The Service in PDF format is at: December 15, 2024 Service
No YouTube for this service
Peace Lutheran Church
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 Anne Schroeder & 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, Joyce Long, Oscar Gutbrod, Sam Worth, Rick Durling, Jim Holroyd, Debbi Weiler, Dan Dusek
Praise Team Rick Durling, Patrick Kamins, Ginny Tonelli, Karyn Stanley, Nora Stanley, Diane Crocker, Kaia Lucke, Anne Schroeder, John Mergl
Today, Christmas, December 25, 2024
Musician Julie Lane
Reader Debbi Weiler
AS WE GATHER
We recall the words of Isaiah the prophet who speaks of a people sitting in darkness beholding a great light. That light is Jesus, the light of the world. He has shined upon us, and we are called to spread His light to the world. Consider those in your life who are struggling with darkness and need the light of Christ.
RINGING OF THE BELL
Leader: In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
Leader: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
People: and the Word was God.
Leader: The Word became flesh and dwelt among us,
People: and we have seen His glory. (John 1:1,14)
RECEIVING GOD’S MERCY AND FORGIVENESS
Leader: Dearly beloved of God, we come together this day to hear of the great miracle that God became flesh and dwelt among us. Because He did this in order to free us from our sins, let us first consider our sinfulness and confess our need before God and one another. Together let us seek God’s grace and forgiveness, convinced of His love.
~~~~~ Silence for reflection ~~~~~
Leader: Almighty God,
People: Have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and lead us to everlasting life; for the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen.
Leader: To all who receive Him, who believe in His name, He gives the right to become children of God. Upon this, your confession, I, by virtue of my office, as a called and ordained servant of the Word, announce the grace of God unto all of you, and in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
SONG OF PRAISE: “The First Noel”
© Words: Public Domain, Music: Public Domain
The first Noel, the angel did say,
Was to certain poor shepherds
in fields as they lay;
In fields where they lay
keeping their sheep,
On a cold winter’s night
that was so deep.
Refrain: Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.
.
They looked up and saw a star,
Shining in the east, beyond them far,
And to the earth it gave great light,
And so it continued both day and night.
Refrain
Then let us all with one accord
Sing praises to our heav’nly Lord,
That hath made heav’n
and earth of naught,
And with His blood
mankind hath bought.
Refrain
Leader: Let us pray. Almighty God, grant that the birth of Your only-begotten Son in the flesh may set us free from the bondage of sin; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
People: Amen.
7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”
8 The voice of your watchmen—they lift up their voice; together they sing for joy; for eye to eye they see the return of the Lord to Zion.
9 Break forth together into singing, you waste places of Jerusalem, for the Lord has comforted his people; he has redeemed Jerusalem.
10 The Lord has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.
Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. 9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.
12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’ ”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.
17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.
Leader: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to You O Christ.
SERMON HYMN Oh, Come, All Ye Faithful
C. Frederick Oakeley; John Francis Wade; Words: Public Domain ; Music: Public Domain
O come all ye faithful
Joyful and triumphant
O come ye O come ye to Bethlehem
Come and behold Him
Born the King of angels
.
Chorus: O come let us adore Him
O come let us adore Him
O 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 all glory giv’n
Word of the Father
Now in flesh appearing
Chorus
SERMON
Pastor Jeremy Lucke
Leader: God has made us His people through our Baptism into Christ. Living together in trust and hope, we confess our 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.
OFFERING
The offerings gathered are a sign of our whole lives offered to God in humble gratitude for his greatest of all offerings, his Son offered for our salvation.
Leader: Dear heavenly Father, in the incarnation of Jesus You revealed good news and great joy for all the earth to hear. Embolden us to spread the good news and great joy of Your Son to the ends of the earth. For the people who walked in darkness
People: have seen a great light.
Leader: Lord, shine Your light upon all of the leaders of the world, that we live in peace and quietness without war or violence. For the people who walked in darkness
People: have seen a great light.
Leader: Lord, You have shined the light of Christ on the world. Help us reflect Your light to those who are experiencing the darkness of the world. Bring community to the lonely, stability to those in transition, and safety to all those who have suffered abuse. For the people who walked in darkness
People: have seen a great light.
Leader: Lord, look with favor upon all who are sick, injured, and recovering, [especially . . .]. Have mercy upon them and heal them according to Your good and gracious will. For the people who walked in darkness
People: have seen a great light.
Leader: Lord, we commend all of these things to Your infinite mercies, which are new every morning. For the people who walked in darkness
People: have seen a great light. 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
“Good Christian Friends, Rejoice”
Text medieval Latin carol; tr. John M. Neale , 1818-1866, Tune: German carol, 14th, cent.; ©1978 Lutheran Church in America, The American Lutheran Church, The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Canada, The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod.
Good Christian friends,
rejoice with heart and soul and voice;
Give ye heed to what we say:
Jesus Christ is born today;
Ox and ass before him bow,
and he is in the manger now.
Christ is born today!
Christ is born today!
.
Good Christian friends,
rejoice with heart and soul and voice;
now ye hear of endless bliss;
Jesus Christ was born for this
He has opened Heaven’s door
and we are blessed forevermore.
Christ was born for this!
Christ was born for this!
.
Good Christian friends,
rejoice with heart and soul and voice;
Now ye need not fear the grave;
Jesus Christ was born to save!
Call you one and calls you
all to gain his everlasting hall.
Christ was born to save!
Christ was born to save!
“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.
Leader: May you be filled with the wonder of Mary, the obedience of Joseph, the joy of the angels, the eagerness of the shepherds, the determination of the magi, and the peace of the Christ Child. And may the Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit bless you now and forevermore!
People: Let us worship the newborn King!
CLOSING SONG: “Angels We Have Heard on High”
Text: French carol; tr. “Crown of Jesus” 1862. Tune: French carol
Angels We have heard on high,
Singing sweetly o’er the plains,
And the mountains in reply,
Echoing their joyous strains.
Gloria in excelsis Deo;
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
.
Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tiding be
Which inspire your heav’nly song?
Gloria in excelsis Deo;
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
.
Come to Bethlehem and see
Him whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee
Christ, the Lord, the new-born King.
Gloria in excelsis Deo;
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
