IMMANUEL LUTHERAN. 7 th Sunday of Easter. when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

Transcription

1 MAY Vol. 81 No. 31 IMMANUEL LUTHERAN 7 th Sunday of Easter Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord. Pastor Joe Naumann Pastor Neal Radichel Deacon Logan Wendt Organist Grace Schreyer Sound Joshua Clobes Video Paul & Diane Bode Screen Rachael Hanel Head Usher Paul Bade Welcome to everyone who has come to share the Good News of the Gospel with us today! We ask our guests to please sign our register, and invite you to join us regularly for worship. For more information about our church, please contact Pastor Naumann North Second Street Mankato, MN Our worship service centers and glorifies our Savior, Jesus Christ. Please turn off your cell phones to avoid distraction. Thank you!

2 Pre-Service Meditation and Prayer Psalm 19 {tlh p. 126} Dear Heavenly Father, the heavens declare Your glory, and the skies proclaim the work of Your hands. On this Mother s Day, I do not give credit to Mother Nature, but once again to You alone who created and provides for the heavens and the earth. Forgive me Lord for holding grudges against those who have sinned against me. Send the Holy Spirit to soften my heart again to rejoice in Your mercy and love now only for me, but for those You died for also! In Jesus name I pray. Amen. ORDER OF WORSHIP WE PREPARE TO MEET OUR LORD OPENING HYMN Up Through Endless Ranks of Angels {ws 737:1-3} INVOCATION Pastor: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Congregation: Amen. OUR CONFESSION OF SINS P: 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. C: Who made heaven and earth. P: I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord. C: And You forgave the iniquity of my sin. P: 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, and deed. Therefore we flee for refuge to Your infinite mercy, seeking and imploring Your grace for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ. C: 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. 2

3 P: 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. C: Amen. WE PRAISE OUR LORD RESPONSIVE READING Psalm 19:9-14 P: The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous. C: They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. P: By them is your servant warned; C: In keeping them there is great reward. P: Who can discern his errors? C: Forgive my hidden faults. P: Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. C: Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression. P: May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, C: My Rock and my Redeemer. P: Glory be to God! C: Gloria Patri 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. Kyrie Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us. All Glory, Praise, and Blessing 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, 3

4 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! P: The Lord be with you. C: And with your spirit. P: Let us pray. C: Amen. OUR LORD SPEAKS TO US OLD TESTAMENT READING genesis 45:1-5 Joseph s emotions get the best of him. He weeps because his brother Judah, who had the idea to sell him into slavery, was now himself willing to be slave for Benjamin (his full blood brother). The guilt of his brothers was clear to Joseph. It was as clear as the LORD s intended purpose to cause all the evil that was done to Joseph for good. Capture all the pictures of Christ in these few short verses! 1 Then Joseph could not restrain himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, Make everyone go out from me! So no one stood with him while Joseph made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept aloud, and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard it. 3 Then Joseph said to his brothers, I am Joseph; does my father still live? But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed in his presence. 4 And Joseph said to his brothers, Please come near to me. So they came near. Then he said: I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. C: Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! GOSPEL READING luke 9:51-56 Don t misunderstand verse fifty-one. The time had come for Jesus to be received up (ascended) onto the cross. Jesus, knowing this, sets His face (resolves) to go towards Jerusalem sending messengers out ahead of him. In passing through the Samaritan village they don t linger, and James and John misinterpret Jesus actions and ask to call down fire from heaven upon them. Jesus, like Joseph had done, shows God s greater plan that He had not come for destruction, but life and forgiveness for the world! 51 Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem, 52 and sent 4

5 messengers before His face. And as they went, they entered a village of the Samaritans, to prepare for Him. 53 But they did not receive Him, because His face was set for the journey to Jerusalem. 54 And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did? 55 But He turned and rebuked them, and said, "You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. 56 For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them. And they went to another village. C: Praise be to You, O Christ! 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 HYMN OF THE DAY Thou Who the Night in Prayer Didst Spend {tlh 757} SERMON TEXT acts 13:1-12 Pastor Neal Radichel 1 Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them 3 Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. 4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. 5 And when they arrived in Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. They also had John as their assistant. 6 Now when they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found 5

6 a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus, 7 who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 9 Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him 10 and said, O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? 11 And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand. 12 Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord. Why grudges and the Gospel... DON T MIX. I. Because you can t see clearly... in a blind anger. II. Because you are sent clearly in a merciful manner. WE OFFER OURSELVES TO OUR LORD OFFERTORY 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. SERMON HYMN Christ High-Ascended {ws 765} OFFERING OF THANKFUL HEARTS OFFERING MEDITATION How Great Thou Art {ws 744} Our worship service centers on and glorifies our Savior, Jesus Christ. Please kindly refrain from clapping to avoid distraction to others and temptation to the musicians to think it might be glorifying them. Thank you! 6

7 SPECIAL PRAYERS TODAY S PRAYER THE LORD S PRAYER OUR LORD BLESSES US BENEDICTION C: Amen. Amen. Amen. CLOSING HYMN Up Through Endless Ranks of Angels {ws 737:4} Hymns and liturgical settings under copyright are used by permission through Concordia Publishing House License # or OneLicense. net #A All Rights reserved. Used by permission. Unless otherwise indicated, Scriptures quoted are from the New King James Version of the Holy Bible, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. NEXT SUNDAY Preaching Joe Naumann Deacon Nick Stelter Organist Karla Olmanson Sound Evan Matzke Video Vern Frank Screen Russell Schmitt Ushers Third Sunday of the Month: Head Usher Fred Friedrichs Ushers Joshua Clobes; Nathan Clobes; Ty Hanel; Dennis Heinze; Brett Kruse; Andy Olmanson; Evan Olmanson; Russ Schmitt; Ron Wolle; Steve Wolle A New Opportunity from our Lord? Our Expansion Relocation Committee (ERC) has been very busy in the last couple of weeks investigating the former Rasmussen College property just off N. Victory Drive. The property sits on four acres with available adjacent lots for potential future development. There are a number of visions and ideas of what could be done with this property along with our current property. If the congregation decided to move forward, there's been discussion of opening a Preschool, or even a Daycare which our current facility does not allow because of various codes. This past week almost two dozen of our councilmen did a walk through of the property. The council is encouraging all our members, school families and parents to come walk through it over this coming weekend. The council is expecting that our voters too will want to make time to walk through it to be more informed about the property. Walk through times: Saturday, May 19 th 3-5pm Sunday, May 20 t h 1-3pm Address: 130 Saint Andrews Dr Mankato, Minnesota May the Lord continue to unite our congregation with wisdom, zeal, and excitement for sharing His Gospel to the best of our abilities out of our great love for Him and all He's done for us! CLC Call News Teacher Kirsten Gullerud, St. Stephen Lutheran, Mountain View CA, has returned the call from Redeemer Lutheran, Cheyenne WY, to serve in its school. The Rev. Matthew Hanel, pastor of St. Matthew Lutheran, Dallas TX, has returned the calls to Luther Memorial, Fond du Lac WI, and to 7

8 Berea Lutheran, Inver Grove Heights MN. Mrs. Erin Radichel has accepted the call to teach Kindergarten afternoons at Immanuel Lutheran, Mankato MN. Graduate Michaela Winters has accepted the call to teach at Messiah Lutheran school, Hales Corners WI. Special Voters' Meeting to be held Monday, May 21, at 7:00pm in the church basement. Agenda: Membership matters: Accept 2108 Confirmation Class into communicant membership Church Council recommends adopting the Compensation Committee proposal which restructures salary and insurance payments for our full time called workers. Expansion Relocation Committee will bring a report and consideration for a possible expansion opportunity Deacons will report on changes and improvements to our usher program Property Committee proposes adding a project to install lighting behind our cross to our designated memorial funds A motion will be considered to keep the conference room/office remodeling fund open in order to complete the communion preparation sink and complete this sink installation as soon as the funds are donated. Consider a motion to require a 75% majority when raising or spending funds greater than $ 10,000 and require that a certain percentage of voters are present for that vote. Immanuel Home Bible Studies gathers together around the Word of God for spiritual growth and needed Christian fellowship in our members homes. If you would be interested in hosting or leading please speak to a pastor! This month, we continue with the following studies and locations: Mankato Hilltop (Host Darren and Amy Durst) May 23 at 7pm - Romans chapter N Black Eagle Dr Mankato, MN RSVP Lutheran Spokesman It's time to renew or sign up for a subscription. There are amazing discounts this year. Renewal is only $10 and new subscribers are just $5! This is a one-time offer this year, so consider giving this as a gift or for yourself. Sign up/renewal sheet will be in the narthex. Please write checks to Immanuel Church and put in payment box by June 17. Study Guild All women are invited to join us Tuesday, May 15, at 6:30 pm in the church basement. for a devotion, short business meeting and fellowship. Use the church office door. Study Guild does not meet over the summer months so if you have not joined us before and are interested, please come Tuesday. If unable to join us this month but would like more information, please contact Kristen Friedrichs at Serving this month: Karla Olmanson and Viv Hanel. Graduation Open Houses Aaron Salmon Saturday, May 19 4pm to 7pm Kodiak Lane, Mankato Isabel Becker Sunday, May 20 2pm to 5pm Juneau Road - Mankato 8

9 Are you discouraged by the pervasive nature of secularism in our world and in your family s life? We invite you to join us every week as we discuss the Bible and address culture and current events in the light of God s Word. New podcast episodes air each Monday and Friday on on Itunes or through any RSS feed. You can also find thought provoking articles and insightful information on our website at We pray that these podcasts and articles will encourage you and prepare you to be a faithful witness to Christ in your individual vocations and God-given callings! Pillar 1: Revive Pillar 2: Review Pillar 3: Discuss Pillar 4: Define The revive series looks at a specific portion of God s Word and delves into the meaning and content. It is meant to be both devotional and instructional. The review series looks at various kinds of popular media such as: movies, books and music and examines the content in the light of God s Word. The discuss series seeks to breath life into topics from a Biblical perspective (CPR). At times, we answer the critical arguments against God s Word. The define series is the shortest podcast we offer. In 5-7 minutes we strive to explain the definition and application of a Biblical word or concept. 9

10 7 Habits of a Mission-Minded Congregation Part six DESIRE TO ACHIEVE UNITY Some things just go together. Root beer and ice cream. A ball game and a hot dog. The fourth of July and fireworks. One pairing which in the minds of many might not be such a ball and glove sort of fit is unity and insistence on true doctrine. But since true unity can only be found in and created by the Word of God, this is really the tightest pair of the bunch! If our congregations want to be mission-minded we must have a thirst and love for true doctrine. Compromise never accomplishes Christian Unity. Jesus prayed that His Church might all be one, but don t overlook what he prayed would make them one, Sanctify them by Your Truth, Your Word is Truth (John 17:3). This is what Jesus wants for His Church and this is what only His Word can give. He does not bring us together by compromise but by sanctifying us, that is, setting us apart. Setting us apart from sin. Setting us apart from false ideas and doctrines. Setting us apart to Himself. Many Christians today think that our duty to spread the gospel means that we need to stop being so picky about doctrine, that we should just agree to disagree on certain areas in order to focus on what really matters. Then we ll be stronger, more impressive. Then we ll be able to accomplish greater things and bring more people to Christ. They claim that fighting over doctrine turns people away from the faith and harms our witness. And that all seems to make sense. But it s completely wrong. It is the Word which makes us one. It is the Word of Christ which is Spirit and life. It is the Word which is living and active. It is the Word which is everything! Wherever any part of that Word is given up or replaced with human ideas, the church becomes less, its witness weaker, its mission less mighty. A truly evangelical insistence on doctrine is a desire for true unity! If we hear and keep God s Word, we will want to share it with others and unite with those who do the same. Just as we cannot be mission-minded without a love for true doctrine so we cannot have a love for true doctrine without being mission-minded! 10

11 Remember, Christ is the head of the Church. She is His alone. He bought her. He cleansed her. He called her. The Word on which she is founded is His Word. And that is the Word spoken of in the Great Commission Therefore go and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. An Example of Mission-Mindedness A recent survey of some Lutheran congregations noted that those congregations which had large numbers of families with children tended to be the same congregations which saw more visitors and adult converts. Why? I think perhaps it s this. Parents often spend a great deal of time teaching their children the faith reading from Luther s Small Catechism, singing hymns, working on Bible memory verses, Christmas Eve parts etc. This review of true doctrine is as beneficial for the parents as it is for their little ones. The more time spent in that Word, the more prepared we will be to share it. On top of this, parents often have opportunities to share the Gospel. They come into contact with so many people when they bring their children to daycare or sports or classes of one kind or another. What an opportunity is before you young parents! But don t let the parents have all the fun alone! Christians one and all dust off those catechisms and Bibles. Teach them to your family, insist on true doctrine at home and then get out into the world to share what you know! 7 Habits of a Mission-Minded Congregation Love for the Lost Imitating the Great Commission Reliance Upon the Word Desire to Achieve Unity Encouraging one another Strengthening the Individual Thinking of Ideas (Being Creative) Committee on Domestic Fields The Committee of Domestic Fields is a subcommittee of the CLC Mission Board. The purpose of the Committee on Domestic Fields (CDF) is to make outreach ideas and material available to CLC congregations and to encourage them in carrying out the Great Commission of our Savior, Jesus Christ. 11

12 Tuesday, May 15 3:00-5:00pm - Pastor s Office Hours 6:30pm - Women's Study Guild Wednesday, May 16 12:45pm - Worship Service: Charter # 181 or Consolidated Communications # 7 5:30pm - Confirmation Class Thursday, May 17 5:45pm - Worship Service: Charter # 181 or Consolidated Communications # 7 6:00pm - Choir Practice Friday, May 18 6:30am - Men's Breakfast (Pancakes) 8:00-10:00am - Pastor's Office Hours 10:15am - Pathstone 11:00am - Autumn Grace This Week at Immanuel Saturday, May 19 6:00pm - Worship Service 7:00pm - Bible Study and Sunday School Sunday, May 20 8:15am - Immanuel Meditations KTOE 1420am or 102.7fm 9:00am - Bible Study and Sunday School 10:00am - Worship Service 11:00am - Ice Cream Social Last Week s Attendance SATURDAY: 34 + SUNDAY: 296 = 330 Saturday Bible Class: 7 Sunday Bible Class: 62 Sunday School: 38 Men's Breakfast: 25 NPSL Bible Study: 10 Last Week s Fruits of Faith IMMANUEL $12,707 $13,496 CLC MISSIONS $1,041 $1,101 Received Needed * Needed figures are updated monthly to reflect remaining yearly need divided by the remaining weeks Endowment - $125 Major Improvement - $130 Mission Development - $195 Immanuel Student Aid -$278 Land Purchase - $60 ILC Student Aid - $10 Local ILC Student Aid - $60 Food Shelf - $20 New Equipment Fund - $25 Benevolent - $25 Tuition Aid - $100 Mission Helper (Mankato) - $100