The Service in PDF format is at: December 25, 2022 Christmas Service
Video of service is at: YouTube
Peace Lutheran Church
We welcome you in the name of the Lord Jesus. We are honored with your presence. If you do not have a church home, you are invited to join us regularly. Please introduce yourself to Pastor Jeremy Lucke or one of the Ushers as you leave today and sign the guest book in the entryway. We continue to observe the guidelines for health safety. If you have any questions, please see an usher. Everyone is welcome.
The ringing of the bell and the lighting of the Christ candle mark the beginning of our service and a time for quiet meditation, prayer and inward reflection as we begin our worship.
Children are welcome at our worship services. If you prefer, Peace Lutheran has a playroom equipped for children three years old and younger. The room is unstaffed and can be accessed in the fellowship hall where the service is also being live streamed for your convenience and enjoyment.
Holy Communion is celebrated every first and third Sunday and will follow the order of service in the bulletin. If you are a baptized Christian and share our faith in Jesus as Savior and have been instructed in the meaning and use of the Lord’s Supper, you are invited to partake. We have pre-wrapped communion wine or juice and wafers. We also have gluten-free wafers available. If you desire a gluten-free wafer, ask the server. May the body and blood of Jesus, present in the bread and wine, be a blessing to you.
There are times during the service when you will be asked to stand if you are able. Please feel free to remain seated if standing is difficult.
Offering. Peace Lutheran Church understands and teaches that Offerings are voluntary and to be from the heart. Whether we give or do not give does not determine our salvation. Whether we give much or little does not determine our standing before God. Sharing an Offering is an opportunity to quietly practice generosity with our neighbors. Offerings may be placed in the plates by the doors as we exit the sanctuary.
Serving You
Pastor Pastor Jeremy Lucke
Music Director Colleen Schulze
Choir Director Diane Crocker
Supt. Of Sunday School Brandy Stokes & Karyn Stanley
Admin Assistant Daniel Dusek
Parish Nurse Kathy Durling
Webmaster Jim Holroyd
Audio-Visual Johnathon Holroyd, George Abele, Nicholas Abele, Merv Munster, Callie Santora, Caleb Santora, Joyce Long, Oscar Gutbrod, Sam Worth, Rick Durling, Jim Holroyd, Nora Stanley, Debbi Weiler, Daniel Dusek
Today, December 25, 2022
Musician Karyn Stanley
Reader Debbi Weiler
Ushers Daniel Dusek
CHRISTMAS DAY THEME………….. “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” (John 1:14a) Christ did it all for demoted, devalued, and dismissed people. He did it all for us!
RINGING OF THE BELL
Leader: In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
Leader: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
People: and the Word was God.
Leader: The Word became flesh and dwelt among us,
People: and we have seen His glory. (John 1:1,14)
RECEIVING GOD’S MERCY AND FORGIVENESS
Leader: Dearly beloved of God, we come together this day to hear of the great miracle that God became flesh and dwelt among us. Because He did this in order to free us from our sins, let us first consider our sinfulness and confess our need before God and one another. Together let us seek God’s grace and forgiveness, convinced of His love.
~~~~~ Silence for reflection ~~~~~
Leader: Almighty God,
People: Have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and lead us to everlasting life; for the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen.
Leader: To all who receive Him, who believe in His name, He gives the right to become children of God. Upon this, your confession, I, by virtue of my office, as a called and ordained servant of the Word, announce the grace of God unto all of you, and in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
By Nora, Clara, & Alyssa
FIRST READING: Isaiah 9:2-7
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.
3 You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil.
4 For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian.
5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire.
6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
GOSPEL READING: John 1:14-18
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’ ”)
16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.
Pastor: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to You O Christ.
© Words: Public Domain, Music: Public Domain
The first Noel, the angel did say,
Was to certain poor shepherds
in fields as they lay;
In fields where they lay
keeping their sheep,
On a cold winter’s night
that was so deep.
Refrain: Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.
.
They looked up and saw a star,
Shining in the east, beyond them far,
And to the earth it gave great light,
And so it continued both day and night.
Refrain
Then let us all with one accord
Sing praises to our heav’nly Lord,
That hath made heav’n
and earth of naught,
And with His blood
mankind hath bought.
Refrain
SERMON
“A Cure for Being Plutoed”
People: Lord, like the stable in which you lay,
My heart is simple, frail as hay.
But if you would within me stay,
Make my heart your manger, I pray.
Make my world your Bethlehem,
Centerpieced with heaven’s Son.
Make this day a shepherd’s sky,
Quickened bright with holy dawn.
Rush the air with cherub wings.
Brush this earth. Let angels sing.
A glimpse of your face. A taste of your grace.
Be born in this place. I pray. Amen.
People: I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
who sent his Son as my Savior on Christmas.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary,
announced by the angels,
worshiped by the shepherds,
and adored by the wise men;
who lived to suffer, die, and rise again
to free me from sin, death, and the power of the devil.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
who has brought me to faith
in the Christ of Christmas
and by whose work in my heart
I am led to lay before the feet of Christ
the treasures of my love
and live under him as my King both now and forevermore. Amen.
Leader: Dear heavenly Father, in the incarnation of Jesus You revealed good news and great joy for all the earth to hear. Embolden us to spread the good news and great joy of Your Son to the ends of the earth. For the people who walked in darkness
People: have seen a great light.
Leader: Lord, shine Your light upon all of the leaders of the world, that we live in peace and quietness without war or violence. For the people who walked in darkness
People: have seen a great light.
Leader: Lord, You have shined the light of Christ on the world. Help us reflect Your light to those who are experiencing the darkness of the world. Bring community to the lonely, stability to those in transition, and safety to all those who have suffered abuse. For the people who walked in darkness
People: have seen a great light.
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. For the people who walked in darkness
People: have seen a great light.
Leader: Lord, we commend all of these things to Your infinite mercies, which are new every morning. For the people who walked in darkness
People: have seen a great light. Amen.
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy name,
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us;
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom,
And the power, and the glory,
Forever and ever. Amen
“Angels From the Realms of Glory”
Text: James Montgomery, 1771-1854, alt. Tune: Henry T. Smart, 1813-1879
Angels, from the realms of glory,
Wing your flight o’er all the earth;
Once you sang creation’s story;
Now proclaim Messiah’s birth:
Chorus: Come and worship,
come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn king.
Shepherds, in the fields abiding,
Watching o’er your flocks by night,
God with us is now residing,
Yonder shines the infant light.
Chorus
Sages, leave your contemplations,
Brighter visions beam afar;
Seek the great desire of nations,
You have seen his natal star.
Chorus
All creation, join in praising
God, the Father, Spirit, Son,
Evermore your voices raising
To the eternal Three in One.
Chorus
Pastor: May you be filled with the wonder of Mary, the obedience of Joseph, the joy of the angels, the eagerness of the shepherds, the determination of the magi, and the peace of the Christ Child. And may the Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit bless you now and forevermore!
People: Let us worship the newborn King!
CLOSING SONG: “Joy to the World”
Text: Isaac Watts, 1674-1784, Tune: George F Handel, 1685-1759, adapt. © 1978 by LUtheran Church in America, The AMerican Lutheran Church, The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Canada, The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod
Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive its King;
Let ev’ry heart prepare him room
And heav’n and nature sing, And heav’n and nature sing,
And heav’n, and heav’n and nature sing.
.
Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!
Let all their songs employ,
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
.
No more let sin and sorrow grow
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make his blessings flow
Far as the curse is found, Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as the curse is found.
.
He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of his righteousness
And wonders of his love, And wonders of his love,
And wonders, wonders of his love.
Have a wonderful and blessed Christmas!