THIS WEEK AT IMMANUEL
Sunday (8/1)
- 7:30 am—Divine Service of the Word (On-Line Video)
- 9:00 am—Divine Service with Holy Communion
- 10:30 am—Bible Class
Wednesday
- 7:00 pm—Bible History Class
Saturday
- 3:30 pm—Individual Confession and Absolution
- 5:30 pm—Divine Service with Holy Communion
Sunday (8/8)
- 7:30 am—Divine Service of the Word (On-Line Video)
- 9:00 am—Divine Service with Holy Communion
- 10:30 am—Bible Class
IN OUR PRAYERS
HEALTH CONCERNS: Bernita Ashwill; Connie Bruns (cousin of Mary Appleby); Lynn Corrie (friend of Arleigh Jones); Ellie Crawford (daughter of Laran Crawford); Leona Czerwonka; Lynn Davis (cousin of Mark Whitson); Cindy Ekstrom; Lisa Hall (sister of Holly Wikoff); Rick Hardesty (family of the Hoels); Forrest Harvey (son of John Harvey); Kim Hausman (friend of Ann Carroll); Deanna Henningsen (sister-in-law of Jerry & Joyce Alexander); Reuben Hostetler; Mary Miller (friend of David Holzrichter); Mary Negangard (grandmother of Bryce Reifsteck); Dennis Pickett (friend of Ann Carroll); Cary & Beth Rahn; Joan Rahn; Jody Reifsteck (mother of Bryce Reifsteck); Emma Silver; Ocil Slone (grandfather of Josh & Jake Dyer); Joy Stenger; Carolyn Stremming (sister-in-law of Arleigh Jones); Doris Threet (sister of Wanda Long); Debbie Tiffan (friend of Deborah Reifsteck); Aurelia Tuegal (grandmother of Bethany Campbell); Bob Vukelich; Brian Walker (uncle of Bryce Reifsteck); Pete Walker (friend of Glenda Rahn); Lynn & Jane Whitson (parents of Mark Whitson); Dennis Wiltzius (father of Michelle Stumeier).
SEMINARY STUDENT: Gunnar Campbell; Logan Smith.
DEACONESS STUDENT: Emily McLean.
MISSIONARIES: The Naumann Family; The McDermott Family, Julie Lutz
HOMEBOUND: Bernita Ashwill; Leonard Boerngen; Jim Harbaugh; Janet Pollock; Ruth Rentschler; Ruth Sims; Irene Wattjes.
MILITARY: Carl Crawford; Josh Dyer; Jeremy Gordon; Jack Leonard; Jake Lindgren; Raymond Longtin; Joey Pollock; Blake Stokes; Scott Walter; Ruben Wilson.
THE ANNOUNCEMENTS
NEXT WEEK’S READINGS . . . Jer 8:4–12; 1 Cor 12:1–11; Luke 19:41–48.
ABOUT THIS WEEK’S READINGS . . . “The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness” (Luke 16:1–9). The steward’s shrewdness is praiseworthy for two reasons. First, he knew the master would be merciful. He trusted that the master would honor the debts he forgave in the master’s name. In the same way, though we have squandered our heavenly Father’s possessions in selfishness and sin, Jesus is the Steward who has canceled our debt, knowing that His forgiveness will be honored by the Father because of the holy cross. Secondly, the steward was shrewd in using oil and wheat to provide for his earthly welfare. So also do these earthly elements aid us when pressed into heavenly use in the anointing of baptism and the wheat of the Lord’s Supper. Those who have the Sacraments will have an eternal home when their earthly home fails. These provide us aid in times of temptation (1 Cor. 10:6–13). For the Lord is our strength and a shield to all who trust in Him (2 Sam. 22:26–34).
THOUGHTS ABOUT STEWARDSHIP . . . Luke 16:8 “For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light.” Money is a tool that can be used for good or wicked purposes. Often unbelievers show more shrewdness in this than we Christians. If we really believe all that stuff we say in the Creed every Sunday . . . won’t that affect how we use our money?
WEST PARKING LOT CLOSED . . . The west-side parking lot is closed due to construction. You may park on the east side and enter through the double doors by the Fellowship Hall or the Bell Tower. Thank you for your patience as construction is underway to replace our existing parking lot.
THE ALTAR FLOWERS . . . are given by Reuben Hostettler to the glory of God for the many blessings received.
PROVERBS . . . Starting this Sunday, the Sunday morning Bible Class will be a study of the Book of Proverbs. Join us to learn how these were written down for our instruction not only in practical wisdom but in the only wisdom that leads to life—here in time and for all eternity.
WHY? . . . Why does the Salutation precede the Collect of the Day? Immediately before the Collect in the Divine Service, the pastor turns to face the people, and says, “The Lord be with you,” to which they reply, “And with your spirit.” This, along with the Collect itself, is in preparation for the hearing of the reading of the Word of God. The pastor’s words, “The Lord be with you,” are an adaptation of the words of the risen Christ to His disciples, “Peace be with you.” These words, which are the first words Christ said to the disciples when He appeared to them in the upper room, indicate the putting away of their sins, even as the resurrection itself demonstrates this. When the pastor says the words of the Salutation, he is repeating the pattern set by Christ Himself. These are the first words he says to the people as pastor (since the rite of confession and absolution was not originally part of the Divine Service itself). As the first words from the mouth of Christ’s ambassador to His people, they reestablish the fact that their forgiveness has been obtained by His resurrection and their prayer is heard. When the people reply, “And with your spirit,” they are not merely responding in kind, but are praying for their pastor, that the Holy Spirit may rest upon him, for now he will speak to them as bearer of the office of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, grace is required, that the pastor may be faithful in carrying out his duty, that is, that all of the words he speaks, including the words of the sermon, might be words fitly spoken as coming from God’s ambassador to them.
SERVICES ONLINE . . . A copy of the service bulletin, which includes all the responses and the hymns, is available at Immanuel’s website under the Sermons tab by clicking on the button labeled PDF. This video option will continue to be made available until our usual service times resume. You can access these online services in three places:
- On Immanuel’s Facebook page
- On Immanuel’s Website under the Sermons tab
- On Immanuel’s YouTube channel
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