THIS WEEK AT IMMANUEL
Sunday (10/27)
- 9:00 am—Divine Service with Holy Communion
- 10:30 am—Bible Class & Sunday School
- 2:30 pm—Nursing Home Service
- 6:00 pm—Youth Group Event
Wednesday
- 6:00 pm—Catechism Class
- 7:00 pm—Bible History Class
Saturday
- 3:30 pm—Individual Confession & Absolution
- 5:30 pm—Divine Service
Sunday
- 9:00 am—Divine Service with Holy Communion
- 10:30 am—Adult Bible Class
- 6:30 pm—Ladies Bunco Night
IN OUR PRAYERS
HEALTH CONCERNS: Bernita Ashwill; Mindy Bell (friend of David Holzrichter); Dale Brown (friend of Margaret Stilwell); Connie Hilgendorf Bruns (cousin of Mary Appleby); Jeff & Jo Coon (friend of David Holzrichter); Ellie Crawford (daughter of Laran Crawford); Whitney Czerwonka; Mitzi Dingler (cousin of John Harvey); Cindy Ekstrom; Theresa Fields; Jenna Gustafson; Jim Harbaugh; Rick Hardesty (family of the Hoels); Kim Hausman (friend of Ann Carroll); Deanna Henningsen (sister-in-law of Jerry & Joyce Alexander); Barbara Holste (friend of Arleigh & Mary Jane Jones); Mary Jane Jones; Pat Maree; Rev. Ted Mitchell (friend of Pastor Braaten); Kimberly Mulvany (daughter of Pastor Doug Meyer); Bill & Mary Negangard (grandparents of Bryce Reifsteck); Cary & Beth Rahn; Debbie Rahn (wife of Leroy Rahn); Thomas Roughton (infant son of John & Christine Roughton); Ruth Sims; Ocil Slone (father of Carolyn Dyer); Joy Stenger; Raleigh Townsend (student of Pastor Braaten); Irene Wattjes.
DEATHS: Family of Bessie Benson.
SEMINARY STUDENT: Gunnar Campbell; Logan Smith.
DEACONESS STUDENT: Emily McLean.
MISSIONARIES: Rev. Dr. Edward and Monica Naumann; Rev. Ryan and Emily McDermott; Julie Lutz.
HOMEBOUND: Bernita Ashwill; Mary Jane Jones; Janet Pollock; Art Rahn; Ruth Rentschler.
MILITARY: Carl Crawford; Jeremy Gordon; Jack Leonard; Jake Lindgren; Raymond Longtin; Joey Pollock; Chase Reifsteck; Blake Stokes; Paige Stokes; Ruben Wilson.
THE ANNOUNCEMENTS
NEXT WEEK’S READINGS . . . Revelation 7:9–17; 1 John 3:1–3; Matthew 5:1–12.
ABOUT THIS WEEK’S READINGS . . . “Wisdom is justified by her deeds” (Matt. 11:19), and the true Wisdom of God, Christ Jesus the incarnate Son, justifies us by His deeds. He prepares His way by the preaching of repentance, but He has suffered the violence of the Law and voluntarily handed Himself over to violent men, that we might eat and drink with Him in His Kingdom and “remain in the house forever” (John 8:35). For He is “a friend of tax collectors and sinners” (Matt. 11:19), and He has rescued us by His grace from the slavery of sin and death. By the proclamation of His eternal Gospel “to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people” (Rev. 14:6), “the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law” (Rom. 3:21), “that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Rom. 3:26). And by hearing the Gospel of Christ Jesus, “whom God put forward as a propitiation by His blood, to be received by faith” (Rom. 3:25), “you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31–32).
THOUGHTS ABOUT STEWARDSHIP . . . John 8:36 “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” Despite the false charges brought against him, Luther said that he was “the apostle of good works.” For only in being set free by the Gospel can we do good works. Jesus has set us free: His blood washes away our sins and now we stand before God as His beloved children, invited to live our lives to His glory for the good of His kingdom.
ALTAR FLOWERS . . . are given by Gary & Becky Kappes to the glory of God in thanksgiving for blessings of their grandchildren.
ANNUAL ROAST BEEF SUPPER . . . St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Mattoon, 2 miles east of Dorans, will be having their annual Roast Beef Supper on Saturday, November 2, serving 4:30 pm–7:00 pm. A free-will offering will be taken. Monies received will go to help fund the restoration of the sanctuary.
OCTOBER YOUTH GROUP EVENT . . . is next Sunday, October 27, 6:00 pm–7:30 pm. This month is a study month, and we will be looking at the doctrine of justification and the atonement. This is the teaching upon which the church either stands or falls. We will also have snacks. So bring your Bibles and your appetites.
THE NOVEMBER CALENDAR . . . with birthdays and anniversaries is available on the table across from members’ mailboxes.
TURN YOUR CLOCKS BACK NEXT WEEKEND . . . Daylight Savings Time ends at 2:00 am on Sunday, November 3. Don’t forget to set your clocks back one hour on Saturday before bed!
MARTIN LUTHER . . . the chief catalyst of the Reformation, defied the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V by refusing to recant his writings. He had been called to Worms, Germany, to appear before the Diet (assembly) of the Holy Roman Empire and answer charges of heresy. It is at the Diet of Worms where Luther famously replied: “I am bound by the Scriptures I have quoted and my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not retract anything, since it is neither safe nor right to go against conscience. I cannot do otherwise, here I stand, may God help me, Amen” (Luther at the Diet of Worms,1521, LW 32:112–113).
ABOUT “A MIGHTY FORTRESS” . . . The chorale likely first appeared in hymnals of 1528 and 1529; however, its first extant source is Andrew Rauscher’s Erfurt hymnal of 1531. The precise motivation for Luther’s text is unclear, yet evidence exists that it spread quickly and gained notoriety in significant fashion. It was sung at the Diet of Augsburg (1555) and in all the churches of Saxony. Upon their entrance to Weimar following their banishment from Wittenberg in 1547, Philip Melanchton, Justus Jonas, and Kaspar Kreutziger were comforted hearing a young girl singing the hymn on the street. Commonly referred to as the “battle hymn of the Reformation,” it also became the national hymn of Protestant Germany, the hymn of the army of Gustavus Adolphus in 1632 during the Thirty Years’ War in the Battle of Lützen, and a traveling hymn for the Salzburg Emigrants of 1732.
The earliest full English translation of “A Mighty Fortress” appeared in Lyra Davidica in 1708. Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881)—Scottish historian, essayist, moral teacher, and rector—due to his knowledge of Luther and poetic gift provided what is in many respects the best English version. The translation that appears in Lutheran Service Book is a composite taken from the Pennsylvania Lutheran Church Book (1868), prepared by the editorial committee of that book, based on Carlyle’s version and on a version by W. M. Reynolds based on Carlyle’s, which was included in the General Synod’s Collection of 1850.
G. Polack eloquently expresses: “The good this hymn has done, the faith it has inspired, the hearts it has comforted, the influence it has exerted, cannot be measured and will first be revealed to us in eternity, where the saints of God will praise their Lord and redeemer for many blessings, not the least of which will be the privilege of having known and sung this hymn here on earth.” When the attacks of the evil one assail us—be they of acts of terror, sudden tragedy, or failing health—as well as in times of thanksgiving, we can trust in the One who is faithful and has promised to be with us always and rejoice with Luther that “Our victory has been won; the Kingdom ours remaineth.” Thanks be to God for this in Christ Jesus!
GREETERS
THIS WEEK
- Jim Dyer (West)
- Jack & Mary Appleby (East)
NEXT WEEK
- Laverl Byers (West)
- Kenny & Tammy Kresin (East)
COMMUNION HELPERS
THIS WEEK
- Josh Whitson
- Sharon Allen; Marissa Russo
NEXT WEEK
- Mark Whitson
- Wanda Long; Lexie Russo
ACOLYTES
THIS WEEK
- Jake Dyer (Crucifer)
- Isaak Burgener (Torches)
- Caiden Russo (Torches)Jonathan Braaten (Gospel)
NEXT WEEK
- Coulson Poffenberger (Crucifer)
- Jake Dyer (Torches)
- Trey Waldrop (Torches)
- Caiden Russo (Gospel)
COFFEE COMMITTEE
- Janet Stumeier—October
- Sharon Allen—November
FUNERAL CHAIR
- Ruth Bretz & Janice Arthur—October
- Lauren Braaten—November
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