The Service in PDF format is at: April 7, 2024 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.
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, Debbi Weiler, Daniel Dusek
Praise Team Rick Durling, Patrick Kamins, Karyn Stanley, Nora Stanley, Diane Crocker, Kaia Lucke, Sarah Grassel, Caleb Santora
Today, April 7 2024
Musician Colleen Schulze
Reader Seamus Harrington
Flowers Anne Schroeder
AS WE GATHER… Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! When Thomas finally met Jesus, alive again after Easter, he went from demanding proof to a personal confession of faith, “My Lord and my God.” It would have been a different story had the news been false. We too have heard the news of Jesus’ resurrection. How are we going to respond?
RINGING OF THE BELL…After the ringing of the bell, we take a few moments in silence to prepare our hearts and minds for today’s worship.
Leader: In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
Leader: Alleluia! Christ is risen!
People: He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Leader: He brings us light
People: that shines in our darkness.
Leader: He brings us life
People: that death cannot overcome
Leader: God is light.
People: In Him there is no darkness at all.
Leader: Alleluia! Christ is risen!
People: He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
WE CONFESS OUR SINS
Leader: Psalm 28 says, “Lord, I love the habitation of Your house and the place where Your glory dwells.” This passage reminds us that we are to revere God and His place of worship above all other things. A rightly prioritized life has God in the center. Let us now take some time to reflect upon the priorities we have chosen.
~~~~~ Silence for Reflection ~~~~~
Leader: We confess.
People: We have to face it Lord, we are sinners in need of your grace. We have not made You the number one priority in our lives. Instead, we have valued those things that have little to do with you: comfort, fear of the unknown, work. For this reason, we come to you now, confessing our sin, asking for your forgiveness, and grace to reprioritize our lives.
RECEIVE GOD’S FORGIVENESS
Leader: Jesus’ number one priority is us. There were no distractions that slowed Jesus down as he made his way to the cross. Jesus set aside earthly concern to make us his priority. Because of this, grace is ours. I announce this grace to you today in the forgiveness of sins. By the command of Jesus, your sins are forgiven in the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
God forgave my sin in Jesus’ name,
I’ve been born again in Jesus’ name;
And in Jesus’ name I come to you
To share His love as He told me to.
He said, “Freely, freely you have received:
Freely, freely give.
Go in my name, and because you believe,
Others will know that I live.”
.
All pow’r is giv’n in Jesus’ name,
In earth and heav’n in Jesus’ name
And in Jesus’ name I come to you
To share His pow’r as He told me to.
He said, “Freely, freely you have received:
Freely, freely give.
Go in my name, and because you believe,
Others will know that I live.”
Leader: The Lord be with You!
People: And also with you!
Leader: We pray.
People: O Lord, we are too easily captive to fear and the shadow of death. Break through the closed doors of our hearts and shine Your light into our darkness, that knowing the forgiveness of our sins, we may no longer be bound by any anxiety or afflicted by any doubt; through Jesus, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reign with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
People: Amen.
SCRIPTURE LESSONS
Great unity filled the early church.
32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.
34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.
Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
Epistle Reading: I John 1:1-2:2
God is light; He forgives our sins.
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—
2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—
3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
2 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
Thomas needed to see Jesus to believe.
19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”
22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” 24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came.
25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”
26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”
27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” 30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;
31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
Leader: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to You, O Christ.
SERMON HYMN: “All Creatures of Our God and King”
St. Francis of Assisi; William Henry Draper; Words: Public Domain ; Music: Public Domain
All creatures of our God and King,
Lift up your voice with us and sing:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
O burning sun with golden beam,
And silver moon with softer gleam:
Chorus: Oh praise Him! Oh praise Him!
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
.
Let all things their Creator bless
And worship Him in humbleness
Oh praise Him! Alleluia!
Oh praise the Father praise the Son
And praise the Spirit Three in One
Chorus
Earth ever fertile day by day
Bring forth Your blessings on our way
O praise Him alleluia
All fruit and crops that richly grow
All trees and flowers God’s glory show
Chorus
People and nations take your part
Love and forgive with all your heart
Alleluia alleluia
All who long pain and sorrow bear
Trust God and cast on Him your care
SERMON
Pastor Jeremy Lucke
ALL: I believe in God, the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
And was born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate.
Was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
And is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again 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.
OFFERING
We give our offerings as a sign of our lives offered to God.
Leader: Heavenly Father, Your Son is the firstborn from the dead. In Him, we have been reborn into a new and living hope. Nurture us with the good news that comes from Easter, that we may grow to maturity of faith and have everlasting life. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Leader: As Your people are united in the common life and love of our Savior, grant that we would share that life and love with those in need. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Leader: You have instituted authorities to carry out Your justice. Bless all who make, administer and judge the laws of our land. Give them wisdom, integrity and honor to serve according to Your good will. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Leader: As Your Son’s wounds brought gladness and peace to the troubled disciples, give Your presence and comfort to the troubled in our midst [especially _____________]. Comfort also those who weep [especially _____________] with the blessed joy of Easter morning. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Leader: Father of the risen Christ, You give us the crucified and risen body and blood of our Lord in this Holy Supper. Let us taste that the Lord is good and continually grow up unto salvation. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Leader: It is into Your hands that we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
People: Amen.
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
THE LORD’S PRAYER
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
DISTRIBUTION
DISTRIBUTION HYMNS
By: W.J. and Gloria Gaither; Copyright 1971 by William J. Gaither. All rights reserved.
God sent His son, they called Him Jesus
He came to love, heal, and forgive.
He lived and died to buy my pardon;
An empty grave is there to
prove my Savior lives
Chorus: Because He lives I can face tomorrow;
Because He lives all fear is gone,
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living
just because He lives.
How sweet to hold a new born baby
And feel the pride and joy He gives;
But greater still the calm assurance
This child can face uncertain days
because He lives.
Chorus
And then one day I’ll cross the river;
I’ll fight life’s final war with pain.
And then as death gives way to victory,
I’ll see the lights of glory
and I’ll know He lives.
Chorus
I love to tell the story
of unseen things above,
Of Jesus and his glory,
of Jesus and his love.
I love to tell the story,
because I know it’s true;
It satisfies my longings
as nothing else could do
Chorus: I love to tell the story;
‘Twill be my theme in glory
To tell the old, old story
of Jesus and his love.
.
I love to tell the story;
how pleasant to repeat
What seems, each time I tell it,
more wonderfully sweet!
I love to tell the story,
for some have never heard
The message of salvation
from God’s own holy Word.
Chorus
I love to tell the story,
for those who know it best
Seem hungering and thirsting
to hear it like the rest.
And when, in scenes of glory,
I sing the new, new song,
I’ll sing the old, old story
that I have loved so long.
Chorus
CLOSING SONG: “To God Be the Glory”
By: Fanny J. Crosby & William H. Doane; 1971 By William J. Gaither, The Fellowship Publications
To God be the glory,
great things He has done,
So loved He the world
that He gave us His Son.
Who yielded His life
an atonement for sin,
And opened the life gate
that all may go in.
Chorus: Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the earth hear His voice!
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father,
Thro’ Jesus the Son,
And give Him the glory,
great things He has done.
.
O perfect redemption,
the purchase of blood,
To ev’ry believer
the promise of God;
The vilest offender
who truly believes,
That moment from
Jesus a pardon receives.
Chorus
Great things He hath taught us,
great things He hath done,
And great our rejoicing
thro’ Jesus the Son;
But purer, and higher,
and greater will be
Our wonder, our transport,
when Jesus we see.
Chorus
Leader: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God!
Announcements
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.
BOOK SWAP AND AUTHOR TALK. This event is free for the ladies of Peace as well as any friends/community members. It happens on Saturday, April 13 from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm. What is this? Bring three paperback books of any genre that you enjoyed but are willing to part with. The ladies will exchange these books for others that people bring. There will be a salad potluck–bring a salad to share. There will also be a guest speak. Christina Suzann Nelson is the guest speaker. She is a Philomath native, an inspirational speaker, and award-winning author of six books. She is the mother of six children and is passionate about helping others find hope after trauma. Talk to Diane Crocker for additional information.
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.
