We have this treasure in jars of clay

Transcription

1 We have this treasure in jars of clay January 8 & 11, st Sunday after Epiphany Volume 80, No. 2 Deacon: Mark Stelter/Ted Schreyer; Organist: Lane Fischer Sound: Joshua Clobes; Video: Paul & Diane Bode Screen: Clifford Kuehne Head Usher: Paul Bade; Asst. Usher: Justin Mueller WELCOME to ALL! Visitors: please sign the guest register in the narthex. Visitors and members should feel free to speak with the Pastor after the service, or call Pastor Nolting or Pastor Naumann

2 Pre-Service Meditation: Psalm 4 (p. 123, red hymnal) Pre-Service Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, I cannot thank You enough for letting Your light to shine into my dark heart and revealing to me the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Enable me to share this good news with others and to let this light of Christ shine forth in my life! Amen. ORDER OF SERVICE We Prepare to Meet Our LORD Hymn: Another Year Is Past and Gone by Pastor Em. Daniel Fleischer (Melody: TLH 375) Another year is past and gone, And cannot be recaptured. Its days are done, and we ve advanced, Still closer to our parting. O Lord, forgive our sins, we pray And keep us on the narrow way As now arrives a New Year. In Christ, You ve claimed us as Your own He is our Lord and Savior. Our confidence is firmly based Upon Your Word most faithful. Your promises are good and true, And always firm and gracious too. Most certainly we thank You. Another year is now a gift, A time of grace and favor. May we fore er in word and deed Give praise and honor to Your name. Help us to share Your Gospel Word With those who still are dead in sin, That they might know their Savior. We know not what this year will bring, What evil lurks, or good will come. We know that all is in Your hands And e er what comes is for our good. 2

3 You ll never leave, nor let Your child Go through the year without Your hand. For sure, You ll guide and keep us. Help us, O Lord to follow You O keep us in Your care each day. Keep us e er faithful to Your Word, That never from its truth we stray. It is a lamp unto our feet The light that leads us, without fail, Upon the path to heaven. If this year now will be our last And all the years are gone and past, Lord, keep us in Your loving arms And bear us to our home in heav n. There we shall see our Savior dear, Our Lord, Who is forever near, And we ll know peace forever. Amen. When the congregation is asked to stand, please do so only if you are able. You may remain seated if standing is difficult. Invocation: Pastor: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Congregation (sings): Amen. Our Confession of Sins Pastor: Beloved in the Lord! Let us draw near with a true heart and confess our sins unto God, our Father, beseeching Him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to grant us forgiveness. Our help is in the name of the Lord. Congregation (sings): Who made heaven and earth. Pastor: I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord. Congregation (sings): And You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Pastor: Almighty God, our Maker and Redeemer, we poor sinners confess unto You that we are by nature sinful and unclean and that we have sinned against You by thought, word, 3

4 and deed. Therefore we flee for refuge to Your infinite mercy, seeking and imploring Your grace for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ. Congregation: O most merciful God, who has given Your only-begotten Son to die for us, have mercy upon us and for His sake grant us remission of all our sins; and by Your Holy Spirit increase in us true knowledge of You and of Your will and true obedience to Your Word, to the end that by Your grace we may come to everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. Pastor: Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, has had mercy upon us and has given His only Son to die for us, and for His sake forgives us all our sins. To all who believe on His name He gives the privilege of being children of God and has promised them His Holy Spirit. He that believes and is baptized shall be saved. Grant this, Lord, unto us all. Congregation (sings): Amen. We Praise Our LORD Responsive Reading: Isaiah 60:1-3 P: Arise, shine; for your light has come! C: The glory of the LORD is risen upon you. P: For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; C: But the LORD will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. P: The Gentiles shall come to your light, C: And kings to the brightness of your rising. P: Glory be to God! Congregation (sings): Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, forevermore. Amen. 4

5 Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us. All glory, praise, and blessing to God the holy Trinity, for planting and sustaining our faith in Him who sets us free, on whom our trust is founded, our house built on a rock, our life by grace surrounded, our Shepherd s precious flock, dear children to Him clinging, who welcomed once again, join saints and angels singing, Amen, Amen, Amen! Text : Stanza 5 of Nun lob, mein Seel, den Herren as found in Gemeinde Lieder, No. 2 attributed to Königsberg Text translation 1991 Jaroslav J. Vadja. All rights reserved. OneLicense.net License #A Pastor: The Lord be with you. Congregation (sings): And with your spirit. Pastor: Let us pray. Congregation (sings): Amen. Our LORD Speaks to Us Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 2:2-5 Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it. 3 Many people shall come and say, "Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths." For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 4 He shall judge between the nations, and rebuke many people; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. 5 O house of Jacob, come and let us walk in the light of the LORD. 5

6 Church Choir: Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light St. 1, Johann Rist, tr. J. Troutbeck; st.2-3: Herbert Bouman Break forth, O beauteous heav'nly light, And usher in the morning. Ye shepherds, shrink not with affright, But hear the angel's tiding: This Child, now weak in infancy, Our Confidence and Joy shall be, The power of Satan breaking, Our peace eternal making. Oh, hear the heav'nly angels' song, Of Christ, the Savior, singing; Let it re-echo loud and long, Salvation to all bringing: "Fear not, I bring good news of joy That shall your sin and death destroy; On you God's love is beaming Through Christ the world redeeming." Sound forth the Word of God's great love, And cease from doubt and grieving, Believe the message from above, The blessed Christ receiving. Proclaim the wondrous heav'nly grace To sinners all in every place; All hearts in Him rejoicing, All tongues His praises voicing. The Church Choir Book p Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved. OneLicense.net License #A Gospel Reading: Matthew 3:13-17 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. 14 And John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?" 15 But Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed Him. 16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." 6

7 Our Confession of Faith in the Apostolic Creed I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit; the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen. Children's Sermon: (Sun. a.m.) Children (pre-school-2nd grade) are invited to come forward and gather around the pastor in the front of the church. Hymn: Songs of Thankfulness and Praise 1. Songs of thankfulness and praise, Jesus, Lord, to You we raise, Manifested by the star To the Magi from afar, Branch of royal David's stem, In Your birth at Bethlehem. Anthems be to You addressed, God in man made manifest. 2. Manifest at Jordan's stream, Prophet, Priest, and King supreme, And at Cana, Wedding Guest, In Your Godhead manifest; Manifest in pow r divine, Changing water into wine. Anthems be to You addressed, God in man made manifest. 7

8 3. Manifest in making whole Palsied limbs and fainting soul; Manifest in valiant fight, Quelling all the devil's might; Manifest in gracious will, Ever bringing good from ill. Anthems be to You addressed, God in man made manifest. 4. Sun and moon shall darkened be; Stars shall fall, the heav ns shall flee. Christ will then like lightning shine; All will see His glorious sign. All will then the trumpet hear; All will see the Judge appear. You by all will be confessed, God in man made manifest. 5. Grant us grace to see You, Lord, Mirrored in Your holy Word. May our lives and all we do Imitate and honor You That we all like You may be At Your great Epiphany And may praise You, ever blest, God in man made manifest. The Sermon: Text - 2 Corinthians 4:3-7 (ESV) CW #82 (alt. TLH 134) And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. 6 For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. IT S NOT THE CONTAINER, IT S THE CONTENTS Pastor Joe Naumann 8

9 Sermon Notes: We Offer Ourselves to Our LORD Offertory: Congregation (sings): Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Your presence; and take not Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of Your salvation; and uphold me with Your free Spirit. Amen. Hymn: 718 (tan Supplement) O Jesus, King of Glory Offering of Thankful Hearts [Wed. service offering may be left in narthex basket.] Prayers including a prayer of thanksgiving upon the occasion of Harold Wolle's 90 th birthday (actual date: Jan. 6). Benediction Our LORD Blesses Us! Congregation (sings): Amen. Amen. Amen. Closing Hymn: 359 Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies Liturgy from The Lutheran Hymnal 1941 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission. License # Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. When applicable permission to Podcast the music in this service obtained from OneLicense.net. Unless otherwise noted service elements are in public domain. 9

10 Following the service: Immanuel s WEEKLY Activities Un-decorate Church: remove bulbs and lights from the trees; remove wreathes, garland, and window decorations and store in boxes; remove batteries from the candles and give to the church secretary; return all boxes/bins to the locked space in the attic. Please return attic key to church secretary desk. 11 A.M.-3 P.M. Epiphany Bible School Mon. Jan. 9 8:00 A.M. ILS School classes resume 10:00 A.M. Pastors Study Club Immanuel 6:00 P.M. (H) BJV vs. Nicollet 7:30 P.M. (H) BV vs. Nicollet Tues. Jan. 10 3:00-5:00 P.M. Pastor s Office Hours (JN) 6:30 P.M. Board of Deacons meeting 7:00 P.M. Board of Education meeting 7:00 P.M. Board of Property meeting 7:30 P.M. Board of Finance meeting 8:00 P.M. Church Council meeting Wed. Jan :45 P.M. Immanuel Church Service on KTV Charter Ch.181 / Consolidated Communications Ch. 7 5:30 P.M. Youth Instruction Class 6:00 P.M. Wed. Bible Study 4 part video series produced by the Institute for Creation Research entitled Uncovering the Truth about Dinosaurs will explore these fascinating and mysterious creatures. 7:00 P.M. Worship Service (repeats previous Sunday s service) 10

11 Thurs. Jan :00 A.M. Walnut Towers Bible Study 1:00 P.M. Old Main Bible Study 3:30 P.M. (H) GSG 5-6 vs. Mt. Olive 4:30 P.M. (H) GSG 7-8 vs. Mt. Olive 5:45 P.M. Immanuel Church Service on KTV Charter Ch. 181 or Consolidated Communications Ch. 7 6:00-7:15 P.M. Church Choir Practice 7:30 P.M. Local Community Bible Study Fri. Jan. 13-Sun. Jan. 15: Whitewater Winter Camp Fri. Jan. 13 K-12 No ILS School 6:30 A.M. Men s Breakfast/Bible Study 8:00-10:00 A.M. Pastor s Office Hours (JN) 10:15 A.M. Keystone Bible Study Sat. Jan :30 A.M. FA Meeting Sun. Jan. 15 8:15-8:20 A.M. Immanuel Meditations KTOE 1420 AM or FM radio sermon 8:15-9:15 A.M. Sunday School, Ambassadors, & Bible Study 9:30 A.M. WORSHIP Service [PDN] Altar Flowers: K. Friedrichs/K. Dick; Deacon: Ted Schreyer/Leif Olmanson; Sound: Craig Stelter; Video: Vern Frank; Screen: Russell Schmitt Ushers: Third Sunday of the Month: Head Usher: Fred Friedrichs ( ); Asst. Usher: John Heinze ( ); Joshua Clobes; Nathan Clobes; Ty Hanel; Dennis Heinze; Brett Kruse; Andy Olmanson; Evan Olmanson; Dan Salmon; Russ Schmitt; Ron Wolle; Steve Wolle In the Hospital: 11

12 Thank You! The pastors and their families thank you for the encouragement given in an assortment of ways this Christmas season. We pray that God blesses each of you during this New Year. Altar Flower Volunteers Needed for February, March, and April: Please sign up on the list on the NARTHEX bulletin board. New Video Doorbell System: Please use the new entry system by pushing the button on the video unit to enter through the back church alley door and through the south school entrance. Begin Your Day with the LORD! 3 good reasons to start the day with a devotion from God s Word 1. It is a daily symbolic statement of what is most important. 2. What you do first tends to get done; what you put off competes with other obligations and gets bumped from the schedule. 3. What you do first tends to define the rest of the day. Psalm 119: I rise before the dawning of the morning, and cry for help; I hope in Your word. 148 My eyes are awake through the night watches, that I may meditate on Your Word. Psalm 143:8 8 Cause me to hear Your loving-kindness in the morning, For in You do I trust; cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You. Whitewater Join us January for an opportunity for outside play, hiking on the bluffs, relaxing by the fire in the cabin, playing games, studying God s Word, relax time, and visiting with friends old and new. Our theme this year is "Alone with God." The cost is $70 per person. Ages High 12

13 School through 2nd year of college are welcome to attend. Whitewater is a weekend of fun, adventure, growth, and much more! The signup sheet for Whitewater XVIII is in the narthex. Please sign up if you are planning to attend Whitewater. Deadline is January 8th. A new Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous (FA) meeting will begin 10:30 a.m. in the Language classroom on Sat. Jan 14, 2017 and meet each Saturday thereafter. Anyone interested in finding a solution for a problem with food is welcome. Please call Mara H. at if you would like more information Church Offering Envelopes: Please pick up your packet from the narthex. In order to practice good stewardship we have reduced the number of envelope packets that we purchase. If you had an assigned envelope packet last year but did not use them, you were not automatically assigned a number in If you desire envelope packets in 2017 please contact the church office. CLC Board of Missions Update - At an evening service at Messiah Lutheran in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Pastor Todd Ohlmann was commissioned by CLC President Michael Eichstadt as our CLC Visiting Missionary. The service can be viewed online at Messiah's website, (click in the "Online Worship" button). With Missionary Ohlmann's acceptance of the Visiting Missionary call and commissioning, he has resigned from his position on the CLC Board of Missions, and as Chairman of that Board. President Eichstadt has appointed Pastor Rob Sauers to complete Pastor Ohlmann's term on the Board of Missions which ends in Mr. Joel Krafft was elected as the Board of Missions Chairman. Please continue to pray for Missionary Ohlmann and his family, as well as those who serve on our behalf on the various CLC boards, that the Lord's name may be glorified, and His kingdom come! Free Spokesman Subscriptions - As a promotional effort, the Lutheran Spokesman is offering five free, six-month subscriptions to each CLC congregation. We would like to use these additional subscriptions as a tool for congregational strengthening and outreach. If you can think of any friends, family, or acquaintances who would benefit from this subscription, please share their names and addresses on the signup sheet in the entry way. 13

14 Dates for the Grade School Basketball tournament have been announced: March 10-12, 2017 (Friday-Sunday) Immanuel is planning on putting a group together to visit the Creation Museum and Ark Encounter at the end of July (some time between July 23-30) this coming summer. We are trying to decide what individuals would prefer: 1) Less crowds (during the week) or 2) Less time off work (over the weekend). Please click below and answer the following few questions no later than JANUARY 15th! Our Response of Faith Attendance: 12/30 Pathstone = 27 / Autumn Grace = 10 12/30 Men s Bible Study = n/a / BEC Jail Ministry for Men = 9 12/30 BEC Jail Ministry for Women = n/a 12/31 New Year s Eve Worship = 85 / communed = 64 1/1 Sunday New Year s Day Worship = 196 / communed = 157 1/5 Walnut Towers = 7 / Old Main = 9 Immanuel CLC New Year s Eve Current = $13,185 New Year s Day Current = $9,472 Missions = $836 Endowment = $251 ILC Building = $20 Expansion / Relocation = $0 ILC Student Aid = $0 Major Improvement = $285 MDF: Mission Develop. Fund = $0 OTHER: Benevolent = $40 OTHER: Imm. Student Aid = $135 Mission Helper (Mankato) = $100 Tuition Aid = $50 14

15 Deciding Our Level of Support for the CLC in 2017 One of the matters that our voters will be taking up at our annual meeting on January 16 is our estimate of what our financial support will be for our church body, the Church of the Lutheran Confession, in Here is a brief review of the kinds of things we accomplish together with our fellow Christians in the CLC: Support of Immanuel Lutheran High School, College, and Seminary The education of pastors, Christian day school teachers, and welltrained laymen is of vital importance to the CLC. About 2/3 of the cost of operating our school comes from student tuition and fees. The remainder is provided from our CBP offerings. 53 cents of every dollar we contribute to the CLC helps make this possible. Support of U.S. and foreign missions Spreading the Gospel at home and abroad is our commission from the Lord Jesus, and our privilege as His ambassadors. We help to support 6 CLC congregations is the U.S. and Canada, as well as foreign affiliate churches and seminaries in Africa, India, Nepal, and Myanmar. There are more than 60,000 members in these churches, and incredible opportunities to share the Gospel of Christ crucified with large numbers of people who do not yet know Him. 35 cents of every dollar we contribute to the CLC helps to support this effort. Support of our retirees, CLC debt, and administration Through our Board of Trustees, the faithful service of our retired called servants is acknowledged with a modest monthly stipend. Debt on one professorage is serviced, and our General Business Office is funded. 11 cents of every dollar we contribute to the CLC funds these needs. The Board of Education and Publications receives a modest amount each year to help with the publication of books and other materials by the CLC. 1 cent of every CBP dollar funds these projects. Each fall, the CLC Boards meet to map out the needs for the coming fiscal year. They propose a budget for the individual congregations to consider at their annual meetings. After they receive the estimated offerings from the congregations, the final budget is set in the spring. Here is the budget proposal for us to consider at our annual meeting on January 16: 15

16 The proposed budget reflects an increase of 3.3% over last year s budget. It also anticipates using $50,000 from reserve funds for operating expenses. The increase is driven largely by salary increases for CLC called workers, from $2,613 to $2,728 per month, as well as increases for mission efforts. Here is the recent history of our congregation s CBP estimates and actual contributions over the last 5 years: Year Budget Actual Offerings 2012 $66,195 $60, $66,195 $61, $65,000 $65, $68,000 $52, $56,000 $51,138 * *A special year-end gift may increase this final amount. If Immanuel gave a 3.3% increase over our estimated 2016 offerings, our goal for 2017 would be $57,850. Please give these needs your prayerful consideration. The input of all our members is welcome. If you are not a voter, please make your ideas and desires known to a voter, or to the pastor. Our annual meeting will be held on Monday, January 16, beginning at 7:00 pm. "Let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver." 2 Cor. 9:7 16