Grace Lutheran Church Oshawa

Epiphany 7         February 19, 2017

Welcome in the name of the Risen Lord Jesus Christ. If you are visiting, we are glad that you are here and kindly ask that you sign our guest book at the sanctuary doors. If you would like to become a member please speak to the Pastor. In case of illness, the Pastor should be informed. He will always be glad to speak with those who are confronted with problems of a spiritual nature. The time before worship is a quiet time for prayer and meditation to prepare for worship. Please see the inside cover of the hymnal for prayers and page 329f to prepare for Holy Communion. Communicant members are asked to fill out a communion card found in the pew racks and place it in the offering plates.

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God Manifests His Perfect Holiness in Christ through Compassion and Forgiveness

God reveals His perfect holiness in compassion as “he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matt. 5:45). By His grace in Jesus Christ, we are holy just as He is holy (Lev. 19:2), and we are “God’s temple” in whom “God’s Spirit dwells” (1 Cor. 3:16). This gift of holiness begins with fearing, loving and trusting God above all things, and it leads us to love our neighbor as ourselves (Lev. 19:18). No longer should we practice “injustice in court.” No longer should we “be partial to the poor or defer to the great.” No longer should we “go around as a slanderer” among God’s people. No longer should we “take vengeance or bear a grudge” (Lev. 19:15–18). Though we were His enemies, our Lord Jesus Christ has loved us and forgiven us. Nourished and sustained by His holy body and blood under the bread and wine of His holy Supper, we “shall be holy” (Lev. 19:2) even as the Lord our God is holy.

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Collect of the Day

O God, the strength of all who put their trust in You, mercifully grant that by Your power we may be defended against all adversity; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

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ORDER OF SERVICE: Setting Three page 184.  The Introit on the insert is sung responsively by half verse.

 

Readings:  Leviticus 19: 1-2, 9-18                        1 Corinthians 3: 10 – 23      Matthew 5: 38 – 48

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HYMNS:    909,  820,  706 (offering hymn),  645,  644,  824

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Presiding Minister (P):  Rev. Jack Hetzel                                          Assisting minister (A) lay: Shane

Organist/Pianist: Paula                                                                      Acolyte: Christine

Sound System: Anna/Philip                                                              Webmaster:  Michael

Secretary: Ann  (Tue.) and Debby (Wed. 5-7 for January)             Parish Nurse: Jane   

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Pastor Available for Confession & Absolution

Tues. & Thurs. (9am – Noon)

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Bible Class and Sunday School

Sunday 9:30am

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Holy Communion:

Since the Lord’s Supper gives the forgiveness of sins in the body and blood of Christ to all who believe the words “given and shed” and is also a celebration of oneness in faith, we ask that only those who have professed such faith publicly in a Lutheran Church-Canada (or Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod) congregation come to the Lord’s Altar.  Everyone intending to commune for the first time is kindly asked to speak with the Pastor prior to the service.

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PRAYER INTERCESSIONS:family & friends of Sonja (funeral Feb 11); Lea; Monika; Vada; Edith; David; Ryan; Kim; Asser;  Gheorghe; Sharon; Autumn; Susan; Mary; Hans, Sherran & Larry; Heather; Konrad & Herta; Gene & Margaret; Albina; Rob & Debbie;  Betty; Lucie; Claudette; Andre & Micheline; George & Waldtraut; Suzanne; Will; Brenda; Nirmala; Anuradha; Anjani; Baby Caleb; George; Albina

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LADIES OF GRACE:  A Work Day is scheduled for Wednesday March 14 at 9am.  Any donation for layettes and school bags appreciated.  For more information please contact Carolyn or Minnie.  Thank you for your continued support!

 

PRAYER CHAIN:  Paula is our Evangelism Team Leader, she has restarted the prayer chain for anyone who is in need of help.  Once a request is either brought to her and/or from Pastor, she will call the  prayer chain members, who will only have knowledge of a person in need of support and prayers. All will be confidential, unless otherwise instructed by you. Please call, we’re here for you.

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CHURCH FUNDRAISER: Sometimes we need a card to say thank you, hope you’re doing okay,  or congratulations. Have a look at our rack of cards outside of the office. Take a card and put a donation in the container on the rack.  All funds are for our debt reduction fund. If you have a stack of cards at home that you want to donate, place them on the rack in the right category. Thank you

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GREETERS:  A welcoming smile and a firm handshake is a warm invitation to our Grace family. Please sign up for either whole month or a few Sundays or if you notice no one is there at 10:15 am. Please step in an  Greet! See sign up form on bulletin board and table/or bulletin board in Narthex.

This week our Greeter was: Mike. Next 2 weeks our Greeter volunteers needed. Just step in when you arrive.

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MISSION QUILTS: We are quilting on the following days:  February 21 and March 7, 21, 28 at 9:00 am.  No experience required, so please feel free to join in.  Minnie and Ann

 

THE LUTHERAN HOUR BROADCASTS: Hear inspirational messages every Sunday on Hamilton CHAM 820/am at 8:00 AM. See bulletin board for broadcast topics; Streaming audio and pod-casts at:  www.lutheranhour.ca

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GRACE LUTHERAN LIBRARY - BOOK OF THE MONTH - HISTORY OF OUR GRACE CHURCH:  Our library is going to feature a book of the month.  Please take a few moments and look at the book of the month which is just newly released, “Be True and Serve”. It’s an autobiography of our parishioner Monika Stimming’s mother.  A fascinating story of Monika’s family during Germany’s Third Reich, and WWII. It’s also about starting a new life with her family and “Little Monika” in Oshawa. You can find it on top of the white book case in the narthex.  Enjoy reading some history of how God’s grace has been working among us! Also, take some time to browse through our library for interesting Christian books.

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90th ANNIVERSAY COMMITTEE OF GRACE: we met for our first meeting on Tuesday February 14th, so plans are now in development.   Please let Gina know if you are interested in joining the organizing committee.

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MEN’S BREAKFAST: March Saturday March 11th @ 7:30 am

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FURNACE REPLACEMENTS:  We have had to replace two of our three furnaces due to heat exchanger failure. This has resulted in an unplanned expenditure in excess of $10,000.00.  Church council is reviewing how to cover these costs and will report back to our church members in the near future. All donations are welcome towards the cost of this expense. Thank you.

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SHROVE TUESDAY: Please join us on February 28 for Shrove Tuesday, pancake supper@ 6 pm.  Please sign on for cooking, cleanup and food donations; signup lists are on the table in the narthex. Thanks The Ladies of Grace.

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THE REFUGE: Needs volunteers for the cold hands warm hearts walk on the coldest night. February25th, 2017.  For more information see the reference material on the table in the narthex.

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EXPERT GUESTS, EXPANSIVE TOPICS, EXTOLLING CHRIST…Issues, Etc. is a radio talk show produced by Lutheran Public Radio in Collinsville, IL and hosted by LCMS Pastor Todd Wilken.  This week’s topics include: Alpha Females & Marriage, The Drive to Abolish Differences Between Men & Women, Contraception & the Future of the Family, First Century Pastor & Martyr Polycarp, Jesus & Zacchaeus, and more.  You can listen to what you want when you want at www.issuesetc.org and on the Lutheran Public Radio mobile app.

 

​​This Week under Grace

 

Today (g)                      9:30am                            Bible Study/Sunday School

                                    10:30am                            Divine Service (C)

Tuesday                       9:00am                            Quilting

Wednesday                 9:00am                            Matins & Bible Study

                                      7:30pm                            Elders Meeting

Friday                                                                    ST. MATTHIAS, APOSTLE

Saturday                                                               St. Vincent’s Kitchen

Sunday (w)                  9:30am                           THE TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR LORD-Bible Study/Sunday School

                                    10:30am                           Divine Service(C)

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OFFERING COUNTERS: We are looking for volunteers to assist in counting weekly offerings on Sundays.  Currently counting is done by just a few members of the congregation.  It is a rather simple task carried out on a computer.  Please give this request consideration to lighten the load on our Financial Sec’y Wendy.

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BIRTHDAY LUNCH & FOOD BANK:  Don’t forget to bring non-perishable food items for the food bank to the birthday lunches. Birthday lunch next week.  February 26th.

 

BULLETIN ANNOUNCEMENTS:  There is a folder in the holder outside the office door for weekly inserts for the bulletin and monthly calendar.  Items for the Bulletin are due by Wednesday of each week by noon and 3rd Sunday of each month for calendar.  Or email your dates and events to office@gracelutheranoshawa.net; Start thinking about 2017 dates for meetings and events. Enter on calendar in narthex on table.  Thank you.