Grace Lutheran Church Lamar

04/17/2022

A very special 100th birthday celebration after church today for Cora Schwanz!

04/17/2022

Join us Sunday at 11am for our Holy Easter service.

03/05/2022

7pm Wednesday, March 9, 2022. Please join us as we continue our journey through The Lenten season.

03/02/2022

7pm Wednesday, March 2, 2022. Please join us as we begin our journey through The Lenten season.

01/02/2022

Happy New Year! Church service for Sunday, January 2, 2022 is cancelled due to inclement weather. We look forward to seeing you January 9, 2022. Be safe and be well.

04/03/2021

Our Tenebrae service held a powerful message to a multitude. A Blessed Easter awaits us all.

04/01/2021

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+Service of the Word+
Maundy Thursday
April 1, 2021

Introit Psalm 116:1–4; antiphon: v. 5
Gracious is the LORD, and | righteous;*
our God is | merciful.
I love the LORD, because | he has heard*
my voice and my pleas for | mercy.
Because he inclined his | ear to me,*
therefore I will call on him as long | as I live.
The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid | hold on me;*
I suffered distress and | anguish.
Then I called on the name | of the LORD:*
“O LORD, I pray, deliv- | er my soul!”
Gracious is the LORD, and | righteous;*
our God is | merciful.

Gradual Hebrews 9:12a, c, 15a; Psalm 111:9a
[Christ] entered once for all into the holy places, by means of | his own blood,*
thus securing an eternal re- | demption.
Therefore he is the mediator of a new | covenant,*
so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal in- | heritance.
He sent redemption to his | people;*
he has commanded his covenant for- | ever.

Old Testament Reading Exodus 24:3–11
3Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD and all the just decrees. And all the people answered with one voice and said, “All the words that the LORD has spoken we will do.” 4And Moses wrote down all the words of the LORD. He rose early in the morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel. 5And he sent young men of the people of Israel, who offered burnt offerings and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen to the LORD. 6And Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half of the blood he threw against the altar. 7Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it in the hearing of the people. And they said, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.” 8And Moses took the blood and threw it on the people and said, “Behold the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words.”
9Then Moses and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up, 10and they saw the God of Israel. There was under his feet as it were a pavement of sapphire stone, like the very heaven for clearness. 11And he did not lay his hand on the chief men of the people of Israel; they beheld God, and ate and drank.

Epistle 1 Corinthians 10:16–17
16The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? 17Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.

Holy Gospel Mark 14:12–26
12On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, [Jesus’] disciples said to him, “Where will you have us go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 13And he sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him, 14and wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 15And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; there prepare for us.” 16And the disciples set out and went to the city and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.
17And when it was evening, he came with the twelve. 18And as they were reclining at table and eating, Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.” 19They began to be sorrowful and to say to him one after another, “Is it I?” 20He said to them, “It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the dish with me. 21For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”
22And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” 23And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. 24And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. 25Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
26And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Collect of the Day
O Lord, in this wondrous Sacrament You have left us a remembrance of Your passion. Grant that we may so receive the sacred mystery of Your body and blood that the fruits of Your redemption may continually be manifest in us; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

02/28/2021

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Prayer of the Church
Second Sunday in Lent
28 February 2021

O Lord, in these Lenten days set our minds on Your things rather than the things of man, that we may deny ourselves, take up our crosses and follow Your Son through this life into the joys of His resurrection. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

O Lord, You have given Your Church the joy of proclaiming the truth that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us so that we might be justified by His blood and saved from Your wrath over our sins. Grant all pastors the gifts of Your Spirit to preach and teach this truth boldly and faithfully, and help us to confess it in word and deed in our daily lives. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

O Lord, keep us from being ashamed of the Son of Man when we face persecution for His name in this world, that He may not be ashamed of us when He comes in Your glory with the angels. Be near to all those who are facing martyrdom for Christ and sustain them unto the end, that they may be crowned with life before You. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

O Lord, since all kingship belongs to You and You rule over the nations, we pray that You would bless all those who govern us in Your stead, that we may be ruled wisely and in accord with Your will. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

O Lord, through Your Holy Spirit pour Your love into the hearts of all those who suffer in our midst, that their sufferings may produce endurance, endurance character and character a hope that will not put them to shame. Grant them health and healing in accord with Your perfect will, and sustain them in all their trials. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

O Lord, at Your table the afflicted eat the body and blood of Your Son and are satisfied. Through our afflictions, deepen our hunger for this table, that we may eat and drink and be satisfied by Christ’s saving life. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

O Lord, as we remember with thanksgiving the multitude of nations that rejoice in heaven before You with their father Abraham, we pray that You would sustain us in that same justifying faith, that as his offspring we may share in the everlasting covenant You made with him. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

All these things and whatever else You know that we need, grant us, Father, for the sake of Him who died and rose again and now lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God forever. Amen.

02/19/2021

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Today the Church commemorates Martin Luther, Doctor and Confessor. Luther was born in Eisleben, Germany on November 10, 1483. As a young man, he initially studied law, however, after a near-death experience during a bad thunderstorm, Luther pledged to St. Anne that he would become a monk should his life be spared. He began studying theology and entered into an Augustinian monastery. In 1505, he was ordained as a priest, and in 1512, he earned a doctorate in theology. He became a professor at the newly formed University of Wittenberg, and as he studied the Scriptures in order to teach them, he began to question many of the Church’s teachings and practices, such as the selling of indulgences. When he refused to recant his positions and writings, he was excommunicated in 1521. In order to protect him, Luther’s prince had him secluded at Wartburg castle for a time, where he began translating the Bible into German from the original Greek and Hebrew. When he returned to Wittenberg, Luther spent the rest of his life preaching, teaching, finishing his translation of the Scriptures, and writing. He wrote many hymns and theological treatises, and his students recorded many of his lectures. “He is remembered and honored for his lifelong emphasis on the biblical truth that for Christ’s sake God declares us righteous by grace through faith alone” (p. 1220). Luther married Katharina von Bora, a former nun, and together they had several children. He died on February 18, 1546, while visiting Eisleben to settle a dispute between brothers.



Let us pray: “O God, our refuge and our strength, You raised up Your servant Martin Luther to reform and renew Your Church in the light of Your living Word, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Defend and purify the Church in our own day, and grant that we may boldly proclaim Christ’s faithfulness unto death and His vindicating resurrection, which You made known to Your servant Martin through Jesus Christ, our Savior, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.” Amen.



Description adapted from and prayer quoted from, “Treasury of Daily Prayer,” 1219-1220.



Image: “Martin Luther” by Cranach. Public domain.

01/10/2021

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Prayer of the Church
The Baptism of Our Lord
10 January 2021

Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.

Heavenly Father, You have revealed Your Son to us in the wondrous Epiphany in the Jordan. So also You have revealed Your name and blessing to us in Holy Baptism, declaring us Your beloved heirs. Grant that we may daily die to sin and rise to newness of life, living with joy as Your baptized children. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Preserve Your Holy Church here and scattered throughout the world. Give steadfast faith to all Christians by the preaching of Your Word and through the Holy Sacraments, and send laborers into Your harvest. Enliven the love of Your saints to bear one another’s burdens and to show mercy toward those outside of the Church. Quicken us in the hope of eternal life in Christ Jesus. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Preserve the family, especially all Christian homes. Turn husband and wife toward one another in love, equip fathers and mothers for their holy duty as teachers of the faith, and preserve all children in the saving faith and certain promises of their Baptism unto life everlasting. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Preserve our nation, its leaders and those who serve for the good of our people and for their protection. Grant peace in our time, O Lord, for You alone fight for us. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Give comfort and relief to those who are sick, depressed, tired, confused or in any need. Watch over all expectant mothers and their children, that they may have a safe delivery and be brought also to the life-giving waters of Holy Baptism and Your name. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Be with those who are near death, that they may hear Your Son’s Words of grace in their last hour and be confident in their Baptism, where You named them Your child. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

At Your invitation, O Father, we come to Your Supper for rest. Preserve us from impenitence and unbelief, cleanse us from our unrighteousness, and clothe us with the righteousness purchased with Your Son’s blood. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Lord God, heavenly Father, You manifested Yourself, with the Holy Spirit, in the fullness of grace at the baptism of Your dear Son and, with Your voice, directed us to Him who has borne our sins, that we might receive grace and the remission of sins. Keep us, we beseech You, in the true faith. Since we have been baptized in accordance with Your command and the example of Your dear Son, we pray You to strengthen our faith by Your Holy Spirit and lead us to everlasting life and salvation; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.