3-5-23 Grace-Sahuarita Worship Folder

THE SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT

Welcome to Grace!

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

WORSHIP NOTES

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—OUR GREATEST NEEDS

What do you really need right now? To answer that question, one must first define what a “need” is. We understand that a “need” is greater than a “want.” If you lack something you want, life goes on just fine. If you lack something you need, that presents a problem. Thus, to correctly answer that question, “What do you really need right now,” ultimately one must understand their greatest problems.

Mankind’s greatest problems are universal. We all live under the curse of sin. That sin makes us utterly helpless in our natural state. Natural man is confused, unable to make sense of life. Left in sin, man is doomed to death, and not just physical death. After one’s heart stops comes another type of death that is infinitely worse, an eternal nightmare.

Lent is the season of the Church Year where we wrestle with our greatest needs. Lent also demonstrates that in Christ, all our greatest needs are met. Here is what the Spirit makes clear this season. If you lack Christ, you have nothing. If you have Christ, you have everything you truly need.

OUR THEME FOR TODAY A GIFT FOR THE WORLD

When assessing the seriousness of need, one factor is how widespread that need is. A homeless individual needs food. During a famine, an entire nation needs food. It is substantially easier to meet the needs of the former than the latter! The more widespread a need, the greater the need.

When Jesus said, “No one can enter the kingdom of God,” he declared that the need for salvation is universal. He rightly condemned humanity as a whole. There is no one on the face of the earth who can make the case that they deserve God’s blessing. Yet, ages ago, God declared that all nations would be blessed. God has declared his love for the world and promised he would save the world. God's gift of salvation is meant for all people.

Some interpret this to mean that all people will be saved in the end. This is not true. The gift of salvation is meant for the world; however, it is received by faith. “Whoever believes in him…” the Gospel says. However, the good news is that faith is also God's gift, imparted through that gospel.

WELCOME

+ ORDER OF WORSHIP +

OPENING HYMN There Is a Redeemer

Christian Worship 519

During this Lenten season, we are using The Service Setting One from the hymnal (p. 154 and following) as our order of worship.

Please stand

INVOCATION

Minister: In the name of the Father and of the Son (+) and of the Holy Spirit.

Congregation: Amen.

Text and tune: Melody Green, b. 1946 © 1982 Birdwing Music/Ears To Hear Music/Universal Music - Brentwood Benson Publ., admin. CapitolCMGPublishing,com.

Used by permission: CCLI #3095263.

Psalm

“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” James 5:16

CONFESSION OF SINS

Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.

Blessed are they whose sin the Lord does not count against them.

Let us confess our sins to the Lord. Almighty and merciful Father, we have strayed from your ways like lost sheep. We have followed what we have devised and desired in our hearts. We have offended you and sinned against your holy law. We have done those things that we should not have done, and we have not done those things that we should have done. Have mercy on us, Lord! Spare us, forgive us, and restore us, according to your promises in Christ Jesus.

Silence for meditation and reflection

God, our merciful Father, has forgiven all our sins. He sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to be our Redeemer and Savior. Jesus paid the penalty for our guilt by his death on the cross and freed us from death by his resurrection from the grave. We have peace with God now and forever.

Amen.

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. The minister will sing the italicized words. The congregation responds by singing “Lord, have mercy” and with the final “Amen.”

LORD, HAVE MERCY (Kyrie) Christian Worship 156

Minister: In peace let us pray to the Lord.

Congregation:

For the peace from above and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord.

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.

For this holy house and for all who offer here their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord.

Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.

+ THE WORD +

PRAYER OF THE DAY

The Lord be with you. And also with you.

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

The Gloria (Glory to God in the Highest), which we often sing following the Kyrie, is traditionally omitted during the season of Lent, as our rejoicing is more muted and quiet during this season. We look forward with joyful anticipation to Easter Day when our most jubilant songs of praise will return.

The L promised Abram that one of his descendants would be a gift for the world. The L also gave Abram the gift of faith to believe that promise.

FIRST READING

1 Now the L said to Abram, “Get out of your country and away from your relatives and from your father’s house and go to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make you a great nation. I will bless you and make your name great. You will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse anyone who dishonors you. All of the families of the earth will be blessed in you.”

4 So Abram went, as the L had told him. Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. 5 Abram took Sarai his wife, Lot his brother’s son, and all the possessions they had accumulated and the people that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to travel to the land of Canaan. Eventually they arrived in the land of Canaan. 6 Abram passed through the land until he came to the Oak of Moreh at the place called Shechem. The Canaanites were in the land at that time.

7 The L appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your descendants.” Abram built an altar there to the L , who had appeared to him.

8 He moved on from there to the hill country east of Bethel and pitched his tent there, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the L and proclaimed the name of the L

The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Abraham provides an example of how salvation is not earned but received as a gift through faith.

Genesis 15:6

SECOND READING Romans 4:1

1 What then will we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered according to the flesh? 2 If indeed Abraham had been justified by works, he would have had a reason to boast but not before God. 3 For what does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

4 Now to a person who works, his pay is not counted as a gift but as something owed. 5 But to the person who does not work but believes in the God who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited to him as righteousness.

13 Indeed, the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not given to Abraham or his descendants through the law, but through the righteousness that is by faith. 14 To be sure, if people are heirs by the law, faith is empty and the promise is nullified. 15 For law brings wrath. (Where there is no law, there is no transgression.) 16 For this reason, the promise is by faith, so that it may be according to grace and may be guaranteed to all of Abraham’s descendants not only to the one who is a descendant by law, but also to the one who has the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. 17 As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.”

In the presence of God, Abraham believed him who makes the dead alive and calls non-existing things so that they exist.

The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Please stand

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Genesis 17:5

The Gospel Acclamation points toward the words of the Gospel.

GOSPEL John 3:1-17

1 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one can do these miraculous signs you are doing unless God is with him.”

3 Jesus replied, “Amen, Amen, I tell you: Unless someone is born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?”

By sharing the gospel of God’s love for the world, Jesus gave the gift of faith to a Pharisee named Nicodemus.

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.

5 Jesus answered, “Amen, Amen, I tell you: Unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God! 6 Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh. Whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be surprised when I tell you that you must be born from above. 8 The wind blows where it pleases. You hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

9 “How can these things be?” asked Nicodemus.

10 “You are the teacher of Israel,” Jesus answered, “and you do not know these things? 11 Amen, Amen, I tell you: We speak what we know, and we testify about what we have seen. But you people do not accept our testimony. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven, except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man, who is in heaven.

14 “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise be to you, O Christ.

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

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.

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.

5 If you are sick, if death is near, this truth your troubled heart can cheer: Christ Jesus saves my soul from death; this is the anchor of my faith!

6 Glory to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Three in One! To you, O blessèd Trinity, be praise now and eternally!

We Need a Gift

Text: tr. August Crull, 1845

1923, alt.; Heiliges Lippen- und Hertzens- Opffer, Stettin, c. 1778. Tune: George J. Elvey, 1816

1893. Text and tune: Public domain.

The Nicene Creed was first developed in 325 at the First Council of Nicea. It was written to reaffirm the Biblical teaching of the divinity of Jesus, God’s Son. Like the Apostles’ and Athanasian Creeds, the Nicene Creed is a confession of what the Bible teaches.

CONFESSION OF FAITH Nicene Creed

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one being with the Father. Through him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation, he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became truly human.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate. He suffered death and was buried.

On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who in unity with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

Brief intercessory prayers may be added in a fitting place.

Gracious Lord, according to your will and promise, you sent your Son into our world to atone for sin and restore eternal life. You planned his path to the cross, and he followed it perfectly. Your Spirit led him to endure the temptations of Satan, but he triumphed. Your own people rejected his message, but he persevered. He confronted the blindness of unbelief, the confusion of doubt, and the hurt of death but was not deterred as he proclaimed your kingdom to the least, the last, and the lost.

Guide us to follow Christ by faith as we walk the road of temptation and trial. Spare us from falling into Satan’s traps, and steel our resolve as his partners confront us. Teach us to use your Word as a weapon to fight against all devilish lies and deceptions. When we fall and we surely will lift us up again with your forgiveness and grace.

As we hear and contemplate the holy record of our Savior’s passion and death, use the sharp message of the law to empty us of pride and self-reliance. Humble us as we view the Savior in his humility, remembering and believing that he endured the cross so we might be freed from its horror. In his suffering show us our healing, in his grief show us our joy, and in his death show us our life.

Protect all who are bearing the cross of persecution and disdain. Supply your power to those fighting temptations and addictions. Watch over all who are sick and suffering in body, mind, and heart. We pray especially for children who are abused, forsaken, or ignored. Comfort all your troubled people with the sweet peace that only Jesus can bring.

Give wisdom and resolve to the leaders of our government that their rule may bring prosperity to our land and peace to our people. Supply insights to those who seek cures and invent devices to make our lives on earth better and safer. Inspire creative minds to touch our hearts in ways that reflect your creating love. You desire that we bask in the glory of your redemption; according to your will, may we also enjoy the wonders of your creation.

Hear our prayers, Lord, for the sake of Jesus, whose journey to the cross we remember during the days of Lent. Comfort and strengthen us by his life and death on our behalf, and thrill us as we look forward to celebrating his victory on Easter. Amen.

Please stand

+ THE SACRAMENT +

PREFACE

Minister: The Lord be with you.

Congregation:

Christian Worship 165

The minister will sing the italicized words. The congregation responds by singing the bolded lines.

Lift up your hearts.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is truly good and right that we should at all times and in all places give you thanks, O Lord, holy Father, almighty and everlasting God, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who brought the gift of salvation to all people by his death on the tree of the cross so that the devil, who overcame us by a tree, would in turn by a tree be overcome. Therefore, with all the saints on earth and hosts of heaven, we praise your holy name and join their glorious song:

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

Lord God, you are worthy to receive thanks and praise from all people. You created the world and all who live in it, and in your mercy you saved us. We give thanks to you for the grace of your Son, Jesus Christ.

Though in very nature God, he took the nature of a servant and became obedient to death, even death on a cross. He offered himself as a sacrifice for sin and redeemed us from its curse and penalty. He rescued us from the terrors of death and restored eternal life with you. He conquered our enemies and gained for us the kingdom of grace and glory.

Bless us as we receive your Son’s body and blood, and lead us to remember his suffering, death, and resurrection. Forgive our sins and fill us with the hope of new life in heaven. Hear our praise and receive our thanks as we worship you the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

As he speaks the Words of Institution, the minister both proclaims the words of Jesus to the congregation and sets apart the bread and wine for this special use. The sign of the cross reminds us of Christ’s death.

WORDS OF INSTITUTION

Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night he was betrayed, took bread; and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my (+) body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

Then he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; this is my (+) blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

The peace of the Lord be with you always.

Amen.

O CHRIST, LAMB OF GOD (Agnus Dei) Christian Worship 169

Please be seated

DISTRIBUTION

The Bible teaches that the Lord’s Supper is a unique communion of Christ and the individual believer as well as a coming together of people who hold to the same beliefs. Because of these Scriptural truths, we practice Member Communion at Grace. Those who are confirmed members of Wisconsin Synod congregations (WELS) are invited to receive the Lord’s Supper with us.

If you are not a WELS member but have an interest in receiving Holy Communion, please speak with the pastor after church today or at another time. We are aware that there are a number of other teachings about Holy Communion, and we want it to be a blessing for you, so we would look forward to sharing with you what God says about this Sacrament.

PRAYER BEFORE COMMUNION (For private meditation)

Lord Jesus, you have invited me to come and receive your holy Sacrament. I believe that in the bread and wine you give me your true body and blood to eat and drink. Forgive my sins and nourish my faith through this precious meal. I long for the comfort that comes with your promises; I yearn for the assurance of your faithful love. Bless me now as I receive you by faith. Amen.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION (For private meditation)

Thank you, dear Savior, for nourishing my faith with the Sacrament of your body and blood. Lift my heart with your forgiveness, renew my confidence in your grace, empower my love for others, and lead me to long for the eternal banquet of heaven. Amen.

Psalm 106:1

Please stand

SPOKEN RESPONSES

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his mercy endures forever.

1 Corinthians 11:26

Whenever we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

CLOSING PRAYER

O God the Father, source of all goodness, in your loving-kindness you sent your Son to share our humanity. We thank you that through him you have given us pardon and peace in this Sacrament. We also pray that you will not forsake us but will rule our hearts and minds by your Holy Spirit so that we willingly serve you day after day; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen.

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

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

Text: tr. Richard Massie, 1800

1887, alt.; Martin Luther, 1483

1546. Tune: Etlich Cristlich lider, Wittenberg, 1524. Text and tune: Public domain.

Friendship Register

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’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

We recently began a new study entitled “Pray, Praise, and Give Thanks” It is a study on selected Psalms like 1, 23, 46, etc. It will help us appreciate the Old Testament “hymnal” for its words of teaching, comfort, praise and thanksgiving. Now would be an excellent time to make this study a part of your Sunday routine! Class is held at 9:00 AM in the CLC gymnasium.

Devotional Books

Grace Moments and Meditations daily devotional books are on the desk in the entryway. A new Meditations book with devotions that began last Sunday is now available.

Annual Report

The 2022 Annual Report for Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church of Southern Arizona is now available. The Annual Report details many of the ways God blessed our congregation during the year as well as the challenges he allowed us to face. It records how Grace members served God and each other and is a valuable resource for learning more about the congregation. Some printed copies of the report are available on the desk in the church entryway. You can also find it on our website at GraceLutheranSAZ.org/voters.

Divine Call Returned & Call Meeting

At our special voters’ meeting on Sunday, February 12, a divine call was extended to Rebecca Gervais to serve as a mission teacher at the Child Learning Center at our Sahuarita location. Rebecca has declined our call and will continue to serve at Cornerstone Early Learning Center in Hugo, MN. Our next Call Meeting will be on Sunday, March 26, at noon at Grace-Sahuarita. Lunch will be provided.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Monday Evening Service

An evening worship service is held here at Grace-Sahuarita on Monday evenings at 6:00 PM, and they are scheduled to continue through the spring. 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.

Midweek Lenten Services: Wednesday

Wednesday midweek Lenten services are being held at Grace-Benson, Grace-Sahuarita, and Grace -Tucson through March 29.

The theme of our midweek services is “His Final Steps.” This series ponders the significance of the people and places on Jesus’ final steps to the cross and, three days later, his first steps from the tomb. The sermons and service themes will rotate among the various sites on the Wednesdays in March, so worshipers who attend more than one site could hear a sermon repeated. Please see the schedule below for this Wednesday, March 8.

Grace-Benson 10 AM Lenten Worship “His Final Steps Led to Some Greeks”

Lunch to follow

Grace-Sahuarita 10 AM & 6 PM Lenten Worship “His Final Steps Led to His Enemies”

Grace-Tucson 10 AM & 7 PM Lenten Worship “His Final Steps Led to His Father’s House” 6 PM Light Supper

Women’s Bible Study Update

The Thursday Women’s Bible Study held at Grace-Tucson will be on a break until sometime after Easter. They plan to resume the Prepared to Answer book when classes begin again. Please watch for an announcement at that time about a start date.

Mexican Dinner: Friday

The annual all-site Mexican Dinner hosted by the Women of Grace is scheduled for THIS Friday, March 10, from 4:30 to 6:30 PM in the Grace-Tucson Fellowship Hall. The meal will include sour cream enchilada casserole, tacos, and refried beans. Grace members are asked to bring a cake for dessert. We hope you can join us for this much-loved Grace tradition!

Tucson Premiere of Stand in the Gap at Grace-Tucson: Saturday

You’re invited to a Movie Day at Grace in Tucson THIS Saturday, March 11. The day begins with a Courtyard Reception at 2:30 PM. The Movie starts at 3:00 PM, and a Q & A session with WELS member Steve Zambo, the film’s director and president of Salty Earth Productions, will follow the movie at about 5 PM. This is an all-site event for our congregation, and you are encouraged to invite others to join you for the afternoon! There will be a chance to purchase movies after the event and you’ll have the opportunity to support this ministry with a free will offering. See posters and invite cards at church for details on the movie.

Ladies’ Fellowship Group: March 16

The Ladies’ Fellowship Group will meet on Thursday, March 16. They will visit the Tucson Botanical Gardens, including the Lego display, from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM. The Botanical Gardens are located at 2150 N. Alvernon Way. The cost is $15 for adults and $13 for adults age 62 and over. Please RSVP to Lois Thornton at (520)323-8772 or vthornto2@gmail.com. Ladies from all Grace sites are welcome to join in the fun!

LWMS Spring Rally: March 25

The LWMS Spring Rally is scheduled for Saturday, March 25, at Holy Cross Lutheran Church (241 N. Harrison Rd., Tucson, AZ) from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Pastor John Holtz will be presenting on WELS World Mission work in Africa and the Native American Missions in Arizona. Pastor Simon Duoth will also present on “The Struggles of South Sudanese in the United States and Africa.” New for this rally - childcare will be available! If moms would like to take advantage of this, please fill out the online registration form at grandcanyonlwms.org or email Mary Watson at marywatson1989@gmail.com. Registration for the rally may be done online at grandcanyonlwms.org or by filling out the form available at church by March 18.

Redeemer Lutheran 3rd Annual Golf Tournament: March 25

Redeemer’s 3rd Annual Golf Tournament will be held at Quarry Pines Golf Club on Saturday, March 25. Check-in begins at 6:15 AM and tee time is 7:00 AM. Your registration fee includes a full morning of golf (cart included), lunch, and two drinks. Many raffle baskets will also be available to win! Proceeds from this event will help provide updated technology for the Redeemer classrooms. To register, please stop in the Grace Central Office for a registration form or call (520-623-6633) and it can be emailed to you. The registration deadline is March 17.

ALA GALA: April 1

Arizona Lutheran Academy (our WELS area Lutheran High School in Phoenix) is hosting its annual Gala on April 1. The goal is to support ALA students by raising funds for campus improvements. You are invited to attend! Learn more at ALAcoyotes.org/gala

Would you consider donating an item or service for the Gala and Auction? If you own a business, you may consider one of the sponsor packages, which include print and web advertising. More information can be found at ALAcoyotes.org/gala.

Save the Date: CLC Charity Golf Tournament April 24

Do you enjoy golf? Join us on Monday, April 24, for the 4th 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 www.ItTakestheCommunity.com to register for this event, either as a team ($400) or individual golfer ($125). If you know of any businesses that might be interested in sponsoring this event, please contact Connie Hiles at 763439-7577 or conniehiles@gmail.com.

Grace Child Learning Center and Fry’s

Our Child Learning Center (CLC) is enrolled in the Community Rewards Program at Fry’s. This program allows a percentage of your spending to be donated to the CLC. We would greatly appreciate it if you could create an account and link it to our organization. The link is: https:// www.frysfood.com/account/communityrewards and our organization code is CV025. We have already received over $40 in donations! If you have any questions, please contact the CLC office at (520)848-4630. Feel free to share this with friends who are not members of Grace too!

Grow in Grace Class

Would you like to learn more about our Savior, about the Bible that tells us about him, and about what Grace Lutheran Church believes and teaches? Our congregation offers a series of Bible-based 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 register your interest at GraceLutheranSAZ.org/GIG.

ACSTO Donations for Grace Members

Thank you to the many members who have used the Arizona Tuition Tax Credit to support our students at Redeemer Lutheran School and Arizona Lutheran Academy! You may have heard recently about new opportunities for families and students through the state of Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program. While this program may be beneficial to many of our member families, you can still make use of tuition tax credits and support Lutheran education with money you would otherwise pay as taxes.

Many Grace families and students who attend our Lutheran schools would appreciate you making use of the tuition tax credits if possible. How it works: 1) You make a donation up to certain limits and up to your tax liability. This needs to be done before April 15, 2023 to count for your 2022 state taxes. 2) When you make the donation to ACSTO (Arizona Christian School Tuition Organization), please recommend “Grace Lutheran Southern AZ” members to support our students who still need assistance. 3) When you file your taxes, two extra forms will give you a dollar-for-dollar credit so you save off of your total tax bill. In other words, you can help our members without spending more of your money to do so.

You can find more information and even make a donation online through the ACSTO website, www.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, JeffWeinstein@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!

Prayer Group

God invites us to pray to him about all sorts of things in our lives, and he promises to hear and to answer. Grace has a Prayer Group that is facilitated by Grace-Vail member, Laura Hodgson. If any Grace member would like to be a part of this group, please contact her at (520)780-1743 or PrayerGroup@GraceLutheranSAZ.org.

Anyone desiring a special prayer may also contact Laura to give her the details of the prayer request. She will relay the request to the members of the Prayer Group, who will then pray specifically about the request. May God continue to bless this group and cause more prayer to be brought to him through it.

WELS Online Resources

Check out wels.net for an abundance of online resources to deepen your connection to Christ and to your fellow believers! You can find devotional materials for personal study, family devotions, for teens, and for married couples. There are worship helps for each Sunday, articles from Forward in Christ, WELS Connection videos, podcasts (devotions, Bible readings, technology, and parenting), mission and ministry updates from across the country and around the globe, and much more! You can also pull up wels.net on your smart phone and then download the WELS web app.

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.

This Week at Grace Ÿ March 5 – March 12

OFF-SITE EVENT

Today Grace Booth at Tucson Festival of Books..... 9 AM 5:30 PM

Stay Up to Date

The fastest and easiest way to keep Grace members and friends informed about what is happening at our four sites is through our weekly email update. This email is sent every Friday and at other times when special announcements are necessary. If you have not been receiving this email, but would like to, please email the Grace Central Office at office@gracelutheransaz.org and request to be added to our email list.

One Church. Four Sites.

Proclaiming the love of Jesus in Southern Arizona since 1911.

Grace-Sahuarita

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

Pastor Timothy L. Patoka (Campus Ministry) revtlp@gracelutheransaz.org

Grace-Benson

451 W. Duane St., Benson, AZ 85602

Grace-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

75 W. Sahuarita Rd, Sahuarita, AZ 85629 (520)578-3538

Pastor Ryan A. Heiman revrah@gracelutheransaz.org

Child Learning Center (520) 848-4630 receptionist@gracelutheransaz.org www.GraceLutheranSahuaritaCLC.com

Office Manager Jen Rickling Office Assistant Shirley Zanotti

Director Laura Heiman director@gracelutheransaz.org

Bible-Based Counselor—Cinda Drescher cinda@gracelutheransaz.org (520)405-3286

Administrative Assistant—Debbie Koehler assistant@gracelutheransaz.org

Worship Coordinator—Beth Kassulke music@gracelutheransaz.org

Office Assistant—Cora Stuhr office@gracelutheransaz.org

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