THE THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT

G E L C S , A M 23, 2025

G E L C S , A M 23, 2025
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.
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 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 OPEN DOOR POLICIES: God’s Surprising Strategies for Getting Sinners Back Home When a wayward child wanders far from home, how does a loving parent pursue them without driving them further away? One thing that parent does is let the child know that there is an ongoing opendoor policy. The child knows they will always be welcomed back home. Likewise, when we wander from God, he always keeps his door open for us. But God doesn’t just passively wait for us to return. He lovingly pursues sinners in ways that make them long for home.
In the Church Year, we have come to the season of Lent. The word Lent comes from an old English word for spring: “lengthen,” when the days grow longer. For over 1400 years the Church has set aside the 40 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter as a time of repentance and renewal. In this 40-day journey to the cross and tomb, we will see the surprising strategies our heavenly Father uses for getting sinners back home, close to him and the loving care he offers.
In this season, our worship is following this path:
March 9 One Stands; Everyone Else Sits
March 16 No Detours Allowed
March 23 Always Present, Always Patient
March 30 Grace Instead of Condemnation
April 6 Hiding Treasure in the Trash
The heavenly Father is always present in the lives of his children. He sees every sorrow we endure. He also sees every sin that we commit, even if it’s only in our thoughts. He is always present. Yet, he is also always patient. God does not snap at us the second we turn from him. He gives us time to see the error of our ways. He assures us that the door back to him remains always open. By giving us room to share our struggles and shortcomings, he works in us the very repentance he desires and saves us from the judgment that would otherwise be ours.
OPENING HYMN Speak, O Savior, I Am Listening Christian Worship 631
As our service begins, the minister speaks the words spoken at our baptisms and makes the sign of the cross, marking us anew as redeemed children of God.
Minister: In the name of the Father and of the Son (+) and of the Holy Spirit.
Congregation: Amen.
When God’s children rebel and wander from his ways, he desires that they return to him for pardon and peace through his Son. The courts of heaven resound with joy when a single wayward child returns home.
Luke 15:10
2 Corinthians 6:2
There is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.
Children of God, the time to turn to our Father for forgiveness is now. God made Christ our sin that we might become his righteousness. He implores us to be reconciled to him, promising:
In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.
HYMN RESPONSE—Today Your Mercy Calls Us Christian Worship 916
Let us confess our sins to the Lord.
Holy God, gracious Father, I am sinful by nature and have sinned against you in my thoughts, words, and actions. I have not loved you with my whole heart; I have not loved others as I should. I deserve your punishment both now and forever. But Jesus, my Savior, paid for my sins with his innocent suffering and death. Trusting in him, I pray: God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
Silence for meditation and reflection
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.
“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” James 5:16 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
HYMN RESPONSE Today Your Mercy Calls Us Christian Worship 916
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.
In peace let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For minds set on heavenly things, for hearts that long for heavenly glory, and for the will to bear our earthly crosses, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For the gifts of humility and repentance, for faith that finds security in Christ and does not use God’s patience as an excuse for sin, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For perspective to see that, apart from Christ, gain is loss, and in Christ, loss is gain, and for the perseverance to press on and take hold of our heavenly prize, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.
Amen.
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray.
O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy, be gracious to all who have gone astray from your ways, and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of your Word; 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
Exodus 3:1-15
1Now Moses was shepherding the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, a priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2The Angel of the L appeared to him in blazing fire from within a bush. Moses saw that the bush was on fire, but the bush was not burning up. 3So he said, “I will go over and look at this amazing sight to find out why the bush is not burning up.”
4When the L saw that Moses had gone over to take a look, God called to him from the middle of the bush and said, “Moses! Moses!”
Moses said, “I am here.”
5The L said, “Do not come any closer. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” 6He then said, “I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.”
Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.
7The L said, “I have certainly seen the misery of my people in Egypt, and I have heard their cry for help because of their slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering. 8So I have come down to deliver them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and spacious land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 9Now indeed, the Israelites’ cry for help has
The Lord reveals his presence to Moses as flames within a bush fire that warms and gives light yet does not consume. This reading continues on the next page.
This hymn continues on the next page.
come to me. Yes, I have seen how the Egyptians are oppressing them.
10Come now, I will send you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.”
11But Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”
12So he said, “I will certainly be with you. This will be the sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will serve God on this mountain.”
13But Moses said to God, “If I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what should I say to them?”
14So God replied to Moses, “I I .” He also said, “You will say this to the Israelites: I has sent me to you.”
15God also told Moses, “Say this to the Israelites: ‘The L , the God of your fathers the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob has sent me to you. This is my name forever, and this is how I am to be remembered from generation to generation.’”
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
1 Corinthians 10:1-13
1For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea, 2and they were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3They all ate the same spiritual food 4and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them and that rock was Christ! 5Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them. He had them die in the wilderness.
6Now these things took place as examples to warn us not to desire evil things the way they did. 7Do not become idolaters like some of them as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and got up to celebrate wildly.” 8And let us not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell. 9Let us not put Christ to the test, as some of them did, and so were being destroyed by the serpents. 10And do not grumble, as some of them grumbled, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11All these things that were happening to them had meaning as examples, and they were written down to warn us, to whom the end of the ages has come.
12So let him who thinks he stands be careful that he does not fall. 13No testing has overtaken you except ordinary testing. But God is faithful. He will not allow you to be tested beyond your ability, but when he tests you, he will also bring about the outcome that you are able to bear it.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Please stand
God revealed his presence among the nation of Israel. Instead of his presence leading to repentant faith, with a sense of false security the Israelites set their hearts on evil.
Exodus 32:6
We stand out of respect for the words of Christ, our King.
The Gospel Acclamation points toward the words of the Gospel.
God is always patient, but our time of grace does come to an end at the moment of death. Since that can come at unexpected times, Jesus teaches that the time to repent is right now.
The Lord is patient for your sakes, not wanting anyone to perish, but all to come to repentance.
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.
GOSPEL
1At that time there were some present who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2He answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered these things? 3I tell you, no. But unless you repent, you will all perish too. 4Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower in Siloam fell on them do you think that they were worse sinners than all the people living in Jerusalem? 5I tell you, no. But unless you repent, you will all perish too.”
6He told them this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard. He came looking for fruit on it, but he did not find any. 7So he said to the gardener, ‘Look, for three years now I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and I have found none. Cut it down. Why even let it use up the soil?’ 8But the gardener replied to him, ‘Sir, leave it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put fertilizer on it. 9If it produces fruit next year, fine. But if not, then cut it down.’”
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise be to you, O Christ.
Please greet those around you and then be seated (10:00 AM) CHILDREN’S MESSAGE
LORD’S PRAYER
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.
10:00 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.
SERMON
Luke 13:1-9
Alwasy Present, Always Patient
Please stand
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 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.
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.
Brief intercessory prayers may be added in a fitting place.
Please be seated
Loving God and Lord, you created the universe that surrounds us and the globe on which we live. You control all things through your Son, who sits at your right hand in glory.
Comfort us with the promise of your eternal presence.
Give your Word power as it works in our hearts and minds. Clear away our confusion, and demolish our doubts. Send your Spirit to strengthen both our confidence in your promises and our desire to live according to your will.
Take away our love of sinning, and restore us each day by your grace.
The signs of the times warn us that the end of time is near. Protect us from scoffers who sneer at your truth. Spare us and Christians around the world from all forms of hate and persecution.
Give us courage to carry the cross with patience and joy.
Instill in the hearts of our children a desire to follow you as they prepare for future days. Help them distinguish between what is passing and what is eternal, between instant thrills and lasting joy. Encourage more young people to prepare for service in the public ministry of the gospel.
Mold us and move us to be good examples for our youth.
Hold in your care, Lord, those who are experiencing physical or emotional pain and all who are afflicted by disease or facing death. Pour out your compassion on the grieving, and comfort the mourners who miss someone they loved.
Move us to pray for these brothers and sisters and to help when we can.
Hear us, Lord, as we pray in silence.
Silent prayer
Whether we pray together or alone, you have promised to hear and answer us. Give us patience to accept your blessings in whatever way you send them. In your love and wisdom, prepare us for the day when you will take us to be with you forever.
Hear us for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
Please stand
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.
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
CLOSING HYMN—Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah Christian Worship 923
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
We 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 ages 1-8 will be dismissed from our 10:00 AM 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.
We are currently studying the Gospel of Mark. There are 4 Gospels in the New Testament. Each one has a story to tell and a way to tell it. Christians are drawn to the works and words of Jesus. This study will focus the readers on the unique aspects of Mark’s Gospel and apply it to their daily lives. Vicar Noah is leading this entire study on Sunday mornings. If you haven’t been to Bible study in a while, now is a great time to start. Please join us in the CLC gymnasium Sundays at 9:00 AM.
Midweek Lenten services are being held at Grace-Benson, Grace-Sahuarita, and Grace-Tucson through April 9. You are also invited to join us for a Lenten Supper each Wednesday at 5:00 PM between our services.
Our Lenten series is “Reflections on Repentance.” The sermons and service themes are rotating among the various sites, so worshipers who attend more than one site could hear a sermon repeated.
Grace-Benson: 10 AM Lenten Worship Lunch to follow
Grace-Tucson: 10 AM & 7 PM Lenten Worship 6 PM Supper
Grace-Sahuarita: 4 PM & 6 PM Lenten Worship 5 PM Supper
All ladies are invited to join Pastor Koehler for a study of the life of the Apostle Peter on Thursdays at 9:00 AM in the Fellowship Hall. This is the last of the series on The 12 Apostles, but you do not need to have participated in previous classes to join this one–it is entirely new.
Preacher.................................................................................................................Vicar Noah Nordlie
Worship Leader Pastor Ryan Heiman
Accompanists ................................................................Laura Heiman (7:45), Teri Guenther (10:00) Acknowledgements:
Ladies, the LWMS Grand Canyon East Circuit Spring Rally is being held here at Grace-Sahuarita on Saturday, April 5, from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Lunch will be served at 1:00 PM. Presentations include Aaron Wakeman from Friends Network (formerly Friends of China and Friends of Vietnam) and Vicar Noah Nordlie who will explain the vicar program and what his responsibilities and opportunities have been at a home mission. For more information and to register online, please go to grandcanyonlwms.org. There are also registration forms in the church entryway. Please register by March 31.
In connection with the LWMS Rally, we are collecting empty pill/medication bottles to send to the Central Africa Medical Mission. These bottles are then used by the medical staff to send creams, ointments, or syrups home with patients. Containers are requested in the following sizes: 4”x2”, 3¾”x1½”, 3”x1¼”, 3”x1½”, 3”x1”. Please remove all labels, and if there is adhesive remaining on the bottles, do not send those. Wash any used pill bottles. Bottles can be dropped off in the marked box in the church entryway or you may bring them to the LWMS Rally on April 5.
The LWMS Rally planning committee is looking for donations of teacups and matching saucers to be used as decorations. Also, each lady attending from Grace is asked to bring a salad or dessert to share. Teacups and saucers can be given to Pat Dent. If you have any questions, please contact Pat Dent (520-245-9056, pattie11@hotmail.com) or Linda Morris (248-763-8390, morristhewildcat@hotmail.com).
Grace will once again have a booth at Fiesta Sahuarita! This free event takes place from 2:00 to 8:00 PM on Saturday, April 5, at Anamax Recreation Center (17501 Camino De Las Quintas). Come out and enjoy over 100 vendors, food trucks, live music, an epic kids zone, and more! We are looking for volunteers to help with our booth. If you are interested, please leave your information on the sign up sheet on the Welcome Desk in the church entryway. If you have questions, please contact Pastor Heiman at (520)999-0245 or RevRAH@GraceLutheranSAZ.org.
You are welcome to join Mission to the Children for a Spanish worship service and Easter for Kids event at Grace-Tucson on Sunday, April 13, beginning at 4:00 PM. Your help is needed! They could use volunteers for face painting, serving food, helping with crafts, and set up & clean up. Also needed are donations of small, individually-wrapped candies for putting in plastic Easter eggs for an egg hunt. The candy can be dropped off in the marked box in the church entryway. To offer your assistance, or if you have any questions, please contact Nicole Scheuerlein at info@MissionToTheChildren.org or (520)820-2016.
Do you enjoy golf? Join us on Monday, April 28, for the 6th annual CLC Charity Golf Tournament! Beginning at 1:00 PM, golfers will participate in a 4-person scramble golf tournament at Desert Hills Private Golf Club in Green Valley. Our goal for this big event is to raise funds for the It Takes the Community Scholarship Fund to benefit our community families in need of child care. Go to ItTakestheCommunity.com to register for this event, either as a team ($450) or individual golfer ($125). If you know of any businesses that might be interested in sponsoring this event, please contact Jen Rickling at 262-366-5778 or jrickling@gracelutheransaz.org.
Grace-Sahuarita has been gifted $30,000 toward additional mesquite church furniture, tables and chairs for the gym, a shed to hold tables and chairs, and landscaping between the church and CLC. In order to complete all of these projects, we’d like to raise an additional $30,000 in special gifts. Envelopes and information are available in the church entryway.
Grace is once again requesting a Vicar in Missions to serve under Pastor Heiman here at our Sahuarita location. The congregational cost is $25,000 for the 2025-2026 school year ($15,000 in 2025 and $10,000 in 2026). We are looking to cover this cost with special offerings. You will find envelopes for this purpose in the church entryway.
Would you like to learn more about our Savior Jesus, about the Bible that tells us about him, and about what Grace Lutheran Church believes and teaches? Our congregation offers a series of Biblebased lessons called Grow in Grace. Grow in Grace also serves as our membership class for those who may be interested in joining the church. If you would be interested in scheduling a Grow in Grace Class, please speak to Pastor Heiman or Vicar Nordlie, or register your interest at GraceLutheranSAZ.org/GIG.
As you begin to work on your income taxes, please consider making use of the Arizona Tuition Tax Credit Program. Many Grace families and students who attend our Lutheran Schools (Redeemer and Arizona Lutheran Academy) appreciate your support in this way. Our schools partner with the Arizona Christian School Tuition Organization (ACSTO) to participate in this program. Through the tax credit, you can use money that you would otherwise spend on taxes to support Lutheran education.
You can find more information and even make a donation online through the ACSTO website, ACSTO.org. Remember that this option is available to all those who have state tax liability in Arizona. Grace member Jeff Weinstein (520-909-7649, JWeinstein@ACSTO.org) is also an employee of ACSTO. He is able to help answer questions you may have. Even if you have never made use of tuition tax credits before, we would be happy to help you figure it out!
SAHUARITA Today
This schedule is subject to change. Please watch your email for the most up-to-date information or call the Grace Central Office at (520)623-6633 if you have questions.
Worship Services 7:45 a & 10:00a
Adult Bible Study: Gospel of Mark..................................9:00a
Children’s Sunday School ..............................................9:00a Fellowship following worship
Wednesday Midweek Lenten Services..................................4:00p & 6:00p Lenten Supper 5:00p Festival Choir Rehearsal 7:00p
Sunday, March 30
Worship Services 7:45a & 10:00a
Adult Bible Study: Gospel of Mark 9:00a Children’s Sunday School 9:00a Fellowship following worship ...................................................
VAIL
Adult Bible Study: Timely Topics 9:00a
Worship Service with communion ................................10:00a Fellowship following worship
Vocal Group Rehearsal 11:00a Site Ministry Team Meeting 12:00p
Thursday Adult Bible Study: 1 Corinthians 6:30p
Sunday, March 30
Adult Bible Study: Timely Topics....................................9:00a Worship Service 10:00a Vocal Group Rehearsal 11:00a Potluck following worship
ONLINE
Today
Adult Bible Study (Tucson).............................................9:00a Worship Services (Sahuarita & Tucson) 10:00a
Wednesday Worship Service (Tucson) 7:00p
Sunday, March 30
Adult Bible Study (Tucson) 9:00a Worship Services (Sahuarita & Tucson) 10:00a
TUCSON
Lutheran Academy Gala
Proclaiming the love of Jesus in Southern Arizona since 1911.
Grace-Tucson and Central Office
830 N. 1st Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85719 (520)623-6633 office@gracelutheransaz.org
Pastor Ronald G. Koehler III revrgk3@gracelutheransaz.org
Pastor Nathan P. Kassulke revnpk@gracelutheransaz.org
Administrative Assistant—Debbie Koehler assistant@gracelutheransaz.org
Worship Coordinator—Beth Kassulke music@gracelutheransaz.org
Grace-Benson and Grace-Vail
Benson
451 W. Duane St., Benson, AZ 85602
Vail
Worshipping at Esmond Station Elementary 9400 S. Atterbury Wash Way, Tucson, AZ 85747
Pastor Seth A. Scheuerlein revsas@gracelutheransaz.org Office at Civano 10501 E. Seven Generations Way, Tucson, AZ 85747 (520)848-4631
Prayer Group Laura Hodgson prayergroup@gracelutheransaz.org
Grace-Sahuarita
75 W. Sahuarita Rd, Sahuarita, AZ 85629 (520)578-3538
Pastor Ryan A. Heiman revrah@gracelutheransaz.org
Vicar Noah Nordlie vicnpn@gracelutheransaz.org
Child Learning Center (520)848-4630 receptionist@gracelutheransaz.org GraceLutheranSahuaritaCLC.com
Director—Laura Heiman director@gracelutheransaz.org
Assistant Director—Jen Rickling jrickling@gracelutheransaz.org
Maddie Nordlie, Toddlers mnordlie@gracelutheransaz.org
Vicki Smith, 3-Year Olds vsmith@gracelutheransaz.org
Theresa Pratt, Preschool tpratt@gracelutheransaz.org
Chris Leathers, Toddler/After School Care cleathers@gracelutheransaz.org
Bible-Based Counselor—Cinda Drescher Office Assistant—Cora Stuhr cinda@gracelutheransaz.org office@gracelutheransaz.org (520)581-4714
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.