8-13-23 Grace-Sahuarita Worship Folder

THE ELEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

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 DEFINE CHRISTIAN

Ask ten different people to define the word Christian and you may get ten different answers. One might say, “A Christian is someone who believes in Jesus.” Okay. But the demons believe that Jesus exists and is the Son of God. So is that definition adequate? Another person might have a more negative view. He says, “A Christian is someone who believes he is better than others.” Is that completely false? And if you aren’t humble, does that mean you aren’t Christian?

In this worship series Christ himself defines the term Christian and describes what Christians do. We are struck by how often we do not do all those things. There likely are times when people could look at our behavior and assume we were unbelievers. Yet throughout this series Jesus demonstrates that ultimately a Christian is one who runs to Christ for forgiveness precisely because he has failed to live like what he is a Christian. As we receive the mercy of Christ, it moves us to strive with all our being to better fit Christ’s beautiful definition, doing all the things Jesus says that Christians do. Our worship series has followed this path:

The Christian Loves God above All

The Christian Finds Rest in Jesus

The Christian Is Planted by the Word

The Christian Lives as Wheat among Weeds

The Christian Seeks Spiritual Wealth

The Christian Trusts God to Provide

The Christian Answers Doubt with Faith

Please join us next week as we begin a new series, “The Church God Wants.” In this five-week series, we will examine what God wants in a church what that church looks like, what its priorities are, and what that church does.

OPENING HYMN Be Still My Soul

Christian Worship 847

Please stand

INVOCATION

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

Congregation: Amen.

Text: tr. Jane L Borthwick, 1813–1897, alt.; Catharina A. von Schlegel, 1697–1752, abr. Tune: Jean Sibelius, 1865–1957, adapt. Text and tune: Public domain.

Psalm 122:1

SPOKEN RESPONSES

I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”

Psalm 84:1

Psalm 84:4

How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord Almighty! Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you.

Psalm 145:18

The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.

Psalm 119:33

Teach me, Lord, the way of your decrees, that I may follow it to the end.

Psalm 119:105

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

Romans 10:17

Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.

PRAYER

Psalm 143:1

Lord, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness, come to my relief.

Spare us, Lord, from the lies of the devil and the attacks of our conscience. Comfort and save us in your patient compassion. Have mercy on us, Jesus.

Guide us, Lord, to the wisdom of your Word and the power of your promises. Take away our confusion and doubt. Have mercy on us, Jesus.

Hear us, Lord, when we come to you in prayer. Make us confident to take you at your word and to follow you in faith.

Have mercy on us, Jesus.

Empower us, Lord, to walk in your ways and live in your truth. Fill us with your love, that we may love you and one another. Have

mercy on us, Jesus.

Lord, we confess our sins to you and plead for your mercy. We acknowledge that sin runs too deep in our nature for us ever to rid ourselves of it, but we thank you that Jesus has done what we could not do, washing us clean of every stain. We plead that your Spirit would give us the strength to live a new life; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

HYMN OF PRAISE—Christ Be My Leader Christian Worship 518

Text: Timothy Dudley-Smith, b. 1926 © 1964, ren. 1992 Hope Publishing Co. Used by permission: OneLicense no. 710199. Tune: Irish Public domain.

The Lord answers Elijah’s doubt not with a great show of power but with the gentle whisper of God’s gracious promise.

+ THE WORD +

PRAYER OF THE DAY

The Lord be with you. And also with you.

Let us pray.

Almighty and most merciful God, preserve us from all harm and danger that we, being ready in both body and soul, may cheerfully accomplish what you want done; 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

FIRST READING

9 He came to a cave and spent the night there. Then the word of the L suddenly came to him, saying, “Why are you here, Elijah?”

10 He said, “I have been very zealous for the L , the God of Armies, but the people of Israel have abandoned your covenant. They have torn down your altars and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking to take my life.”

11 Then the L said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the L , for the L is passing by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains and shattered rocks before the L , but the L was not in the wind.

After the wind came an earthquake, but the L was not in the earthquake.

12 After the earthquake there was a fire, but the L was not in the fire. After the fire there was a soft, whispering voice.

13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak, and he went out and stood at the entrance to the cave. Then a voice came to him and said, “Why are you here, Elijah?”

14 He said, “I have been very zealous for the L , the God of Armies, but the people of Israel have abandoned your covenant. They have torn down your altars and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking to take my life.”

Then the L said to him, “Go back the way you came and go to the Wilderness of Damascus. When you get there, you are to anoint Hazael as king over Aram. 16 You will also anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel and Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah as prophet in your place. 17 Whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, Jehu will kill, and whoever escapes the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill. 18 But I have preserved in Israel seven thousand whose knees have not bent to Baal and whose lips have not kissed him.”

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

HYMN—Lord, Take My Hand and Lead Me Christian Worship 849

Paul teaches that in all things, in good times and bad, we can trust that God is carrying out his perfect plan for his glory and our salvation.

28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose, 29 because those God foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called. Those he called, he also justified. And those he justified, he also glorified.

31 What then will we say about these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 Indeed, he who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all how will he not also graciously give us all things along with him?

Psalm 44:22

33 Who will bring an accusation against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies! 34 Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus, who died and, more than that, was raised to life, is the one who is at God’s right hand and who is also interceding for us! 35 What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will trouble or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 Just as it is written: For your sake we are being put to death all day long. We are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor rulers, neither things present nor things to come, nor powerful forces, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Please stand

The Gospel Acclamation points toward the words of the Gospel.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Hebrews 11:1

Alleluia. Faith is being sure about what we hope for, being convinced about things we do not see. Alleluia.

22 Immediately Jesus urged the disciples to get into the boat and to go ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed the crowd, he went up onto the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone. 24 By then the boat was quite a distance from shore, being pounded by the waves because the wind was against it. 25 In the fourth watch of the night, Jesus came toward them, walking on the sea. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified and cried out in fear, “It’s a ghost!” 27 But Jesus spoke to them at once, saying, “Take heart! It is I! Do not be afraid.”

28 Peter answered him and said, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”

29 Jesus said, “Come!”

Peter stepped down from the boat, walked on the water, and went toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strong wind, he was afraid. As he began to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”

31 Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 When they got into the boat, the wind stopped. 33 Those who were in the boat worshipped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God!”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise be to you, O Christ.

Please be seated

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!

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.

In the account of Peter walking on the water, we see how quickly doubt challenges faith. And we see how graciously Jesus responds to our doubt.

The fourth watch of the night would be between 3:00 AM and 6:00 AM.

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.

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 Matthew 14:25-33

Jesus Says: Take Courage, Don't Doubt

Please stand

Text: Michael D. Schultz, b. 1963 © 2009 Michael D. Schultz, admin. Northwestern Publishing House. Used by permission: OneLicense no. 710199

Tune: John B. Dykes, 1823–1876. Public domain.

CONFESSION OF FAITH

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.

Please be seated

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

Apostles’ Creed

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.

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.

Brief intercessory prayers may be added in a fitting place.

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.

CHOIR ANTHEM—Before You I Kneel

Before you I kneel, my Master and Maker, to offer the work of my hands. For this is the day you’ve given your servant; I will rejoice and be glad for the strength I have to live and breathe, for each skill your grace has given me, for the needs and opportunities that will glorify your great name.

Before you I kneel and ask for your goodness to cover the work of my hands, for patience and peace to shape all my labor; your grace for thorns in my path. Flow within me like a living stream; wear away the stones of pride and greed, till your ways are dwelling deep in me and a harvest of life is grown.

Before you we kneel, our Master and Maker; establish the work of our hands, and order our steps to seek first your kingdom in ev’ry small and great task. May we live the gospel of your grace, serve your purpose in our fleeting days, then our lives will bring eternal praise and all glory to your great name.

+ INSTALLATION OF CHILD LEARNING CENTER TEACHERS +

The teachers approach the altar.

The minister addresses the congregation:

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ said to his church: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

The Savior loves children and desires to share all his promises with them. Our early childhood ministry provides believers with a unique opportunity to reach out to families in our community and nourish the faith of children that they may walk with Christ throughout their lives.

The minister addresses the teachers:

Friends, Grace Lutheran Church has called you to serve as teachers in the public ministry of the gospel by serving on our Child Learning Center. As servants of Christ, you are to carry out all your activities in the light of God’s Word and lead your students to know God’s holy law and saving gospel. You are to keep them in your prayers and guide and guard their spiritual growth.

You are to set aside time for personal study of the Scriptures so that you may grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. You are to strive to be an example of Christian faith and life so that others may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

You are to be prepared to witness Christ to the parents of your children so that the message of law and gospel may be consistent in their home and school. You are to serve alongside the other workers in this ministry with love, patience, and respect.

In all your tasks and responsibilities, our Lord Jesus equips you with the gospel of the forgiveness of sins, the gift that makes you truly competent as a servant of Christ. St. Paul wrote: “Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.”

In keeping with the Word and will of the Lord, I ask you before God and his people: Do you believe that the canonical books of the Old and New Testaments are the inspired and inerrant Word of God and the only source of truth for faith and ministry? I do.

Do you accept the three Ecumenical Creeds the Apostles’, the Nicene, and the Athanasian as faithful testimonies to the truth of the Holy Scriptures, and do you reject all the errors that they condemn? I do.

Matthew 10:10

1 Peter 3:8

Do you solemnly promise that all your service in its various forms will conform to the Holy Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions?

I do.

Will you endeavor to live a life that reflects the love God has for you so that all may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven?

I will, and I ask God to help me.

Are you willing to carry out this work according to the grace that God gives? I am, and I ask God to help me.

The minister addresses the congregation: Friends in Christ, you have heard the promises spoken by the Christine and Teresa, whom you have called to this ministry. I encourage you to receive them with joy and remember what the Word of God calls you to do.

Work together with them for the benefit of the Lord’s kingdom, so that your shared service may bring spiritual blessings to the Savior’s people. Support them as they teach the young, so that they may be won for Christ and brought up in the training and instruction of the Lord. Keep them and their work in your prayers, so that their ministry may be blessed and that they might carry out their work with joy.

Provide for their physical needs, for the Savior says, “The worker deserves his wages.” Honor and love them, as St. Peter urges: “All of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.”

I now ask you in the presence of God: Are you willing to receive these teachers as servants of Christ? Will you show them love and honor and support them with your gifts and prayers? If so, answer: We will, and we ask God to help us. We will, and we ask God to help us.

The almighty and merciful God strengthen you to do what you have promised.

INSTALLATION

The minister addresses the teachers:

Christine Leathers and Theresa Pratt, I install you as teachers at Grace Lutheran Child Learning Center in the name of the Father and of the (+) Son and of the Holy Spirit.

The Lord pour out on you his Holy Spirit for the work you have been called to do that you may faithfully carry out all your duties and responsibilities with the Word of God as your confidence and guide.

PRAYER

Let us pray.

Almighty God, source of all wisdom, we thank you for the opportunity we have to reach out in our community with our Child Learning Center. May your life-giving Word be the center of all teaching and every activity so that little children and their families may come to know and believe your holy law and saving gospel. Equip our new teachers with spiritual wisdom that they may faithfully carry out the duties of their calls. Give us zeal to add our own efforts to the goals of this ministry so that many more may come to serve you throughout their lives and finally inherit eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

BLESSING

The Lord bless you and make your ministry a blessing to others.

HYMN—He Will Hold Me Fast Christian Worship 813

The choir will sing stanzas 1 and 2. Please join in singing the final stanza.

This hymn continues on the next page.

CLOSING PRAYER

Almighty God, we thank you for teaching us the things you want us to believe and do. Help us by your Holy Spirit to keep your Word in pure hearts that we may be strengthened in faith, guided in holiness, and comforted in life and in death, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen.

BLESSING

The almighty and merciful Lord the Father, the (+) Son, and the Holy Spirit bless us and keep us.

Amen.

Please be seated

Text: Ada Habershon, 1861–1918. Public domain; Matt Merker, b. 1984, alt. Tune: Matt Merker © 2013 Getty Music Publishing and Matt Merker, admin. MusicServices.org. Used by permission: OneLicense no. 710199

FriendshipÊRegister

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’sÊChurch

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.

SundayÊMorningÊBibleÊStudy

Amazing Grace, A Mighty Fortress, and On Eagles Wings might be a few of your favorite hymns, but do you know who wrote them, why they were written, or what section of Scripture they were based on? Our Sunday morning Bible Study series discovers the answers to those questions and more as we learn about our favorite hymns and how they open up the Scriptures for our learning. Now would be an excellent time to make Sunday morning Bible study a part of your routine! Class is held at 9:00 AM in the CLC gymnasium.

MidweekÊBibleÊStudy:ÊWednesday

The Bible Project: The 66 books of the Bible are a collection of history, poetry, prophecy and insights into the eternal history of God and his people. The focus of the entire Bible is God’s plan of salvation. However because of the sheer volume of the Bible, many people get bogged down trying to read it and understand it. This Bible Project is a study that quickly summarizes each book and gives the student a quick overview of the Bible. Please join us on Wednesdays at 10:00 AM in the Church Entryway.

Ladies’ÊFellowshipÊGroup:ÊThursdayÊatÊGrace-Tucson

The Ladies’ Fellowship Group will meet in the Grace-Tucson Fellowship Hall this Thursday, August 17, at 10:15 AM. Ladies should bring games they would enjoy playing and a sack lunch. Please contact Lois Thornton at (520)323-8772 or vthornto2@gmail.com with any questions. Ladies from all Grace sites are welcome to join in the fun!

TimeÊOutÊforÊMoms:ÊAugustÊ26

Our Child Learning Center (CLC) here at Grace-Sahuarita is hosting a “Time Out for Moms” on Saturday, August 26, from 9:00 to 11:00 AM in the CLC gym. We’ll begin with coffee and breakfast followed by a craft and a presentation about Pilates. Pastor Heiman will also lead a devotion on parenting followed by fellowship time. Moms from all Grace sites are welcome to attend but please RSVP so we can plan accordingly. You may sign the sheet on the CLC Welcome Desk or contact Jen Rickling, CLC Assistant Director, at (520)848-4630 or jrickling@GraceLutheranSAZ.org.

GrowÊinÊGraceÊClass

Would you like to learn more about our risen Savior, 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 register your interest at GraceLutheranSAZ.org/ GIG.

ThisÊscheduleÊisÊsubjectÊtoÊchange.ÊPleaseÊ watchÊyourÊemailÊforÊtheÊmostÊup-to-dateÊ informationÊorÊcallÊtheÊGraceÊCentralÊOfficeÊ atÊ(520)623-6633ÊifÊyouÊhaveÊquestions.

OFF

StayÊUpÊtoÊDate

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.

OneÊChurch.ÊFourÊSites.Ê

Proclaiming the love of Jesus in Southern Arizona since 1911.

Grace-TucsonÊandÊCentralÊOffice 830ÊN.Ê1stÊAvenue,ÊTucson,ÊAZÊ85719 (520)623-6633 office@gracelutheransaz.org

PastorÊRonaldÊG.ÊKoehlerÊIII revrgk3@gracelutheransaz.org

PastorÊNathanÊP.ÊKassulke revnpk@gracelutheransaz.org

PastorÊTimothyÊL.ÊPatokaÊ(CampusÊMinistry) revtlp@gracelutheransaz.org

Grace-Benson

451ÊW.ÊDuaneÊSt.,ÊBenson,ÊAZÊ85602

Grace-Vail

WorshippingÊatÊEsmondÊStationÊElementary 9400ÊS.ÊAtterburyÊWashÊWay,ÊTucson,ÊAZÊ85747

PastorÊSethÊA.ÊScheuerlein revsas@gracelutheransaz.org

OfficeÊatÊCivano

10501ÊE.ÊSevenÊGenerationsÊWay,ÊTucson,ÊAZÊ85747 (520)848-4631

PrayerÊGroup LauraÊHodgson prayergroup@gracelutheransaz.org

Grace-Sahuarita

75ÊW.ÊSahuaritaÊRd,ÊSahuarita,ÊAZÊ85629 (520)578-3538ÊÊÊÊÊ

PastorÊRyanÊA.ÊHeiman revrah@gracelutheransaz.org

ChildÊLearningÊCenter (520)Ê848-4630ÊÊÊÊÊreceptionist@gracelutheransaz.org www.GraceLutheranSahuaritaCLC.com

Director LauraÊHeiman director@gracelutheransaz.org

AssistantÊDirector—JenÊRickling jrickling@gracelutheransaz.org

AssistantÊOfficeÊManager—ShirleyÊZanotti

Bible-BasedÊCounselor—CindaÊDrescher cinda@gracelutheransaz.org

(520)581-4714

AdministrativeÊAssistant—DebbieÊKoehler assistant@gracelutheransaz.org

WorshipÊCoordinator—BethÊKassulke music@gracelutheransaz.org

OfficeÊAssistant—CoraÊStuhr 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