Immanuel Lutheran Church - South Lyon, MI
Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church
330 E. Liberty Street + South Lyon, Michigan 48178
Reverend Matthew C. Minzlaff, Pastor
office # (248) 437 -1651 / cell # (608) 343-9555
WELCOME
TO OUR GUESTS We welcome you in the Name of our Lord, Jesus Christ. We are pleased that you have gathered with us to receive God's Service in preached Word and Administered Sacraments. Please sign our guest book and visit with us following the Service. We look forward to getting to know you and to having the opportunity to worship with you again in the near future.
Holy Communion!
Jesus gave his Supper to his Church as a precious gift, and we do not take it lightly! According to scripture, every communicant receives the true body and blood of Jesus Christ-together with he bread and wine (1 Cor. 10:16). In the Sacrament, repentant communicants receive forgiveness of all sin (Mt26:26-28) Impenitent communicants become guilty of the body and blood of Christ (1 Cor. 11:27-28). By communing together we publicly confess our common faith in ALL teachings of the Bible (1 Cor 10:17-18). If you are not a member of this congregation, or a sister WELS or ELS congregation, we ask you to speak privately with our pastor before communing. He will be glad to explain our Biblical communion practice, and how you may prepare to join us in the sacrament (1Cor 11:28-29). Thank you for your cooperation in this very important matter!
The Divine Service is about God coming to us to bless us with forgiveness, deliver us from death and the devil, and to grant us eternal salvation. We have entered this building to meet God. God is not found in Jerusalem or on the tree of the cross, or in heaven, but at His altar in His Word and Sacrament. He comes in His flesh and blood, living, for you! He comes to build you in New Life.
Therefore, right here and right now heaven comes down to earth with all of its benefits. God is really present to commune with you. Here is where the earthly church gathers with the heavenly church to give thanks to Jesus and receive His benefits. We are not worthy of this great honor, yet our God gathers us into His embrace once again; God is merciful to us solely for the sake of Jesus.
At the points marked with a cross (+) is laudable to make the sign of the cross to remember our Baptism into Christ Jesus. We are His children, lambs, and dearly beloved Bride.
At this sign (*) it is laudable to bow, recognizing the Lord's coming for us. As we bow, we recognize our unworthiness to be in God's presence, But our King is gracious!
GOD'S SERVICE
Lent 4 – Laetare – March 19th , 2023
[Bread of Life]
Word and Sacrament :: p26 Christian Worship / Modified
Explanation of the Week: The Lord provided bread from heaven for His people in the wilderness (Ex 16:2-21) Now He who is Himself the Living Bread from heaven miraculously provides bread for the 5000. (Jn 6:1-15) this takes place near the time of the Passover, after a great multitude followed Jesus Across the Sea, when He went up on a mountain. Thus we see that Jesus is our new and greater Moses, who releases us from the bondage of Mt. Sinai and makes us free children of the promise. (Gal 4:21-31) Five loaves becomes twelve baskets, that is, the five books of Moses find their goal and fulfillment in Christ, whose people continue steadfastly in the doctrine and fellowship of the twelve apostles, and in the breaking and receiving of the Bread of Life, which is the body of Christ together with His precious blood, and in the prayers. (Acts 2:41-47) So it is that God's people “shall neither hunger nor thirst.” (Is 49:8-13) For He abundantly provides for them in both body and soul.
Silent Prayer
Ask God to graciously open your heart to joyfully receive Jesus and all His benefits in Word and Supper. Pray that His gracious presence may dwell in you an, plead Your own cause; do not forget the voice of Your enemies. O God, why have You cast us off forever so forgive you, comfort you, and deliver you from all harm and danger to soul and body.
THE PREPARATION
VERSES of the INTROIT and GRADUAL :: (Spoken by Pastor)
Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all you who love her; that you may feed and be satisfied with the consolation of her bosom. I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go into the house of the Lord.” Amen
OPENING HYMN
Here, O My Lord, I See You Face to Face” – Hymn 315 CW
(Please stand during the final verse)
P: The grace of our Lord (+) Jesus Christ, the Love of God the Father and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
C: And also with you.
HOLY ABSOLUTION
P: Our (+) help is in the name of the Lord.
C: Who made heaven and earth.
P: God invites us to come into His presence to worship Him with humble and penitent hearts. Therefore let us acknowledge our sinfulness and ask him to forgive us.
during a period of silence, call to mind your sinfulness
and those sins you have committed against the ten commandments.
(you may kneel if you so choose.)
ALL: Holy and merciful Father, I confess that I am by nature sinful and that I have disobeyed you in my thoughts, words, and actions. I have done what is evil and failed to do what is good. For this I deserve your punishment both now and in eternity. But I am truly sorry for my sins, and trusting in my Savior Jesus Christ, I pray: Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.
P: God our heavenly Father, has been merciful to us and has given his only Son to be the atoning sacrifice for all our sins. Therefore, upon this your confession, I, by virtue of my office as a called and ordained servant of Christ, in His stead and by His command announce the grace of God unto you; I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the (+) Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C: (sing) Amen.
KYRIE
P: For all that we need in life, and for the wisdom to use all Your gifts with gratitude and joy, hear our prayer, O Lord.
C: (sing) Lord, have mercy.
P: For the steadfast assurance that nothing can separate us from Your love, and for the courage to stand firm against the assaults of Satan and every evil, hear our prayer, O Christ.
C: (sing) Christ, have mercy.
P: For the well-being of Your Holy Church in all the world, and for those who offer here their worship and praise, hear our prayer, O Lord.
C: (sing) Lord, have mercy.
P: Merciful God, maker and preserver of life, uphold us by Your power, and keep us in Your tender care.
C: (sing) Amen.
PRAYER AND PRAISE
No Glorias or Alleluias will be sung during Pre-Lent or Lent.
They will joyfully return at the Resurrection of our Lord.
P: The Lord be with you.
C: And with your Spirit.
P: Bless we the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
P: Let us pray. … Almighty God, our heavenly Father, Your mercies are new every morning; and though we deserve only punishment, You receive us as Your children and provide all our needs of Soul and body. Grant that we may heartily acknowledge Your merciful goodness, give thanks for all Your benefits, and serve You in willing obedience; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C: (sing) Amen.
(Please be seated)
GOD'S SERVICE OF THE WORD
VERSES of the INTROIT and GRADUAL :: (Spoken by Pastor)
Christ humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death;
even the death of the cross!
THE FIRST READING – Isaiah 49:8-13
Thus says the Lord: “In an acceptable time I have heard You, And in the day of salvation I have helped You; I will preserve You and give You as a covenant to the people, to restore the earth, to cause them to inherit the desolate heritages; that You may say to the prisoners, 'Go forth,” to those who are in darkness, 'Show yourselves.'
“They shall feed along the roads, and their pastures shall be on all desolate heights. They shall neither hunger nor thirst, neither heat nor sun shall strike them; For He who has mercy on them will lead them. I will make each of My mountains a road, and My highways shall be elevated. Surely these shall come from afar; Look! Those from the north and the west, and these from the land of Sinim.”
Sing, O heavens! Be joyful, O earth! And break out in singing, O mountains! For the Lord has comforted His people, and will have mercy on His afflicted.
P: The Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
PSALM OF THE DAY
CW Psalm 145 – Page 119
VERSES of the INTROIT and GRADUAL:: (Spoken by Pastor)
I was glad when they said to me,
“Let us go into the house of the Lord.”
THE SECOND READING – Galatians 4:21-31
Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar – for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children – but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all. For it is written: “Rejoice, O barren, You who do not bear! Break forth and shout, you who are not in labor! For the desolate has many more children than she who has a husband.”
Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise. But as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.” So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.
P: The Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
HISTORIC VERSE
P: Peace be within Your walls, O LORD, and prosperity within Your palaces.
C: They that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Zion:which cannot be removed, but abides forever.
P: As mountains are round about Jerusalem: so the Lord is round about His people from henceforth even forever.
C: I was glad when they said to me: Let us go into the house of the Lord.
No Glorias or Alleluias will be sung during Pre-Lent or Lent.
They will joyfully return at the Resurrection of our Lord.
(Please stand)
The Gospel is read from the center of the congregation to symbolize that Jesus lived among us as He accomplished our salvation as our Savior; He died for us. He rose as He said. He lives! He ascended into heaven. And now, until He returns to take us to our heavenly home, He comes to us today and sustains us through His Spirit's means of grace alone.
P: The Lord be with you.
C: And with Your Spirit.
P: Bless we the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
P: The continuation of the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (*)according to … St. John 6:1-15
C: (sing) Glory be to you, O Lord!
THE GOSPEL READING – John 6:1-15
After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased. And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples.
Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near. Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what he would do.
Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little.”
One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to Him, “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?”
Then Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted. So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.” Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, “This is truly the prophet who is to come into the world.”
Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.
P: The Gospel of the Lord.
C: (sing) Praise be to you, O Christ
(Please be seated)
Hymn of The Day
“Jesus, Priceless Treasure” – Hymn 349 CW
THE PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL
(please stand)
THE NICENE CREED
ALL: I believe in one God, (*) the Father, the Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen
I believe in one Lord (*) Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of His Father, God from God, Light from Light, True God from True God, Begotten, not made, Being of one substance with the Father, Through Him all things were made; For us men and for our salvation He came down from heaven, (*) was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary, And was made man. For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried. On the third day He rose again in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven, and is seated on the right hand of the Father; He will come again with glory to judge the living and the dead; And His Kingdom will have no end.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who in unity with the Father and the Son is (*) worshiped and glorified, Who has spoken through the Prophets.
I believe one Holy Christian and Apostolic Church. I acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins, I look for the resurrection of the dead, And the life (+) of the world to come. Amen.
OFFERING
(please stand)
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
P: Lord God, heavenly Father, who through Your Son in the wilderness did abundantly feed thousands with little, we beseech You, visit us also with Your eternal blessings, and preserve us from covetousness and cares of the body, the we may seek first Your Kingdom and Righteousness and that we may receive your fatherly goodness in all things needful for Soul and body; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end.
C: Amen.
GOD'S SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION
P: The Lord be with you
C: (sing) and also with you
P: Lift up your hearts
C: (sing) We lift them up to the Lord.
P: Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God.
C: (sing) It is right to give Him thanks and praise.
P: Praise to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In love He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing. … [seasonal sentence] … Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ. To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and thanks and honor and glory for ever and ever.
(you may kneel if you so choose.)
SANCTUS
C: (sing) Holy, (*) holy, holy Lord God of heavenly hosts: heav'n and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he, (+) blessed is he, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest.
THE WORDS OF INSTITUTION
P: Behold, + the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.
LORD'S PRAYER
P: As our Savior has commanded and taught us, we are bold to pray:
ALL: 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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; 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.
P: The peace (+) of the Lord be with you always.
C: (sing) Amen.
AGNUS DEI
C: (sing) O Christ, Lamb of God you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us; O Christ, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us. O Christ, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; grant us your peace. Amen.
(Please be seated)
DISTRIBUTION OF CHRIST'S BODY AND BLOOD
(Reception in the Lord's Supper indicates unity in confession and faith. If you have not communed previously with us, please refrain from this holy communion until you have spoken to pastor. We respectfully ask that only those who are members in good standing of Immanuel or our sister WELS & ELS congregations approach the table of our Lord.)
(you may kneel at the supper if you so choose.)
DISTRIBUTION HYMNS
“Dear Christians, One and All, Rejoice” – Hymn 377 CW
&
“” – Hymn CW
Prayer before approaching the Altar:
O Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, who by the will of the Father with the Holy Spirit has given life to the world through Your death; by this, Your most holy Body and blood, deliver me from all my sins and from every evil, and enable me ever to abide in Your commandments, and allow me never to be separated from You; who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Prayer after returning from the Altar:
Let Your Body which I have received and Your Blood which I have drunk, O Lord, cleave to my members; and grant that no sin remain in me, whom you have refreshed with a pure and holy sacrament; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit now and forever. Come quickly Lord Jesus. Amen.
(Please stand)
THANKSGIVING
In place of “Thank the Lord” the Congregation sings
CW Hymn 317 v1 – “O Lord, We Praise You”
P: : Hear the prayer of Your people, O Lord, that the lips which have praised you here may glorify You in the world, that the eyes which have seen the coming of Your son may long for His coming again, and that all who have received in His Body and Blood, Your forgiveness, may be restored to live a new and holy life, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C: (sing) Amen.
BENEDICTION
P: The Lord be with you.
C: And with your spirit.
P: The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look on you with favor and give you (+) peace.
C: (sing) Amen. Amen. Amen.
CLOSING HYMN
“I Trust, O Christ, In You Alone” – Hymn 437 CW
Silent Prayer
Give thanks to God and bless His Name for, having given himself to you in His Gospel preaching and Sacrament; our gracious God has forgiven you, comforted you, and delivered You from all harm and danger. Pray that you remain in Christ just as He is in you.
+++ +++ +++
Likewise, if faith, as our hand, is to receive anything from God, we must not seek it outside the Word and without the Word, out of the air as it were, but receive [it] from the hand of God, which He opens in the Word and Sacraments alone, offering us the fullness of His grace. For God has determined to deal with us at this point through the Word of the Gospel and the Sacraments. Rom 10:17 / Titus 3:5
Enchridion / Lord's Supper; paragraph 155 : Martin Chemnitz
"The Holy Christian Church”[LARGE CATECHISM; 3RD Article]
Everything, therefore, in the Christian Church is ordered toward this goal: we shall daily receive in the Church nothing but the forgiveness of sin through the Word and signs, to comfort and encourage our consciences as long as we live here. So even though we have sins, the ‹grace of the› Holy Spirit does not allow them to harm us. For we are in the Christian Church, where there is nothing but ‹continuous, uninterrupted› forgiveness of sin. This is because God forgives us and because we forgive, bear with, and help one another [Galatians 6:1–2].
But outside of this Christian Church, where the Gospel is not found, there is no forgiveness, as also there can be no holiness. Therefore, all who seek and wish to earn holiness not through the Gospel and forgiveness of sin, but by their works, have expelled and severed themselves ‹from this Church› [Galatians 5:4].
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If you would like Private Absolution &Communion …
please contact Pastor : (608)343-9555
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Bible Class – Sunday @ 9:00am
Confirmation – Monday @ 3:45pm
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Lenten Vespers – Wednesdays @ 7:00pm
Lenten Suppers – Wednesdays @ 6:00pm - All are invited
March Birthdays
Jama Anderson 7th Nora Anderson 8th Mike Nielson 8th
Dennis Utkan 10th David Gallagher 14th Sandra Keast 15th
Jane Foytek 17th Kyle Anderson 18th Ethan Rose 20th
Mike Koroly 30th
March Organists
Lois: 1st Vespers, 12th, 15th vespers
Melissa: 5th, 8th vespers, 19th, 22nd vespers, 26th, 29th vespers
Last Week's Attendance & Giving: 38 ( 36 Commune)
Lenten Vespers 31
Weekly Budgetary Needs
Weekly Need Weekly Offering Difference Year to Date Need YTD actual YTD difference
$2,667 $1,696 -$971 $29,337 $25,592 $(3,745)
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Lenten Vespers
Vespers 2 March 8 @ 7:00pm
Vespers 3 March 15 @ 7:00pm
Vespers 4 March 22 @ 7:00pm
Vespers 5 March 29 @ 7:00pm
Holy Week -&- Triduum Services
Palm Sunday April 2 @ 10:00am
Maundy Thursday April 6 @ 7:00pm
Good Friday April 7 @ 7:00pm
Easter Vigil April 9 @ 7:30am
Easter Breakfast @ 8:45/9:00am
Easter Festival April 9 @ 10:00am
Lent 4 – Laetare – John 6:1-15
In today’s Gospel, Christ gives us another lesson in faith, that we should not be overanxious about our daily bread and our temporal existence, and stirs us up by means of a miracle; as though to say by His act what He says by His words in Matthew 6:33 – “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” For here we see, since the people followed Christ for the sake of God’s Word and the signs, and thus sought the Kingdom of God, He did not forsake them, but richly fed them. He hereby also shows that, rather than those who seek the Kingdom of God should suffer need, the grass in the desert would become wheat, or a crumb of bread would be turned into a thousand loaves; or a morsel of bread would feed as many people, and just as satisfactorily, as a thousand loaves; in order that the words in Matthew 4:4 might stand firm, that “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” And to confirm these words, Christ is the first to be concerned about the people, as to what they should eat, and asks Philip, before they complain or ask Him; so that we may indeed let Him care for us, remembering that He cares more and sooner for us than we do for ourselves.
Luther’s Church Postils