EIGHTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST July 19, 2026
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 (#221) “Blessed Jesus, at Your Word”
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, so rule and govern our hearts and minds by your Holy Spirit that, ever mindful of your final judgment, we may be stirred up to holiness of living here and dwell with you in perfect joy hereafter; 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 44:6-11
6 This is what the Lord, the King of Israel, Israel’s Redeemer, the Lord of Armies, says. I am the first, and I am the last. Except for me, there is no god. 7For who is like me? Let him declare it. Let him recite in order for me the things that took place since the time I established an ancient people. Or let them declare what is yet to come, and what is going to take place. 8Do not tremble, and do not be frightened. Did I not announce this to you, and declare it already long ago? You are my witnesses. Is there any god except me? There is no other Rock. I am not aware of any other. All those who form an idol are good for nothing. All the things which delight them provide no benefit. As for their witnesses—they do not see. They know nothing, so they will be ashamed. 10 Who is this who forms a god or casts a metal image that can provide no profit? 11 Look at him! All his associates will be ashamed. The craftsmen are merely men. Let them all gather them-selves and take a stand. They will be terrified and ashamed together.
M: The Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
PSALM OF THE DAY (Sung) Psalm 19 (page 70)
SECOND LESSON Romans 1:18-25
18 Indeed, God’s wrath is being revealed from heaven against all the ungodliness and unrighteousness of people who try to suppress the truth by unrighteousness. 19 This happens because what can be known about God is evident among them, because God made it evident among them. 20 In fact, his invisible characteristics—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, because they are understood from the things he made. As a result, people are without excuse, 21 because, even though they knew God, they did not honor him or give him thanks as God. Instead, their thinking became nonsense, and their senseless heart was darkened.
22 Although they claim to be wise, they have become fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human, or like birds, four-footed animals, and crawling things. 24 So, as they followed the sinful desires of their hearts, God handed them over to the impurity of degrading their own bodies among
themselves. 25 Such people have traded the truth about God for the lie, worshipping and serving the creation rather than the Creator, who is worthy of praise forever. Amen. (EHV)
M: The Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
VERSE OF THE DAY
M: Alleluia. Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! Alleluia. (Romans 11:33)
C: (Sung) Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
STAND
GOSPEL Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
After the announcement of the Gospel, the congregation sings:
C: (Sung) Glory be to you, O Lord!
24 He presented another parable to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 But while people were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. 26 When the plants sprouted and produced heads of grain, the weeds also appeared. 27 The servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where did the weeds come from?’ 28 He said to them, ‘An enemy did this.’ The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and gather up the weeds?’ 29 ‘No,’ he answered, ‘because when you gather up the weeds, you might pull up the wheat along with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “First, gather up the weeds, bind them in bundles, and burn them. Then, gather the wheat into my barn.”’”
36 Then Jesus sent the people away and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” 37 He answered them, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world. The good seeds are the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the Evil One. 39 The enemy
who sowed them is the Devil. The harvest is the end of the world. The reapers are angels. 40 Therefore, just as the weeds are gathered up and burned with fire, so it will be at the end of the world. 41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will pull out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and those who continue to break the law. 42 The angels will throw them into the fiery furnace where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear. (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.
BE SEATED
HYMN (#541) “Lord Jesus Christ, with Us Abide”
SERMON TEXT Exodus 20:5-6
5 Do not bow down to them or be subservient to them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God. I follow up on the guilt of the fathers with their children, their grandchildren, and their great-grandchildren, if they also hate me. 6 But I show mercy to thousands who love me and keep my commandments.
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.
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
M: O Lord, our God, you are wise and powerful, good and gracious.
Your mercies are new every morning. Each day you open your
hand and provide for the needs of your children on earth.
C: We praise you for every grace and blessing.
M: Strengthen your Church in all the world. Let your comforting
message of salvation in Christ Jesus be proclaimed to troubled
souls everywhere.
C: Use our ministries and offerings to extend your healing and
your hope.
M: We bring you our requests for the various structures of our
society. Bless our national, state, and local governments.
C: Grant us civil servants who are worthy of honor and respect.
M: Grant prosperity to our businesses and industries. Give employers
a sense of fairness toward their workers, and employees a feeling
of joy and pride in their workmanship.
C: Help us find satisfaction in all work well done.
M: Invigorate the schools of our land. Give success to every effort
that helps students read, think, and communicate in ways that will
promote an informed and responsible citizenry. Arouse curious
minds to discover the wonders of your created order.
C: Give us teachers and students who pursue excellence.
M: Strengthen the families of our country. Give fathers and mothers a
renewed commitment to be good parents. Give children and
young people the wisdom to regard their parents as your
representatives.
C: Lead us to love one another as you have loved us.
M: Hear us, Lord, as we bring you our private petitions.
Silent prayer.
M: Gracious Father, we pray boldly as Jesus taught, with the
confidence that you will hear and with the faith that you will
respond for our welfare.
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.
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 (#377) “Dear Christians, One and All, Rejoice”
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: We give thanks, almighty God, that you have refreshed us with this holy supper. We pray that through it you will strengthen our faith in you and increase our love for one another. We ask this in the name of 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 (#468) “My God, My Father, Make Me Strong”
EIGHTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST July 19, 2026
Immanuel Ev. Lutheran Church
THE SCHEDULE
Next Sun., July 26: Greeters: Dixon Family
Shut-In Visitors for July: Vernetta & Jenni Weese
OUR FATHER’S BUSINESS
THANK YOU to Pastor Dean Biebert for sharing God’s Word with us this morning. He is retired and currently serving a vacancy in Mequon, Wisconsin.
PASTOR’S VACATION: Pastor will be on vacation from July 19-24. In case of emergency, if spiritual care is needed, please reach out to Pastor Paul Schuler at 920-284-0172 or Pastor Matt Nowak at 419-302-5271.
CALL: Pastor Oehlke has received a call to Trinity in Lincoln, Michigan and St. John’s in Mio, Michigan. This is an opportunity for Pastor Oehlke and the congregation to evaluate our ministry here at Immanuel. Please pray that the Holy Spirit give Pastor Oehlke wisdom as he deliberates the call he holds.
RESCHEDULED—SUMMER PICNIC: The date for this year’s picnic has been changed to Sunday, Aug. 9. We hope you can still come and participate in the outdoor service and events. We’re still in need of volunteers. If you can help, even a little, contact Pastor or Julie G. Proceeds to benefit the parking lot plans.
(A) Luncheon—catered with potluck sides and/or desserts. (help monitor the kitchen & clean-up)
(B) Silent Auction—registrations being accepted-check with Julie G. (C) Bean Bag Competition—registration sheet on narthex island.
(D) Bingo.
NEW DAY THANK YOU: A thank you has been received from New Day Pregnancy & Family Resource Center for the recent “Blessed Bassinet” donations. See the west bulletin board.
QUARTERLY VOTERS MEETING is scheduled for after the worship service on Aug. 2. Men over 18 years of age who are interested in becoming voting members are encouraged to contact Pastor Oehlke or a council member.
TRAVEL WITH WELS GROUPS: Father’s World Tours is partnering with WELS Home Missions to offer two upcoming trips, and we’d love to have you along. COOL CANYONS (Nov 7-19) takes us to see some of the Southwest U.S.’s most stunning scenery, including the Mighty Five national parks in Utah, the Grand Canyon, and much more. We’ll also worship with and tour our Apache missions in Peridot and East Fork, along with a home mission in St George, UT. FLORA AND FAUNA OF FLORIDA (Jan 23-Feb 7, 2027) offers a two-week midwinter warmup to the Sunshine State as well as an Eastern Caribbean Cruise aboard the Sky Princess.We will again connect with our missions and missionaries in the area while enjoying encounters with wildlife (gators, manatee, and maybe monkeys), gorgeous gardens, and fabulous fellowship. Learn more at www.fathersworldtours.com or call Steve at 507-217-1731.
ATTENDANCE AT THE LORD’S HOUSE:
Sunday, July 12 48
FOR THE LORD’S WORK: July 12: General Fund-$2,680.60; West-$10; Salem-$12; Fishers-$10; MLC-$10; Missions-$580 (YTD-$12,147).
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.
