25TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST November 19, 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 Communion

Lord, I am not worthy to be a guest at your holy table. But you are the friend of sinners, and you will not cast me out. This bread is your body, which bore my sins upon the tree. This wine is your blood, which purifies me from all guilt. At your invitation, I come rejoicing. Receive me, my Savior. Amen.

THE COMMON SERVICE

HYMN (#459) “O God, My Faithful God”

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:  Lord God Almighty, so rule and govern our hearts and minds by your Holy Spirit that we may always look forward to the end of this present evil age and the day of your righteous judgment. Keep us steadfast in true and living faith, and present us at last holy and blameless before 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 Isaiah 1:10-18

¹⁰ Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom! Listen to the law of our God, you people of Gomorrah! ¹¹What do your many sacrifices mean to me? says the Lord. I have more than enough rams as burnt offerings and enough fat from well-fed animals. I am not pleased with the blood of bulls or the blood of lambs and male goats. ¹² When you come to appear before me, who has asked for this from your hands: this trampling on my courts? ¹³Stop bringing worthless offerings! Your incense is an abomination to me. I cannot stand your sinful assemblies on the new moons, Sabbaths, and holy days. ¹⁴ Deep in my soul I hate your new moons and your appointed feasts. They have become a burden to me. I am tired of putting up with them. ¹⁵When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you. Indeed, even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood. ¹⁶Wash yourselves. Purify yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from my sight. Stop doing evil. ¹⁷ Learn to do good. Seek justice. Relieve the oppressed. Seek justice for the fatherless. Plead for the widow. ¹⁸ Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow. Though they are as red as crimson, they will be like wool.             (EHV)

M: The Word of the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God.

PSALM OF THE DAY (Sung) Psalm 92 (page 101)

SECOND LESSON Romans 12:1-8

12 Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice—holy and pleasing to God—which is your appropriate worship. ² Also, do not continue to conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, so that you test and approve what is the will of God—what is good, pleasing, and perfect. ³ So by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think in a way that results in sound judgment, as God distributed a measure of faith to each of you. ⁴ For we have many members in one body, and not all the members have the same function. ⁵ In the same way, though we are many, we are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. ⁶ We have different gifts, according to the grace God has given us. If the gift is prophecy, do it in complete agreement with the faith. ⁷ If it is serving, then serve. If it is teaching, then teach. ⁸ If it is encouraging, then encourage. If it is contributing, be generous. If it is leadership, be diligent. If it is showing mercy, do it cheerfully.          (EHV)

M: The Word of the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God.

VERSE OF THE DAY

M: Alleluia. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown. Alleluia. (Revelation 2:10)

C: (Sung) Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

GOSPEL Matthew 25:14-30

After the announcement of the Gospel, the congregation sings:

C: (Sung) Glory be to you, O Lord!

¹⁴ “You see, the kingdom of heaven is like a man going on a journey. He called his servants and entrusted his possessions to them.  ¹⁵ To one he gave five talents, to another two talents, and to still another one talent, each according to his own ability. Then he went on his journey. ¹⁶ The servant who had received the five talents immediately put them to work and gained five more talents. ¹⁷ In the same way, the servant who had received the two talents gained two more. ¹⁸ But the servant who had received one talent went away, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money. ¹⁹ “After a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. ²⁰ The servant who received the five talents came and brought five more talents. He said, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’ ²¹ “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful with a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master.’ ²² “The servant who received the two talents came and said, ‘Master, you entrusted me with two talents. See, I have gained two more talents.’

²³ “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful with a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master.’ ²⁴ “Then the servant who received one talent came and said, ‘Master, I knew that you are a hard man, reaping where you did not plant and gathering where you did not scatter seed. ²⁵ Since I was afraid, I went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’ ²⁶ “His master answered him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! You knew that I reap where I did not plant and gather where I did not scatter seed? ²⁷ Well then, you should have deposited my money with the bankers so that when I came I would get my money back with interest. ²⁸ Take the talent away from him and give it to the servant who has the ten talents. ²⁹ Because everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. But the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. ³⁰ Throw that worthless servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’             (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 (#481) “O God, Your Hand the Heavens Made”

SERMON TEXT Matthew 25:14-30

SERMON THEME “Faithful Stewards of the Lord”

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 pastors, that God would strengthen them to meditate on all He has done and proclaim His Word in its truth and purity; and that God’s good Spirit may lead us on level ground, holy and righteous before Him, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For our families, that as children of the day, we may be blessed to learn the Father’s ways and stand vested in the armor of His faith, love and salvation, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For national repentance, that our laws may be just, our transactions honest and our love for others fervent, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For the afflicted, that for His name’s sake, God would preserve their lives and bring their souls out of trouble, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For a right reception of Christ’s body and blood, that since He has destined us not for wrath but to obtain salvation through our Lord, Jesus Christ, God would give us penitent hearts that welcome His grace and salvation, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

God of grace, preserve us from the temptation to consider You a hard and unmerciful master. Keep us mindful that You give us every good thing in abundance, most of all a place in Your household; for the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, 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.

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 preserves his Church to the end of time when he will come again as king to judge all people and take his own to 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 (#386) “Now I Have Found”

(#177) “Come, Holy Ghost, Creator Blest”

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 (#484) “Brothers, Sisters, Let Us Gladly”

25TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST November 19, 2023

Immanuel Ev. Lutheran Church

THE SCHEDULE   

Mon., Nov. 20 7 p.m., Choir Practice

7 p.m., Church Council Meeting

Tues., Nov. 21 2 p.m., Tuesday Bible Study

Wed., Nov. 22 NO Catechism Class

7 p.m., Thanksgiving Eve Worship

Sat., Nov. 25 9 -11 a.m., Childrens  Christmas Program Practice

Next Sun., Nov. 26, Greeters: Richard and Betty Liefert

Shut-In Visitors for December:

Flowers are “In honor of Lois Liefert’s 86^th birthday (Nov. 23)

OUR FATHER’S BUSINESS

THANKSGIVING SERVICE: Reminder–our service is on Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. followed by pie. A plate offering will be collected for the WELS Christian Aid and Relief to help support humanitarian efforts here at home and overseas. Often such examples of our faith-in-action can lead to an opportunity to share the good news about Jesus.

VETERANS DAY AMMO CAN:  Thank you to all who participated in the ammo can drive. A total of $186 will be sent to LMSG (Lutheran Military Support Group). 

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: Today we will be collecting for the Buffalo Food Shelf. The silver buckets have been relocated to the kitchen for this drive. A Toys-for-Tots box is in place near the entry for this gift drive. Toys should be new, unwrapped and preferably in the $10 or above price range. Items needed for our Adopt-A-Family program will appear on the Angel Tree on Thanksgiving Eve which provide clothing and personal items for children in a specific family. Those items and sizes will be provided. Cash donations are also accepted.

SUNDAY SCHOOL CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS PROGRAM PRACTICE will begin on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, Nov. 25, from 9 to 11 a.m.

ATTENDANCE AT THE LORD’S HOUSE: 

Sunday, Nov. 12 69

FOR THE LORD’S WORK: Nov. 12: General Fund-$3,028.50 (Minimum Weekly Amount Needed=$2,375); Salem-$12.

Verse of the Day

During this week memorize and think about this verse of the day:

Be faithful, even to the point of death, and 

I will give you life as your victor’s crown.

(Revelation 2:10)