The Service in PDF format is at: December 24, 2023 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, Nora Stanley, Debbi Weiler, Daniel Dusek, Rick Durling
Praise Team Rick Durling, Patrick Kamins, Karyn Stanley, Nora Stanley, Diane Crocker, Kaia Lucke, Sarah Grassel, Caleb Santora
Today, December 24, 2023
Musician Colleen Schulze
Reader Margaret Philpott
Flowers Bill & Cheryl Narver
THEME OF THE DAY…………… Advent is the season of waiting! Soon and very soon our waiting and planning for Christmas celebrations will come to their close, and we will rejoice in Christ’s coming to save us. We are reminded of the peace God gives that surpasses all human understanding. Peace was an amazing gift that the Lord gave to the virgin Mary when she received God’s Word from the angel Grabriel and then carried our salvation in her womb, delivering Jesus into the world. This morning we gather to receive the peace, like Mary did, that God alone gives.
CHOIR ANTHEM “God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen”
English carol, 18th Century; Arranged by Jay Althouse; copyright by Alfred Publishing Co., Inc.
God rest you merry gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember Christ our Savior
Was born on Christmas Day
To save us all from Satan’s pow’r
When we were gone astray
Oh tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
Oh tidings of comfort and joy
.
From God our heav’nly Father
A blessed angel came
and unto certain shepherds
brought tidings of the same
How that in Bethlehem
was born the son of God by name
Oh tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
Oh tidings of comfort and joy
.
God rest you merry gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember Christ our Savior
Was born on Christmas Day
.
God rest you merry gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember Christ our Savior
Was born on Christmas Day
To save us all from Satan’s pow’r
When we were gone astray
Oh tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
Oh tidings of comfort and joy
INVOCATION AND CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: Let us worship God as children—
People: With wonder and awe.
Leader: Let us worship God as youth—
People: With questions and eager hearts.
Leader: Let us worship God as adults—
People: With gratitude and praise.
Leader: Let us worship God as elders—
People: With wisdom and hope.
Leader: Let the body of Christ sing praises to God—
People: Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
Leader: From whom all blessings flow!
LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATH
Leader: Today, we light the candle of Love. Scripture is filled with scores of references to the steadfast love of God.
I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to You among the nations. For Your steadfast love is great above the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. (Psalm 108:3-4)
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)
+Lighting of the Advent Candle+
ADVENT SONG “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”
Text: Psalteriolum Cantionum Catholicarum, Koln, 1710; tr. John M. Neale, 1818-1866, alt. Tune: French processional, 15th cent.
O come, Thou 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 thee, O Israel!
.
O come, Thou Dayspring from on high,
And cheer us by Thy drawing nigh;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!
.
O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of Peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!
+The first, second, third and fourth candles are lit+
Leader: So that we may experience the peace of sins forgiven, let us come before our Lord with humble hearts as we confess together:
People: Gracious Father, we all have sinned and fallen short of Your glory. By what we have done and by what we have failed to do, we have broken Your commands and have not accomplished Your plans for our lives.
Leader: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, You alone give us the redemption and restoration that we need. Through the work of Jesus, the Word made flesh, do for us what is impossible apart from You.
People: Forgive us, renew us, and lead us so that we may follow Your plan for our lives and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.
+Silence for a time of personal reflection+
…HEARING GOD’S FORGIVENESS
Leader: As a called and ordained servant of Christ, I announce the grace of God you. This grace is abundant, eternal and this grace is for you. Jesus went to Calvary where he took upon himself all your sin. In his name, your sins are forgiven and forgotten forever.
People: Amen.
SERVICE OF THE WORD
SCRIPTURE LESSONS:
OLD TESTAMENT LESSON: 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16
“Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever”
Now when the king lived in his house and the Lord had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies, 2 the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent.”
3 And Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you.” 4 But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, 5 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: Would you build me a house to dwell in?
6 I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent for my dwelling.
7 In all places where I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?” ’
8 Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel.
9 And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth.
10 And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly,
11 from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house.
16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’ ”
Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God!
“The angel appears to Mary.”
Leader: The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the first chapter.
People: Glory to you, O Lord.
Leader: In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus. 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, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”
People: “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
Leader: 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. 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. For nothing will be impossible with God.” And Mary said,
People: “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”
Leader: And the angel departed from her. This is the Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to You, O Christ.
SERMON SONG: “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.
SERMON
“Prince of Peace”
Pastor Jeremy Lucke
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.
OFFERING
We give our offerings as signs of our lives offered to God in humble thanks and service.
Leader: In the peace of Christ, our coming King, let us bring our prayers before our gracious God.
Leader: Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
People: Through Him we have also obtained access by faith in to this grace in which we stand.
Leader: For God’s amazing plan of salvation to reach into our hearts, that all those for whom Christ Jesus came into this world may know the hope, joy, and peace of sins forgiven; for perfect peace to reign in the hearts and minds of all who believe, that we may be the Lord’s instruments of peace in a world filled with troubles; in peace, let us pray to the Lord:
People: Lord, have mercy.
Leader: And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,
People: will guard our hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Leader: For the outpouring of the Spirit of peace upon the Church of Christ Jesus, that all who wait for His appearing would be strengthened in their faith and renewed in their boldness to confess His saving name before all the world; for all those who doubt God’s plan for their lives, that like the virgin Mary, the Holy Spirit would make His World come alive in them, transforming them from the inside out; in peace, let us pray to the Lord:
People: Lord, have mercy.
Leader: Jesus said, “Peace I leave you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you.
People: Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
Leader: For the comfort and peace of Jesus to touch the lives of all who experience suffering, (including….); for Christ’s peace to dwell among us as we celebrate His coming to save us, looking forward to the ultimate Day in which He will come again in all power and glory; in peace, let us pray to the Lord:
People: Lord, have mercy.
Leader: With hearts of gratitude and praise, we join with the hosts in heaven and say:
People: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!”
Leader: Into Your hands, O God, we entrust our prayers, through Jesus Christ, our King and Savior, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
People: Amen.
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
Leader: May our God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—pour out his grace upon your family, giving you triumph over temptation, joy in your journey, and deliverance over every form of darkness.
People: Amen.
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.
Leader: Go in peace! Serve the Lord!
People: Thanks be to God!
Announcements
Holiday Worship Schedule: December 24 – 7:00pm Christmas Eve Candlelight Service with Communion
December 31 – 10:00am Worship Service with Communion (no fellowship)
Portals of Prayer. The new Portals of Prayer books for Jan – March are available in the Narthex. Please feel free to take one for yourself and maybe one for a friend.