THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY January 26, 2025
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. Amen.
SERVICE OF THE WORD
Beginning on Page 38 in the Hymnal.
HYMN (#12) “Hark the Glad Sound! The Savior Comes”
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, you sent your Son to proclaim your kingdom and teach with authority. Anoint us with the power of your Spirit that we too may bring good news to the afflicted, bind up the brokenhearted, and proclaim liberty to the captive; 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 61:1-6
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations. Strangers will shepherd your flocks; foreigners will work your fields and vineyards. And you will be called priests of the Lord, you will be named ministers of our God. You will feed on the wealth of nations, and in their riches you will boast. (NIV)
M: The Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
PSALM OF THE DAY (Sung) Psalm 146 (page 120)
SECOND LESSON Acts 4:23-31
On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: “‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed one.’ Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. (NIV)
M: The Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
VERSE OF THE DAY
M: Alleluia. The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. Alleluia. (Luke 4:18)
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 4:16-30
He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” they asked. Jesus said to them, “Surely you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Physician, heal yourself!’ And you will tell me, ‘Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.’”
“Truly I tell you,” he continued, “no prophet is accepted in his hometown. I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon. And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian.”
All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff. But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.
(NIV)
M: The Gospel of the Lord.
C: (Sung) Praise be to you, O Christ!
HYMN OF THE DAY (#93) “Hail to the Lord’s Anointed”
SERMON TEXT Luke 4:16-30
SERMON THEME “Jesus Is the Savior We Need”
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 (#26) “Jesus Came, the Heavens Adoring”
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
M: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God and Mary’s son, in the fullness
of time you came into our world to save us from sin and death:
C: You ushered in the day of grace so long foretold.
M: Beloved Son of the Father, revered by the Magi, baptized by
John, you came preaching and teaching, healing and
comforting, forgiving and encouraging:
C: You brought the light of life to those walking in darkness,
and the joy of salvation to those doomed to death.
M: Prince of Peace, shine like a beacon for us and the people of
our world. Let the good news of salvation be heard in the
remotest corners of the earth. Open our own lips to speak your
name to those around us who still live without faith or hope:
C: Arouse us and our missionaries to flood the world with the
light of your gospel.
M: Lord of the Church, let your peace rule our hearts that we may
Use our gifts to serve you and each other in willing gratitude
and joy. Watch over our loved ones near and far, that they may
remember your love and rejoice in your salvation. Strengthen
the faith of the sick and the disheartened. Give hope to those in
despair and comfort those who mourn:
C: Be gracious to all and lead us to reflect your love in
Everything we say and do.
Special prayers and intercessions may follow.
M: Hear us, Lord, as we bring you our private petitions.
Silent prayer.
M: Finally, bring us and all your believers to the heavenly home where we will stand in the full light of your glory and with all your saints and angels sing the everlasting song of triumph.
C: 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 (#353) “Praise the One Who Breaks the Darkness”
THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY January 26, 2025
THE SCHEDULE
Wed., Jan. 22 NO Catechism Class
Next Sunday, Jan. 26, Greeters: Bakke Family
OUR FATHER’S BUSINESS
THANK YOU to Pastor Jon Ladner for sharing God’s Word with us this morning and conducting our service during Pastor Oehlke’s vacation.
ANNUAL VOTERS’ MEETING is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 2 after the worship service. Business will include election of officers (vice president, mission treasurer) and setting goals for 2025. While the meeting is open to the entire congregation, voting is done by those men over 18 who have requested and been accepted by the voters assembly. Give prayerful consideration to becoming a voting member and, if asked, to serving your church family in any capacity.
PASTOR’S VACATION: Pastor will be on vacation from Jan. 22-29. In case of emergency, if spiritual care is needed, please reach out to Pastor Paul Schuler at 920-284-0172 or Pastor Dave Russow at 763-923-4749.
WEST INFORMATION NITE: There will be an information night for prospective families to find out what West Lutheran High School has to offer beginning at 7 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 27. Questions may be directed to office@westlutheran.net or call 763-509-9378.
BLOODMOBILE: The Red Cross has confirmed a date of Friday, March 21, 2025, for our first bloodmobile so please spread the word. It already appears on the Red Cross website so you’ll be able to register for a specific time. More information will be made available as the date approaches.
MLC AUXILIARY: A total of $50 was collected for the Martin Luther College Auxiliary. Thank you to all who participated.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES: Please review the “Greeter Schedule” and the “Visiting Shut-Ins Schedule.” Revise where you feel appropriate and volunteer as you are able and feel called to do.
ATTENDANCE AT THE LORD’S HOUSE:
Sunday, Jan. 19 45
