Immanuel Lutheran Church

03/24/2024

Prayer of the Church
Sunday of the Passion
24 March 2024

In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For the Church of Christ, that her faith would remain fixed upon His death for our salvation, and that His Gospel would be proclaimed and lived out until He comes again in glory, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For the world, that the Lord would uphold it in His order; for the Church, that she would be defended from all enemies; for our homes, that God would bless parents and children in service toward each other and faith until life’s end; and for the government, that God would grant all authorities health and wisdom, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For a mind like Christ Jesus to spurn all worldly equality, that we would humble ourselves here and find His greater portion in the life of the world to come, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For all who suffer in this world, that they would not fear but fix their eyes on Jesus as they await the fullness of their salvation, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For worthy reception of Christ’s body and blood, that as He once entered Jerusalem to cries of “hosanna,” so we may receive Him according to His promises for the forgiveness of our sins and in the unity of a true confession, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! We praise You, Father, that You have sent Your Son not in wrath but in mercy. As we enter this most holy week and ponder together the mysteries of Your great salvation, show us the answer to Your people’s prayers of “hosanna” in the Passion of our Lord, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

03/23/2024

✝️ Read today's devotion --> Living in Faith — Faith is … Believing that There Will Be Another Day.

In the Word
"… we are more than conquerors through him who loved us" (Romans 8:37b).

Of the Word
A German minister was accused of high treason by the N***s and sentenced to death. The godless hangman flaunted his pistol and sneered, “Five minutes yet. Then it’s over. Where is your loving and almighty God now?” With trembling voice but steady heart, the minister replied, “Oh, yes, that you have the power today, each child can see. Maybe you will have it tomorrow, too. But don’t forget, there will be still a third day. And that belongs to God.” With those words, he died.

That is faith — always believing there will be another day. The Friday of Christ’s death looked dark, but the third day belonged to God. Faith always believes in another day, a day when we shall see clearly and all questions will be answered. Poet Matilda Cloer wrote: "Why should I fear tomorrow? God’s given me today! I will not troubles borrow; ‘Tis He who plans my way. To fret will cause me sorrow, And tears I need not shed, For God holds each tomorrow; I’ll just trust Him instead!"

Walking with my Lord
O Lord, give me faith to see beyond today’s troubles to tomorrow’s blessings. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

___________________________
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations were taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved worldwide.

12/09/2023

12/09/2023

As we gather to worship and prepare our hearts for the coming of our Savior, please join us for Christmas Advent Services Wednesday evenings December 6, 13 & 20th and for Sunday Divine worship with communion at 10:30 am at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Terril, Iowa. We will have our Christmas Eve Service on Sunday, December 24 at 4:00 pm only, with no services in Terril that morning at 10:30 am or on Christmas Day

“And while they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her first born, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” Luke 2:6-7

07/02/2023

+Service of the Word+
Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
July 2, 2023

Old Testament Reading Jeremiah 28:5–9
5Then the prophet Jeremiah spoke to Hananiah the prophet in the presence of the priests and all the people who were standing in the house of the LORD, 6and the prophet Jeremiah said, “Amen! May the LORD do so; may the LORD make the words that you have prophesied come true, and bring back to this place from Babylon the vessels of the house of the LORD, and all the exiles. 7Yet hear now this word that I speak in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people. 8The prophets who preceded you and me from ancient times prophesied war, famine, and pestilence against many countries and great kingdoms. 9As for the prophet who prophesies peace, when the word of that prophet comes to pass, then it will be known that the LORD has truly sent the prophet.”

Epistle Romans 7:1–13
1Or do you not know, brothers—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law is binding on a person only as long as he lives? 2Thus a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage. 3Accordingly, she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another man while her husband is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she marries another man she is not an adulteress.
4Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God. 5For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. 6But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve not under the old written code but in the new life of the Spirit.
7What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” 8But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. Apart from the law, sin lies dead. 9I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died. 10The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me. 11For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. 12So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.
13Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure.

Holy Gospel Matthew 10:34–42
34[Jesus said:] “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. 37Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
40“Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. 41The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. 42And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”

Alleluia and Verse Matthew 10:39
Alleluia. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. Alleluia.

Collect of the Day
Almighty God, by the working of Your Holy Spirit, grant that we may gladly hear Your Word proclaimed among us and follow its directing; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

03/28/2023

Livestream of Sunday morning church service for March 26th, 2023 from Immanuel Lutheran Church in Estherville, Iowa.

03/12/2023

Livestream of Sunday morning church service for March 12, 2023 from Immanuel Lutheran Church in Estherville, Iowa.

02/20/2023

Livestream of Sunday morning church service for February 19, 2023 from Immanuel Lutheran Church in Estherville, Iowa.

02/19/2023

Prayer of the Church
The Transfiguration of Our Lord
19 February 2023

In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For the baptized, that we would heed our heavenly Father’s admonition to listen to His Son as He speaks to us through His Holy Word and Sacraments; and that we would by faith behold Him in His glory as He continues to tabernacle among us, delivering forgiveness, life and salvation, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For this congregation, especially our catechumens, that as we behold the glory of God in the face of Christ, we would be transformed into His image; and that we would be given boldness of spirit to share His glory abroad, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For all pastors and church workers, that God would grant them wisdom to open the Scriptures in such a way that everyone would hear the voice of Jesus, to whom Moses and Elijah bore witness, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For families, that parents would teach the faith to their children and that the forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in all households; and for all expectant mothers, that they and their babies would be kept safe and healthy throughout their pregnancies, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For all those who have been placed in authority, that they would serve with integrity and honor for the good of all; and for our country, that division, conflict and strife would give way to unity, peace and quietness, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For the afflicted, that they would know God’s presence, taste His peace that passes understanding and receive healing according to His gracious will, ever trusting in the hope of the resurrection, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

Lord God, Your power is beyond compare and Your glory beyond understanding. Open our hearts to know You through the glory of Your Son, whose saving will and purpose has rescued us from sin and death and made us Your own people by Baptism and faith; for to You, blessed and eternal Father, belong all honor and glory, worship and praise, with Your beloved Son and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

02/14/2023

Daily Prayer for Tuesday, February 14

How beautiful is your love, my sister, my bride! How much better is your love than wine, and the fragrance of your oils than any spice!
Song of Solomon 14:10

Dear Heavenly Father:
Romance is in the air every February 14th, but You endowed it as an everyday gift from Creation forward. Bless not only those that we love, but how we love them; with a true heart, a forgiving spirit, and a thankfulness to You for them in our lives. Bless husbands and wives with a passion for each other and a dedication to You. Guide our relationships with potential spouses into Godliness. Show us the way to love each other and sustain us in Your affection. Amen!