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Thursday, April 4, 2024

Weekly Newsletter

Glimpses of Glendale
Glendale Lutheran Church Newsletter


April 4, 2024

God's Grace is as Big as a Twenty-Dollar Bill - article by Joel Hempel


Back in the inner city of Cincinnati, when I taught an adult instruction class to new Christians who wanted to be a part of Prince of Peace Church, I used the following visual illustration to teach about God’s grace.

 

At the appropriate moment, I would reach into my wallet, take out five-dollar bills, and hand one to each participant. But one time, I didn’t have $5. I only had a twenty-dollar bill. I hesitated. But because it was a crucial moment in the teaching, and since I had only one adult student in the class, I proceeded:

 

This $20 is like God’s grace. Here, it’s yours!

 

The person was reluctant to take it.

 

I’m serious. I want you to have it. It is mine to give to you, and it will give me great joy for you to receive it.

 

The woman took the $20, then a nanosecond later, insisted I take it back:

 

No, I can’t! This is too much.

 

Seriously, it’s not mine anymore. It belongs to you, I reiterated.  

 

We then opened our Bibles: By grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is a gift of God. Ephesians 2:8

 

I then went on to talk about Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and how this act of immeasurable love resulted in our forgiveness and life forever with him in heaven.

 

When class was over, and the woman was leaving: Are you sure about the twenty dollars? She inquired one more time.

 

Yes. It’s yours with God’s love.

 

End of story? No! A week later, I received a package in the mail. Giftwrapped was a $20 bill, framed with the embedded message: This twenty-dollar bill taught me about God’s love, trust, and grace. Thank you.

 

Hmm! I loved the gift, and I love the person who gave it to me. But it was another visual illustration. This time, it was about how difficult it is for us to fully accept God’s undeserved grace.

 

Does God mean it when he says: You are forgiven; you are loved – as you are; you are mine – forever?

 

YES!

 

The Good Friday crucifixion, followed by Easter and the resurrection of Jesus, is our assurance that God’s mercy and grace are ours. The grace of God is as real and concrete as Jesus stepping into our lives and handing us a 20-dollar bill. Here, I want you to have this. It may seem like only a 20-dollar bill, but it represents everything my Father wants to give you. It’s yours. Please believe me: You are forgiven. You are loved. You are mine – forever!

 

My guess is that we would frame that $20 bill, but we would not try to give it back. It would hang forever on our wall as a reminder: Jesus gave me this and all his love!

Al Grimm's 100th Birthday


Please join us in the Family Life Center April 21 immediately after church to celebrate our own Al Grimm's 100th birthday. There will be cake and other goodies. Hope to see you there to wish Al a happy 100th!

Finance Update

Next Sunday's Bible Readings

Acts 3:11-21; 1 John 3:1-7; Luke 24:36-49

Worship Leaders

This Sunday - 4/7

Lector: Steve Phelps

Communion: John Steele & Seminary Student

Greeters: Terry & Jennifer Buchholz

S/V: Tony Petzoldt

Ushers: Mike Toney, Rodger Lubben, Ken Clark, Ron Froesel

Children's Message: Pastor Scott

Next Sunday - 4/14

Lector: Jerry Nicolaus

Communion: Jerry Nicolaus and Seminary Student

Greeters: Greg & Karen Frimel

S/V: Paul Barbercheck

Ushers: Judy George, Sandy Barbercheck, Becci Sasser, Jeanne Lipinski

Children's Message: Tim Cosby

The Word Within the Word
Online Calendar

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Worship Bulletin


Welcome to Glendale Lutheran!


Please join us in the Family Life Center April 21 immediately after church to celebrate our own Al Grimm's 100th birthday. There will be cake and other goodies. Hope to see you there to wish Al a happy 100th!


Deacon List…If you need to talk to a fellow believer, email or call Pastor Scott or one of these deacons: Joel Hempel (jhempel411@gmail.com), Marcia Hempel (mshempel11@att.net), Bob Jacobson (rjacobson@hy-c.com), or Tony Petzoldt (tonypetzoldt@sbcglobal.net). 

The Second Sunday of Easter

April 7, 2024

9:15am

Divine Service III

Prelude 


Greeting and Welcome


Lighting of the Candles


Hymn of Invocation – This Joyful Eastertide (LSB 482)


This joyful Eastertide

Away with sin and sorrow!

My love, the Crucified,

Has sprung to life this morrow: Refrain


Refrain: Had Christ, who once was slain,

Not burst His three-day prison,

Our faith had been in vain:

But now has Christ arisen, arisen, arisen;

But now has Christ arisen!


Death’s flood has lost its chill

Since Jesus crossed the river;

Lover of souls, from ill

My passing soul deliver: Refrain


My flesh in hope shall rest

And for a season slumber

Till trump from east to west

Shall wake the dead in number: Refrain


+ Preparation +


Invocation

P: In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C: Amen.


Confession and Absolution

P: Beloved in the Lord! Let us draw near with a true heart and confess our sins unto God our Father, beseeching Him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to grant us forgiveness.

 

P: Our help is in the name of the Lord,

C: who made heaven and earth.

P: I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord,

C: and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.


Silence for reflection on God's Word and for self-examination.


P: O almighty God, merciful Father,

C: I, a poor, miserable sinner, confess unto You all my sins and iniquities with which I have ever offended You and justly deserved Your temporal and eternal punishment. But I am heartily sorry for them and sincerely repent of them, and I pray You of Your boundless mercy and for the sake of the holy, innocent, bitter sufferings and death of Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to be gracious and merciful to me, a poor, sinful being.

P: Upon this your confession, I, by virtue of my office, as a called and ordained servant of the Word, announce the grace of God unto all of you, and in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C: Amen.


+ Word +


Introit 

P: Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up to salvation—if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

C: Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!

P: Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works!

C: Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice!

P: Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually!

C: Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered.

P: He remembers his covenant forever, the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations.

All: 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

P: Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up to salvation—if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.


Kyrie

Lord, have mercy upon us.

Christ, have mercy upon us.

Lord, have mercy upon us.

  

Gloria in Excelsis

Glory be to God on high;

and on earth peace goodwill toward men.

We praise Thee, we bless Thee,

we worship Thee, we glorify Thee,  

we give thanks to Thee for Thy great glory.

O Lord God, heav'nly King,

God the Father Almighty.

O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ;

O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,

that takest away the sin of the world,

have mercy upon us.

Thou that takest away the sin of the world,

receive our prayer.

Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father,

have mercy upon us.

For Thou only art holy; Thou only art the Lord.

Thou only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost,

art most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

  

Salutation and Collect of the Day

P: The Lord be with you.

C: And with thy spirit. 

P: Let us pray. Almighty God, grant that we who have celebrated the Lord’s resurrection may by Your grace confess in our life and conversation that Jesus is Lord and God; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C: Amen. 


First Reading1 Kings 2:1-9

When David’s time to die drew near, he commanded Solomon his son, saying, “I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man, and keep the charge of the LORD your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn, that the LORD may establish his word that he spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’

“Moreover, you also know what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, how he dealt with the two commanders of the armies of Israel, Abner the son of Ner, and Amasa the son of Jether, whom he killed, avenging in time of peace for blood that had been shed in war, and putting the blood of war on the belt around his waist and on the sandals on his feet. Act therefore according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace. But deal loyally with the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be among those who eat at your table, for with such loyalty they met me when I fled from Absalom your brother. And there is also with you Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjaminite from Bahurim, who cursed me with a grievous curse on the day when I went to Mahanaim. But when he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the LORD, saying, ‘I will not put you to death with the sword.’ Now therefore do not hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man. You will know what you ought to do to him, and you shall bring his gray head down with blood to Sheol.”


P: This is the Word of the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God.


Epistle 1 John 1:1—2:2

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice 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 cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. 

 

P: This is the Word of the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God.


Alleluia

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. 


Holy GospelJohn 20:19-31

P: The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the twentieth chapter. 

C: Glory be to Thee, O Lord. 


On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld.”

Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.


P: This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C: Praise be to Thee, O Christ. 


Apostles' Creed

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.


And 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 sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence 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.


Children’s Hymn – Children of the Heavenly Father (LSB 725)


Children of the heav’nly Father

Safely in His bosom gather;

Nestling bird nor star in heaven

Such a refuge e’er was given.


God His own doth tend and nourish;

In His holy courts they flourish.

From all evil things He spares them;

In His mighty arms He bears them.


Though He giveth or He taketh,

God His children ne’er forsaketh;

His the loving purpose solely

To preserve them pure and holy.


Children’s Message – Pastor Scott 


Hymn of the Day – Holy God, We Praise Thy Name (LSB 940)


Holy God, we praise Thy name;

Lord of all, we bow before Thee.

All on earth Thy scepter claim,

All in heav’n above adore Thee.

Infinite Thy vast domain,

Everlasting is Thy reign.


Hark! The glad celestial hymn

Angel choirs above are raising;

Cherubim and seraphim,

In unceasing chorus praising,

Fill the heav’ns with sweet accord:

Holy, holy, holy Lord!


Lo, the_apostles’ holy train

Join Thy sacred name to hallow;

Prophets swell the glad refrain,

And the white-robed martyrs follow,

And from morn to set of sun

Through the Church the song goes on.


Thou art King of Glory, Christ;

Son of God, yet born of Mary.

For us sinners sacrificed,

As to death a Tributary,

First to break the bars of death,

Thou hast opened heav’n to faith.


Holy Father, holy Son,

Holy Spirit, three we name Thee;

Though in essence only one,

Undivided God we claim Thee

And, adoring, bend the knee

While we own the mystery.


From Thy high celestial home,

Judge of all, again returning,

We believe that Thou shalt come

On that final judgment morning,

When Thy voice shall shake the earth

And the startled dead come forth.


Spare Thy people, Lord, we pray,

By a thousand snares surrounded;

Keep us without sin today,

Never let us be confounded.

Lo, I put my trust in Thee;

Never, Lord, abandon me.


Sermon 


Offertory

Create in me a clean heart, O God,

and renew a right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from Thy presence,

and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.

Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation,

and uphold me with Thy free spirit. Amen.  

 

Offering


Prayers


+ Celebrating birthdays this week: 8 – Gail Metzler, Amy Ryan, John Auble; 9 – Cathie Albers; 11 – John Brugere, Marcia Hempel; 13 – Sarah Skouby, Brian Skouby

+ Wedding anniversaries: 10 – Ken & Rosemary Orloff; 11 – Ken & Jeanne Clark


Special Celebrations and Needs:

+ Church family members: Family and friends of Hank Schlichter, upon his death; Julie Atwood-Wise, recovering from knee replacement surgery; Steve Albers, recovering from surgery; Ally Philpot, upon the death of a grandparent; Ryan Philpot, upon the death of a grandparent; Pat Price, undergoing knee surgery; Vicki Lucas, recovering from a stroke; Sharon Gaal, anticipating surgery; Ken Kight.

+ Friends of our congregation: Family of Dan Rich, extended family member to the Barberchecks, upon his sudden death on Easter Monday; Barbara Huggins, in rehab with a broken leg; Eddie, brother-in-law of Andrea Anderson, diagnosed with lymphoma of the uvula; Michael Becker, diagnosed with cancer; Don, friend of the Wehmueller family, with liver cancer; Rebecca Guion, daughter-in-law of Mary Guion.

+ Those who are homebound or in nursing facilities: Twylah Atwood, Mary Aufderheide, Jules Bush, Frank & Sharon Gaal, Mary Guion, Jerry & Jane Keathley, Cindy Smith, Shirley Williams


+ Sacrament +


Preface

P: The Lord be with you.

C: And with thy spirit. 

P: Lift up your hearts.

C: We lift them up unto the Lord. 

P: Let us give thanks unto the Lord our God.

C: It is meet and right so to do. 


P: It is truly good, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God. And most especially are we bound to praise You on this day for the glorious resurrection of Your Son, Jesus Christ, the very Paschal Lamb, who was sacrificed for us and bore the sins of the world. By His dying He has destroyed death, and by His rising again He has restored to us everlasting life. Therefore with Mary Magdalene, Peter and John, and with all the witnesses of the resurrection, with angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You and saying:


Sanctus

Holy, holy, holy Lord God of Sabaoth;

heav'n and earth are full of Thy glory.

Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is He, blessed is He,

blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest.   


Lord’s Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.


The Words of Our Lord

P: Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: “Take, eat; this is My + body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.” In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying: “Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My + blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”


Pax Domini 

P: The peace of the Lord be with you always. 

C: Amen.

 

Agnus Dei

O Christ, Thou Lamb of God,

that takest away the sin of the world,

have mercy upon us.

O Christ, Thou Lamb of God,

that takest away the sin of the world,

have mercy upon us.

O Christ, Thou Lamb of God,

that takest away the sin of the world,

grant us Thy peace. Amen.   


Distribution 


Distribution Hymn – Eat This Bread (LSB 638)


Refrain: Eat this bread, drink this cup,

   Come to Him and never be hungry.

Eat this bread, drink this cup,

Trust in Him and you will not thirst.


This is His body given for you; 

this is His blood that was shed for you. Refrain


As often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, 

you show His death until He comes again. Refrain


Eat His flesh and drink His blood, 

and Christ will raise you up on the Last Day. Refrain


Anyone who eats this bread

will live forever. Refrain


If we believe and eat this bread, 

we will have eternal life. Refrain


Blessing


Nunc Dimittis 

Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace

according to Thy word,

for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation,

which Thou hast prepared before

the face of all people,

a light to lighten the Gentiles    

and the glory of Thy people Israel.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son

and to the Holy Ghost;

as it was in the beginning,

is now, and ever shall be,

world without end. Amen.

 


Thanksgiving

P: O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good, 

C: and His mercy endureth forever. 

P: Let us pray. We give thanks to You, almighty God, that You have refreshed us through this salutary gift, and we implore You that of Your mercy You would strengthen us through the same in faith toward You and fervent love toward one another; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C: Amen. 


Salutation and Benedicamus

P: The Lord be with you.

C: And with thy spirit. 

P: Bless we the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God.

Benediction  

P: The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and + give you peace.

C: Amen, amen, amen. 


Closing Hymn – Alleluia, Alleluia! Hearts to Heaven (LSB 477)


Alleluia, alleluia!

Hearts to heav’n and voices raise:

Sing to God a hymn of gladness,

Sing to God a hymn of praise;

He who on the cross a victim

For the world’s salvation bled—

Jesus Christ, the King of Glory,

Now is risen from the dead.


Alleluia, Christ is risen!

Death at last has met defeat:

See the ancient pow’rs of evil

In confusion and retreat;

Once He died, and once was buried:

Now He lives forevermore,

Jesus Christ, the world’s Redeemer,

Whom we worship and adore.


Alleluia, alleluia!

Glory be to God on high:

Alleluia to the Savior 

Who has gained the victory;

Alleluia to the Spirit, 

Fount of love and sanctity!

Alleluia, alleluia

To the triune Majesty!


Postlude 


+ WORSHIP LEADERS +

Preacher/Celebrant/Liturgist – Pastor Scott

Organist/Pianist – Seth Carruthers

Lector – Steve Phelps

Communion – John Steele & Seminary Student

Sound/Video – Tony Petzoldt

Ushers – Mike Toney, Rodger Lubben, Ken Clark, Ron Froesel

Greeters – Terry & Jennifer Buchholz

Acknowledgments
Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.