The Service in PDF format is at: March 26, 2023 Service
Video of service is at: YouTube NOTE – There were some problems with this recording and sound may cut out at the time of the service
Peace Lutheran Church
2540 Applegate Street
Philomath, OR 97370
(541) 929- 5504
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. Offerings may be placed in the plates by the doors as we exit the sanctuary.
Serving You
Pastor Pastor Jeremy Lucke
Music Director Colleen Schulze
Choir Director Diane Crocker
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, Callie Santora, Caleb Santora, Joyce Long, Oscar Gutbrod, Sam Worth, Rick Durling, Jim Holroyd, Nora Stanley, Debbi Weiler, Daniel Dusek
Today, March 26, 2023
Musician Colleen Schulze
Reader Janette Payne
Children’s Message High School Youth
Flowers Jani Burton
AS WE GATHER… It is long-standing tradition in the world of the theatre that when players in a drama or musical are replaced for a given performance, the name of the substitute is inserted into the program or playbill. It is appropriate that the hard work of the understudy be noted by those attending the event. In the weeks of Lent, we focus on the truth that Jesus was and is our substitute, fulfilling the Law of God for us and ultimately paying the price of our sin. He is much more than any kind of understudy! He is our Lord, who willingly takes our place and endures our punishment. In gratitude, we are drawn to the cross!
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.
OPENING HYMN “We Praise You, O God”
Text: Julia C. Cory, 1882-1963, alt. Tune: A Valerius, Nederlandtsch Gedenckclank, 1626.
We praise you, O God, our redeemer, creator;
In grateful devotion our tribute we bring.
We lay it before you; we kneel and adore you;
We bless your holy name, glad praises we sing.
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We worship you, God of our fathers, we bless you;
Through trial and tempest our guide you have been.
When perils o’ertake us, you will not forsake us,
And with your help, O Lord, our struggles we win.
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With voices united our praises we offer
And gladly our songs of thanksgiving we raise.
With you, Lord, beside us, your strong arm will guide us.
To you, our great redeemer, forever be praise!
Leader: In the name of the Father and of the X Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
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 magnify Your holy name, through Jesus, Your Son, our Lord.
People: Amen.
Leader: Humble yourselves before God, confess your sins to Him, and implore His forgiveness.
People: Almighty God, merciful Father, we acknowledge our sinful nature and repent our sins – those of which we are not aware and those we know full well. We do not love You and other people as we ought. We are often careless with Your creation and heedless in choosing the proper priorities in our lives. It is our intent to say and do that which honors You. For the sake of Jesus, grant us Your forgiveness so that, as Your redeemed people, we may be fit places for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and may serve You in time and in eternity.
Leader: Our God has heard the cries and felt our pain and has had mercy on us. God has seen our need and provided for our salvation; seen our condition and provided the solution; seen our heart and given us a Savior. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, our sin is no longer the weight that holds us down. We are free to live in victory, free from the sin of our self-deceit. Praise God for His goodness.
People: Amen.
CHORAL ANTHEM “That Old Rugged Cross”
By Don Besig and Nancy Price; Copyright MM by Alfred Publishing Co., Inc.
We need You, dear Savior to stay at our side,
to grant us the comfort and love You provide.
We know we’re not worthy of all we receive,
but we always will trust and believe.
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We try to be faithful, we try to be true,
and often we fail You in things that we do.
But when we’re discouraged, alone and afraid,
we remember the price that You paid.
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On a hill far away there’s an old rugged cross
where You suffered in sorrow and pain.
In the dark of that day, all the world felt the loss,
and our guilt will forever remain.
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But we think of that old rugged, old rugged cross,
and the way that You died for our sins.
We remember that old rugged, old rugged cross,
and our hope is restored once again.
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We try to be patient, we try to be strong;
we yield to temptation and things that are wrong.
But, Lord, You have taught us to love and obey,
and our faith will grow ev’ry day.
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For we know that old rugged cross,
and the way that You died for our sins.
We remember that old rugged, old rugged cross,
and our hope is restored once again, again.
Our hope is restored once again!
SERVICE OF THE WORD
Leader: O Lord and giver of life, You call Your people from death and despair to faith and faithfulness. In Christ, we are assured of resurrection and life. Enlighten our hearts that we may have a right understanding in all things and may rejoice in the power and blessing of Your Word among us. This we ask through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who with You and the Father are one God, world without end.
People: Amen.
SCRIPTURE LESSONS
OLD TESTAMENT: Ezekiel 37:1-14
Life is restored in the valley of the dry bones.
The hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones.
2 And he led me around among them, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley, and behold, they were very dry.
3 And he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord God, you know.”
4 Then he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.
5 Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live.
6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the Lord.”
7 So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I prophesied, there was a sound, and behold, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone.
8 And I looked, and behold, there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them. But there was no breath in them.
9 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.”
10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army.
11 Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are indeed cut off.’
12 Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will open your graves and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will bring you into the land of Israel.
13 And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people.
14 And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the Lord.”
Leader: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
Lazarus is restored to life by Jesus.
Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, 19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother.
20 So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house.
21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.
22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”
38 Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it.
39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.”
40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?”
41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me.
42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.”
43 When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.”
44 The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”
45 Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, 46 but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.
47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs.
48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”
49 But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all.
50 Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.”
51 He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation,
52 and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.
53 So from that day on they made plans to put him to death.
Leader: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to You, O Christ.
SERMON HYMN: “What Wondrous Love Is This”
Alexander Means; Tim Smith; William Walker; Words: Public Domain ; Music: 2011 We Are Younger We Are Faster Music (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.)
What wondrous love is this,
O my soul, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this
That caused the Lord of bliss
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul?
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When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down,
When I was sinking down, sinking down.
When I was sinking down
Beneath God’s righteous frown,
Christ laid aside his crown for my soul, for my soul,
Christ laid aside his crown for my soul.
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To God and to the Lamb I will sing, I will sing;
To God and to the Lamb I will sing;
To God and to the Lamb,
Who is the great I Am,
While millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing,
While millions join the theme, I will sing.
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And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;
And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on;
And when from death I’m free,
I’ll sing his love for me,
And through eternity I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;
And through eternity I’ll sing on.
SERMON
“I am the Resurrection and Life”
Pastor Jeremy Lucke
People: 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 power of 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 the 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: Grant grace, we pray, in mercy, Lord. We pray for Your kingdom on earth. Around the globe may there be an increase of the Word of life. May the Spirit’s power be made evident in the Church, as it reaches out to all parts of the world, bringing the good news of sins forgiven through Christ to every place. Gracious God, in mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Leader: Grant love, we pray, in mercy, Lord. We pray for our household of faith, for our families, and for our neighborhoods, that we may be filled with a sense of appreciation for all Your good gifts. As we are blessed by the care of others, so may we bless them with care in Your name. Loving God, in mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Leader: Grant health, we pray, in mercy, Lord. We pray at this time for the sick, the shut-in, and all who this day are in need of our intercession, (especially……..), that their prayers may be soon answered and that they may be supported by God’s people with care in the name of Christ. Healing God, in mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Leader: Grant blessing, we pray, in mercy, Lord. As we remember with gratitude those sisters and brothers in Christ whose journeys on earth have been completed, may we be guided by the Spirit in ways that honor their earthly lives and bring blessings to others as we anticipate the eternal joys to be shared with them in the courts of heaven. Ever-living God, in mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Leader: Into Your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy through Your Son, Jesus, our Lord.
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
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 X Son, and the Holy Spirit – bless you.
People: Amen.
CLOSING HYMN: “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee”
Henry Van Dyke, 1852-1933 Arr. from Ludwig van Beethoven 1770-1827; Copyright Public Domain
Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee,
God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee,
Hail Thee as the sun above.
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Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;
Drive the gloom of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness,
Fill us with the light of day!
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All Thy works with joy surround Thee,
Earth and heaven reflect thy rays,
Stars and angels sing around Thee,
Center of unbroken praise;
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Field and forest, vale and mountain,
Flow’ry meadow, flashing sea,
Chanting bird and flowing fountain,
Call us to rejoice in Thee.
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Thou art giving and forgiving,
Ever blessing, ever blest,
Well-spring of the joy of living,
Ocean-depth of happy rest!
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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.
Pastor: Go in Peace. Serve the Lord!
People: Thanks be to God!
Announcements
LENTEN SOUP SUPPERS. We will be having our last Soup Supper this week on Wednesday, March 29. The supper will start at 5:00pm and service at 6:00pm. Please check the sign-up sheets are in the hallway between the Narthex and Fellowship Hall to see if you can bring something to share.
Looking for a church treasurer. The Church Treasurer position is currently being filled by Lynn Reams and our desire is to train someone else up to fill this position for the 2024 year. If anyone is interested or if anyone has questions, they can reach out to Pastor or George. The position would be co-Treasurer for the 2023 year and assume the full role in 2024. We will receive names up to April 10
Change to Easter Schedule. We will not be having the Easter morning breakfast as originally planned. Everything else for Holy Week is a go.
FELLOWSHIP. Fellowship is a wonderful time to connect with our church family. We are returning to our pre-pandemic model and the first Sunday of every month will be the “potluck” Sunday. The rest of the Sundays are for snacks and coffee. If anyone wants to bring a more involved dish to share on those “other” Sundays, they are certainly welcome to, but there is no obligation and/or expectation to do so.
