14TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST September 3, 2023
Immanuel Ev. Lutheran Church
Wisconsin Synod
Pastor Rev. Christopher Oehlke Pastor’s Phone: 1-262-909-7827
Organist Mindy Kane, Karen Davis, Church Telephone 763-682-4573
Lorraine Roush Email pastor@myimmanuel.org
WELCOME, VISITORS: We are glad you could be with us and we welcome you back any time. Please sign our “Welcome” card found in the pew holders or sign the guest book in the narthex/entry.
Before Communing
Dear Savior, at your gracious invitation I come to your table to eat and drink your holy body and blood. Let me find favor in your eyes to receive this holy Sacrament in faith for the salvation of my soul and to the glory of your holy name; for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Guests—The Lord’s Supper has been described as powerful medicine. And so it is–it is the medicine of immortality. And as we all know, when it comes to powerful medicine, there are a few things you should know before taking it. We ask that our visitors first speak with our pastor to learn more about this powerful medicine of the Lord’s Supper before coming up. We are eager to have you share with us in this great gift and to do so in a way that gives you great benefit!
THE COMMON SERVICE
HYMN (#362) “Lord Jesus Christ, My Savior Blest”
M: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C: (Sung) Amen.
CONFESSION OF SINS
M: Beloved in the Lord: let us draw near with a true heart and confess our sins to God our Father, asking him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to grant us forgiveness.
C: Holy and merciful Father, I confess that I am by nature sinful and that I have disobeyed you in my thoughts, words, and
actions. I have done what is evil and failed to do what is good.
For this I deserve your punishment both now and in eternity.
But I am truly sorry for my sins, and trusting in my Savior
Jesus Christ, I pray: Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.
LORD, HAVE MERCY
C: (Sung) Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
M: God, our heavenly Father, has been merciful to us and has given his only Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Therefore, as a called servant of Christ and by his authority, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C: (Sung) Amen.
PRAYER AND PRAISE
M: In the peace of forgiveness, let us praise the Lord.
GLORY BE TO GOD
C: (Sung) Glory be to God on high, and on earth peace,
good will toward men.
We praise you, we bless you, we worship you,
we glorify you, we give thanks to you, for your great glory,
O Lord God, heav’nly King, God the Father almighty.
O Lord, the only begotten Son, Jesus Christ;
O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,
you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.
You take away the sin of the world; receive our prayer.
You sit at the right hand of God the Father; have mercy on us.
For you only are holy; you only are the Lord.
You only, O Christ, with the Holy Spirit, are most high in the
glory of God the Father. Amen.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
M: The Lord be with you.
C: (Sung) And also with you.
M: Let us pray: Almighty God, your Son willingly endured the agony and shame of the cross for our redemption. Grant us courage to take up our cross daily and follow him wherever he leads; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C: (Sung) Amen.
THE WORD
FIRST LESSON Jeremiah 15:15-21
15 O Lord, you understand. Remember me and care for me. Take vengeance for me on those who persecute me. You are slow to anger.
Do not take me away. Keep in mind that for your sake I bear disgrace.
16 Your words came to me, and I devoured them. Your words became my joy, the delight of my heart, because I bear your name, O Lord God of Armies. 17 I did not sit with the band of partygoers, nor did I celebrate with them. I sat alone, because your hand was upon me. You filled me with indignation. 18 Why is my pain unending? Why is my wound incurable, refusing to heal? Will you be as deceptive as an intermittent stream to me, like a source of water that a person can’t depend on? 19 Therefore this is what the Lord says. If you repent, I will take you back, so that you may stand before me. If what you say is worthwhile and not worthless, you will be my spokesman. They must turn to you, but you must not turn to them. 20 I will make you like a bronze wall to this people. They will fight against you, but they will not overcome you, because I am with you to save you and to rescue you, declares the Lord. 21 I will rescue you from the hand of the wicked,
and I will deliver you from the grasp of the ruthless. (EHV)
M: The Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
PSALM OF THE DAY (Sung) Psalm 31 (page 77)
SECOND LESSON Romans 8:18-25
18 For I conclude that our sufferings at the present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us. 19 In fact, creation is waiting with eager longing for the sons of God to be revealed. 20 For creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in the hope 21 that even creation itself will be set free from slavery to corruption, in order to share in the glorious freedom of the children of God. 22 For we know that all of creation is groaning with birth pains right up to the present time. 23 And not only creation, but also we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we eagerly await our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. 24 Indeed, it was for this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he already sees? 25 But if we hope for something we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patient endurance. (EHV)
M: The Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
VERSE OF THE DAY
M: Alleluia. Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. Alleluia. (Mark 8:34))
C: (Sung) Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
GOSPEL Matthew 16:21-26
After the announcement of the Gospel, the congregation sings:
C: (Sung) Glory be to you, O Lord!
21 From that time, Jesus began to show his disciples that he had to go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders, chief priests, and experts in the law, and be killed, and on the third day be raised again. 22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “May you receive mercy, Lord! This will never happen to you.” 23 But Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a snare to me because you are not thinking the things of God, but the things of men.” 24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to follow me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. 25 In fact whoever wants to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 After all, what will it benefit a person if he gains the whole world, but forfeits his soul? Or what can a person give in exchange for his soul? (EHV)
M: The Gospel of the Lord.
C: (Sung) Praise be to you, O Christ!
NICENE CREED
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,
was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary,
and became fully human.
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,
who in unity with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy Christian 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.
BE SEATED
HYMN (#465) “Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken”
SERMON TEXT Deuteronomy 32:1-12
Listen, you heavens, and I will speak; hear, you earth, the words of my mouth. 2 Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants. 3 I will proclaim the name of the Lord. Oh, praise the greatness of our God! 4 He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he. 5 They are corrupt and not his children; to their shame they are a warped and crooked generation. 6 Is this the way you repay the Lord, you foolish and unwise people? Is he not your Father, your Creator, who made you and formed you? 7 Remember the days of old; consider the generations long past. Ask your father and he will tell you, your elders, and they will explain to you. 8 When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, when he divided all mankind, he set up boundaries for the peoples according to the number of the sons of Israel. 9 For the Lord’s portion is his people, Jacob his allotted inheritance. 10 In a desert land he found him, in a barren and howling waste. He shielded him and cared for him; he guarded him as the apple of his eye,
11 like an eagle that stirs up its nest and hovers over its young, that spreads its wings to catch them and carries them aloft. 12 The Lord alone led him; no foreign god was with him. (NIV)
SERMON THEME “The Death of Moses—if this is a good day
to die in Christ then it is a good day to live in Christ.”
After the sermon, the congregation stands and sings:
C: (Sung) Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with your free Spirit. Amen.
OFFERING – Please leave offering in the plate as you depart.
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For Christian neighbors in our community and in each home, that as the beloved of God, we may be unashamed to serve each other in genuine love, truthful speech and constant patience, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For our nation, its leaders, and those who serve for the good of our people and for their protection, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For peace in our time and the peace that God alone can give, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all in need of healing and restoration, that they may bear their crosses and endure to see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For repentance and faith as we approach the Lord’s table, that we may not think more highly of ourselves than is right, but that we would set our hearts and minds on the things of God, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For those persecuted for the name of Christ, that in communion with all the saints we may bear our crosses faithfully, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
All these things and whatever else You know that we need, grant us, Father, for the sake of Him who died and rose again and now lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God forever. Amen.
LORD’S PRAYER
C: 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.
THE SACRAMENT
PREFACE
M: The Lord be with you.
C: (Sung) And also with you.
M: Lift up your hearts.
C: (Sung) We lift them up unto the Lord.
M: Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God.
C: (Sung) It is good and right so to do.
M: It is truly good and right that we should at all times and in all places give you thanks, O Lord, holy Father, almighty and everlasting God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who promised that wherever two or three come together in his name, there he is with them to shepherd his flock till he comes again in glory. Therefore, with all the saints on earth and hosts of heaven, we praise your holy name and join their glorious song:
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY
C: (Sung) Holy, holy, holy Lord God of heavenly hosts:
heav’n and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he, blessed is he, blessed is he
who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest.
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
M: Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night he was betrayed, took bread; and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
Then he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant,
which is poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
M: The peace of the Lord be with you always.
C: (Sung) Amen
O CHRIST, LAMB OF GOD
C: (Sung) O Christ, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
have mercy on us.
O Christ, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
have mercy on us.
O Christ, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
grant us your peace. Amen.
DISTRIBUTION
DISTRIBUTION HYMN (#310) “I Come, O Savior, to Your Table”
THANKSGIVING
SONG OF SIMEON
C: (Sung) Lord, now you let your servant depart in peace according to your word. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared before the face of all people, a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of your people Israel.
M: O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
C: (Sung) And his mercy endures forever.
M: O God the Father, source of all goodness, in your loving kindness you sent your Son to share our humanity. We thank you that through him you have given us pardon and peace in this sacrament. We also pray that you will not forsake us but will rule our hearts and minds by your Holy Spirit so that we willingly serve you day after day, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C: (Sung) Amen.
M: The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look on you with favor and (+) give you peace.
C: (Sung) Amen. Amen. Amen.
HYMN (#760 S) “When Peace Like a River”
–
14TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST September 3, 2023
Immanuel Ev. Lutheran Church
THE SCHEDULE
Fri., Sept. 8 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Immanuel Volunteer Day at Wise Penny—work as much as you’d like
Next Sun., Sept. 10: Greeters: Dixon Family
Shut-In Visitors for September: Herman and Kathy Ernst
OUR FATHER’S BUSINESS
THANK YOU to Pastor Jonathan Were for sharing God’s Word with us this morning. Pastor serves at Good Shepherd Ev. Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls, SD, and is a good friend and classmate of Pastor Oehlke.
FUNERAL SERVICE: Our brother, Bill Wagner, moved on to his eternal home on Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023. His time of grace on this earth was 83 years, 7 months and 5 days. Bill’s confirmation verse from 1954 was Proverbs 23:26: “My son, give me your heart, And let your eyes observe my ways.”
SUNDAY SCHOOL and ADULT BIBLE STUDY: Will begin next Sunday, Sept. 10.
WEDDING: Madi Peters and Reven Simit were united in Christian Marriage on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023, by Pastor Oehlke. We pray God bless their marriage with self-sacrificing love and steadfast commitment, and draw them closer to each other and to God day by day. “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will be one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, man must not separate.” Matthew 19:5-6.
BASKETBALL HOOP has been replaced and the old one is available to anyone free for the taking. See Pastor or Loren Weese.
MISSION FESTIVAL: This year’s Mission Festival will be Sunday, Sept. 24 with Professor Lawrence OIson who is on the Board for World Missions-Administrative Committee for Asia. He will be presenting on mission work in Asia. The service will again be followed by a pork chop luncheon with potluck sides and desserts.
FOOD SHELF: The most recent donations made to benefit the Buffalo Food Shelf totaled 20 pounds plus $40 in cash/checks. Silver labeled buckets are located in the coat racks in both the upper and lower narthex for this on-going service project with deliveries made monthly.
MEDITATIONS entitled “God is With Us” have arrived with daily devotions for Aug. 27 through Dec. 2. Large print editions are also available. Feel free to take additional copies of either version to share. A free-will offering would be gratefully accepted to help defray the costs.
ATTENDANCE AT THE LORD’S HOUSE:
Sunday, Aug. 27 57
FOR THE LORD’S WORK: Aug. 27: General Fund-$1,263 (Minimum Weekly Amount Needed-$2,375); Salem-$2; West-$10; Fishers-$25.
Verse of the Day
During this week memorize and think about this verse of the day:
Whoever wants to be my disciple
must deny themselves and
take up their cross and follow me.
(Mark 8:34))
