The Service in PDF format is at: December 3, 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 3, 2023
Musician Colleen Schulze
Reader Audrey Bond
Flowers Kay Glathar
THEME
Welcome to the season of waiting! Not only is Advent a period of preparation for Jesus’ first coming at Christmas, but this sacred season readies our hearts for Jesus’ ultimate coming: when He, as King of kings and Lord of lords, returns in power and glory. We wait for Him in confident faith trusting His promise to make us guiltless in His sight.
CHORAL ANTHEM “The Coming of the Lord”
Lift up your heads, O gates,
and make the highway straight,
prepare to celebrate the coming of the Lord.
Your waiting soon will end,
God’s glory will descend,
rise up and welcome in the coming of the Lord,
the coming of the Lord.
Prepare the way for the coming of the Lord!
Prepare the way for the coming of the Lord!
.
The ancient words foretell,
God with us, He will dwell,
Christ, our Emmanuel,
and all will see the glory of the Lord!
Lift up your heads, O gates,
and make the highway straight,
prepare to celebrate the coming of the Lord.
Your waiting soon will end,
God’s glory will descend,
rise up and welcome in the coming of the Lord,
the coming of the Lord.
Prepare the way for the coming of the Lord!
Prepare the way for the coming of the Lord!
.
The ancient words foretell,
God with us, He will dwell,
Christ, our Emmanuel,
and all will see the glory of the Lord!
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel.
And then the deaf will hear,
the blind will see Him clear,
the mute will find their voice,
the lame will leap for joy,
Prepare the way of the coming of the Lord!
Prepare the way of the Lord!
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel,
our God will come to us.
Prepare the way for the coming of the Lord.
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!
ADVENT THEME
Leader: Today, we light the candle of Hope. Just as the world waited for its Messiah many years ago, we also place our hope in this same Deliverer.
Great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in Him.” The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. Lamentations 3:23b-25
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13
Lighting of the Advent Wreath
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, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!
.
O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
Who ord’rest all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And teach us in her ways to go.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!
Leader: Our soul waits for the Lord;
People: He is our help and our shield.
Leader: For our heart is glad in Him,
People: because we trust in His holy name.
Leader: Let Your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us,
People: even as we hope in You.
Leader: Confident in His steadfast love, let us confess our sins to God our Father.
People: Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we do and by what we fail to do. Instead of waiting on You and clinging to Your promises, we impatiently go our own way. Instead of loving our neighbors as ourselves, we put our wants first and serve our interests instead of Yours, O God. For the sake of our Savior and King, have mercy on us. Forgive us and restore us. Guide us and renew us. Help us to walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.
~~~~ Silence for a time of personal reflection ~~~~
…HEARING GOD’S FORGIVENESS
Leader: Jesus is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! And he has had mercy on us. His blood was shed for all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, I forgive you all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
SERVICE OF THE WORD
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Leader: Let us pray. Stir up Your power, O Lord, and come to us
People: as we wait for Your arrival.
Leader: Protect us by Your hand that we may be rescued from the threatening perils of our sins
People: and saved by Your mighty deliverance;
Leader: for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one god, now and forever.
People: Amen.
SCRIPTURE LESSONS
THE FIRST LESSON Isaiah 64:1-9
Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence—
2 as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil— to make your name known to your adversaries, and that the nations might tremble at your presence!
3 When you did awesome things that we did not look for, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence.
4 From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him.
5 You meet him who joyfully works righteousness, those who remember you in your ways. Behold, you were angry, and we sinned; in our sins we have been a long time, and shall we be saved?
6 We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
7 There is no one who calls upon your name, who rouses himself to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have made us melt in the hand of our iniquities.
8 But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.
9 Be not so terribly angry, O Lord, and remember not iniquity forever. Behold, please look, we are all your people.
Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God!
THE GOSPEL LESSON Matthew 1:1-21
1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,
3 and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram,
4 and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon,
5 and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse,
6 and Jesse the father of David the king. And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah,
7 and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph,
8 and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah,
9 and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah,
10 and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josiah,
11 and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.
12 And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,
13 and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor,
14 and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud,
15 and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob,
16 and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.
17 So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations.
18 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.”
Reader: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to You, O Christ!
SERMON SONG “Hark, the Glad Sound!”
Text: Philip Doddridge, 1702-1751; Tune: attr. Thomas Haweis, 1734-1820
Hark! The glad sound! the Savior comes,
The Savior promised long:
Let every heart prepare a throne
And every voice a song.
.
He comes, the prisoners to release,
In Satan’s bondage held.
The gates of brass before him burst,
The iron fetters yield.
.
He comes, the broken soul to cure,
The bleeding soul to cure:
And with the treasures of his grace
To enrich the humble poor.
.
Our glad hosannas, Prince of Peace,
Thy welcome shall proclaim;
And heaven’s eternal arches ring
With your beloved name.
MESSAGE
“Joseph – More than a Passive Observer”
Pastor Jeremy Lucke
People: We believe in God, the Creator of all things, the source of all goodness and love…We believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, true God yet true man…He was crucified, died and was buried for our sin that we might be free and know the joy of life…He was raised on the third day and ascended to heaven…and will come again in power and glory to judge both the living and the dead…We believe in the Holy Spirit, the power of God at work inside of us…We believe in the church of God, the people of faith throughout the world…We believe that our sin is forgiven and that we will live together with God for now and throughout eternity. Amen.
Leader: As we wait in hope for the coming of our Lord, let us together, as His Advent people, bring our prayers before Him.
Leader: Gracious Father, we give You thanks and praise for Your goodness and mercy that follow us all the days of our lives. You are our God; we are Your people. As Jesus now sits at Your right hand, exalted over all things, we wait expectantly for the Day of His revealing. We wait in hope for the Lord!
People: He is our help and shield.
Leader: Mighty King and loving Savior, we thank You for the authority You have over all things in heaven and on earth. To a world in disarray and for a people filled with despair, You alone offer hope, peace, and certainty that all things are in Your hands. Help us to trust in You, Lord Jesus, even as we wait. Bless the land we live in and all those who serve for the benefit of us all. Be present in our homes, our schools, and our workplaces so that Your provision be known to all. We wait in hope for the Lord!
People: He is our help and shield.
Leader: Healer of the broken and sustainer of the weary, grant the comfort of Your Holy Spirit to all who are suffering in heart, body, mind, and spirit. Remind those who are downtrodden that they are never alone, and use us as Your people to reach out in care and compassion to those in our family, our community, and within this congregation who need Your healing mercies, (especially…………). We wait in hope for the Lord!
People: He is our help and shield.
Leader: Compassionate God, hear our prayers and the silent prayers in our hearts. This we ask in the name of Jesus your Son.
People: Amen.
WE OFFER OUR GIFTS
We offer our thanksgiving for what God has first given us—ourselves, our time, our possessions.
Leader: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Leader: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them to the Lord.
Leader: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right to give him thanks and praise.
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
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 HYMNS
Words: Public Domain; Music: 1994 Selah Publishing Company, Inc.
I’ve got peace like a river,
I’ve got peace like a river,
I’ve got peace like a river in my soul.
I’ve got peace like a river,
I’ve got peace like a river,
I’ve got peace like a river in my soul.
.
I’ve got love like an ocean,
I’ve got love like an ocean,
I’ve got love like an ocean in my soul.
I’ve got love like an ocean,
I’ve got love like an ocean,
I’ve got love like an ocean in my soul.
.
I’ve got joy like a fountain,
I’ve got joy like a fountain,
I’ve got joy like a fountain in my soul.
I’ve got joy like a fountain,
I’ve got joy like a fountain,
I’ve got joy like a fountain in my soul.
Patricia Cain; Copyright 1974, 1978 Scripture in Song. All rights reserved. Admin. By Maranatha! Music in the U.S.A
Jesus, name above all names,
Beautiful Savior, glorious Lord,
Emmanuel, God is With us,
Blessed Redeemer, living Word.
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Jesus, loving shepherd
Vine of the branches, Son of God
Prince of Peace, Wonderful Counselor
Lord of the universe, Light of the World.
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Jesus, Way of salvation,
King of Kings, Lord of Lords,
The way the truth, and the Life,
Mighty creator, my Savior and friend.
CLOSING SONG “God of Grace and God of Glory”
Words & Music by Martin Nystrom
God of grace and God of glory,
On your people pour your pow’r;
Crown your ancient Church’s story;
Bring its bud to glorious flow’r.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage
For the facing of this hour,
For the facing of this hour.
.
Lo! The hosts of evil round us
Scorn the Christ, assail his ways!
From the fears that long have bound us
Free our hearts to faith and praise.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage
For the living of these days,
For the living of these days.
.
Cure your children’s warring madness;
Bend our pride to your control;
Shame our wanton, selfish gladness,
Rich in things and poor in soul.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
Lest we miss your kingdom’s goal,
Lest we miss your kingdom’s goal.
.
Save us from weak resignation
To the evils we deplore;
Let the gift of your salvation
Be our glory evermore.
Grand us wisdom, grant us courage,
Serving you whom we adore,
Serving you whom we adore.
Leader: Go in peace! Serve the Lord!
People: Thanks be to God!
Announcements
LADIES GUILD BRUNCH… Thursday December 7 at 10:00am. Christmas brunch followed by a short meeting and distribution of poinsettias and cookies. Then a gift exchange. All women of Peace are invited. Interested? Contact Peggy Krueger
