The Service in PDF format is at: March 21, 2021 Service
PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH
FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT
MARCH 21, 2021
Peace Lutheran Church
2540 Applegate Street
Philomath, OR 97370
(541) 929- 5504
Pastor Lucke’s e-mail: [email protected]
Peace Lutheran Office e-mail: [email protected]
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 about that, 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. However, 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. First Sundays are a drive in Communion Service and the Third Sunday is in the sanctuary. Guests, 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 come to the altar. 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.
AS WE GATHER: The Israelites repeatedly had broken the covenants God made with them, and yet in today’s Old Testament Reading He promises a new covenant. This one, however, will not be based on the external Law of God; by pure grace, it will be written on the harts of God’s people. To do that, God sent His Son, who paid for all sin by offering Himself as both priest and sacrifice. Although we are all imperfect, knowing that we have been forgiven only by the grace of God, we have the desire to love one another. As we recall our Lord’s Passion in the coming weeks, we will recognize that love means forgiving, giving oneself for others. Jesus puts it bluntly in the Gospel: The greatest in the kingdom of God is the one who serves all the others. And, of course, the greatest is our Lord Jesus, who loves us to death.
RINGING OF THE BELL
Following the ringing of the bell, we take a few moments in silence to prepare our hearts and minds for today’s worship.
Leader: In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
Leader: Most merciful, heavenly Father, You promised a covenant written on Your people’s hearts.
People: But we do not always rely on Your promises and great love. We are sorry.
Leader: Gracious Holy Spirit, through Your use of Word and Sacrament, many people know the Lord.
People: But we have not taken advantage of every opportunity to share Your Word with others. We are sorry.
Leader: Jesus taught that the greatest in the Kingdom is the servant of all.
People: But our hearts have not always been humble and eager for service. We are sorry. Our thoughts, words, and deeds fall short. As fallen sinners, we are helpless to change. For Jesus’ sake, forgive us, and give us new and clean hearts to love You and serve our neighbors.
Leader: God promised in the new covenant, “I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” In the sacrifice of Himself, Jesus, being perfect, “became the source of eternal salvation.” As a called and ordained servant of Christ and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
PRAISE SONG: “This is My Commandment” TOSB 233
Arr. by Betty Pulkingham © 1971 by William J. Gaither. The Fellowship Publications, Phoenix, AZ 85076
This is my commandment that you love one another,
that your joy may be full. (x2)
That your joy may be full, that your joy may be full.
This is my commandment that you ‘trust one another,
that your joy may be full. (x2)
That your joy may be full, that your joy may be full.
This is my commandment that you serve one another,
that your joy may be full. (x2)
That your joy may be full, that your joy may be full.
This is my commandment that you lay down your lives,
that your joy may be full. (x2)
That your joy may be full, that your joy may be full.
Leader: Let us pray. Heavenly Father, who has revealed to us Your great love in Christ our Savior and written Your covenant on our hearts,
People: grant us such faith that our daily joy is in sharing Your love in what we think, say, and do;
Leader: through Jesus, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
People: Amen.
OLD TESTAMENT Jeremiah 31:31-34
A new covenant is coming, written on people’s hearts.
“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”
Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
Jesus teaches about true greatness.
And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. And they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And taking the twelve again, he began to tell them what was to happen to him, saying, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.”
And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” And they said to him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized, but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Reader: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to You, O Christ!
SERMON HYMN: “Chief of Sinners though I Be” LBW 306
Text: William McComb, 1793-c. 1870, Tune: Richard Redhead, 1820-1901©️ 1978 by Augsburg Publishing House, Minneapolis & Board of Publication, Lutheran Church in America, Philadelphia
Chief of sinners though I be, Jesus shed his blood for me,
Died that I might live on high, Lives that I might never die.
As the branch is to the vine, I am his and he is mine.
Oh, the height of Jesus’ love! Higher than the heav’ns above,
Deeper than the depths of sea, Lasting as eternity.
Love that found me wondrous thought –
Found me when I sought him not.
Only Jesus can impart, Balm to heal the wounded heart,
Peace that flows from sin forgiv’n, Joy that lifts the soul to heav’n
Faith and hope to walk with God In the way that Enoch trod.
Chief of sinners though I be, Christ is All-in-All to me,
All my wants to him are known, All my sorrows are his own.
He sustains the hidden life Safe with him from earthly strife.
ALL: I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
Born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried.
He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty.
From thence He will come 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.
Leader: Let us pray for ourselves, the Church around the world, and all people in their various circumstances.
Leader: For the Church here and wherever people gather around God’s Word, that God would move us to true repentance so that we reflect in our lives the love that He has written on our hearts, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Loving Father, hear our prayer.
Leader: That our Lord would bring about understanding across political borders, between racial, generational, economic, and cultural differences, and within families of all sizes and shapes, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Father in heaven, hear our prayer.
Leader: For all who are in exile from home, those who have been incarcerated, and any who have not been treated with human dignity, that God would surround them with supportive individuals and organizations, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Spirit of truth, increase our patience and hope that many may rejoice together.
Leader: For those near and dear to us, (including…), people everywhere who seek healing and peace, and those known only to God, that our Lord would heal, restore, and console them, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord Jesus, come to their aid.
Leader: These and any other things You would have us ask of You, heavenly Father, grant to us for the sake of the bitter sufferings and death of Your Son, Jesus, 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.
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
Leader: Let us pray. We give thanks to You, gracious God, that You have refreshed us in body and spirit through the gift of this Sacrament,
People: and we implore You that of Your mercy, You would strengthen us to share Your covenantal blessings in love with the people we encounter each day;
Leader: through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
People: Amen.
Leader: Go out into the world in peace. Have courage. Hold to what is good. Return no person evil for evil. Strengthen the fainthearted. Support the weak. Help the suffering. Honor everyone and care for creation. Love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit. The almighty God—Father, the + Son, and the Holy Spirit—bless you.
People: Amen.
CLOSING HYMN: “My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less” LBW 293
Text: Edward Mote, 1787-1874, alt. Tune: William B. Bradbury, 1816-1868 © 1978 by Augsburg Publishing House, Minneapolis and Board of Publication, Lutheran Church in America, Philadelphia.
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
No merit of my own I claim,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
On Christ, the solid rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.
When darkness veils his lovely face,
I rest on his unchanging grace;
In ev’ry high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil.
On Christ, the solid rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.
His oath, his covenant, his blood
Sustain me in the raging flood;
When all supports are washed away,
He then is all my hope and stay.
On Christ, the solid rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.
When he shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in him be found,
Clothed in his righteousness alone,
Redeemed to stand before the throne!
On Christ, the solid rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
HOLY WEEK – Services for Holy Week will be as follows:
- Sunday, March 28 – Palm Sunday 11:00AM Service in the Sanctuary and live stream.
- Thursday, April 1 – Maundy Thursday, 7:00 PM Service in the Sanctuary and live stream.
- Friday, April 2 – Good Friday, 7:00 PM Service in the Sanctuary and live stream.
- Sunday, April 4 – EASTER Sunday, 11:00 AM Drive-in Service with Communion.
*Sunday School for adults is at the usual time on Palm Sunday. No Sunday School on Easter Sunday.*
WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY – Ladies of Peace, you are invited to join in a bible study every first and third Sunday of the Month. The service takes place live via ZOOM at 2:00 PM. A great way to get some connection! Let Peggy Krueger know if you would like to receive that ZOOM Link!
MEN’S BIBLE STUDY – Men of Peace, please join us on the second and fourth Sunday of each month for a live bible study via ZOOM at 2:00 PM. Great discussions to be had. Let Pastor Lucke know if you would like to join in.
EASTER CROSS – We are so delighted to be putting up the large cross in front of the church for Easter. This is the cross that is decorated with fresh flowers and greenery. Please drop off your fresh cut flowers (or store bought flowers) at the front door of the church on Friday, April 2 or Saturday, April 3. There will be buckets of water out to put your flowers in!
EASTER DECORATING – Come on down to the church on Saturday, April 3 if you would like to help with the decorating of the church for Easter’s Drive-In service! Carole Gutbrod can give you more information on when the best time to arrive or what kind of jobs need to be done.
BLOOD DRIVE VOLUNTEERS – April will be a busy month for blood drives! If you can volunteer to assist please contact Ellen Holroyd.
UPCOMING BLOOD DRIVE DATES:
- April 22 – 12:00 pm to 6:30 pm – Peace Lutheran Church hosting.
- April 28 – 11:30 AM to 4:30 PM – Philomath High School hosting at Peace.
SCHOLARSHIPS FOR LUTHERWOOD – Do you know someone planning on going to Camp Lutherwood this summer? Peace Lutheran Church Ladies guild is offering a $200 scholarship to the first 5 people who apply! This is a great opportunity for our youth! Contact Peggy Krueger for an application.
Please let the church office know if you have an announcement you would like included in the bulletin.