PENTECOST 8                      July 2, 6, 2008

Immanuel Ev. Lutheran Church

Wisconsin Synod

Pastor Stephen Smith...682-1878   Sunday Service...9:30 a.m.

Church Telephone...682-4573   Wednesday Service...7:00 p.m.

Organists…......................Mrs. A Smith or Miss Crystal Smith

WELCOME, VISITORS: We are glad you could be with us and we welcome you back any time. Please sign our guest register in the narthex/entry.

PRAYER: Almighty God, we thank You for planting is us the seed of Your Word. By Your Holy Spirit help us to receive it with joy and to bring forth fruits in faith and hope and love. Amen.

HYMNS: 195, 620, 309, 260/258, 619

ORDER OF SERVICE: The Common Service, page 15ff, (p 38ff)

THE WORD

FIRST LESSON: Isaiah 55:10-11

Just as the snow water the earth so that it brings forth bread for today and seed for another season, so God’s Word always brings the results He desires. Some results may not be seen immediately. The Word may meet with opposition or it may bring about conversion.

PSALM OF THE DAY: Psalm 65 on page 89

God has shown His goodness to all by producing bountiful harvests.

SECOND LESSON: Romans 8:18-25

The glories we will enjoy in heaven are so vast that, by comparison, all our earthly sufferings are insignificant. So great is the anticipation of the Last Day that all creation expects to participate in the glorious freedom of the children of God.

GOSPEL: Matthew 13:1-9,18-23

God plants His Word in our heart. His Word alone can produce saving faith and bring forth fruits of faith. God’s Word cannot fail.

THE SERMON: Esther 4:9-17

THEME: The Woman Whose Beauty Saved a Race

Note: We are celebrating Holy Communion today. The Sacrament gives public confession of our unity in the Christian faith as we joyfully receive Christ’s body and blood in and with the bread and wine. Since we follow the Scriptural practice of “close communion,” we ask visitors to see pastor before coming to communion.

ATTENDANCE AT THE LORD’S HOUSE 68

THE SCHEDULE

Wednesday 7:00 PM WORSHIP SERVICE

Thursday 10:00 AM Service at Sunrise

OUR FATHER’S BUSINESS

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL will be August 10-14^th this summer. Plan for your children to be available. Invite unchurched children in your neighborhood to our VBS!

WELS INTERNATIONAL YOUTH RALLY will be held in Ames Iowa in July 2009.

UPCOMING VOTERS’ MEETING items include some maintenance projects including new shingles for parsonage (old ones have been on for 23 years) and for main part of church (replaced 15 years ago). We will also deciding on the final go-ahead for a “Jesus Cares” program.

MATCHING FUNDS Gifts to the Building/Improvement fund for debt retirement will be matched up to a total of $15000 from the Pautzke Fund. This is for 2008.

WELS SENIORS WELS people 55 and older are invited to attend the OWLS National Convention on July 15-17 at the St. Cloud Holiday Inn. Activities include everything from Bible study to workshops to tours to entertainment. Please call 507-354-2735 or email OWLS@newulmtel.net.

“YEAR OF JUBILEE” is a special offering that will be going on beginning this year throughout our synod. It is meant to retire debt and free up more money every year for mission outreach.