Grace Lutheran Church

Prayer for the Word of God: O God, as people hear Your Word in their heart language, grant them saving faith in Jesus, knees that bow at His Name and tongues that confess Him as Lord. Amen!

In Our Prayers this week:

• Katherine Aitchison, Brian Brownlee, Ingrid Brunsch, Doreen Christensen, Mary Kay, David Kraatz, Sharon Kluthe, Dieter Krentz, Peter Lam, Jeanette Lietzau, Guenther Michallok, Elizabeth Nyaang, Ruth Porter, Rick Riemann, Allan Schole, Nyabey Ter, Elizabeth Tut, Mary Nyakoang Tut (Sarah Lam's mother), Trina Wildcat (recovering from surgery), Cheryl Will, and Rebecca Wongjok.
• Mamchak family (mourning the death of Wendy)
• The victims and their families that are suffering and grieving in the aftermath of the earthquake that struck Myanman and Thailand.
• Our nation – the forthcoming election during unsettling and uncertain times.

  April 2025 Calendar

Click on this link for all live streamed worship services:Grace Lutheran Livestream On YouTube 

Last Sunday’s Sermon, April 6: ‘Living Stones’ Luke 20:16-18 Click Here

Last Sunday’s Sermon–March 23: ‘Turn and Take This (and That)’  Ezekiel 33:10-11 Click Here

March 9 Sermon -  “Commanding His Angels Concerning You” (Psalm 91; Luke 4:10-11)Click here

February 23 Sermon -  “Coherence Over Chaos” (Genesis 45:3-15)
Pastor Neil  Click here

February 16 Sermon:  “In Fact” (I Corinthians 15:12-20)
Rev. Larry MacKay Click here

February 9 Sermon: "Fear and Courage" (Isaiah 6:1-8)
Rev. Neil SternFor a digital copy, click here. 

February 2 Sermon: "Brought Into the Light" (Luke 4:35, 39, 41)   
Rev. Neil Stern
For a digital copy, click here.
 
January 26 Sermon: "What's the Buzz?" (Luke 4:14-30)
Rev. Neil Stern
For a digital copy, click here. 

January 19 Sermon: "Behind the Scenes" (John 2:1-11)
Rev. Neil Stern
For a digital copy, click here.

January 12 Sermon: "Over the Waters (Psalm 29:3, 11; Luke 3:21-22)
Rev. Neil Stern
For a digital copy, click here.

Easter Breakfast Sunday, April 20^th
We will be holding an Easter breakfast following the 10:00 am service on Easter Sunday. A sign-up sheet is available for those who would like to contribute food or assist with preparations.Please sign to help host this time of Easter celebration & fellowship!

THE EASTER CROSS

For many years at Grace the old wooden cross that has stood in the chancel on Good Friday draped in black reappears on Easter Sunday covered now in fresh white carnations, mums,  and greenery to celebrate our Saviour’s resurrection.   For that to happen we need a small group of volunteers to do the decorating. The team will meet at the church on Saturday April 19th at 9:30 am.  If you are interested in helping please speak to Pastor Larry.

LWML March 15, 2025 Update
LWML meeting: Saturday, April 12th
Ladies, mark your calendars for the next LWML meeting:
We will consider the students of our congregation and bring their concerns to God in prayer.
Saturday April 12th we will meet in the Social Room at 10 a.m. 

Are you a student?
Please contact Maureen Tiedemann at mtiedemann@shaw.ca or 780-919-8409 to share your joys, goals, and prayer requests so the ladies of the congregation can lift you up in prayer.
Are you graduating from grade 9, grade 12 or from a college or university program?
Let us celebrate with you! 

Do you knit or crochet?
The Pregnancy Center is asking our ladies to make 10 Prayer Shawls which are needed by September 1st.  Check the photos on the bulletin board to see the size and suggested styles.Let Maureen know if you can make one.

Pastor Neil will be cooperating in a pulpit rotation during the midweek services of Lent with other pastors within the Edmonton Circuit.

 Lent 3 (March 26) ~ Pastor Neil

• Lent 4 (April 2) ~ Pastor Mark Hennig (Concordia)
• Lent 5 (April 9) ~ Pastor Sam Thompson (Redeemer)

 Please Note: All midweek Lenten services will be livestreamed. 

Centenary Contemplations #22– 1986  by Laura.

The agenda for the January 1986 Voters’ meeting held a significant resolution for Grace voters—the intent to seek membership in the autonomous Lutheran Church-Canada at its proposed constituting convention in 1987.  In the 1970s, Lutherans in Canada had explored the possibility of bringing together their three church bodies—the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Canada (ELCC), the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LC-MS), and the Lutheran Church of America-Canada Section (LCA-CS).  Irreconcilable differences led to the LC-MS withdrawing from the merger process in 1978; the ELCC and LCA-CS continued the process and merged on January 1, 1986 to become the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC), the first independent Canadian Lutheran church body.  Canadian Lutherans of LC-MS pursued their own course and the proposed establishment of Lutheran Church-Canada was the result.  The parent church conducted its last stewardship endeavour in Canada, called “Alive in Christ”, beginning in April, 1986.  After this point, all stewardship drives would focus on Canadian institutions, from national to local levels.

 While working toward becoming part of the new Canadian Lutheran entity, Grace also continued to pursue its mission and ministry, taking time to celebrate some significant milestones.  On June 8, a “Family Festival Service” was celebrated, followed by a tea which honoured Pastor Carl and Joyce Wolski’s 25^th wedding anniversary.  One week later, the congregation celebrated 35 years of membership in the Lutheran Laymen’s League (LLL), as well as the tenth anniversary of Pastor Larry’s ordination.  

The summer of 1986 marked the end of an era when the last summer church camp was held at Lake Isle.  Great memories would be part of the conversations of past participants, and numerous photo albums would be prepared by Elsie Schaefer, Martha Feculak and others to detail the fun and fellowship.  As one door closed, however, another opened; fall programming saw the formation of the Grace Young Adults Group, which brought together young people in the 18-30-ish age group.  This group inaugurated their association with an Oktoberfest Surprise Supper on October 19.  The Young Adults were enthusiastic contributors to congregational life, offering evangelism events, musical service and educational activities. They would be an active part of the Grace family for several years.

Another tradition was begun in December.  For some time, the pastors, office staff and volunteers had made a practice of serving dinners to the Golden Age group after some of their meetings.  In 1986, the Board of Parish Fellowship established the annual Christmas banquet to honour Grace members aged 60 and above.  It became a beloved tradition of delicious food and warm camaraderie. As in previous times, Grace closed the year in gratitude for the many blessings of the year gone by and keen anticipation of the fresh developments of the year to come. 

Sources:  Bentsen, Barbara:  Grace Upon Grace:  The Continuing Story of God’s Blessings at Work in Grace Lutheran Church.  Swarm Enterprises, 1999; https://canadianlutheranhistory.ca/ecumenism; https://canadianlutheranhistory.ca/inter-lutheran-merger