The Service in PDF format is at: May 7, 2023 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. 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, May 7, 2023
Musician Karyn Stanley
Reader Margaret Philpott
Flowers Maggie Baker
AS WE GATHER………….Only after Easter were the disciples able to understand Jesus’ words. Now they knew that He was and is God in the flesh, the way to the Father. Today it is our turn to proclaim Jesus as the way, truth, and life, so that our friends will also know who He is and join us to live in His marvelous light.
RINGING OF THE BELL…………After the ringing of the bell, we take a moment in silence to prepare our hearts and minds for today’s worship.
Leader: In the name of the Father, and of the X Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
CONFESSION AND 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: Let us pray.
Leader: O God, You make the minds of Your faithful to be of one will. Grant that we may love what You have commanded and desire what You promise, that among the many changes of this world our hearts may be fixed where true joys are found; through Jesus, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
People: Amen.
SCRIPTURE LESSONS
Epistle Lesson: I Peter 2:2-10
You are living stones in God’s house.
2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious,
5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
6 For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”
8 and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God!
Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.”
5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” 8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.”
9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works.
11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.
12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.
13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
Reader: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to you, O Christ.
SERMON HYMN “Alleluia, Alleluia! Hearts to Heaven”
Text: Christopher Worsdworth, 1807-85, sts. 1,3; rev. Jubilate Hymns Ltd., st.2; Music Ludwig van Beethoven, 1770-1827; adapt. Edward Hodges, 1796-1867
Alleluia, alleluia!
Hearts to heav’n and voices raise;
Sing to God a hymn of gladness,
Sing to God a hymn of praise;
He who on the cross a victim
For the world’s salvation bled–
Jesus Christ, the King of Glory,
Now is risen from the dead.
.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Death at last has met defeat:
See the ancient pow’rs of evil
In confusion and retreat;
Once he died, and once was buried:
Now He lies forevermore,
Jesus Christ, the world’s Redeemer,
Whom we worship and adore.
.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Glory be to God on high;
Alleluia to the Savior
Who has gained the victory;
Alleluia to the Spirit,
Fount of love and sanctity!
Alleluia, alleluia
to the triune Majesty.
MESSAGE
Pastor Jeremy Lucke
People: 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 was 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.
Leader: As newborn infants who long for the pure spiritual milk, so let us come before the Lord seeking His mercy with confidence that His grace will be sufficient for all our needs.
~~~~~ Brief silence ~~~~~
Leader: Almighty Father, everlasting God, Your Son has revealed You to us as a merciful Lord. Give to us Your Holy Spirit, that we may believe in Him whom You have sent and do the greater works He has told us we will do in His name. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Leader: Lord God, You have promised to build up Your Church to be a holy priesthood, that Your people might offer the spiritual sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving acceptable to You. Bless all pastors who proclaim Christ to us. Bless all church workers and those preparing for full-time church vocations, that Your Church may be supplied with faithful leaders and servants of Your Word. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Leader: Holy God, Your power brought all things into being and still You preserve what You have made. Bless our president, the Congress of these United States, our governor, and all elected and appointed civil servants so that they may honor You and Your purpose, establishing order and justice, encouraging virtue and protecting all life. Give wisdom and moderation to them in their leadership for the well-being of the nation. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Leader: O merciful Father, You have compassion upon the sick and those in need and have promised not to ignore them in their afflictions. Bless the sick with healing, those who suffer with strength and patience, and the dying with peace. Hear us on behalf of those who have requested our prayers [especially _____________]. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Leader: Gracious God, You have established the home and blessed those who show us Your love. Bless all mothers and the children in their care. Bless all families and make their homes places of blessing and love, where Your Word is spoken, forgiveness reigns and love is displayed. Give us good examples to inspire youth to all that is good and pure, and to seek after these things. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
We praise You, God, for Your goodness in hearing the prayers of Your people and granting us confidence to approach Your throne of mercy. Hear us now in the name of and for the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, through whom, with whom and in whom, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honor and glory is Yours, almighty Father, both now and forevermore.
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
DISTRIBUTION HYMN “How Firm a Foundation”
Text: J. Rippon, A selection of Hymns, 1787, alt. Tune: early American; © Public Domain
How firm a foundation,
O saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in
His excellent word!
What more can He say
than to you He has said,
who unto the Savior
for refuge have fled?
.
“Fear not, I am with you,
Oh, be not dismayed,
For I am your God,
and will still give you aid;
I’ll strengthen you, help you,
and cause you to stand,
Upheld by My righteous,
omnipotent hand.”
.
“The soul that on Jesus
has leaned for repose
I will not, I will not,
desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell
should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never,
no never forsake!
.
“When through fiery trials
your pathway shall lie,
My grace, all sufficient,
shall be your supply;
The flames shall not hurt you;
I only design
your dross to consume,
and your gold to refine.
.
Throughout all their lifetime
my people shall prove
My sov’reign, eternal,
unchangeable love;
And then, when gray hairs
shall their temples adorn,
Like lambs they shall still
in my bosom be borne.
Leader: The Lord bless us and keep us.
The Lord make his face shine on us and be gracious to us.
The Lord look upon us with favor and give X us peace.
People: Amen.
CLOSING HYMN “For the Beauty of the Earth”
Text: Folliott S. Pierpoint, 1835-1917, alt. Tune: Conrad Kocher, 1786-1872.; Public Domain.
For the beauty of the earth,
For the glory of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies:
Christ, our Lord, to You we raise
This our sacrifice of praise.
.
For the wonder of each hour
Of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale and tree and flow’r,
Sun and moon and stars of light:
Christ, our Lord, to You we raise
This our sacrifice of praise.
.
For the joy of ear and eye,
For the heart and mind’s delight,
For the mystic harmony
Linking sense to sound and sight:
Christ, our Lord, to You we raise
This our sacrifice of praise.
.
For the joy of human love,
Brother, sister, parent, child,
Friends on earth and friends above,
For all gentle thoughts and mild:
Christ, our Lord, to You we raise
This our sacrifice of praise.
Dismissal
Leader: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God!
Announcements
CHILDREN’S EVANGELISM FELLOWSHIP SNACKS. Several weeks ago, the head of CEF spoke to our congregation about belonging to CEF. This afterschool Christian program teaches the children about Jesus and his works. Because this is an afterschool program, she asked if our congregation could help provide l snacks for the children. The snacks need to be individually wrapped, no nuts or peanut butter. The snacks can be placed in the basket marked CEF located in the Narthex. Your gifts of love would be greatly appreciated.
PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY. The Ladies Guild is looking for someone to reinstate the Prayer Shawl Ministry. If you like to knit or crochet this might be the very ministry for you. Shawls are made and blessed and given to members who are facing challenges to remind them that God loves them, and prayers are heard. See Peggy Krueger for more information.
Upcoming Dates to make note of. We have an exciting start to summer.
May 14 – Mother’s Day. All Mothers will be receiving carnations. This is also Mite Box Sunday.
May 23 – 7:00pm we will be hearing from JP Cima, our missionary in Cambodia.
June 4– Picnic and BBQ for fellowship after worship service. Invite your friends and neighbors. We will need about 3-4 to help prepare and serve that day. If you would like to help, please let Daniel know. We will also be honoring our graduates, Nicholas and Ingrid, on this day. Please feel free to bring them a card to congratulate them.
June 11 –Confirmation for both Nora and Samuel during the worship service.
June 18 – Father’s Day. The men will be hosting fellowship brunch after the worship service.
Pastor out of the office. Pastor Lucke will be out of the office this Tuesday, May 9. He will be attending a circuit meeting at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Waldport. You can still contact him via phone, text, or email. As always, you can contact any of the Elders with any immediate concerns.
