March 8, 2026
Third Sunday in Lent
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Readings and Psalm
Exodus 17:1-7
Water from the rock in the wilderness
Psalm 95
Let us shout for joy to the rock of our salvation. (Ps. 95:1)
Romans 5:1-11
Reconciled to God by Christ’s death
John 4:5-30; 39-42
Baptismal image: the woman at the well
In today’s gospel the Samaritan woman asks Jesus for water, an image of our thirst for God. Jesus offers living water, a sign of God’s grace flowing from the waters of baptism. The early church used this gospel and those of the next two Sundays to deepen baptismal reflection during the final days of preparation before baptism at Easter. As we journey to the resurrection feast, Christ comes among us in word, bath, and meal—offering us the life-giving water of God’s mercy and forgiveness.
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Worship Support
Presiding Minister: Pastor Chris Repp
Assisting Minister: Kathy Bowersox
Reader: Bob Dorsey
Deacons: Kathy & Van Bowersox
Greeters: Joe Meyer & Erika Bilger & Family
Ushers: Doug & Karen Krusa
Livestreamer: Dave Brown
Sound Technician: Kevin Vail
Music Director: Nicholas Pierle
Organist: Mike Keeley
Coffee Hour: Marlys Scarbrough & Chet Alwes
Chancel Flowers: There are no flowers during the Lenten season.
For the upcoming Worship Support schedule, see the spreadsheet found here on Google Drive.
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REMINDER!
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The Daylight Savings Time Change is this Sunday, March 8, 2026, at 2:00am
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Lenten Soup Suppers 2026
As has been our tradition at Grace, the Parish Life Committee will host "Lenten Soup Suppers" beginning at 6pm in the narthex during Lent. The remaining dates are March 11, 18 and 25.
As in past years, we plan to offer crock pot soups and bread. There will be a sign-up sheet in the narthex. In recent years, two soup choices weekly have been adequate. Please consider helping by providing soup or bread, or by helping to set up or clean up on a date that works with your schedule.
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Midweek Lenten Services
Lenten Evening Prayer takes place on Wednesdays during Lent at 7:00 p.m. from February 25 through March 25. We will again use “Behold, Your Light Has Come” as our setting for the service this year.
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Lenten Service Project Information:
You are invited to be part of a
Welcoming Team during Lent!
St. Andrew’s Campus Center is now in their new building and has begun to carry out ministry in a brand new space. We offer them our congratulations!
Sunday evening meals:
To help welcome them into their new space, the Social Ministry Committee of Grace Lutheran has made a commitment this Lent to provide food for the St. Andrew’s Sunday evening fellowship meals.
A team leader from Grace will organize each meal and will be looking for others to assist.
There will be a variety of needs each week of both supplies and volunteer helpers.
Please look for the sign-up chart in the narthex at Grace Lutheran Church.
Also note, members of Grace are invited to join them for these fellowship meals which begin at 5:45 and then to attend worship with them at 7:00.
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Free Lenten Devotionals in the Narthex
Please choose a Devotional for Lent that suits you and/or your Family. They can be found in the narthex, and are free as a gift from Grace Lutheran. Past materials and new selections are available to choose from. May you have a blessed Lent.
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Adult Sunday School:
Reformation Roots
Sunday School returns to the Reformation Roots study that we began last year. This study gives us an overview of Reformation history and shows how it is still relevant to the life of the church today. Join us on the first three Sundays in March (March 1, 8, and 15) in the Hoffmeister Room at 11:00am.
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On The Way
On The Way resumes in Lent on Thursdays in the evening, beginning on February 26, and meeting through March 26.
On The Way is a faith-formation opportunity at Grace that connects new and prospective members with established members of our faith community. If you’re reading this, you’re a candidate for participating in On The Way!
Each 90-minute session begins with conversation on a topic of faith, continues with group reflection on a biblical text, and closes with communal prayer.
We’ll meet for On The Way in the chapel, from 7:00-8:30 p.m. On the second and fourth Thursdays of the month that timing overlaps with Game Night, but this is only temporary.
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Love Outpoured: Devotions for Lent 2026
This year’s ELCA Lenten Devotional focuses on Paul’s Letter to the Romans. Love Outpoured will be discussed on Sunday March 29 at 11:00 AM during the Adult Sunday School hour. We will meet in the Chapel (across the hall from the Hoffmeister Room).
In Romans, Paul lays out foundational beliefs of who Jesus is and what it means to live a life of faith in Jesus’ name. Although Paul’s words were written for an ancient Christian church in Rome, his words speak in profound ways to us living in this world in our day and within our context.
Even if you have not been using Love Outpoured as your Lenten devotional or do not ordinarily attend Grace Book Club or the Adult Ed class, we invite you to join us for what promises to be an insightful discussion.
Hope to see you then,
Eileen Herrstrom and Janet Lepp
P.S. Thanks to the generosity of Thrivent Financial, we still have a couple more copies of the book to share.
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Grace Lutheran Game Nights in 2026
Gather with friends and enjoy an evening together! Every 2nd & 4th Thursday of the month, from 6-8:00pm, a group meets for Games in the Narthex. The group gathers to enjoy each other's company and engage in card and board games. Mark your calendars! The next date for Game Night is Thursday, February 26th. If you are interested, please let Jim Fleming know. Come and join us, and feel free to bring along your favorite game!
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Grace Food Pantry Sunday
9:30am Worship - In Person & Live Stream (Sanctuary)
11:00am Adult Sunday School (Hoffmeister Room)
12:00pm Women's AA (Hoffmeister Room)
2:00pm East Central Illinois Youth Orchestra Reserved Space (Fellowship Hall, Chapel, Nursery, Narthex, Sanctuary, Choir Room)
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10:00am Food for Seniors (Fellowship Hall)
6:30pm Finance Committee Meeting (Hoffmeister Room)
7:00pm Bell Choir Rehearsal (Choir Loft)
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6:00am Food for Seniors (Fellowship Hall)
6:00pm Adult Children of Alcoholics and Dysfunctional Families (Chapel)
6:30pm Sweet Adelines (Fellowship Hall)
7:00pm Council (Hoffmeister Room & Zoom)
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6:00pm Lenten Soup Supper (Narthex)
7:00pm Lenten Midweek Service (Sanctuary)
7:30pm Choir Rehearsal (Choir Room)
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10:00am Food Pantry (Fellowship Hall)
6:00pm Game Night (Narthex)
7:00pm On the Way Bible Study (Chapel)
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Prayer Requests
We have two formal ways of praying for one another at Grace. One is in the Sunday morning worship service, where we pray for people by name in the Prayers of Intercession. They will also be listed in the emailed and printed versions of GraceNotes, but not in the web version. Please send prayer requests for the Sunday-morning prayers to office@glccu.org. You may also submit prayer requests on our website at https://glccu.org/prayer-requests/.
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Using GLC Facilities
Our facilities are available for use by members and by outside groups. If you would like to use any part of the facility, please fill out a Facilities Use Request, found on the web site, and contact Karen in the office to ensure that it is on the calendar, so that the space is ready for you and that you are aware of how to adjust the appropriate thermostat.
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