The Service in PDF format is at: April 14, 2024 Service
Video of service is at: YouTube
NOTE We were unable to record the service today so use the YouTube link (in the line above) to watch and listen to the service.
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.
AS WE GATHER………… “Amazing” is a commonly used word in the English language that has a rich history. It came into common usage in the 14th century as a variant of the older root word “amasod,” which meant stupefied or confounded or overwhelmed with sudden surprise or wonder. The word “amazing” shows up several times in hymns that we sing—from describing the action of God in the birth of Jesus as “love amazing” to bringing to our hearts and minds that in His suffering to pay the price of our sins, our Lord showed “amazing pity.” And of course, we know of the famous hymn, “Amazing Grace,” which we sing today. The season of Easter is a time for us to be truly amazed and filled with the praise of our amazing Lord.
RINGING OF THE BELL………….Following the ringing of the bell, we take a few moments in silence to prepare our hearts and minds for today’s worship.
WELCOME & Announcements
OPENING BLESSING
Leader: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen!
Leader: Praise the Lord!
People: Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty heavens!
Leader: Praise Him for His mighty deeds; praise Him according to His excellent greatness!
People: Praise Him with trumpet sound; praise Him with lute and harp!
Leader: Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!
People: Praise the Lord!
OPENING UP TO GOD………..
Leader: God who is gracious and merciful:
People: We confess our sins to you, the sins in our thoughts, words and actions. You command us to love one another as You have loved us. Our love for others often misses the mark. Instead of warmly welcoming others, too often we have approached people with cold hearts. Instead of extending Your mercy and grace, too often we have kept it just for ourselves. Forgive us today on account of Your Son—Jesus. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.
………AND RECEIVE GOD’S FORGIVENESS
Leader: Jesus said, “Whatever you ask in my Father’s name, it will be given to you.” Having asked for forgiveness by confessing to the Father, now receive the forgiveness you desire. Jesus died for your sins and took on your punishment. You are forgiven. I announce God’s grace and forgiveness in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen!
HYMN OF PRAISE “Amazing Grace”
Edwin Othello Excell; John Newton; John P. Rees; William W. Walker; Words: Public Domain ; Music: Public Domain
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.
.
The Lord has promised good to me;
His Word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures.
BAPTISM OF RYAN HARRINGTON
Leader: Dearly beloved, Christ our Lord says in the last chapter of Matthew, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” In the last chapter of Mark our Lord promises, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.” And the apostle Peter has written, “Baptism now saves you.”
Leader: Ryan, receive the sign of the holy cross both upon your + forehead and upon your + heart to mark you as one redeemed by Christ the crucified.
Leader: Hear the Holy Gospel according to St. Mark.
Leader: They brought young children to Jesus that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” And He took them up on His arms, put His hands on them, and blessed them.
Leader: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
Leader: We share the prayer Jesus taught.
People: 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 power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Leader: Do you renounce the devil?
People: Yes.
Leader: Do renounce all his works?
People: Yes.
Leader: Do renounce all his ways?
People: Yes.
Leader: Do you believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth?
People: Yes.
Leader: Do you 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 sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He will come to judge the living and the dead?
People: Yes.
Leader: Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting?
People: Yes.
Leader: Ryan, do you desire to be baptized?
Ryan: Yes.
SCRIPTURE LESSONS
EPISTLE I John 3:1-7
We are God’s children now.
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.
7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous.
Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
Gospel: Luke 24:36-49
Amid disciples’ doubts, the resurrected Christ affirms the fulfillment of God’s Word.
36 As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” 37 But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. 38 And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?
39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?”
42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate before them. 44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”
45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
Leader: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to You, O Christ.
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE
SERMON HYMN “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty”
Text: Joachim Neander, 1650-1680; tr. Catherine Winkworth, 1829-1878, alt. Tune: Ernewerten Gesangbuch, Stralsund, 1665; © 1978 by Augsburg Publishing House, Minneapolis and Board of Publication, Lutheran Church in America, Philadelphia
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty,
the King of creation!
O my soul, Praise Him,
for He is your health and salvation!
Let all who hear,
Now to His temple draw near;
Joining in glad adoration!
.
Praise to the Lord,
who o’er all things is wondrously reigning,
And, as on wings of an eagle,
uplifting, sustaining.
Have you not seen
All that is needful has been
Sent by His gracious ordaining?
.
Praise to the Lord,
who will prosper your work and defend you;
Surely His goodness and mercy
shall daily attend you.
Ponder anew
What the Almighty can do,
If with His love He befriend you.
.
Praise to the Lord,
Oh let all that is in me adore Him!
All that has life and breath,
come now with praises before Him.
Let the Amen
Sound from His people again,
Gladly forever we adore Him.
SERMON
Pastor Jeremy Lucke
OFFERING
We give our offerings as a sign of our lives offered to God.
PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH
Leader: See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God, and so we are.
Leader: Lord, in Your love You have called us as Your own, gathered us together, and enlightened us by Your Spirit through Your Word. We bring to You our prayer and praise. Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
People: Hear our prayer.
Leader: We pray for all people of the world, that the Easter joy that shines by the radiance of Your Son, our risen Savior, Jesus Christ, would arise in the hearts and minds of all people. Grant all Your people the needs of body and life by the daily bread You provide, and keep all from harm.
People: Hear our prayer.
Leader: Lord of all care, give comfort to those who face troubles in this life in their spiritual, emotional, and mental need. Give healing according to Your will for those who face physical trials, (including………..). Grant peace to all who mourn, that Christ’s Easter victory would point beyond earthly death and the grave to the promises assured forevermore.
People: Hear our prayer.
Leader: Lord of all provision, look with favor upon our land and all in authority that they lead with wisdom and compassion for all. Be with those who serve and defend from harm, and those who work to keep communities safe and in order. Bless all vocations that all would see their work for others as joyful service to You and Your creation.
People: Hear our prayer.
Leader: These and any other things You would have us ask of You, heavenly Father, grant to us for the sake of the bitter sufferings and death of Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
People: Amen.
BENEDICTION
Leader: Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. The almighty God–Father, the + Son, and the Holy Spirit—bless you.
People: Amen.
CLOSING HYMN: “This is My Father’s World”
Text: Malbie D. Babcock, 1858-1901, Tune: Franklin L. Sheppard, 1852-1930, adapt.; © 1978 by Lutheran Chuch in America, The American Lutheran Church, The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cananda, The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
This is my Father’s world,
and to my list’ning ears
all nature sings,
and round me rings
the music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world;
I rest me in the thought
of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;
His hand the wonders wrought.
.
This is my Father’s world;
the birds their carols raise;
the morning light, the lily white,
declare their maker’s praise.
This is my Father’s world;
He shines in all that’s fair.
in the rustling
grass I hear him pass;
He speaks to me ev’ry where.
.
This is my Father’s world;
oh, let me not forget
that, though the wrong
seems oft so strong,
God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world,
why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is king, let the heavens ring;
God reigns, let the earth be glad!
Dismissal
Leader: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God!
POST-SERVICE MUSIC
Announcements
Church Cleanup Day. Saturday, April 27 will be the annual church cleanup day. The event will start at 9:00 and go until we are finished. We should be done by 11:00 or 12:00. We will be cleaning up both the inside and outside of the church. If you are available, we would enjoy having you help – many hands make light work.
Memorial Service for Ginny Held. Ginny’s memorial service will be held on April 20 at 11:00. All are invited to attend.
New Adult Bible Study. We are beginning a new Bible Study titled Emotionally, Healthy Spirituality starting this Sunday, April 7. The series will begin at 9 am each Sunday and will go through the month of May. What is this series about? It’s based on the idea that a fully mature Christian is both emotionally healthy and spiritually engaged. One without the other misses the mark. Emotional health comes from simply acknowledging the feelings we have. Being spiritually engaged means looking for God’s promises and presence in our lives. When we understand both of these concepts, we become more available for God’s ability to deeply transform our lives.
Blood DRIVE at peace. There will be a Red Cross Blood Drive on Friday, April 19, at Peace starting at 12:00. There is a critical blood shortage, and the Red Cross could really use your help. There are some spots still available. We will also need volunteers to provide yummy treats and, of course, for prayers for a successful blood drive.
