Issuu

Tucson, Arizona

April 2, 2026

Welcome to Grace!

Our mission at Grace is to teach the inspired and inerrant Word of God, to proclaim that Jesus Christ is the cruciﬁed and risen Savior of the world, and to nurture believers for lives of Christian service.

Check out the GRACE WEBSITE at GraceLutheranSAZ.org

SEASON OF LENT

The Lenten Season is observed during the six weeks prior to Easter. The traditional goal of Lent is to prepare believers for a proper celebration of the events of Holy Week, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The purple color of the altar paraments and vestments reminds us that Lent is also a season of repentance. The Bible tells us that repentance is always the divine work of the Holy Spirit through the Law and the Gospel. The Law cruciﬁes the old Adam, the sinful nature within us, and the Gospel raises up the new man, the new creation in us. For us, the Lenten focus on the cross and suﬀering of Jesus is not aimed at an emotional response. It is a pointed proclamation and confession of the Law and the Gospel, a preaching of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Lent is properly a season of repentance when it brings the cross to sinners and sinners to the cross of Christ as the fountain and source of forgiveness, life, and salvation.

This Lenten season, the theme for our midweek services is “It Is Finished.” This series explores the prophecies of Zechariah, oﬀering an enriching look at our Savior Jesus, particularly as these prophecies relate to the events of Jesus’ Holy Week passion, death, and resurrection.

WORSHIP NOTES

The order of worship we will follow is printed in this worship folder for you to follow along and participate. You’ll notice that the service is a dialogue between God and us, his people. The pastor speaks to God along with the congregation and also speaks the Word of God to the people. The hymns we are using come from the blue Christian Worship hymnal, which is found in the hymnal racks in each pew. LARGE PRINT worship folders are available for those who desire one.

Those wishing to leave an oﬀering can do so at either exit today or give online at GraceLutheranSAZ.org/give. (You can also scan the QR code to the right to access the online giving page.)

Holy Communion will be oﬀered in our services today. Gluten-free communion wafers are available at the stand at the front rail and can be picked up as you come forward to commune.

We would greatly appreciate a record of your attendance in our worship today. Please take a moment to sign the Friendship Register located in the red folder at the end of each row. Thank you!

PARKING

There is no cost to park in our parking lot during worship services. If you receive a citation by mistake, please let our oﬃce staﬀ know so it can be cleared

Grace Central Oﬃce: Email oﬃce@gracelutheransaz.org. Phone (520)623-6633

ORDER OF WORSHIP

WELCOME

OPENING HYMN Come to Calvary’s Holy Mountain Christian Worship 394

Please stand

INVOCATION

Minister: In the name of the Father and of the Son (+) and of the Holy Spirit. Congregation: Amen.

PRAYER

Let us pray.

Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires are known, and from whom no secrets are hidden: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by your Holy Spirit, that we may love you and praise your holy name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION

Our help is in the name of the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 124:8

Let us confess our sins to God and ask for his forgiveness: Almighty God, merciful Father, I confess to you that I have not loved you with all my heart. In what I have done and left undone, I have pursued my ways instead of your ways. I have not loved others as you command. For this I deserve your punishment now and forever. I am sorry for my sins. I repent of them. I beg for your mercy.

Forgive us for the sake of Jesus Christ, who suﬀered and died for us. Cleanse me from my sins. Release me from my guilt. Grant me your Holy Spirit to amend my sinful life.

Jesus says to his people, “If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven.” Do you believe this? Yes, I believe. John 20:23

God, who is rich in mercy, loved us even when we were dead in sin and made us alive together with Christ. By grace you have been saved. Ephesians 2:4-5

In the name of (+) Jesus Christ, I forgive you all your sins.

Amen.

EXHORTATION

Our Lord Jesus Christ has forgiven us, has reconciled us to God, and has promised us the power to forgive and love one another. Relying on his promise, therefore, be reconciled with one another. Brothers and sisters, may the peace of Christ rule in our hearts, in our words, and in our actions.

PRAYER

Let us pray.

God, our Father, by the sacriﬁce of your Son you reconciled the world to yourself. We thank you for the precious gift of forgiveness. Refresh us with the joy of our salvation, that we may walk in the way of peace with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Renew our minds and wills, that daily we may speak your word of peace; through Jesus Christ our Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen.

Please be seated

1Then the Lord said to Moses, “Come up to the Lord, you and Aaron, along with Nadab and Abihu and seventy of the elders of Israel, and worship me from a distance. 2Only Moses is allowed to come near the Lord, but the others are not to come near, and the people are not to go up with him.”

3Moses came and reported to the people all the words of the Lord and all the ordinances. Then all the people answered with one voice and said, “All the words which the Lord has spoken we will do.” 4Moses wrote down all the words of the Lord. He got up early in the morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain. He set up twelve memorial stones for the twelve tribes of Israel. 5He sent young Israelite men, who offered whole burnt offerings and sacrificed fellowship offerings of cattle to the Lord.

6Moses took half of the blood and put it in bowls, and he splashed half of the blood on the altar. 7He took the Book of the Covenant and read it out loud to the people and they said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do. We will obey.”

8Moses took the blood and splashed it on the people. He said, “Look, here is the blood of the covenant, which the Lord made with you by means of all these words.”

9Then Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up. 10They saw the God of Israel. Under his feet they saw what looked like a pavement of sapphire as clear as the sky. 11The Lord did not lay his hand on the dignitaries of the people of Israel. They gazed at God, and they ate and drank.

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

RESPONSIVE READING FROM PSALM 116

I love the L , because he hears my voice. He hears my cry for mercy.

Because he turned his ear to me, I will call to him all my days.

Indeed, you have delivered my soul from death, my eye from weeping, my foot from stumbling,

so that I may walk before the L in the land of the living.

How can I repay the L for all his beneﬁts to me?

I will lift up the cup of salvation, and I will call on the name of the L .

PSALM PRAYER

Lord Jesus, as I face death, turn my thoughts to your body, broken for me, and your blood, spilled for me. Let me rise as you have risen from the dead, to walk with you forever in the land of the living. I call on your name, for you have promised to be with me. Amen.

23For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night when he was betrayed, took bread, 24and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25In the same way, after the meal, he also took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new testament in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

27Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the Lord’s body and blood. 28Instead, let a person examine himself and after doing so, let him eat of the bread and drink from the cup.

The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

7:00 PM: CHOIR ANTHEM What Is This Bread Worship Choir

What is this bread? Christ’s body risen from the dead: this bread we break, this life we take, was crushed to pay for our release. O taste and see the Lord is peace.

What is this wine? The blood of Jesus shed for mine; the cup of grace brings his embrace of life and love until I sing! O taste and see the Lord is King.

So who am I, that I should live and he should die under the rod? My God, my God, why have you not forsaken me? O taste and see the Lord is free.

Yet is God here? Oh, yes! By Word and promise clear, in mouth and soul he makes us whole Christ, truly present in this meal. O taste and see the Lord is real.

Is this for me? I am forgiven and set free! I do believe that I receive his very body and his blood. O taste and see the Lord is good.

Please stand

1Before the Passover Festival, Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved those who were his own in the world, he loved them to the end.

2By the time the supper took place, the Devil had already put the idea into the heart of Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus.

3Jesus knew that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God. 4He got up from the supper and laid aside his outer garment. He took a towel and tied it around his waist. 5Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

6He came to Simon Peter, who asked him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

7Jesus answered him, “You do not understand what I am doing now, but later you will understand.”

8Peter told him, “You will never, ever, wash my feet!” Jesus replied, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with me.”

9“Lord, not just my feet,” Simon Peter replied, “but also my hands and my head!”

10Jesus told him, “A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet, but his body is completely clean. And you are clean, but not all of you.” 11Indeed, he knew who was going to betray him. That is why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

12After Jesus had washed their feet and put on his outer garment, he reclined at the table again. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13“You call me Teacher and Lord. You are right, because I am. 14Now if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15Yes, I have given you an example so that you also would do just as I have done for you.

34“A new commandment I give you: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, so also you are to love one another.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise be to you, O Christ!

Please be seated

1On that day a fountain will be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness.

2In that day, declares the Lord of Armies, I will cut oﬀ the names of the idols from the land, and they will no longer be remembered. I will also remove the prophets and the impure spirit from the land. 3If anyone still prophesies, his father and his mother who gave birth to him will tell him, “You shall not live, because you have spoken lies in the name of the Lord!” Then his father and his mother who gave birth to him will stab him when he prophesies.

CONFESSION OF FAITH

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one being with the Father. Through him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation, he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became truly human.

For our sake he was cruciﬁed under Pontius Pilate.

He suﬀered death and was buried.

On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who in unity with the Father and the Son is worshiped and gloriﬁed, who has spoken through the prophets.

We believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church.

We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

We look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Nicene Creed

THE

LORD'S SUPPER

Today we celebrate the Lord's Supper. Jesus urges all who receive it to do so in a worthy manner in order to receive the blessings he promises. He also gives warning that no one receive it to their judgment. If you are a guest at Grace today and not a member of another Wisconsin Synod congregation, we would ask that you speak with one of the pastors about a time to discuss what exactly God says about Holy Communion before you come to the Lord's table. We look forward to that opportunity!

WORDS OF INSTITUTION

Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night he was betrayed, took bread; and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my (+) body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

Then he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; this is my (+) blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

The peace of the Lord be with you always.

Amen.

DISTRIBUTION

PRAYER BEFORE COMMUNING (for silent meditation)

Lord Jesus, you have invited me to come and receive your holy Sacrament. I believe that in the bread and wine you give me your true body and blood to eat and drink. Forgive my sins and nourish my faith through this precious meal. I long for the comfort that comes with your promises; I yearn for the assurance of your faithful love. Bless me now as I receive you by faith. Amen.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNING (for silent meditation)

Thank you, dear Savior, for nourishing my faith with the Sacrament of your body and blood. Lift my heart with your forgiveness, renew my conﬁdence in your grace, empower my love for others, and lead me to long for the eternal banquet of heaven. Amen.

Please stand

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Lord Jesus Christ, in the Sacrament of Holy Communion, you give us your true body and blood as a remembrance of your suﬀering and death on a cross. Grant us so ﬁrmly to believe your words and promise that we may always partake of this sacrament to our eternal good; for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever, Amen.

LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.

PRAYER FOR PEACE

Lord God, all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works come from you. Give to us, your servants, that peace which the world cannot give, that our hearts may be set to obey your commandments. Defend us also from the fear of our enemies, that we may live in peace and quietness; through the merits of Jesus Christ our Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen.

BLESSING

Go in peace. Christ Jesus has set you free. Thanks be to God. Please be seated

CLOSING HYMN Lord Jesus Christ, You Have Prepared Christian Worship 667 stanzas 5-8

THOSE ASSISTING IN WORSHIP TODAY

Minister ..............................................................................................................Pastor Nathan Kassulke

Communion Assistant ............................................................................................Pastor Ron Koehler

Accompanist ......................................................................................................................Beth Kassulke

Vocalist ............................................................................................................. Jeﬀ Weinstein (7:00 PM)

Choir Director ..................................................................................................Paul Kassulke (7:00 PM)

Choir Accompanist..............................................................................................Jim Bakken (7:00 PM)

Cello ................................................................................................................... Joshua Vierra (7:00 PM)

Ushers .......................Rick Street, Gary Warner (10:00 AM); Sam Kassulke, Ferdie Kramm (7:00 PM)

Sound and Recording Technicians...................................................Jeremy Snavely, Danny Koehler

Communion Prep .................................................Sally Littau, Cynthia Breitkreitz, Margie Lowrance

Acknowledgements:

Holy Week Schedule

Good Friday Worship Friday, April 3

6:00 PM at Grace-Vail 6:00 PM at Grace-Sahuarita

Tenebrae Service (Service of Darkness)

7:00 PM at Grace-Tucson

Worshipers are asked to leave this church service in silence, leaving in stillness and darkness until the dawn of a glorious Easter Day. Please visit with friends and family prior to entering church for worship.

Easter Sunday Sunday, April 5

Grace-Benson Worship 7:30 AM Breakfast 8:45 AM

Grace-Sahuarita Worship 7:45 & 10:00 AM Breakfast 9:00 AM

Grace-Tucson Sunrise Service 7:00 AM Breakfast 8:00 AM Concert 9:00 AM Festival Service 10:00 AM

Grace-Vail Worship 10:00 AM Brunch—11:00 AM