The Service in PDF format is at: February 4, 2024 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, February 4, 2024
Musician Karyn Stanley
Reader Carole Gutbrod
Flowers Dan Dusek
AS WE GATHER… All throughout Epiphany season is the shadow of the question: Who is Jesus? Living at a time when it seems the Church is under attack, we might long for a time when everyone was looking for Jesus. Whether they know or realize it, the world is looking for Jesus, that is, for an answer to sin, fear, loneliness, pain, and death. Jesus is that answer. Today we’ll rediscover who Jesus was for Zacchaeus. The love Jesus showed Zacchaeus is the same love he shows for us!
Leader: Holy God! Fill us this day with new breath! And we shall be living words of praise!
People: Amen.
OPENING UP ABOUT OURSELVES
Leader: Almighty God, our maker and Redeemer, we sinners confess to You that we are by nature sinful and that we have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed. Today we seek Your mercy and grace by beginning by confessing our sins.
People: Lord, we need Your mercy. In this hour, help us to see our sin and pain and pray for a fresh start. Help us to see the shortcomings in our lives and look to You for the answers to our problems. Give us a new vision of what life can be like. Teach us to hope, to love, to give and to have faith. Lord, we need Your mercy.
~~~~~ Silence for Reflection ~~~~~
RECEIVING GOOD NEWS
Leader: Our God has heard the cries and felt your pain and has had mercy on us. God has seen our need and provided for our salvation; see our condition and provided the solution; see our heart and given us a Savior. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, our sin is no longer the weight that holds us down. We are free to live in victory, free from the sin of our self deceit. Praise God for goodness.
People: Amen.
SONG OF PRAISE “Behold What Manner of Love”
Words & Music by Patricia Van Tine; Copyright 1978 Maranatha! Music. All rights reserved.
Behold what manner of love
the Father has Given unto us!
Behold what manner of Love
the Father has given unto us!
That We should be called
the children of God.
That We should be called
the children of God.
(Repeat)
Leader: We pray…
People: O Lord, today we pray for a strengthening of our faith so that we can rely on You for all things. We pray for this strengthening so that we can be confident of Your almighty power and eternal love in all circumstances.
Leader: We pray these things through Jesus, Your Son, our Lord.
People: Amen.
HEARING FROM GOD’S WORD
First Reading: I Corinthians 9:16-27
Paul changes his approach to win different people.
16 For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!
17 For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship.
18 What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel. 19 For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.
20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law.
21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law.
22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.
26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God!
Jesus invites Zacchaeus to dinner in Zacchaeus’ house.
19 He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. 3 And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature.
4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully.
7 And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” 8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.”
9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
11 As they heard these things, he proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately.
Leader: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to You, O Christ!
SERMON SONG: “Because He Lives”
By: W.J. and Gloria Gaither; Copyright 1971 by William J. Gaither. All rights reserved.
God sent His son, they called Him Jesus
He came to love, heal, and forgive.
He lived and died to buy my pardon;
An empty grave is there to
prove my Savior lives
.
Chorus: Because He lives I can face tomorrow;
Because He lives all fear is gone,
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living
just because He lives.
.
How sweet to hold a new born baby
And feel the pride and joy He gives;
But greater still the calm assurance
This child can face uncertain days
because He lives.
Chorus
And then one day I’ll cross the river;
I’ll fight life’s final war with pain.
And then as death gives way to victory,
I’ll see the lights of glory
and I’ll know He lives.
Chorus
SERMON
“Jesus Takes the Hit”
Pastor Jeremy Lucke
People: I believe in God, who has created all things and continues to create new life within us…
I believe in Jesus, son of God, son of man, the Savior of the world. By His life, His death and resurrection, I can know the true depth of human possibility, and experience the true joy of an abundant life…
I believe that the Holy Spirit is present, now and always, calling us to faith, giving us gifts and empowering us for service…
I believe that the community of believers called the church can experience the fullness of life through the word, the sacraments, and all that we do.
OFFERING
We give our offerings as a sign of our lives given the to the Lord in humble service
Leader: O Lord, You are the Maker of Light and of all that is good. We thank and praise You that You rule all things, that You care for each of us, and that You want all people to know Your mercy and love as it has been revealed in Christ Jesus. Continue to sustain us by Your grace, that we may ever praise You. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Leader: Father, let the light of Your Word shine in our midst and into the darkness of unbelief that surrounds us. By Your Word instruct us in Your ways, build up this congregation and all the congregations of Philomath. Bring all peoples to trust in Your salvation and to glorify You. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Leader: God of mercy, hear our prayers on behalf of all those in need. Restore health to those who are ill (especially…), and grant them patience and renewed strength. Raise up helpers for the downcast and distressed, for those who are without sufficient food, and for those who seek meaningful employment. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Leader: God of all compassion, watch over those who suffer the effects of war, violence, and natural catastrophe. According to Your will, provide sustenance to the needy. For those who are being persecuted, bring about a cessation of hostility. Grant to Your Church renewed vigor to take the good news of salvation to all those who are without the hope of eternal life. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Leader: It is into Your hands that we commend all for whom we pray through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
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,
Forever and ever. Amen
DISTRIBUTION HYMNS
Jesus, name above all names,
Beautiful Savior, glorious Lord,
Emmanuel, God is With us,
Blessed Redeemer, living Word.
.
Jesus, loving 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.
“Just a Closer Walk with Thee”
I am weak but Thou art strong;
Jesus keep me from all wrong.
I’ll be satisfied as long
As I walk let me walk close to Thee.
.
Chorus: Just a closer walk with thee
Grant it Jesus is my plea.
Daily walking close to Thee
Let it be dear Lord let it be.
.
Through this world of
toil and snares,
If I falter Lord who cares.
Who with me my burden shares,
None but Thee dear Lord,
none but Thee.
Chorus
When my feeble life is o’er,
Time for me will be no more.
Guide me gently safely o’er
To Thy kingdom shore to Thy shore.
Chorus
CLOSING SONG: “For the Beauty of the Earth”
For the beauty of the earth,
For the glory of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies:
Christ, our Lord, to You we raise
This our sacrifice of praise.
.
For the wonder of each hour
Of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale and tree and flow’r,
Sun and moon and stars of light:
Christ, our Lord, to You we raise
This our sacrifice of praise.
.
For the joy of ear and eye,
For the heart and mind’s delight,
For the mystic harmony
Linking sense to sound and sight:
Christ, our Lord, to You we raise
This our sacrifice of praise.
.
For the joy of human love,
Brother, sister, parent, child,
Friends on earth and friends above,
For all gentle thoughts and mild:
Christ, our Lord, to You we raise
This our sacrifice of praise.
.
For yourself, best Gift divine
To the world so freely giv’n;
Agent of God’s grand design,
Peace on earth, and joy in heav’n.
Christ, our Lord, to You we raise
This our sacrifice of praise.
Leader: Go in peace! Serve the Lord!
People: Thanks be to God!
Announcements
Annual Church Meeting. Annual Church Congregational Meeting will be held today during Fellowship. 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! Also, paper copies of the new church directory will be available during the meeting.
Schedule of Events for February:
- February 11 – Welcome of New Members
- February 14 – Ash Wednesday and Soup Supper at 5:00pm followed by Lenten Midweek service at 6:00pm
- February 18 – Installation of the Church Council
- February 21 – Soup Supper at 5:00pm followed by Lenten Midweek service at 6:00pm
- February 28 – Soup Supper at 5:00pm followed by Lenten Midweek service at 6:00pm
Backpack Working Party: Next Friday, February 9 at 2pm. All are invited to help, and it should only take 1 hour of your time. If you have questions, please see Diane Crocker or email her at [email protected]
Blood DRIVE at peace. There will be a Red Cross Blood Drive on Friday, February 16, at Peace starting at 12:00. There is a critical blood shortage, and the Red Cross could really use your help. There are some spots still available. We will also need volunteers to provide yummy treats and, of course, for prayers for a successful blood drive.
Book Swap/Author Talk: Mark your calendar – Saturday, April 13 at 11:00 am- 12:30pm. This is a free event for the ladies of Peace as well as any friends/community members or interested parties. See Diane for any questions.