ELEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST August 24, 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.” (Ps. 122:1) The Lord is in His holy temple; let all the earth keep silent before Him. (Hab. 2:20) 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. (Rev. 21:3)
SERVICE OF THE WORD
HYMN (#339) “Today Your Mercy Calls Us”
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 and everlasting God, give us an increase of faith, hope, and love; and that we may obtain what you promise, make us love what you command; 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 66:18-24
18 As for me, because of their works and their thoughts, the time is coming for me to gather people from all nations and all languages. They will come, and they will see my glory. 19 Then I will set up a sign among them, and I will send out survivors from among them to the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, to those who are archers, to Tubal and Javan, to the distant coastlands, who have not heard my message and have not seen my glory. Then they will declare my glory among the nations. 20 Then they will bring all your brothers from all the nations as an offering to the Lord. They will bring them on horses and chariots and wagons and mules and dromedaries to my holy mountain Jerusalem, says the Lord, in the same way that the people of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel to the Lord’s house. 21 Even from among these people I will take priests and Levites, says the Lord. 22 For just as the new heavens and the new earth that I am making will remain standing before me, declares the Lord, in the same way your offspring and your name will stand. 23 As often as one new moon follows another and one Sabbath follows another, all flesh will come to worship before me, says the Lord. 24 They will go out, and they will see the corpses of the ones who were rebelling against me, for their worm will not die, and their fire will not be quenched, and all flesh will be horrified by them. (EHV)
M: The Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
PSALM OF THE DAY (Sung) Psalm 103 (page 105)
SECOND LESSON Hebrews 12:18-24
18 You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and to burning fire, to darkness, to gloom, to a raging storm, 19 to the sound of a trumpet, and to a voice that spoke. Those who heard the voice asked that not one more word be added, 20 because they could not endure what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.” 21 The sight was so terrifying that even Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.” 22 Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, the city of the living God; to the heavenly Jerusalem; to tens of thousands of angels in joyful assembly; 23 to the church of the firstborn whose names are written in heaven; to God, who is the judge of all; to the spirits of righteous people who have been made perfect; 24 to Jesus, the mediator of a new testament; and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better message than the blood of Abel. (EHV)
M: The Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
VERSE OF THE DAY
M: Alleluia. People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. Alleluia. (Luke 13:29)
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 13:22-30
22 He went on his way from one town and village to another, teaching, and making his way to Jerusalem. 23 Someone said to him, “Lord, are only a few going to be saved?” He said to them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able. 25 Once the master of the house gets up and shuts the door, you will begin to stand outside and knock on the door, saying, ‘Lord, open for us!’ He will tell you in reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ 26 Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 And he will say, ‘I don’t know where you come from. Depart from me, all you evildoers.’ 28 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown outside. 29 People will come from east and west, from north and south, and will recline at the table in the kingdom of God. 30 And note this: Some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.” (EHV)
M: The Gospel of the Lord.
C: (Sung) Praise be to you, O Christ!
HYMN (#395) “Seek Where You May to Find a Way”
SERMON TEXT Luke 13:22-30
SERMON THEME “The Narrow Way”
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 (#384) “By Grace I’m Saved”
PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH
Almighty God, increase our faith in Your wise ways and
In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For strong faith to enter ever more deeply into the blessings of forgiveness, life and salvation, and to gather many with us who would repent of their sins and enter God’s kingdom, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the Church, for God to prosper the preaching of His Word, for all pastors and church workers, and for the catechumens and all who teach and learn God’s Word, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all fathers, called to bring up their children in the fear and love of God, that they would lovingly discipline their children and so show forth the fatherly love of God, let us pray to the Lord:
Lord, have mercy.
For the Church of God, who remains ever before Him even as the nations of this world rise and fall, that she would confidently and faithfully minister among the nations, fearing no worldly threat, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all those who care for the sick and attend to the dying; for those who care for our children; for our police, firefighters, emergency medical personnel and disaster-relief workers; and for our generous support of those in need, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the sick and those who suffer, for those troubled in mind or heart, for the grieving in their sorrow, and for the dying in their last days on earth, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
Lord God, You have drawn to Yourself believers from all nations and sanctified them in Holy Baptism. Fortify their faith and embolden their witness, that many may be gathered into the new heavens and new earth; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, 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 (#728S) “Jerusalem the Golden”
ELEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST August 24, 2025
Immanuel Ev. Lutheran Church
THE SCHEDULE
Next Sunday, Aug. 31, Greeters: Frank Family
Shut-In Visitors for August: Jeanne & David Dixon
OUR FATHER’S BUSINESS
SUNDAY SCHOOL/CATECHISM will begin the week of Sept. 7.
CHOIR: Contact Karen Davis if you’d be interested in singing in Immanuel’s adult choir. No experience necessary.
SUNSHINE CLUB: We are continuing work on a new program to start soon at Immanuel for preschoolers and their moms/dads/care-givers. Linda Hoffmann is heading the effort. Questions may be directed to her or Pastor. There is a wish list of new or gently used items for their playtime on the west bulletin board.
MEN’S RETREAT: The 17th annual Men’s Retreat will take place at Camp Croix on September 19-21. This year’s theme is “Awaiting the Fullness of Time: The Not-So-Silent Years Between the Testaments.” The time between the testaments is ripe with apocalyptic fever, with many, many wild scenarios of the end of the world, from a 96 ft tall Enoch to a flying Elijah to The War Scroll of Qumran—an actual battle plan for the final war between the Sons of Light and the Sons of Darkness. This presentation will be led by Martin Luther College Prof. Keith Wessel. Sign up now at mensretreat.org.
MEN of HIS WORD CONFERENCE: This year’s conference will be Oct. 25 at the Mayo Civic Center in Rochester. See insert for more details.
WELS TRAVEL: See the west bulletin board for updated information and opportunities.
ATTENDANCE AT THE LORD’S HOUSE:
Sunday, Aug. 17 77
FOR THE LORD’S WORK: Aug. 17: General Fund-$2,381; Salem-$2. Mission Fund: Aug. 17-$550; YTD-$13,625.
