THIS WEEK AT IMMANUEL
Sunday (6/28)
- 7:30 am—Divine Service of the Word (On-Line Video)
- 9:00 am—Divine Service with Holy Communion
- 11:00 am—Divine Service with Holy Communion
Saturday
- 3:30 pm—Individual Confession & Absolution
- 5:30 pm—Divine Service with Holy Communion
Sunday
- 7:30 am—Divine Service of the Word (On-Line Video)
- 9:00 am—Divine Service with Holy Communion
- 11:00 am—Divine Service with Holy Communion
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); Lynn Corrie (friend of the Joneses); Ellie Crawford (daughter of Laran Crawford); Whitney Czerwonka; Lynn Davis (cousin of Mark Whitson); 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 the Joneses); Kimberly Mulvany (daughter of Pastor Doug Meyer); Mary Negangard (grandmother of Bryce Reifsteck); Sandra Oehmke (sister of Joan Vukelich); Dennis Pickett (friend of Ann Carroll); Cary & Beth Rahn; Debbie Rahn (wife of Leroy Rahn); Emma Silver; Ruth Sims; Ocil Slone (father of Carolyn Dyer); Joy Stenger; Brian Walker (uncle of Bryce Reifsteck); Irene Wattjes; Lynn & Jane Whitson (parents of Mark Whitson).
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; Leonard Boerngen; Janet Pollock; Art Rahn; Ruth Rentschler.
MILITARY: Carl Crawford; Jeremy Gordon; Jack Leonard; Jake Lindgren; Raymond Longtin; Joey Pollock; Blake Stokes; Paige Stokes; Ruben Wilson.
THE ANNOUNCEMENTS
NEXT WEEK’S READINGS . . . Genesis 50:15–21; Romans 8:18–23; Luke 6:36–42.
ABOUT THIS WEEK’S READINGS . . . “This man receives sinners and eats with them” (Luke 15:2). The Pharisees’ statement of judgment against Jesus is in fact a proclamation of Gospel truth. For our God is one who delights in mercy, who casts all our sins into the depths of the sea through the cross (Micah 7:18–20). “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Tim. 1:15). Those who refuse to be counted as sinners also refuse Jesus who came only for sinners. Those like the older son (Luke 15:11–32), who think they are righteous of themselves, will not join in the heavenly celebration over the sinner who repents and so remain outside of the Father’s house. Let us therefore be on guard against self–righteously trusting in our own merits. “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you” (1 Peter 5:6). Rejoice that Jesus receives sinners like us and that He still sits at table with us in the Holy Supper, bestowing His forgiveness and life.
THOUGHTS ABOUT STEWARDSHIP . . . Luke 15:10 “Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Jesus eats with sinners not so that they will remain stuck in their sins, but so that they will come to know His love and repent. To repent means to turn, to turn away from sin and toward Jesus in faith. Whether the sin we struggle with is pride, greed, doubt, etc., the Lord calls us to turn to Him again in faith and away from our sin.
STAYCATION BIBLE SCHOOL . . . The Board of Education is announcing the first-ever (and hopefully last!) Staycation Bible School. We have put together a five-day program entitled By Faith, which highlights the way in which people in the Bible, and even Jesus Himself, trusted in God by faith. During these uncertain times, we as Christians can look to the Bible for reassurance and comfort that by faith and trust in God, He will work all things for our good. Since gathering in groups is limited, Staycation Bible School is a way for parents to fill a morning or afternoon with sound biblical teaching and remain in God’s Word with their children at home. All materials will be provided, which includes age-appropriate lesson plans, craft directions and materials, and even a pre-packaged snack. Please register your child online HERE. Registration ends on Friday, June 26. Parents and children can come to the church on Sunday, July 12 from 6:30 PM until 8:00 PM, where members of the board will be outside at a table handing out all the materials and supplies needed. If you have questions, please call the church office at (217) 253-4341.
ORIGINAL SIN VS. ACTUAL SIN: WHY DOES THE DISTINCTION MATTER? . . . Original sin (inherited sin) is the total corruption of our whole human nature. “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me” (Psalm 51:5). “That you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts . . .” (Ephesians 4:22). By nature, man is without true fear, love, and trust in God. He is without righteousness, is inclined only to evil, and is spiritually blind, dead, an enemy of God. “The imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth . . .” (Genesis 8:21). “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be” (Romans 8:7).
Actual sin is every act against a commandment of God in thoughts, desires, words, or deeds. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies (Matthew 15:19). In the doctrine of actual sin, there are sins of commission and sins of omission. “Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death” (James 1:15; sin of commission). “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:17; sin of omission).
Salvation from sin, in its entirety (both original and actual, both sins of commission and sins of omission) is found only in the gospel, which gives us Christ as our substitute, who fulfilled the law and suffered and died for us. “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us; for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree’” (Galatians 3:13). By the atoning death of Jesus, offered up to His Father as the sweet-smelling aroma (Ephesians 5:2), we are justified by grace through faith.
While we should all say with one accord that we are sinners, we should not say that we all commit the same sins. Nor should we say that everything is a sin, because of original sin. Actual sins are thoughts, words, and deeds against a commandment of God. As such, actual sins need to be able to be clearly defined based on the commandments. This is one reason why Christians are exhorted to examine their lives according to the Ten Commandments, and within their God-given callings (vocations), as husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, etc.
Assertions that certain acts are sins, based on original sin passages, should be avoided in theology, lest we call things sins which the commandments of God do not identify as such. The recent cultural firestorm on the topic of race is causing chaos across cities in our country. Assertions of racism from original sin passages have been made. Such theological conclusions are not in keeping with sound interpretation of Biblical texts and should be rejected. The distinction between original sin and actual sin is important.
Actual sins need definitions based on the commandments of God. Abortion is clearly defined as murder under the fifth commandment. Adultery is clearly defined as sexual immorality under the sixth commandment. Theft is clearly defined as stealing under the seventh commandment. Jesus teaches that hatred is a sin (Matthew 5:43-48), which has clear overlap with murder, adultery, and theft against the neighbor, though they first are against God. We need caution in defining actual sin, lest we burden consciences, and bring about false humility (Colossians 2:18) and a false confession of sin.
HOLY COMMUNION . . . The offer still stands that if you desire the Holy Communion, you can make an appointment with Pastor to receive the Lord’s Supper either at church or in your home until services resume.
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
QUESTIONS ABOUT GIVING . . . The church office has received some inquiries about giving their offering during the shelter-in-place order. If you would like to drop off your offering during business hours or mail it to the church, it will be counted and deposited weekly.
MEMORY WORK . . . If a Sunday School student has been able to learn the next level of the Catechism Learn-By-Heart Program and would like to recite it to Pastor, you can schedule a meeting with him to do this through Zoom, Skype, or Facetime. Contact Pastor by e-mail or phone.
CHANGES IN MANDATED REPORTER LAW . . . The state of Illinois recently made significant changes to the mandated reporter law. By law, any person affiliated with the church who, in their role, comes into contact with children, either in a paid position or as a volunteer, is now a mandated reporter. As such, s/he must undergo training within three months of first serving. This new law would include the following at Immanuel: all Sunday School teachers, VBS volunteers, youth group chaperones, and those on Altar Guild who work with the Jr. Altar Guild. To that end, we ask that those individuals in the groups listed, follow THIS LINK to take the online training. This training takes roughly 60 minutes to complete. Upon completion of the training, a certificate is awarded which will need to be printed off and a copy be given to Pastor to keep on file. For those who are unable to access this online training at home, time will be available for you to complete this in the church office. Please find time to complete the online training as soon as possible. While we understand that this may be a burden for some, please know that we are willing to help you get the necessary training so that we as a church are compliant with this new law. If you have any questions or concerns, please talk with one of the members of the Board of Christian Education or Pastor. Thank you!
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