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THIS WEEK AT IMMANUEL

Sunday (5/1)

• 7:30 am—Divine Service of the Word (On-Line Video)
• 9:00 am—Divine Service with Holy Communion
• 10:30 am—Sunday School & Bible Class
• 12:30 pm—Catechism Class
• 2:30 pm—Nursing Home Service
• 6:30 pm—Ladies Bunco Night

Wednesday

• 7:00 pm—Bible History Class

Thursday

• 12:05 pm—National Day of Prayer

Saturday

• 3:30 pm—Individual Confession & Absolution
• 5:30 pm—Divine Service with Holy Communion

Sunday (5/8)

• 7:30 am—Divine Service of the Word (On-Line Video)
• 9:00 am—Divine Service with Holy Communion

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IN OUR PRAYERS

THE ANNOUNCEMENTS

NEXT WEEK’S READINGS . . . Isaiah 40:25–31; 1 Peter 2:11–20; John 16:16–22.

ABOUT THIS WEEK’S READINGS . . . Our Lord Jesus is the Good Shepherd (John 10:11–16). He is not like the hireling, who cares nothing for the sheep and only for himself, who flees when he sees the wolf coming. Rather, Jesus is the Good Shepherd who seeks out His scattered sheep to deliver them (Ezek. 34:11–16). He gathers them and feeds them in rich pasture. He binds up the broken and strengthens the sick. He lays down His life for wandering and wayward sheep. On the cross, Christ bore in His body the attacks of the predators of sin and death and the devil for you that you might be saved. He now lives to restore your soul in the still waters of baptism, to lead you in the paths of righteousness by the voice of His Gospel, to prepare the table of His holy supper before you, that you may dwell in the house of the Lord forever (Psalm 23). “For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls” (1 Peter 2:25).

THOUGHTS ABOUT STEWARDSHIP . . . John 10:16 “And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice.” The sheep know the Shepherd’s voice—and we delight to go where He leads. Of course, the world, the devil, and our own sinful flesh want to pull us in another direction. But following the Shepherd means life, and everything is of death. So no matter how difficult the path is that the Shepherd points out: let us follow Him!

IMMANUEL JUNIOR CHOIR . . . will be singing Sunday, May 15.

REMINDER . . . all boards will be meeting next Monday, May 9.

APPLICATIONS FOR THE ILC COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP . . . sponsored by the Board of Missions and Evangelism are now being accepted. The deadline is June 1, 2022. Applications are available on the church Web site: immanueltuscola.org.

NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER . . . is this Thursday, May 5. The Tuscola Area Ministerial Alliance will sponsor a time of prayer at Forty Martyr’s Hall, 109 E Van Allen St, from 12:05 pm –12:35 pm. A free soup lunch will follow the prayers. Immanuel is provided two pots of chili for the event. Please contact Pastor if you are willing to provide a pot of chili.

TUSCOLA HEALTHCARE WORSHIP . . . is at 2:30 PM today.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS . . . Immanuel’s VBS will be June 6–10, 9:00 AM–11:30 AM. We will be looking for volunteers to help with snacks, crafts, and check-in and check-out.

SUNDAY SCHOOL OFFERINGS PROJECT . . . The students in Sunday School would like to provide flowers for the graves of Immanuel’s faithful departed on Memorial Day. The Sunday School will purchase the flowers and deliver the flowers to the graves on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend to those who are buried in Tuscola Cemetery. If you would like a flower for your loved one buried in another cemetery, the Sunday School will provide the flower for you to pick up at service that Sunday. To order flowers, please fill out the order form that is in the Narthex.

PASTOR WILL BE AWAY . . . at a Central Illinois District meeting in Springfield, Illinois, on Monday, May 9. He will be returning in time for the board meetings that evening.

CONTRIBUTIONS & ATTENDANCE . . . Total YTD offerings $66,825.89, budgeted YTD offerings, $56,666.68. Average weekend attendance for April, 76.

WHY? . . . Why do we say or sing “Amen” at various places in the Divine Service? The word Amen is a Hebrew word that simply means “truly.” Whenever Jesus’ words, for example, are translated as “Truly, truly I say to you,” that is a translation of the word Amen, “Amen, amen, I say to you.” This is why the Catechism tells us that what is meant by Amen is “Yes, yes, it shall be so,” or, “This is most certainly true.” For the word in Christian usage is a great emphatic word of confession of the Faith. There really is no more concise and emphatic a Christian confession than “Amen.” This is why it is most appropriate for Christian people to be accustomed to saying this word from the heart at set times during the service. The times for Amens are not spontaneous, however, in order to preserve good order in the service, as the Apostle Paul instructs in 1 Corinthians 14:32, 40. So “Amen” is said whenever there is a blessing, the Trinitarian name is invoked, or even at the Altar, when the Sacrament is given and received. For in all these things we confess, “This is most certainly true.”

CHURCH CLEANUP DAY . . . is scheduled for Saturday, May 21, 9:00 am. The Trustees are putting together a list of things that need to be cleaned/fixed inside and outside. So mark your calendars and get ready to roll up your sleeves to help keep God’s house among us in tip-top shape.IMMANUEL’S 125^TH ANNIVERSARY COOKBOOK . . . The Board of Mission and Evangelism have prepared a cookbook for Immanuel’s 125^th 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.

SERVICES ONLINE . . . This video option will continue to be made available until our usual service times resume. You can access these online services in three places:

1. On Immanuel’s Facebook page
2. On Immanuel’s Website under the Sermons tab
3. On Immanuel’s YouTube channel

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CHURCH MEMBER INFORMATION UPDATE

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PRAYER REQUESTS

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