From the Pastor
Dear Peace family,
The prophet Isaiah wrote these words around the time of 800 B.C., “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed (Isaiah 53:5).” Who was Isaiah talking about? Was it someone living in his lifetime? Would it be someone to come? How could anyone bring such a sustaining peace and heal everyone?
The month of March ushers in the season of Lent at Peace. Lent begins on Wednesday, March 5 with Ash Wednesday. This is the special service in which we remember that we are mortal. It’s humbling to hear the words, “From dust you have come…and to dust you shall return (Genesis 3:19).” It’s even more humbling on this night to have the mark of ashes on our foreheads as a physical reminder of what the future holds. On Ash Wednesday and on each of the Wednesdays leading up to April 9, we’ll gather at 5 pm for Soup Supper with a brief Lent service at 6 pm. These Wednesday gatherings are in preparation for Easter truths: eternal life is ours…… we are fully healed…….we can live a full and abundant life now. How can we claim such things considering the stark message of Ash Wednesday? Isaiah’s words were fulfilled in one person: Jesus. One person has brought sustaining peace and has completely healed us.
We’ll be sharing this important message in a creative way this Lent by using the SCARS acronym. Do you have any scars that tell a story about you? I bet you do. It’s bittersweet when I look at Kaia’s scar under her chin. She had a fall off of her bike, which created a gaping hole and plenty of blood. I shouldn’t have let that happen—that is the bitter part. Now? There is the slightest scar under her chin. It’s healed—I’m thankful for the healing process and that the placement of the scar isn’t that noticeable—that’s the sweet part.
Jesus had a significant scar too. After his death and resurrection, Jesus went out of his way to make sure that Thomas could see his scar. “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe (John 20:27).” That moment and Jesus’ scar allowed Thomas to finally believe all that Jesus had said and promised.
Jesus’ scar was not just for Thomas, but also for us. As Isaiah promised, “By his wounds, we are healed.”
Pastor and poet Edward Shillito witnessed the horrors of World War I firsthand. As he saw the wounds of his friends, he reflected upon a Jesus who knows about human pain. It led him to write a beautiful poem:
The heavens frighten us; they are too calm;
In all the universe we have no place.
Our wounds are hurting us; where is the balm?
Lord Jesus, by Thy scars, we claim Thy grace.”
Here are the themes for each of the Wednesdays in Lent. It’s easy to remember: SCARS.
- INTRODUCTION – Wednesday, March 5—Ash Wednesday
- SIN—Romans 3:10 – Wednesday, March 12
- CONFESSION—I John 1:8-10 – Wednesday, March 19
- ABSOLUTION—I Timothy 1:15 – Wednesday, March 26
- RESTORATION – Wednesday, April 2
- SANCTIFICATION – Wednesday, April 9
I’m thankful for Jesus’ scars. They make all the difference in the world. I’m excited to celebrate what they mean for us this Lent.
In Jesus’ name,
Pastor J
Peace by the Numbers
Plan for Worship
March 2 – 10:00am Worship service with Communion. The Transfiguration of our Lord.
March 9 – 10:00am Worship service. First Sunday in Lent.
March 16 – 10:00am Worship Service with Communion. Second Sunday in Lent.
March 23 – 10:00am Worship Service. Third Sunday in Lent. March 30 – 10:00am Worship Service. Fourth Sunday in Lent
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!
Men’s Breakfast in March
Men of Peace, please join us for the March Men’s breakfast at Benchwarmers, located at 1895 NW 9th Street in Corvallis. We will meet at 8:30 on Saturday March 1st and our guest speaker will be Mr. Allan Fleming, with the Campus Crusade for Christ OSU. Start your day off right and attend! Talk to Oscar for more information.
Lent Soup Suppers
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, which is Wednesday, March 5. This is a special time of remembrance as we consider our Lord’s life and journey to the cross. Peace journeys through Lent with special mid-week services beginning on Wednesday, March 5 and concluding on Wednesday, April 9. What makes our Soup Suppers so special is having as many people participate and provide food as possible. Sally Stouder is organizing these opportunities to supply soup. Be looking for news this month from her and consider signing up!
Peace’s 75th Year Anniversary Committee
Peace Lutheran Church will turn 75 years old officially on December 31, 2025. That is just nine months away! Look for special visits to come in the year ahead by Pastor Jack and Joy Flachsbart (Pastor at Peace from 2001 to 2012) and Mark and Lisa Herring (children of Pastor Earl and Georgia Herring—Pastor at Peace from 1977 to 1999). We’ll hear from our guests about how God has provided for us, guided us and blessed us. The plan is to celebrate with a special service and dinner in January of 2026. Do you have pictures to share of Peace’s past? Do you have memories of past events at Peace? We would enjoy hearing from you. We also need to form a committee to plan for these special gatherings in the year ahead. If you would like to be a part of this team, please notify Todd, Rachel or Pastor.
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 the church asking the question, “Do you have information about all the details of a 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.
Prayer Warrior Email
Did you know that each week prayers are shared through an email to the Peace Prayer Warriors? The emails are shared each Friday and include specific prayer requests from the week. Would you like to receive those emails? If so, contact Peggy Krueger or Pastor.
Calling all Helpers for a Community Food Drive
Philomath Community Services is organizing a food drive that will benefit the food bank and the PCS Gleaners. We are looking for volunteers to help pick up the bags that were distributed on February 22. The bags would be picked up on Saturday March 1 from 9 am to 11 am. Can you help on that date? The need is great! Please let Pastor know if you could assist. Thank you!
Note from Maggie
Life is such a journey with all kinds of chapters. I am very blessed to have such caring and loving friends and church family. I have to keep reminding myself to be patient and remember God is in control! Thank you for your prayers!
Connecting with Peace Online
Peace’s Livestreaming is only becoming more valuable and used. Be sure to thank the Audio Visual Team. Our team includes Johnathon Holroyd, George Abele, Nicholas Abele, Merv Munster, Callie Santora, Joyce Long, Oscar Gutbrod, Sam Worth, Seamus Harrington, Rick Durling, Jim Holroyd, Debbi Weiler, and Dan Dusek.
People attend our online services for various reasons. Some watch because they are homebound. Some watch as they are travelling and can’t be present on a particular Sunday. We also have people that watch because they are too sick to come in-person. Whatever the reason, we are thankful for our online community!
Have you subscribed to Peace’s YouTube channel? It doesn’t cost anything and allows you to access the service quickly. Go to Youtube.com. Search “Peace Lutheran Church-Philomath.” Subscribe to Peace Lutheran Church Philomath and the most current service will be displayed on your YouTube home page automatically.
New Altar Candles
New altar candles have arrived! It won’t be long before the two candles are placed on the altar and lit for each service. “Why do Christian churches have two candles on the altar?” you might be wondering. The Church has two candles to speak clearly about the two natures of Jesus. Jesus is both True God and True Man. We say that Jesus was True God because only God can overcome sin and death. We say that Jesus was True Man because only a man could die in our place, as our substitute.
As we place the altar candles, notice the new placement of our Christ candle. It will be located by the Baptismal font in the sanctuary. We’ll light it on those occasions in which baptism is a focus in our services. It’s always good to remember our baptisms. In baptism, God didn’t hold back but has given all His greatest gifts—eternal life and the forgiveness of sins!
Spring is Around the Corner – Time to Plant?
The sun is out as I write this and so it makes me think about planting a garden. How about you? The question is, when can I plant and what are the best things to grow in the Willamette Valley?
This month on March 18th at noon in the Fellowship Hall, the Philomath Rotary Club has a great presentation from Mr. Darren Morgan, Nursery Manager, Shonnard’s Nursery, who teaches community education classes at Shonnard’s and Linn-Benton Community College. His presentation topic is ‘Spring is for Planting’. Darren will highlight the variety of plants that are best planted in spring season
We hope you can come and remember – lunch will be provided. Please RSVP to Lindy if you will be attending so we can plan the number of meals.
Something to Ponder…
On Mercy – by William Shakespeare from “The Merchant of Venice”
The quality of mercy is not strain’d
It droppeth as the gentle rain from Heaven
Upon the place beneath: it is twice bless’d;
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:
‘Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown;
His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty,
Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;
But mercy is above this sceptred way,
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,
It is an attribute of God himself,
And earthly power doth then show likest God’s
When mercy seasons justice.
Update From Our Missionary – JP Cima
Greetings from Phnom Penh, friends at Peace in Philomath!
With this note, we want to THANK YOU for your sacrifice, for your partnership in the Gospel, and for your trust in us as we seek to announce and demonstrate the Gospel to the people of Southeast Asia. Every prayer and financial gift are such an encouragement to us, a reminder that we are right where God wants us. We are so thankful to have served in this part of the world for 17 years, but we could never do it without those who send us and pray for us. You are a part of our team!
One of the highlights of the last few months was the national youth camp for over 100 participants, put on by the Cambodia Lutheran Church (CLC), our partners here. For 3 nights and 4 days, we studied Scripture, played lots of games, sang songs, and worshipped. Each youth was gifted a Bible. For many of them, it was their first personal Bible. The Bibles were provided by a team from Brookfield Lutheran Church, who also helped lead games and activities. What a joy to see Lutheran youth from all over the country join in for this meaningful event!
It was a busy Christmas season, joining Christmas celebrations all over the country. The highlight was seeing 23 kids baptized at one location! We also keep ourselves busy with normal routines, including school for the kids as well as ministry for Aimee and I: weekly youth group, teaching the Catechism in various locations throughout the country (J.P. just wrapped up one cohort, started another weekly cohort, and will start another cohort this coming weekend!) consulting with human care work, Sunday school at our local church, and pastoral care as the need arises.
Thank you for being a part of all that God is doing in this part of the world! Of course, you can see here all the links to our photoblog, which is updated regularly. If you would like to receive our monthly e-newsletter, you can always send us an email. We’d love to hear from you!
Today we give thanks for you and the ways you have blessed us. God bless and keep you!
In Christ,
//JP, Aimee, Celeste, Bella, and Isaac
