The Service in PDF format is at: December 19, 2021 Service
Video of service is at: Facebook Video
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.
Serving You
Pastor Pastor Jeremy Lucke
Music Director Colleen Schulze
Choir Director Dan Johnson
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, Haley Bentsen, Caleb Santora, Joyce Long, Aaron Bentsen, Oscar Gutbrod, Reese Grube, Rick Durling, Jim Holroyd
Today, December 19, 2021
Musician Bob Glathar
Ushers Rick & Kathy Durling
Flowers Joe & Janette Payne
Communion Ellen Holyrod
THEME: Our world is filled with turmoil, strife, contention. Every time it seems that our nation or even our own lives are at peace, again something disrupts it. Peace is as elusive as a slippery eel. Today’s Readings point us to the truth that the peace we seek cannot come from the powers of the world, nor can it come from anything in our own hearts or our spiritual potential. Real peace comes from what seems like the least promising place: a little town, through the young Virgin. Peace comes from Bethlehem, from where God comes to us. From God’s Word. From the Bread of Life in Holy Communion. Real peace comes to us, often beyond understanding, through the babe of Bethlehem, Jesus, through whom God made peace with us by a cross.
INVOCATION AND CALL TO WORSHIP
Pastor: In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATH
Pastor: 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.
The fourth candle is 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.
Pastor: 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.
Pastor: Peace is elusive in our lives. We have days in which we feel stable and then disruption comes. We then seek peace that does not come from You, Lord. In our moment of silence and words of confession, we admit that we have missed the mark in finding peace.
Silence for reflection
Pastor: We confess to You, O Lord, that we are captive to sin in thought, word, and deed. We have not always been instruments of Your peace. Our homes have at times been places of strife and turmoil by our own fault. Even in the church sometimes we have chosen to fight rather than to make peace.
People: Remember Your mercy, O Lord, and Your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.
Pastor: Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
People: according to Your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of Your goodness, O Lord!
… HEARING GOD’S FORGIVENESS
Pastor: Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
PRAISE SONG “O Little Town of Bethlehem”
Chris Eaton; Phillips Brooks Words: Public Domain ; Music: 1982 Patch Music Ltd (Admin. by BMG Rights Management (US) LLC)
O Little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless
sleep the silent stars go by;
Yet in thy dark streets
shineth the everlasting light.
The hopes and fears of all the years
are met in thee tonight.
For Christ is born of Mary
And gathered all above
While mortals sleep
The angels keep their watch of wondering love
O morning stars together
Proclaim the holy birth
And praises sing to God the King
And peace to men on earth
How silently how silently
The wondrous gift is given
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven
No ear may hear His coming
But in this world of sin
Where meek souls will receive Him still
The dear Christ enters in.
O holy Child of Bethlehem
Descend to us we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in
Be born in us today
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell
O come to us abide with us
Our Lord Emmanuel!
SERVICE OF THE WORD
Pastor: Let us pray. Into this world of turmoil, O Lord, bring peace.
People: Let the peace that calmed the troubled heart of Mary so rule in our hearts and minds
Pastor: that by Your power we may all become peacemakers.
People: In our homes, in our community, and in our church;
Pastor: through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
People: Amen.
THE SCRIPTURE LESSONS
2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.
3 Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel.
4 And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth.
5 And he shall be their peace. When the Assyrian comes into our land and treads in our palaces, then we will raise against him seven shepherds and eight princes of men;
Pastor: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
5 Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me;
6 in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure.
7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’ ”
8 When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law),
9 then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second.
10 And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
The Gospel Lesson: Luke 1:26-45
26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,
27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary.
28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”
29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be.
30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.
32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,
33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy–the Son of God.
36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.
37 For nothing will be impossible with God.”
38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah,
40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,
42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.
45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”
Pastor: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to You O Christ.
SERMON SONG: “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”
Text: Psalteriolum Cantionum Catholicarum, Koln, 1710; tr. John M. Neale, 1818-1866, alt. Tune: French processional, 15th cent
Oh, come, oh, come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel.
Oh, come oh come, great Lord of might,
Who to your tribes on Sinai’s height
In ancient times once gave the law
In cloud, and majesty, and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel.
Oh, come, strong Branch of Jesse, free
Your own from Satan’s tyranny;
From depths of hell your people save
And give them vict’ry o’er the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel.
Oh, come, blest Dayspring, come and cheer
Our spirits by your advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel.
Oh, come, O Key of David, come,
And open wide our heav’nly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel.
SERMON: “Mary’s Faith”
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.
Pastor: Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Jesus Christ and for all people according to their needs.
Pastor: O Lord, mighty God, there is none like You in holiness, constancy, and might; yet, You exercise Your power for the salvation of sinners. As we draw near to the celebration of Jesus’ birth, fill our hearts with gratitude that Your son humbled Himself and became flesh to bear our sin and be our Savior. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Pastor: O Lord, mighty God, Bethlehem was too small to be among the clans of Judah, yet from it came forth the King of kings. Remember the congregations of Your people where numbers are small and resources are scarce. Provide for their needs, and remind them that the Lord of lords dwells among them in His Means of Grace. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Pastor: O Lord, mighty God, You make poor and You make rich. Receive our thanks for Your gifts of daily bread. Give us contentment with what You provide, preserve us from coveting what You do not give and grant that we would be wise stewards of Your blessings. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Pastor: O Lord, mighty God, You helped Your servant Israel, and Your mercy endures forever. Look upon those brought low by illness, injury, grief or other affliction [especially…]. Have mercy upon them, grant them healing and strength, and maintain in them the certain hope of Your faithfulness to them for Jesus’ sake. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Pastor: O Lord, mighty God, You have done great things for us, most of all delivering us from death to life through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Mercifully hear our prayers and answer them according to Your will for the sake of Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
People: 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
COMMUNION SONG “Let Us Break Bread Together”
Text: Negro spiritual; Tune: Negro spiritual
Let us break bread together
on our knees;
Let us break bread together
on our knees;
When I fall on my knees
With my face to the rising sun,
Oh Lord, have mercy on me.
Let us drink wine together
on our knees;
Let us drink wine together
on our knees;
When I fall on my knees
With my face to the rising sun,
Oh Lord, have mercy on me.
Let us praise God together
on our knees;
Let us praise God together
on our knees;
When I fall on my knees
With my face to the rising sun,
Oh Lord, have mercy on me.
Pastor: The Lord has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.
Pastor: The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look upon you with favor and give + you peace.
People: Amen.
CLOSING SONG “Oh, Come, All Ye Faithful”
C. Frederick Oakeley; John Francis Wade; Words: Public Domain ; Music: Public Domain
Oh, come, all ye faithful,
Joyful and triumphant!
Oh, come ye, oh,
come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold him
Born the king of angels;
Chorus: Oh, come, let us adore him,
Oh, come let us adore him,
Oh come let us adore him,
Christ the Lord!
The highest most holy,
Light of light eternal,
Born of a virgin a
mortal he comes;
Son of the Father
Now in flesh appearing!
Chorus
Sing, choirs of angels,
Sing in exultation,
Sing, all ye citizens
of heaven above!
Glory to God. In the highest:
Chorus
Yea, Lord, we greet thee,
Born this happy morning;
Jesus, to thee be glory giv’n!
Word of the Father,
Now in flesh appearing:
Chorus
Pastor: Go in Peace! Serve the Lord!
People: Thanks be to God!
Announcements
Red Cross Blood Drive. We have a Red Cross Blood Drive on December 22nd. Celebrate Christmas with the lifesaving gift of a blood donation, or support the event with treats (small oranges, homemade cookies, bananas) for the donors, and prayers for a successful blood drive.
Eat, chat, pray. The eat, chat, pray meetings are every Wednesday at 7:30am in the fellowship hall. Please note, they will not meet on December 22nd or 29th.
Holiday Service Schedule
Dec 24 – Christmas Eve Candlelight Service with Communion – 7:00pm
Dec 26 – Worship Service in Sanctuary at 10:00
** Note the time change **
Dec 31 – Hymn Sing and celebration of the New Year.
Jan 2 – Communion Service in the Sanctuary – 10:00
** Note the time change **
