IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH A Congregation of the North American Lutheran Church 920 Fillmore Street – Whitewood, SD 57793 – 269-2104 Pastor David J. Baer – [email protected] – 722-6347

Sixth Sunday after Pentecost - Independence Day - July 4, 2021

PRELUDE

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

*HYMN, “Before You, Lord, We Bow” LBW Hymn 401

1. Before you, Lord, we bow, Our God who reigns above And rules the world below, Boundless in pow'r and love. Our thanks we bring in joy and praise, Our hearts we raise to you, our king!

2. The nation you have blest May well your love declare, From foes and fears at rest, Protected by your care. For this bright day, for this fair land - Gifts of your hand - our thanks we pay. 3. May ev'ry mountain height, Each vale and forest green, Shine in your Word's pure light, And its rich fruits be seen! May ev'ry tongue be tuned to praise And join to raise a grateful song.

4. Earth, hear your Maker's voice; Your great Redeemer own; Believe, obey, rejoice, And worship him alone. Cast down your pride, your sin deplore, And bow before the Crucified.

5. And when in pow'r he comes, Oh, may our native land From all its rending tombs Send forth a glorious band, A countless throng, with joy to sing To heav'n's high king salvation's song!

Francis Scott Key (1779-1843), author of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” wrote this text for the Independence Day celebration of July 4, 1832.

*GREETING L: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. C: And also with you. *A LITANY FOR THE NATION L: Mighty God: the earth is yours and nations are your people. Take away our pride and bring to mind your goodness, so that, living together in this land, we may enjoy your gifts and be thankful. C Amen. L: For clouded mountains, fields and woodlands, for shoreline and running streams; for all that makes our nation good and lovely; C: We thank you, God. L: For farms and villages where food is gathered to feed our people; C: We thank you, God. L: For cities where people talk and work together in factories, shops, or schools to shape those things we need for living; C :We thank you, God. L: For explorers, planners, statesmen; for prophets who speak out, and for silent faithful people; for all who love our land and guard our freedom; C :We thank you, God. L: For vision to see your purpose hidden in our nation’s history, and courage to seek it in brotherly love exchanged; C: We thank you, God. L: Great God, we thank you for this land so fair and free; for its worthy aims and charities. We are grateful for people who have come to our shores, with customs and accents to enrich our lives. You have led us in the past, forgiven evil, and will lead us in the time to come. Give us a voice to praise your goodness in this land and a will to serve you, now and always; through Jesus Christ our Lord. C: Amen.

Litany for the Nation and Prayer of Thanksgiving for a Day of Civic or National Significance are reprinted from The Worshipbook: Services and Hymns © 1972 The Westminster Press.

*HYMN, “My Country, ’Tis of Thee” LBW Hymn 566

1. My country, 'tis of thee, Sweet land of liberty, Of thee I sing: Land where my fathers died, Land of the pilgrims' pride, From ev'ry mountainside Let freedom ring.

2. My native country, thee, Land of the noble free, Thy name I love; I love thy rocks and rills, Thy woods and templed hills; My heart with rapture thrills Like that above.

3. Let music swell the breeze, And ring from all the trees Sweet freedom's song; Let mortal tongues awake; Let all that breathe partake; Let rocks their silence break, The sound prolong.

4. Our fathers' God, to thee, Author of liberty, To thee we sing: Long may our land be bright With freedom's holy light. Protect us by thy might, Great God, our king.

Samuel Francis Smith (1808-1895), a Baptist minister, wrote this hymn after seeing the hymn, “God Bless Our Native Land” (LBW 569) in a German hymnal which he was given. He reports: “I instantly felt the impulse to write a patriotic hymn of my own adapted to the tune. Picking up a scrap of waste paper which lay near me, I wrote at once, probably within half an hour, the hymn ‘America’ as it is now known everywhere.” This song was first sung at an Independence Day celebration July 4, 1831.

*PRAYER OF THE DAY L: The Lord be with you. C: And also with you. L: Let us pray together . . . C: Lord of the nations, guide our people by your Spirit to go forward in justice and freedom. Give us what outward prosperity may be your will, but above all things give us faith in you, that our nation may bring glory to your name and blessings to all peoples; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

TWO LUTHERAN PASTORS AND AMERICAN HISTORY John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg (1746-1807) and Frederick Augustus Conrad Muhlenberg (1750-1801) are two Lutheran pastors who play significant roles in American political history. They are the sons of Henry Melchior Muhlenberg (1711- 1787), considered the father of Lutheranism in America.

*HYMN, “God of Our Fathers” LBW Hymn 567

1. God of our fathers, whose almighty hand Leads forth in beauty all the starry band Of shining worlds in splendor through the skies: Our grateful songs before your throne arise.

2. Your love divine has led us in the past; In this free land by you our lot is cast; Oh, be our ruler, guardian, guide, and stay; Your Word our law, your paths our chosen way.

3. From war's alarms, from deadly pestilence, Make your strong arm our ever sure defense. Your true religion in our hearts increase; Your bounteous goodness nourish us in peace.

4. Refresh your people on their toilsome way; Lead us from night to never-ending day; Fill all our lives with heav'n-born love and grace Until at last we meet before your face.

Daniel Crane Roberts (1841-1907), an Episcopal priest, wrote this text for the United States’ Centennial celebration of July 4, 1876. It is known as the National Hymn. FIRST READING, Jeremiah 29:4-14 This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” Yes, this is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them,” declares the LORD. This is what the LORD says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.” L: The Word of the Lord. (NIV) C: Thanks be to God.

PSALM 20 L: May the LORD answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you. C: May he send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion. L: May he remember all your sacrifices and accept your burnt offerings. C: May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. L: May we shout for joy over your victory and lift up our banners in the name of our God. C: May the LORD grant all your requests. L: Now this I know: The LORD gives victory to his anointed. C: He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary with the victorious power of his right hand. L: Some trust in chariots and some in horses, C: But we trust in the name of the LORD our God. L: They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm. C: LORD, give victory to the king! Answer us when we call!

SECOND READING, Romans 13:1-10 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. (NIV) L: The Word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God.

*HYMN, “The Star-Spangled Banner” (vv. 1 & 4) O say, can you see, by the dawn’s early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming, Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight, O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming? And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. O say, does that star spangled banner yet wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

O thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand Between their loved homes and the war’s desolation! Blest with vict’ry and peace, may the heav’n rescued land Praise the Pow’r that has made and preserved us a nation! Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just, And this be our motto, “In God is our trust.” And the star spangled banner in triumph shall wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Francis Scott Key (1779-1843) wrote this text, originally called “In Defense of Fort McHenry,” after witnessing the British Navy’s assault on the fort from Baltimore Harbor on September 14, 1814, during the War of 1812. “The Star-Spangled Banner” grew in popularity over the following 100 years. It was named the National Anthem of the United States in 1931.

“The Star-Spangled Banner” became the official music for the military at Fort Meade near Sturgis, S.D., long before it became the National Anthem. In 1892, the post commander Colonel Caleb H. Carlton, 8th Cavalry, began the custom of playing “The Star-Spangled Banner” at military ceremonies and requested that all people rise and pay it proper respect long before it became the National Anthem. *GOSPEL, Mark 12:13-17 L: The Holy Gospel according to St. Mark, the 12th chapter. C: Glory to you, O Lord.

Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words. They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not? Should we pay or shouldn’t we?” But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. “Why are you trying to trap me?” he asked. “Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” They brought the coin, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” And they were amazed at him. (NIV) L: The Gospel of the Lord. C: Praise to you, O Christ.

MESSAGE Bob Grams

*HYMN, “Battle Hymn of the Republic” LBW Hymn 332

1. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord; He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored; He has loosed the fateful lightning of his terrible swift sword: His truth is marching on. Glory, glory! Hallelujah! Glory, glory! Hallelujah! Glory, glory! Hallelujah! His truth is marching on. 2. He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat; He is sifting out the hearts of men before his judgment seat. Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer him; be jubilant, my feet! Our God is marching on. Glory, glory! Hallelujah! Glory, glory! Hallelujah! Glory, glory! Hallelujah! His truth is marching on.

3. In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea, With a glory in his bosom that transfigures you and me. As he died to make men holy, let us live to make men free, While God is marching on. Glory, glory! Hallelujah! Glory, glory! Hallelujah! Glory, glory! Hallelujah! His truth is marching on.

Julia Ward Howe (1819-1910) wrote this hymn after hearing Union troops singing “John Brown’s Body Lies A-Mouldering in the Grave,” about a farmer hanged in Charleston for his fight against slavery. Desiring to set better words to the tune, she wrote this hymn. It was published in 1862. The last line originally read, “As he died to make men holy, let us die to make men free ...” There are also two additional verses.

*APOSTLES’ CREED LBW Page 128

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended to hell. On the third day he rose again. He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

OFFERING OF OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS TO GOD We are not passing the offering plates during worship for health reasons. Offerings may be left in the offering plate on the table near the entrance to the sanctuary.

*HYMN, “God Bless Our Native Land” LBW Hymn 569

1. God bless our native land; Firm may she ever stand Through storm and night. When the wild tempests rave, Ruler of wind and wave, Do thou our country save By thy great might.

2. So shall our prayers arise To God above the skies, On whom we wait. Thou who art ever nigh, Guarding with watchful eye, To thee aloud we cry: God save the state!

This hymn is based on a German hymn by Siegfried August Mahlmann (1771-1826) that was first sung in 1815 for the King of Saxony. The English words are by Charles T. Brooks (1812-1883) and John S. Dwight (1813-1893), both Unitarian ministers. The original German hymn was the inspiration for Samuel Francis Smith to write “My Country ’Tis of Thee.”

*THE PRAYERS LBW Page 129

*LORD’S PRAYER LBW Page 130

*BENEDICTION LBW Page 130

*HYMN, “America the Beautiful” See Next Page Katharine Lee Bates (1859-1929) wrote this text following an expedition to the top of Pike’s Peak in Colorado Springs, Colo., in 1893. It was first published in the July 4, 1895, edition of the church periodical, “The Congregationalist.” She revised the text several times. The final version is from 1918. The tune was composed in 1882 by Samuel A. Ward (1848-1903), an organist in the Episcopal Church, for the hymn, “O Mother Dear, Jerusalem.” Ward’s tune was first published together with Bates’s poem in 1910. Ward never lived to see the national stature his music would attain.

POSTLUDE

Peter and Frederick Muhlenberg

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven,” preached the Rev. Peter Muhlenberg, from Ecclesiastes 3:1. He closed his message by saying: “In the language of the Holy Writ, there is a time for all things. There is a time to preach and a time to fight. And now is the time to fight.”

This was John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg, a 30-year-old member of the Virginia House of Burgesses who was also a Lutheran pastor.

At the end of his sermon on January 21, 1776, Peter Muhlenberg threw off his clerical robes to reveal the uniform of an officer in the Continental Army. Drums began to roll, men kissed their wives, and they walked down the aisle to enlist.

The next day, Pastor Muhlenberg led 300 men of his church and surrounding churches to join General Washington’s Continental Army as the 8th Virginia Regiment.

John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg was born October 1, 1746, and he died the same day 61 years later, October 1, 1807. He was the son of Henry Melchior Muhlenberg (1711-1787), considered the father of Lutheranism in the United States.

As a youth, Peter lived with relatives in Germany from 1763 to 1767 while studying at Halle. He served briefly in the German dragoons. He returned to America to finish his schooling at the Academy of Philadelphia (now the University of Pennsylvania).

He was ordained a Lutheran pastor in 1768 and served a congregation in Bedminster, New Jersey, before being called to serve a Lutheran congregation in Woodstock, Virginia.

In 1772, Peter Muhlenberg traveled to England to be ordained in the Anglican Church, a necessary requirement for him to serve as pastor of the Lutheran congregation in Woodstock, Virginia, because the Anglican Church was the established state church in Virginia.

In 1774, Peter Muhlenberg was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses. He served as a delegate to the First Virginia Convention. He heard Patrick Henry’s famous “Give me liberty or give me death” speech in 1775, and was inspired to enlist. General George Washington personally asked him to raise soldiers and serve as their Colonel.

Peter Muhlenberg and his men endured the freezing winter of Valley Forge and saw action at Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth and Stonypoint. He helped force British General Cornwallis to surrender at Yorktown. By the end of the war Peter Muhlenberg was promoted to the rank of Major-General.

Peter Muhlenburg was elected to Pennsylvania’s Supreme Executive Council in 1784, and, in 1787, he was elected Vice-President of Pennsylvania. In 1789, he was elected a Representative to the first U.S. Congress.

In 1790, Peter Muhlenberg was a member of the Pennsylvania’s State Constitutional Convention and, in 1793, was the first founder of the Democratic-Republican Societies.

Peter’s brother, Frederick Augustus Conrad Muhlenberg (1750-1801), was pastor of Christ Lutheran Church in New York City, nicknamed “Old Swamp Church,” which had branched out of one of the oldest Lutheran Churches in America.

Frederick opposed Peter getting involved in politics, writing: “You have become too involved in matters which, as a preacher, you have nothing whatsoever to do...”

Peter wrote back, accusing Frederick of being a British Tory sympathizer. Frederick wrote back stating he could not serve two masters.

Following the Battle of Brooklyn Heights, the British bombarded and invaded New York City. Frederick Muhlenberg’s church was burned. Frederick and his family had to flee the city.

Frederick then changed his mind and decided he should get involved. He joined the patriotic cause and was elected as a delegate to the Continental Congress in 1779.

Frederick Muhlenberg was elected Speaker of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, 1780-1783, and presided over Pennsylvania’s Convention to Ratify the U.S. Constitution. Frederick Muhlenberg was elected to the U.S. Congress where he was chosen as the first Speaker of the House of Representatives, which met at that time in New York City. He served as Speaker of the House 1789-1791 and 1793-1795.

Peter and Frederick Muhlenberg, both ordained Lutheran pastors, served in the first session of the U.S. Congress which passed the First Ten Amendments, called The Bill of Rights.

The Bill of Rights limited the Federal Government’s power. The Federal Government was limited from establishing a national religion or “prohibiting the free exercise” of religion. The government was also limited from taking away the freedom of speech, the freedom of the press, the right to peaceably to assemble, and the right to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

In 1889, the State of Pennsylvania placed a statue of Peter Muhlenberg in the U.S. Capitol’s Statuary Hall where it still stands.

In Washington, D.C., at the corner of Connecticut Ave. and Ellicott St., there is a bronze memorial to John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg, with the inscription:

John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg 1746-1807 Serving His Church His Country His State ... The “Fighting Parson of the American Revolution”

Excerpted and reprinted from American Minute with Bill Federer.

WELCOME TO ALL who are worshiping with us today. We especially welcome our visitors. If you are unfamiliar with our worship, one of our members will gladly assist you. Visitors, please be sure to sign the guest register in the narthex. We hope that you will worship with us again soon.

ALL ARE INVITED to stay for a time of fellowship following worship. Donuts, coffee, and juice are available. A free-will offering is received to cover expenses.

PASTOR DAVID AND JOANNE are on vacation. They are in Utah visiting their grandchildren. They will be back in Whitewood on Tuesday. You may reach Pastor David on his cell phone at 641-2399.

THANK YOU to our Church Council members for leading us in worship today. Bob Grams is bringing the message today. Thank you also to Mimi Swisher for playing piano for worship today.

CENTENNIAL COOKBOOKS are being sold by Immanuel Lutheran Church Women. The books are $10. The books are available in the fellowship hall.

DO YOU HAVE THE WRONG RECIPES in your new Immanuel cookbook? Some of the new cookbooks contain Slovak recipes from Pennsylvania rather than the recipes from Immanuel. If you received one of those cookbooks, please get it to Alona Westberg as soon as possible and she will exchange it for an Immanuel cookbook. If you are interested in the Slovak recipes, please contact her too and you can have one of the books with the other recipes.

IMMANUEL HISTORY BOOKS are available in the library social room. We have put together a history of the first 100 years of Immanuel. We would like to share the story of our congregation and the story of all of the faithful men and women who are a part of Immanuel’s history. The books are free.

MISSING PAGES from the History of Immanuel books are available on the table in the library social room near the other books. We were unable to print Pages 251-268 because we ran out of paper.

SERVICE TEAM #3 is looking for volunteers to help with serving during July. Please sign up on the sheet on the bulletin board in the library social room.

HILLS ALIVE summer Christian music festival is July 17-18 at Memorial Park in Rapid City. Admission is free. For more information go to www.hillsalive.com.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL has been cancelled. The three churches in Whitewood were working together to offer VBS this year. A shortage of teachers as well as a small number of advance registrations for VBS resulted in the decision to cancel. In previous years, we had a team of counselors from Outlaw Ranch come for a week of VBS Day Camp. Lutherans Outdoors is not offering day camp this summer because of the pandemic.

OUR MISSION OF THE MONTH is Lutherans Outdoors in South Dakota. Lutherans Outdoors operates four church camps and retreat centers in South Dakota including Outlaw Ranch near Custer. You can learn more about www.losd.org. Mission of the Month highlights one of the ministries supported through your regular giving to Immanuel.

ONLINE WORSHIP: We stream our Sunday worship service on the internet. You can join the service live at 9 a.m. on Sunday or watch the recording of the service at a later time. Links to the service are on our website, www.immanuellutheranwhitewoodsd.com. The bulletin is posted to the website prior to the live broadcast.

CHARITABLE DONATIONS in 2021 have additional benefits because of the CARES Act related to the pandemic. The total amount of deductible contributions has increased for those who itemize deducations. For those who don’t itemize their deductions, there is an above-the-line charitable deduction of $300 for individuals and $600 for married couples.

PLEASE REMEMBER IN PRAYER THIS WEEK: Gilbert Alan Ralph & Renae Besler Loren Christensen Lenae Ebel Kathie Flagstad Bev Karlson Wayne Kunz Felicity Kramer Pastor Steve Rice Clint Ridley Ken & Kathy Ros Violet Rost Virginia Schmunk Ann Sogge Treonna Solbie Joe Taggart Steve Vasknetz Vern Ward Robin Bella (friend of Katryna Iverson) Roberta Raines (friend of John & Helen Ertman) John Aga (friend of Bob Grams) Arnie Arnio (brother of Chris Burleson) Kerry Bartels (daughter of Toni Kymala) Randy Berry (grandson in-law of Renee & Ralph Besler) Judi Black (friend of Rita Shewmake) Erica Bobby (friend of Charles Follette) Lori Buck (cousin of Shelley Iverson) Ron Burns (friend of Bill & Chris Burleson) William Christensen (infant son of Clint & Jenny Christiansen) Payton Crawford (granddaughter of Marlyn & Judy Haiwick) Jack Dhalliwal (infant great-grandson of Carol Vercoe) Marla Ebel (sister of Rita Shewmake) Ellen Fiechtner (mother of Ardith Petersen & Lois Rath) Weston Fischer (nephew of Marlyn & Judy Haiwick) Nick Grams (grandson of Bob & Linda Grams) Jesse Heeran (infant son of Jay & Kayla Heeran, friends of Iversons) Natalie Hrabe (friend of Jon & Shelley Iverson) Dallas & Jan Ingles (brother and sister in-law of Kathy Rost) Nancy Island (sister of Bev Karlson) Steve Kampfe (son of Garland & Kathy Kampfe) Al Karlson (brother-in-law of Bev Karlson) Colby Karlson (grandson of Bev Karlson) Vicky Karlson (niece of Bev Karlson) Martina Ham (mother of Dianne Kunz) Doyle Lermeny (nephew of Mona Balo) Karen Miller (sister of Maxine Ripley) Katie Christians Niederwerder (friend of Doris Richter) Nancy Porter (friend of Bill and Chris Burleson) Tim Ripley (friend of Paul Swisher) Scott Scepaniak (brother-in-law of David & Ardith Petersen) Vicky Shrader (friend of Jon & Shelley Iverson) Avea Taggart (granddaughter of Joe Taggart) Lori Vasa (daughter of Joe Taggart) Carla Verco (daughter-in-law of Carol Vercoe) Traci Westberg (daughter-in-law of Tony & Alona Westberg)