FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT November 30, 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 upon Entering Church

Almighty, ever-living God, grant that I may gladly hear your Word and that all my worship may be acceptable to You; through Jesus Christ, my Lord. Amen.

The Church Year begins with Advent (from Latin “adventus,” which means “coming into”), a four-week period of preparation before Christmas. The story of Jesus during Advent is the story 

of hope coming into the world. When the time was just right, 

God sent His Son, Jesus, into the world. The Advent season teaches us to prepare to receive Jesus, the hope of the world.

SERVICE OF THE WORD

HYMN (#1) “The Advent of Our King”

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.

BE SEATED

LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLES

Advent 1

M: We light one Advent candle, remembering Jesus, who is coming again. He will come to gather his people from everywhere, both the living and the dead.

C: We remember Jesus, who will come at the end of time. None of us know what day that will be.

M: We hear his call to watch.

C: We light one Advent candle as a sign of our watchfulness and waiting.

M: Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest.

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

One Advent candle is lit. 

PRAYER OF THE DAY

M: Stir up your power, O Lord, and come. Protect us by your strength and save us from the threatening dangers of our sins; for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C:     (Sung) Amen.

THE WORD

FIRST LESSON Isaiah 2:1-5

2 The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. ² Now it shall come to pass in the latter days That the mountain of the Lord’s house Shall be established on the top of the  mountains, And shall be exalted above the hills; And all nations shall flow to it. ³ Many people shall come and say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, And the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. ⁴ He shall judge between the nations, And rebuke many people; They shall beat their swords into plowshares, And their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, Neither shall they learn war anymore. ⁵ O house of Jacob, come and let us walk In the light of the Lord.             (EHV)

M: The Word of the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God.

PSALM OF THE DAY (Sung) Psalm 24 (page 73)

SECOND LESSON Philippians 4:4-7

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always! I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not worry about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.      (EHV)

M: The Word of the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God.

VERSE OF THE DAY

M: Alleluia. See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey. Alleluia. (Zechariah 9:9)

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 Matthew 21:1-11

21 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, ² telling them, “Go to the village ahead of you. Immediately you will find a donkey tied there along with her colt. Untie them and bring them to me. ³ If anyone says anything to you, you are to say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.”

⁴ This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:

⁵ Tell the daughter of Zion: Look, your King comes to you, humble, and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. ⁶ The disciples went and did just as Jesus commanded them. ⁷ They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their outer clothing on them, and he sat on it. ⁸ A very large crowd spread their outer clothing on the road. Others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them out on the road. ⁹ The crowds who went in front of him and those who followed kept shouting, Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!

¹⁰ When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, asking, “Who is this?” ¹¹ And the crowds were saying, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”               (EHV)

M: The Gospel of the Lord.

 (Sung) Praise be to you, O Christ!

HYMN OF THE DAY (#3) “Lift Up Your Heads, You Mighty Gates”

SERMON TEXT Matthew 21:1-11

SERMON THEME “Your King Comes to You”

STAND

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 (#21) “Hosanna to the Coming Lord”

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

ADVENT

M: Eternal Father, throughout the centuries you repeated and 

affirmed your promise to send the offspring of the woman to 

crush the serpent’s head. Through your prophets of old, you 

continually directed the eyes of your people to the advent of their 

Savior.

C: We praise you, O Lord, for keeping your promise and sending 

your Son to destroy the works of the devil.

M: As we prepare to celebrate the birth of our King, use your mighty 

Word to shatter our pride and to rouse us from spiritual slumber 

and apathy.

C: Move us to take to heart the words of John: “Repent, for the 

kingdom of heaven is near.”

M: You sent your Son to redeem us from sin. Let this good news be 

our joy and strength. Use it to cheer the lonely, encourage the 

fearful, and give hope to the despairing. In these days before 

Christmas, spare us from the stress of deadlines and the frenzy of 

commercialism.

C: Fill our lives with the message of your peace and the music of 

your grace.

M: Direct our eyes not only to the manger but also to the skies, where 

we will see your Son coming again, not as a lowly child but as the 

Lord of lords.

C: Lift up our hearts in joyful anticipation of that day.

Special prayers and intercessions may follow.

M: Hear us, Lord, as we bring you our private petitions.

Silent prayer.

M: Come quickly, Lord Jesus, in your grace, in your power, and in 

your glory.

C: Come, Lord Jesus! 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 (#363) “The King of Glory Comes”

FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT November 30, 2025

Immanuel Ev. Lutheran Church
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​THE SCHEDULE    

Tues., Dec. 2 2 p.m., Tuesday Bible Study

7 p.m., Choir Practice

Wed., Dec. 3 NO Catechism

Sat., Dec. 6 9-11 a.m., Christmas Eve Program Practice

Next Sunday, Dec. 7, Greeters: Theresa & Isaac Spike

OUR FATHER’S BUSINESS

CHRISTIAN AID & RELIEF: Plate Offering continues today.

ADVENT DEVOTIONS, “All Things New,” are provided for us by Martin Luther College and available on the table in the narthex.

CONGREGATIONAL CHRISTMAS PARTY:  Dec. 7—Schedule of events includes caroling and games with a potluck lunch following the 9:30 a.m. worship service. Buy-in for the dice game will be a small wrapped gift (about $5 value).

Buffalo Food Shelf Special Collection – Deadline-Dec. 7—Bring your food shelf item(s) to the party (or cash is always welcome).

Adopt-A-Family—Immanuel has two families. Pick an angel from the tree, add your name to half the angel and place it in the container provided; then use the other half of the angel for your shopping information  Keep unwrapped-may include wrapping paper for them to use. Please have items at church by Fri., Dec. 5.

Toys-for-Tots–Collection box available near the front door. Toys should be new, unwrapped and preferably in the $10 or above price range. Deadline—Tuesday, Dec. 16.

WEST CHRISTMAS CONCERT: “Christmas at West” will be performed at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 14.

ATTENDANCE AT THE LORD’S HOUSE: 

    Sunday, Nov. 23 61

    Thanksgiving Eve, Nov. 27 65

FOR THE LORD’S WORK: Nov. 23: General Fund-$1,963; West-$50 Salem-$12.