Summer Worship Series
WEEK 2: The Tower of Babel
Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church Tucson, Arizona June 10, 2018
Our mission at Grace is to teach the inspired and inerrant Word of God, to proclaim that Jesus Christ is the crucified and risen Savior of the world, and to nurture believers for lives of Christian service. We are very pleased that you have joined us for worship today at Grace-Tucson! We pray that this time will be a blessing for you as God comes to you with his Word and promises and as you offer him your thanks and praise.
Worship Notes The order of service we follow is printed out in this worship folder. You’ll notice that the service is a dialogue between God and us, his people. The pastor speaks to God along with the congregation and also speaks the Word of God to the people.
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stand for a few moments in the entryway, sometimes that’s all that’s needed;
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go down the stairs to the left in the entryway—they will lead down to the Child Care Room where you will still be able to see and hear the service;
Hymns are found in our hymnal, Christian Worship, which is the red book in the pew rack in front of you.
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visit the private Mother’s Room across the courtyard in the women’s restroom—you will be able to hear the service there also.
Large print hymn sheets are available in the entryway. You may also ask an usher or greeter to get one for you. We believe that many blessings come from having families worship together and we love to have children in worship! If you need to calm a restless child, you may: WELS Tucson Campus Ministry
Printed copies of the sermon are available in the entryway. CDs of the entire worship service will be made upon request from the sound technician in the balcony. It only takes a few minutes to copy. You may also find sermons and services in print, audio and video on our website: www.GraceLutheranSAZ.org 2nd Street
Lifeliners meet downstairs
COUNSELOR’S OFFICE
CHURCH Downstairs to Child Care Room
PARKING Mother’s Room
FELLOWSHIP HALL Adult Bible Study
9:00 AM Lifeliners (Youth Group)
3rd-5th Sunday School Opening 1st-2nd
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Sunday Schedule 8:45 AM Sunday School Opening
CHURCH OFFICES
9:00 AM Adult Bible Study (Fell. Hall) 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM Weekday Church Office Hours
Euclid
1st Avenue
PK-K COURTYARD
The banner in front of church includes part of a song David sang to the Lord when God delivered him from his enemies: “Exalted be God, the Rock, my Savior!” (2 Samuel 22:47)
SERVICE OF THE WORD Christian Worship
PRESERVICE MUSIC: 7:45—Chief of Sinners Though I Be Arranged by Valerie Floeter 10:00—If God Himself Be For Me Arranged by John Eggert
WELCOME
HYMN
If God Himself Be for Me Christian Worship #419, stanzas 1-4
Please stand
Minister: The grace of our Lord ( ) Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you. Congregation: And also with you.
CONFESSION OF SINS M:
C:
M:
C:
We have come into the presence of God, who created us to love and serve him as his dear children. But we have disobeyed him and deserve only his wrath and punishment. Therefore, let us confess our sins to him and plead for his mercy. Merciful Father in heaven, I am altogether sinful from birth. In countless ways I have sinned against you and do not deserve to be called your child. But trusting in Jesus, my Savior, I pray: Have mercy on me according to your unfailing love. Cleanse me from my sin, and take away my guilt.
We come before the true God only because of his mercy and not because we deserve to come. We confess our unworthiness and rejoice to hear the assurance of forgiveness.
God, our heavenly Father, has forgiven all your sins. By the perfect life and innocent death of our Lord Jesus Christ, he has removed your guilt forever. You are his own dear child. May God give you strength to live according to his will. Amen.
PRAYER AND PRAISE M:
In the peace of forgiveness, let us praise the Lord.
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The words of this song of praise are based on Psalm 34:8 and Psalm 119:89. It marks our thankfulness to have heard God’s forgiveness of our sins and anticipates our listening to God’s Word throughout our worship service.
OH, TASTE AND SEE
C:
PRAYER OF THE DAY M: Let us pray. Lord our strength, the battle of good and evil rages within and around us, and our ancient foe tempts us with his deceits and empty promises. Keep us steadfast in your Word, and when we fall, raise us up again and restore us through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C: Please be seated
The First Lesson is frequently a reading from the Old Testament. It shares a common theme with the Second Lesson (often from one of the epistles) and the Gospel.
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FIRST LESSON Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. As people moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there. They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. Then they said,
Genesis 11:1-9 “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.” But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower the people were building.
The Lord said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.” So the Lord scattered them from there
over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. That is why it was called Babel—because there the Lord confused the language of the whole world. From there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth.
PSALM OF THE DAY
Have mercy on me, O God,* according to your unfailing love.
Psalm 51a
The Psalms were the hymnbook of the Old Testament. These poems, inspired by God, have been set to music and used in the worship lives of God’s people for thousands of years. We give praise to God and encouragement to one another as we incorporate the singing of Psalms or selected verses of Psalms into our worship services.
Wash away all my iniquity,* and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions,* and my sin is always before me. Refrain Against you, you only, have I sinned* and done what is evil in your sight. Surely I was sinful at birth,* sinful from the time my mother conceived me. Hide your face from my sins,* and blot out all my iniquity. Restore to me the joy of your salvation,* and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Glory be to the Father and to the Son* and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning,* is now, and will be forever. Amen. Refrain 4
SECOND LESSON
1 John 1:5-2:2
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our
The Verse of the Day is a familiar or significant Scripture text framed with alleluias.
VERSE OF THE DAY
sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us. My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
John 20:31
C:
Please stand
The congregation stands out of respect for the words of Christ our King.
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GOSPEL To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?” Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill
John 8:31-47 me, because you have no room for my word. I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you are doing what you have heard from your father.” “Abraham is our father,” they answered. “If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would do what Abraham did. As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. You are doing the works of your own father.” “We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.” Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you
would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he
lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”
After the Gospel, the congregation sings:
C:
Please be seated
HYMN OF THE DAY
All Mankind Fell in Adam's Fall Christian Worship #378
SERMON
Genesis 11:1-9 Lessons from a Halted Building Project 1. Defiance against God won’t be Tolerated 2. The LORD is a God of Justice and Mercy
Please stand
APOSTLES’ CREED C: I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
The Apostles’ Creed developed in the Early Christian Church as a personal confession of faith. It is so named because it confesses the faith taught by the Apostles of Jesus.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Please be seated
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OFFERING If you prefer, use your smart phone to give online by scanning this QR code.
Members of Grace respond to their Savior’s love with offerings that are given joyfully, generously, regularly, and in a way that is proportionate to how the Lord has blessed them. Their cheerful gifts support the mission and ministry of our congregation. If you are a guest today, please know that we do not expect you to contribute to our congregation’s work. However, if you would like to give an offering to the Lord in response to his love to you, we are happy to receive it and put it to work in God’s kingdom. Please fill out the Friendship Register located in the red folder at the end of the row and pass it along. Thank You!
OFFERTORY MUSIC: 7:45—Oh, that the Lord Would Guide My Ways (CW 462) 10:00—The Church’s One Foundation Arranged by Valerie Floeter
Please stand
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH M: Lord God, our maker and preserver, we praise and thank you for all that you give us day after day. C: We are not worthy of all the mercies you show us. M: You have given us your precious Word to nourish our souls and to protect us from the temptations of the devil, the world, and our sinful nature. C: We thank you for those who teach and preach your saving truth at this place and everywhere. Grant them a rich measure of patience, wisdom, and love. M: Heavenly Father, we pray that you shield us from every kind of danger: sudden catastrophe, terrors of crime, and the pain of disease. Watch over those who travel by land, sea, and air. Keep our loved ones from whatever perils may threaten them. C: Heal those who are sick, cheer those who are sad, calm those who are distressed, and comfort all who are old and infirm. M: Bless our land, our people, and those who hold offices of high trust. Keep our government and schools upright and strong for the advancement of good citizenship and useful vocations, that we may enjoy your gifts of peace, security, and well-being. C: Grant your blessing to every nation on earth. Where there are wars, may there be peace. Where there is hatred, let it be healed. Where there is poverty, danger, or disaster, come with your almighty power to help and restore. Special prayers and intercessions may follow. M: Hear us, Lord, as we bring you our private petitions. Silent prayer.
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M: We bring these requests before you in the name of Jesus our Lord, and ask you to hear us. Take all that we have, our bodies and minds, our time and skills, our ministries and offerings, and use them to your glory. C: We give ourselves to you that we may serve you in whatever way is pleasing in your sight. Amen.
LORD’S PRAYER C: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.
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.
Please be seated
HYMN
Lord, We Confess Our Numerous Faults Christian Worship #398
Please stand
PRAYER M: O Lord God, our heavenly Father, pour out the Holy Spirit on your faithful people. Keep us strong in your grace and truth, protect and comfort us in all temptation, and bestow on us your saving peace, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
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BLESSING M: Brothers and sisters, go in peace. Live in harmony with one another. Serve the Lord with gladness. 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.
The blessing of Aaron has been spoken over God’s people for over 3,500 years. The Lord said, “So I will put my name on [them], and I will bless them.” Numbers 6:27
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Please be seated POSTLUDE: 7:45—What Is the World to Me (CW 477)
ANNOUNCEMENTS
10:00—If God Himself Be for Me Arranged by John Eggert
CLOSING HYMN
Copyright Information: Service of the Word: Oh Taste and See, Verse music by Kermit G. Moldenhauer. © 1993 Northwestern Publishing House. Psalm 51a: Refrain Tune: Patricia Craig. © 1986 GIA Publications, Inc., Psalm Tone: Paul Bunjes. © 1982 Concordia Publishing House. Copyrighted material reprinted under OneLicense.net #A710199.
Thee Will I Love, My Strength, My Tower Christian Worship #476
THOSE ASSISTING IN WORSHIP TODAY Worship Leader ........................................................ Pastor Ron Koehler Accompanists ...................... Kathy Parra (7:45 AM), Teri Guenther (10:00 AM) Clarinet ....................................................... Missy Wiechmann (7:45 AM) Ushers ................................. Rusty King, Vic Thornton, Rick Street (7:45 AM) ............................ Jon Dongoske, Dylan Guenther, Danny Koehler (10:00 AM) ................................................. Dustin Pauley, Colton Watson (10:00 AM) Sound & Recording Tech .................................... Jeremy Snavely (10:00 AM) Greeters ........................ Elaine Goldie, Nicole & Ronda McNamara (10:00 AM) Banner Committee ..............Jeanette O’Donald, Nadine Rentschler, Sandy Weir
NEXT SUNDAY Next week’s Scripture Lessons for Devotional Reading this Week
Genesis 12:1-9 Hebrews 11:8-16 John 8:49-59 Sermon Text
Genesis 12:1-9 An Altar by a Tent
Summer Worship Series Thank you for joining us today during our Summer Worship Series, “Build on the Rock.” This series will continue throughout the summer at all Grace sites. We will be considering lessons learned from various building projects in the Bible. Next week we consider the building of An Altar by a Tent. Other buildings we will consider include The Tabernacle, The Temple, a spiritual house, and more. All sites will use the same service theme each Sunday, so you won’t hear things repeated if you attend worship at multiple sites. If you do miss a week, you can find a recording of the Grace-Tucson sermon (or view the service live each Sunday) at the Grace website, www.GraceLutheranSAZ.org.
Divine Call Extended At the Voters’ Meeting on May 20, our congregation extended a call to Pastor Daniel Lange to serve as our Mission Pastor at Grace-Benson and Grace-Vail. Pastor Lange currently serves Light of Life Lutheran Church in Covington, WA. Please keep Pastor Lange, his wife Sara, and their three children in your prayers as they deliberate over where the Lord would have them serve at this time.
Central Office Hours Due to the Arizona-California District Convention this week, the church office will only be open from 8:45-11:45 AM Monday through Wednesday. Regular office hours of 9:00 AM-3:00 PM will resume on Thursday.
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Pete and Terry Kosanke would like to thank the members and friends of Grace for your thoughts, prayers and well wishes during Pete’s recent surgery and hospitalization. Your kindness was greatly appreciated!
TODAY Welcome Grace Guests! If you are a guest at Grace today, we are very happy to have you worship with us! If you would like more information about Grace or have questions about becoming a member of our congregation, please visit the Welcome Table in the courtyard. If this is your first time at Grace, please stop there to pick up a gift just for being our guest this morning.
Altar Flowers The flowers beautifying our worship this morning have been given by Ron and Debbie Koehler and Robert and Kathy Parra in celebration of 25 years of marriage and in thankfulness to God for his many blessings.
You Are Invited You are invited to a coffee fellowship this morning in the courtyard following both services. Fellowship after 10:00 AM worship is hosted by 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 Kassulke is preaching at Grace-Benson and Grace-Vail this morning. Pastor Patoka is preaching at Grace-Sahuarita this morning.
"I'm Saved, Now What?" Cookout and Live Stream Are you 18 - 25 years old and looking for Christian inspiration and community? Do you want to BE a Christian inspiration to your community around you? Join us TODAY for Awake and Alive's one day gathering of "I'm Saved, Now What?" Join us for a live stream devotion and presentation in the TCM Student Center. Cookout is at 5:00 PM, and the live stream begins at 5:30 PM. There is no cost to attend. RSVPs are appreciated and can be submitted at www.welstcm.com.
Youth Fitness Camp at Grace-Sahuarita Youth Fitness Camp begins this week at Grace-Sahuarita! Each Thursday from June 14 through July 19, Grace-Sahuarita will host a Youth Fitness Camp (ages 6-13) from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. The youth will learn life skills about gardening, cooking, fitness, strengthening, and healthy choices. God’s Word will be connected to all of these life skills. There will be weekly challenges that the youth can take home to share with their families. There is no charge for this program and lunch will be provided. It’s not too late to register online at www.GraceLutheranSahuarita.org by clicking the Fitness Camp button.
Vacation Bible School Space Station Salvation is scheduled to blast off at Grace-Tucson on July 23! This Vacation Bible School will run every morning from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM, July 23-27. Astronauts ages 3-13 are invited to join us for Bible lessons, crafts, music and snacks. Registration is now available online at GraceLutheranSAZ.org/VBS. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Pastor Patoka (RevTLP@gracelutheransaz.org) or Cindi Breitkreitz (mkcindib4u@yahoo.com). Invitations to this event are now available at your site. Please use these invitations to invite friends, family, and neighbors!
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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 June 10 - June 17 TUCSON Today Worship Services ............................................ 7:45a & 10:00a Coffee Fellowship following both services ............................... Children’s Sunday School: King Josiah ......................... 8:45a Lifeliners: Deal with It—School Issues ............................9:00a Adult Bible Study: Galatians........................................... 9:00a WELS TCM Cookout and Live Stream ....................... 5:00p SAHUARITA Today Adult Bible Study: Why Do We Worship in a Church?.... 9:00a Worship Service ............................................................ 10:00a Coffee Fellowship following worship ........................................ Wednesday NO Wednesday Bible Study .................................................... Thursday Youth Cross Fitness Camp ........................................... 10:00a Sunday Adult Bible Study: Why Do We Worship in a Church?.... 9:00a Worship Service w/communion..................................... 10:00a Coffee Fellowship following worship ........................................ BENSON Today Worship Service ............................................................... 7:30a Sunday Worship Service w/communion....................................... 7:30a
Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church Central Office 830 N. 1st Avenue Tucson, Arizona 85719 Phone Fax
623-6633 623-1514
Monday - Wednesday AZ/CA District Convention in Scottsdale ................................. Wednesday NO Bible Study ........................................................................ Thursday NO Women’s Bible Study ........................................................ Sunday Worship Services w/communion ..................... 7:45a & 10:00a Coffee Fellowship following both services .............................. Children’s Sunday School: The Robber on the Cross ... 8:45a Lifeliners: Deal with It—School Issues ........................... 9:00a Adult Bible Study: Galatians ........................................... 9:00a
VAIL Today Children’s Sunday School ...............................................9:00a Adult Bible Study: Galatians ........................................... 9:00a Worship Service ............................................................10:00a Coffee Fellowship following worship ........................................ Wednesday NO Ministry Center Office Hours ............................................. NO Bible Study at Ministry Center ........................................... Sunday Children’s Sunday School ...............................................9:00a Adult Bible Study: Galatians ........................................... 9:00a Worship Service w/communion .....................................10:00a Coffee Fellowship following worship ........................................
Pastors
Bible-Based Counselor
At Grace-Tucson 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
Administrative Assistants Beth Kassulke office@gracelutheransaz.org Debbie Koehler assistant@gracelutheransaz.org
Cinda Drescher cinda@gracelutheransaz.org Phone 882-3773
Child Learning Center Laura Heiman, Director director@gracelutheransaz.org Phone 651-235-9727
Office Assistant At Grace-Sahuarita Ryan A. Heiman
Missy Wiechmann revrah@gracelutheransaz.org
Music Coordinator Beth Kassulke