The Service in PDF format is at: December 31, 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 31, 2023
Musician Colleen Schulze
Reader Carole Gutbrod
Flowers Kay (in memory of Bob)
AS WE GATHER… This evening, we are very aware of the passage of time. Although the past year may have included toil and stress, hardship, and tests of faith, our gracious God has been with us. His Son entered our time and space; He knows the daily toil; He lived a perfect life in our place. And now He continues to forgive and strengthen us each day. Our prayer is that God would “establish the work of our hands” in the coming year; that He would help us make the most of the time He so graciously gives us.
Leader: O God, our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come.
Women: Our shelter from the stormy blast, And our eternal home.
Men: Under the shadow of Thy throne Thy saints have dwelt secure;
Leader: Sufficient is Thine arm alone, And our defense is sure.
Women: Before the hills in order stood Or earth received her frame,
Men: From everlasting Thou art God, To endless years the same.
Leader: A thousand ages in Thy sight Are like an evening gone,
Women: Short as the watch that ends the night Before the rising sun.
Men: Time, like an ever-rolling stream, Soon bears us all away;
Leader: We fly forgotten as a dream Dies at the op’ning day.
People: O God, our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come, Be Thou our guard while troubles last And our eternal home!
Leader: As we turn to a New Year, let us do so by asking God to guide us, enlighten us, and strengthen us for what lies ahead. Let us pray…. O God,
People: You have called Your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown.
Leader: Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that Your hand is leading us and Your love supporting us;
People: through Jesus, our Lord. Amen.
TIME FOR GOD’S WORD
THE FIRST LESSON Isaiah 51:1-6
“Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness”
“Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness, you who seek the Lord: look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were dug.
2 Look to Abraham your father and to Sarah who bore you; for he was but one when I called him, that I might bless him and multiply him.
3 For the Lord comforts Zion; he comforts all her waste places and makes her wilderness like Eden, her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the voice of song.
4 “Give attention to me, my people, and give ear to me, my nation; for a law will go out from me, and I will set my justice for a light to the peoples.
5 My righteousness draws near, my salvation has gone out, and my arms will judge the peoples; the coastlands hope for me, and for my arm they wait.
6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth beneath; for the heavens vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment, and they who dwell in it will die in like manner; but my salvation will be forever, and my righteousness will never be dismayed.
Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God!
The Second Lesson: Romans 8:31b-39
“God’s everlasting love”
31 If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?
36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 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.
Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God!
THE GOSPEL LESSON Luke 12:35-40
“You must be ready”
35 “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, 36 and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks.
37 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. 38 If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants!
39 But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
Leader: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to You, O Christ!
SERMON
“Are You Better Off Now?”
Pastor Jeremy Lucke
OFFERING
We give our offerings as signs of our lives offered to God in humble thanks and service.
Leader: Almighty and eternal God, all praise, honor, and glory be to You for Your glorious and good act of creating us and all things, Your daily provision of all we need to sustain life, and the gift of deliverance to an eternal inheritance in the world to come. Help all people to come in repentance and faith to the rejection of all that is false and to the praise of You as the only true God. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Leader: O faithful God, all time rests in Your hands; nothing exists apart from Your promise or Your power; help us trust in You for all things. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Leader: Help us not only to rejoice in Jesus’ saving name but to call on His name in time of trouble; we pray You, Lord, deliver us from our sins and from our fears, that we may serve You with our whole heart, mind, and will. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Leader: Shine down Your peace to a world at war and bring calm amid the violent areas of the world; especially be with those who serve our nation, here and everywhere. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Leader: Touch the sick and suffering with peace and hope, and give to the troubled and dying the strength to be faithful unto death that they may receive the crown of everlasting life. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Leader: Remove the guilt of this past year’s failures and fears, forgive our sins and errors, and lead us to begin anew to serve You in the gift of this coming year. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Leader: Into Your hands, O Lord, we commend ourselves and all for whom we pray, trusting Your mercy for the sake of Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord.
People: Amen.
TIME FOR STRENGTH
Leader: God who supplies our every need has given us this meal to share.
People: Lord, we thank You for the bread of eternal life.
Leader: We come to the table, knowing that we need the strength that comes from the body and blood of Jesus.
People: Lord, we thank You for the bread of eternal life.
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
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
DISTRIBUTION HYMNS
Charlotte Elliott; William Batchelder Bradbury; Words: Public Domain ; Music: Public Domain
Just as I am without one plea
But that Thy Blood was shed for me
And that Thou bidd’st me come to Thee
O Lamb of God I come I come
.
Just as I am and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot
To Thee Whose Blood can cleanse each spot
O Lamb of God I come I come
.
Just as I am though tossed about
With many a conflict many a doubt
Fightings and fears within without
O Lamb of God I come I come
.
Just as I am poor wretched blind
Sight riches healing of the mind
Yea all I need in Thee to find
O Lamb of God I come I come
.
Just as I am Thou wilt receive
Wilt welcome pardon cleanse relieve
Because Thy Promise I believe
O Lamb of God I come I come
Majesty, worship His majesty.
Unto Jesus be all glory power and praise.
Majesty, kingdom authority
flow from His throne
unto His own who His anthem raise.
So exalt, lift up on high the name of Jesus.
Magnify. Come glorify Christ Jesus the King.
.
Majesty, worship His majesty.
Jesus, who died, now glorified, King of all kings.
So exalt, lift up on high the name of Jesus.
Magnify. Come glorify Christ Jesus the King.
Beautiful Savior, King of creation,
Son of God and Son of Man!
Truly I’d love thee, Truly I’d serve thee,
Light of my soul, my joy, my crown.
.
Fair are the meadows, Fair are the woodlands
Robed in flow’rs of blooming spring;
Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer,
He makes our sorrowing spirit sing.
.
Fair is the sunshine, Fair is the moonlight,
And the sparkling stars on high;
Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer,
Than all the angels in the sky.
Beautiful Savior, Lord of the nations,
Son of God and Son of Man!
Glory and honor, Praise, adoration,
Now and forevermore be Thine!
Leader: Let us pray.
Eternal God, we commit to Your mercy and forgiveness the year now ending and commend to Your blessing and love the times yet to come. In the new year, abide among us with Your Holy Spirit that we may always trust in the saving name of our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
People: Amen.
CLOSING SONG “Oh God, Our Help in Ages Past”
Isaac Watts; Public Domain
O God, our Help in ages past,
our Hope for years to come,
our Shelter from the stormy blast,
and our eternal Home.
.
Under the shadow of Thy throne
Thy saints have dwelt secure;
sufficient is Thine arm alone,
and our defense is sure.
.
Before the hills in order stood,
or earth received its frame,
from everlasting Thou art God,
to endless years the same.
.
A thousand ages in Thy sight
are like an evening gone,
short as the watch that ends the night
before the rising sun.
.
Time, like an ever-rolling stream
bears all its sons away;
they fly forgotten, as a dream
dies at the op’ning day.
.
O God, our Help in ages past,
our Hope for years to come,
be Thou our Guard while life shall last,
and our eternal Home!
Leader: Go in peace! Serve the Lord!
People: Thanks be to God!
Announcements
Annual Church Meeting. MARK YOUR CALENDARS! The Annual Church Congregational Meeting will be held during Fellowship on Sunday, January 28th. This meeting will give you the opportunity to hear from your church council recapping what occurred in 2023 as well as a look forward to 2024. Please plan on attending! The 2023 Annual Report will be available in mid-January.
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.
Men’s Breakfast. The Peace Men’s breakfast is planned for this coming Saturday, January 6 at 8:00am at Benchwarmers on 9th Street in Corvallis. We will be gathering with men from Zion Lutheran as well. Our guest speaker will be Pastor Larry Oliver. Please join us.
Bible study starting back up. We will be resuming our adult Bible Study revolving around the “Chosen” movie production. We have been having some lively and interesting discussions. Please feel free to join us Sunday mornings at 9:00am.
January Newsletters are out. The January newsletters are out. There are some extra copies in the Narthex. As you will notice, there are still some gaps in the volunteer opportunities so please consider helping out.
