24th SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST November 12, 2023
Immanuel Ev. Lutheran Church
Wisconsin Synod
Pastor Rev. Christopher Oehlke Pastor’s Phone: 1-262-909-7827
Organist Karen Davis, Mindy Kane, 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 Worship
I was glad when they said to me: “Let us go into the house of the Lord.” The Lord is in His holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before Him. Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men and He will dwell with them. And they shall be His people and God Himself shall be with them and be their God.
SERVICE OF THE WORD
HYMN (#7) “Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers”
M: The grace of our Lord (+) Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you.
C: And also with you.
CONFESSION OF SINS
M: We have come into the presence of God, who created us to love and serve him as his dear children. But we have disobeyed him and deserve only his wrath and punishment. Therefore, let us confess our sins to him and plead for his mercy.
C: Merciful Father in heaven, I am altogether sinful from birth.
In countless ways I have sinned against you and do not deserve to be called your child. But trusting in Jesus, my Savior, I pray: Have mercy on me according to your unfailing love. Cleanse me from my sin, and take away
my guilt.
M: God, our heavenly Father, has forgiven all your sins. By the perfect life and innocent death of our Lord Jesus Christ, he has removed your guilt forever. You are his own dear child. May God give you strength to live according to his will.
C: Amen.
PRAYER AND PRAISE
M: In the peace of forgiveness, let us praise the Lord.
C: (Sung) Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good.
Blessed are they who take refuge in him.
Your Word, O Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.
Your faithfulness continues forever.
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good.
Blessed are they who take refuge in him.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
M: Let us pray. Almighty God and Savior, you have set the final day and hour when we shall be delivered from this world of sin and death. Keep us ever watchful for the coming of your Son that we may sit with him and all your holy ones at the marriage feast in heaven; 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 Isaiah 52:1-6
52 Wake, awake! Clothe yourself with strength, O Zion. Put on your beautiful garments, Jerusalem, you holy city, for never again will the uncircumcised and the unclean enter you. 2 Shake off the dust. Get up and take your seat, Jerusalem. Loosen the chains from your neck,
you captive daughter of Zion. 3 Yes, this is what the Lord says. You were sold for nothing, and you will be redeemed without money. 4 Yes, this is what the Lord God says. In the beginning, my people went down to Egypt to stay there for a while. Later Assyria oppressed them without cause. 5 Now what do I have here? declares the Lord. Indeed, my people have been taken away for nothing. Their rulers howl with mockery, declares the Lord. My name is continually despised all day.
6 Therefore my people will know my name. So on that day they will know that I am the one— the one who is saying, “Here I am!” (EHV)
M: The Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
PSALM OF THE DAY (Sung) Psalm 90 (page 99)
SECOND LESSON 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
5 Concerning the times and dates, brothers, there is no need to write to you, 2 for you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 When people are saying, “Peace and security,” destruction will suddenly come on them, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will certainly not escape. 4 But you, brothers, are not in the dark so that this day takes you by surprise like a thief, 5 for you are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or the darkness. 6 So then let us not sleep like everyone else, but rather let us remain alert and sober. 7 To be sure, those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 You see, God did not appoint us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up, just as you are also doing. (EHV)
M: The Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
VERSE OF THE DAY
M: Alleluia. Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. Alleluia. (Matthew 24:42)
C: (Sung) Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
These words are written that we may believe
that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
GOSPEL Matthew 25:1-13
25 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 When the foolish ones took their lamps, they did not take any oil with them; 4 but the wise took oil in their containers with their lamps. 5 While the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6 But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ 7 Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, ‘No, there may not be enough for us and for you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ 10 But while they were away buying oil, the bridegroom came. Those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut. 11 Later, the other virgins also came and said, ‘Lord, Lord, let us in.’ 12 But he answered, ‘Amen I tell you: I do not know you.’ 13 Therefore, keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. (EHV)
M: The Gospel of the Lord.
C: (Sung) Praise be to you, O Christ!
HYMN OF THE DAY (#206) “Wake, Awake, for Night is Flying”
SERMON TEXT Matthew 25:1-13
SERMON THEME “Waiting Wisely”
APOSTLES’ CREED
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
From there he will come 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.
THANKSGIVING
OFFERING – Please leave offering in the plate as you depart.
HYMN (#10) “The Bridegroom Soon Will Call Us”
PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH
In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For help and deliverance, that we may be granted all things needful and guarded against all things harmful, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For parents and those who teach children the Word of God, that generations to come may love God’s promises, walk in His truth and dwell in His house, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all who cry to the Lord, that God would answer them with strength and healing, comfort and hope, and keep them in the confidence of the resurrection of the dead, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
God of our salvation, we know neither the day nor the hour of Christ’s return, but we know that He has died and is risen again to open the kingdom of heaven to all believers. Until that day, preserve us in faith and guard us from temptation. Do not let us be caught unprepared for His coming. Let us live our days in loving service and joyful expectation of the life of the world to come; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God now and 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.
M: O Lord God, our heavenly Father, pour out the Holy Spirit on your faithful people. Keep us strong in your grace and truth, protect and comfort us in all temptation, and bestow on us your
saving peace, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C: (Sung) Amen.
M: Brothers and sisters, go in peace. Live in harmony with one another. Serve the Lord with gladness.
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 (#771) “I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light”
Growing in Grace
To help apply the sermon text for today, ask yourself these questions:
~ What is the main thing that God teaches me in this passage?
~ What sin does God lead me to confess?
~ For what does God prompt me to give thanks?
~ What action does God want me to take?
24th SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST November 12, 2023
Immanuel Ev. Lutheran Church
THE SCHEDULE
Mon., Nov. 13 7 p.m., Choir Practice
Tues., Nov. 14 6:30 p.m., Ladies Fellowship
Wed., Nov. 15 6:30 p.m., Catechism Class
Thurs., Nov. 16 6 p.m. Fishers
Next Sunday, Nov. 19, Greeters: Kowalke Family
Shut-In Visitors for November: Lila Rancour and Donna Frank
OUR FATHER’S BUSINESS
VETERANS DAY AMMO CAN: In recognition of our Veterans, our congregation’s Lutheran Military Support Group (LMSG) is asking for donations with an ammo box available in the narthex. For more info, visit www.lutheranmilitary.org.
ADVENT CALENDAR CARDS: We have Advent Calendar Cards available on the table in the narthex. Feel free to take what you need.
HOLIDAY CHARITY OPTIONS: See insert for details.
WEST FALL PLAY: West Lutheran High School is presenting the play, “Ghostlight,” with performances on at 7 p.m. on Nov. 17 & 18 and a 2 p.m. matinee on Nov. 19. See the west bulletin board details.
FESTIVAL OF TREES: Would you like to share your creative ideas for an entry for Wright County Heritage Center’s “Festival of Trees”? We have the Chrismon ornaments available that we’ve used the past two years or are open to a new theme. If you’d like to take charge this year, give your name to Pastor or Julie Gutknecht.
FOOD SHELF: The most recent donations made to benefit the Buffalo Food Shelf totaled 8 pounds plus $90 in cash/checks. See insert for an extra Thanksgiving push on Nov. 19.
THANKSGIVING SERVICE: Reminder–our service is on Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. followed by pie.
ATTENDANCE AT THE LORD’S HOUSE:
Sunday, Nov. 5 59FOR THE LORD’S WORK: Nov. 5: General Fund-$1,816.01 (Minimum Weekly Amount Needed=$2,375); Building Fund-$25; West $10; Salem-$10.
