14.4K
Downloads
291
Episodes
Podcasts contain weekly sermons and brief discussions concerning the ongoing activities of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Mankato, MN.
Episodes
Wednesday Apr 09, 2025
Wednesday Apr 09, 2025
- Devotion
- Ecclesiastes 1:12-15
- Announcements
- Sunday School and Bible Class
- Church Cleanup Day
- Midweek Lent Service
- Church Choir
- Men's Breakfast
- Ladies Bible Study
- Cemetery Cleanup Day
- Congregational Meeting
- Anchored in Hope
- Holy Week (April 13-20)
- Voters' Meeting
- Prayer List
- Pastor John Hein
- Pastor Tim Wheaton
- Jim Lien
- Lilia Howley
- Ethan Kranz
- Dave Busse
- Margaret Wheaton
- Nila Strege
- Mr. Heinze and Mr. Mariner
- Attack of CLCI Leaders
- War in Mayanmar
- Hymn: TLH 294 “O Word of God Incarnate”
Friday Apr 04, 2025
Friday Apr 04, 2025
The hymn we study this weekend was written by Timothy Dwight, a Reformed pastor and teacher at the time of the founding of our country. He was the grandson of revivalist, Jonathan Edwards, and a scholar by his own right. He was known by George Washington, and the President of Yale University.
This is the only hymn that we have by Dwight in our hymnal, and sadly, some of the greater verses have been dropped out of other hymnals to make in more palatable to modern sensitivities (notably verses 3 and 6).
It is found in the "Communion of Saints" section of our hymnal and is full of Biblical imagery for the church. The church, or the communion of saints, all believers, is referred to as "her" based on the picture of the church as the Bride of Christ (Ephesians 5). The hymn is a reminder that every Christian is a part of the whole of God's church. We are connected, not only to God, but also to one another. Because of this we join together in prayer and praise and encourage and support one another with our prayers as well as support. It is also through the visible church that the LORD imparts His gifts to His people through the "blest communion" and the Word by which God make rich promises to us of forgiveness and life, and in response we make promises to Him to be faithful to Him and in our use of His gifts. We dare not abuse His altar either by neglect or by aggression against Him or His people.
The hymn points us to Jesus as our Redeemer, as True God, our Savior and the victory He has secured for us over our enemies. So we declare His word of Truth in confidence of His return on the Last Day and our joyful reunion with Him and all His people for eternity!
Isaiah says “The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever” (Isaiah 40:8). As sure as we are that God’s Word of Truth will last, we can also be certain that the church will finally inherit the eternal life Jesus came to win.
Join us this weekend as join together with our fellow believers to rejoice in God's gift of the CHURCH, both the fellowship that we have with Him through His Word and Sacraments, and the fellowship that He had created between believers united in faith and confession. What great blessings are ours!
May the LORD bless your hymns of praise and thanksgiving to the True God this weekend!
Wednesday Apr 02, 2025
Wednesday Apr 02, 2025
- Devotion
- Ecclesiastes 1:9-11
- Announcements
- Sunday School and Bible Class
- Ladies Auxiliary
- Alumni Day
- Invite a Friend to Church
- Midweek Lent Service
- Church Choir
- Men's Breakfast
- Ladies Bible Study
- Church Cleanup Day
- Communion
- Anchored in Hope
- Craft du Jour
- Board of Education Meeting
- Cemetery Cleanup Day
- Holy Week (April 13-20)
- Prayer List
- Pastor John Hein
- Pastor Tim Wheaton
- Jim Lien
- Lilia Howley
- Ethan Kranz
- Nila Strege
- Mrs. Hart and Mr. Wheaton
- Earthquake in Myanmar
- Family of Pastor Palangyos
- Hymn: TLH 430 “What Is the World to Me?”
Friday Mar 28, 2025
Friday Mar 28, 2025
This weekend we are studying a hymn by Lutheran Pastor, Johnann Mentzer. Like Gerhardt whom we studied last week, Mentzer lived about 100 years after Luther and in a very difficult time, politically and religiously. Like Gerhardt, Mentzer was also familiar with suffering and tragedy. Yet, his faith in the Triune God and the joy which God's work for him instilled, shines through in his hymns. This hymn is no exception. Originally it included 15 stanzas, ten of which are included in our hymnal, but in two different hymns (TLH 30 and 243).
This hymn of praise is addressed to the Triune God (this is why it is found in the Trinity section of our hymnal), which can be seen in the reference to the Father (verse 2), the Savior Jesus (verse 3), and the Holy Spirit (verse 5). The words of this hymn are based in part on Jesus' words to the demonic, Legion after He delivered the man from the oppression of those evil spirits: “Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you.” Then we hear the man's joyful response: "And he went his way and proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him" (Luke 8:39).
This hymn highlights the blessings which God has richly bestowed on us. He is our Creator and Preserver who is our "Guardian kind and tender." He is our Redeemer whose compassion led Him to come "down to ransom me" and "brought me from bondage" though the suffering (keenest woe) He endured on our behalf. He is our Sanctifier, Who gives "me among Thy saints a place" through the faith He works in our hearts, and gives us the power to live lives of good works to His glory.
All of this moves the Christian, the one who has come to know God's love which is shown in all these ways, to "be filled with gladness" even in the face of trouble and trial in this life.
Join us this weekend as we sing our praises to the Triune God for all the great things He has done for me!
May the LORD bless your joyful worship this weekend!
Wednesday Mar 26, 2025
Wednesday Mar 26, 2025
- Devotion
- Ecclesiastes 1:4-8
- Announcements
- Sunday School and Bible Class
- Arts Camp
- Ambassadors
- Athletics Forum
- Women's Book Club
- Board of Elders
- Midweek Lent Service
- Ladies Auxiliary
- Church Choir
- Ladies Bible Study
- Alumni Day
- Invite a Friend to Church
- Anchored in Hope
- Church Cleanup Day
- Cemetery Cleanup Day
- Easter Flowers
- Prayer List
- Pastor John Hein
- Pastor Tim Wheaton
- Jim Lien
- Lilia Howley
- Ethan Kranz
- Nila Strege
- General Sickness
- Mission in Kenya
- Hymn: TLH 402 “O God, Forsake Me Not”