Monday, February 28, 2011

All throughout 2011



Individually called to:
Live even though we have died
Lead as we daily return to the cross of Christ
Love with the heart of God

Our Church Family has been called into a partnership in the Gospel to:
Live grace empowered lives
Lead others into the Word which calls them out of darkness into the Light
Love without end and without exception

_______________________________________________

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ.
It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.
And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God,
who loved me and gave himself for me.

Philippians 1:3-6 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you,
always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy,
because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you
will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Midweek Lenten Series for 2011

According to HIS PLAN (not ours)
What are you planning for Lent? It’s a question for pastors thin-ing of sermon series. It’s a question for families thinking of mid-week schedules. It’s a question for individuals thinking of the Lenten themes of repentance, charity, prayer, fasting and self-denial.

So what are we planning? Of course we plan to look at and fol-low our Lord’s plan for accomplishing our salvation. That’s what Lent is all about! It sounds easy. It isn’t easy! You see we also have our own plans. The characters in our Lord’s passion ac-count certainly had plans. Judas, the chief priests, Satan, Peter, Pontius Pilate all had plans. Plans not only for themselves but, plans for Jesus. 

Our prayer will be: Gracious Savior, be at work so your plan is my plan.

We will follow the Passion according to Saint Matthew.
March 9 Matthew 26: 1-16
Not Our Plans-HIS PLAN
Matthew 26:17-29 is the Institution of the Lord’s Supper will be the Maundy Thursday’s Scripture text
  • March 16 at 6:30 Matthew 26:30-46
    Let’s Talk About Performance
  • March 23 at 6:30 Matthew 26:47-56
    God’s Powerful Weakness
  • March 30 Matthew 26:57-68
    The problem with Jesus IS Jesus
  • April 6 at 6:30 Matthew 26:69-27:10
    The Tale of Two Disciples


-------------------------


Immanuel’s (change in) Lenten Plans
Please note:
There are several changes to the Lenten Offerings for 2011including meals, 
service times and order of worship.
Ash Wednesday with Imposition of Ashes and Holy Communion
6:00 p.m. - Preservice Potluck
7:00 p.m. - Worship with Holy Communion
Midweek, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday
NO preservice meals
6:30 p.m. Worship Service
Order of Worship
We will worship using the Order of Compline. This is an evening order which emphasizes simplicity and restfulness. We put down the burdens of the day including the burden of sin and are assured that our Lord watches over us even as we sleep. The act of going to sleep is likened to the eternal rest we have in Christ as we enter the sleep of death. This is primarily a spoken liturgy. The Nunc Dimittis (Song of Simeon) is sung.


Beginning to Plan (Bequest Update)
Our Lord has $11,000. It’s His. It has been given* to Him. It comes from two bequests which were given as 2010 drew to a close. What is HIS PLAN for His money? Throughout Lent we will prayerfully begin to plan how we might best use the Lord’s funds for His purpose(s).
At present the Lord’s $11,000 is at work making 2% inter-est in the Lutheran Church Extension Fund. It is assisting other churches and schools in the LCMS to borrow and pay for capital improvements.
More information will be coming and input requested re-garding our Lord’s Plan which will guide and motivate our plans for his money.
* The $11,000 was actually returned not given. It was His all along. It might also be noted that all our general fund giving, designated gifts and mission gifts and in fact all our money that is not placed in the collection plates is the Lord’s money. So what we give to the Lord also really is returning.


Possible Pink Slip/RIF at Camp IoDisECa??

In the secular world, the worker is called into the bosses office. He/she is told we are eliminating positions. You are no longer needed. Turn in your keys. You’ll be escorted back to your of-fice. Clean out your desk. We are sorry. That’s it. That’s tragic.

In the church camp world, the worker was called into the board room and told, ―we must have approximately $60,000 more in income by May 1st or we must eliminate one of the three full time staff positions. You are the one! We are telling you several months in advance of the effective date so that you might both job search and also make appeals for additional one time gifts to Camp IoDisECa.

Immanuel Lutheran church is telling you this, not so that you give. The Bible never uses, ―we are desperately in need of money as a motive for giving. The motive for all our gifts is al-ways, ―We love (and give) because Jesus first loved (and gave Himself for) us.

In view of the camp challenge, the council has decided that the March 6 Second Plate Mission Offering will go toward camp. Luke Fisher, of the camp staff will be here on April 10th to promote camp attendance by our young people and give us an update.

Membership Directory

The membership directory is finally ready to go to print.
Copies should be available in your church mailboxes by March 6th.  

Free will offering for Janell Schutt family

A free will offering basket is available in the fellowship hall to assist the Janell Schutt family. Janell has suffered a recurrence of stage 4 melanoma. Her treatments involve numerous trips to Houston, Texas. She is the sister-in-law of Emily Louden. If you wish to donate an item for the silent or live auction that will be held on March 19th, contact Emily. A poster and more complete information is posted on the entry bulletin board. 

http://www.carepages.com/ Enter Janell Schutt. You will need to sign in.

Sunday School News


We can’t wait for Summer! Camp Io-Dis-E-Ca Sum-mer camp information has arrived. Brochures and reg-istration forms are available on the table in the fellowship hall. We hope to have a representative from the camp visit Immanuel March 6th to promote camp attendance and provide more de-tailed information for parents.

And More Summer Activities!!!

Vacation Bible School

VBS times and dates......... need to be determined by the availability of willing workers. VBS requires approxi-mately 10 willing adults. So a questionnaire is being circu-lated. Please indicate if you are wiling to assist and when you are available? Thank You!
----------------------------------------------
Vacation Bible School - Help Us Decide
Please Print, Fill Out and Return

The Board of Education would like to have the input of the con-gregation in deciding when/if VBS should be held this summer. While the children that come have a great time, attendance has declined for the past several years. ADULT volunteer positions are getting harder to fill. We will need a minimum of 10 vol-unteers in order to hold VBS. WE ARE ESPECIALLY CONCERNED ABOUT SUFFICIENT VOLUNTEERS FOR WEEKDAY MORNINGS VBS.

Mark the option(s) of your choice. Please make sure to include your name and the dates you can help. Return the bottom portion to the church office, a board member or place in the offering bas-ket. If we do not get enough volunteers, VBS will not be held this summer.
I CAN HELP DURING THIS TIME
Check all that are workable for you
Circle as many as you are able
8:30 - 11:30 Monday-Thursday - June 13-16 
YES NO

8:30 - 11:30 Monday-Thursday - August 1-4 
YES NO

Evenings (time to be determined) - July 11-14 
YES NO

Evenings (time to be determined) - August 1-4 
YES NO

Do not offer VBS this summer
Name:________________________________________

Monday, February 7, 2011

All throughout 2011



                                  
Individually called to:
Live even though we have died
Lead as we daily return to the cross of Christ
Love with the heart of God

Our Church Family has been called into a partnership in the Gospel to:
Live grace empowered lives
Lead others into the Word which calls them out of darkness into the Light
Love without end and without exception

_______________________________________________

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ.
It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.
And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God,
who loved me and gave himself for me.

Philippians 1:3-6 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you,
always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy,
because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you
will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.