18TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST October 1, 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.
Prayer before Communion
Most gracious Lord, you bid me to approach your altar in confidence and hope. O sweet and friendly word in a sinner’s ear, that you, Lord God, invite the needy and the poor to the communion of your body and blood! You, the Lord of the Universe, have willed to come to me, a poor and lowly sinner, to live in me. Grant me grace at all times and in all places to give you hearty thanks for this marvelous gift. 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 (#337) “Delay Not! Delay Not”
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: Mercifully grant, O God, that your Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts, for without your help we are unable to please you; 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 Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32
18 The word of the Lord came to me. 2 What do you mean, you who keep repeating this proverb concerning the soil of Israel, “Fathers eat sour grapes, and their sons’ teeth are set on edge”? 3 As surely as I live, declares the Lord God, you will never again use this proverb in Israel. 4 Indeed, all souls are mine. The soul of the father is mine just like the soul of the son. The soul who sins is the one who will die. 25 But you say, “The Lord’s way is not fair.” Listen now, house of Israel. Is it my way that is not fair? Is it not your ways that are not fair? 26 If a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and practices unrighteousness, he will die because of it. Because of the unrighteousness that he has practiced, he will die. 27 But if a wicked man turns from his wickedness that he has done and practices justice and righteousness, he will preserve his life. 28 Because he has seen and turned away from all the rebellious acts that he had committed, he will surely live, and he will not die. 29 But the house of Israel says, “The Lord’s way is not fair.” Is it really my ways that are not fair, O house of Israel? Is it not your ways that are not fair? 30 Therefore, I will judge each one of you according to his ways, O house of Israel, declares the Lord God. Repent and turn away from all your rebellious acts, so that you will not set out a stumbling block that makes you guilty. 31 Throw off from yourselves all your rebellious actions by which you have rebelled, and obtain a new heart and a new spirit for yourselves. Why should you die, O house of Israel? 32 For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies, declares the Lord God. So repent and live!
(EHV)
M: The Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
PSALM OF THE DAY (Sung) Psalm 25 (page 74)
SECOND LESSON Philippians 2:1-11
2 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being united in spirit, and having one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty conceit, but in humility consider one another better than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look carefully not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Indeed, let this attitude be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. 6 Though he was by nature God, he did not consider equality with God as a prize to be displayed, 7 but he emptied himself by taking the nature of a servant. When he was born in human likeness, and his appearance was like that of any other man, 8 he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (EHV)
M: The Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
VERSE OF THE DAY
M: Alleluia. My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you will not despise. Alleluia. (Psalm 51:17)
C: (Sung) Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
GOSPEL Matthew 21:23-32
After the announcement of the Gospel, the congregation sings:
C: (Sung) Glory be to you, O Lord!
23 When Jesus went into the temple courts, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him while he was teaching and said, “By what authority are you doing these things?” and “Who gave you this authority?” 24 Jesus answered them, “I will also ask you one question. If you answer it, I will tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 The baptism of John, where was it from? From heaven or from men?” They discussed it among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘From men,’ we are afraid of the crowd, since they all regard John as a prophet.” 27 So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” He said to them, “Then I will not tell you by what authority I do these things.” 28 “What do you think? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go work today in my vineyard.’ 29 He answered, ‘I will not,’ but later he changed his mind and went. 30 He came to the second and said the same thing. The second son answered, ‘I will go, sir,’ but he did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?”
They said to him, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Amen I tell you: The tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, but you did not believe him. However, the tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him. Even when you saw this, you did not change your mind and believe him. (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 (#471) “Renew Me, O Eternal Light”
SERMON TEXT Matthew 21:23-32
SERMON THEME “True Repentance Means True Obedience”
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
M: O Lord, our God, you are wise and powerful, good and gracious.
Your mercies are new every morning. Each day you open your
hand and provide for the needs of your children on earth.
C: We praise you for every grace and blessing.
M: Strengthen your Church in all the world. Let your comforting
message of salvation in Christ Jesus be proclaimed to troubled
souls everywhere.
C: Use our ministries and offerings to extend your healing and
your hope.
M: We bring you our requests for the various structures of our
society. Bless our national, state, and local governments.
C: Grant us civil servants who are worthy of honor and respect.
M: Grant prosperity to our businesses and industries. Give employers
a sense of fairness toward their workers, and employees a feeling
of joy and pride in their workmanship.
C: Help us find satisfaction in all work well done.
M: Invigorate the schools of our land. Give success to every effort
that helps students read, think, and communicate in ways that will
promote an informed and responsible citizenry. Arouse curious
minds to discover the wonders of your created order.
C: Give us teachers and students who pursue excellence.
M: Strengthen the families of our country. Give fathers and mothers a
renewed commitment to be good parents. Give children and
young people the wisdom to regard their parents as your
representatives.
C: Lead us to love one another as you have loved us.
M: Hear us, Lord, as we bring you our private petitions.
Silent prayer.
M: Gracious Father, we pray boldly as Jesus taught, with the
confidence that you will hear and with the faith that you will
respond for our welfare.
C: 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 (#391) “God Loved the World So that He Gave” (#372) “I Lay My Sins on Jesus”
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: We give thanks, almighty God, that you have refreshed us with this holy supper. We pray that through it you will strengthen our faith in you and increase our love for one another. We ask this in the name of 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 (#469) “Take My Life and Let It Be”
18TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST October 1, 2023
Immanuel Ev. Lutheran Church
THE SCHEDULE
Mon., Oct. 27 7 p.m., Choir (join us)
Tues., Oct. 3 2 p.m., Tuesday Bible Study
Wed., Oct. 4 6:30 p.m., Catechism
Next Sun., Oct. 8: Greeters: Gutknecht Family
Shut-In Visitors for October: Betty McAlpine
OUR FATHER’S BUSINESS
MISSION FESTIVAL: Thank you to all those who helped with the Mission Festival plans, preparation and potluck. To date, in addition to the $250 Thrivent grant, the free-will offering for the meal and sale of leftovers totaled $904.
CHOIR: Choir practice will begin Monday, Oct. 2 from 7 to 8 p.m. in preparation for the holiday season. (Date/time preferences will be discussed at the first practice.) All voices are welcome. Contact Karen Davis if you have any questions.
LWMS: Circle the date for the fall LWMS Hannah Circuit Rally which is scheduled for Oct. 8 at St. Paul’s in Montrose. Brittany Jahns of Christian Life Resources will be speaking about New Beginnings and their/our help to mothers before and after their babies are born.
WISE PENNY: The Wise Penny Thrift Shoppe’s Volunteer Appreciation Lunch & Annual Voter’s Meeting will be on Sunday, October 8, at West Lutheran High School (WLHS) in Plymouth. The schedule of events has tours of WLHS beginning at 11:30am with a catered lunch at noon. There will be BINGO and fabulous prizes to attendees; presentations to WLHS, CLM, and LIMA; followed by the Annual Voters’ meeting. All WELS/ELS members are eligible voters and eligible Wise Penny board members. Wise Penny Board positions must be filled at the meeting. If you are interested in running for a Board position or to RSVP for the event, please contact Brittany McFadden, Wise Penny store manager, by Oct. 3 at 763-682-4178 or at wisepennythrift@outlook.com
ENDOWMENT COMMITTEE meeting was moved to Oct. 10 at 7 p.m.
WEST: The West General Board Meeting will be at 7 p.m. on Oct. 8 at West Lutheran High School in Plymouth.
YOUTH FUN: Redeeming Grace Lutheran Church is hosting a fall nerf event on Saturday, October 7. There will be one session for younger kids in 1st – 4th grades (parents are more than welcome to participate) from 3 – 5 p.m.; and one session for older youth in 5th – 12th grades from 6 to 8 p.m. Both sessions of nerf will begin with a devotion before we dive into an epic evening of nerf games. For admission, please bring non-perishable food shelf items. Participants will get a raffle ticket for each food shelf item brought and we’ll have drawings for nerf prizes throughout the event. All food donations will be going to support the local food shelf in Rogers. RSVP to Pastor Mayer at pastorjmayer@gmail.com by Fri., Oct. 6th.
ALTAR FLOWERS: While we have a variety of silk flower arrangements for altar use, fresh flowers are always welcome. A sign-up sheet is available in the narthex if you have an event you’d like to recognize with flowers or just because.
ATTENDANCE AT THE LORD’S HOUSE:
Sunday, Sept. 24 81
FOR THE LORD’S WORK: Sept. 24: General Fund-$2,319 (Minimum Weekly Amount Needed-$2,375), West-$35; Salem-$22.
Verse of the Day
During this week memorize and think about this verse of the day:
My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart you will not despise.
(Psalm 51:17)
