Tucson, Arizona
February 18, 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
Ash Wednesday begins the season of Lent. Ashes were used by God’s people to show repentance. The day derives its name from the practice of repentant people receiving ashes on their forehead. This practice goes back to at least the 8th century A.D.
PRESERVICE MUSIC—Variations on “Before You, God, the Judge of All”
WELCOME
OPENING HYMN—Before You, God, the Judge of All
Please stand
INVOCATION
Minister: In the name of the Father and of the Son (+) and of the Holy Spirit. Congregation: Amen.
Christian Worship 655
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.
Silence for reflection
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.
Almighty and merciful God, you never despise what you have made and always forgive those who turn to you. Create in us such new and contrite hearts that we may truly repent of our sins and obtain your full and gracious pardon; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. Please be seated
12 Yes, our rebellious deeds are many before you, and our sins testify against us. Our rebellious deeds are with us, and as for our guilty deeds, we are aware of them.
13 Those deeds are rebellion and treachery against the Lord. We turn back from following our God. We incite oppression and apostasy. We conceive and mutter deceitful words from our hearts.
14 Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands far away, for truth stumbles in the city square, and honesty cannot enter it.
15 The truth is missing, and anyone who turns from evil makes himself prey. The Lord looked and saw something evil there was no justice.
16 He saw that there was no one. He was appalled that there was no one who could intervene. So his own arm worked salvation for him, and his own righteousness supported him.
17 He clothed himself with righteousness like armor and wore a helmet of salvation on his head. He dressed in garments for vengeance, and he wrapped himself with zeal like a cloak.
18 He will repay in full what they have earned, namely, wrath to his foes and full payment to his enemies. He will repay even the distant coastlands.
19 From the west they will fear the Lord’s name, and from the rising of the sun they will fear his glory, for he will come like a raging river, driven by the Spirit of the Lord.
20 Then a redeemer will come for Zion and for those in Jacob who turn from rebellion. This is the declaration of the Lord.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
8For even if I caused you sorrow with my letter, I do not regret it (even though I did regret it, for I see that my letter caused you sorrow yet only for a little while). 9Now I rejoice, not because you were made to feel sorrow, but because this sorrow resulted in repentance. Yes, you were made sorry in a godly way. So you were not harmed in any way by us. 10In fact, godly sorrow produces repentance, which leads to salvation, leaving no regret. On the other hand, worldly sorrow produces death.
11Yes, look what godly sorrow produced in you: what diligence, what eagerness to clear yourself, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what zeal, what correction! In every way you proved yourselves to be pure in this matter. 12So although I wrote to you, it was not because of the one who did what was wrong, or because of the one who was harmed by it. I wrote instead so that your genuine concern for us would be revealed to you in the sight of God. 13For that reason we have been comforted.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
RESPONSIVE READING FROM PSALM 51
Be gracious to me, God, according to your mercy. Erase my acts of rebellion according to the greatness of your compassion.
Scrub me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin.
For I admit my rebellious acts. My sin is always in front of me.
Against you, you only, have I sinned, and I have done this evil in your eyes.
So you are justified when you sentence me. You are blameless when you judge.
Certainly, I was guilty when I was born. I was sinful when my mother conceived me.
Since you desire truth on the inside, in my hidden heart you teach me wisdom.
Remove my sin with hyssop, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness. Let the bones you have crushed celebrate.
Hide your face from my sins. Erase all my guilty deeds.
Create in me a pure heart, O God. Renew an unwavering spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence. Do not take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation. Sustain me with a willing spirit.
Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.
PSALM PRAYER
Lord, we confess our sins to you and plead for your mercy. We acknowledge that sin runs too deep in our nature for us ever to rid ourselves of it, but we thank you that Jesus has done what we could not do, washing us clean of every stain. We plead that your Spirit would give us the strength to live a new life; through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Please stand
1“Be careful that you do not do your righteous works in front of people, so that they will notice. If you do, you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. 2So whenever you perform acts of mercy, do not sound a trumpet for yourself, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets to be praised by people. Amen I tell you: They have received their reward. 3Instead, when you perform acts of mercy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. 4Then your acts of mercy will be in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
5“Whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites. They love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by people. Amen I tell you: They have received their reward. 6But whenever you pray, go into your private room, close your door, and pray to your Father who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what others cannot see, will reward you.
16“Whenever you fast, do not make yourself look sad like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces to show everyone that they are fasting. Amen I tell you: They have received their reward. 17But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18so that it is not apparent to people that you are fasting, but only to your Father who sees what is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
19“Do not store up treasures for yourselves on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20But store up treasures for yourselves in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21Because where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise be to you, O Christ!
Please be seated
1In the eighth month of the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berekiah, the son of Iddo.
2The Lord was very angry with your forefathers. 3Therefore, now you are to tell this people that this is what the Lord of Armies says to them.
Return to me, declares the Lord of Armies, and I will return to you, says the Lord of Armies. 4Do not be like your forefathers, to whom the earlier prophets proclaimed, “This is what the Lord of Armies says. Return, return from your evil ways and from your evil deeds.”
But our forefathers did not listen, nor did they pay attention to me, declares the Lord.
5Your forefathers where are they now? And those prophets did they go on living indefinitely? 6But my words and my statutes, which I commanded to my servants the prophets, caught up with our forefathers, didn’t they?
Then they returned and said, “Because of our ways and our deeds, the Lord of Armies has done to us just as he planned to do to us.”
CONFESSION OF FAITH
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Apostles’ 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.
7:00 PM: CHOIR ANTHEM—Lamb of God
These words are commonly known as the Agnus Dei. The Agnus Dei is often sung in worship services prior to the distribution of the Lord’s Supper. This anthem also includes words from Isaiah chapter 53.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world. Have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world. Have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world. Grant us peace, grant us peace.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world. With your stripes we are healed. The L has placed on you the iniquity of all. Have mercy. The chastisement of our peace was upon you. You were despised, a man of sorrow and acquainted with grief. You were despised and we esteemed you not. Grant us peace, Lord, grant us peace.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world. Have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world. Have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, O Lamb of God. Grant us peace, grant us peace.
COMMUNION MUSIC Variations on “Draw Near and Take the Body of the Lord”
Please stand
COMMUNION PRAYER
O God the Father, source of all goodness, in your loving kindness you sent your Son to share our humanity. We thank you that through him you have given us pardon and peace in this sacrament. We also pray that you will not forsake us but will rule our hearts and minds by your Holy Spirit so that we willingly serve you day after day, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, 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 With All My Heart I Praise You, Lord Christian Worship 658
POSTLUDE A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth
THOSE ASSISTING IN WORSHIP TODAY
Minister Pastor Nathan Kassulke
Communion Assistant ............................................................................................Pastor Ron Koehler
Accompanist Jim Bakken
Vocalist ............................................................................................................. Beth Kassulke (7:00 PM)
Choir Director ..................................................................................................Paul Kassulke (7:00 PM)
Ushers .......................... Jenn Miller, Gary Warner (10:00 AM); Ferdie Kramm, Chris Stuhr (7:00 PM)
Sound and Recording Technicians...................................................Jeremy Snavely, Danny Koehler
Communion Prep ......................................................... Audrey Nessinger, Molly Street, Lauri Colton
Acknowledgements: