The Service in PDF format is at: May 5, 2024 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, Caleb Santora, Joyce Long, Oscar Gutbrod, Sam Worth, Rick Durling, Jim Holroyd, Debbi Weiler, Daniel Dusek
Praise Team Rick Durling, Patrick Kamins, Karyn Stanley, Nora Stanley, Diane Crocker, Kaia Lucke, Sarah Grassel, Caleb Santora
Today, April 28, 2024
Musician Colleen Schulze
Reader Carole Gutbrod
THEME: A treasured children’s song, “I Love to Tell the Story,” has a refrain that follows each of the stanzas penned by poet Arabella Katherine Hankey, repeating the simple words: I love to tell the story; ‘Twill be my theme in glory, To tell the old, old story Of Jesus and His love.” The original Greek language in which John wrote his Gospel uses the word “love” either as a noun or a verb some nine times in the section of Jesus’ words heard in the Gospel for today. Jesus wants His disciples and us to know the abiding power of His love. It is that love that compels u s to love one another—and the “others” beyond our circles of family, friends, and other close relationships.
Leader: In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
CONFESSION/FORGIVENESS
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 worthily magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
People: Amen.
Leader: If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
~~~~~ Silence for reflection ~~~~~
Leader: Most merciful God,
People: We confess that we are in bondage to sin and cannot free ourselves. We have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name. Amen.
Leader: God, our heavenly Creator, hears the prayers of all people and answers those prayers. Our prayer for forgiveness is answered in the person and work of Jesus Christ, who died for our sin that we might have new life. By the command of Jesus, I forgive you all of your sins—in the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
Leader: In peace, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, Have mercy.
Leader: For peace from above, and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, Have mercy.
Leader: For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God. And for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, Have mercy.
Leader: For this holy house, and for all who offer here their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, Have mercy.
Leader: Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.
People: Amen
Leader: This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia.
People:
Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was slain,
whose blood set us free to be people of God.
Power and riches and wisdom and strength,
and honor and blessing and glory are his.
This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia.
Sing with all the people of God and join in the hymn of all creation:
Blessing and honor and glory and might be to God and the Lamb forever, Amen.
This is the feast of victory for our God, for the Lamb who was slain has begun his reign.
Alleluia. Alleluia.
Leader: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Leader: Let us pray.
Leader: O God, the giver of all that is good, by Your holy inspiration grant that we may think those things that are right and by Your merciful guiding accomplish them; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
People: Amen.
SCRIPTURE LESSONS
The victory of Christ overcomes the world.
5 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.
3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. 4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
6 This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three that testify:
8 the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree.
Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
Obeying Christ’s commands and remaining in His love.
9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.
11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. 12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you.
15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
Leader: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to You, O Christ.
SERMON HYMN “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling”
Text: Charles Wesley, Jr., 1707-1788, Tune: Rowland H. Prichard, 1811-1887
Love divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of heaven, to earth come down,
Fix in us Thy humble dwelling,
All Thy faithful mercies crown.
Jesus, thou art all compassion,
Pure, unbounded love thou art;
Visit us with Thy salvation,
Enter every trembling heart.
.
Breathe, O breathe Thy loving Spirit
Into ev’ry troubled breast;
Let us all in Thee inherit;
Let us find thy promised rest;
Take away the love of sinning,
Alpha and Omega be;
End of faith, as its beginning,
Set our hearts at liberty.
.
Come, Almighty to deliver,
Let us all thy life receive;
Suddenly return, and never,
Nevermore thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
Serve Thee as Thy hosts above,
Pray, and praise Thee without ceasing,
Glory in Thy perfect love.
.
Finish then Thy new creation;
Pure and spotless let us be;
Let us see Thy great salvation
Perfectly restored in Thee:
Changed from glory into glory,
Till in heaven we take our place,
Till we cast our crowns before Thee,
Lost in wonder, love and praise.
SERMON
“Abide in Me”
Pastor Jeremy Lucke
People: We believe in one God,
The Father, the Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth,
Of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
The only Son of God,
Eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
True God from true God,
Begotten, not made,
Of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
He came down from heaven;
By the power of the Holy Spirit
He became incarnate from the virgin Mary, and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
He suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
In accordance with the Scriptures;
He ascended into heaven
And is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
And his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
Who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
And the life of the world to come. Amen.
OFFERING
We give our offerings as a sign of our lives given to the Lord in humble service.
Leader: Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
Leader: Heavenly Father, You invite us freely to come and hear Your Word. Bless and increase our faith, that we may rightly fear You and learn what You have done for our souls. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Leader: Father of love, out of great love for You and for sinners, our Lord Jesus laid down His life for the world. Increase in us true love for one another, that like our Lord, we may also lay down our lives for our friends. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Leader: Almighty Father, You rule this world by Your established authorities, bless our nation’s leaders, and cause them to serve wisely for our good. Give earthly peace and justice that is in accord with Your commandments and the order You have revealed. Bring an end to injustice, violence and disdain for Your truth, and let us receive all good with thanksgiving. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Leader: Lord God, the Giver of all that is good, grant Your healing and support to all who are in sorrow or need, sickness or adversity [especially _____________]. Give them also the gift of Your grace to accept and bear their crosses with faith in You, that finally they would be prepared to depart this life and receive the gift of eternal life in Your kingdom. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
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.
PROPER PREFACE
Leader: It is indeed right and salutary …. We praise your name and join their unending hymn:
SANCTUS ♪
People: Holy, holy, holy Lord, Lord God of pow’r and might: Heav’n and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
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
DISTRIBUTION HYMNS
I love to tell the story
of unseen things above,
Of Jesus and his glory,
of Jesus and his love.
I love to tell the story,
because I know it’s true;
It satisfies my longings
as nothing else could do
.
Chorus: I love to tell the story;
‘Twill be my theme in glory
To tell the old, old story
of Jesus and his love.
.
I love to tell the story;
how pleasant to repeat
What seems, each time I tell it,
more wonderfully sweet!
I love to tell the story,
for some have never heard
The message of salvation
from God’s own holy Word.
Chorus
I love to tell the story,
for those who know it best
Seem hungering and thirsting
to hear it like the rest.
And when, in scenes of glory,
I sing the new, new song,
I’ll sing the old, old story
that I have loved so long.
Chorus
“Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing”
by: Robert Robinson & Asahel Nettleton; Public Domain.
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.
People: Thank the Lord and sing his praise; tell ev’ry-one what he has done.
Let ev’ry-one who seeks the Lord rejoice and proudly bear his name.
He recalls his promises and leads his people forth in joy with sounds of thanksgiving.
Alleluia. Alleluia.
Leader: Almighty God, Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever.
People: Amen.
CLOSING SONG “Now Thank We All Our God”
Text: Martin Rinkhart, 1586-1649; tr. Catherine Winkworth, 1829-1878; Tune: Johann Cruger, 1598-1662
Now thank we all our God
With hearts and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things has done,
In whom his world rejoices;
Who, from our mothers’ arms,
Has blest us on our way
With countless gifts of love,
And still is ours today.
.
Oh, may this bounteous God
Through all our life be near us,
With ever joyful hearts
And blessed peace to cheer us,
And keep us in his grace,
And guide us when perplexed,
And free us from all harm
In this world and the next.
.
All praise and thanks to God
The Father now be given,
The Son, and him who reigns
With them in highest heaven,
The one eternal God,
Whom earth and heav’n adore;
For thus it was, is now,
And shall be evermore.
Leader: Go in peace! Serve the Lord!
People: Thanks be to God!
Announcements
Upcoming Events:
- May 12 – Mother’s Day & Age Combined Bible Study
- May 19 – Celebration for Graduating Seniors & End of Sunday School until Fall.
- June 9 – Church Picnic & BBQ
May Newsletters. The newsletter for May is out. There are copies in the narthex and if normally receive them in the, look for them in your mailbox early next week.
Intergenerational Bible Study. On Mother’s Day, May 12th at 9:00am we invite you to join us in song, craft, conversation, and reflection during an All-Ages Sunday School hour event. We will be singing familiar songs and engaging in conversation as we color Mother’s Day cards for mothers who reside at Stonybrook Lodge and Assisted Living.
Recognizing our Graduates. Peace is honoring its graduates this year on Sunday, May 19. Five students are graduating from high school: Sarah Grassel, Laurel Muhly, Caleb Santora, Clara Stanley, Keihin Stokes. What amazing gifts these youth have been for the family of Peace and what amazing gifts they will be wherever they go! Consider sharing a card, gift, and word of encouragement for each of our graduates. Consider staying after church on Sunday, May 19 for a special fellowship to wish them well.
