THIS WEEK AT IMMANUEL
Sunday (12/12)
- 7:30 am—Divine Service of the Word (On-Line Video)
- 9:00 am—Divine Service with Holy Communion
- 10:30 am—Bible Class & Sunday School
- 11:15 am—Church Council Meeting
- 12:30 pm—Catechism Class
- 6:00 pm—Sunday School Christmas Service
Monday
- 5:00 pm—Board of Mission & Evangelism
- 6:00 pm—Board of Christian Education
- 6:30 pm—Board of Trustees
- 7:00 pm—Board of Elders
Tuesday
- 9:00 am—Pastor at Mattoon Circuit Meeting
Wednesday
- 7:00 pm—Advent Midweek Service
Saturday
- 3:30 pm—Individual Confession and Absolution
- 5:30 pm—Divine Service with Holy Communion
Sunday (12/19)
- 7:30 am—Divine Service of the Word (On-Line Video)
- 9:00 am—Divine Service with Holy Communion
- 10:30 am—Bible Class & Sunday School
- 12:30 pm—Catechism Class
IN OUR PRAYERS
HEALTH CONCERNS: Bernita Ashwill; Rev. Paul Brink (cousin of Ann Carroll); Connie Bruns (cousin of Mary Appleby); Lynn Corrie (friend of Arleigh Jones); Ellie Crawford (daughter of Laran Crawford); Leona Czerwonka; Cindy Ekstrom; Lisa Hall (sister of Holly Wikoff); Rick Hardesty (family of the Hoels); Kim Hausman (friend of Ann Carroll); Deanna Henningsen (sister-in-law of Jerry & Joyce Alexander); Reuben Hostetler; Becky Kappes; Mary Miller (friend of David Holzrichter); Dennis Pickett (friend of Ann Carroll); Cary & Beth Rahn; Joan Rahn; Emma Silver; Ocil Slone (grandfather of Josh & Jake Dyer); Carolyn Stremming (sister-in-law of Arleigh Jones); Dylan Taylor (friend of Becky Kappes), Doris Threet (sister of Wanda Long); Irene Wattjes; Lynn & Jane Whitson (parents of Mark Whitson); Brett Willoughby (friend of Matthew Waldrop); Dennis Wiltzius (father of Michelle Stumeier).
SEMINARY STUDENT: Gunnar Campbell; Logan Smith.
DEACONESS STUDENT: Elizabeth Fodor.
MISSIONARIES: The Jastram Family; The McDermott Family, Julie Lutz
HOMEBOUND: Bernita Ashwill; Janet Pollock; Ruth Rentschler; Ruth Sims; Glen Stumeier; Irene Wattjes.
MILITARY: Carl Crawford; Josh Dyer; Jeremy Gordon; Jack Leonard; Jake Lindgren; Raymond Longtin; Joey Pollock; Blake Stokes; Scott Walter; Ruben Wilson.
THE ANNOUNCEMENTS
NEXT WEEK’S READINGS . . . Deut. 18:15–19; Philippians 4:4–7; John 1:19–28
ABOUT THIS WEEK’S READINGS . . . The voice of John the Baptist cried out in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord . . .” (Isa. 40:1). John called the people to be made ready for the Messiah’s coming through repentance, for “all flesh is grass” (Isa. 40:6). Now He asks from prison, “Are you the one who is to come?” (Matt. 11:2). Jesus’ works bear witness that He is. The sick are made well; the dead are raised, and the poor have the Gospel preached to them. Their iniquity is pardoned; they have received from the Lord’s hand double forgiveness for all their sins. The “stewards of the mysteries of God” (1 Cor. 4:1) still deliver Christ’s overflowing forgiveness to the poor in spirit, comforting God’s people with the word of the Gospel which stands forever. This Gospel produces rejoicing among all those who believe.
THOUGHTS ABOUT STEWARDSHIP . . . 1 Corinthians 4:2 “Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.” A steward manages the property of the owner for the owner’s purposes. We are stewards of all that God has given us. So we are called to use all that we are and all that we have for God’s purposes. How do we know what these are? Consider your vocations, your callings from God, in the Home, the Church, and Society: what are the roles God has called you to play? And how should you be using the gifts He’s given you to fulfill those roles?
THE ALTAR FLOWERS . . . given by Mark and Leigh Ann Whitson to the glory of God in celebration of their anniversary and Ava’s birthday.
CONTRIBUTIONS & ATTENDANCE . . . Total YTD offerings $141,635.44, budgeted YTD offerings, $141,213.00. Average weekend attendance for November, 65.
OUR CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS PROGRAM . . . is tonight, Sunday, December 12, at 6:00 pm, and each and every one of you are invited to come hear the children speak and sing the story of our Savior’s birth. There will be refreshments in the fellowship hall following the service, so please plan to attend. Parents, please have your children at church by 5:40 pm to assemble in the double classroom. Thank you!
POINSETTIA ORDER FORMS . . . are due today, Sunday, December 12. Order forms are still available in the Narthex. Please complete and return them today, to the office or in the secretary’s box. Poinsettias are $13.00 this year and can be taken and enjoyed at home immediately following the Christmas Day service.
CHRISTMAS CARDS FOR SEMINARY STUDENTS . . . If you’d like to send Christmas greetings to our seminary students, their addresses are: Mr. Gunnar Campbell, Mr. Logan Smith, and Elizabeth Fodor at: 6600 North Clinton Street, Fort Wayne, IN, 46825-4996.
REMINDER: IMMANUEL BOARDS MEET . . . on Monday, December 13. If you have not done so already, please submit your 2021 budget request to the church office as soon as possible following your board meeting.
THE NEXT VOTERS’ ASSEMBLY MEETING . . . is Monday, December 20, 7:30 pm. Please submit Voters’ meeting material to the church office by Wednesday, December 16.
PASTOR WILL BE OUT OF THE OFFICE . . . Tuesday, December 14, to attend the Mattoon Circuit Meeting.
WHY? . . . Why is the color rose sometimes used liturgically? The color rose, when it is used, is only seen during two days of the year, Sundays set in the midst of the church year’s two penitential seasons. Rose is accordingly appropriate for the Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete) and for the Fourth Sunday in Lent (Laetare), both of these Latin words mean to rejoice. The reason for this usage is that rose is a lightening of the purple hue, and as such a reminder that even in the depths of sorrow or penitence, Christian faith is appropriately joyful, ever mindful of the victory which Christ has obtained for us. These two Sundays are therefore set at the midpoint of the penitential seasons, and the color rose is employed only on the Sundays themselves, and not for the weeks following them. Similarly, flowers, which are traditionally absent during these seasons, are used as a further reminder of the joy set in the midst of penitential sorrows.
ABOUT THE NEW BANNERS . . . These banners are given to Immanuel to the glory of God from the offerings of the Sunday School children. Every semester, the Sunday School is asked where they would like their offerings to be sent. In the past, they have used their offerings to help support the children of our missionaries and the children those missionaries serve. This year, they requested that they do something for the church building. They chose to purchase these banners used for the Sundays when rose is the liturgical color in the church year.
CENTRAL ILLINOIS DISTRICT CONVENTION . . . Nominations forms for elected positions of leadership in the Central Illinois District are available on the literature table across from member mailboxes. All are asked to help with this process. If you are aware of someone who could serve at the District level in one of the positions where nominations are being sought you are encouraged to fill out the form and return it to the church office to forward to the District Nominations Committee. Please get the consent of the person you are nominating. All nominations forms are due at the District Office, 1850 N. Grand Ave. W., Springfield, IL 62702-1626, by December 31, 2021.
UPCOMING SPECIAL SERVICES AND EVENTS
- Sunday, December 12 6:00 pm Sunday School Christmas Service
- Wednesday, December 15 7:00 pm Advent Midweek Service
- Monday, December 20 7:30 pm Voter’s Budget Meeting
- Friday, December 24 7:00 pm Christmas Eve Service
- *Saturday, December 25 9:00 am Christmas Day Service
- Friday, December 31 7:00 pm New Year’s Eve Service
* The Saturday night service is canceled on Christmas Day
IMMANUEL’S 125TH ANNIVERSARY COOKBOOK . . . The Board of Mission and Evangelism have prepared a cookbook for Immanuel’s 125th anniversary, which is next July. The cookbooks will be available in early December and cost $15.00. You may pr-order using the order form. They make great gifts for Christmas.
SERVICES ONLINE . . . A copy of the service bulletin, which includes all the responses and the hymns, is available at Immanuel’s website under the Sermons tab by clicking on the button labeled PDF. This video option will continue to be made available until our usual service times resume. You can access these online services in three places:
- On Immanuel’s Facebook page
- On Immanuel’s Website under the Sermons tab
- On Immanuel’s YouTube channel
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