15th SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST September 21, 2025
Immanuel Ev. Lutheran Church
Wisconsin Synod
Pastor Rev. Christopher Oehlke Pastor’s Phone: 1-262-909-7827
Organist Mindy Kane, Karen Davis, 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.
Before Communing
Dear Savior, at your gracious invitation I come to your table to eat and drink your holy body and blood. Let me find favor in your eyes to receive this holy Sacrament in faith for the salvation of my soul and to the glory of your holy name; for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
THE COMMON SERVICE
Beginning on Page 15 in the Hymnal.
HYMN (#290) “One Thing’s Needful”
M: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C: (Sung) Amen.
CONFESSION OF SINS
M: Beloved in the Lord: let us draw near with a true heart and confess our sins to God our Father, asking him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to grant us forgiveness.
C: Holy and merciful Father, I confess that I am by nature sinful and that I have disobeyed you in my thoughts, words, and
actions. I have done what is evil and failed to do what is good.
For this I deserve your punishment both now and in eternity.
But I am truly sorry for my sins, and trusting in my Savior
Jesus Christ, I pray: Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.
LORD, HAVE MERCY
C: (Sung) Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
M: God, our heavenly Father, has been merciful to us and has given his only Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Therefore, as a called servant of Christ and by his authority, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C: (Sung) Amen.
PRAYER AND PRAISE
M: In the peace of forgiveness, let us praise the Lord.
GLORY BE TO GOD
C: (Sung) Glory be to God on high, and on earth peace,
good will toward men.
We praise you, we bless you, we worship you,
we glorify you, we give thanks to you, for your great glory,
O Lord God, heav’nly King, God the Father almighty.
O Lord, the only begotten Son, Jesus Christ;
O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,
you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.
You take away the sin of the world; receive our prayer.
You sit at the right hand of God the Father; have mercy on us.
For you only are holy; you only are the Lord.
You only, O Christ, with the Holy Spirit, are most high in the
glory of God the Father. Amen.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
M: The Lord be with you.
C: (Sung) And also with you.
M: Let us Pray. O God, you have told us not to be anxious about what we need for this life. Move our hearts to seek you and your kingdom, that all good things may be given to us as well; 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 Amos 6:1-7
10 Anyone Woe to you who are complacent in Zion, you who feel secure on Mount Samaria, you distinguished people of the leading nation, to whom the house of Israel comes. 2 Travel to Kalneh and look. Go from there to Hamath Rabbah, and go down to Gath of the Philistines. Are you better than those kingdoms? Are their territories greater than your territory? 3 You who are trying to put off the evil day, you bring near the session for violence! 4 Those who lie on ivory beds, sprawling upon their couches, eating lambs from the flock and calves straight from the stall, 5 improvising tunes on the lyre, composing music for themselves on musical instruments like David, 6 drinking large bowls of wine— they slather themselves with the most expensive perfumed oils, but they do not grieve over the ruin of Joseph. 7 That is why they will go into exile as the first of the exiles. Those who sprawl out at their feasts for the dead will depart. (EHV)
M: The Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
PSALM OF THE DAY (Sung) Psalm 62 (page 88)
SECOND LESSON 1 Timothy 6:6-10, 17-19
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we certainly cannot take anything out. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be satisfied. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge them into complete destruction and utter ruin. 10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evils. By striving for money, some have wandered away from the faith and have pierced themselves with many pains.
17 Instruct those who are rich in this present age not to be arrogant or to put their hope in the uncertainty of riches, but rather in God, who richly supplies us with all things for our enjoyment. 18 Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they are storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life. (EHV)
M: The Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
VERSE OF THE DAY
M: Alleluia. Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Alleluia. (Matthew 6:33)
C: (Sung) Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
GOSPEL Luke 16:1-13
After the announcement of the Gospel, the congregation sings:
C: (Sung) Glory be to you, O Lord!
16 Jesus also said to his disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager who was accused of wasting his possessions. 2 The rich man called him in and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you can no longer be manager.’
3 “The manager said to himself, ‘What will I do, since my master is taking away the management position from me? I am not strong enough to dig. I am ashamed to beg. 4 I know what I will do, so that when I am removed from my position as manager, people will receive me into their houses.’ 5 “He called each one of his master’s debtors to him. He asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ 6 He said, ‘Six hundred gallons of olive oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and write three hundred.’ 7 Then he said to another, ‘How much do you owe?’ And he said, ‘Six hundred bushels of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill and write four hundred and eighty.’
8 “The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the children of this world are more shrewd in
dealing with their own generation than the children of the light are. 9 I tell you, make friends for yourselves with unrighteous mammon, so that when it runs out, they will welcome you into the eternal dwellings. 10 The person who is faithful with very little is also faithful with much. And the person who is unrighteous with very little is also unrighteous with much. 11 So if you have not been faithful with unrighteous mammon, who will entrust you with what is really valuable? 12 If you have not been faithful with what belongs to someone else, who will give you something to be your own? 13 No servant can serve two masters. Indeed, either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and mammon.” (EHV)
M: The Gospel of the Lord.
C: (Sung) Praise be to you, O Christ!
NICENE CREED
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation, he came down from heaven,
was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary,
and became fully human.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate.
He suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who in unity with the Father and the Son
is worshiped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
HYMN (#421) “All Depends on Our Possessing”
SERMON TEXT 1 Timothy 6:6-10, 17-19
SERMON THEME “How to be Rich”
After the sermon, the congregation stands and sings:
C: (Sung) Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with your free Spirit. Amen.
OFFERING – Please leave offering in the plate as you depart.
PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH
In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the baptized children of God, that we would be freed from obsession with the goods of this world and set our hearts on the joys of the kingdom and the inheritance that never fades, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For God’s Holy Church here and everywhere, for those who have been called to serve as her pastors and church workers, for those preparing for church-work vocations, and for those considering full-time church work, that they may be guarded against the assaults of the evil one, encouraged in their callings, and prepared to serve faithfully for the sake of the kingdom, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For men and women, that they would rejoice in the callings and responsibilities that God has given to them, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the sick and those who suffer, for those troubled in mind, for the grieving in their sorrows, and for the dying in their last hours, that the Lord would grant them the comfort of His presence, relief according to His will and peace in their hearts, let us pray to the Lord:
Lord, have mercy.
For our communion this day upon the body and blood of our Lord, for hearts moved to repentance and faith, and for the fruits of this Sacrament to be borne in lives of holiness and righteousness, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For grateful hearts, that the Lord would free us from greed and covetousness so that we might be content and glad to share with those in need, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
O Lord, our God, whose mercies are new every morning, we give You thanks and praise for all Your kindness toward us, and we pray You to grant us the will and desire to worship You joyfully, to serve You faithfully and to proclaim boldly Your mighty acts of deliverance through our Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom we offer to You these prayers, and in whom we trust for all things; to You alone be glory, honor, worship and praise, O Lord, 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.
THE SACRAMENT
PREFACE
M: The Lord be with you.
C: (Sung) And also with you.
M: Lift up your hearts.
C: (Sung) We lift them up unto the Lord.
M: Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God.
C: (Sung) It is good and right so to do.
M: It is truly good and right that we should at all times and in all places give you thanks, O Lord, holy Father, almighty and
everlasting God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who promised that
wherever two or three come together in his name, there he is with them to shepherd his flock till he comes again in glory. Therefore, with all the saints on earth and hosts of heaven, we praise your holy name and join their glorious song:
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY
C: (Sung) Holy, holy, holy Lord God of heavenly hosts:
heav’n and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he, blessed is he, blessed is he
who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest.
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
M: Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night he was betrayed, took bread; and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
Then he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant,
which is poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
M: The peace of the Lord be with you always.
C: (Sung) Amen
O CHRIST, LAMB OF GOD
C: (Sung) O Christ, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
have mercy on us.
O Christ, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
have mercy on us.
O Christ, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
grant us your peace. Amen.
DISTRIBUTION
DISTRIBUTION HYMN (#309) “Draw Near and Take” (#392) “Not Unto Us”
STAND
THANKSGIVING
SONG OF SIMEON
C: (Sung) Lord, now you let your servant depart in peace according to your word. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared before the face of all people, a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of your people Israel.
M: O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
C: (Sung) And his mercy endures forever.
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: 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 (#477) “What Is the World to Me”
Prayer after Communion
O blessed Savior Jesus Christ, who has given yourself to me in this holy sacrament, keep me in your faith and favor. As you live in me, may I also live in you. May your body and blood preserve me in the true faith to everlasting life. Amen.
15TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST September 21, 2025
Immanuel Ev. Lutheran Church
THE SCHEDULE
Mon., Sept. 22 7 p.m., Church Council Meeting
Wed., Sept. 24 6:30 p.m., Catechism
Next Sunday, Sept. 28, Greeters: Paul Johnson
The flowers on the altar match those placed there 50 years ago for Allen & Julie Gutknecht’s wedding. Please join them in the basement for cake and ice cream after church to celebrate.
OUR FATHER’S BUSINESS
LWMS PLATE OFFERING/FALL RALLY: The Fall Rally of the Hannah Circuit LWMS (Lutheran Womens Missionary Society) will be on Sunday, Oct. 5 beginning with a noon luncheon at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Monticello. Immanuel will conduct a plate offering this week and next to help support mission projects.
MISSION FESTIVAL: This year’s Mission Festival will be Sunday, Sept. 28, with MLC Professor Nick Schmoller joining us. A CICR member (Commission on International Church Relations), he is on the Asia Oceania team. The service will again be followed with a delicious grilled pork chop luncheon with potluck sides and desserts.
MEN-of-HIS-WORD CONFERENCE: This year’s conference will be Oct. 25 at the Mayo Civic Center in Rochester.
YOUTH NERF WAR: Redeeming Grace Lutheran Church in Rogers is hosting a fall nerf event. Session 1 will be for youth in 5th-12th grades on Fri., Oct. 3 from 7:00-9:00 p.m.; and Session 2 will be for youth in 1st-4th grades (with parents welcome to participate) on Sat., Oct. 4 from 3:00-5:00 p.m. For admission, please bring non-perishable food shelf items. Participants will get a raffle ticket for each food shelf item brought and there will be drawings for nerf prizes throughout the event. Event will be outside, so wear warm clothes! Please RSVP to Pastor Mayer at pastorjmayer@gmail.com. See poster on the west bulletin board.
CHOIR: The first/organizing choir practice will be Thurs., Oct. 2 at 6:30 p.m. and at that we’ll time pick day/time that works best for all members. At present, the women will sing on Thanksgiving and the mixed choir of men and women will sing on Christmas Day. New members are always welcome.
ATTENDANCE AT THE LORD’S HOUSE:
Sunday, Sept. 14 45
FOR THE LORD’S WORK: Sept. 14: General Fund-$1,338; West-$10; Salem-$12.
Personal Devotions?
Consider using the prayers and readings from each Sunday’s worship bulletin during your daily personal/family devotions—
–“Prayer of the Day”
–“Prayer of the Church”
–Re-read God’s Word and reflect upon it and how it applies to you.
–Review the sermon theme and text and its applications for you.
