This week’s theme as we continue our Lenten journey through the book of Zechariah: Satan accuses Joshua, the High Priest. All seems lost until the LORD’s Messenger appears. Our Lord Jesus Christ silences Satan—for Joshua and for us!
Author Archives: Pastor Phil Augustine
February 24 – Lent Midweek service
The Wednesday Lent service after the First Sunday in Lent. On Ash Wednesday, we began a sermon series on the Old Testament prophet Zechariah—Your Kingdom Come. God’s kingdom comes through craftsmen who know that It’s Tool Time!
February 28 – Second Sunday in Lent
The service for the Second Sunday in Lent (February 28, 2021). Are you concerned about equality? Our freedoms in this country are a great blessing, though many have had struggles to share in them. Civil rights for women and minorities have been won through proper legislation guided by common sense principles. Sadly, recent legislation lacks common sense and puts the teachings of the Church under tremendous pressure to cave into the ways of the world and Satan’s power. The Christian’s burden on this side of heaven is to hear the Lord’s call to pick up our cross and follow Him. But we do so because God has equally justified all people through the blood of Jesus. We are given true freedom from sin, death, and Satan through God’s action to save us. Thanks be to God!
February 28 video service
February 28 bulletin
February 28 announcements
“God’s Equality Act” – Romans 5:1-11
If you have been blessed and would like to support this ministry, you can mail your contribution to:
Immanuel Lutheran Church
45 West Broadway
Plainview, MN 55964
Please do not mail cash.
Members: If you have offering envelopes, they are addressed and just need a stamp. If you do not have your 2021 offering envelopes, contact the church office to get them.
You can give online here through our online service or check out other ways to give a financial gift to Immanuel. Thank you for your prayers and support!
February 21 – First Sunday in Lent
The service for the First Sunday in Lent (February 21, 2021). Have you ever wondered “Why me?” Maybe it was after a series of unfortunate events or something that just really overwhelmed you. Abraham was potentially overwhelmed with a test of faith as God asked him to sacrifice his son, Isaac. Yet, Abraham trusted God to get him through an unbearable request. And God did. God gave Abraham more than he could bear so that he dared not lean on himself, but stay totally committed to God. Thus, this shows how God is totally committed to saving us by laying on His beloved son, Jesus, all our sins. Jesus bore it all on the cross, so now we can look to His cross as our way of escape and enduring when troubles and testing of faith seem to overwhelm us.
February 21 video service
February 21 bulletin
February 21 announcements
The service video is now recorded from one of the Sunday morning services. We will get it linked here by Monday night or Tuesday morning.
Sermon theme: “Why Me?” – Genesis 22:1-18
If you have been blessed and would like to support this ministry, you can mail your contribution to:
Immanuel Lutheran Church
45 West Broadway
Plainview, MN 55964
Please do not mail cash.
Members: If you have offering envelopes, they are addressed and just need a stamp. If you do not have your 2021 offering envelopes, contact the church office to get them.
You can give online here through our online service or check out other ways to give a financial gift to Immanuel. Thank you for your prayers and support!
February 17 – Ash Wednesday
The service for Ash Wednesday (Feb 17, 2021). We took precautions and did not have the imposition of ashes this year. But we do remember the curse of sin: Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return (Gen 3:19).
This year we go through the book of Zechariah during Lent and Holy Week. We hear the Lord’s call to “return to me” … “and I will return to you.” For our Christian life, we daily must remember to put first things first with repentance and faith.
We hope to capture all our Lenten services and post them here and on Facebook when they are available. If you would like to assist with recording a service (it’s easy!), contact the church office.
February 14 – The Transfiguration of Our Lord
The service for the Transfiguration of Our Lord (February 14, 2021). As the congregation resumes the worship of our glorious God in the church, we join in Peter’s words, “Lord, it is good for us to be here.” As much as our eyes delight in the beauty of creation or imagining the glorious sight that Peter, James, and John saw that day, we would do well to stay grounded in the Father’s words, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” Listening to Jesus, we are prepared for our departure from this world of sin to the glory of heaven, just as Jesus has done.
February 14 worship service
February 14 bulletin
February 14 announcements
Note: As of this Sunday, the prerecorded service to be posted by Sunday morning will be eliminated. We know many of you have made this service part of your Sunday morning routine, and we apologize for the inconvenience and pray that the service is still a blessing to you. We do not have internet in the church so live-streaming is not an option at the moment, but we are looking into the project. We hope the service will be available to you by Sunday evening. You can subscribe to the YouTube channel and get notifications when the video is available. We pray that you will be blessed to participate in the service with the congregation even though there will be a delay.
Sermon theme: “‘Tis Good, Lord, to Be Here” – Mark 9:2-9
If you have been blessed with this service of the Word and would like to support this ministry, you can mail your contribution to:
Immanuel Lutheran Church
45 West Broadway
Plainview, MN 55964
Please do not mail cash.
Members: If you have offering envelopes, they are addressed and just need a stamp. If you do not have your 2021 offering envelopes, contact the church office to get them.
You can give online here through our online service or check out other ways to give a financial gift to Immanuel. Thank you for your prayers and support!
Sunday Worship return to church Feb 14
Since January the Elders and Trustees have been eyeing a time to return Sunday morning worship from the CLC to the church building. Procedures and precautions have been figured out so that we return to the house of our Lord on February 14.
What to expect:
- Service times are still 8:00 and 10:00
- Masks required
- Entrance will be the elevator/handicapped door on the southwest corner of the building
- Rows will be roped off for social distancing but changed between services to reduce shared surfaces (so 8:00 sits in one row and 10:00 in a different row)
- Keep two chairs open between households
- Hymnals will be in the pews but will not be necessary as we continue to utilize the projector and a portable screen for liturgy and hymns. The CDC has reported that hymnal use is safe and not proven to be a source of spreading COVID19.
- Service format will be the same as we have done in the CLC with reduced liturgy and singing; distribution of Holy Communion at the end of service
- Regarding the distribution:
- We will follow our normal practice of continuous distribution, but please keep 6′ between people as you are ushered out
- The bread/body and wine/blood will be served by Pastor and Elder(s) wearing gloves and masks. This is a change from the practice in the CLC where the elements were on tables for communicants to serve themselves.
- The dismissal blessing will be reduced to “Depart in peace.”
- Exit the building the same way you entered via the elevator/handicapped entrance. Railings and surfaces will be wiped before and after services. Use hand sanitizer if you have contact with any surface or person.
As we experienced in the CLC, we will likely adapt things as we go along for a few weeks as we learn what works or not and where bottlenecks occur. Please be patient, kind, and helpful as we gather in God’s house again.
I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD!” (Psalm 122:1)
February 7 – 5th Sunday after Epiphany
The Service of the Word for the Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany (Feb 7, 2021). What do you make of Jesus? We as sinners want Jesus to be different or more accommodating than He intends to be. But that will not change His purpose to deliver the Kingdom of God to us. God does do great things among us. But those are not the main thing. Jesus is. To Him be the glory!
February 7 video service
February 7 bulletin
February 7 announcements
If you have been blessed with this service of the Word and would like to support this ministry, you can mail your contribution to:
Immanuel Lutheran Church
45 West Broadway
Plainview, MN 55964
Please do not mail cash.
Members: If you have offering envelopes, they are addressed and just need a stamp. If you do not have your 2021 offering envelopes, contact the church office to get them.
You can give online here through our online service or check out other ways to give a financial gift to Immanuel. Thank you for your prayers and support!
January 31 – 4th Sunday after Epiphany
The service of the Word and prayer for the Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany (January 31, 2021). Moses was one of the greatest prophets and leaders of God’s people. Yet there would be a greater prophet God would send. That prophet is Jesus. With so many false or misguided prophets around us, we need to listen to the Prophet to stay true to His Word to stay on the narrow road to heaven!
January 31 Video service
January 31 bulletin
January 31 announcements
If you have been blessed with this service of the Word and would like to support this ministry, you can mail your contribution to:
Immanuel Lutheran Church
45 West Broadway
Plainview, MN 55964
Please do not mail cash.
Members: If you have offering envelopes, they are addressed and just need a stamp. If you do not have your 2021 offering envelopes, contact the church office to get them.
You can give online here through our online service or check out other ways to give a financial gift to Immanuel. Thank you for your prayers and support!
National Lutheran Schools Week!
National Lutheran Schools week is here! This week provides more than 1,900 preschools, elementary schools and high schools with the public opportunity to proclaim and celebrate God’s work among us in schools of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. We have some fun activities planned for ILS students, school wide and in individual classrooms. This week will also be spirit week: Monday – Crazy Hair Day, Tuesday – Dress like your teacher day, Wednesday – Color Day (Each grade wears a certain color), Thursday – Pajama Day and Friday – ILS Spirit Wear Day.
Contact us for more information about our school, curriculum, and activities!