LAST SUNDAY OF THE CHURCH YEAR November 24, 2024

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

O Lord, my creator, redeemer and comforter, as I come to worship you in spirit and in truth, I humbly pray that you would open my heart to the preaching of your Word so that I may repent of my sins, believe in Jesus Christ as my only Savior and grow in grace and holiness. Hear me for the sake of His name. Amen.

SERVICE OF THE WORD

Beginning on Page 38 in the Hymnal.

HYMN (#208) “Great God, What Do I See and Hear”

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 51:4-6

⁴ Pay attention to me, O my people. My nation, listen to me! For the law will go out from me, and I will establish my justice as a light to the peoples. ⁵ My righteousness is near. My salvation goes forth, and my arms will bring justice to the peoples. The seacoasts will wait for me. They will have confidence in my arm. ⁶ Lift up your eyes to the heavens. Look closely at the earth beneath, because the heavens will vanish like smoke, and the earth will wear out like a garment,
and its inhabitants will die like gnats. But my salvation will remain forever, and my righteousness will never be abolished.            (EHV)

M: The Word of the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God.

PSALM OF THE DAY (Sung) Psalm 45 (page 83)

SECOND LESSON Jude 20-25

²⁰ But you, dear friends, continue to build yourselves up in your most holy faith as you keep praying in the Holy Spirit. ²¹ Keep yourselves in God’s love as you continue to wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, which results in eternal life. ²² Show mercy to those who are wavering. ²³ Save others by snatching them out of the fire. Show mercy to still others with fear, hating even the clothing that is stained by the flesh. ²⁴ Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you faultless in the presence of his glory with great joy, ²⁵ to the only God, our Savior, be glory, majesty, power, and authority through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all time, now, and to all eternity. Amen.              (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 Mark 13:24-37

²⁴ “But after that distress in those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light. ²⁵ The stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ²⁶ Then you will see the Son of Man coming on clouds with great power and glory. ²⁷ At that time he will send out his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the farthest end of the earth to the farthest end of the sky. ²⁸ “Learn from this illustration of the fig tree: Whenever its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near. ²⁹ So also when you see these things happening, you will know that he is near—at the doors! ³⁰ Amen I tell you: This generation will certainly not pass away until all these things happen. ³¹ Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. ³² “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. ³³ Watch! Be alert and pray, because you do not know when the time will come. ³⁴ It is like a man going away on a journey. When he left his home, he put his servants in charge and assigned what each one was to do. He also commanded the doorkeeper to keep watch. ³⁵ Therefore keep watch, because you do not know when the owner of the house is coming: whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or early in the morning. ³⁶ If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. ³⁷ What I say to you, I say to everyone: Keep watch!”  (EHV)

M: The Gospel of the Lord.

C: (Sung) Praise be to you, O Christ!

HYMN OF THE DAY (#220) “O’er the Distant Mountains Breaking”

SERMON TEXT Mark 13:24-37

SERMON THEME “Keep Watch”

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 (#29) “Lo, He Comes with Clouds Descending”

PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH

In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For grace to make a good confession and stand firm in the faith through this present life of sin and suffering; and for eagerness to watch for the return of Christ, let us pray to the Lord: 

Lord, have mercy.

For all pastors and missionaries, that the Lord would grant them strength and steadfastness to nurture Christ’s flock in these gray and latter days, to the praise of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For the Holy Church, that God would give us grace to serve Him with reverence and awe and strength to endure faithful to the end, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For the government of our nation and our leaders, that the Lord would grant them the fortitude to serve its citizens and strive for fairness and justice in our land, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For all who live under the cross, and for the sick, the dying and those who mourn, that the Lord would strengthen their faith and grant them patience and hope, comfort and healing, until He calls them home, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

In thanksgiving for all who have died in the faith, that the Lord would bring us with them to share in the splendors of the new heavens and the new earth, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

O Lord, heavenly Father, we gratefully remember the sufferings and death of Your dear Son, Jesus Christ, for our salvation. Rejoicing in His victorious resurrection from the dead, we draw strength from His ascension before You, where He ever stands for us as our own High Priest. Gather us together from the ends of the earth to celebrate with all the faithful the marriage feast of the Lamb in His kingdom, which has no end. Graciously receive our prayers, deliver and preserve us, for to You alone we give all glory, honor and worship, Father, Son and 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 (#472) “Rise, My Soul to Watch and Pray”

~  ~

LAST SUNDAY OF THE CHURCH YEAR November 24, 2024

Immanuel Ev. Lutheran Church

THE SCHEDULE   

Wed., Nov. 27   7 p.m., Thanksgiving Eve Worship Service

Sat., Nov. 30 9-11 a.m., Christmas Eve Program Practice

Next Sun., Dec. 1: Greeters: Ordorff Family

Shut-In Visitors for December:

Flowers on the altar are in memory of George McAlpine who passed away Nov. 24, 2020.

LAST SUNDAY OF THE CHURCH YEAR November 24, 2024

OUR FATHER’S BUSINESS

THANKSIGIVING EVE WORSHIP SERVICE will be at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 27, followed by fellowship and pie provided by Pastor Oehlke.

ADVENT CALENDAR CARDS are available on the table in the narthex. Take as many as you’d need.

ADVENT BY CANDLELIGHT: Mt. Olive-Delano is inviting the women of Immanuel for an evening of word, music, fellowship and food on Dec. 8 from 6 to 8 p.m. See the blue flier posted on the west bulletin board or fliers on the table.

CHRISTMAS CHARITY OPTIONS: Ladies Fellowship is organizing a number of charity options this holiday season.:

Toys-for-Tots box at the church entrance.

Angel Tree gift ideas will be ready for the Thanksgiving Eve service. 

BUFFALO FOOD SHELF HOLIDAY COLLECTION: The Ladies Fellowship Buffalo Food Shelf Holiday Collection brought in 124.15 pounds of food plus $314 in cash/checks. Thank you to all who participated and also to Dan and Patty Jencks for delivering to the food shelf.

CHILDRENS CHRISTMAS PROGRAM PRACTICE will begin the Saturday after Thanksgiving, Nov. 30, at 9 a.m.

CONGREGATIONAL CHRISTMAS PARTY:   Mark your calendar for this year’s event—Sun., Dec. 8. The schedule of events includes caroling, a potluck lunch at 11:30 and games. Buy-in for the traditional dice game will be a small wrapped gift (about $5). There will be no Sunday School or Adult Bible Class.

AREA TEEN CHRISTMAS PARTY: If you are in high school, Anchored in Christ (Cross-Rockford campus) is inviting you to celebrate the real meaning of Christmas with food, fun, holiday games and prizes on Sunday, Dec. 22, 6 p.m. Please RSVP to Mr. Heldman at pheldman@anchordmn.org or call 262-995-3515. See west bulletin board for more details.

ATTENDANCE AT THE LORD’S HOUSE: 

Sunday, Nov. 17 69