THIRD SUNDAY IN ADVENT December 14, 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 (#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.

BE SEATED

LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLES

M: We light three Advent candles remembering Jesus, the Light of the world. He came to defeat the prince of darkness.

C: We remember Jesus, who came in answer to his people’s prayers. John proclaimed him the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.

M: We hear his call to see the light.

C: We light three Advent candles as a sign of our trust and confidence.

M: Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest.

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

Three Advent candles are lit.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

M: Let us pray:  Hear our prayers, Lord Jesus Christ, and come with the good news of your mighty deliverance. Drive the darkness from our hearts, and fill us with your light; 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 35:1-10

35 The wilderness and the desert will be glad. The wasteland of the Arabah will rejoice and blossom like a crocus. ² It will bloom lavishly,
and there will be great joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it. It will be excellent like Carmel and Sharon. They will see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God. ³ Strengthen the weak hands,

and make the shaky knees steady. ⁴ Tell those who have a fearful heart: 

Be strong. Do not be afraid. Look! Your God will come with vengeance. With God’s own retribution, he will come and save you. ⁵ Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf will be unplugged.
⁶ The crippled will leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute will sing for joy. Waters will flow in the wilderness, and streams in the wasteland.
⁷ The burning sand will become a pool, and in the thirsty ground there will be springs of water. There will be grass, reeds, and rushes where the 

haunts of jackals once lay. ⁸ A highway will be there, a road that will be called the holy way. The impure will not walk there. It will be reserved for those who walk in that holy way. Wicked fools will not wander onto it. ⁹ No lion will be there, nor will any ferocious animal go up on it. They will not be found there, but only the redeemed will walk there. ¹⁰ Then those ransomed by the Lord will return. They will enter Zion with a joyful shout, and everlasting joy will crown their heads. Happiness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.      (EHV)

M: The Word of the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God.

PSALM OF THE DAY (Sung) Psalm 146 (page 120)

SECOND LESSON James 5:7-11

⁷ Therefore, brothers, be patient until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the valuable harvest from the ground, patiently waiting for it, until it receives the early and late rain. ⁸ You be patient too. Strengthen your hearts because the coming of the Lord is near. ⁹ Do not complain about one another, brothers, so that you will not be judged. Look! The Judge is standing at the doors! ¹⁰ Brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord as an example of suffering with patient endurance. ¹¹ See, we consider those who endured to be blessed. You have heard of the patient endurance of Job and have seen what the Lord did in the end, because the Lord is especially compassionate and merciful.         (EHV)

M: The Word of the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God.

VERSE OF THE DAY

M: Alleluia. I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you. Alleluia. (Matthew 11:10)

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 11:2-11

² While John was in prison, he heard about the things Christ was doing. He sent two of his disciples ³ to ask him, “Are you the Coming 

One or should we wait for someone else?” 

⁴ Jesus answered them, “Go, report to John what you hear and see: ⁵ The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the gospel is preached to the poor. ⁶ Blessed is the one who does not take offense at me.” ⁷ As these two were leaving, Jesus began to talk to the crowds about John. “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?  ⁸ What did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? No, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. ⁹ So what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you! And he is much more than a prophet.  ¹⁰ This is the one about whom it is written, ‘Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’  ¹¹ Amen I tell you: Among those born of women there has not appeared anyone greater than John the Baptist. Yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.          (EHV)

M: The Gospel of the Lord.

 (Sung) Praise be to you, O Christ!

HYMN OF THE DAY (#19) “O Lord, How Shall I Meet You”

SERMON TEXT Matthew 11:2-11

SERMON THEME “Advent Questions”

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 (#703S) “My Soul in Stillness Waits”

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: Almighty God, we thank you for teaching us the things you want us to believe and do. Help us by your Holy Spirit to keep your Word in pure hearts that we may be strengthened in faith, guided in holiness, and comforted in life and in death, 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 (#405) “Oh, for a Faith that Will Not Shrink”

THIRD SUNDAY IN ADVENT December 14, 2025

Immanuel Ev. Lutheran Church
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​THE SCHEDULE    

Mon., Dec. 15 7 p.m., Church Council Meeting

Tues., Dec. 16 NO Tuesday Bible Study

7 p.m., Choir Practice

Wed., Dec. 17 6:30 p.m., Catechism

Thurs., Dec. 18 6 p.m., Fishers Christmas

Sat., Dec. 20 9-11 a.m., Christmas Eve 

    Program Practice

Next Sunday, Dec. 21, Greeters: Terry Weese 

OUR FATHER’S BUSINESS

CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE: Wednesday, Dec. 24, 7 p.m., Children’s Christmas Eve Service, “Tell Me Again About Bethlehem;” 

Thursday, Dec. 25, 9:30 a.m., Christmas Day Song Service with Communion.

THANK YOU to all who participated in the Ladies Fellowship “Giving Opportunities”—Angel Tree, Toys for Tots & Food Shelf. The Toys for Tots deadline is this Tuesday, Dec. 16. Thank you also to all who participated in and/or helped with last week’s Congregational Christmas Party.

WEST CHRISTMAS CONCERT: “Christmas at West” will be performed this afternoon at 2 p.m. at West Lutheran High School in Plymouth.

ENVELOPES: Offering envelopes for 2026 are available in the narthex. If you don’t see yours, ask Julie Gutknecht or Pastor Oehlke.

ATTENDANCE AT THE LORD’S HOUSE: 

    Sunday, Dec. 7 59

FOR THE LORD’S WORK: Dec. 7: General Fund-$3,738.60; Salem-$10. (Note to consider: General  Fund needs about $2,600 per week.)