The Service in PDF format is at: September 28, 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, September 28, 2025
Pastor Norm Metzler
Musician Colleen Schulze
Reader Lindy Young
Flowers Lindy Young
PRE-SERVICE MUSIC
AS WE GATHER……….. Jesus tells a story about a rich man and a poor man. The rich man had an earthly life filled with abundance, and he ignored the poor man who was in misery outside his gate. This story gives us pause and causes us to think about how we are treating our neighbors in need. It also reminds us never to trust in our earthly wealth and possessions, but rather to trust always in our Redeemer, Jesus.
RINGING OF THE BELL…………..After the ringing of the bell, we take a few moments to prepare our hearts and minds in silence for today’s worship.
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
CHORAL OPENING “Our Awesome God”
Lyrics by Daniel ben Judah Dayyan, c. 1400. Words & Music by Rich Mullins.
The God of Abr’ham praise,
All praises to His name,
Who was and is, and is to be,
He is the same. The one eternal God
Before us now appears;
The First, the Last,
throughout all time, beyond the years.
..
His spirit flowing free,
It surges where it will;
In prophet’s words He spoke and
He is speaking still.
Established is His law,
And changeless it shall stand,
It’s written on each heart
throughout the land.
.
When the sky was starless
in the void of the night,
Our God is an awesome God;
He spoke into the darkness
and created the light.
Our God is and awesome God.
.
With judgment and wrath
He poured out on Sodom,
the mercy and grace
He gave us at the cross,
I hope that we have not too quickly forgotten,
Our God is an awesome God.
.
Our God is an awesome God,
He reigns from heav’n above
with wisdom, pow’r, and love,
our God is an awesome God.
Eternal life He brings,
Implanted in the soul;
His love shall be our strength and stay
While ages roll.
.
We praise the living God!
All praises to His name,
Who was, and is and is to be,
He is the same.
Our God is an awesome God,
He reigns from heav’n above
with wisdom, pow’r, and love,
our God is an awesome God.
.
Our God is an awesome God.
Our God is an awesome God!
CALLING ON GOD
Leader: In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
WE CONFESS………………
Leader: Jesus tells us of a rich man and a poor man, whose name was Lazarus. The rich man ignored Lazarus in life, though Lazarus was right outside his door. How often in our own lives do we ignore those who are outside our door, who are in our own community and in need? How often do we put our trust in riches rather than in our Redeemer? We turn to our heavenly Father to ask His mercy and forgiveness.
~~~~~ Silence for reflection ~~~~~
Leader: Together we confess our sins:
People: Heavenly Father, we confess that we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We confess that we have taken comfort in the riches of this world rather than in the riches of Your kingdom. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus, have mercy on us. Forgive our sins and remove our guilt and shame.
RECEIVING FORGIVENESS
Leader: Almighty God has shown His love for us in this: He gave His Son, Jesus, to die and rise for all people, for the rich and the poor, for you and for me. As a called and ordained servant of Christ and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
SONG OF PRAISE “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty”
Text: Joachim Neander, 1650-1680; tr. Catherine Winkworth, 1829-1878, alt. Tune: Ernewerten Gesangbuch, Stralsund, 1665. © 1978 by Augsburg Publishing House, Minneapolis and Board of Publication, Lutheran Church in America, Philadelphia
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty,
the King of creation!
O my soul, Praise Him,
for He is your health and salvation!
Let all who hear,
Now to His temple draw near;
Joining in glad adoration!
.
Praise to the Lord,
Oh let all that is in me adore Him!
All that has life and breath,
come now with praises before Him.
Let the Amen
Sound from His people again,
Gladly forever we adore Him.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Leader: Let us Pray. O God, You are the strength of all who trust in You, and without Your aid we can do no good thing. Grant us the help of Your grace that we may please You in both will and deed; 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
FIRST LESSON Amos 6:1-7
6 “Woe to those who are at ease in Zion, and to those who feel secure on the mountain of Samaria, the notable men of the first of the nations, to whom the house of Israel comes! 2 Pass over to Calneh, and see, and from there go to Hamath the great; then go down to Gath of the Philistines. Are you better than these kingdoms? Or is their territory greater than your territory, 3 O you who put far away the day of disaster and bring near the seat of violence?
4 “Woe to those who lie on beds of ivory and stretch themselves out on their couches, and eat lambs from the flock and calves from the midst of the stall, 5 who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp and like David invent for themselves instruments of music, 6 who drink wine in bowls and anoint themselves with the finest oils, but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph! 7 Therefore they shall now be the first of those who go into exile, and the revelry of those who stretch themselves out shall pass away.”
Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
EPISTLE I Timothy 6:6-19
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, 14 to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen. 17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,
19 thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.
Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
Holy GOSPEL: Luke 16:19-31
19 “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21 who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, 23 and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.
24 And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’
27 And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house— 28 for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ 29 But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’ ”
Leader: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to You, O Christ.
SERMON HYMN “They’ll Know We are Christians”
Peter Scholtes; Words: 1966 F.E.L. Publications. Assigned 1991 The Lorenz Corporation (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.); Music: 1966 F.E.L. Publications. Assigned 1991 The Lorenz Corporation (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.)
We are one in the Spirit,
we are one in the Lord,
We are one in the Spirit,
we are one in the Lord,
And we pray that all unity
may one day be restored.
.
Chorus: And they’ll know we are Christians
by our love, by our love,
Yes they’ll know we are Christians by our love.
.
We will walk with each other,
we will walk hand in hand,
We will walk with each other,
we will walk hand in hand,
And together we’ll spread the news
that God is in our land:
Chorus
All praise to the Father,
from whom all things come,
And all praise to Christ Jesus,
his only Son,
And all praise to the Spirit,
who makes us one:
Chorus
SERMON
“The Problem With Money…”
Pastor Norm Metzler
APOSTLES’ CREED
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.
OFFERING
We offer our thanksgiving for what God has first given us—ourselves, our time, our possessions.
OFFERTORY
PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH
Leader: Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
Lord God, You have taught us through Your Word that the pursuit of a self-centered and complacent faith is not what You have intended for us. Rather, You call us to walk in Your will and ways for the furthering of Your kingdom and the loving of our neighbors.
People: We praise You for Your wisdom, Lord. You know our struggles and our weaknesses and how easily we are deterred from Your will. Empower us to live a life focused on faith, love, care for others, endurance, and joy in You.
Leader: Lord God, Jesus taught us that there is no eternal value in placing the pursuit of riches as the priority of our life as it leads to a path of separation from You.
People: Strengthen our faith, Lord. Teach us to rely on You rather than our own pursuits and interests. Strengthen us through the work of Your Spirit in us.
Leader: Grant that those whom You have called and placed as overseers and leaders in Your places of worship may faithfully fulfill the calling in which You have placed them that they may speak Your Word in confidence.
People: Grant that each person in every vocation serve You and others in Your name all the days of their life.
Leader: Lord God, let the cries of all in need come before You, (especially…..). By Your merciful goodness, grant healing to their bodies and peace to their souls.
People: Comfort and support all who are burdened and sorrowful, that in all their sadness, faith may remain firm.
Leader: Into Your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord.
People: Amen.
THE LORD’S PRAYER (Echo Version)
(First the Leader will sing then congregation follows)
Our Father,
who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name,
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
.
On earth
as it is in heaven.
Please give us
All that we need
and forgive us
all our sins
.
as we forgive
Those who sin against us
and lead us not
into temptation
but deliver us
.
from the evil one
our father who art in heaven
Hallowed be thy name
Hallowed be thy name
Hallowed be thy name
Benediction
Leader: The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and + give you peace.
People: Amen.
CLOSING SONG “God of Grace and God of Glory”
Words & Music by Martin Nystrom
God of grace and God of glory,
On your people pour your pow’r;
Crown your ancient Church’s story;
Bring its bud to glorious flow’r.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage
For the facing of this hour,
For the facing of this hour.
.
Lo! The hosts of evil round us
Scorn the Christ, assail his ways!
From the fears that long have bound us
Free our hearts to faith and praise.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage
For the living of these days,
For the living of these days.
.
Cure your children’s warring madness;
Bend our pride to your control;
Shame our wanton, selfish gladness,
Rich in things and poor in soul.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
Lest we miss your kingdom’s goal,
Lest we miss your kingdom’s goal.
.
Save us from weak resignation
To the evils we deplore;
Let the gift of your salvation
Be our glory evermore.
Grand us wisdom, grant us courage,
Serving you whom we adore,
Serving you whom we adore.
Dismissal
Leader: Go in peace. Serve the Lord
People: Thanks be to God.
POST-SERVICE MUSIC
Announcements
ADULT BIBLE STUDY IN SEPTEMBER…………. Peace is offering a class titled, “Loved and Sent.” Identity and purpose are fundamental aspects of every human being. However, in the chaos and confusion of modern society, cutting through all the noise and distraction makes defining what really matters and what’s most important elusive at times. Loved and Sent is an encouraging, Biblical way to discover identity and purpose. The material from the book is based largely on Martin Luther’s Small Catechism. Next week (October 5), we will aim to better understand what it means to be sent. Knowing that we are loved, we can better love and serve others. All are welcome!
PASTOR AWAY……………… Pastor is away on vacation this week, September 27 to October 2. If you are in need of pastoral assistance, consider connecting with one of our elders: Oscar, Rick, Kay, Dave and Merv. Dan is also available and in the office this week.
PHILOMATH ROTARY……………… Peace Lutheran Church has an organizational membership with the Philomath Rotary. We are partnered in word and deed with our community. And the good news is that the Philomath Rotary is growing in membership. On Tuesday, October 7 at noon, Nichole Hasley is sharing a vocational talk. Nichole is working closely with the Philomath Chamber. Please RSVP with Lindy if you would like to attend so the Rotary can plan for the number of meals.
Decorating the church for fall. We are looking for items to decorate the church for fall. Specifically, we need cornstalks, pumpkins, gourds, etc., to decorate outside and for the bazaar. If you could provide one or two items, that would be a great help. Please put your donated items in the kitchen on the counter or right inside the west door to the fellowship hall. Please talk to Sally S. for additional information.
TABLES OF PEACE……………… Tables of Peace is starting up again. The sign-up list is in the hallway between the Nartex and the Fellowship Hall. Please see Linda S. with any questions.
Bazaar News…
Are you working hard on those handcrafted items? Does your house smell as good as a bakery? Some dates to note:
- October 5 – All basket ítems due.
- October 12 – All handcrafted items due (please include a list of items and quantities as it helps with pricing).
- October 20 – Granny’s Attic items any time before Oct 20.
- October 24 – The Cookie Jar cookies and Tasty Treat items are due.
More to come…
PORTALS OF PRAYER………………. Peace has the new Portals of Prayer devotionals for October to December available. Take one for yourself and consider sharing one with a friend. The devotionals can be picked up in the entryway at church.