The 125th Anniversary of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Joplin, Missouri

10:30 am — May 1, 2022 — Divine Service, Setting One with Holy Communion

---

---

Special thanks to all who helped to make this service and broadcast possible:
Rev. Gregory Mech, DCE Jason Glaskey, organist Betty Lingenfelter, Altar Guild, Board of Elders, 125th Anniversary Committee and all of our volunteers! Thank you to youth Samuel Glaskey for running the media table, to youth Eli Cordova for serving as the cross-bearer, and to our Martin Luther School middle schoolers for serving as acolytes.

We would also like to thank our guest liturgist, Rev. Dr. Rick Foss and our guest Scripture reader, DCE George Nelson for returning to Immanuel to be a part of today’s Celebration Service. Thanks also to director Susan Ideker and Immanuel’s Celebration Choir; and to our brass instrumentalists: Travis Turner, Trevor Turner, Christopher Kemp and Xavier Allen.

---

The 125th Anniversary of Immanuel Lutheran Church 

Our traditional liturgy involves frequent standing and sitting. If this proves difficult for you, please remain seated.

PROCESSIONAL HYMN “Lift High the Cross” 837

Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim 
Till all the world adore His sacred name.

Come, Christians, follow where our Captain trod,
Our king victorious, Christ, the Son of God.
Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim 
Till all the world adore His sacred name.

Led on their way by this triumphant sign,
The hosts of God in conquering ranks combine.
Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim 
Till all the world adore His sacred name.

All newborn soldiers of the Crucified
Bear on their brows the seal of Him who died.
Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim 
Till all the world adore His sacred name.

O Lord, once lifted on the glorious tree,
As Thou hast promised, draw us all to Thee.
Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim 
Till all the world adore His sacred name.

Let every race and every language tell
Of Him who saves our lives from death and hell.
Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim 
Till all the world adore His sacred name.

So shall our song of triumph ever be:
“Praise to the Crucified for victory!”
Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim 
Till all the world adore His sacred name.

INVOCATION 151 Matthew 28:19

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

CONFESSION and ABSOLUTION 151

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:8-9

Silence for reflection on God’s Word and for self-examination.

Let us then confess our sins to God our Father.
Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbor as ourselves. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.

Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. John 20:19-23
Amen.

CELEBRATION CHOIR “Let Us Celebrate”

PSALM Psalm 100

Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!
Serve the LORD with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!
Know that the LORD, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!
For the LORD is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.

KYRIE “Lord, Have Mercy” 152

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

For the peace from above and for our salvation let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy. 

For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, and for the unity of all let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy. 

For this holy house and for all who offer here their worship and praise let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy. 

Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.
Amen.

HYMN OF PRAISE “Gloria in Excelsis”154 Luke 2:14; John 1:29

Glory to God in the highest and peace to His people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly king, almighty God and Father,
We worship You, we give You thanks, 
we praise You for Your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, 
Lord God, Lamb of God,
You take away the sin of the world; 
have mercy on us.
You are seated at the right hand of the Father; 
receive our prayer.
For You alone are the Holy One, 
You alone are the Lord,
You alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, 
with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

SALUTATION AND COLLECT OF THE DAY

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.

Let us pray. Almighty and everlasting God, whom the heavens cannot contain, we give You thanks for those who have established and maintained this house of worship for Your glory; we praise You for the fellowship of those who have gathered here through the generations to receive Your Word and Sacraments. Grant that all who seek You here might delight in Your gifts and be filled with Your peace; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.

KIDS’ TALK

CELEBRATION CHOIR “A Joyful, Jubilant Song”

OLD TESTAMENT Deuteronomy 6:4-7

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” 

This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

EPISTLE Ephesians 4:11-16

He gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. 

This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

HYMN OF RESPONSE “For All the Saints” 677: 1,3,4,8

For all the saints who from their labors rest,
Who Thee by faith before the world confessed,
Thy name, O Jesus, be forever blessed. Alleluia! Alleluia!

Oh, may Thy soldiers, faithful, true and bold,
Fight as the saints who nobly fought of old
And win with them the victor’s crown of gold. Alleluia! Alleluia!

Oh, blest communion, fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
Yet all are one in Thee, for all are Thine. Alleluia! Alleluia!

Δ From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast, 
Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
Singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen.

HOLY GOSPEL Luke 24:36-53

The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the twenty-fourth chapter.
Glory to You, O Lord.

As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish,and he took it and ate before them.

Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God.

This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to You, O Christ.

HYMN OF THE DAY “From All That Dwell Below the Skies” 816

From all that dwell below the skies
Let the Creator’s praise arise. Alleluia, Alleluia!
Let the Redeemer’s name be sung
Through every land by every tongue.
Alleluia, Alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Eternal are Thy mercies, Lord;
Eternal truth attends Thy Word. Alleluia, Alleluia!
Thy praise shall sound from shore to shore
Till suns shall rise and set no more.
Alleluia, Alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Δ All praise to God the Father be,
All praise, eternal Son, to Thee. Alleluia, Alleluia!
Whom with the Spirit we adore
Forever and forevermore:
Alleluia, Alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! Amen.

SERMON

NICENE CREED 158

I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible. 

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried. And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father. And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church, I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen. 

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

PRESENTATION OF THE OFFERING AND OFFERTORY 159 Psalm 116:12-13, 17-19

What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits to me?
I will offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving and will call on the name of the Lord.
I will take the cup of salvation and will call on the name of the Lord.
I will pay my vows to the Lord now in the presence of all His people,
In the courts of the Lord’s house, in the midst of you, O Jerusalem.

+ SERVICE OF THE SACRAMENT + 

PREFACE 160

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give Him thanks and praise. 

PROPER PREFACE

It is truly good, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God. And most especially are we bound to praise You on this day for the glorious resurrection of Your Son, Jesus Christ, the very Paschal Lamb, who was sacrificed for us and bore the sins of the world. By His dying He has destroyed death, and by His rising again He has restored to us everlasting life. Therefore with Mary Magdalene, Peter and John, and with all the witnesses of the resurrection, with angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You and saying:

SANCTUS “Holy, Holy, Holy” 161 Isaiah 6:3; Matthew 21:9

Holy, holy, holy Lord 
God of power and might: 
Heaven and earth are full of Your glory. 
Hosanna. Hosanna. Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING 161

Blessed are You, Lord of heaven and earth, for You have had mercy on those whom You have created and sent Your only-begotten Son into our flesh to bear our sin and be our Savior. With repentant joy we receive the salvation accomplished for us by the all-availing sacrifice of His body and His blood on the cross.

Gathered in the name and the remembrance of Jesus, we beg You, O Lord, to forgive, renew, and strengthen us by Your Word and Spirit. Grant us faithfully to eat His body and drink His blood as He bids us do in His own testament.

Gather us together, we pray, from the ends of the earth to celebrate with all the faithful the marriage feast of the Lamb in His kingdom, which has no end. Graciously receive our prayers; deliver and preserve us. To You alone, O Father, be all glory, honor, and worship, with the Son and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.

THE WORDS OF OUR LORD Matt 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Cor 11:23-25

Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: “Take, eat; this is My body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.”
In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying: “Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

PROCLAMATION OF CHRIST1 Corinthians 11:26; Revelation 22:30

As often as we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. 
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

O Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, in giving us Your body and blood to eat and to drink, You lead us to remember and confess Your holy cross and passion, Your blessed death, Your rest in the tomb, Your resurrection from the dead, Your ascension into heaven, and Your coming for the final judgment. So remember us in Your kingdom and teach us to pray:

LORD’S PRAYER 162 Matthew 6:9-13

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

PAX DOMINI “The Peace of the Lord” 163 John 20:19

The peace of the Lord be with you always.
Amen.

AGNUS DEI “Lamb of God” 163 John 1:29

Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; grant us peace.

Distribution of the Sacrament will be by family groups, at the direction of the usher. Children may come forward for a contactless blessing. Gluten-free and alcohol-free portions are available near the center aisle.

DISTRIBUTION HYMN “I Come, O Savior, to Thy Table” 618

I come, O Savior, to Thy Table,
For weak and weary is my soul;
Thou, Bread of Life, alone art able
To satisfy and make me whole:
Lord, may Thy body and Thy blood
Be for my soul the highest good!

Thy heart is filled with fervent yearning
That sinners may salvation see
Who, Lord, to Thee in faith are turning;
So I, a sinner, come to Thee.
Lord, may Thy body and Thy blood
Be for my soul the highest good!

Unworthy though I am, O Savior,
Because I have a sinful heart,
Yet Thou Thy lamb wilt banish never,
For Thou my faithful Shepherd art:
Lord, may Thy body and Thy blood
Be for my soul the highest good!

Weary am I and heavy laden,
With sin my soul is sore oppressed;
Receive me graciously, and gladden
My heart, for I am now Thy guest.
Lord, may Thy body and Thy blood
Be for my soul the highest good!

What higher gift can we inherit?
It is faith’s bond and solid base;
It is the strength of heart and spirit,
The covenant of hope and grace.
Lord, may Thy body and Thy blood
Be for my soul the highest good!

DISTRIBUTION HYMN “Just As I Am” 570

Just as I am, without one plea 
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou biddest me come to Thee, 
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, and waiting not 
To rid my soul of one dark blot,
To Thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot, 
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;
Sight, riches, healing of the mind;
Yea, all I need, in Thee to find, 
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, Thou wilt receive, 
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;,
Because Thy promise I believe, 
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, Thy love unknown 
Has broken every barrier down;
Now to be Thine, yea, Thine alone, 
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

DISTRIBUTION HYMN “The Church’s One Foundation” 644

The Church’s one foundation
Is Jesus Christ, her Lord;
She is His new creation
By water and the Word.

From heav’n He came and sought her
To be His holy bride;
With His own blood He bought her,
And for her life He died.

Elect from ev’ry nation,
Yet one o’er all the earth;
Her charter of salvation:
One Lord, one faith, one birth.

One holy name she blesses,
Partakes one holy food,
And to one hope she presses
With ev’ry grace endued.

Though with a scornful wonder
The world sees her oppressed,
By schisms rent asunder,
By heresies distressed,

Yet saints their watch are keeping;
Their cry goes up, “How long?”
And soon the night of weeping
Shall be the morn of song.

Through toil and tribulation
And tumult of her war
She waits the consummation
Of peace forevermore

Till with the vision glorious
Her longing eyes are blest,
And the great Church victorious
Shall be the Church at rest.

Yet she on earth has union
With God, the Three in One,
And mystic sweet communion
With those whose rest is won.

O blessèd heav’nly chorus!
Lord, save us by Your grace
That we, like saints before us,
May see You face to face.

POST-COMMUNION CANTICLE “Nunc Dimittis” 165 Luke 2:29-32

Lord, You let Your servant go in peace; 
Your word has been fulfilled.
My own eyes have seen the salvation 
which You have prepared in the sight of every people:
A light to reveal You to the nations 
and the glory of Your people Israel.
Glory be to the Father 
and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit;
As it was in the beginning, is now, 
and will be forever. Amen.

POST-COMMUNION COLLECT 166

Let us pray. We give thanks to You, almighty God, that You have refreshed us through this salutary gift, and we implore You that You would strengthen us through the same in faith toward You and in fervent love toward one another; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.

BENEDICTION 166 Numbers 6:24-26

The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace.
Amen.

HYMN “Brothers and Sisters in Christ” AGPS 78

Text and tune © 1983 Terry K. Dittmer

Sing Alleluia! Amen! 
Let your prayers and your praises ascend.
Lift up your voices and sing 
to our Lord God, our Savior and King!
Here brought together by grace, 
we are gathered as one in this place.
And assembled as one, in the name of the Son,
Lifting hearts, lifting hands, 
Celebrating as friends,
And proclaiming the Lord,
All our praises afford.
We are brothers and sisters in Christ.

Man walked alone and in need, 
Without faith, hope, or promise or creed;
Wandering aimlessly lost 
unaware of the staggering cost;
That God in His mercy would save 
All His children from death and the grave.
And assembled as one, in the name of the Son,
Lifting hearts, lifting hands, 
Celebrating as friends,
And proclaiming the Lord,
All our praises afford.
We are brothers and sisters in Christ.

Lord, teach us how to proclaim
All Your goodness, Your love, and Your name!
Lord, teach us how to forgive, 
and in love, teach us, Lord, how to live.
Raising our voices in song,
Help us tell all the world we belong.
And assembled as one, in the name of the Son,
Lifting hearts, lifting hands, 
Celebrating as friends,
And proclaiming the Lord,
All our praises afford.
We are brothers and sisters in Christ.

ANNOUNCEMENTS AND CELEBRATIONS

IMMANUEL’S MISSION PRAYER

Heavenly Father, We pray to see the future as You see it, so we may live the present as You will it. We pray we may be grounded in Christ as a Lutheran congregation, and guided by Your grace as we walk in forgiveness. We pray we are growing continually in faith as servants in Christ’s Kingdom proclaiming the Gospel. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

COMMON DOXOLOGY 805

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host:
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen.

From Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House. Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Created by Lutheran Service Builder © 2006 Concordia Publishing House.

---

Learn More

• About Immanuel Lutheran Church
• What We Believe
• Sunday Worship Services
• Meet our Pastor, Rev. Gregory Mech
• Immanuel Responding to COVID-19
• Live Stream