Immanuel Lutheran Church

02/03/2026

This past Sunday, Immanuel’s choir offered Bach’s Cantata 144 - “Nimm, was dein ist, und gehe hin” - in Divine Service for Septuagesima Sunday.

Immanuel Evangelical-Lutheran Church, Alexandria, VACantata for Septuagesima SundayFebruary 1, 2026Stephanie Mekonen, Kantor/sopranoSherry Graveson, organEmi...

01/24/2026

Yesterday, hundreds of LCMS Lutherans of all ages gathered for Divine Service at Immanuel before going to the National Mall in Washington D.C. to join the March for Life.

Roe v. Wade may be overturned but the fight to defend life in America is even more precarious now than it was pre-Dobbs.

While the Dobbs decision in 2022 eliminated the federal right to abortion, many states across the U.S. have made the murder of the unborn even easier.

After Dobbs, the total number of abortions nationally has INCREASED year-over-year, in large part thanks to the increase of the availability and usage of mail-order abortion pills like Mifepristone and Misoprostol.

Satan is well and alive in America — he is not easily deterred.

But God is greater. It is the little children to whom His Kingdom belongs. That’s why we march.

By marching, we confess that Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was in fact man, “filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.”

By entering into the womb, Jesus Christ Himself sanctifies the womb and reconciles unto Himself all the little children whose name is known but to God.

01/01/2026

Gracious God,
as we enter this new year,
we trust not in ourselves but in Your mercy.
Forgive us for Christ’s sake,
strengthen us by Your Word and Sacraments,
and keep us faithful unto eternal life;
through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Amen.

12/29/2025

Today, the Church observes the Feast of the Holy Innocents, when Herod ordered the slaughter of all the firstborn baby boys in Bethlehem to try and extinguish the Light that had come into the world in the Christ child.

The little Lord Jesus's doom was but delayed -- He too would die upon a cross, yet Whose blood would redeem the world.

Let us remain vigilant against the principalities of darkness, powers and rulers of the darkness of this age, who, like Herod, love the darkness more than light and continue to seek the blood of innocent children.

Let us also be ever grateful that the blood of Christ is sufficient for the salvation of all, especially the smallest among us.

For it is them to whom the Kingdom of Heaven belongs.

"Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them." (Mark 10:13-16)

12/26/2025

For the world, Christmas is over.

The world is busying itself already with taking down lights, throwing out trees, logging online to get deep discounts, and phasing out Christmas music on the airwaves.

The world’s reason for the season will vanish as swiftly as it came.

For Christians, however, Christmas is only just begun.

For Christians, the liturgical season of Christmas lasts another 11 days, and the spirit of Christmas endures until the Last Day.

What is the true spirit of Christmas? It is a confession.

A confession of great joy proclaimed to all creation that knows the beginning and the end of all things: that the dwelling place of God is with men, that they will be His people, and He will be their God.

That Jesus Christ is God in the flesh, who for us men and our salvation came down from heaven; who will redeem His people, wipe away their every tear, and restore them to eternal life.

In this Christmas confession we join the heavenly host, praising God and saying:

“Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

We join also the multitude of saints who rejoice with us but upon another shore, and in another shade of glory no man can number, whose hope was in the Word made flesh, and with whom, in the Lord Jesus, we forever more are one.

12/25/2025

The prelude “Silent Night” on violin and piano, the opening Proclamation of the Coming of Christ, and processional hymn “Of The Father’s Love Begotten.”

12/24/2025

The opening hymn “Once in Royal David’s City” this evening at the 5pm service.

12/23/2025

Join us for Christmas at Immanuel!

-5pm Christmas Eve (tomorrow) Lessons and Carols

This shorter service (about one hour) features well-known Christmas carols, a children’s choir, strings, and readings. Ideal for families with young children.

-11pm Christmas Eve Candlelight Divine Service

Known as the ‘Midnight Mass,’ this service opens by candlelight with an oboe solo to begin the ancient hymn ‘Of the Father’s Love Begotten.’

-10am Christmas Day (Thursday) Divine Service

Much of this liturgy is chanted, and features the traditional Christmas Day Gospel from John 1, “The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.” Music is jubilant, and the church is adorned with gold paraments.

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:14)

12/19/2025

“As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you…” (John 20:21–23)

Yesterday, we had a Divine Service at Immanuel for the instillation of Rev. Douglas Spittel as an associate pastor of our parish serving as the missionary chaplain at St. Luke’s Evangelical-Lutheran Chapel in Chincoteague, Virginia.

We were honored to have pastors there from across the Philadelphia Circuit of the English District of the Missouri Synod.

May Bless Pastor Spittel and His Church Chincoteague!

12/15/2025

Yesterday in the historic Western liturgy, we celebrated Gaudete Sunday, or Advent III.

Gaudete in Latin means "rejoice" or celebrate. Marked by the color Rose, it is an intentional brief pause in the otherwise penitent season.

Why? So that we may not despair over our sins and lose sight of the ultimate joy soon coming in the Incarnation of Jesus at Christmas.

In the Ancient Lectionary, we read Isaiah 40, where the prophet declares "the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken."

We read also from Matthew's Gospel, where the last Old Testament prophet in John the Baptist, now imprisoned, sends two disciples to ask Jesus "Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?"

Jesus's answer reflects one of hope and fulfillment: that John was the last Old Testament prophet in Israel's spiritual wilderness preaching the need for repentance; that the Kingdom of God is now here through Jesus's own works, thus fulfilling prophesies of old; and that the Old Covenant is truly fulfilled in a person in Himself who is come to heal and save sinners.

11/05/2025

In the confessional Lutheran tradition (following the historic Western lectionary), the three Sundays before Advent are often called the “End Times” or “Last Sundays of the Church Year.”

Their purpose is to direct the Church's attention toward the Last Things — the return of Christ, the final judgment, the resurrection of the dead, and the eternal reign of Christ.

This Sunday, we will read about the Israelites committing idolatry by erecting and worshipping beofre the golden calf while Moses was on the mountain receiving from God the Ten Commandments. We will also be reading about Christ's preaching of the 'Abomination of Desolation' recalled in Matthew's Gospel.

In reading and reflecting on these passages while coming forth to the Lord's Table, we are called to repentence, readiness and steadfast faith.