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THIS WEEK AT IMMANUEL

Sunday (10/30)

• 9:00 am—Divine Service with Holy Communion
• 10:30 am—Bible Class & Sunday School
• 5:30 pm—Reformation Party

Wednesday

• 7:00 pm—Bible History Class

Saturday

• 3:30 pm—Individual Confession & Absolution
• 5:30 pm—Divine Service with Holy Communion

Sunday (11/6)

• 9:00 am—Divine Service with Holy Communion
• 10:30 am—Bible Class & Sunday School
• 6:30 pm—Ladies Bunco Night

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IN OUR PRAYERS

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.

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 6. Don’t forget to set your clocks back one hour on Saturday before bed!

COME TO BIBLE CLASS . . . it is a perfect opportunity for older members to model ongoing Christian Education for the younger members as St. Paul instructs the older men and older women to do in Titus Chapter 2. We are studying the Wisdom of God found in the Book of Proverbs. Who doesn’t need the Wisdom of God in their lives? Join us.

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!

JOIN US FOR A REFORMATION PARTY . . . on Sunday, October 30 at 5:30 pm as we celebrate the courage of Martin Luther and the early reformers as they sought to keep the Gospel pure. Invite your friends and family who haven’t been to church in a while! Bratwurst will be provided, but keep an eye out in the narthex in the coming weeks for a sign-up sheet for German food that will be needed. If anyone has any German decorations (think beer steins, German flags, red/yellow/black decor) that they’d be willing to let us borrow for the evening, it would be appreciated. Please contact Lauren Braaten (260.438.0331) with questions or to volunteer to help. Danke!

CONTRIBUTION ENVELOPES . . . have been placed in your boxes.  If you did not receive one and should have, please contact the office.

ISAIAH MIGHTY SEER IN DAYS OF OLD . . . is a hymn version of the Sanctus written by Martin Luther. It depicts the scene from the Bible in Isaiah 6:1–4. The soaring music helps to convey the awe, wonder, and reverence of standing before God on his throne. In the Divine Service, the Sanctus is sung just before the Words of Institution and the reception of the Sacrament of our Lord’s body and blood. The placement of the Sanctus here teaches us that we have entered heaven with the angels and archangels and all the company of heaven. Whereas Isaiah’s lips are cleansed by a coal from the altar of God, we are completely cleansed, body and soul, by the body and blood of Jesus in, with, and under the bread and wine. When you here this version, or you sing the Sanctus that is common to us in our liturgy, try to imagine that you are in heaven, with all the saints and Jesus is cleansing you from all sin making you holy. For that is in fact where you are.

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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