WORSHIP NOTES
Welcome to Grace!
OurÊmissionÊatÊGraceÊis 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.
Check out the GRACE WEBSITE at GraceLutheranSAZ.org
We are very pleased that you have joined us for worship today! 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.
The worship service is printed in this worship folder for you to follow along and participate. 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. Those wishing to leave an offering can do so at the exit today or give online at www.GraceLutheranSAZ.org/give. (You can also scan the QR code to the right to access the online giving page.)
Today we are using elements from the Christian Worship hymnal. If you would like to worship from a hymnal today, you will find these blue worship books in the hymnal racks in each row; however, you do not need to use a hymnal if you so choose, as everything needed for worship is printed in this worship folder.
OUR WORSHIP SERIES RETHINKING RELIGION
Everyone has assumptions about God. Likewise, everyone has assumptions about religion. Increasingly, those assumptions are negative. Americans are walking away from Christianity in breathtaking numbers. How do those people know if their assumptions about religion are correct? Do they really understand Christianity at all? Do we? Do we truly understand this religion?
In the season of Lent, as much as any other, Jesus teaches things that turn the world’s assumptions about religion completely upside down. We call it “Christianity.” So, in this holy season, let us go straight to Christ and let him replace assumptions with truth. Jesus, help us rethink religion!
Our worship will follow these themes:
Rethinking Trials, Tests, and Temptations
RethinkingÊSufferingÊunderÊtheÊCross
Rethinking the Worth of Worship
Rethinking the Solution to Sin Rethinking Devoted Commitment
Rethinking Real Strength
THEME FOR TODAY—RETHINKING SUFFERING UNDER THE CROSS
We know that the cross was an instrument of torture and execution. However, Scripture also uses the term “cross” to refer to any suffering that one endures because he is a believer: the painful denial of the desires of the flesh, ridicule and persecution from unbelievers, etc. This is one reason people reject religion. They see Christians struggling in life with these crosses while non-Christians often seem perfectly happy. Even the prophet Jeremiah asked, “Why do all the faithless live at ease?” (12:1).
Today, Jesus asks us to rethink suffering under the cross. It is not pointless pain. Our crosses are not how we pay for sin. Jesus already did that on his cross. Our crosses are not redemptive, but they are constructive. Any suffering unbelievers face is only bad, a foretaste of worse to come. But the suffering believers face under the cross is only good, a way Christ connects us tightly to himself with fire-tested faith.
OPENING HYMN Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken
Christian Worship 694
The words of the invocation remind us that the God we meet and worship is the true and triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
INVOCATION
Minister: In the name of the Father and of the Son (+) and of the Holy Spirit. Congregation:ÊÊÊAmen.
CONFESSION
1 John 1:8-9
“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” James 5:16
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. IfÊweÊconfessÊourÊsins,ÊGodÊisÊfaithfulÊandÊjustÊandÊwillÊforgiveÊusÊourÊsinsÊandÊ purifyÊusÊfromÊallÊunrighteousness.
Let us confess our sins to the Lord.
HolyÊGod,ÊgraciousÊFather,Ê IÊamÊsinfulÊbyÊnatureÊ
andÊhaveÊsinnedÊagainstÊyouÊinÊmyÊthoughts,Êwords,ÊandÊactions.Ê IÊhaveÊnotÊlovedÊyouÊwithÊmyÊwholeÊheart;Ê IÊhaveÊnotÊlovedÊothersÊasÊIÊshould.Ê
IÊdeserveÊyourÊpunishmentÊbothÊnowÊandÊforever.Ê ButÊJesus,ÊmyÊSavior,ÊpaidÊforÊmyÊsinsÊ withÊhisÊinnocentÊsufferingÊandÊdeath.Ê TrustingÊinÊhim,ÊIÊpray:ÊGod,ÊhaveÊmercyÊonÊme,ÊaÊsinner.
Silence for meditation and reflection
Christ gave the authority to forgive the sins of penitent sinners to his church:
“Whenever you forgive people’s sins, they are forgiven.”
John 20:23
Our gracious Father in heaven has been merciful to us. He sent his only Son, Jesus Christ, who gave his life as the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. 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.
Amen.
LORD, HAVE MERCY Kyrie
In peace let us pray to the Lord.
Lord,ÊhaveÊmercy.
For the peace from above and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord,ÊhaveÊmercy.
For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord,ÊhaveÊmercy.
For this holy house and for all who offer here their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord,ÊhaveÊmercy.
Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.
Amen.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
The Lord be with you.
AndÊalsoÊwithÊyou.
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 all evil thoughts that may assault and hurt the soul; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
Please be seated
Mark 10:47
Kyrie is the Greek word for Lord. The expression “Lord, have mercy” is one of the oldest worship responses in the Christian Church.
Ephesians 4:12-13
+ RECEPTION OF NEW MEMBERS +
The minister addresses the new members:
Friends in Christ,
After a review and instruction in the simple teachings of the Bible and our Lutheran church, you have requested to become members of this congregation. You have come to worship today to confess your unity with us and to take your place as a part of this faith community. I now ask you:
Do you believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? If so, answer: I do.
I do.
Do you believe that the teachings of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod and this congregation, as you have come to know them, are faithful to the Word of God? If so, answer: I do.
I do.
Do you desire to remain faithful to the teachings of Christ, be diligent in the use of God’s Word and sacraments, and lead a godly life as the Lord gives you strength? If so, answer: I do, and I ask God to help me.
I do, and I ask God to help me.
Is it your desire to join us in worship and mission and support this work with your prayers and gifts? If so, answer: It is, and I ask God to help me.
It is, and I ask God to help me.
With sincere joy we welcome you as members of Grace Lutheran Church.
The minister addresses the congregation:
Brothers and sisters,
As we welcome Rob and Ashley to our Christian family, I encourage you in the name of Jesus to keep them in your minds, hold them in your hearts, and pray for them again and again. Show them the face of friendship and offer them a hand of support. Encourage them with your “works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”
PRAYER
We pray.
Gracious Father, we thank you for leading Rob and Ashley to desire to become members of our congregation and for giving them joy to confess their faith to us. Guide us with your wisdom as we worship and work together. Mold our minds and hearts in a single Christ-like will so that we may be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
The peace of Christ be with us all.
Amen.
+ THE WORD +
FIRST READING
Job 1:13-22
13 One day when Job’s sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their oldest brother, 14 a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the female donkeys were grazing nearby, 15 when the Sabeans swooped down and took them away. They put the servants to death with the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
16 While he was still speaking, another servant came and said, “The fire of God fell from the sky and burned up the flocks and the servants and consumed them, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
17 While he was still speaking, another servant came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and plundered the camels and took them away. They put the servants to death with the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
18 While he was still speaking, another servant came and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and were drinking wine in the house of their oldest brother. 19 Suddenly a powerful wind swept in from the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it collapsed on the young people, and they died, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
20 Then Job stood up, tore his robe, and shaved his head. He fell to the ground and worshipped. 21 Then he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return. The L gave and the L has taken away. May the name of the L be blessed.”
22 In all this, Job did not sin or blame God.
The Word of the Lord.
ThanksÊbeÊtoÊGod.
Job is given a heavy cross, but it does not crush his faith.
Instead, God uses Job’s cross to move Job to worship and praise the L .
SECOND READING Romans 5:1-11
1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we also have obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand. And we rejoice confidently on the basis of our hope for the glory of God.
3 Not only this, but we also rejoice confidently in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces patient endurance, 4 and patient endurance produces tested character, and tested character produces hope. 5 And hope will not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, who was given to us.
6 For at the appointed time, while we were still helpless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 It is rare indeed that someone will die for a righteous person. Perhaps someone might actually go so far as to die for a person who has been good to him. 8 But God shows his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Therefore, since we have now been justified by his blood, it is even more certain that we will be saved from God’s wrath through him. 10 For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, it is even more certain that, since we have been reconciled, we will be saved by his life. 11 And not only is this so, but we also go on rejoicing confidently in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received this reconciliation.
The Word of the Lord.
ThanksÊbeÊtoÊGod.
Please stand
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Mark 8:34
Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
St. Paul teaches that God works through our suffering to shape our Christian character and to lead us to cling to Christ’s gracious promises.
The Gospel Acclamation points toward the words of the Gospel.
Jesus teaches of the absolute necessity of the cross, both his and ours.
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.
31 Jesus began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things; be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the experts in the law; be killed; and after three days rise again. 32 He was speaking plainly to them. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But after turning around and looking at his disciples, Jesus rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! You do not have your mind set on the things of God, but the things of men.”
34 He called the crowd and his disciples together and said to them, “If anyone wants to follow me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it. But whoever loses his life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it.
36 After all, what good is it for a man to gain the whole world and yet forfeit his soul? 37 Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 In fact, whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
PraiseÊbeÊtoÊyou,ÊOÊChrist.
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE & GREETING
While the children are coming forward please greet your neighbor and fill out the Friendship Register located in the red folder in your row and pass it along. Thank you!
Please be seated
LORD’S PRAYER
OurÊFatherÊinÊheaven,ÊhallowedÊbeÊyourÊname,ÊyourÊkingdomÊcome,ÊyourÊwillÊ beÊdoneÊonÊearthÊasÊinÊheaven. GiveÊusÊtodayÊourÊdailyÊbread. ForgiveÊusÊourÊ sins,ÊasÊweÊforgiveÊthoseÊwhoÊsinÊagainstÊus. LeadÊusÊnotÊintoÊtemptation, butÊ deliverÊusÊfromÊevil. ForÊtheÊkingdom,ÊtheÊpower, andÊtheÊgloryÊareÊyoursÊnowÊ andÊforever.ÊAmen.
During the singing of this hymn, children ages 1-8 are excused to attend Children’s Church in the CLC Building. Parents can pick-up their children there following the service.
Does Being a Christian Mean Carrying a Cross?
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.
CONFESSION OF FAITH
IÊbelieveÊinÊGod,ÊtheÊFatherÊAlmighty,Ê makerÊofÊheavenÊandÊearth.
IÊbelieveÊinÊJesusÊChrist,ÊhisÊonlyÊSon,ÊourÊLord,Ê whoÊwasÊconceivedÊbyÊtheÊHolyÊSpirit,Ê bornÊofÊtheÊVirginÊMary, sufferedÊunderÊPontiusÊPilate, wasÊcrucified,Êdied,ÊandÊwasÊburied. HeÊdescendedÊintoÊhell.
TheÊthirdÊdayÊheÊroseÊagainÊfromÊtheÊdead.Ê HeÊascendedÊintoÊheaven andÊisÊseatedÊatÊtheÊrightÊhandÊofÊGodÊtheÊFatherÊAlmighty.Ê FromÊthereÊheÊwillÊcomeÊtoÊjudgeÊtheÊlivingÊandÊtheÊdead.
IÊbelieveÊinÊtheÊHolyÊSpirit, theÊholyÊChristianÊChurch, theÊcommunionÊofÊsaints,Ê theÊforgivenessÊofÊsins, theÊresurrectionÊofÊtheÊbody,Ê andÊtheÊlifeÊeverlasting.ÊAmen.
Apostles’ Creed
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
Heavenly Father, you loved the world and gave your Son to free us from sin and death by his obedient death on the cross.
WeÊconfessÊthatÊwithoutÊyourÊloveÊweÊareÊlost.
Lord of the Church, we thank you for the treasure of the gospel. By your Spirit, keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.
StrengthenÊourÊdeterminationÊtoÊdoÊwhatÊpleasesÊyou,ÊnoÊmatterÊwhatÊtheÊ dangerÊorÊtheÊcost.
Guard and guide 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 values as Christians.
ByÊyourÊSpirit,ÊOÊLord,ÊgrantÊthemÊpatienceÊandÊendurance.
Keep in your care 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, and those victimized by war and injustice. Comfort all who face the terrors of life with a heavy heart.
GrantÊthemÊpeace,ÊOÊLord,ÊandÊinÊyourÊmercy,ÊbeÊtheirÊguardianÊandÊfriend,Ê theirÊcomfortÊandÊhope.
Watch over 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.
StrengthenÊthemÊinÊtheirÊwork,ÊOÊLord,ÊandÊdoÊnotÊletÊthemÊbecomeÊwearyÊinÊ doingÊgood.
Hear us as we pray in silence.
Silent prayer
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.
Brief intercessory prayers may be added in a fitting place.
Please stand
The blessing of Aaron has been spoken over God’s people for over 3,500 years. The L said, “In this way they will put my name on [them], and I will bless them.” Numbers 6:27
PRAYER
Almighty God, we thank you for teaching us the things you want us to believe and do. Help us by your Holy Spirit to keep your Word in pure hearts that we may be strengthened in faith, guided in holiness, and comforted in life and in death, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
BLESSING
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.
Amen.
Please be seated
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Text (sts. 1–4): John Fawcett, 1740–1817, alt.; (Ref): Constance Dever, b. 1960. Tune: Constance Dever, b. 1960
Text and tune: © 2018 Sovereign Grace Praise, admin. Integrity Music. Used by permission: OneLicense no. 710199
THOSE ASSISTING IN WORSHIP THIS MORNING
Minister.............................................................................................
Pastor Ryan Heiman
Accompanist............................................................................................... Teri Guenther
Acknowledgements:
Scripture readings are taken from The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version® (EHV®) © 2018 The Wartburg Project. All rights reserved. wartburgproject.org.
Created by Christian Worship: Service Builder © 2024 Concordia Publishing House. Software distributed in partnership with Northwestern Publishing House.
TODAY
Friendship Register
We are so thankful you have joined us today and would like to have a record of both members and guests who are worshiping with us. Please sign the red Friendship Register book located along the center aisle in the hymnal rack.
Children’s Church
Children ages 1-8 will be dismissed from our worship service today during the hymn before the sermon to attend Children’s Church. Parents, following worship, please pick your child up from the gymnasium in the CLC building.
Sunday Morning Bible Study
Timely Topics Every day the news shares something controversial that might spark conversations among Christians and non-Christians. What does God say about these topics? This Bible study will look at what is being said by society and what God says about 6 timely topics like Global Warming, Gender Identity and Politics. If you haven’t been to Bible study in a while, now is a great time to join this study on current events. Please join us in the CLC gymnasium on Sundays at 9:00 AM.
Daily Devotions
Grace Moments and Meditations daily devotional books are on the Welcome Desk in the church entryway. A new Meditations book with devotions beginning March 3 is now available. These are great tools to use for your daily Bible study!
WELS Tucson Campus Ministry (TCM)
TCM Bible study is tonight! All college students and college-age individuals are welcome at 7:00 PM in the Student Center located in the basement at Grace-Tucson. They will be covering many topics under the theme “Wise Like God.”
TCM has an app for college-aged adults! Search “welstcm” to download it and learn how to join its spring semester activities like weekly Bible study in the TCM Student Center, weekly casual discussion on the UA campus, quarterly outings, and monthly events. Contact Campus Pastor Tim (welstcm@welstcm.com) with questions.
Monday Evening Service at Grace-Sahuarita
An evening worship service is held here at Grace-Sahuarita on Monday evenings at 6:00 PM. This service provides another alternative for those who may not be able to worship on Sunday. Members who regularly worship at any Grace sites are welcome to make use of this weeknight service.
