March 9, 2025
First Sunday in Lent
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Readings and Psalm
Deuteronomy 26:1-11
The Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand
Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16
God will give the angels charge over you, to guard you in all your ways. (Ps. 91:11)
Romans 10:8b-13
If you confess that Jesus is Lord, you will be saved
Luke 4:1-13
The temptation of Jesus in the wilderness for forty days
These forty days called Lent are like no other. It is our opportune time to return to the God who rescues, to receive the gifts of God’s grace, to believe with the heart and confess with the mouth the wonder of God’s love in Jesus, and to resist temptation at every turn. This is no small pilgrimage on which we have just embarked. It is a struggle Jesus knew. It is a struggle Jesus shares. The nearness of the Lord, in bread and wine, water and word, will uphold and sustain us.
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Worship Support
Presiding Minister: Pastor Chris Repp
Assisting Minister: Marlys Scarbrough
Reader: Rodney Marshall
Deacon: Susan Monte
Ushers: Bev Kieffer and Mary Jo Erickson
Greeters: Dave & Carol Larson
Livestreamer: Kevin Vail
Sound: Kevin Vail
Music Director: Nicholas Pierle
Organist: Dana Robinson
Coffee Hour: Mary Jo Erickson and Gail Hug
Chancel Flowers: Flowers are not provided by Grace Members during the Lenten season.
For the upcoming Worship Support schedule, see the spreadsheet found here on Google Drive.
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KV is seventy!
Please drop by the church anytime from 5:00-8:00 on March 29 to celebrate Kevin Vail's 70th birthday. (no gifts please. Your love and support is a gift beyond measure)
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Lenten Soup Suppers
As has been our tradition at Grace, the Parish Life Committee will host "Lenten Soup Suppers" beginning at 6:00PM in the narthex on March 12, 19, 26, April 2 and 9. 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 March 12 through April 9. We will again use “Behold, Your Light Has Come” as our setting for the service this year.
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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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40 Days of Fasting -
40 Years of Grace Food Pantry
Lent is traditionally a time of fasting. The Grace Social Minstry Committee wishes to honor and support the Food Pantry's 40 years of giving to Champaign County residents with our Lenten Project.
We all have felt the increase in grocery bills and the Pantry is no exception. Fresh fruits and vegetables are necessary for a healthy diet, yet often are too expensive for those on limited budgets.
Social Ministry would like our Lenten Fast to supplement the Food Pantry with six weeks of healthy donations.
Please consult the chart below for food items and dates.
March 9 - Apples - 3 lb bag
March 16 - Cabbage - 2 heads
March 23 - Potatoes - 5 lb bag
March 30 - Oranges - 3 lb bag
April 6 - Carrots - 1 lb bag
April 13 - Onions - 3 lb bag
A container will be in the Narthex for your donations.
Questions: Tina Fehrenbacher and Helen Repp
Thank you.
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GOD'S GIFTS; OUR HANDS
Meals on Wheels Help Needed!
Volunteers are needed for the week of Monday, March 24th through Friday, March 28th. Two people are needed for each of the days this week from 10:30 am to 12:30 am., one can sign-up as a driver and the other as a runner. Sign-up with a friend or family member and enjoy your time connecting with others. This is a great way to reach out to others in our community. The sign-up sheet will be on the table in the narthex.
Thank you for your help and support of this ministry.
Leanne Wichus, Social Ministry
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Adult Sunday School
From March 6 – April 6, the first five Sundays in Lent, Pastor Janet Lepp and Pastor Chris Repp will lead a 5-week study entitled “Making Sense of the Cross,” written and presented by Dr. David Lose, retired seminary professor and president. Pastor Janet Lepp has 10 copies of the participant book available at a reduced price, it can also be found at this link on Augsburg Fortress. It contains a series of dialogs that explore the meaning of Jesus’ crucifixion and how it is good news for us. Although not absolutely necessary for participation in the class, it should help your immersion in the topic.
Join us at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings (after the service) in the Hoffmeister Room!
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Brown Bag Bible Study
Our bi-weekly lunchtime Bible study has resumed. It is held on Thursdays, at 12:30 p.m. in the narthex on the dates below. We are studying the book of Romans.
Future dates are:
March 20; April 3; May 1 & 15 (and 29 if we need it to finish the book.) Join us!
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From Monday, March 3 to Tuesday, April 1, support your team’s campus ministry and help them earn points! Check back every Monday to see the standings! 100% of your donation will go to the Lutheran Campus Ministry site you choose to support!
Week 1 (March 3-9): $100 Gift Week
- Extra point for each gift over $100
Week 2 (March 10-16): New Donors Week
- Double points for all first-time donors (2 points instead of 1)
- Double points for all peer to peer referrals (6 points instead of 3)
Week 3 (March 17-23): Rivalry Week
- Ministries will be paired based on:
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o Traditional college sports rivalries and/or
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o Geographical proximity
Week 4 (March 24-30): Beat Your Average Week
- One bonus point awarded for every $10 above your weekly average
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Games and Fellowship Evening
There is a new opportunity to gather with friends and enjoy an evening together! Every 2nd & 4th Thursday of the month, from 6-8:00pm, a group will meet for Games and Fellowship in the Narthex. The group will gather to enjoy each other's company and engage in card and board games. The dates for this month are March 13th & 27th. If you are interested, please add your name to the sheet in the Narthex or let Jim Fleming know. Come and join us, and feel free to bring along your favorite game!
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Stitch & Craft
The Stitch and Craft meeting date in March will be Friday, March 14th at 7 p.m. in the narthex.
Start 2025 off right by starting a new project. We can help each other to make the best articles, mittens, scarves, hats, chemo hats, blankets, or anything you choose.
Sometimes a S&C meeting may be cancelled due to weather, conflicting dates, or a lack of members attending. In those cases an email will be sent out to those who have sent an RSVP email earlier. Also please send an email to Carol Larson if you are new to S&C to make sure there will be a meeting.
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10:00am Funeral of Roger Peterson, Private (Sanctuary, Narthex & Fellowship Hall) | | |
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Reserved for Daniel Brown Filming Event (Hoffmeister Room & Main Hallway - quite is needed throughout the building for the taping) | |
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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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Pastor's Discretionary Fund
The Pastor's Discretionary Fund allows the church to offer financial assistance to people in our community. The office receives requests for help with rent, utilities, and other needs, and your donations make this important work possible! To donate to this fund, you can give online at https://glccu.org/donate/ or by mailing a check to the church office with "Pastor's Discretionary Fund" in the memo line.
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