SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT December 8, 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 upon Entering Church

Lord, I love the habitation of your house and the place where your glory dwells. In the multitude of your tender mercies prepare my heart that I may enter your house to worship and confess your holy name; through Jesus Christ, my God and Lord. Amen.

SERVICE OF THE WORD

HYMN (#14) “Arise, O Christian People”

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.

Advent 2

M: We light two Advent candles remembering Jesus, who came in history. He came into a world of sin and death.

C: We remember Jesus, who came as the promised Messiah. John the Baptist prepared the way of the Lord.

M: We hear his call to repent.

C: We light two Advent candles as a sign of our repentance and desire for renewal.

M: Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest.

C: Through your Word and Spirit may our souls be blessed.

Two Advent candles are lit.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

M: Let us pray. Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to prepare the way for your only Son. By his coming, give us strength in our conflicts, and shed light on our path through the darkness of this world; 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 Malachi 3:1-7b

3 Look! I am sending my messenger! He will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord, whom you are seeking, will come to his temple! The Messenger of the Covenant, in whom you delight, will surely come, says the Lord of Armies. ² But who can endure the day when he comes? Who will remain standing when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire, like launderers bleach! ³ He will be seated like a refiner and a purifier of silver. He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and like silver. They will belong to the Lord and bring him an offering in righteousness. ⁴ Judah and Jerusalem’s offerings will be pleasing to the Lord as they were in the days of old, in years long ago. ⁵ I will approach you to judge you. I will be quick to give testimony against those who practice occult arts, those who commit adultery, those who swear false oaths, those who cheat workers out of their wages, those who wrong a widow and a fatherless child, those who turn away a resident alien—all those who do not fear me, says the Lord of Armies. ⁶ Certainly I, the Lord, do not change. That is why you, sons of Jacob, have not come to an end. ⁷ Since the days of your fathers, you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of Armies. You say, “In what way should we return?”             (EHV) 

M: The Word of the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God.

PSALM OF THE DAY (Sung) Psalm 66 (page 90)

SECOND LESSON Philippians 1:3-11

³ I thank my God every time I remember you. ⁴ Every time I pray for all of you, I always pray with joy, ⁵ because of your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now. ⁶ I am convinced of this very thing: that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. ⁷ I am equally convinced that it is right for me to think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart, for both in my chains and in my defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all share in this grace with me. ⁸ Yes, God is my witness of how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

⁹ And I pray that your love may still increase more and more in knowledge and every insight. ¹⁰ This will result in your approval of the things that really matter, so that you will be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, ¹¹ filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.               (EHV)

M: The Word of the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God.

VERSE OF THE DAY

M: Alleluia. Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. And all people will see God’s salvation. Alleluia. 

(Luke 3:4,6)

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 Luke 3:1-6

3 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—while Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip was tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene— ² during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zechariah, in the wilderness. ³ He went into the whole region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ⁴ Just as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: A voice of one calling in the wilderness, “Prepare the way of the Lord! Make his paths straight. ⁵ Every valley will be filled, and every mountain and hill will be made low. The crooked will become straight, and the rough ways smooth. ⁶ And everyone will see the salvation of God.”      (EHV)

M: The Gospel of the Lord.

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

HYMN OF THE DAY (#16) “On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry”

SERMON TEXT Luke 3:1-6

SERMON THEME “Prepare for the Lord with Repentance”

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 (#15) “Hark! A Thrilling Voice is Sounding”

PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH

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

That our long-suffering Lord, who once called Israel to repentance, would open our hearts to hear His Word, receive His gifts and gladly submit to His will, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For the Church and her ministry, that the Lord who sent John the Baptist to prepare His way would raise up pastors and missionaries and protect them as they make known His way of salvation, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For families, that our Father who gathers us into His household would bless the households of this congregation; and that He would bless all within them so that their love may abound with knowledge, discernment and the righteousness of Christ, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For those in need of healing, comfort and rescue, that for the sake of Christ, who is mightier than all, God would deliver them according to His will and assure them of His faithfulness, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For those beset by temptation, that Christ who came to purify us would deliver us from the love of sin, which defiles us, and cleanse our hearts and works to be righteous before Him, let us pray to the Lord: 

Lord, have mercy.

Hear us, heavenly Father, for the sake of Christ Jesus, 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 (#13) “There’s a Voice in the Wilderness Crying”

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SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT December 8, 2024

Immanuel Ev. Lutheran Church

THE SCHEDULE   

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

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

Sat., Dec. 14 9-11 a.m., Children’s Program Practice

Next Sunday, Dec. 17, Greeter: Ray Schmidt

Shut-In Visitors for December:

SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT December 8, 2024

OUR FATHER’S BUSINESS

CONGREGATIONAL CHRISTMAS PARTY   will be after our worship service this morning. Thank you to Ladies Fellowship for serving as hostesses for this event and also to all who participated in the Angel Tree charity option. Your items will be delivered this afternoon. There will be no Sunday School or Adult Bible Class.

WEST CHRISTMAS CONCERT: “Christmas at West” will be at 2 p.m. next Sunday, Dec. 15, at West Lutheran High School at 3350 Harbor Lane North, Plymouth.

ADVENT DEVOTIONS entitled “Glory in His Grasp” are available on the table in the narthex. Produced by Martin Luther College, it includes a devotion from December 1^st through Christmas Day.

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: Toys-for-Tots continues with the receiving box at the church entrance. Toys should be new, unwrapped and preferably in the $10 or above price range. Books would be great. Homemade toys are also accepted.

CHILDRENS CHRISTMAS PROGRAM PRACTICE continues on Saturday at 9 a.m.

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, Dec. 1 64

FOR THE LORD’S WORK: Nov. 17: General Fund-$2,459; Building-$25; Salem-$2. Nov. 24: General Fund-$1,904; Salem-$2. Dec. 1: General Fund-$2,143.35; West-$15; Salem-$17; Fishers-$10.