The Service in PDF format is at: February 27, 2022 Service
Video of service is at: Facebook
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.
COVID 19 Considerations at Peace. The Peace Hygiene Team asks that you respect local health guidelines by wearing masks when at worship, events, or studies at Peace unless you are in a room alone or only with your family members. Fellowship will continue and those seated at a table may remove their masks when actively eating or drinking. If you feel any symptoms related to COVID-19 or if you believe you may have been exposed, please use our online worship option.
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, February 27, 2022
Musician Coleen Schulze
Lead Singing Karen Motlok
THEME: We aren’t invisible to God. We aren’t overlooked. We aren’t dismissed. How can we know this? In today’s Gospel, the disciples see a theological case study as they come across a man born blind. The blind man, to them, provided an opportunity to talk spiritual philosophy. They didn’t see the blind man as a human being in need. Jesus, by contrast, saw a man who was blind from birth, a man who’d never seen a sunrise, who couldn’t distinguish green from yellow. Jesus saw him. And Jesus sees you. Yes, indeed! We aren’t invisible to God. We aren’t overlooked. We aren’t dismissed.
Pastor: In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
CONFESSION & FORGIVENESS
Pastor: Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires are known, and from whom no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts and by inspiration of Your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
People: Amen.
Pastor: If we do not say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all righteousness.
Silence for reflection
Pastor: Most merciful God,
People: We confess that we are in bondage to sin and cannot free ourselves. We have sinned against you in thought word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as we ourselves. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.
Pastor: God, our heavenly Creator, hears the prayers of all people and answers those prayers. Our prayer for forgiveness is answered in the person and work of Jesus Christ, who died for our sin that we might have new life. By the command of Jesus, I forgive you all of your sins – in the name of the Father, and of the Son+ and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
THE HYMN OF PRAISE “Jesus, Name Above All Names”
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.
Jesus, love shepherd
Vine of the branches, Son of God
Prince of Peace, Wonderful Counselor
Lord of the universe, Light of the World.
Jesus, Way of salvation,
King of Kings, Lord of Lords,
The way the truth, and the Life,
Mighty creator, my Savior and friend.
Pastor: Let us pray.
Pastor: Triune God, we humbly implore You to cast the bright beams of Your light upon us that we may walk in the light of Your truth. We ask that You keep us in Your truth until we finally attain the light of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
People: Amen.
THE scripture lessons
Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, 2 who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God’s house. 3 For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself.
4 (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.)
5 Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, 6 but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.
Pastor: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.
4 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.
5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
6 Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man’s eyes with the mud 7 and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.
8 The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar were saying, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?”
9 Some said, “It is he.” Others said, “No, but he is like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” 10 So they said to him, “Then how were your eyes opened?”
11 He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed and received my sight.”
12 They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.” 13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind.
14 Now it was a Sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes.
15 So the Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight. And he said to them, “He put mud on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.”
16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division among them.
17 So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him, since he has opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.”
18 The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight 19 and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?”
20 His parents answered, “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind.
21 But how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.”
22 (His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess Jesus to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue.)
23 Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”
24 So for the second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, “Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner.”
25 He answered, “Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.”
26 They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?”
27 He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?”
28 And they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses.
29 We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.”
30 The man answered, “Why, this is an amazing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes.
31 We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him.
32 Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”
34 They answered him, “You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?” And they cast him out.
35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”
36 He answered, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” 37 Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.”
38 He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.
39 Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.”
40 Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?”
41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.
Pastor: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to You O Christ.
Words and music by Edwin Othello Excell; John Newton; John P. Rees; Words: Public Domain ; Music: Public Domain
Amazing grace how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost but now am found
Was blind but now I see
‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed
Through many dangers toils and snares
I have already come
‘Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far
And grace will lead me home
The Lord has promised good to me
His Word my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures
SERMON
“How to Pass the Vision Test”
People: I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
And born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
Was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again,
He ascended into heaven,
And is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
The Christian Church,
The communion of saints,
The forgiveness of sins,
The resurrection of the body
And the life everlasting. Amen.
Installation of 2022 Church Officers
Pastor: Let us pray together in Christ Jesus for all people according to their needs.
God of Love, living on our own terms, our lives have become unmanageable. Grant that by Your Word and Spirit we continually be transformed, trusting in Jesus who was transfigured in the sight of Peter, James, and John. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Pastor: God of Love, the people, systems, and institutions of this world are crying out under the weight of feeling unloved. Jesus has come that all people come to know and believe how much You love all of us – from the least to the greatest. Grant that our elected and appointed officials be persuaded by Your love to govern wisely that all people on earth dwell in peace. Lord, in Your mercy.
People: hear our prayer.
Pastor: God of Love, Your people are torn to pieces by many dangers, toils, and snares. Our attentions are divided and our words and actions are motivated by the cares, griefs, and pains of our lives. We cause one another much pain and so get in the way of Your love for all people in Christ Jesus flowing through us to all people in our communities and societies. Grant that we turn to You embracing our identity as vessels of Your mercy in a way that overflows to the people around us. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Pastor: God of Love, there are many who are weak and sick among us and in our circles of family and friends. Remember for good all people who are suffering in body, mind, or spirit, [especially…]. Grant them both inward and outward and healing according to Your will, helping them to trust Your goodness in all things. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Pastor: Into Your hands, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
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,
Pastor: Today marks the end of the Epiphany season, and in a few days, we begin Lent on Ash Wednesday. It is traditional to mute our joy during Lent by not singing Alleluias. We say our “farewell to Alleluia” as we sing the final hymn.
Lord let Your light
Light of Your face shine on us
Lord let Your light
Light of Your face shine on us
That we may be saved
That we may have life
To find our way in the darkest night
Let Your light shine on us
Lord let Your grace
Grace from Your hand fall on us
Lord let Your grace
Grace from Your hand fall on us
That we may be saved
That we may have life
To find our way in the darkest night
Let Your grace fall on us
Lord let Your love
Love with no end come over us
Lord let Your love
Love with no end come over us
That we may be saved
That we may have life
To find our way in the darkest night
Let Your love come over us
Let Your light shine on us
Pastor: Go in Peace! Serve the Lord!
People: Thanks be to God!
Announcements
ASH Wednesday Service. This week Peace will start our midweek Lenten services on March 2 with our Ash Wednesday Service. We will start at 6:30pm and will be following the Holden Evening Prayer format. We hope to see you there.
Healing and renewal Service. “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up (James 5:14).” Peace is offering a Prayer, Healing and Renewal Service on the first Sundays of the month at 9 am. The next service will be on Sunday, March 6 at 9:00 am. Pastor Lucke and the elders want to address your concerns, pains and challenges with prayer and the Lord’s promises. We’ll be wearing masks and maintaining physical distancing. The service itself is brief lasting 20 minutes.
Adult Bible Study. Merv Munster will be leading us in Bible study during the month of March and April up to Easter. Please join us for this study based upon the weekly Epistle lesson.
Eat, Chat, Pray. The Eat, Chat, Pray group meets Wednesday mornings in the fellowship hall at 7:30. This is another great opportunity to gather with other members of the congregation for fellowship, coffee, and prayer.
New CHurch OFFICERS. Today during the worship service we will take the opportunity to install our new Church Officers. If you are a new officer, please be prepared to stand and be recognized during the service.
Slate of Officers for 2022
