FOURTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST August 30, 2026

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

Beginning on Page 38 in the Hymnal.

HYMN (#453) “Come, Follow Me, the Savior Spoke”

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 God, your Son willingly endured the agony and shame of the cross for our redemption. Grant us courage to take up our cross daily and follow him wherever he leads; 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 Jeremiah 15:15-21

¹⁵ O Lord, you understand. Remember me and care for me. Take vengeance for me on those who persecute me. You are slow to anger.
Do not take me away. Keep in mind that for your sake I bear disgrace.
¹⁶ Your words came to me, and I devoured them. Your words became my joy, the delight of my heart, because I bear your name, O Lord God of Armies. ¹⁷ I did not sit with the band of partygoers, nor did I celebrate with them. I sat alone, because your hand was upon me. You filled me with indignation. ¹⁸ Why is my pain unending? Why is my wound incurable, refusing to heal? Will you be as deceptive as an intermittent stream to me, like a source of water that a person can’t depend on?  ¹⁹ Therefore this is what the Lord says. If you repent, I will take you back, so that you may stand before me. If what you say is worthwhile and not worthless, you will be my spokesman. They must turn to you, but you must not turn to them. ²⁰ I will make you like a bronze wall to this people. They will fight against you, but they will not overcome you, because I am with you to save you and to rescue you, declares the Lord. ²¹ I will rescue you from the hand of the wicked, and I will deliver you from the grasp of the ruthless.      (EHV)

M: The Word of the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God.                

PSALM OF THE DAY (Sung) Psalm 31 (page 77)

SECOND LESSON Romans 8:18-25

¹⁸ For I conclude that our sufferings at the present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us. ¹⁹ In fact, creation is waiting with eager longing for the sons of God to be revealed. ²⁰ For creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in the hope ²¹ that even creation itself will be set free from slavery to corruption, in order to share in the glorious freedom of the children of God. ²² For we know that all of creation is groaning with birth pains right up to the present time. ²³ And not only creation, but also we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we eagerly await our 

adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. ²⁴ Indeed, it was for this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he already sees? ²⁵ But if we hope for something we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patient endurance.             (EHV)

M: The Word of the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God.

VERSE OF THE DAY

M: Alleluia. Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. Alleluia. (Mark 8:34)

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 16:21-26

²¹ From that time, Jesus began to show his disciples that he had to go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders, chief priests, and experts in the law, and be killed, and on the third day be raised again. ²² Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “May you receive mercy, Lord! This will never happen to you.” ²³ But Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a snare to me because you are not thinking the things of God, but the things of men.” ²⁴ Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to follow me, let 

him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. ²⁵ In fact whoever wants to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. ²⁶ After all, what will it benefit a person if he gains the whole world, but forfeits his soul? Or what can a person give in exchange for his soul?                     (EHV)

M: The Gospel of the Lord.

C: (Sung) Praise be to you, O Christ!

HYMN OF THE DAY (#465) “Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken”

SERMON TEXT Matthew 16:21-26

SERMON THEME “Cross Before Crown”

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 (#428) “Why Should Cross and Trial Grieve Me”

PRAYERS 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.

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 (#422) “Jesus, Lead Us On”

FOURTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST August 30, 2026

Immanuel Ev. Lutheran Church
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​THE SCHEDULE  

Thurs., Sept. 3 7 p.m., Sunday School Teacher’s Meeting

Next Sun., Sept. 6: Greeters: Jencks Family

Shut-In Visitors for September: Lorraine Roush and 

Karen Davis

OUR FATHER’S BUSINESS

SUNDAY SCHOOL/CATECHISM/ADULT BIBLE STUDY: Sunday School and Adult Bible Study will begin on Sept. 20 with the first Catechism Class at 6:30 p.m. on the Wednesday before, Sept. 16. If you would like to teach or serve as a substitute teacher, please contact Pastor Oehlke or Julie Gutknecht. There will be a Sunday School teacher’s meeting at 7 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 3.

MISSION FESTIVAL:   This year’s Mission Festival will be September 13 with the Rev. Larry Schlomer joining us. He is WELS Administrator for World Missions. The service will be followed by a presentation by Pastor Schlomer and then our grilled pork chop luncheon with potluck sides and desserts.

SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THE CONGREGATION:  We have received a thank you letter from Jacob Kleist for supporting his MLC education for the ministry. It is posted on the west bulletin board.

LADIES FELLOWSHIP CARDS:   Immanuel’s Ladies Fellowship offers Christian-based greeting cards found in the display shelving at the end of the ramp. One of their suppliers is currently offering value prices for boxed cards. If anyone would like to place an order for a full box to be included with the Ladies Fellowship order, contact Julie Gutknecht. (Occasions available: Birthday, Sympathy, Anniversary, Wedding, Get Well, Thinking of You, Thanksgiving, Christmas.) ($6-box of 12 cards)

HELP WANTED: The Wise Penny Thrift Shoppe has an immediate opening for a paid part-time store cashier for up to 15 hours per week.  Duties include cashiering, providing exceptional customer service, and assisting in pricing donated items. A full job description and application is available at www.thewisepenny.com/aboutus.html.  For more information, please contact Brittany McFadden, Wise Penny store manager, at (763) 682-4178 or wisepennythrift@outlook.com. See details on the poster on the west bulletin board.

CRADLE ROLL: Immanuel’s Cradle Roll program provides materials connecting new families and infants with spiritual support from birth through the start of Sunday School. Emily Kleist has graciously handled these mailings for a number of years but we are now looking for a new volunteer to do so. If you have a spare few minutes each month to do this, please contact Emily or Julie Gutknecht.

THANK YOUs:  Thank you notes have been received from the WELS Partners-In-Apache-Learning and Kingdon Workers for the recent financial gifts received from Immanuel (from the Endowment Fund allocation for charitable giving). They are posted on the west bulletin board.

ATTENDANCE AT THE LORD’S HOUSE: 

Sunday, Aug. 23 66

FOR THE LORD’S WORK:  Aug. 23: General Fund-$2,055, West-$10, Salem-$12, Youth-20, MLC-$10. Missions: Aug. 23-$580. (Missions YTD-$14,017).