The Service in PDF format is at: March 30, 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, Archer Schroeder
Praise Team Rick Durling, Patrick Kamins, Ginny Tonelli, Karyn Stanley, Nora Stanley, Diane Crocker, Kaia Lucke, Anne Schroeder, John Mergl
Today, March 30, 2025
Musician Colleen Schulze
Reader Claire Lucke
Flowers Sophia Snyder
THEME: Simon Peter witnessed much of Jesus’ ministry on earth. He is featured in many highlights of the four Gospels, but today we see Peter at his lowest point, as he denies Jesus three times. The result of Peter’s denial is a massive amount of guilt. Each of us can relate to that unwanted flood of self-disgust that comes when we remember past sin. But guilt is not the final word for Peter, and it is not the final word for us. After His resurrection, Jesus restores and forgives Peter. Jesus offered Peter grace. Jesus also gives us grace, forgiveness, and restoration at the cross.
Words & Music by Martin Nystrom; © 1984 Universal Music – Brentwood Benson Publishing
As the deer panteth for the water
So my soul longeth after Thee.
You alone are my heart’s desire
And I long to worship Thee.
.
Chorus: You alone are my strength my shield
To You alone may my spirit yield.
You alone are my heart’s desire
And I long to worship Thee.
.
You’re my friend and You are my brother
Even though You are a King.
I love You more than any other
So much more than anything.
Chorus
I want You more than gold or silver
Only You can satisfy.
You alone are the real joygiver
And the apple of my eye.
Chorus
Leader: In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
A WORD ABOUT OUR WORSHIP TODAY
Psalm 27
Leader: The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
People: The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
Leader: One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after:
People: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
Leader: Make me to know Your ways, O Lord.
People: Teach me Your paths.
CONFESSING TO GOD
Leader: The paths of God begin with an honest evaluation of ourselves. God is our light, but often it has been the dark paths of sin that we have chosen to travel. During this moment of silence we reflect upon our need for God’s help.
~~~~~ Silent Reflection ~~~~~
Leader: We confess…………..
People: Lord, you have called us to follow you. Instead of following you, we have gone different ways. Forgive us this day for the times that we have intentionally wandered away from the paths You would like us to go. Forgive us too for those times that we have unintentionally wandered causing harm to ourselves and to others. Give us a new heart with Your forgiveness. Continue to shine Your light in our lives!
Leader: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son.” God is rich in mercy and is always generous with forgiveness. Receive God’s light today through the forgiveness of your sins. As a called and ordained minister of the Church of Christ, and by Jesus’ authority, I declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
OPENING HYMN “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing”
Robert Robinson & Asahel Nettleton
Come, thou fount of every blessing,
tune my heart to sing thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
call for songs of loudest praise.
While the hope of endless glory
fills my heart with joy and love,
Teach me ever to adore Thee,
may I still thy goodness prove.
.
Here I raise my Ebenezer,
hither by thy help I’m come;
And I hope, by thy good pleasure,
safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
interposed his precious blood.
.
O to grace how great a debtor,
daily I’m constrained to be;
Let that grace now like a fetter,
bind my wandering heart to thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
seal it for thy courts above.
Leader: Let us pray.
Leader: Almighty God, our heavenly Father, Your mercies are new every morning. Though we deserve only punishment, You receive us as Your children and provide for all our needs of body and soul.
People: Grant that we may acknowledge Your merciful goodness, give thanks for all Your benefits, and share Your love with all those who, like us, are lost and hopeless without You; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
SCRIPTURE LESSONS
EPISTLE LESSON 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
A thorn in the flesh is given to Paul.
7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
Simon Peter denies Jesus.
12 So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him. 13 First they led him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. 14 It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people.
15 Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, 16 but Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in.
17 The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” 18 Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself. 19 The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.
20 Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. 21 Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said.”
22 When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, “Is that how you answer the high priest?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?” 24 Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.
25 Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You also are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” 26 One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” 27 Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed.
Leader: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to You, O Christ.
SERMON HYMN “Just As I Am, Without One Plea”
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
.
SERMON
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 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 given God.
Leader: Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
Leader: For the blessing of all creation, that our loving and creating Father would preserve and defend all that He has made, working all things together for the good of those who love Him, especially working in the hearts and minds of those who have wandered from His house, that through repentance and faith sinners turn to Him and take refuge in His fatherly care, let us pray to the Lord.
People: You are a hiding place for me!
Leader: For the blessing of the Church of Jesus, that our gracious Savior guide the hearts, minds, and ministries of all who love Him and seek to make His Gospel known, that we would be defended from our adversaries, strengthened in our discipleship, and emboldened in our witness to a lost and dying world, let us pray to the Lord.
People: You preserve me from trouble!
Leader: For those who struggle in heart, body, mind, and relationship, that healing would come to those for whom we pray, [including . . .], that the Holy Spirit would bind up the brokenhearted, mend the hurting, heal the sick, strengthen the weak, and grant perfect peace to all who belong to Him, let us pray to the Lord.
People: You surround me with shouts of deliverance!
Leader: For these and all other prayers we bring before the Father’s throne of grace, that through the intercession of His perfect Son and in the company of the eternal Spirit, we take confidence in knowing that our prayers are heard and answered by Him who knows all things and directs all things according to His gracious will, let us pray to the Lord.
People: You are a hiding place for me; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with shouts of deliverance.
Leader: We pray all these things in the precious name of our Savior Jesus Christ.
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: Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid;
People: for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation.
Leader: Confident of our salvation, let us go forth in the name of the Lord.
CLOSING SONG “My Hope is Built on Nothing Else”
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.
.
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.
Leader: Go in peace! Serve the Lord!
People: Thanks be to God!
ANNOUNCEMENTS
LENT SOUP SUPPER AND WORSHIP………… There are just a few more Lent midweek Soup Suppers and Worship. All are welcome to this Wednesdays’ Soup Supper at 5:00 pm with Holden Evening Prayer at 6:00 pm in the sanctuary. Thank you to everyone who has provided food this year. All the slots for the upcoming Lent Soup Suppers have been filled. The last Lent midweek opportunity is April 9.
ADULT BIBLE STUDY FOR LENT…………….. Pastor Lucke is sharing a series “Walking with Jesus in 2025” for the adult Sunday School hour. This week’s discussion was about the rhythms of life. We call ourselves human beings not human doings. A part of being a human being is recognizing that we are at our best when we work from our rest–not simply rest from our work. Are you in need of rest? What is the purpose of work? Do we really retire? All are welcome for sharing and discussion. We meet at 9:00 am in the sanctuary each Sunday. On Sunday, April 6 we will be discussing the value of being a mentor to someone else and bringing them along in their faith development.
PORTALS OF PRAYER…………… The April to June Portals of Prayer are available in the entryway at church. What are Portals of Prayer? These are short devotions for each day based on a Scripture verse. We all need a bit of encouragement that grounds us in what God has to say. Portals of Prayer are available in large and small print. Grab one for yourself and another for a friend.
APRIL NEWSLETTER…………… The April Newsletter is out this weekend. If you did not receive the newsletter via email and would like to receive it that way, please let Dan know. The newsletter is available on our website too. Hard copies of the newsletter are also available in the entryway at church.
CLEAN UP DAY……………… Mark your calendars for Saturday, April 5 for Peace’s Spring Clean Up day. We are attempting to clean both the inside and outside of the church this day in preparation for Holy Week and Easter. Bring gloves, shovels, rakes and wheelbarrows as we spread the bark. See Sally or Dan if you have any questions! Thank you!
