The Service in PDF format is at: https://peaceinphilomath.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/04-26-2020-Service.pdf
Video of service is at: https://www.facebook.com/233973443413882/posts/1934436423367567/
or the service is as follows:
Third Sunday of Easter
Peace Lutheran Church
April 26, 2020
AS WE GATHER………… “The fruit of the Spirit is……Peace.” Peace is a rare state of mind these days. The news brings us anxiety. Relationships can cause strain. The upset to life routines can throw us “off.” Today we quiet ourselves to hear about Jesus’ peace. Jesus’ peace is bigger than our greatest worries and concerns. We live in the moment trusting in God to take care of the future—much like the lilies of the field and the birds of the air (Matthew 6:26-28).
In Christ alone my hope is found, His is my light, my strength, my song;
This Cornerstone, this solid Ground, Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace, When fears are still, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All, Here in the love of Christ I stand.
In Christ alone, Who took on flesh, Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness, Scorned by the ones He came to save:
Till on the cross as Jesus died, The wrath of God was satisfied –
For every sin on Him was laid; Here in the death of Christ I live.
There in the ground His body lay, Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious Day Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine – Bought with the precious blood of Christ.
No guilt in life, no fear in death, This is the power of Christ in me’
From life’s first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man, Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till he returns or calls me home, Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand!
READINGS
Epistle Lesson: Philippians 4:6-9 The peace of God
Reader: The Epistle is from the fourth chapter of Philippians.
Reader: Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learnedand received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God!
Gospel Lesson: Matthew 6:25-34 Do not worry
Reader: The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the sixth chapter.
Reader: “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Reader: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to you, O Christ.
MESSAGE “Emotional Wellness: Peace”
MESSAGE NOTES
Rate each of the following: Almost Never 1 2 3 4 5 6 Almost Always
_____ The Spirit faithfully gives me the joy of peace-filled relationships.
_____ The relationships in family and church are characterized by harmony.
_____ I am growing in the graces of kindness, compassion and forgiveness.
_____ Total Emotional
God is teaching me that…………..
HYMN “Make Me a Channel of Your Peace”
Make me a channel of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me bring your love.
Where there is injury, your pardon, Lord,
And where there’s doubt, true faith in you.
Make me a channel of your peace.
Where there’s despair in life, let me bring hope.
Where there is darkness, only light,
And where there’s sadness, ever joy.
Oh, Master, grant that I may never seek
So much to be consoled as to console.
To be understood as to understand.
To be loved as to love with all my soul.
Make me a channel of your peace.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
In giving of ourselves that we receive,
And in dying that we’re born to eternal life.
Leader: Dear heavenly Father, You sent Your Son to reconcile the world to Yourself and to make peace by the blood of the cross. Give us courage to seek forgiveness and reconciliation with one another, that Your peace that surpasses all understanding rule our hearts and minds. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Leader: Lord, there are many divisions in Your Church. Too often we have identified ourselves as those who follow earthly leaders, rather than as those who follow Christ. Bring unity where there is division, peace where there is discord, and reconciliation where there is conflict. Today we pray the other Luther Churches in our Circuit. Unite them together as they worship and reach out to share Jesus in their community. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Leader: Lord, strengthen all marriages, encourage those who are single, and help us to recognize the value of each person. Be especially with those who are struggling while living under our current circumstances. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Leader: Lord, look with favor upon all who are sick, injured, and recovering, (especially…). Have mercy upon them and heal them according to Your good and gracious will. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Leader: Lord, we commend all of these things to Your infinite mercies, which are new every morning. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer. Amen.
Leader: The Lord bless us and keep us.
The Lord make his face shine on us and be gracious to us.
The Lord look upon us with favor and give + us peace.
People: Amen.