THE ASCENSION OF OUR LORD IMMANUEL EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH 421 North Second Street Mankato, Minnesota 56001 (507) 345-3027 www.immanuelmankato.org May 29, 2014 Volume 77, No. 32 WELCOME TO ALL VISITORS! Please sign the guest register in the narthex. PRE-SERVICE MEDITATION: Psalm 110 (p. 541, pew Bible; p. 146, red hymnal) PRE-SERVICE PRAYER: O Lord, who has ascended on high to exercise all authority and power as the Head of Your Church, I pray that You would be with and bless me this evening as I enter Your house for worship. Lead me to sincere repentance, uplift me with Your mercy, and fill me with both hope and joy. It is in Your saving name, Jesus, that I pray. Amen.
ORDER OF WORSHIP OPENING HYMN: 212 (1,3-4,6-7) A Hymn of Glory Let Us Sing St. 1: Congregation; Grade School joins final Alleluias St. 3: Grade School; Congregation joins final Alleluias St. 4: Grade School; Congregation joins final Alleluias St. 6: Grade School Only St. 7: Everyone; Grade School exits during Alleluias WELCOME AND INVOCATION Pastor: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Congregation (sings): Amen. CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION: P: God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. C: If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. P: If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. C: If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. P: Let us pray. C: Almighty God, merciful Father, we are sinful by nature, and have sinned against You in our thoughts, words, and actions. But we are sorry for our transgressions and pray You, of Your bountiful mercy, to be gracious and merciful unto us. Forgive us for Jesus sake, renew us by Your Spirit, and lead us in the way everlasting. Amen. P: Jesus Christ is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. We are forgiven. With boldness and confidence we may approach the throne to find grace to help in time of need. In the peace of forgiveness, let us praise the Lord. 2
SCRIPTURE LESSON: Acts 1:1-11 (p. 965, pew Bible) Luke introduces his second book written for Theophilus and then records the account of Jesus ascension into heaven. We need not fear that He is gone. He is with us and will return! IMMANUEL LUTHERAN GRADE SCHOOL CHOIR CONCERT: Oh, He s King of Kings African-American spiritual Refrain: Oh, He s King of kings! Oh, He s Lord of lords! Jesus Christ, the first and last, no man works like Him. I know that my Redeemer lives, no man works like Him, And by His love sweet blessings gives, no man works like Him. Victorious at God s right hand, no man works like Him, He calls His saints from ev ry land, no man works like Him. Repent, O sinner, and believe, no man works like Him; Grace of the Lord you will receive, no man works like Him. Jesus, Lead Me Day by Day Jesus, lead me day by day Ever in Your own sweet way; Teach me to be pure and true; Show me what I ought to do. George C. Strattner When I m tempted to do wrong, Make me steadfast, wise and strong; And when all alone I stand, Shield me with Your mighty hand. When the day is fresh and new, Help me to remember You, Happy most of all to know That my Jesus loves me so. Come, Christians, Join to Sing Come, Christians, join to sing Loud praise to Christ our King; Let all, with heart and voice, Before His throne rejoice; Praise is His gracious choice. 3
Come, lift your hearts on high, Let praises fill the sky; He is our Guide and Friend; To us He ll condescend; His love shall never end. Congregation joins in singing: Praise yet our Christ again, Life shall not end the strain; On heaven s blissful shore, His goodness we ll adore, Singing forevermore, ASCENSION CONFESSION: Luther s Explanation to the 2 nd Article I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the virgin Mary, is my Lord. He has redeemed me, a lost and condemned person, purchased and won me from all sin, from death, and from the power of the devil, Not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and His innocent suffering and death. He did this that I should be His very own, live under Him in His kingdom, and serve Him in eternal righteousness, innocence, and joy; just as He is risen from death, lives and reigns in eternity. This is most certainly true. HYMN: In Christ Alone [Musicians: Douglas Libby, John Paulson, Russell Schmitt] Keith Getty, Stuart Townend In Christ alone my hope is found, He is my light, my strength, my song. This Cornerstone, this solid ground, firm through the fiercest drought and storm. What heights of love, what depths of peace, when fears are stilled, when strivings cease! My Comforter, my All in All, here in the love of Christ I stand. 4
In Christ alone! who took on flesh fullness of God in helpless Babe! This gift of love and righteousness scorned by the ones He came to save. Til on that cross as Jesus died the wrath of God was satisfied-- for ev ry sin on Him was laid. Here in the death of Christ I live. There in the ground His body lay, Light of the world by darkness slain. Then bursting forth in glorious day, up from the grave He rose again! And as He stands in victory, Sin's curse has lost its grip on me. For I am His and He is mine, bought with the precious blood of Christ. No guilt in life, no fear in death, this is the pow r of Christ in me. From life's first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny. No pow r of hell, no scheme of man can ever pluck me from His hand. Til He returns or calls me home, here in the pow r of Christ I'll stand. 2002 Thankyou Music (PRS) (adm. worldwide at CapitolCMGPublishing.com excluding Europe which is adm. by Integritymusic.com). All rights reserved. Used by permission. License #555190 ASCENSION MEDITATION John 17:24-26 (p. 958, pew Bible) OUR ASCENDED SAVIOR S DESIRE IS THAT WE BE WITH HIM AND BEHOLD HIS GLORY! Until then I. Let us listen to the Father! II. Let us love as the Father! 5
OFFERTORY: Draw us to Thee, for then shall we Walk in Thy steps forever. And hasten on where Thou art gone To be with Thee, dear Savior. Draw us to Thee; oh, grant that we May walk the road to Heaven! Direct our way lest we should stray And from Thy paths be driven. Amen. [TLH 215:1,3] OFFERING OF THANKFUL HEARTS LUTHER S EVENING PRAYER: I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have graciously kept me today, and I pray that You would forgive me all my sins, wherever I have done wrong, and graciously protect me tonight. Into Your hands I entrust my body and soul and everything else. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the devil may have no power over me. Amen. LORD S PRAYER Congregation sings: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. APOSTOLIC BENEDICTION Pastor: May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Congregation (sings): Amen. CLOSING HYMN: 738 (tan Supplement) Alleluia! Sing to Jesus Serving Us this Evening Pastor: Paul D. Nolting; Deacon: David Lueck Screen: Clifford Kuehne; Organist: Lane Fischer Sound: Doug Schaller; Head Usher: Joseph Friedrichs; Asst. Usher: Adam Owings All service elements are in public domain unless indicated. 6