From the Pastor

Dear Peace family,

Happy Easter! We are Easter people! Jesus lives and so do we!

Easter means that each day we live with the perspective that God will bring new life to us.

A part of that new life is being a Christian Caregiver. A Christian Caregiver is someone who assists another person through a challenging time in life by sharing that new life is possible in Jesus. I shared in a recent Bible Study that God equips each member at Peace to be a Christian Caregiver to someone else. That idea was met with some thoughtful replies. Some thought, “I am not qualified to such a thing!” Another thought shared was, “How could I gain the skills to do such a thing?”

Our natural tendency is to tell people that they need to access a professional counselor. And this is excellent. Serving on the board of Friends of the Family Ministry, I can certainly back up the sentiment that professional counseling serves a large and growing need in our community. When should a person turn to professional? According to Ken Haugk, a pastor and clinical psychologist (founder of Stephen Ministry), it is best to seek professional care in the case of: minors, couples, families, those suffering serious mental or emotional disturbance, those suffering from severe depression, those with personality disorders, manipulative individuals, those dealing with abuse issues, substance abusers, those experiencing suicidal behavior and those exhibiting violent tendencies. That is a long list! There are people that have been trained to help in these circumstances, thank the Lord for these people!

This leads me to the point of my May newsletter! There are quite a few common life crises that we experience that are not on Ken Haugk’s list. We may not need a professional counselor to address these concerns. God uses His Church and the people in His Church to assist in these challenges. What might these common life crises be?

  • Death of a Loved One
  • Facing Our Own Death
  • Illness of a Loved One
  • Personal Illness
  • Financial Problems
  • Feeling Guilty
  • Feeling Lonely
  • Feeling Worthless
  • Problems with Family Relationships
  • Facing Temptation
  • Separation from a Loved One

Do you have a desire to be a Christian Caregiver for someone experiencing one of these challenges? I can imagine that someone experiencing financial problems would greatly benefit from a Caregiver that first, listens, but then shares in a calm way that God cares about our needs and can provide (Matthew 6:28-30).

If you have a desire to serve in this way at Peace, contact Pastor Lucke. I will be sharing some distinct skills for Christian Caregiving in the month of May via zoom phone calls. Connect with me! Share with me that you are interested, and I’ll add you to the list to receive the zoom link. We’ll be meeting over three sessions in May.

Wednesday, May 14 at 10 am                        Topic: The Art of Listening

Wednesday, May 21 at 10 am                        Topic: Process versus Results Caregiving

Wednesday, May 28 at 10 am                        Topic: Relating to People Gently and Firmly

We are indeed Easter people! God is with us and works through us for the benefit of others!

In Easter Joy,

Pastor J

Peace by the Numbers

Plan for Worship

May 4 – 10:00am Worship service with Communion. Third Sunday of Easter.

May 11 – 10:00am Worship service. Fourth Sunday of Easter

May 18 – 10:00am Worship Service with Communion. Fifth Sunday of Easter

May 25 – 10:00am Worship Service. Sixth Sunday of Easter.

New Bible Study

Elder Dave is leading an Adult Sunday School class on the Book of James. It begins Sunday, April 27 and will continue into the month of May. James brings the Christian faith down to earth. We’ll discover what it means to be a true community and honor each other in our life together. We’ll discover how important encouraging words are to someone going through a hard time. We’ll also discover how our words can set things on fire. Bring your Bibles and an open mind to this study. All are welcome! We meet in the sanctuary at 9 am each Sunday. 

Prayer

Prayer is a vital activity in the life we share at Peace Lutheran Church. It was most certainly a vital component of Jesus’ earthly life. How can you enhance your prayer life at Peace? Consider joining Eat, Chat and Pray (for women) on Wednesday mornings at 7:30 am in the fellowship hall. Contact Elaine S. Be a part of our email Prayer group. Each week prayers are shared via email to this group of prayer warriors. Contact Peggy K. if you’d like to be included. Consider attending Peace’s Healing Service. We’ll be gathering on Sunday, May 4 at 8:30 am in the sanctuary to uplift concerns in prayer and offer the anointing of oil. 

Men’s Breakfast in May

He is Risen –!

Saturday May 3 at 8:30   Zion/Peace Philomath breakfast at Benchwarmers · 1895 NW 9th St. Corvallis. Speaker will be Zion member Robert Dicey.  Robert retired after 36 years serving with Oregon State Police (OSP) and now serves as a security Officer for the Oregon State Supreme Court and its Justices and Judges in Salem.  You order from the menu – no count is required — 

Do Plan to attend —–

Easter Thank You

Thank you to all our volunteers who helped to make our Easter season such a blessing to each of us, our families, and friends.  From the many volunteers who worked inside and outside to spruce up the church, those who helped with fellowship and the Easter egg hunt, those who helped with flowers and music, plus those who helped with Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services and other numerous activities, we are so appreciative. Words are not enough to express how grateful we are for the help we received to make Easter the wonderful season it is, and your kindness and generosity are well noted.  God’s blessings.

Peace’s You Tube Channel

Peace has a growing online community that watches our services each Sunday. You too can join that community if you are travelling or just not able to make it to church on a particular Sunday. The best way to do this is to subscribe to Peace’s YouTube channel. Go to www.youtube.com. Search for our channel by typing in “Peace Lutheran Church – Philomath” in the search engine. The first option should be our channel. Select the “subscribe” option as this will bring the most recent service directly to you on YouTube’s home page. The service goes live each week just a few minutes before 10 am. Let us know you are watching and let us know how we can pray for you!

Stamp Out Hunger

“STAMP OUT HUNGER” Food Drive- Saturday, May 10 – 10am Meet at City Hall

“Stamp Out Hunger” is a national food drive being held in communities across the country. Philomath is participating this year after many years of absence. The Philomath Letter Carriers are notifying residents to put food donations by their mailbox on Saturday, May 10.  The in-town mail carriers do not have room in their vehicles to collect the food, so that is where the volunteers come in.  We need teams of 2-3 to pick up food donations at mailboxes and deliver them to Philomath Community Services: 360 S 9th Street in Philomath.  We will have maps and instructions at 10am at City Hall: 980 Applegate St to kick off the collection.  We are estimating no more than 1-2 hours (Probably faster). 

If you are available to help those in need of food, please put together a team of 2-3 and let Diane Crocker know: 541-609-0018    OR    Pastor Lucke: 541-609-8057

Thank you so much!  Your help will make a big difference in the life of others. 

Bryson & Others Performing at Grace Lutheran

Bryson and other musicians will be performing at Grace Lutheran Church in the month of May. All concerts are free. We hope you can join in on some or all these wonderful presentations.

  • May 7 – Bryson Skaar on the Piano: Impressionism and Jazz
  • May 14 – Bryson Skaar on the Organ: A Keyboard with Breath – Musings and Meditation
  • May 21 – Fluke Cocktail
  • May 28 – Jeffrey Varga on Piano
  • June 4 Final – Bryson Skaar on Piano; A program with original compositions.

Peace Lutheran Ladies Guild – May

We will not be having monthly meetings during June, July or August., however we will still be available to help with Memorial Services or other areas deemed necessary by Pastor.  Just a” head’s up”.  We are anticipating two Memorial Services: one in May for Mal Miner and one in June for Jan Lane.  More on these events will be announced by Pastor.  We continue to support Nancy’s Cupboard with monthly donations at our Guild meetings.  Members are asked to bring two items on the food list, and these are delivered to Philomath Community Services.  We will be providing cakes for confirmation and our high school graduate.  Guild will resume monthly meetings in September.  We are visiting our Homebound members the month of May.  It has been a blessing to the member and to the visitor(s). 

Don’t forget our big Bazaar Craft Festival is in November.  The Chairperson is Kay Glathar, you can contact her if you have a project or want to be involved in this event.  Many hands make light work. 

 “Heavenly Father, thank You for all the blessings You give us, including, food, clothing, shelter, family, friends, and the gracious gift of Your presence.  Thank You for a church community that strengthens our relationship with You and with our Christian brothers and sisters.  We especially thank You for forgiving our sins and giving us salvation through the death of Your Son, Jesus Christ.  In His name, Amen.”

Peggy Krueger, Guild President

New Member Class in June

Pastor Lucke will be offering a new member class in the month of June. Plan to attend if you would like to attend. RSVP to him to reserve a place. Information will be shared later in the month detailing the time and location of the new member class. This is an opportunity to discover what it means to be Lutheran, what values Peace holds dear, and how a person can find a place to belong and serve in the church family. 

What Does USAID Really Do?

Please come to the Philomath Rotary Club event on May 20th at noon in the fellowship hall for Club Assembly.

The main presentation is by Robert Thurston, Rotary Club of Corvallis.  Robert has served as a USAID employee for many years.  Robert will give a better sense of what USAID really does from an ‘on the ground’ perspective.

 Also at this meeting event will be the Philomath Middle School “Student of the Month” award 

We hope you can come and please remember lunch will be provided. Please RSVP to Lindy if you will be attending so we can plan the number of meals.

Altar Flowers

ALTAR FLOWERS give glory to God, beautify the sanctuary, and may commemorate an important person or event in your life.  You are invited to join this tradition of Peace Lutheran and churches through the ages.  Fresh cut flowers represent the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ for our salvation.

Fresh flowers or flowering plants are used for their symbolism of life, joy, and human frailty — thus eliminating the use of artificial flowers in the worship space.

You can give flowers for many reasons:  in memory of loved ones who have died, birthdays, anniversaries, or any other important event in your life or theirs — or in thanks to God for a blessing…. or simply to give glory to God.  When you give the flowers, your commemoration is shared with the congregation in the worship bulletin.

After the service, the flowers are yours to take home.  They will continue to glorify God and will beautify your home, or you may share them with family and friends.

Sign up for a Sunday on the Flower Chart in the narthex, giving your name and your commemoration.  

Thank you for giving glory to God, beautifying the sanctuary, and sharing your commemoration with us!

Red Cross Blood Drive

Peace hosted a Red Cross Blood Drive on Friday, April 25. The Blood Drive went very well! There were 47 donors that signed up to donate blood. Of those 47, 45 showed up. A total of 42 units of blood was collected. The event went smoothly in large part to our volunteers. The importance of this event was even more pronounced this week as the very next day a Peace member received a blood transfusion. After receiving the transfusion, they realized just how important it is that Peace participates with the Red Cross and their Blood Drives. Thank you to everyone who was involved! If you have an interest in helping, contact Cheryl Narver.

Lovingly Planted Fund

Purpose of the fund:

This fund was created for the sole purpose of helping family or loved ones of a deceased person have the financial resources for burial, so they don’t have to choose cremation.  Some people have enough money to have their loved one’s body cremated, but they don’t have enough money for a less violent disposition of the body.  This fund is to bridge the gap so that last wishes for lovingly caring for the body can be honored.

Biblical basis for the fund:

The Bible speaks of “lovingly planting” the body of a loved one in the same way one would sow or plant a seed.   And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain.  But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable.  It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power.  It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body.  1 Corinthians 37-38, 42b-44

Guidelines for dispersing funds:

Peace Lutheran Church in Philomath is called, emailed, or visited.  The caller, writer, or visitor is put in touch with the pastor or an elder of the church.  The need is expressed.  The pastor and elders make the decision.  Up to $3,500.00 is granted depending upon the expressed need, and the availability of funds.  The church treasurer writes a check to the appropriate funeral home.

Note:  The deceased person and the family or loved ones of the deceased person need not be Lutheran or a member of the church.  The funds are available for anyone in need.

 Typical funeral costs:        

 McHenry Funeral Home and DeMoss-Durdan Funeral Home are the two funeral homes in Corvallis, and they are owned by the same people.  Margie Davenport took the information about the Lovingly Planted Fund to all the appropriate staff at both funeral homes.  She is a good contact person if help is needed.

A basic cremation at McHenry’s or DeMoss-Durdan’s costs $2500.00 including an inexpensive urn, the state filing fee, and no death certificates.

If however, one wants a burial instead of a cremation, the price goes up.  The most inexpensive burial at one of these funeral homes is as follows: 

1)  Immediate Burial: 2-4 days after death.  Includes transfer of the deceased to the funeral home, basic services of funeral directors and staff, and transfer to the cemetery within 25 miles.  $1895.00

2)  Alternative Material Casket: Cloth covered oval top, ivory crepe interior.  $995.00

3)  Open/Close at cemetery: Removing the dirt from grave, lowering casket, replacing dirt.  $995.00

4)  Grave Plot: The land at the cemetery where the casket is put.  $600.00

5)  Marker or Headstone: A temporary marker is free and can last up to several years and the headstone can be bought later, an inexpensive one for $724.00

6)  State Filing: Filing the death with the state is $20.00

7)  Death Certificates:  $25.00 each

The total price for this type of burial is $4505.00 with no headstone or death certificates.  Or $5304.00 including a permanent headstone and three death certificates.  So, a burial of this type is about $2000.00 to $3000.00 more than a basic cremation.  This option does not include a funeral at the funeral home, or a graveside service provided from the funeral home.

News from the Freezer Meal Ministry

Mark your calendar!

The Freezer Meal Team will be getting together on Thursday, May 8th at 9:00 am.

We will be cooking up a storm and stocking the freezer with delicious meals.

If you would like to join us, you are welcome! We have a great time and feel most honored to make meals for those who need them.

If cooking is not your thing, you can come anyway! We always need someone to chop and prep or just help wash dishes.

If you need meals, or know someone who is, please contact Pastor Jeremy or the office.

Thank you.

Peace’s 75th Anniversary

Did you hear the news? Peace is celebrating its 75th year in 2026. To build up the excitement for this, we need your help! Do you have any pictures to share of Peace’s past? Do you have stories or memories? We want them! We’ll take anything that you have! We are also thinking about Peace’s future as we pass 75 years. Do you have any dreams or desires for the future? We want to hear those too! See Pastor, Ellen, Molly, Holly or Janet if you have something to share!