From the Pastor
Dear Peace family,
One of the clear messages of Lent is that Jesus came to serve and not to be served. Jesus encourages us with these words, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant to all (Mark 9:35).”
What comes naturally to me is to be served. Consider these examples. When I ordered a pizza to be delivered last weekend, I expected it to be at our house in under an hour. When the pizza didn’t arrive on time, I was hungry and disappointed! When I ordered a television show on Netflix last month, I expected to receive all 7 seasons of the show—not just a single show. When I only received a single show, I gave up on watching altogether. When I ordered a book online, I expected that delivery would take three days. When it took a full week, I began to complain each day that it didn’t come. I’ve become accustomed to being served. It’s quite countercultural these days to serve.
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 22nd. We will be gathering each Wednesday during Lent at 5:00 pm for Soup Supper with a brief Lent Worship opportunity in the sanctuary at 6:00 pm. Peace will be partnering with Shepherd of the Valley (Corvallis) and Our Savior (Waldport) for these services as the pastors will be rotating each week to share a special message. In addition to our Lent Worship opportunities, be on the lookout for a special Lent devotion titled, “Man of Sorrows, People of Joy.” These devotions will be made available in booklet form for our members.
Wouldn’t it be great if everyone at Peace could say on Easter Sunday, “I am a more useful tool for God than I was at the beginning of Lent?”
The tools in my garage can be placed into three categories. There are tools collecting dust in the corner. A dull axe comes to mind as well as a rusty saw. These tools haven’t been used at all in the last five years. I really should just get rid of them, but there they sit in corner.
There are tools hidden away in a box. A nice set of sheers comes to mind. Many of my tools hidden away are in great shape. I just don’t think of them that often and I forget to use them as they are not all that accessible.
Finally, there are tools that are laying out in plain sight ready to be used. They are useful. I know right where they are without even walking into the garage. A hammer, a drill and measuring tape come quickly to mind.
When God’s people look for opportunities to serve, they are like the tools in the garage that are accessible and useful. They seek to find the cracks in the community that need a little maintenance. They look for the holes in the church that need to be filled or refilled again. They pay extra attention to a broken part of the family, and they seek to be the glue that holds it all together.
What sharpens us as tools for God’s service is to appreciate Jesus’ work more deeply on our behalf. During the weeks of Lent, we’ll be reminded of His work—His teaching, His healing, His comforting, His saving, His loving.
I don’t know about you, but I am ready to be sharpened, molded and tuned to be a better tool for God—to be a servant.
In His Joy,
Pastor Lucke
Peace by the Numbers
Plan for Worship
February 5 –10:00 am Worship Service with Communion
February 12 – 10:00 am Worship Service
February 19 – 10:00 am Worship Service with Communion
February 26 – 10:00 am Worship Service
.
Congregational Meeting
MARK YOUR CALENDARS! The Annual Church Congregational Meeting will be held during Fellowship on Sunday, February 5. This meeting will give you the opportunity to hear from your church council recapping what occurred in 2022 as well as a look forward to 2023. Please plan on attending! If you would like a copy of the Annual Report emailed to you, please let us know.
Wednesday Bible Study
The Bible is not so much like a magazine that can be skimmed and put down. The Bible is more so like a mine that needs to be carefully searched. All are welcome to our mining expedition of I Timothy. We’ll be meeting in the fellowship hall on Wednesday, February 8 at 2 pm. Just bring your Bible and an open heart for discovery. Here is the reading for our session this month:
Wednesday, February 8: Finding Contentment I Timothy 6:6-19
Our topic? If godliness describes how much we are like Christ–the degree to which we reflect his actions and character–then contentment describes the ways in which we reflect his attitude. We don’t take our cues for peace and satisfaction primarily from our environment and circumstances–but from Jesus.
A question to ponder. Why is it so difficult to be content? What are some of the warning signs of discontentment?
Lent at Peace: The Visions of Zechariah
Join us for Soup Suppers at Peace for Lent! We will be gathering each Wednesday in Lent at 5:00 pm for Soup Supper with Lent Worship in the sanctuary at 6:00 pm. See Sally Stouder if you’d like to participate in providing soup for one of the gatherings. Here is the theme for each of the Wednesdays:
Ash Wednesday, February 22…………… Text: Zechariah 1:7-17. God notices the rest of the wicked and the suffering of his people.
March 1 …………… Text: Zechariah 1:1-6. God calls all sinners to repentance.
March 8 ……………. Text: Zechariah 1:18-21. God uses small, unimpressive things to solve the big problems.
March 15 …………… Text: Zechariah 3:1-10. Christ takes our sins and gives us his righteousness.
March 22 …………… Text: Zechariah 2:1-13. The old Jerusalem foreshadowed the Church, the new Jerusalem.
March 29 ……………. Text: Zechariah 4:1-14. The Spirit-filled Word strengthens us for our positions in life.
Men’s Breakfast
Men’s Breakfast: February 4th is time for the Peace Men’s First Saturday Breakfast. Ellen Holroyd has graciously offered to prepare her special Biscuit and Gravy for us. Don’t miss this special breakfast. Come early, we have coffee ready at 8:00 AM, server breakfast at 8:30 and have a discussion from 9 – 10. The topic for discussion will be sent out with the email reminder. It is always helpful to let me know whether you plan to attend, so enough food is available. Should you like be part of the cooking team, please let me know. Hope to see many there. Oscar Gutbrod: [email protected]
Lenten Soup Suppers
We are bringing back Wednesday soup suppers for Lent -Hooray! We need people to sign up to bring your favorite soups as well as breads and cookies. Look for the sign-up list in the hallway between the Narthex and the Fellowship Hall. Every Wednesday we will need four people to bring soup, two people to bring bread and butter and someone to bring about 48 cookies. The dates will be February 22 (Ash Wednesday), March 1, March 8, March 15, March 22 and March 29.
American Red Cross Blood Drive
The need for blood is constant and your efforts help ensure a safe and stable blood supply is available for people in need. Peace hosted a blood drive on December 16 and the results are as follows:
Our next Blood Drive is scheduled for February 17 and there are still a few slots left. Homemade goodies and very much appreciated by the donors. Thanks for your support.
Popular Christian Concert in Eugene
.
Interested in seeing a concert with a popular Christian artist? Kari Jobe, Cody Carnes & Martin Smith will be at the First Baptist Church in Eugene on Sunday, March 19th at 7:00pm. Tickets are available online starting at $45.
.
.
Ladies Guild & Love, Inc. Christmas Family
Thank you to everyone who helped make Christmas special for the family experiencing some hardship this holiday season.
Letter from the family:
Hi Jim and Peace Family,
Thank you so much for transporting the wonderful gifts to our family – I sent a thank you card, but still want to say re say it – we are so blessed!!
Here are a few pictures of the girls opening some of the gifts, they had soooo much fun!! (the pictures are more blurry than I thought…)
Thank you again!!
Tasha, James, Olivia, and Ellie
A Little About Our Mission Partner – WE CARE
The financial assistance(s) provided by We Care helps individuals in our area move through an immediate crisis onward to a more stable and sustainable future.
Peace and other faith-based communities support We Care’s efforts through prayers and donations.
Along with generous donations from various businesses and persons throughout our community.
In 2022, 352 families/individuals in Corvallis were given assistants, 24 right here in Philomath as well as some in neighboring towns. Rent and utilities are the biggest request applicants ask for.
We Care is now looking to hire an intake person to help make the hard decisions of choosing the applicants that will be receiving financial assistants. They are also looking for more volunteers to help with the program.
Please keep this much needed organization in your prayers, if you would like more information, please visit their web site: www.wecarecorvallis.org
Faith & Family Day with the Ducks
For the first time in five years, we are excited to bring back the Faith & Family Day for both the Oregon Ducks Men’s and Women’s basketball seasons. We invite Peace Lutheran Church – Philomath, as well as other churches and religious organizations across Oregon and Southern Washington to join us in these special events.
The goal of this theme day is to give church members an avenue to come together and connect after the craziness of the last two years. You’ll have the opportunity to take in a Ducks game while enjoying time together with family and members of your community.
Churches and religious clubs/organizations will be able to take advantage of specially discounted tickets for this event. This theme night will be hosted for one Men’s game and one Women’s game.
WHEN: Saturday, January 28th at 5pm vs. University of Utah (Men’s)
Friday, February 3rd at 7pm vs. University of Colorado (Women’s)
WHERE: Matthew Knight Arena
1390 Villard Street
Eugene, OR 97403
Space is limited! For further information on how to secure your tickets, please contact Bailey Levine by phone at (541) 346 – 8452 or email at [email protected].
Salmon & Jazz Dinner
Comedy Date Night
Thank You from Camp Lutherwood
Worth Sharing…
A pastor asked an older farmer, decked out in bib overalls, to say grace for the morning breakfast.
“Lord, I hate buttermilk”, the farmer began. The visiting pastor opened one eye to glance at the farmer and wonder where he was going.
The farmer loudly proclaimed, “Lord, I hate lard.” Now the pastor was growing concerned.
Without missing a beat, the farmer continued, “And Lord, you know I don’t much care for raw white flour.” The pastor once again opened an eye to glance around the room and saw that he wasn’t the only one to feel uncomfortable.
Then the farmer added, “But Lord, when you mix them all together and bake them, I do love warm fresh biscuits. So, Lord, when things come up that we don’t like, when life gets hard, when we don’t understand what you are saying to us, help us to just relax and wait until you are done mixing. It will probably be even better than biscuits. Amen.”
Within that prayer is great wisdom for all when it comes to complicated situations like we are experiencing in the world today. Stay strong, my friends, because the Lord is mixing several things that we don’t really care for, but something even better is going to come when He is done with it.
