Grace Lutheran Church Monthly News

March and April 2020

 Please remember to fill out the communion cards so that your attendance can be recorded!

 SERVICES SUSPENDED

     LETTER FROM PASTOR ROD PARKER: 

• March 19, 2020   My dear Christian Friends, 

  Days are upon that I had hoped not to see in my lifetime or in my ministry.

  Given the rapidly evolving situation with Covid-19, we are suspending all services at Grace Lutheran Church for at least two Sundays.

  This includes the Lenten service scheduled for April 1st.

  This decision was not made lightly, but I and council feel it is for the best.

  Let us pray that our time apart will be short, and that God's mercy would preserve us all.

  In the meantime please join our Facebook group where I will be live streaming prayers, and an abbreviated service on Sunday morning.

  The link is: https://www.facebook.com/groups/509934142353756/

   

  Your brother in Christ,

  Pastor Rod Parker

• March 18, 2020   Greeting in the Name of Our Lord, Jesus Christ. 

• As we have entered a time of great uncertainty in our country I want to let you know as much as I can.

   

  At our council meeting March 16th it was decided that Sunday morning 10:00 am services will continue until further notice.

  However, the following changes will be made:

  - The bulletins can be picked up as you enter the sanctuary instead of being handed to you.

  - The offering plates will be placed at the back and you can place your offering in them as you enter or exit the sanctuary

  - We ask that you practice social distancing when sitting the pews on Sunday morning

  - We have suspended the use of the common cup for the time being

  - We will send fewer people to the rail during Holy Communion so that everyone has adequate space between them.

   

  I am available for prayers and counselling by phone by request via email or from 10:00am - 5:00pm Mon- Thursday. Emergencies can call at any time, including weekends.

  The phone numbers are 306-934-1011 and 306-649-2212. Please note these are both landlines so texting will not work.

   

  I encourage you to join our Facebook group as I am hoping to livestream prayers around 9am Mon -Wed and around 1:30 Thursday afternoon.

  The link to the group is here https://www.facebook.com/groups/509934142353756/

   

  So far St. John's, Warman is hosting the midweek Lenten service March 18 at 7:30 pm. They will be recording the service and posting it to their Facebook page.  People are welcome to attend if they choose but should follow government guidelines and stay home if they are higher risk.  We feel that recording the service will still allow the opportunity to worship.  We will follow the service protocols recommended above.

•  All following MIDWEEK Services are cancelled, including Maundy Thursday.

   

  The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus unto life everlasting. Amen.

   

  In Christ,

  Pastor Rod

•  Sunday morning Bible Study have concluded for now. 
• If you've missed a sermon would like to catch up please visit Worship Services tab.

   

• Search YouTube for the following Confessional Lutheran channels: Fighting for the Faith, Bryan Wolfmueller, and RevFiskJ!

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• Parables has moved to 603-51st Street.

• Lutheran Bible Translators Canada new address is

          275 Lawrence Ave., Kitchener ON  N2M 1Y3 

• Registration is open for the Lutheran Early Learning Center Preschool  which is held at Grace Tuesdays and Thursdays.  For more information email Karen at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  

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• The Spiritual Care offices at RUH and City are now closed. If you need pastoral care while you are in the hospital please call the office or 306-649-2212 outside of office hours. Also, to assist Pastor Rod when you call please let him know which hospital you are in and your room number, and whether you desire a visit, and/or prayer. 
• Secret Prayer Partner group.  Please contact Grace's church office if you would like to be a part of this group.
• It is time to update our email roll call again. Please provide Donna with your most current email address and your permission to use it to contact you for special events such as Christmas, Easter and other special services or events.
• This year is Pastor Rod's Attendance Challenge Year: the goal is to attend one more Sunday each month than the month previous! Prayerfully look at your attendance and challenge yourself this year!
• This week's Evangelism Tip is prayer for yourself and others: Pray for opportunities to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ, perseverance in sharing, and pray for receptive hearers.
  
  
•  If you would like to have lunch and/or coffee with Pastor Rod please sign up for days Monday - Thursday! If you would like to have lunch with Pastor Rod and Tammy, please sign up for Sunday! We look forward to sitting down and sharing a meal with you.
  
  
• Volunteers Needed!! Volunteers are needed for the tasks on our regular Sunday services. Readers, Greeters, Communion Assistants, and Ushers. Please see Terry Wirth. 
• Suggested reading and podcasts for the summer:

• Pastor Rod’s Recommended Book List

  Looking for something to read over the Christmas break? Here are a few recommendations!

   

• Praise & Honor: Hymn – Inspired Devotions by Timothy Shoup

   

• A Martyr’s Faith in a Faithless World by Bryan Wolfmueller

   

• Has American Christianity Failed? by Bryan Wolfmueller

   

• Why Am I Joyfully Lutheran? by Matthew Harrison

   

• Thank, Praise, Serve & Obey: Recover the Joys of Piety by William Weedon

   

• Afraid: Demon Possession and Spiritual Warfare in America by Robert H. Bennett

   

• I am not Afraid: Demon Possession and Spiritual Warfare by Robert H. Bennett

   

• Crucifying Religion: How Jesus is the End of Religion by Donovan Riley

   

• Broken: 7 “Christian” Rules that Every Christian Should Break as Often as Possible by Jonathon Fisk

   

• Will the Real Jesus Please Stand Up? 12 False Christs by Matthew Richard

   

• He Remembers the Barren by Katie Schuermann

   

• Mission at Nuremburg: An American Army Chaplain at the Trial of the Nazis by Tim Townsend

   

• Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Faith in Community by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

   

• The Hammer of God by Bo Giertz

   

• Pontius Pilate: A Novel by Paul L. Maier

   

• The Rage Against God by Peter Hitchens

   

• The Lutheran Difference edited by Edward A. Engelbrecht

   

• Heaven on Earth: The Gifts of Christ in the Divine Service by Arthur A. Just Jr.

   

• Reading the Psalms with Luther

   

• The Proper Distinction Between Law and Gospel by Dr. C.F.W. Walther

   

• The Language of God: A Scientist Present Evidence for Belief by Francis S. Collins

• The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
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• Suggested podcasts:
•   http://issuesetc.org/archive/     has everything from Sunday School lessons to discussions on science, politics, and movie reviews
• www.tabletalkradio.org       A semi-informal podcast that features 2 Lutheran pastors talking about a wide variety of topics.  
•  http://lutheranpublicradio.org/        Sacred music for all times and seasons.  This one is part of the Issues, Etc app that you can download and enjoy.