The Service in PDF format is at: March 16, 2025 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 Anne Schroeder & 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, Joyce Long, Oscar Gutbrod, Sam Worth, Rick Durling, Jim Holroyd, Debbi Weiler, Dan Dusek, Seamus Harrington
Praise Team Rick Durling, Patrick Kamins, Ginny Tonelli, Karyn Stanley, Nora Stanley, Diane Crocker, Kaia Lucke, Anne Schroeder, John Mergl
Today, March 16, 2025
Musician Colleen Schulze
Reader Debbi Weiler
Flowers Bill & Cheryl Narver
THEME: Mary, the sister of Lazarus and Martha, was a witness to Christ as recorded in John’s Gospel. As Jesus and many others are gathered for dinner, Mary anoints Jesus’ feet with an ointment that was worth a year’s wages. What a generous act! Mary’s generosity is contrasted with Judas’s greed. Judas criticizes Mary’s generosity toward Jesus, saying that the ointment could have been sold and the proceeds given to the poor. But John notes something important: Judas did not say this because he cared for the poor. Judas kept the moneybag for the disciples and had been continually stealing from it. While Mary is generous toward Jesus, Judas seeks his own advantage. We remember Mary’s generosity and love, which points us to Jesus.
RINGING OF THE BELL
After the ringing of the bell, we take a few moments in silence to prepare our hearts and minds for today’s worship.
Leader: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
People: And also with you.
A WORD ABOUT OUR WORSHIP TODAY Psalm 73
Leader: Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
People: You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward You will receive me to glory.
Leader: Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides You.
People: My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Leader: For behold, those who are far from You shall perish; You put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to You.
People: But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord my refuge, that I may tell of all Your works.
CONFESSING TO GOD
Leader: We are gathered here today to hear God’s Word, call upon Him in prayer and sing His praises. Let us first begin by thinking about our unworthiness and how we have fallen short in thought, word, and deed. During this moment of silence, we reflect upon our need for God’s forgiveness and help.
Leader: We confess…
People: Lord, we have not placed our relationship with You as the main priority in our life. We have been distracted with the busyness of life. And then when times have gotten difficult, we have failed to remember how You will care for us. We confess that we have not loved You above all things. But we seek a change and that is why we are here today. Forgive us, renew us, so that we might delight in You.
Leader: Jesus says, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” This was a challenge by Jesus to us. Yet, this is also good news. Jesus did deny himself setting aside his desires. Jesus did take up his cross and die for us. Because of Jesus’ work, I announce God grace to you today. Your sins are forgiven, in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
SONG OF PRAISE “In Christ Alone”
Keith Getty; Stuart Townend; 2001 Thankyou Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light my strength my song
This Cornerstone this solid Ground
Firm through the fiercest
drought and storm
.
What heights of love
what depths of peace
When fears are stilled
when strivings cease
My Comforter my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand
.
In Christ alone who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
.
Till on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live
.
There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
.
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the
precious blood of Christ
.
No guilt in life no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
.
No power of hell no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand
Leader: O God, You are the strength of Your people and You know those whose hearts are pure and who trust in You above all things. Deliver us from the deceptions of this world and the lies of the enemy that we may follow You and listen to the sound of Your voice speaking salvation through Your Word; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
People: Amen.
HEARING FROM GOD’S WORD
OLD TESTAMENT LESSON Proverbs 11:24-28
Wisdom regarding generosity.
24 One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. 25 Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered. 26 The people curse him who holds back grain, but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it. 27 Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor, but evil comes to him who searches for it.
28 Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.
Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
Mary anoints the feet of Jesus.
12 Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table.
3 Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?”
6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. 8 For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”
9 When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, 11 because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.
Leader: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to You, O Christ.
SERMON HYMN “Take My Life, And Let It Be”
Text: Frances Ridley Havergal, C.H.A. Malan, Public Domain
Take my life, and let it be
Consecrated, Lord to thee;
Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love;
At the impulse of Thy love;
.
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for thee.
Take my voice and let me sing
Always, only, for my King;
Always, only, for my King;
.
Take my will and make it thine;
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is thine own;
It shall be Thy royal throne.
It shall be Thy royal throne.
SERMON
“Replacing Get with Give”
Pastor Jeremy 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 was born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate.
Was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
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 holy Christian Church,
The communion of saints,
The forgiveness of sins,
The resurrection of the body,
And the life everlasting. Amen.
We give our offerings as a sign of our lives offered to God.
Leader: In peace let us pray to the Lord:
People: Lord, have mercy.
Leader: For the 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: For those who are ailing (names…) and those who grieve, that they may be strengthened in body and spirit, confident of the love of Christ, let us pray to the Lord:
People: Lord, have mercy.
Leader: For those who work to bring peace, justice, health, and protection in this and every place, let us pray to the Lord:
People: Lord, have mercy.
Leader: For those who bring offerings, those who do good works in this congregation, those who toil, those who sing, and all the peoples here present who await from the Lord great and abundant mercy, let us pray to the Lord:
People: Lord, have mercy.
Leader: For favorable weather, for an abundance of the fruits of the earth, and for peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord:
People: Lord, have mercy.
Leader: For our deliverance from all affliction, wrath, danger, and need, let us pray to the Lord:
People: Lord, have mercy.
Leader: We pray this through Jesus, Your Son, 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
“Children of the Heavenly Father”
Text: Caroline V. Sandell Berg, 1832-1903; tr. Ernst W. Olson, 1870-1958
Children of the heav’nly Father
Safely in his bosom gather,
Nestling bird or star in heaven
Such a refuge ne’er was given.
.
God his own doth tend and nourish,
In his holy courts they flourish,
From all evil things he spares them,
In his mighty arms he bears them.
.
Neither life nor death shall ever
From the Lord his children sever;
From all evil things he spares them,
In his mighty arms he bears them.
.
Though he giveth or he taketh,
God his children ne’er forsaketh;
His the loving purpose solely
To preserve them pure and holy.
By: Anna B. Warner, alt. & Wm. B. Bradbury; © 1971 by William J. Gaither. The Fellowship Publications Edina, MN 55435
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.
Leader: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ + and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
People: Amen.
CLOSING HYMN: “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee”
Henry Van Dyke Arr. from Ludwig van Beethoven; copyright public domain
Joyful, joyful we adore thee,
God of glory, Lord of love!
Hearts unfold like flow’rs before thee,
Praising thee, their sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness,
Drive the gloom of doubt away.
Giver of immortal gladness,
Fill us with the light of day.
.
All thy works with joy surround thee,
Earth and heav’n reflect thy rays,
Stars and angels sing around thee,
Center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain,
Flow’ry meadow, flashing sea,
Chanting bird, and flowing fountain
Call us to rejoice in thee.
.
Thou art giving and forgiving,
Ever blessing, ever blest,
Wellspring of the joy of living,
Ocean depth of happy rest!
Thou our Father, Christ our brother,
All who live in love are thine;
Teach us how to love each other,
Lift us to the joy divine!
Leader: Go in peace! Serve the Lord!
People: Thanks be to God!
ANNOUNCEMENTS
LENT SOUP SUPPER AND WORSHIP.……….. The season of Lent is underway. All are welcome to this Wednesdays’ Soup Supper at 5:00 pm with a brief Lent service to follow at 6:00 pm. To make these gatherings run smoothly, we need people to sign up and provide soup and bread. Consider sharing something for your Peace family. Sign up on the bulletin board in the fellowship hall. See Sally if you have any questions! Thank you!
HOME-GOING CELEBRATION…………… Peace has put together a Home-Going Celebration Funeral Service Preparation packet. Why did we do this? An online viewer in February wrote to the church asking the question, “Do you have information about all the details of planning a funeral?” The person asked because they weren’t sure if all their family members would remember the details. Peace has a packet available! The packet will prompt you with all sorts of questions regarding education and work history, church and civic activities…..military and funeral service preferences. Come and see Daniel or Pastor if you’d like a copy to fill in.
NEW ADULT BIBLE STUDY……………… Pastor Lucke is sharing a series “Walking with Jesus in 2025” for the adult Sunday School hour. This week’s discussion is about Christianity’s way of sharing both grace and truth. Both are needed! Speaking only grace was not Jesus’ approach. Speaking only truth was not Jesus’ approach either. Next week’s discussion will be about having balanced relationships and how a church can maintain a healthy approach to ministry. All are welcome! Our discussion begins at 9 am in the Sanctuary.
ROTARY MEETING.……………… The sun is out and it makes us think of planting our gardens! When is the best planting time and what are the best things to grow in the Willamette Valley? This week on Tuesday, March 18th at noon in the Fellowship Hall, the Philomath Rotary Club will hear a presentation from Mr. Darren Morgan, Nursery Manager at Shonnard’s. Dareen teaches community education classes at Shonnard’s and Linn-Benton Community College. His presentation topic is “Spring is for Planting.” Lunch will be provided. Please RSVP to Lindy if you will plan on attending.
