The Service in PDF format is at: September 7, 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 7, 2025
Musician Colleen Schulze
Reader Carole Gutbrod
Flowers Anna Colwell
PRE-SERVICE MUSIC
THEME: Today we begin a new season in our church family. It is exciting to hear from our choir and begin Bible Studies for all ages. It is also exciting to think about growing in our faith. Jesus is blunt about the cost of discipleship. He does not sugarcoat the life He calls us to. He also doesn’t diminish His promises, gifts, and blessings that accompany this life of faith. Today He calls us to count the cost. Part of that cost is not just in what you desire but also in what you are willing to surrender for the sake of Christ and His kingdom.
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
CHORAL OPENING “We Will Come to Praise the Lord”
Words and music by Berta Poorman and Sonja Poorman
We will come to praise the Lord.
He is our salvation.
Shout His praises evermore,
Lord and King of every nation.
Brothers, sisters everywhere,
We are God’s creation.
He gives us His love to share.
Come and join in celebration.
Sing praises, Alleluia, Alleluia,
Come and sing praise to God, our King.
For He is our Lord and worthy is His name.
Lift your voice and sing!
We will come to praise the Lord.
He is our salvation.
Shout His praises evermore,
Lord and King of every nation.
Brothers, sisters everywhere,
We are God’s creation.
He gives us His love to share.
Come and join in celebration.
Sing praises, Alleluia, Alleluia,
Come and sing praise to God, our King.
For He is our Lord and worthy is His name.
Lift your voice and sing!
We will come to praise the Lord.
He is our salvation.
Shout His praises evermore,
Lord and King of every nation.
Brothers, sisters everywhere,
We are God’s creation.
He gives us His love to share.
Come and join in celebration.
Come praise the Lord.
Come praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord!
OPENING BLESSING
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.
KYRIE (Green Book pg. 78-79)
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
HYMN OF PRAISE (Green Book pg. 81-82)
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.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Leader: Let us pray.
Leader: O almighty God, You have promised grace sufficient for us to hear the call of the Holy Spirit, believe in Him who You have sent to be our Savior, and walk in the way of salvation. Give courage and strength to Your people that we may deny ourselves and follow Christ in the way of the cross; through Him who died that we might live and who now lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
People: Amen.
SCRIPTURE LESSONS
Old Testament Lesson: Deuteronomy 30:15-20
15 “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. 16 If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you today, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. 17 But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them,
18 I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish. You shall not live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess. 19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, 20 loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”
Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
Holy Gospel Matthew 3:13-17
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him;
17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
Leader: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to You, O Christ.
SERMON HYMN “Praise to the Lord”
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,
who o’er all things is wondrously reigning,
And, as on wings of an eagle,
uplifting, sustaining.
Have you not seen
All that is needful has been
Sent by His gracious ordaining?
Praise to the Lord,
who will prosper your work and defend you;
Surely His goodness and mercy
shall daily attend you.
Ponder anew
What the Almighty can do,
If with His love He befriend you.
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.
SERMON
Pastor Jeremy Lucke
CONFESSING OUR FAITH
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 to the dead.
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 Christian Church,
The communion of saints,
The forgiveness of sins,
The resurrection of the body
And the life everlasting. Amen.
OFFERING
We give our offerings as a sign of our lives given to the Lord in humble service.
OFFERTORY
PRAYERS OF GOD’S PEOPLE
Leader: Let us pray together in Christ Jesus for all people according to their needs. Transforming God of Love, living on our own terms, our lives have become unmanageable. Grant that by Your Word and Spirit we continually be transformed, trusting in Jesus who endured all things — even the cross for us. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Leader: Transforming God of Love, the people, systems, and institutions of this world are crying out under the weight of feeling unloved. Jesus has come that all people come to know and believe how much You love all of us — from the least to the greatest. Grant that our elected and appointed officials be persuaded by Your love to govern wisely that all people on earth dwell in peace. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Leader: Transforming God of Love, there are many who are weak and sick among us and in our circles of family and friends. Remember for good all people who are suffering in body, mind, or spirit, [especially . . .]. Grant them both inward and outward healing according to Your will, helping them to trust Your goodness in all things. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Leader: Into Your hands we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
People: Amen.
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING (Green Book pg. 88)
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 (Green Book pg. 88)
Leader: It is indeed right and salutary …. We praise your name and join their unending hymn:
SANCTUS (Green Book pg. 89)
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
THE LORD’S PRAYER
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
DISTRIBUTION HYMN: “What a Friend”
Joseph Scriven; Charles C. Converse
What a friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer!
Have we trials and temptations,
is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged,
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
who with all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness,
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Are we weak and heavy laden,
cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Saviour, still our refuge,
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise,
forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer;
In his arms he’ll take and shield thee,
thou wilt find a solace there.
“Jesus Loves Me”
By: Anna B. Warner, alt. & Wm. B. Bradbury; © 1971 by William J. Gaither. The Fellowship Publications Edina, MN 55435
Jesus loves me this I know,
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong,
They are weak, but He is strong.
Chorus: Yes Jesus loves me,
Yes Jesus loves me,
Yes Jesus loves me,
The Bible tells me so.
Jesus loves me, Loves me still,
Though I’m very weak and ill.
That I might from sin be free
Bled and died upon the tree.
Chorus
Jesus loves me! He who died,
Heavens gates to open wide
He will wash away my sin,
Let his little child come in.
Chorus
Jesus loves me he will stay,
Close beside me all the way.
That I might from sin be free,
I will henceforth live for thee.
Chorus
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: “Shine Jesus Shine”
By: Graham Kendrick; ©1987 Make Way Music (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.)
Lord, the Light of Your love is shining
In the midst of the darkness shining;
Jesus, Light of the World, shine upon us.
Set us free by the truth You now bring us.
Shine on me, shine on me.
Chorus: Shine, Jesus, shine,
Fill this land with the Father’s glory;
Blaze, Spirit, blaze, Set our hearts on fire.
Flow, river flow, Flood the nations with
grace and mercy.
Send forth Your Word, Lord,
and let there be light.
Lord, I come to Your awesome presence,
From the shadows into Your radiance;
By the blood I may enter Your brightness,
Search me, try me, consume all my darkness,
Shine on me, shine on me.
Chorus
As we gaze on Your kingly brightness,
So our faces display Your likeness;
Ever changing from glory to glory,
Mirror’d here may our lives tell Your story,
Shine on me, shine on me.
Chorus
Dismissal
Leader: Go in peace. Serve the Lord
People: Thanks be to God.
Announcements
ADULT BIBLE STUDY IN SEPTEMBER…………. A new class titled “Loved and Sent” began today during the 9:00 am Bible Study hour. We discovered that before we ever do anything, we first recognize God’s work done for us. Did you miss it? No worries. Join us next week at 9:00 am to discover how great it is to know that we are loved by God the Father. Our goal is to deepen our appreciation of how loved we are.
CHOIR BEGINS…………….. The Peace choir is beginning to practice and share their singing in our worship services! The first practice was today. Did you miss it? No worries. Join us next week on Sunday, September 14 at 8:00 am in the sanctuary. We’d enjoy having you join us! See Colleen or Diane if you’d like to join us!
FIRST AID AED TRAINING…………. Peace will host First AID & AED training on Saturday, September 13 from 10:00 to 11:00 am in the Fellowship Hall. The training will be taught by the Philomath Fire Department and address basic first aid, including aid for choking, and the use of our building AEDs. This is a refresher course and does not lead to CPR certification. Please talk to Rachel H. if you are interested in coming. We need a general head count so that the PFD can bring sufficient equipment.
CORVALLIS FOR REFUGEES…………. All are welcome for an International Food Flair at Imagine Coffee on Friday, September 12, 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm. This event is sponsored by Corvallis For Refugees–a ministry partner of Peace Lutheran Church. Embark on a culinary journey exploring the rich flavors cooked by our newest neighbors. Enjoy the aromatic spices of Afghanistan, the vibrant delights of Guatemala, the hearty tradition of Ukraine, and the festive offerings of Venezuela. This is an opportunity to appreciate the diversity and unity of global cuisine.
Bazaar News… Are you planning any late summer/early fall “spring cleaning” projects around your house? Do you have lots of gently used items that you don’t want anymore?
Please consider donating them to our Granny’s Attic! This is a highly popular section of the bazaar where we will sell those items at thrifted prices. Please, no clothing.
Donations will be accepted any time until Oct. 20th. Please see Jani B. if you have questions.
More to come…
Answered Prayers from Diane H……..Thank you for the prayers with my recent health challenge. It was a great comfort to know that my church family uplifted me in prayer during such an unsettling time. How great it is to know that our God hears our prayers and answers in His timing and will.