Grace Lutheran Church

Prayer for the Word of God: 

• O Lord, grant that I would never stand in the way of people receiving Jesus, His forgiveness, life, and salvation. Amen.

 May 2025 Calendar

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

Last Sunday’s Sermon, May 11: “The Voice” (John 10:22–30) Click Here

May 4: “News to the World” Revelation 5:1–14 Click Here
April 27: “Unless” John 20:22–30 Click Here
April 20: “No More Sting” 1 Corinthians 15:54b–57 Click Here
April 6: ‘Living Stones’ Luke 20:16-18 Click Here
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

May 18, 2025: "Truth That Takes Us In"

Lutheran Hour Speaker: Rev. Dr. Michael Zeigler

Back to the Altar:
Starting June 1st we will be returning to the rail for communion distribution. This practice was halted during the COVID-19 pandemic. More details to follow in being re-acquainted to this way of receiving Lord’s Supper.

Golden-Age: Tuesday, May 20, 2025 (Social Room)
Golden-Age programs focus on enriching and empowering Grace members of retirement age and beyond for service by God’s Word and the Holy Spirit.   
All are welcome at every meeting. 
11:00 AM: Devotional Presentation by Phyllis Kopen 
11:30 AM: Business Meeting (including reports of visits with shut-in members)
Noon: Potluck Lunch (both homemade and store-bought items welcomed)
1:00–2:00 PM: Presentation by Noel Isaacs of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind:
Blindness Etiquette, Accessibility/Inclusion, Assistive Technology

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.

Edmonton Circuit Ascension Day Service: May 29, 2025
The Ascension of Jesus gives comfort and hope to us, His Church, even in the midst of great change and difficulty.
Come join your Lutheran brothers and sisters together in God's word and Sacraments.
Address: Bethlehem Lutheran Church (4638 117 Ave), May 29^th at 7:00 PM

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