The Service in PDF format is at: December 18, 2022 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 18, 2022
Musician Colleen Schulze
Reader Carole Gutbrod
Flowers Paynes (Janette’s Birthday)
THEME… Christmas trees are likely up in our houses. We are anticipating Christmas for this coming week. Did you know there was a time when nobody celebrated Christmas? No one knew what Christmas was. The people never heard of Christmas trees or Christmas songs or Christmas decorations. Christmas was a mystery. These people were living in Old Testament times. Long before Jesus was born, the Old Testament gave God’s people many hints about the first Christmas—that the Savior would be born in Bethlehem, that God would work a miracle so that his mother could be pregnant, and lots more. In today’s worship, we join God’s Old Testament people in wonder of what would come on that very first Christmas.
RINGING OF THE BELL
INVOCATION AND CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
People: Amen.
LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATH
Leader: On the four Sundays in Advent, we light a new candle each week. We mark the four candles with these four words: hope, peace, joy, and love. Jesus Christ is the hope of all nations.
People: We wait for the Lord, and in His Word do we hope.
Leader: Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace,
People: We wait for the Lord, and in His Word do we rest.
Leader: Jesus Christ is the source of all joy.
People: We wait for the Lord, and in His Word do we rejoice.
Leader: Jesus Christ is the Love of the God.
People: We wait for the Lord, and in His Word we know we are loved.
The first, second, third, and fourth candles are lit during the Advent Song
ADVENT SONG: “My Soul in Stillness Waits”
♪ People: For you, O Lord, my soul in stillness waits, truly my hope is in you.
♪Leader: O Key of Knowledge, guide us in our pilgrimage, we ever seek, yet unfulfilled remain, open to us the pathway of Your peace.
♪ People: For you, O Lord, my soul in stillness waits, truly my hope is in you.
Leader: Let us now make confession of our sins to God, our gracious heavenly Father.
People: Eternal God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and that sin is ever-present in our lives. O God, in Your mercy, forgive our sin. Redirect and renew us, that we may joyfully follow Your will and gladly obey Your commandments. Graciously forgive our sins and, by the leading of the Holy Spirit, guide us in ways of compassion and love.
~~~~~ Silence for reflection ~~~~~
… HEARING GOD’S FORGIVENESS
Leader: In the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ, I forgive you all your sins in name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; He will surely do it. Go in peace.
CHORAL ANTHEM “Carol for Advent”
Words by Don Besig & Nancy Price, Music by Don Besig; © MCMXCI by Alfred Publishing Co., Inc.
Amid the winter’s cold embrace,
clothed in a shroud of white,
An anxious world in silence waits
through the dark of night.
As the lonely song of a dove
echoes across the sky above,
we can feel the moment is near;
soon the Child of Peace will appear.
.
What child is this the world awaits
with quiet expectation?
When will He come, the promised one,
to bring us peace and salvation?
Raise, raise your prayers on high.
Prepare His way, the time is nigh
Come, come Emanuel,
O Child of Love and Peace
.
The air grows colder, the light grows dim,
dark’ning the sky above.
But soon the chill of the winter wind
will warm with God’s gift of love.
And a star will brighten the sky;
songs of joy will Echo on high.
We will know the moment is here;
the Child of Love and Peace will appear.
Leader: Let us pray. Stir up Your power, O Lord, and come and help us by Your might, that the sins which weigh us down may be quickly lifted by Your grace and mercy; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
People: Amen.
SERVICE OF THE WORD
THE SCRIPTURE LESSONS
The First Lesson: I Thessalonians 5:1-11
Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you.
2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
3 While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.
6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night.
8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.
9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.
11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
The Gospel Lesson: Matthew 1:18-25
Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.
19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.
20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).
24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.
Pastor: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to You O Christ.
SERMON SONG: “Once in Royal David’s City”
Text: Cecil F. Alexander, 1818-1895, alt. Tune: Henry J. Gauntlett, 1805-76; Setting: Arthur H. Mann, 1850-1929; Text and Tune: Public Domain
Once in royal David’s city
Stood a lowly cattle shed
Where a mother laid her baby
In a manger for His bed:
Mary was that mother mild
Jesus Christ her little child
.
He came down to earth from heaven
Who is God and Lord of all
And His shelter was a stable
And His cradle was a stall;
With the poor and meek and lowly
Lived on earth our Savior holy
.
And through all
His wondrous childhood
He would honor and obey
Love and watch the lowly mother
In whose gentle arms He lay
Christian children all should be
Mild, obedient, good as He
.
For He is our child-hood’s pattern
Day by day like us He grew
He was little, weak, and helpless
Tears and smiles like us He knew
And He feeleth for our sadness
And He shareth in our gladness
.
And our eyes at last shall see Him
Through His own redeeming love;
For that child so dear and gentle
Is our Lord in heaven above
And He leads His children on
To the place where He is gone
.
Not in that poor lowly stable
With the oxen standing by
We shall see Him, but in heaven
Set at God’s right hand on high;
When like stars
His children crowned
All in white shall be around
SERMON
“Faithful Waiting”
Outline:
- The Pushers – I Thessalonians 5:1-2
- The Doubters – I Thessalonians 5:3
- The Sleepers – I Thessalonians 5:6
- The Players – I Thessalonians 5:7
- The Encouragers – I Thessalonians 5:8-11
Silent Prayer: Father, since I belong to the light and to the day, let my life demonstrate faithful waiting as I anticipate my Savior’s return. In His name I pray. Amen.
People: I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth.
And 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.
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.
THE PRAYERS OF GOD’S PEOPLE
Leader: Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs. We pray for the Church as it awaits the final Advent of our Lord, that through it, the message of salvation be proclaimed, and the gifts of God be shared. And we pray for the nations of the world, that we may know times of peace and may with thankful hearts enjoy the blessings we receive, let us pray to the Lord,
People: Lord, have mercy.
Leader: As we anticipate the joy of Christmas, we pray for our family of faith and for all Christian people in God’s kingdom around the world. Help us to share confidently the blessings that we know in Christ both within our family circles and beyond them, let us pray to the Lord,
People: Lord, have mercy.
Leader: We pray for those things needed by us as part of what we know to be our daily bread. And we remember people with special needs and concerns this day, especially the hospitalized, the grieving, the unemployed, and all on our hearts for whom our petitions are desired, (including……). Help us to share love without limit and offer forgiveness as we have been loved and forgiven by our gracious Lord, let us pray to the Lord,
People: Lord, have mercy.
Leader: We pray that we will not succumb to the many temptations that surround us in this and every season, and we ask that we be delivered from every evil. Inspired by and thankful for the witness of faithful Christians in times past, grant that we be led in paths of faith and faithfulness, let us pray to the Lord,
People: Lord, have mercy.
Leader: Christ Jesus, we pray in your holy name.
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 HYMN “What Child is This”
Text: William C. Dix, 1837-1898, Tune: English Ballad, 16th cent.
What child is this, who, laid to rest,
On Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?
.
This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The babe, the son of Mary.
.
Why lies He in such mean estate
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear: for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.
.
Nails, spear shall pierce him through
The cross be borne for me, for you;
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
The babe, the son of Mary.
.
So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh,
Come, peasant, king, to own Him,
The King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
.
Raise, raise the song on high,
the virgin sings her lullaby
Joy, joy, for Christ is born,
The babe, the son of Mary.
CLOSING SONG: “Joy to the World”
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
Leader: Go in Peace! Serve the Lord!
People: Thanks be to God!
Announcements
Altar flowers for 2023. The new flower chart for 2023 is in the narthex. Please look and put your name down for any Sunday that you would like to provide the altar flowers.
Office Hours. The church office will be closed the week between Christmas and New Year’s. Both Pastor and Daniel will be available via phone and email.
December 24 – 7:00pm Christmas Eve Service
December 25 – 10:00am Christmas Day Service
December 31 – 7:00pm New Year’s Eve Service
January 1 – 10:00am New Year’s Day Service
