The Service in PDF format is at: March 2, 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 2, 2025
Musician Colleen Schulze
Reader Debbi Weiler
Flowers Jan Lane
THEME: Daily, as believers, we endeavor to follow Jesus. Also daily, we are consumed by the difficulties, burdens, disease, fear, and anxiety of this sinful world, and we feel as if we are drowning. Today is Transfiguration Sunday. This was a moment in time in which our Lord Jesus could have stayed on the mountaintop in full glory. Jesus chose to come down and begin His gruesome journey to the cross to take our place. Knowing that Jesus did this for us, gives us greater confidence as face our daily ups and downs.
Deborah D. Smith, Michael W. Smith; © 1996 Deer Valley Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
Lord, let Your light
Light of Your face
Shine on us
Lord, let Your light
Light of Your face
Shine on us
.
That we may be saved
That we may have life
To find our way in the darkest night
Let Your light shine on us
.
Lord, let Your grace
Grace from Your hand
Fall on us
Lord, let Your grace
Grace from Your hand
Fall on us
.
That we may be saved
That we may have life
To find our way in the darkest night
Let Your grace fall on us
Lord, let Your love
.
Love with no end
Come over us
Lord, let Your love
Love with no end
Come over us
.
That we may be saved
That we may have life
To find our way in the darkest night
Let Your love come over us
Let Your light shine on us
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.
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
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.
Leader: Let us pray.
Leader: Triune God, You found Your servant Moses in the wilderness and led him back to Egypt to rescue Your people Israel, bringing them to the threshold of the Promised Land. Grant that as Moses trusted Your promises at the edge of life and death, we also trust You together in all things; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns in communion and love with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
People: Amen.
SCRIPTURE LESSONS
OLD TESTAMENT LESSON Deuteronomy 34:1-12
The death of Moses
34 Then Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho. And the Lord showed him all the land, Gilead as far as Dan, 2 all Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the western sea,
3 the Negeb, and the Plain, that is, the Valley of Jericho the city of palm trees, as far as Zoar. 4 And the Lord said to him, “This is the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, ‘I will give it to your offspring.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not go over there.”
5 So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord, 6 and he buried him in the valley in the land of Moab opposite Beth-peor; but no one knows the place of his burial to this day.
7 Moses was 120 years old when he died. His eye was undimmed, and his vigor unabated. 8 And the people of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days. Then the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended.
9 And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him. So the people of Israel obeyed him and did as the Lord had commanded Moses. 10 And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face,
11 none like him for all the signs and the wonders that the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land, 12 and for all the mighty power and all the great deeds of terror that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.
Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
The transfiguration of Jesus
28 Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white.
30 And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, 31 who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.
32 Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him.
33 And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said.
34 As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!”
36 And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen.
Leader: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to You, O Christ.
SERMON HYMN “Holy, Holy, Holy”
Text: Bishop Reginald Heber, 1783-1826, alt. Tune: John B. Dykes, 1823-1876; ©1978 published by Augsburg Publishing House, Minneapolis & Board of Publication, Lutheran Church in America, Philadelphia.
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty
Early in the morning
our song shall rise to Thee.
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons blessed Trinity!
.
Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee,
Casting down their golden crowns
around the glassy sea;
Cherubim and seraphim
falling down before Thee,
Which wert and art
and evermore shalt be.
.
Holy, holy, holy! Though the
darkness hide Thee,
Though the eye of sinful man
Thy glory may not see,
Only Thou art holy’
there is none beside Thee,
Perfect in pow’r in love and purity.
.
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All Thy works shall praise Thy name
in earth and sky and sea.
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!
SERMON
“Our BEING comes before our DOING”
Pastor Jeremy Lucke
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.
We give our offerings as a sign of our lives given to the Lord in humble service.
Leader: Let us pray together in Christ Jesus for all people according to their needs. Transforming God of Love, living on our own terms, our lives have become unmanageable. Grant that by Your Word and Spirit we continually be transformed, trusting in Jesus who was transfigured in the sight of Peter, James, and John. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Leader: Transforming God of Love, the people, systems, and institutions of this world are crying out under the weight of feeling unloved. Jesus has come that all people come to know and believe how much You love all of us – from the least to the greatest. Grant that our elected and appointed officials be persuaded by Your love to govern wisely that all people on earth dwell in peace. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Leader: Transforming God of Love, Your people are torn to pieces by many dangers, toils, and snares. Our attentions are divided, and our words and actions are motivated by the cares, griefs, and pains of our lives. We cause one another much pain and so get in the way of Your love for all people in Christ Jesus flowing through us to all people in our communities and societies. Grant that we turn to You embracing our identity as vessels of Your mercy in a way that overflows to the people around us. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Leader: Transforming God of Love, there are many who are weak and sick among us and in our circles of family and friends. Remember for good all people who are suffering in body, mind, or spirit, [especially . . .]. Grant them both inward and outward healing according to Your will, helping them to trust Your goodness in all things. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Leader: Into Your hands we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
People: Amen.
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
Leader: It is indeed right and salutary …. We praise your name and join their unending hymn:
SANCTUS
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.
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
Charlotte Elliott; William Batchelder Bradbury; Words: Public Domain ; Music: Public Domain
Just as I am without one plea
But that Thy Blood was shed for me
And that Thou bidd’st me come to Thee
O Lamb of God I come I come
.
Just as I am and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot
To Thee Whose Blood can cleanse each spot
O Lamb of God I come I come
.
Just as I am though tossed about
With many a conflict many a doubt
Fightings and fears within without
O Lamb of God I come I come
.
Just as I am poor wretched blind
Sight riches healing of the mind
Yea all I need in Thee to find
O Lamb of God I come I come
.
Just as I am Thou wilt receive
Wilt welcome pardon cleanse relieve
Because Thy Promise I believe
O Lamb of God I come I come
Joseph Scriven; Charles C. Converse
What a friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer!
.
Have we trials and temptations,
is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged,
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
who with all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness,
take it to the Lord in prayer.
.
Are we weak and heavy laden,
cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Saviour, still our refuge,
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise,
forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer;
In his arms he’ll take and shield thee,
thou wilt find a solace there.
Leader: Today marks the end of the Epiphany season, and in a few days we begin Lent on Ash Wednesday. It is traditional to mute our joy during Lent by not singing Alleluias. We say our “farewell to Alleluia” as we sing the final hymn.
Arranged by: Anna Laura Page
All praise to Thee, my God, this night,
For all the blessings of the light!
Keep me, O keep me, King of kings,
Beneath Thine own almighty wings.
.
In ev’ry land begin the song
To ev’ry land the strains be long;
In cheerful sounds all voices raise,
And fill the world with loudest praise.
.
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen.
Leader: Go in peace! Serve the Lord!
People: Thanks be to God!
ANNOUNCEMENTS
TABLES OF PEACE……………. Would you like to get to know the members of the congregation better? If so, consider signing up to join a Tables of Peace group. Each group gets together monthly either at the church or in someone’s home to share a meal and engage in conversation. It’s a great way to socialize with your Peace family. The sign-up sheets for February to April are in the hallway between the narthex and the fellowship hall.
LENT SOUP SUPPER………….. The season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, March 5. We will be journeying through the season of Lent with Soup Suppers at 5:00 pm each Wednesday with a brief Lent service to follow at 6:00 pm. These Wednesday night suppers and gatherings conclude on Wednesday, April 9. Come and enjoy. Plan ahead. To make these gatherings run smoothly, we need people to sign up and provide soup and bread. Please consider sharing something for your Peace family. Sign up on the bulletin board in the fellowship hall. And see Sally Stouder 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 service 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 will be sharing “Walking with Jesus in 2025” for the Adult Bible Study hour during the season of Lent. The first session will be Sunday, March 9. All are welcome for these presentations in the sanctuary. We’ll begin at 9 am. What it means to follow Jesus will be shared in LifeShapes. Why shapes? Because of technological advancements (which are indeed wonderful), we no longer have to remember something we hear. We can look it up! For this reason, we need information that is attached to symbols and shapes to better remember! By remembering these shapes, we can understand what it means to follow Jesus. See you on March 9th !
Ash Wednesday this Wednesday!! …………. The season of Lent begins this Wednesday, March 5. We recognize the day by gathering for Soup Supper at 5 pm with a brief Lent service in the sanctuary to follow at 6 pm. During the service there will be time to receive the imposition of ashes and have the words from Genesis 3 spoken over us: “From dust you have come and to dust you shall return.” Lent helps us to deepen our understanding of what Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross means for us. Each Wednesday we’ll be discussing a different letter in the acronym SCARS. S–Sin. C–Confession. A–Absolution. R–Restoration. S–Sanctification. Scars remind us of healing. Jesus had scars from his death and crucifixion. They remind us how we are healed. Hope you can make it this Wednesday!
Change Clocks Next Saturday Night………………It’s that time of year again to spring forward. Don’t forget to advance your clocks one hour before you go to be next Saturday night.