THIS WEEK AT IMMANUEL

Sunday (11/29)

• 9:00 am—Divine Service with Holy Communion
• 10:30 am—Bible Class & Sunday School
• 11:30 am—Catechism Class
• 7:00 pm—Youth Group Event

Monday–Thursday

• 7:30 am—Matins

Tuesday

• 11:30 am—TAMA Luncheon
• 2:30–9:30 pm—Directory Pictures

Wednesday

• 2:30–9:30 pm—Directory Pictures

Saturday

• 10:15 am—Christmas Town Parade
• 5:30 pm—Divine Service with Holy Communion

Sunday (12/6)

• 9:00 am—Divine Service with Holy Communion
• 10:30 am—Bible Class & Sunday School
• 4:30–6:30 pm—Live Nativity

IN OUR PRAYERS

HEALTH CONCERNS:Mia Anderson (great-granddaughter of Joan Vukelich); Ava Binion (schoolmate of Regann Bowles); Brenda Bunting (friend of Ann Carroll); Ellie Crawford (daughter of Laran Crawford); Don Czerwonka; Virginia Goble (friend of Joyce Alexander); Jim Harbaugh; Joel Hilgendorf; Dennis Lee (nephew of Dolores Ford); Scott McCumber (friend of the Russos) Laurie McMillen; Tiffany Meyer (friend of Rachel DeWitt); Sandra Oehmke (sister of Joan Vukelich); Rev. Lynn Podoll; Fred Rahn (son of Joan Rahn); Bob Vukelich (husband of Joan Vukelich); Harold Wattjes.

SEMINARY STUDENT: Hayden Folks.

DEACONESS STUDENT: Katelyn Lower.

HOMEBOUND: Bernita Ashwill; Bessie Benson; Dolores Byers; Marylin Joergens; Joan Mulligan; Corinne Oye; Janet Pollock; Art Rahn; Ruth Rentschler.

MILITARY: John Bookas; Jeremy Gordon; Jack Leonard; Sam Leonard; Jake Lindgren; Raymond Longtin; Joey Pollock; Chase Reifsteck; Blake Stokes; Paige Stokes; Ruben Wilson.

THE ANNOUNCEMENTS

NEXT WEEK’S READINGS . . . Malachi 4:1–6; Romans 15:4–13; Luke 21:25–36.

ABOUT THIS WEEK’S READINGS . . . The new Church Year begins by focusing on the humble coming of our Lord. “Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey” (Matt. 21:5). Even as He was born in a lowly manger, so Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a beast of burden. For He bears the sin of the world. He is the Son of David riding to His enthronement on the cross, where He shows Himself to be “The LORD is our Righteousness” (Jer. 23:5–6). Our Lord still comes in great humility to deliver His righteousness to us in the Word and Sacraments. Before receiving Christ’s body and blood, we also sing, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” (Matt. 21:9) And as we receive the Sacrament, we set our hearts on His return in glory, for “our salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed” (Rom. 13:11).

THOUGHTS ABOUT STEWARDSHIP . . . Jeremiah 23:6 “And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The LORD is our righteousness.’” Jesus is our righteousness, our justification, our all. In Jesus we are forgiven and free. This knowledge sets us free to live as children of the Heavenly Father without fear. Freed from the supposed need to justify ourselves, good works can be done by us for the right reason: to thank God and to serve our neighbor.

THE SUNDAY SCHOOL CHRISTMAS SERVICE . . . is set for Sunday, December 13. The service is at 7:00 pm, followed by a cookies and punch hosted by the Board of Education. Join us for a Christmas Service where our children will remind us of the real reason for the season with all your favorite Christmas hymns and then food and fellowship.

SPECIAL EVENTS . . . in Advent:

• Tuesday, December 1
  • 2:30 pm—Directory Pictures
• Wednesday, December 2
  • 2:30 pm—Directory Pictures
  • 7:00 pm—Advent Midweek Service
• Saturday, December 5
  • 10:00 am—Christmas Town Parade
• Sunday, December 6
  • 10:30 am—Sunday School stays until noon
  • 4:30 pm—Live Nativity
• Wednesday, December 9
  • 7:00 pm—Advent Midweek Service
• Thursday, December 10
  • 12:00 pm—Ladies Aid
• Sunday, December 13
  • 10:15 am—LWML Cookie Walk
  • 10:30 am—Sunday School stays until noon
  • 7:00 pm—Sunday School Christmas Service
• Monday, December 14
  • 7:30 pm—Voter’s Budget Meeting
• Wednesday, December 16
  • 7:00 pm—Advent Midweek Service
• Thursday, December 24
  • 7:00 pm—Christmas Eve Service
• Friday, December 25
  • 9:00 am—Christmas Day Service
• Thursday, December 31
  • 7:00 pm—New Year’s Eve Service

MARK YOUR CALENDARS . . . because the first week of December (Tuesday, December 1, and Wednesday, December 2), Life Touch photographers will be at Immanuel to take family pictures for an updated church directory. Life Touch is offering a 20% discount on prints ordered in December. To schedule an appointment, sign up with Tammy Kresin in the last Sunday School room next to the Fellowship Hall or call her at home (217) 2534164.

THE 2016 FLOWER CHART IS NOW AVAILABLE . . . Please sign up on the bulletin board in the hallway by the sanctuary or call the church office. Flowers are $30.00 and can be special ordered. Flowers can be taken home after the Sunday’s service.

GERMANY TOURS . . . Rev. Dr. David Bueltmann plans to lead tours to the Martin Luther sites in Germany in 2016. Dates of the tours are May 9–17, July 5–13, and September 26–October 7. For more information contact him at (217) 6911252 or by e-mail at pastordave@Bueltmann.org.

BI-MONTHLY MISSION . . . is Sunday, December 6. All loose cash in the offering will go to the East Prairie Angel Tree. You also received an envelope for the Angel Tree Bi-Monthly Mission in your church mailbox. You can place cash or check in this envelope and place it in the offering on December 6 or return it to the church office on or before December 6. Reach deep to help area children receive a few gifts under the Christmas Tree from our Church.

A PRAYER FOR THE SICK . . . O Father of mercies and God of all comfort, our only help in time of need, look with favor upon Your servant name. Assure him/her of Your mercy, deliver him/her from the temptations of the evil one, and give him/her patience and comfort in his/her illness. If it please you, restore him/her to health, or give him/her grace to accept this tribulation with courage and hope; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

A PRAYER FOR THE YOUNG . . . Gracious Father, Your Son grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and all people. Bless, guide, and govern the children and young people of Your Church by Your Holy Spirit, that they, too, may grow in grace and in the knowledge of Your Word. Grant that they may serve You well and usefully, developing their talents not for their own sakes but to Your glory and for the welfare of their neighbor. Protect and defend them from all danger and harm, giving Your holy angels charge over them; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

A PRAYER FOR RESPONSIBLE CITENZSHIP . . . Lord, keep this nation under Your care. Bless the leaders of our land that we may be a people at peace among ourselves and a blessing to other nations of the earth. Grant that we may choose trustworthy leaders, contribute to wise decisions for the general welfare, and serve You faithfully in our generation; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

GREETERS

THIS WEEK

• Tim & Teri Pollock (West)
• Donna Campbell (East)

NEXT WEEK

• Harold Wattjes (West)
• Jim Dyer (East)

COMMUNION HELPERS

THIS WEEK

• Steve Hilgendorf
• Janice Arthur; Cassie Russo

NEXT WEEK

• Steve Hilgendorf
• Ruth Bretz; Marissa Russo

ACOLYTES

THIS WEEK

• Caleb Stumeier (Crucifer)
• Ethan Stumeier (Torches)
• Coulson Poffenberger (Torches)
• Oliver Braaten (Gospel)

NEXT WEEK

• Ethan Stumeier (Crucifer)
• Caleb Stumeier (Torches)
• Josh Dyer (Torches)
• Oliver Braaten (Gospel)

COFFEE COMMITTEE

• Craig & Carol Munson—November
• Laverl Byers—December