September 8, 2024

Worship Theme:   The 2024/25 theme for the West Lutheran High School Association is “Forever Faithful” based on Psalm 100:5 – “For the LORD is good and his love endures forever, his faithfulness continues through all generations.”  In every phase of life God’s people rely on a gracious God who is faithful to every promise he makes.  The Spirit-wrought response is for every believer to pass that message along to the next generation till he returns to take us home.  As we reflect on the LORD’s faithfulness today, may he sanctify us through and through so that our “whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our LORD Jesus Christ.  The one who has called [us] is faithful and he will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:23,24). 

633 Speak, O Lord CW 633

In the name of the Father and of the  Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Confession CW 173

Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.

Blessed are they whose sin the Lord does not count against them.

Let us confess our sins to the Lord.

Almighty and merciful Father,
        we have strayed from your ways like lost sheep.

    We have followed what we have devised and desired in our hearts.
    We have offended you and sinned against your holy law.
    We have done those things that we should not have done,
        and we have not done those things that we should have done.
    Have mercy on us, Lord!
        Spare us, forgive us, and restore us,
        according to your promises in Christ Jesus.

Silence for meditation and reflection

God, our merciful Father, has forgiven all our sins. He sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to be our Redeemer and Savior. Jesus paid the penalty for our guilt by his death on the cross and freed us from death by his resurrection from the grave. We have peace with God now and forever.

Amen.

579 His Mercy Is More CW 579

The Word

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Prayer of the Day

Let us pray. Merciful Lord, comforter and teacher of your faithful people, increase in your church the knowledge of your will. Strengthen the hearts of those who hope in you, and show them the depth of your promises. Let our children follow the light of your Word, and follow you with eager footsteps; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

First Reading Lamentations 3:22–33

²²Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
²³They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
²⁴I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him.”

²⁵The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;
²⁶it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord.
²⁷It is good for a man to bear the yoke
while he is young.

²⁸Let him sit alone in silence,
for the Lord has laid it on him.
²⁹Let him bury his face in the dust—
there may yet be hope.
³⁰Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him,
and let him be filled with disgrace.

³¹For no one is cast off
by the Lord forever.
³²Though he brings grief, he will show compassion,
so great is his unfailing love.
³³For he does not willingly bring affliction
or grief to anyone.                   

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

100A Enter His Gates with Thanksgiving Psalm 100A

Shout for joy to the Lord, / all the earth.
  Worship the Lord with / gladness;
      come before him with / joyful songs.

Know that the / Lord is God.
  It is he who made us, and / we are his;
      we are his people, the sheep of his / pasture.    Refrain

Enter his gates with thanks- / giving
  and his / courts with praise;
      give thanks to him and / praise his name.

For the / Lord is good
  and his love endures for- / ever;
      his faithfulness continues through all gener- / ations.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy / Spirit,
  as it was in the be- / ginning,
      is now, and will be forever. / Amen.    Refrain

Second Reading 1 Thessalonians 5:16–24

¹⁶Rejoice always, ¹⁷pray continually, ¹⁸give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

¹⁹Do not quench the Spirit. ²⁰Do not treat prophecies with contempt ²¹but test them all; hold on to what is good, ²²reject every kind of evil. ²³May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Stand

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. Alleluia.

Gospel Matthew 6:25–34

²⁵“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ²⁶Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? ²⁸“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? ³¹So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³²For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise be to you, O Christ!                  

602 Great Is Thy Faithfulness CW 602

Sermon

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.

Offering

518 Christ Be My Leader CW 518

Prayer of the Church

Eternal Father, your Word is a lamp for our feet and a light to our path. You inspired the Scriptures for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that your servants might be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Lead us to love your Word more and more and to receive your message with great eagerness.

You have given us your Word that we may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing we may have life in his name. Enable us to see the wonders of your love in Christ from the beginning to the end of your holy book.

Help us to see Jesus, the pioneer and perfector of our faith.

Work in all your people, especially in parents, the resolve and patience to teach little children the simple truths about the Savior who loves them. Walk with us as we take our children to the manger, the cross, and the empty tomb. Let them find Jesus in stories, songs, and prayers.

Move us to bring up our children in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Provide wisdom and commitment to teachers who train our young people in Sunday Schools and youth Bible classes. Deepen their knowledge of your Word as they prepare and share the lessons they teach. Move them to model a sincere devotion to the Scriptures. 

Lead us to plan for and support the Christian training of children.

We thank you for enabling our congregation to provide elementary and secondary education for our children. We know our schools are your special blessing, and we pray for the resolve to establish and maintain standards of excellence in all aspects of education. 

Lead us to provide Christian schools that reflect the immensity of your love.

Bless the schools and teachers who prepare public ministers of the gospel for service in our churches and around the world. Lead teachers and professors to be faithful to your Word and provide insights that enable them to pass on your truth to their students. Ignite the zeal of young men and women to be willing and eager to share the truths of Scripture with others. Move us to support with our prayers and gifts the schools our synod has established. 

We pray that you send workers in your harvest fields.

Work in us that we may find the lasting value of growing in the grace and knowledge of Christ. Lead us to be faithful in our personal study of the Scriptures and in participating in regular Bible classes. Rid us of all thoughts that Christian education ends in our youth. Make us life-long students of your precious Word. 

Lead us to believe that at every age your Word remains a lamp for our feet and a light to our path. 

How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your Word. Even when we are old and gray, lead us to meditate on your decrees that we may delight in your wonderful deeds.

Do good to your servants, Lord, according to your Word. 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.

Blessing

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.

Amen.

521 Christ the Eternal Lord CW 521 sts. 1–3

Serving in God’s House today:

Pastor Bruce Janisch, Mission Advancement

Pastor Mark Kaesmeyer, Director of Mission Advancement

Mr. Dave Gartner, Principal

16TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST September 8, 2024

Immanuel Ev. Lutheran Church

THE SCHEDULE  

Tues., Sept. 10 6:30 p.m., Ladies Fellowship

Wed., Sept. 11 6:30 p.m., Catechism Class

Fri., Sept. 13 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Immanuel Volunteer Day at Wise Penny-work as  much as you’d like

Next Sun., Sept. 15: Greeters: Frank Family

Shut-In Visitors for September: Herman and Kathy Ernst

OUR FATHER’S BUSINESS

MISSION FESTIVAL:   This year’s Mission Festival will be Sunday, Sept. 29, with Pastor Pheng Moua, home missionary, who will be presenting on Hmong outreach in the U.S., Thailand and Laos. The service will again be followed with a grilled pork chop luncheon with potluck sides and desserts.

ATTENDANCE AT THE LORD’S HOUSE: 

Sunday, Sept. 1 61

FOR THE LORD’S WORK:  Sept. 1: General Fund-$1,408.50; (Minimum Weekly Amount Needed-$2,375); West-$60; Salem-$12; Fishers-$10.