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 Our worship service today is a special presentation by WELS band Koiné. Footsteps to the Cross is a very visual and moving musical narrative which follows Christ from the Mount of Transfiguration to the cross. There will be sections of the service where you will be invited to participate, which you may do so as you are comfortable. Words and images will be projected onto the screen at the front of church. Please feel free to move during the service if you are having trouble viewing the screen. Regular offerings will be received during the service. 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. This allows us to know who worshiped today, and if you are a guest with us it gives us an opportunity to share more information about our congregation.
WELS Tucson Campus Ministry
2nd Street
Lifeliners meet downstairs
COUNSELOR’S OFFICE
CHURCH Downstairs to Child Care Room PK-K 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
COURTYARD
TODAY About Koiné We thank Koiné for leading our worship services today. Koiné is an award winning worship band based out of Milwaukee, WI known for combining century-old hymns with modern accompaniment. Please stop by their display after the service to purchase CDs of their music and other Koiné merchandise. Baskets are also available at both exits if you would like to make a donation to support Koiné’s ministry. For more information about the group, please visit www.koinemusic.com or www.facebook.com/koine. If you would like to hear more from Koiné, they will be presenting a concert featuring the hymns of Martin Luther at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Marana tonight at 6:00 PM.
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.
Flowers The flowers beautifying our worship this morning have been given by Dave and Cynthia Breitkreitz’s children in thanks to our Lord for blessing their parents with 41 years of marriage.
You Are Invited You are invited to a coffee fellowship this morning in the courtyard following both services. Fellowship following the 10:00 AM service today is hosted by Karen Grorud, Sally Littau, Nancy Miles, and Lois Thornton. 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.
New Sunday Morning Bible Study A brand new Bible study on the Book of Galatians starts today at both Grace-Tucson and GraceVail! 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!
Baptism Ingram Arthur Heiman, son of Pastor and Laura Heiman, born on February 20, will be made a forgiven child of God through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism at Grace-Sahuarita this morning.
Congratulations Congratulations to youth confirmand, Owen Heiman, who will be confirmed at Grace-Sahuarita this morning.
Open House All Grace members are invited to an open house TODAY, March 4, from 11:30 AM to 6:00 PM at the Heiman residence to celebrate the confirmation of Owen and the baptism of Ingram. 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.
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NEXT SUNDAY Next week’s Scripture Lessons for Devotional Reading this Week
Numbers 21:4-9 Ephesians 2:4-10 John 3:14-21 Sermon Text
Ephesians 2:4-10 The Amazing Gift of Grace
Divine Calls Extended At the Voters’ Meeting on February 18, 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 daughters in your prayers as they deliberate over where the Lord would have them serve at this time.
Lenten Services Wednesday midweek services will be held at Grace-Benson, GraceSahuarita, 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. March 7 Grace-Benson: Jesus Is Our Compassionate High Priest
6 PM 7 PM
Supper Worship
Grace-Sahuarita: Jesus Our Great High Priest Makes Us Priests
10 AM 6 PM 7 PM
Worship Supper Worship
Grace-Tucson: Jesus Is Our Self-Sacrificing High Priest
10 AM 6 PM 7 PM
Worship Supper Worship
We are still in need of volunteers to host the Lenten meal at Grace-Tucson on March 21. Please contact the church office at 623-6633 if you’re interested in helping.
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.
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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!
Easter for Kids: March 24 All children ages 3-11 are invited to attend Easter for Kids at Grace-Tucson on Saturday, March 24 from 10:00 AM-12:00 PM. We will make crafts, sing songs, learn the Easter story, and have an Easter egg hunt. Lunch will also be provided. Please register online at www.GraceLutheranSAZ.org/ e4k. Invitations for this event are available on the welcome table. Please take some with you to invite your neighbors and friends!
Amazon Smile Grace is an Amazon Smile partner! This means that whenever you shop at Amazon.com, you can have a portion of your purchase (0.5%) donated to Grace! Everything else is the same as your regular shopping experience: same products, same prices. Just start your shopping at smile.amazon.com and choose Grace to receive your earned donations. Use Grace’s start page to sign in at https://smile.amazon.com/ch/86-0133394. This is a simple way to support Grace without any additional spending.
Friday Email News If you want to make sure you get the latest news and reminders about upcoming events, make sure you are signed up to receive our email newsletter that usually comes out on Friday mornings. Members who have shared their email address with us should be receiving the emails. If you aren’t, but think you should be, please check with us in the Church Office (Office@GraceLutheranSAZ.org). Sometimes our emails do get caught in SPAM filters, so you may wish to put Grace_Evangelical_Lutheran_Churc@mail.vresp.com on your “safe senders” list with your email.
Apache Clothing & Fabrics Drive Donations are now being collected for our fellow believers living on the Apache reservation. These items will be delivered in spring and summer. Donated items should be clean and unstained. Bedding, clothing (especially infant and children’s sizes), and fabric and sewing material (used to make clothing and quilts) is appreciated. Donations can be dropped off during the week from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM in the Grace-Tucson Office. If you have any questions, please contact Tina Christianson (603-7644) or Suzanne Schlegel (975-7263).
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.
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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 forms and Mission Money offerings are due March 25. 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).
Great Exchange at Redeemer Redeemer’s next Great Exchange will be held April 16-18. This free event is open to all WELS church and school families and friends. All items are donated and are free for the taking. Snacks will be available to eat while you “shop.” Hours are 7:00 AM-6:00 PM Monday and Tuesday and 7:00 AM-1:30 PM on Wednesday. Donated items can be dropped off in the afternoon on April 15 or at any time during the Great Exchange. All items left at the end of the exchange are donated to a local charity.
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!
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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 Mar 4 – Mar 11 TUCSON Today 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 .......................................................................
Monday English as a Second Language Classes ........................ 6:30p Tuesday English as a Second Language Classes ........................ 6:30p Wednesday Lenten Worship ............................................... 10:00a & 7:00p Lenten Supper in the Fellowship Hall ............................. 6:00p
SAHUARITA Today Worship Service w/Branches Band ............................ 7:45a Children’s Sunday School ...............................................9:00a Adult Bible Study: Is Genesis History? ...........................9:00a Worship/Youth Confirmation w/Branches Band ..... 10:00a Open House at the Heiman’s .................................... 11:30a Wednesday Lenten Worship ............................................... 10:00a & 7:00p Lenten Supper .................................................................6:00p Sunday Worship Services .............................................. 7:45 & 10:00a Children’s Sunday School ...............................................9:00a Adult Bible Study: Is Genesis History? ...........................9:00a Coffee Fellowship following worship ........................................ BENSON Today
Worship Service/Communion ..........................................7:30a Open House at the Heiman’s .................................... 11:30a Wednesday
Lenten Supper .................................................................6:00p Lenten Worship ...............................................................7:00p Sunday
Worship Service ..............................................................7:30a
Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church Central Office 830 N. 1st Avenue Tucson, Arizona 85719 Phone Fax
623-6633 623-1514
Administrative Assistants Beth Kassulke Missy Wiechmann office@gracelutheransaz.org
Thursday Women’s Bible Study: Key Bible Words ......................... 9:00a Handbell Choir ................................................................ 5:30p Worship Choir ................................................................. 6:30p Sunday 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): Galatians ............... 9:00a WELS TCM: Pizza and a Prophet—Isaiah ..................... 7:00p VAIL Today 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 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 ........................................................... 10:00a Coffee Fellowship following worship .......................................
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
Music Coordinator Beth Kassulke music@gracelutheransaz.org Phone 623-6633
Office Assistant At Grace-Sahuarita Ryan A. Heiman
revrah@gracelutheransaz.org
Debbie Koehler assistant@gracelutheransaz.org
Phone 623-6633
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