3-8-26 Grace-Sahuarita Worship Folder

THE THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT

G E L C S , A M 8, 2026

WORSHIP NOTES

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

We are very pleased that you have joined us for worship today! We pray that this time will be a blessing for you as God comes to you with his Word and promises, and as you offer him your thanks and praise.

The worship service 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. Those wishing to leave an offering can do so at the 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.)

Today we are using elements from the Christian Worship hymnal. If you would like to worship from a hymnal today, you will find these blue worship books in the hymnal racks in each row; however, you do not need to use a hymnal if you so choose, as everything needed for worship is printed in this worship folder.

OUR WORSHIP SERIES EXACTLY WHAT I NEED

“I didn’t know I needed that” is a common expression of surprise and realization. It suggests that something, whether it’s a piece of information, a lesson learned, or a newfound understanding, has come to light and is now recognized as being essential or valuable, even if it wasn’t previously apparent.

Lent is the season of the Church Year when I recognize my greatest needs. During Lent, I realize that in Christ all my greatest needs are met. God knows what I need even when I don’t have any idea. The Holy Spirit makes it clear, week after week, that if I lack Christ, I have nothing. But if I have Christ, I have exactly what I need.

During this season, our worship is following this path:

February 22 First Sunday in Lent A Champion

March 1 Second Sunday in Lent Faith

March 8 Third Sunday in Lent Water

March 15 Fourth Sunday in Lent Sight

March 22 Fifth Sunday in Lent Life

OUR THEME FOR TODAY EXACTLY WHAT I NEED: WATER

I recognize my deep spiritual thirst. I long for a good relationship with God and for everlasting life. I am tempted to satisfy that deep thirst with worldly things, a strategy doomed to failure. I realize that my thirst is satisfied only by the one who said, “Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst.” Jesus meets my greatest need.

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.

The words of the invocation remind us that the God we meet and worship is the true and triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

OPENING SENTENCES

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

CONFESSION

Let us confess our sins to the Lord.

Holy God, gracious Father, I am sinful by nature and have sinned against you in my thoughts, words, and actions. I have not loved you with my whole heart; I have not loved others as I should. I deserve your punishment both now and forever. But Jesus, my Savior, paid for my sins with his innocent suffering and death. Trusting in him, I pray: God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Silence for meditation and reflection

Our gracious Father in heaven has been merciful to us. He sent his only Son, Jesus Christ, who gave his life as the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. Therefore, as a called servant of Christ and by his authority, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the (+) Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” James 5:16

HYMN RESPONSE Lord, to You I Make Confession

Christian Worship 653

Christ gave the authority to forgive the sins of penitent sinners to his church: “Whenever you forgive people’s sins, they are forgiven.” John 20:23

PRAYER OF THE DAY

The Lord be with you. And also with you.

Let us pray.

O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy, be gracious to all who have gone astray from your ways, and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of your Word; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen.

HYMN RESPONSE—Lord, to You I Make Confession

Please be seated

+ THE WORD +

FIRST READING

Exodus 17:1-7

1The entire Israelite community set out on their journey from the Wilderness of Sin as the L had commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. 2So the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses said to them, “Why are you quarreling with me? Why are you testing the L ?”

3But the people were thirsty for water there, so they grumbled against Moses. They said, “Why did you ever bring us up out of Egypt to let us, our children, and our livestock die of thirst?”

4Moses cried out to the L , “What shall I do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me!”

5The L said to Moses, “Go in front of the people, and take the elders of Israel with you. Also take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6Watch me. I will stand there in front of you on the rock in Horeb. You are to strike the rock. Water will come out of it, and the people will drink.” Moses did that in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7He named the place Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarreled, and because they tested the L by saying, “Is the L among us or not?”

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

In his grace, God gives undeserving people water from a stone.

God’s love is poured into my heart like living water.

SECOND READING

Romans 5:1-8

1Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2Through him we also have obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand. And we rejoice confidently on the basis of our hope for the glory of God.

3Not only this, but we also rejoice confidently in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces patient endurance, 4and patient endurance produces tested character, and tested character produces hope. 5And hope will not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, who was given to us.

6For at the appointed time, while we were still helpless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7It is rare indeed that someone will die for a righteous person. Perhaps someone might actually go so far as to die for a person who has been good to him. 8But God shows his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

John 4:13-14

Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I will give him will never be thirsty ever again.

We stand out of respect for the words of Christ, our King. The Gospel Acclamation points toward the words of the Gospel.

GOSPEL

John 4:5-26

5So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the piece of land Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6Jacob’s well was there. Then Jesus, being tired from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour.

7A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” 8(His disciples had gone into town to buy food.)

9The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)

10Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”

11“Sir,” she said, “you don’t even have a bucket, and the well is deep. So where do you get this living water? 12You are not greater than our father Jacob, are you? He gave us this well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his animals.”

13Jesus answered her, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14but whoever drinks the water I will give him will never be thirsty ever again. Rather, the water I will give him will become in him a spring of water, bubbling up to eternal life.”

15“Sir, give me this water,” the woman said to him, “so I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”

16Jesus told her, “Go, call your husband, and come back here.”

17“I have no husband,” the woman answered.

Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say, ‘I have no husband.’ 18In fact, you have had five husbands, and the man you have now is not your husband. What you have said is true.”

19“Sir,” the woman replied, “I see that you are a prophet. 20Our fathers worshipped on this mountain, but you Jews insist that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.”

Jesus calls a Samaritan woman to faith, providing living water for her thirsty soul.

This reading continues on the next page.

Matthew 6 and Luke 11 record how Jesus taught his disciples to pray. We use his example prayer as part of our public worship, trusting that he will hear and answer our prayers.

21Jesus said to her, “Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will not worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. 22You Samaritans worship what you do not know. We worship what we do know, because salvation is from the Jews. 23But a time is coming and now is here when the real worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for those are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks.

24God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”

25The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (the one called Christ). “When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”

26Jesus said to her, “I, the one speaking to you, am he.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise be to you, O Christ.

10:00—CHILDREN’S MESSAGE

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.

During the singing of this hymn, children ages 1-8 are excused to attend Children’s Church in the CLC Building. Parents can pick-up their children there following the service.

SERMON

Romans 5:1-8

Please stand

The Apostles’ Creed developed in the Early Christian Church as a personal confession of faith. It is so named because it confesses the faith taught by the Apostles of Jesus.

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.

Please be seated

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

Gracious Lord, according to your will and promise, you sent your Son into our world to atone for sin and restore eternal life. You planned his path to the cross, and he followed it perfectly. Your Spirit led him to endure the temptations of Satan, but he triumphed. Your own people rejected his message, but he persevered. He confronted the blindness of unbelief, the confusion of doubt, and the hurt of death but was not deterred as he proclaimed your kingdom to the least, the last, and the lost.

Guide us to follow Christ by faith as we walk the road of temptation and trial. Spare us from falling into Satan’s traps, and steel our resolve as his partners confront us. Teach us to use your Word as a weapon to fight against all devilish lies and deceptions. When we fall and we surely will lift us up again with your forgiveness and grace.

As we hear and contemplate the holy record of our Savior’s passion and death, use the sharp message of the law to empty us of pride and self-reliance. Humble us as we view the Savior in his humility, remembering and believing that he endured the cross so we might be freed from its horror. In his suffering show us our healing, in his grief show us our joy, and in his death show us our life.

Protect all who are bearing the cross of persecution and disdain. Supply your power to those fighting temptations and addictions. Watch over all who are sick and suffering in body, mind, and heart. We pray especially for children who are abused, forsaken, or ignored. Comfort all your troubled people with the sweet peace that only Jesus can bring.

Give wisdom and resolve to the leaders of our government that their rule may bring prosperity to our land and peace to our people. Supply insights to those who seek cures and invent devices to make our lives on earth better and safer. Inspire creative minds to touch our hearts in ways that reflect your creating love. You desire that we bask in the glory of your redemption; according to your will, may we also enjoy the wonders of your creation.

Hear our prayers, Lord, for the sake of Jesus, whose journey to the cross we remember during the days of Lent. Comfort and strengthen us by his life and death on our behalf, and thrill us as we look forward to celebrating his victory on Easter. Amen.

Brief intercessory prayers may be added in a fitting place.

The blessing of Aaron has been spoken over God’s people for over 3,500 years. The L said, “In this way they will put my name on [them], and I will bless them.” Numbers 6:27

Please stand

CLOSING PRAYER

Almighty God, we thank you for teaching us the things you want us to believe and do. Help us by your Holy Spirit to keep your Word in pure hearts that we may be strengthened in faith, guided in holiness, and comforted in life and in death, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen.

BLESSING

The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.

The Lord look on you with favor and (+) give you peace.

Amen.

CLOSING HYMN—Lord, Dismiss Us with Your Blessing Christian Worship 927

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Friendship Register

We are so thankful you have joined us today and would like to have a record of both members and guests who are worshiping with us. Please sign the red Friendship Register book located at the end of your row in the hymnal rack.

Children’s Church

Children ages 1-8 will be dismissed from our worship service today during the hymn before the sermon to attend Children’s Church. Parents, following worship, please pick your child up from the gymnasium in the CLC building.

Sunday Morning Bible Study

Our world today seems fascinated sometimes even obsessed with angels and demons. In this Bible study, we’ll turn from speculation and popular culture to God’s Word itself, exploring what Scripture truly teaches about both good and fallen angels. As we dig into the Bible, we’ll be reminded of God’s complete power over evil and his gracious use of heavenly angels for our good. Above all, this study offers comfort and confidence for every Christian, grounded in the promises of our mighty and loving Lord. Even if you have not made Sunday morning Bible study a part of your routine, you are welcome to study with us on Sunday mornings in the CLC gymnasium at 9:00 AM..

Sahuarita Adult Choir

Our Adult Choir has begun rehearsing on Sundays at 11:15 AM. Even if you haven’t sung with us before, you are welcome to join us! Child care will be provided for children 2 and older. If you have any questions, please talk to director Laura Heiman.

Divine Call Received

Pastor Kassulke was informed on February 22 that Christ Lutheran Church, two-site congregation in North St. Paul and Hugo, MN voted to extend to him a Divine Call to serve as their pastor. This means that he now holds two calls, one to Grace in Southern Arizona and one to Christ in North St. Paul & Hugo. He is working to make a decision whether to accept the new Call and move his ministry to Minnesota or to decline the Call and continue serving here. He will strive to make that decision with prayer and careful consideration where his particular gifts for ministry fit best.

Pastor Kassulke welcomes any input that the friends and members of Grace might wish to share with him. You can reach him by email at RevNPK@GraceLutheranSAZ.org or (520)260-4453. He also appreciates prayers offered on behalf of him and his family during this deliberation as well as for both congregations.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Midweek Lenten Services

Wednesday midweek services will be held at Grace-Benson, Grace-Sahuarita, and Grace-Tucson through March 25.

The theme of 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. The sermons and service themes are rotating among the various sites, so worshipers who attend more than one site could hear a sermon repeated.

Grace-Benson: 10 AM Lenten Worship Lunch to follow

Grace-Tucson: 10 AM & 7 PM Lenten Worship 6 PM Supper

Grace-Sahuarita: 4 PM & 6 PM Lenten Worship 5 PM Supper

Women’s Bible Study: Thursday at Grace-Tucson

All ladies are invited to join Pastor Koehler for study and discussion of the book More Prepared to Answer (yours to keep at no cost) by Pastor Mark Paustian from 9:00 to 10:00 AM on Thursdays in the Grace-Tucson Fellowship Hall. Each week is an individual topic so you are able to jump in and out week-to-week as your schedule allows. Upcoming topics include: Why go through the motions of prayer and worship? All the church cares about is money. No one believes in sin anymore. These discussions will help us understand things better and be prepared to help others understand God’s answers.

Mexican Dinner: Friday

This year’s all-site Mexican Dinner hosted by the Women of Grace is scheduled for Friday, March 13, from 4:30 to 6:30 PM in the Grace-Tucson Fellowship Hall. The meal will include sour cream enchilada casserole, tacos, and refried beans. Grace members are asked to bring a cake for dessert. We hope you can join us for this much-loved Grace tradition!

Men of Iron & Fire: March 20

A new men’s growth group and Bible study is being started by Keith Erbe (Vail Site Elder), Pastor Scheuerlein, and Jeff Weinstein! Their first gathering will be on Friday, March 20, at the Scheuerlein residence (12159 E. Becker Drive, Vail). They will start at 7:00 PM, but feel free to arrive anytime after 6:30. Dinner will be provided. Please RSVP to Jeff Weinstein at 520-909-7649 or vicepresident@gracelutheransaz.org so they can have enough food and materials for everyone. Men from ALL sites are welcome!

ANNOUNCEMENTS

ACSTO Donations for Grace Members

As you work on your income taxes, please consider making use of the Arizona Tuition Tax Credit Program. Many Grace families and students who attend our Lutheran Schools (Redeemer and Arizona Lutheran Academy) appreciate your support in this way. Our schools partner with the Arizona Christian School Tuition Organization (ACSTO) to participate in this program. Through the tax credit, you can use money that you would otherwise spend on taxes to support Lutheran education.

You can find more information and even make a donation online through the ACSTO website, ACSTO.org. Remember that this option is available to all those who have state tax liability in Arizona. It is especially helpful for our students if you choose the option to support Grace members ("Church Group: Grace Lutheran Southern AZ Members"), which guarantees that one or more of our member students will benefit from your donation. Grace member Jeff Weinstein (520-909-7649, JWeinstein@ACSTO.org) is also an employee of ACSTO. He is able to help answer questions you may have. Even if you have never made use of tuition tax credits before, we would be happy to help you figure it out!

LWMS Spring Rally: April 25

All ladies are invited to attend the LWMS Spring Rally on Saturday, April 25, beginning at 9:00 AM at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church here in Tucson. Registration is from 8:00 to 8:50 AM. Mission Counselor Tim Flunker who serves on the WELS Hispanic Outreach team will be presenting on his work and give updates on the mission work being done in Mexico and Southern Tucson. You may register online at grandcanyonlwms.org. Registration forms and information about Mission and Freewill offerings can be found in the church entryway.

Save the Date—CLC Charity Golf Tournament: April 27, 2026

Do you enjoy golf? Join us on Monday, April 27, for the 7th annual CLC Charity Golf Tournament! Beginning at 1:00 PM, golfers will participate in a 4-person scramble golf tournament at Desert Hills Private Golf Club in Green Valley. Our goal for this big event is to raise funds for the It Takes the Community Scholarship Fund to benefit our community families in need of child care. Go to ItTakestheCommunity.com to register for this event, either as a team ($450) or individual golfer ($125). If you know of any businesses that might be interested in sponsoring this event, please contact receptionist@gracelutheransaz.org.

Grow in Grace Class

Would you like to learn more about our Savior Jesus, about the Bible that tells us about him, and about what we believe and teach at Grace? Our congregation offers a series of Bible-based lessons called Grow in Grace. Grow in Grace also serves as our membership class for those who may be interested in joining the church. If you would be interested in scheduling a Grow in Grace Class, please speak to Pastor Heiman or register your interest at GraceLutheranSAZ.org/GIG.

SAHUARITA Today

This schedule is subject to change. Please watch your email for the most up-to-date information or call the Grace Central Office at (520)623-6633 if you have questions.

This Week at Grace Ÿ March 8 - March 15

Worship Services 7:45a & 10:00a

Adult Bible Study: Angels & Demons 9:00a

Children’s Sunday School...............................................9:00a

Fellowship following worship

Adult Choir Rehearsal 11:15a

Grow in Grace Class 11:30a

Circuit Meeting 9:00a

Lenten Worship Services 4:00p & 6:00p

Lenten Supper 5:00p

Thursday

CLC Board Meeting ........................................................9:00a

Sunday, March 15

Worship Services with communion 7:45a & 10:00a

Adult Bible Study: Angels & Demons..............................9:00a Children’s Sunday School 9:00a

Fellowship following worship

Adult Choir Rehearsal 11:15a

Grow in Grace Class.....................................................11:30a

BENSON

Worship Service with communion 7:30a

Adult Bible Study: Epistle of James 8:45a Fellowship following worship.................................................... Wednesday Lenten Worship Service & Lunch 10:00a

Sunday, March 15

Worship Service 7:30a

Adult Bible Study: Epistle 8:45a Fellowship following worship

Adult Bible Study (Tucson) .............................................9:00a Worship Services (Sahuarita & Tucson).......................10:00a Wednesday Lenten Service (Tucson) 7:00p

Sunday, March 15

Adult Bible Study (Tucson) 9:00a

Worship Services (Sahuarita & Tucson) 10:00a

TUCSON

Worship Services 10:00a NO Children’s Bible Hour (resumes March 15 NO Adult Bible Study (resumes March 15)

Grow in Grace Class (office conference room) 9:00a NO Lifeliners (High School) Bible Study (resumes March 15)

Fellowship following worship NO TCM Bible Study (resumes March 15) Tuesday Pastors’ Staff Meeting 9:00a Wednesday Lenten Worship Services 10:00a & 7:00p

Bible Study: More Prepared to Answer 9:00a

15

& 10:00a

Bible Hour......................................................8:45a

Bible Study: Idols We Never Knew We Had 9:00a

in Grace Class (office conference room) 9:00a

(High School) Bible Study: 1 Peter 9:00a

following worship...................................................

to the Children Spanish Service & Meal 4:00p TCM Bible Study 7:00p VAIL

following worship...................................................

Bible Study: Angels & Demons 11:15a

15 Vocal Group Rehearsal 9:15a

One Church. Four Locations.

Proclaiming the love of Jesus in Southern Arizona since 1911.

Grace-Tucson and Central Office

830 N. 1st Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85719 (520)623-6633 office@gracelutheransaz.org

Pastor Ronald G. Koehler III revrgk3@gracelutheransaz.org

Pastor Nathan P. Kassulke revnpk@gracelutheransaz.org

Administrative Assistant Debbie Koehler assistant@gracelutheransaz.org

Worship Coordinator Beth Kassulke music@gracelutheransaz.org

Grace-Sahuarita

75 W. Sahuarita Rd, Sahuarita, AZ 85629 (520)578-3538

Pastor Ryan A. Heiman revrah@gracelutheransaz.org

Child Learning Center (520)848-4630 receptionist@gracelutheransaz.org GraceLutheranSahuaritaCLC.com

Director—Laura Heiman director@gracelutheransaz.org

Grace-Benson and Grace-Vail

Benson

451 W. Duane St., Benson, AZ 85602

Vail

Worshipping at Esmond Station Elementary 9400 S. Atterbury Wash Way, Tucson, AZ 85747

Pastor Seth A. Scheuerlein revsas@gracelutheransaz.org

Office at Civano 10501 E. Seven Generations Way, Tucson, AZ 85747 (520)848-4631

Prayer Group—Laura Hodgson prayergroup@gracelutheransaz.org

Child Learning Center Mission Teachers

Caitlin Broehm, Toddlers cbroehm@gracelutheransaz.org

Vicki Smith, 3-Year Olds vsmith@gracelutheransaz.org

Theresa Pratt, Preschool tpratt@gracelutheransaz.org

Chris Leathers, After School Care cleathers@gracelutheransaz.org

Bible-Based Counselor—Cinda Drescher Office Assistant—Cora Stuhr cinda@gracelutheransaz.org office@gracelutheransaz.org (520)581-4714

Grace Lutheran Church is a member of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS), a group of nearly 400,000 men, women, and children in nearly 1,300 congregations across the United States and Canada united by a common faith in Christ's saving love. We are committed to a common calling encouraging each other in our faith and sharing God's gift of a Savior with the rest of the world.