeter to get one for you. We believe that many blessings come from having families worship together and we love to have children in worship! If you need to calm a restless child, you may: WELS Tucson Campus Ministry
Printed copies of the sermon are available in the entryway. CDs of the entire worship service will be made upon request from the sound technician in the balcony. It only takes a few minutes to copy. You may also find sermons and services in print, audio and video on our website: www.GraceLutheranSAZ.org 2nd Street
Lifeliners meet downstairs
COUNSELOR’S OFFICE
CHURCH Downstairs to Child Care Room
PARKING Mother’s Room
6th-8th
FELLOWSHIP HALL Adult Bible Study
9:00 AM Lifeliners (Youth Group)
3rd-5th Sunday School Opening 1st-2nd
Sunday Schedule 8:45 AM Sunday School Opening
CHURCH OFFICES
9:00 AM Adult Bible Study (Fell. Hall) 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM Weekday Church Office Hours
Euclid
1st Avenue
PK-K COURTYARD
The Season of Lent leads the Church on a forty-day journey of repentance, remembrance, and prayer. It is a time to consider the sufferings and death of Jesus and to prepare for Easter. This is especially true during midweek services in Lent. The Sundays in Lent are not counted in the forty days and have only hints of the season’s mood, such as the omission of “Alleluias.” Sundays are islands of refreshment in our Lenten walk. Purple is the color of the season and represents repentance and solemnity.
WELCOME Please stand
LENTEN GATHERING RITE Remember Your Love The vocalist(s) will introduce the refrain. The congregation repeats the refrain and sings it again as indicated.
The vocalist(s) sings these words from Psalm 27: The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom should I fear? The Lord is my life and my refuge, when I call, God hears. Refrain If you dwelt, O Lord, upon our sinfulness, then who could stand? But with you there is mercy and forgiveness and a guiding hand.
Our service today begins with a “gathering rite.” This order musically ties together the invocation, confession, Kyrie (Lord, have mercy), and absolution and also replaces an opening hymn. The solemn tone of this gathering rite reminds us of our sin and our need for a Savior. We are comforted by God’s great mercy for us in sending Jesus to be that Savior.
Refrain O Lord, hear the sound of my call and answer me. My heart cries out for your presence; it is you I seek. Refrain
INVOCATION M: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen. M: The grace of our Lord ( ) Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you. C: And also with you.
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CONFESSION We come before the true God only because of his mercy and not because we deserve to come. We confess our unworthiness and rejoice to hear the assurance of forgiveness.
M: As we prepare to celebrate the mystery of Christ’s love, let us confess our sin and ask the Lord for pardon and strength. C: Holy and merciful Father, I confess that I am by nature sinful, and that I have disobeyed you in my thoughts, words, and actions. I have done what is evil and failed to do what is good. For this I deserve your punishment both now and in eternity. But I am truly sorry for my sins, and trusting in my Savior Jesus Christ, I pray: Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner. LORD, HAVE MERCY Kyrie
After the vocalist sings each verse, follow the corresponding line below:
1. Lord Jesus, our covenant and promise: 2. Christ Jesus, the vision of our future: 3. Lord Jesus, beloved Son of God: Vocalist
ABSOLUTION M: God, our heavenly Father, has been merciful to us and has given his only Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Therefore, as a called servant of Christ and by his authority, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son ( ) and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen. Please join in singing the refrain once more.
PRAYER OF THE DAY M: Let us pray. Almighty God, you see that we have no power to defend ourselves. Guard and keep us both outwardly and inwardly from all adversities that may happen to the body and from all evil thoughts that may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C: Amen. 3
Please be seated
THE WORD FIRST LESSON Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Harran. When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. There above it stood the Lord, and he said: “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will PSALM OF THE DAY
Genesis 28:10-17 be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.”
The First Lesson is frequently a reading from the Old Testament. It shares a common theme with the Second Lesson (often from one of the epistles) and the Gospel.
PSALM 73 The vocalist(s) will sing the verses of the psalm. The congregation is invited to join in on the refrains and the final verse.
I am always with you, O LORD; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Glory be to the Father and to the Son* and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning,* is now, and will be forever. Amen. Refrain 4
SECOND LESSON Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. The Verse of the Day is a familiar or significant Scripture text which focuses our thoughts and attention on the theme of the service or the season of the church year.
The congregation stands out of respect for the words of Christ our King.
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Romans 5:1-11 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
VERSE OF THE DAY
Philippians 2:8
M: Jesus humbled himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross. Please stand
GOSPEL
Mark 8:31-38
After the announcement of the Gospel, the congregation sings:
He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and
said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”
After the Gospel, the congregation sings:
APOSTLES’ CREED C: I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
The Apostles’ Creed developed in the Early Christian Church as a personal confession of faith. It is so named because it confesses the faith taught by the Apostles of Jesus.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. Please be seated
HYMN OF THE DAY
Come, Follow Me, the Savior Spoke Christian Worship #453
SERMON
Genesis 28:10-17 Jacob’s Comforting Dream
Please stand
After the sermon, please join in singing the response below.
C:
In this sung response based on the words from Psalm 51:1012, we pray for a clean heart and a renewed spirit in response to God’s gift of grace.
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Please be seated
If you prefer, use your smart phone to give online by scanning this QR code.
OFFERING Members of Grace respond to their Savior’s love with offerings that are given joyfully, generously, regularly, and in a way that is proportionate to how the Lord has blessed them. Their cheerful gifts support the mission and ministry of our congregation. If you are a guest today, please know that we do not expect you to contribute to our congregation’s work. However, if you would like to give an offering to the Lord in response to his love to you, we are happy to receive it and put it to work in God’s kingdom. Please fill out the Friendship Register located in the red folder at the end of the row and pass it along. Thank you!
OFFERTORY MUSIC—WORSHIP CHOIR (10:00)
Day by Day
Day by day, your mercies, Lord, attend me, bringing comfort to my anxious soul. Day by day, the blessings, Lord, you send me draw me nearer to my heav’nly goal. Love divine, beyond all mortal measure, brings to naught the burdens of my quest; Savior, lead me to the home I treasure, where, at last, I’ll find eternal rest. Day by day, I know you will provide me strength to serve and wisdom to obey; I will seek your loving will to guide me o’er the paths I struggle day by day. I will fear no evil of the morrow; I will trust in your enduring grace. Savior, help me bear life’s pain and sorrow; till in glory I behold your face. Oh, what joy to know that you are near me when my burdens grow too great to bear; Oh, what joy to know that you will hear me when I come, O Lord, to you in prayer. Day by day, no matter what betide me, you will hold me ever in your hand. Savior, with your presence here to guide me, I will reach at last the promised land.
Please stand
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH M: C: M: C:
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C: 7
Heavenly Father, you loved the world and gave your Son to liberate us from sin and death by his obedient death on the cross. We confess that without your love we are lost. Lord of the Church, we thank you for the treasure of the gospel. By your Spirit, keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. Strengthen our determination to do what pleases you, no matter what the danger or the cost. Let us pray for those who carry a cross in the name of Christ and face ridicule and persecution for the sake of the kingdom: missionaries and chaplains, young people who stand up for what is right in the face of pressure to do what is wrong, and all who pay a high price for their faith and their values as Christians. By your Spirit, O Lord, grant them patience and endurance.
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C:
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Let us pray for those who carry heavy burdens in life: the sick and the chronically ill, the depressed and the lonely, those torn by conflict in personal relationships, those victimized by war and injustice, and all who face the terrors of life with a heavy heart. Grant them peace, O Lord, and in your mercy, be their guardian and friend, their comfort and hope. Let us pray for those who care for others: pastors and counselors; physicians and nurses; social workers and caring friends; all who feed the hungry, comfort the hurting, and stand beside the dying. Strengthen them in their work, O Lord, and do not let them become weary in doing good.
Special prayers and intercessions may follow.
M: Hear us, Lord, as we bring you our private petitions. Silent prayer.
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C:
Help us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Keep us faithful even to the point of death, that we may receive the crown of life, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
LORD’S PRAYER C: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen. Please be seated
HYMN
Matthew 6 and Luke 11 record how Jesus taught his disciples to pray. We use his example prayer as part of our public worship, trusting that he will hear and answer our prayers.
Lord, You I Love with All My Heart Christian Worship #434
The vocalist(s) will sing stanza 2 Please stand
PRAYER M: Blessed Lord, you have given us your Holy Scriptures for our learning. May we so hear them, read, learn, and take them to heart, that being strengthened and comforted by your Holy Word, we may cling to the blessed hope of everlasting life, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C: Amen. 8
The blessing of Aaron has been spoken over God’s people for over 3,500 years. The Lord said, “So I will put my name on [them], and I will bless them.” Numbers 6:27
BLESSING M: The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look on you with favor and ( ) give you peace. C: Amen. Please be seated
ANNOUNCEMENTS
CLOSING HYMN
Jesus, Lead Us On Christian Worship #422
Copyright Info: Remember Your Love: By Darryl Ducote, Gary Daigle, Mike Balhoff. © 1978 Damean Music. Distributed by GIA Publications, Inc. Divine Service I: Texts revised from The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941. Music by Kermit Moldenhauer. © 2002 Northwestern Publishing House. Psalm 73: Refrain by Jack Noble White. © 1976 CPP/Belwin Music. Psalm Tone by Kermit Moldenhauer. © 1993 Northwestern Publishing House. Day by Day: Words by Carolina Sandell Berg. Tr. Robert Leaf. © 1992 Augsburg Fortress Publishers. Copyrighted material reprinted under OneLicense.net #A-710199.
THOSE ASSISTING IN WORSHIP TODAY Preacher .................................................................. Pastor Tim Patoka Worship Leader ..................................... Pastor Nathan Kassulke (10:00 AM) Accompanist ................................................................... Katie Patoka Vocalist ......................................................... Nicole Peterson (7:45 AM) Worship Choir Director ....................................... Teri Guenther (10:00 AM) Ushers................................. Rusty King, Rick Street, Vic Thornton (7:45 AM) .......................... Ed Ethington, Jonathan Ganster, Lucas Guenther (10:00 AM) ............................... Ferdie Kramm, Jacob Miller, Jonathan Miller (10:00 AM) Sound & Recording Tech ................................... Jeremy Snavely (10:00 AM) Greeters ................................................. Ed & Judy Ethington (10:00 AM) Banner Committee ............. Sandy Weir, Nadine Rentschler, Jeanette O’Donald
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TODAY Welcome Grace Guests! If you are a guest at Grace today, we are very happy to have you worship with us! If you would like more information about Grace or have questions about becoming a member of our congregation, please visit the Welcome Table in the courtyard. If this is your first time at Grace, please stop there to pick up a gift just for being our guest this morning.
Altar Flowers The flowers beautifying our worship this morning have been given by David and Beth Williams in thanks to God on the occasion of their anniversary.
You Are Invited You are invited to a coffee fellowship this morning in the courtyard following both services. We hope you’ll take advantage of this opportunity to greet your brothers and sisters in Christ. Pastor Koehler is preaching at Grace-Benson and Grace-Vail this morning.
Divine Calls Extended At the Voters’ Meeting last Sunday, our congregation extended two calls: one to Mrs. Laura Heiman (wife of Grace Pastor Ryan Heiman) to serve as a part-time director for our Child Learning Center at Grace-Sahuarita, and one to Pastor David Bivens to serve as our Mission Pastor at Grace-Benson and Grace-Vail. Pastor Bivens currently serves Christ the Lord Lutheran Church in Houston, TX. Please keep the Heiman family and Pastor Bivens, his wife Brandi, and their three children in your prayers as they deliberate over where the Lord would have them serve at this time.
Guest Musicians at Grace This week, we will have several opportunities to welcome guest musicians to our congregation and to enjoy their music and the unique worship services they have put together for us. Here at GraceTucson, Branches Band will lead the music in our midweek Lenten services on Wednesday. Next Sunday, WELS band KOINE will present a worship service entitled Footsteps to the Cross in place of our regular worship services. This visual musical narrative follows Christ from the Mount of Transfiguration to the cross. Because this worship service will last approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes, Adult Bible Study on March 4 may begin a little later than usual. For more information about these guest musicians, please see the additional announcements on the following page.
Praise and Proclaim Workshop Praise and Proclaim Ministries is a WELS-affiliated group that trains and works with congregations on particular outreach initiatives. Praise and Proclaim will be working with Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in northern Tucson (8799 North Northern Ave, 85704) on March 16 & 17. Grace members who are interested in this approach to outreach are invited to attend the training portion of this event on Friday, March 16 (light dinner at 5:00 PM, training from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM). Those who attend Friday may also participate in door-to-door canvassing on Saturday, March 17 (canvassing begins at 9:00 AM, lunch break, debriefing at 3:30 PM, dinner at 4:30 PM). If you would like to attend this event, please let one of the Grace pastors know if you would like to attend Friday only or both Friday and Saturday. Our deadline to sign-up is March 7. 10
Lenten Services Wednesday midweek services will be held at Grace-Benson, Grace-Sahuarita, and Grace-Tucson every Wednesday through March 21. The theme for our services is “Jesus Christ Is Our Great High Priest.” The sermons and service themes will rotate among the various sites, so worshipers who attend more than one site could hear a sermon repeated. See the schedule below for this week. February 28 Grace-Benson: Jesus Is Our Perfect High Priest
6 PM 7 PM
Supper Worship
Grace-Sahuarita: Jesus Our Great High Priest Serves at a Great Altar 10 AM 6 PM 7 PM
Worship Supper Worship
Grace-Tucson: Jesus Is Our Compassionate High Priest
Worship Supper Worship
10 AM 6 PM 7 PM
We need volunteers to host the meals at Grace-Tucson (individuals, families, groups, or any combination). There is a sign-up sheet posted in the Fellowship Hall as well as an information sheet which explains how to host one of these meals. You may also contact the church office at 623-6633 if you’re interested in helping.
Branches Band WELS musicians Andy and Rachel Braun of the Branches Band will lead our music in worship services on Wednesday, February 28 at Grace-Tucson for both the 10:00 AM and 7:00 PM midweek Lenten services. They will also lead worship music on Sunday, March 4 at Grace-Sahuarita for both the 7:45 AM and 10:00 AM worship services. Andy and Rachel travel around the country with this ministry, playing hymns and original songs based on Scripture. Their CDs and other merchandise will be available for purchase. Congregation members will also have an opportunity to make donations to support the ministry of the Branches Band. For more information about the group, please visit www.BranchesBand.com or www.Facebook.com/BranchesBand.
KOINE WELS band KOINE will lead music in our worship services on Sunday, March 4 at Grace-Tucson for both the 7:45 AM and 10:00 AM worship services. The service they will be presenting is called Footsteps to the Cross, a very visual and moving musical narrative following Christ from the Mount of Transfiguration to the cross. KOINE is an award winning worship band known for combining century-old hymns with modern accompaniment. After the services, their CDs and other merchandise will be available for purchase. Congregation members will also have an opportunity to make donations to support their music ministry. For more information about the group, please visit www.KoineMusic.com or www.Facebook.com/Koine. If you would like to see KOINE but cannot attend Grace-Tucson that morning or would like to hear more of their music, they will be presenting a concert featuring the hymns of Martin Luther at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Marana on Sunday, March 4 at 6:00 PM. 11
Birth Announcement We rejoice with Pastor and Laura Heiman at the birth of their son, Ingram Arthur Heiman on February 20, 2018. We thank God for being with mother and baby during delivery and look forward to welcoming Ingram into the family of believers through Holy Baptism.
Open House All Grace members are invited to an open house on March 4 from 11:30 AM to 6:00 PM at the Heiman residence to celebrate the confirmation of Owen Heiman and the baptism of Ingram Heiman. Food and beverages will be served throughout the day. No RSVP is necessary. The Heimans live at 550 N. Pecan Holiday Lane, Sahuarita, AZ 85629.
Website Redesign Our church website has been redesigned! At GraceLutheranSAZ.org, you can learn more about our congregation as a whole as well as find information about each one of our four sites. Service videos, worship folders, and sermons are also available for viewing. We invite you to check it out and invite your friends to do so as well!
Memorial Service Grace Member Gisela Kittel was called home to heaven on Tuesday, January 30. A memorial service has been scheduled for Saturday, March 24 at 3:00 PM at Grace-Tucson.
New Sunday Morning Bible Study A brand new Bible study on the Book of Galatians is starting Sunday, March 4 at both Grace-Tucson and Grace-Vail! This letter from Paul to the Christians in Galatia offers us a great deal of encouragement about what it means to be a Christian and to live as a Christian. If you haven’t given Sunday morning Bible Study a try or are out of the habit of attending, this would be a great time to jump in!
Church Library Media Items Available If you still own a VCR or a cassette player – you’re in luck! Our church library is giving away all of its cassette tapes and video tapes to anyone that would like them. A few tables will be set up with these items on the west end of the fellowship hall by the church library after worship services TODAY. Please come by and take any of these items that you feel you or a friend or relative can use! Our library also has lovely children’s books for Easter and other times of the year – in addition to many devotional, fiction, and Bible study books for adults, teens, and children. Please visit the Grace Church library and take a look at the wonderful books available to check out!
Part-time Groundskeeper Needed Grace Lutheran Church of Southern AZ is looking for a part-time Groundskeeper for Grace-Tucson. If you have any interest in this position, please contact the Trustee, Jeff Weinstein: 520-909-7649, trustee@gracelutheransaz.org.
Worship Choir Worship Choir is rehearsing on Thursday evenings at 6:30 PM in the sanctuary. We are preparing music for the Lenten season and for Easter Sunday (April 1). This is a short-term commitment and a great opportunity to serve your church during this special time in the church year! Singers of all abilities are welcome! If you have any questions, please contact Music Coordinator Beth Kassulke: 520-260-3649, music@gracelutheransaz.org.
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Thrivent Choice Deadline Thrivent members, the deadline to use your Thrivent Choice Dollars is March 31. There are two easy options for directing your Choice Dollars: Online at www.Thrivent.com/thriventchoice. Phone: 800-847-4836 and say "Thrivent Choice" at the prompt. The Member Connection Center is open until 6 p.m. Central time, Monday – Friday. If you have any questions, please contact Deb Sloyan: 520-561-7625, dsloyan1@gmail.com.
LWMS Spring Rally The 2018 Spring Rally for our Circuit of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society (LWMS) is scheduled for April 14 at Church of the Open Bible, Whiteriver, AZ. Registration AND Mission Money offering due dates will be announced soon. Watch for forms at your Grace site and at www.GrandCanyonLWMS.org. Information about lodging in the White Mountain area will also be available. NOTE: If you are among those ladies using the little Mission boxes to set aside your Mission offering, remember to write a check or send paper currency to the circuit Treasurer, Rose Petersen, before the deadline. Please, do not send boxes of coins. All checks are to be made out to Grand Canyon Circuit East for both mission money and registration. Please watch for further details in upcoming worship folders and newsletters. If you have questions, contact Diane Kramm (520-440-8564).
Donations Needed Holy Cross is collecting items for veterans, military members and others in need. Caps and scarves, flannel blankets, afghans, white socks, skull caps for our military men and women in active duty and skull caps for those who are going through cancer treatment are being collected. Donations can be dropped off in the office at Grace-Tucson. There is no deadline. Please contact Karen Manning at 520-241-0909 if you have any questions.
ACSTO and Tuition Tax Credit The Arizona Christian School Tuition Organization (ACSTO) exists to provide tuition scholarships to students at Christian schools by receiving tax credit donations. ACSTO works closely with our WELS schools in Arizona, including Redeemer Lutheran School here in Tucson and our area Lutheran high school, Arizona Lutheran Academy (ALA) in Phoenix. Currently, 13 members of Grace attend Redeemer Lutheran School, and 4 members attend ALA. The support of ACSTO, which allows many families to afford the Lutheran education that they want for their children, is made possible by Arizona residents who make donations. In fact, specific children may even be recommended to receive a scholarship from your donation. Arizona law also allows you to receive the full amount, up to certain limits, as a tax credit on your state income taxes. This means that you can direct money that you would otherwise pay to the state to support a cause that interests you. You can donate to Lutheran education without spending any extra money. ACSTO has an excellent video explaining the tax credit law in Arizona, and you can view that video on their website at www.ACSTO.org. Donations made before April 15 can still be applied to your 2017 taxes. Please keep in mind this opportunity and make use of it as you are able! If you have questions about this program, please ask. There are several people at Grace who know it well and would be happy to help! 13
Grace is one congregation at FOUR places! Enjoy worship, Bible study and activities at Grace locations in Benson, Sahuarita, Tucson and Vail.
This Week at Grace Feb 25 – Mar 4 TUCSON Today Worship Services......................................................... 7:45 & 10:00a Coffee Fellowship following both services ......................................... Children’s Sunday School ........................................................ 8:45a Youth Confirmation Class ......................................................... 8:45a Lifeliners: Deal with It: School Issues ....................................... 9:00a Adult Bible Study (Fellowship Hall): • Church-Mission-Ministry ...................................................... 9:00a WELS TCM: What’s the Deal With Miracles? ........................... 7:00p
SAHUARITA Today Children’s Sunday School .........................................................9:00a Adult Bible Study: Means of Grace ...........................................9:00a Worship Services ........................................................ 7:45 & 10:00a Coffee Fellowship following worship .................................................. Wednesday Lenten Worship ......................................................... 10:00a & 7:00p Lenten Supper...........................................................................6:00p Sunday Children’s Sunday School .........................................................9:00a Adult Bible Study: Means of Grace ...........................................9:00a Worship Service w/Branches Band ...................................... 7:45a Worship/Youth Confirmation w/Branches Band ............... 10:00a Coffee Fellowship following worship .................................................. Open House at the Heiman’s............................................... 11:30a
BENSON Today Worship Service ........................................................................7:30a Wednesday Lenten Supper...........................................................................6:00p Lenten Worship .........................................................................7:00p Sunday Worship Service/Communion ....................................................7:30a Open House at the Heiman’s............................................... 11:30a
Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church Central Office 830 N. 1st Avenue Tucson, Arizona 85719 Phone Fax
623-6633 623-1514
Monday English as a Second Language Classes ................................... 6:30p Tuesday English as a Second Language Classes ................................... 6:30p Wednesday Lenten Worship w/Branches Band ........................ 10:00a & 7:00p Lenten Supper in the Fellowship Hall ........................................ 6:00p Thursday Women’s Bible Study: Key Bible Words ................................... 9:00a Handbell Choir .......................................................................... 5:30p Worship Choir ........................................................................... 6:30p Sunday Worship Services: Footsteps to the Cross ............. 7:45 & 10:00a Coffee Fellowship following both services.......................................... Children’s Sunday School ......................................................... 8:45a Youth Confirmation Class ......................................................... 8:45a Lifeliners: Deal with It: School Issues ........................................ 9:00a Adult Bible Study (Fellowship Hall): • Galatians.............................................................................. 9:00a Open House at the Heiman’s ...............................................11:30a NO WELS TCM..................................................................................
VAIL Today Children’s Sunday School ........................................................ 9:00a Youth Confirmation Class ......................................................... 9:00a Adult Bible Study: Lenten Trivia ............................................... 9:00a Worship Service ..................................................................... 10:00a Coffee Fellowship following worship .................................................. Wednesday NO Ministry Center Office Hours ....................................................... NO Bible Study at Ministry Center ..................................................... Sunday Children’s Sunday School ........................................................ 9:00a Youth Confirmation Class ......................................................... 9:00a Adult Bible Study: Galatians ..................................................... 9:00a Worship Service/Communion ................................................. 10:00a Coffee Fellowship following worship .................................................. Open House at the Heiman’s ............................................... 11:30a
Pastors
Bible-Based Counselor
At Grace-Tucson
Cinda Drescher cinda@gracelutheransaz.org Phone 882-3773
Ronald G. Koehler, III Nathan P. Kassulke Timothy L. Patoka
revrgk3@gracelutheransaz.org revnpk@gracelutheransaz.org revtlp@gracelutheransaz.org
At Grace-Vail & Grace-Benson Ronald G. Koehler, III
revrgk3@gracelutheransaz.org
Beth Kassulke music@gracelutheransaz.org Phone 623-6633
Office Assistant
Administrative Assistants Beth Kassulke Missy Wiechmann office@gracelutheransaz.org
Music Coordinator
At Grace-Sahuarita Ryan A. Heiman
Debbie Koehler revrah@gracelutheransaz.org
assistant@gracelutheransaz.org
Phone 623-6633
14
Grace Lutheran Church is a member of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS), a group of nearly 400,000 men, women, and children in nearly 1,300 congregations across the United States and Canada united by a common faith in Christ's saving love. We are committed to a common calling—encouraging each other in our faith and sharing God's gift of a Savior with the rest of the world. For more information about our synod and what we believe visit: www.wels.net