Immanuel Lutheran Church Ridgewood

08/20/2026

This week's Gospel lesson is from the sixteenth chapter of Mathew where Jesus tells us that HE is the rock on which the church is built. "Our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness."

08/09/2026

Sunday's Psalm is Psalm 67. If it sounds a little familiar that's because it references the Aaronic Benediction. Take a listen.

07/30/2026

Why come to church? To serve God and praise Him, of course! Right? Or maybe there is more to it. A good read below, take the two minutes and read it for a good perspective.

See you at the lake this Sunday.

For years, I misunderstood what worship was all about.

I assumed that the primary reason Christians gather on Sunday morning was to serve God. We come to praise him, thank him, sing to him, pray to him, and offer him our worship. In other words, I thought the service was chiefly about what we give to God.

Then Scripture turned that idea upside down.

The primary reason we gather is not to serve God, but so that God may serve us.

In today's reading in Bible in One Year, in Psalm 50, God asks, "If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are mine. Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats?" (Ps. 50:12-13). God lacks nothing. He is not “hungry” for our offerings or praise. Everything already belongs to him.

We, however, lack everything. We need forgiveness. We need life, mercy, salvation.

And those are exactly the gifts the Father delights to give us in his Son.

Jesus himself said, "The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45). That is the pattern of Christian worship. The risen Christ gathers his people so that he may continue serving them through his gifts. He speaks his forgiveness. He proclaims his Word. He washes through Baptism. He feeds us with his body and blood in the Lord's Supper. Through these means of grace, Christ gives us himself and all the blessings he won for us by his death and resurrection.

Only then do we respond. Our hymns, prayers, offerings, and thanksgiving are not payments rendered to God. They are grateful responses to the One who has first served us.

So the next time you gather for worship, remember why you are there. You are there because your heavenly Father delights to give. You are there because the Son of God still comes to serve his people. And you are there because the Holy Spirit continues to deliver all the gifts of Christ to needy sinners.

God gives. We receive. Then, with thankful hearts, we praise the Giver of every good and perfect gift.

07/22/2026

This Sunday's Epistle lesson is taken from the 8th chapter of the book Romans. This verse is translated a little differently in the NIV and the ESV. Either way the translations both agree that we have been called according to his purpose.

06/26/2026

Hope to see you there!

06/25/2026

Don't forget church this week is with our friends over at Concordia at 10am.

05/24/2026

God's blessings to our confirmands Malik, Mikah, Luke and Clara. 🕊️

05/19/2026

Reminder that church will be at 10am this Sunday. Come and join us in celebrating our confirmands. Dessert reception will follow.