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THIS WEEK AT IMMANUEL

Sunday (3/20)

• 7:30 am—Divine Service of the Word (On-Line Video)
• 9:00 am—Divine Service with Holy Communion
• 10:30 am—Bible Class & Sunday School
• 12:30 pm—Catechism Class

Wednesday

• 5:30 pm—Lenten Midweek Supper
• 7:00 pm—Lenten Midweek Service

Saturday

• 9:00 am—Sunday School Teachers’ Meeting
• 3:30 pm—Individual Confession & Absolution
• 5:30 pm—Divine Service with Holy Communion

Sunday (3/27)

• 7:30 am—Divine Service of the Word (On-Line Video)
• 9:00 am—Divine Service with Holy Communion
• 10:30 am—Bible Class & Sunday School
• 12:30 pm—Catechism Class
• 6:00 pm—Youth Group Event

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IN OUR PRAYERS

THE ANNOUNCEMENTS

NEXT WEEK’S READINGS . . . Exodus 16:2–21; Galatians 4:21–31; John 6:1–15.

ABOUT THIS WEEK’S READINGS . . . Jeremiah was charged with speaking evil when he spoke the Word of the Lord (Jer. 26:1–15). So also, Jesus is accused of doing evil when in fact He is doing good. He casts out a demon from a mute man so that he is able to speak (Luke 11:14–28). But some said Jesus did this by the power of Beelzebul, Satan. Like Pharaoh of old, their hearts were hard (Ex. 8:16–24). They did not recognize the finger of God, the power of the Holy Spirit at work in and through Jesus. Jesus is the Stronger Man who overcomes the strong man. He takes the devil’s armor of sin and death and destroys it from the inside out by the holy cross. He exorcizes and frees us by water and the Word. We were once darkness, but now we are light in Christ the Lord (Eph. 5:1–9). As children of light, our tongues are loosed to give thanks to Him who saved us.

THOUGHTS ABOUT STEWARDSHIP . . . Ephesians 5:1–2 “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us.” Our sanctification flows from the justification which we have received in Christ. His love for us transforms us into His image. This why the Bible talks so much about giving—because we are to imitate God in His generosity.

EASTER LILY ORDER FORMS . . . Please return them to the office by Sunday, April 10. Lilies are $13.00 each. These forms are on the back table in the Narthex.

LENTEN MIDWEEK SUPPERS . . . will be served this year before the Midweek services beginning on Ash Wednesday. Serving time will be 5:30 pm–6:45 pm. We are returning to traditional way of providing food where each board provides a meal. Here is the schedule.

• March 23, Midweek Lent III—Board of Elders
• March 30, Midweek Lent IV—Boards of Trustees & Stewardship
• April 6, Midweek Lent V—Youth Group

LENTEN MIDWEEK SERMON SERIES . . . will be going through the Book of 1 Peter. Each week will focus on a chapter from 1 Peter. This Epistle St. Peter wrote to the converted heathen, and exhorts them to stand fast in faith and to increase through all manner of suffering and good works. In chapter 1, he strengthens their faith through the divine promise and the power of salvation to come, and shows that this has not been deserved by us but was proclaimed before by the prophets. Therefore they ought now to live holy lives, as new creatures, and forget the old life, like men who are born anew through the living and eternal Word of God. In chapter 2, he teaches them to recognize Christ as the Head and Cornerstone and, like true priests, to sacrifice themselves to God, as Christ sacrificed Himself, and begins to give instruction to all classes of men. First, he teaches generally to be in subjection to temporal rulership; afterwards he teaches particularly that servants are to be subject to their masters and suffer wrong from them for Christ’s sake, who also suffered wrong for us. In chapter 3, he teaches wives to be obedient, even to unbelieving husbands, and to adorn themselves with holiness; likewise, that husbands are to be patient with their wives and bear with them; and then that Christians, in general, are to be humble and patient and kind to one another, as Christ was because of our sins. In chapter 4, he teaches to subdue the flesh, with sobriety, watching, temperance and prayer, and to be comforted and strengthened with Christ’s sufferings; and he instructs the spiritual rulers to deal only with God’s words and works, and everyone to serve another with his gifts, and not wonder, but rejoice, if we have to suffer for Christ’s sake. In chapter 5, he exhorts the bishops and priests how they are to live and care for the people, and warns us against the devil, who without ceasing pursues us everywhere.

LENTEN BIBLE CHALLENGE . . . Since we will be meditating on 1 Peter through our Lenten midweeks, let us read through 1 Peter each week before each midweek service.

SAVE THE DATE . . . on Friday, April 8, Dave Anderson and Roger Walck from Shepherd’s Canyon Retreat will be at Immanuel for an evening concert called “The Rescue Tour.” The concert begins at 7:00 pm. It will be preceded by a potluck. There is no fee, but a free offering will be taken to help those who attend Shepherd’s Canyon Retreat, which is a service committed to providing spiritual and emotional healing to clergy, other church workers, and their wives in the midst of burnout, depression, and compassion fatigue, offering hope and renewal through God’s Word.

IMMANUEL’S 125^TH ANNIVERSARY COOKBOOK . . . The Board of Mission and Evangelism have prepared a cookbook for Immanuel’s 125^th anniversary, which is next July. The cookbooks will be available in early December and cost $15.00. You may pr-order using the order form.

SERVICES ONLINE . . . This video option will continue to be made available until our usual service times resume. You can access these online services in three places:

1. On Immanuel’s Facebook page
2. On Immanuel’s Website under the Sermons tab
3. On Immanuel’s YouTube channel

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CHURCH MEMBER INFORMATION UPDATE

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PRAYER REQUESTS

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