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Holy Week is the most sacred week in the Christian calendar — the week when we walk with Jesus from His triumphant entry into Jerusalem all the way to the empty tomb. If you’ve never attended Holy Week services, or if you’re looking to go deeper this year, here’s what to expect at Immanuel. Palm Sunday — March 29 Palm Sunday opens Holy Week with a dramatic contrast: Jesus rides into Jerusalem as a king while the crowds wave palm…

Every year the calendar names it “Good Friday,” and every year someone reasonably asks: what’s good about it? It’s the day Jesus was betrayed, arrested, beaten, and crucified. By any ordinary measure, it looks like the worst Friday in history. And yet the Church has called it Good Friday for centuries. Here’s why. What Happened on Good Friday? Good Friday is the day we remember the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. After being betrayed by Judas and arrested in the Garden…

For many families, confirmation feels like something reserved for a specific grade — a rite of passage at age 13 or 14. But at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Joplin, confirmation is something different: a serious, year-long commitment between a student, their family, and God. It’s not tied to a particular age. It’s tied to readiness. What Is Lutheran Confirmation? In the Lutheran tradition, confirmation is the public affirmation of faith by a baptized Christian. It is not a sacrament —…

You’ve been invited to a Lutheran church — or maybe you grew up in one and never quite understood why things happen the way they do. Either way, you’ve come to the right place. This guide walks through what happens at a Lutheran service, why it’s structured the way it is, and what to expect the first time you walk through our doors at Immanuel. It’s Called the “Divine Service” — and That Name Matters Lutheran churches in the LCMS…