Parish News for Epiphany of Our Lord (2019)

Epiphany of Our Lord
06 January 2019

Then, opening their treasures,
they offered Him gifts,
gold and frankincense and myrrh.

St. Matthew 2.11

The Lord God Is Manifested in the Incarnate Son

The Feast of the Epiphany centers in the visit of the Magi from the East. In that respect, it is a “Thirteenth Day” of Christmas; and yet, it also marks the beginning of a new liturgical season. While Christmas has focused on the Incarnation of our Lord—that is, on God becoming flesh—the season of Epiphany emphasizes the manifestation or self-revelation of God in that same flesh of Christ. For the Lord Himself has entered our darkness and rises upon us with the brightness of His true light (Isaiah 60.1–2). He does so chiefly by His Word of the Gospel, which He causes to be preached within His Church on earth—not only to the Jews but also to Gentiles (Ephesians 3.8–10). As the Magi were guided by the promises of Holy Scripture to find and worship the Christ Child with His mother in the house (St. Matthew 2.5–11), so does He call disciples from all nations by the preaching of His Word, to find and worship Him within His Church (Isaiah 60.3–6). With gold they confess His royalty; with incense, His deity; and with myrrh, His priestly sacrifice (St. Matthew 2.11).

Parish News

Altar Flowers   are given to the glory of God by Mr. & Mrs. Kris Bilyeu.

Please pick up your 2019 Contribution Envelopes   in the Narthex. Please e-mail Stacy.Gibbens@ielcth.org with any questions.

Sunday Afternoon Theology Class   on the Lutheran Confessions will begin Sunday, January 20, after Divine Service. Class meets for one hour, and you’re invited to bring a lunch. This class is for anyone desiring a deeper look at our Lutheran Confessions and liturgy, and for anyone who may be interested in joining our congregation as a communicant member. Class will last through the Lent season.

Indiana March for Life   is Tuesday, January 22 in downtown Indianapolis. Vicar Cornwell and Vicar Schultz (Martinsville) are leading our circuit’s participation. If you are interested in taking part in this event in support of life issues in our state, please speak to or email Vicar Cornwell (vicar@ielcth.org). Look for a signup sheet near the parish office.

Wabash Valley Right To Life   is again sponsoring their annual pro-life billboard campaign, where positive life messages will be posted around Terre Haute in January and February 2019.  For the last two years, Immanuel has sponsored billboards and we would like to sponsor one again.  Raising $525 in donations means we sponsor a larger billboard in a prominent location. If you would like to contribute, please do so before January 8, marking your donation “Right To Life.”  Please speak to Chuck Roush or call the church office with any questions.

Adult Bible Class  and children’s Sunday School resume today. Parents, you have in our Sunday School a wonderful opportunity to give your children the blessed gift of God’s Word to shape their hearts and minds. Adult Bible Class is studying Hebrews 9.15-28, “A Blood-Bought Inheritance”: Jesus is the mediator of the new covenant by which the redeemed receive their inheritance, having entered into heaven with His own blood, the perfect and better sacrifice.

Order of Daily Prayer

L Make haste, O X God, to deliver me.

R Make haste to help me, O Lord.

     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. Alleluia!

Psalm 72

Scripture Readings:

[S] from Divine Service

[M] St. Luke 3.10-14; Genesis 1.1-31

[T] St. Luke 3.15-20; Genesis 2.1-25

[W] St. Mark 1.1-8; Genesis 4.1-26

[Th] St. Mark 1.9-15; Genesis 5.1-32

[F] St. Luke 3.15-22; Genesis 6.1-22

[S] St. Luke 3.23-38; Genesis 7.1-24

Hymn of the Day or Month O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright (395)

Catechism (bulletin)

Apostles’ Creed

Kyrie: L Lord, have mercy upon us;  R Christ, have mercy upon us; Lord, have mercy upon us.

Our Father

Collect of the Day (bulletin)

Luther’s Morning or Evening Prayer

L Bless we the Lord.  R Thanks be to God.