The Service in PDF format is at: January 7, 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, January 7, 2024
Musician Colleen Schulze
Reader Debbi Weiler
THEME: Christmas lights may be coming down, but the Light of the world still shines for all to see. We receive this Light during our Epiphany worship today. In today’s lesson for Epiphany Sunday, we see Jesus for the very first time through the eyes of the Wise Men. When the Wise Men visited Jesus, they assuredly met him with many unanswered questions. Jesus answered many of those questions and in response, the Wise Men give gifts of honor and praise. We visit Jesus too today. He answers our greatest fears and fills us with His light!
CHORAL ANTHEM Bell Carol of the Kings
Arranged by Philip Kern; Copyright 1990, Shawnee Press, Inc.
We three kings of orient are,
Bearing gifts, we traverse afar.
Field and fountain,
Moor and mountain,
Following yonder star.
Hark to the bells.
Merrily ring, tell all the world Jesus is King.
Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain.
Gold I bring to crown him again.
King forever, ceasing never,
Over all to rein!
Oh! Star of wonder, star of night,
Star of royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect light.
Hark! How the bells;
sweet silver bells all seem to say,
“Throw cares away!
Christmas is here,
bring good cheer to young and old,
meek and bold,
Ding, dong, ding, dong,
That is their song;
With joyful ring, all caroling.
One seems to hear words of good cheer
From ev’rywhere, filling the air.
Oh how they pound,
raising the sound,
o’er hill and dale,
telling their tale!
Gaily they ring,
While people sing songs of good cheer;
Christmas is here.
Hark! To the bells, merrily ring,
Thell all the world Jesus is King!
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas!
Alleluia! Earth to heav’n replies!
O! Star of wonder, Star of night!
Star of royal beauty bright!
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect light.
Guide us to thy perfect light!
O, on they send,
On without end,
Their joyful tone to ev’ry home.
Ding! Dong! Ding! Dong!
Leader: In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
CONFESSION/FORGIVENESS
Leader: 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 by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
People: Amen.
Leader: If we 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 unrighteousness.
~~~~~ Silence for reflection ~~~~~
Leader: 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 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.
Leader: 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.
Kyrie (Green Book pg. 78-79) ♪
Leader: In peace, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, Have mercy.
Leader: For peace from above, and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, Have mercy.
Leader: For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God. And for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, Have mercy.
Leader: For this holy house, and for all who offer here their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, Have mercy.
Leader: Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.
People: Amen
HYMN OF PRAISE (Green Book pg. 81-82) ♪
Leader: This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia.
People: Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was slain,
whose blood set us free to be people of God.
Power and riches and wisdom and strength,
and honor and blessing and glory are his.
This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia.
Sing with all the people of God and join in the hymn of all creation:
Blessing and honor and glory and might be to God and the Lamb forever, Amen.
This is the feast of victory for our God, for the Lamb who was slain has begun his reign.
Alleluia. Alleluia.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Leader: Let us pray. O God, by the leading of a star You made known Your only-begotten Son to the nations.
People: Lead us, who follow Your Son by faith, to rejoice in the brightness of Your eternal kingdom; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Scripture Lessons
Old Testament Lesson: Isaiah 60:1-6
Nations shall come to the light of the Lord.
60 Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. 2 For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you.
3 And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.
4 Lift up your eyes all around, and see; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be carried on the hip.
5 Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and exult, because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you.
6 A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall bring good news, the praises of the Lord.
Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God!
Holy Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12
The Wise Men follow the star and come to worship Jesus.
2 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:
6 “ ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ” 7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared.
8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”
9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.
11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
Leader: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to You, O Christ!
SERMON HYMN “Be Thou My Vision”
Eleanor Henrietta Hull; Ken Barker; Mary Elizabeth Byrne; Word Music Group; Words: Public Domain ; Music: 2001 Curb Word Music (Admin. by WC Music Corp.)
Be Thou my Vision
O Lord of my heart
Naught be all else to me
Save that Thou art
Thou my best thought
By day or by night
Waking or sleeping
Thy presence my light
Be Thou my Wisdom
And Thou my true Word
I ever with Thee
And Thou with me Lord
Thou my great Father
I Thy true son
Thou in me dwelling
And I with Thee one
Riches I heed not
Nor man’s empty praise
Thou mine inheritance
Now and always
Thou and Thou only
First in my heart
High King of heaven
My treasure Thou art
High King of heaven
My victory won
May I reach heaven’s joys
Bright heaven’s Sun
Heart of my own heart
Whatever befall
Still be my Vision
O Ruler of all
SERMON
“Joining the Wise Men Seeing Jesus”
Pastor Jeremy Lucke
NICENE CREED (Green Book pg. 84)
People: We believe in one God,
The Father, the Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth,
Of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
The only Son of God,
Eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
True God from true God,
Begotten, not made,
Of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
He came down from heaven;
By the power of the Holy Spirit
He became incarnate from the virgin Mary, and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
He suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
In accordance with the Scriptures;
He ascended into heaven
And is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
And his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
Who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
And the life of the world to come. Amen.
OFFERING
We give our offerings as a sign of our lives given the to the Lord in humble service
Leader: Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
For the peace of the whole world, that wars cease and that people of every nation find lasting, perfect peace in Jesus, the Prince of Peace, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, let Your light shine upon all nations.
Leader: For our partner in ministry—Zion Lutheran School, that the children take delight in learning about Your creation and Your love found in Jesus, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, let Your light shine upon our partners in ministry.
Leader: For those who profess faith in Jesus, here at Peace and in each church in Philomath, that the journey of the Wise Men inspires us to follow the light of the Gospel, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, let Your light shine upon Your Church.
Leader: For those who bring their tithes and offerings to this altar that, like the gold, frankincense, and myrrh of the Wise Men, these gifts be pleasing in God’s sight and provide many blessings to His Church, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, let Your light shine upon all who give.
Leader: For those who lay down their lives for their fellow men and women, including first responders, members of law enforcement, doctors and nurses, and those who wear the uniform of our country, that they take shelter in the arms of our Savior, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, let Your light shine upon those who sacrifice their lives.
Leader: For those who are sick and hospitalized, homebound, and for all who are sick in heart, mind, and body, (especially…….), that their lives be touched by our Father’s healing mercy, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, let Your light shine upon all those who suffer.
Leader: For these and all other prayers and intercessions we have, that the petitions of our hearts may be known to the One who know and loves us all, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, let Your light lead us to You. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING (Green Book pg. 88) ♪
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.
PROPER PREFACE (Green Book pg. 88)
Leader: It is indeed right and salutary …. We praise your name and join their unending hymn:
SANCTUS (Green Book pg. 89) ♪
People:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, Lord God of pow’r and might: Heav’n and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
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 HYMNS
“Angels, from the Realms of Glory”
Angels, from the realms of glory,
Wing your flight o’er all the earth;
Once you sang creation’s story;
Now proclaim Messiah’s birth:
.
Come and worship,
come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn king.
.
Shepherds, in the fields abiding,
Watching o’er your flocks by night,
God with us is now residing,
Yonder shines the infant light.
.
Come and worship,
come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn king.
.
Sages, leave your contemplations,
Brighter visions beam afar;
Seek the great desire of nations,
You have seen his natal star.
.
Come and worship,
come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn king.
.
All creation, join in praising
God, the Father, Spirit, Son,
Evermore your voices raising
To the eternal Three in One.
.
Come and worship,
come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn king.
By: Anna B. Warner, alt. & Wm. B. Bradbury; © 1971 by William J. Gaither. The Fellowship Publications Edina, MN 55435
Jesus Loves Me
Jesus loves me this I know,
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong,
They are weak, but He is strong.
Chorus: Yes Jesus loves me,
Yes Jesus loves me,
Yes Jesus loves me,
The Bible tells me so.
.
Jesus loves me, Loves me still,
Though I’m very weak and ill.
That I might from sin be free
Bled and died upon the tree.
Chorus
Jesus loves me! He who died,
Heavens gates to open wide
He will wash away my sin,
Let his little child come in.
Chorus
Jesus loves me he will stay,
Close beside me all the way.
That I might from sin be free,
I will henceforth live for thee.
Chorus
Leader: Almighty God, Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever.
People: Amen.
Text: English Carol, c. 17th cent.; Tune: English Carol, c. 17th cent.; © Words: Public Domain, Music: Public Domain
The first Noel, the angel did say,
Was to certain poor shepherds
in fields as they lay;
In fields where they lay
keeping their sheep,
On a cold winter’s night
that was so deep.
.
Chorus: Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.
.
They looked up and saw a star,
Shining in the east, beyond them far,
And to the earth it gave great light,
And so it continued both day and night.
Chorus
Then let us all with one accord
Sing praises to our heav’nly Lord,
That hath made heav’n
and earth of naught,
And with His blood
mankind hath bought.
Chorus
Leader: Go in peace! Serve the Lord!
People: Thanks be to God!
Announcements
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.
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.
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.
Pastor away. Pastor Lucke will be away Friday, January 12 to Tuesday, January 16. Members may contact any of the elders if you need pastoral assistance.
FLOWERS. The new flower chart for 2024 is up in the narthex on the bulletin board. Consider signing up and providing flowers for the altar. If you have any questions, see Carole Gutbrod.
NEW ADVENT BANNER. Today we will dedicate the new Advent banner in memory of Bob Glathar. Two other banners have been placed on the south wall of the sanctuary as well. We give thanks for these reminders of God’s commitment and love to us through all the seasons of the year and life.
ONLINE DIRECTORY FORMS. We are wanting to make Peace’s online directory a reality! This weekend’s bulletin will include a form for you to fill out. Fill out the form and return it to Dan. Dan will be inputting the forms into the online directory. The hope is to have most of the online directory completed by the start of February. See Dan if you have any questions.
TAKING THE TREE DOWN. Today, after fellowship, we will need a few people to assist with the taking down of the Christmas tree, lights and ornaments. This shouldn’t take too long and extra hands to help would be greatly appreciated!
GIVING STATEMENTS. Peace’s counters have placed your 2023 Giving Statements in your mailbox at church. Make sure to pick it up this Sunday or in the near future.
