The Service in PDF format is at: January 9, 2022 Service
Video of service is at: Facebook Video
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.
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
THEME: Today we will hear about the time God made Himself known to the Gentiles—the Magi. The gift of Jesus means that God came not just for a few but for all—Jew and Gentile. Today we are reminded of God’s gift of Jesus to us. We are also encouraged to emulate the Magi. With joy, our faith moves us to follow where God leads and to worship our Lord. Epiphany is not only a celebration of the past but also a call to shine God’s light in our lives today.
Pastor: In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
Matthew 28:19
CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
Pastor: If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
People: But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:8-9
Pastor: Let us then confess our sins to God our Father.
People: Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. 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. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. 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.
SONG OF CONFESSION (twice through) “White as Snow”
“White as Snow” by Leon Olguin, Copyright 1990 Maranatha Praise, Inc (adm. By Music Services) / Sound Truth Publishing (adm. By Maranatha! Music).
White as snow, white as snow,
Though my sins were as scarlet
Lord, I know, Lord, I know
That I’m clean and forgiven.
Through the power of Your blood,
Through the wonder of Your love,
Through faith in You
I know that I can be white as snow.
Pastor: In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us, and for His sake God forgives us all our sins. To those who believe in Jesus Christ He gives the power to become the children of God and bestows on them the Holy Spirit. May the Lord, who has begun this good work in us, bring it to completion on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
People: Amen.
Pastor: 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.
THE scripture lessons
For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles—
2 assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you,
3 how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. 4 When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ,
5 which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.
6 This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
7 Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power.
8 To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things,
10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.
11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord,
12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.
Pastor: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
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.
Pastor: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to You O Christ.
John Henry Hopkins Jr. Words: Public Domain ; Music: Public Domain
We three kings of Orient are
Bearing gifts we traverse a-far—
Field and fountain, moor and mountain
Following yonder star.
Chorus: O star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect light.
Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain:
Gold I bring to crown Him again,
King forever, ceasing never
Over us all to reign.
Chorus
Frankincense to offer have I
Incense owns a Deity nigh;
Prayer and praising, all men raising,
Worship Him, God on high.
Chorus
Myrrh is mine: its bitter perfume
Breathes a life of gathering gloom—
Sorr’wing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
Sealed in the stone-cold tomb.
Chorus
Glorious now behold Him arise
King and God and Sacrifice;
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Earth to heav’n replies.
Chorus
SERMON
“The Heart of God”
Rev. Jeremy N. Lucke
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.
Pastor: Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
People: (Sung – twice through)
O Lord, hear my prayer,
O Lord, hear my prayer.
when I call answer me.
O Lord, hear my prayer,
O Lord, hear my prayer.
Come and listen to me.
“Oh Lord, Hear My Prayer”, by Taizé. Copyright 1991, Ateliers et Presses de Taizé, Taizé Community, France.
Pastor: O blessed Lord, we give You thanks that the mystery once hidden has now been revealed. We thank You for the clear message that Jesus has come for all people. Grant us boldness so that we may proclaim with confidence this saving Gospel and prepare the hearts of those who hear so that they may believe in Jesus. Lord, in Your mercy.
People: hear our prayer.
Pastor: Gracious Father, we pray for our partner in ministry – Love INC. We pray for those who receive benefits of Love INC’s ministry. Keep them from despair and strengthen their faith – sustain and comfort them. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Pastor: Blessed Savior, You have made Your Church to be the home of all people and bid us welcome the stranger in Your name. Bless our life together around Your Word and bless those who serve us with this ministry on Your behalf. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Pastor: Loving God, Your Son came to grant us healing, comfort, and peace sufficient for all our needs. We cry to You on behalf of (names…) and those who we name before You in our hearts [moment of silence]. We pray that their suffering be relieved, their sorrows find comfort, and their hearts know the fullness of Your peace. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Pastor: Grant to us all things needful and keep from us all things harmful, O Lord, for we trust in Your goodness and in Your mercy, through Jesus, our Lord.
People: Amen.
(Sung twice through)
O Lord, hear my prayer,
O Lord, hear my prayer.
when I call answer me.
O Lord, hear my prayer,
O Lord, hear my prayer.
Come and listen to me.
“Oh Lord, Hear My Prayer”, by Taizé. Copyright 1991, Ateliers et Presses de Taizé, Taizé Community, France.
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
Pastor: Go in peace. You are the forgiven people of God.
People: We will celebrate forgiveness in every tomorrow. We will celebrate forgiveness in the week ahead through acts of kindness, times of listening concern, and deeds of generosity.
Pastor: Go in peace. You are the forgiven people of God.
People: We have received God’s light. We will reflect His light to those around us this week.
Pastor: The Lord be with you. Go and serve in Jesus’ name. Amen.
CLOSING HYMN “Brightest and Best of the Stars of the Morning”
Text: Reginal Heber, 1783-1826, alt. Tune: James P. Harding, c 1860-1911, adapt.
Brightest and best of the sons of the morning,
dawn on our darkness and lend us your aid.
Star of the east, the horizon adorning,
guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.
Cold on his cradle the dewdrops are shining;
low lies his head with the beasts of the stall.
Angels adore him in slumber reclining,
maker and monarch and Savior of all.
Shall we yield him in costly devotion
rarest of fragrances, tribute divine,
gems of the mountain and pearls of the ocean,
myrrh from the forest and gold from the mine?
Vainly we offer each ample oblation,
vainly with gifts would his favor secure.
Richer by far is the heart’s adoration,
dearer to God are the prayers of the poor.
Brightest and best of the sons of the morning,
dawn on our darkness and lend us your aid.
Star of the east, the horizon adorning,
guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.
Pastor: Go in Peace! Serve the Lord!
People: Thanks be to God!
Announcements
Taking down the Christmas Tree. Today after the service, we need a few people to help take down the Christmas tree. If you are able, please stay and help. It should only take a few minutes.
Portals of Prayer. The new portals of prayer books starting in January are available in the narthex. If you would like, please take one.
Church Directories. There are a few more church directories available in the Narthex. If you didn’t receive one or if you need an extra, please help yourself.
MEN @ IMAGINE. There is a weekly Men’s gathering at Imagine Coffee at 5460 SW Philomath Blvd (just before Bi-Mart & Safeway). The group meets at 7:00am and the topics of discussion vary greatly. It’s a good opportunity to get together to socialize and uplift one another. Please check with Rob Schulze if you have any questions.
LEAD SINGING AT PEACE. Do you like to sing? Find yourself singing in the car? We are looking for lead singers at Peace. If you would like to lead the music program at Peace, please let the Pastor or Daniel know.
