THIS WEEK AT IMMANUEL

Sunday (1/11)

• 9:00 am—Divine Service with Holy Communion
• 10:30 am—Bible Class & Sunday School
• 11:15 am—Church Council Meeting
• 11:30 am—Welcome Pot Luck for Allison Gummerus

Monday—Thursday

• 7:30 am—Matins

Monday

• 9:00 am—Classical Conversations Home School Coop
• 5:00 pm—Board of Mission & Evangelism
• 6:00 pm—Board of Education
• 7:00 pm—Board of Elders

Tuesday

• 9:00 am—Mattoon Circuit Meeting

Saturday

• 5:30 pm—Divine Service with Holy Communion

Sunday (1/18)

• 9:00 am—Divine Service with Holy Communion
• 10:30 am—Bible Class
• 11:30 am—Catechism Class
• 2:00 pm—Mattoon Circuit Forum

Monday

• 9:00 am—Classical Conversations Home School Coop
• 7:30 pm—Voter’s Assembly Meeting

IN OUR PRAYERS

HEALTH CONCERNS: Mia Anderson (great-granddaughter of Joan Vukelich); Jack Appleby (surgery); Lorraine Best (friend of Ann Carroll); Kathleen Boerngen (wife of Leonard Boerngen); Brenda Bunting (friend of Ann Carroll); Ellie Crawford (daughter of Laran Crawford); Darrell Ford; Jim Harbaugh; Erica Kremitzki; Steve Leonard (son of Betty Leonard); Laurie McMillen; Mike Merna (friend of Joan Vukelich); Sandra Oehmke (sister of Joan Vukelich); Barb Pearson (friend of Joyce Alexander); Virginia Poke (sister of Anne Koss); Fred Rahn (son of Joan Rahn); Harold Wattjes.

DEATHS: Family of Neil Oliger

SEMINARY STUDENT: Dustin Fry.

DEACONESS STUDENT: Allison Gummerus.

HOMEBOUND: Bernita Ashwill; Bessie Benson; Cora Jahnke; Joan Mulligan; Corinne Oye; Art Rahn; Ruth Rentschler.

MILITARY: 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 . . . Exodus 33:12–23; Romans 12:6–16; John 2:1–11.

ABOUT THIS WEEK’S READINGS . . . Our Lord Jesus is baptized “to fulfill all righteousness” (Matt. 3:13–17). He partakes of a baptism for sinners in order that He might be our substitute and bear the judgment we deserve. In the water, Jesus trades places with us. Our sin becomes His sin. His righteousness becomes our righteousness. Our glory, therefore, is in “Christ Jesus, who became to us . . . righteousness and sanctification and redemption” (1 Cor. 1:26–31). Jesus is the “chosen” One sent from the Father to release us from the prison house of sin and death (Is. 42:1–7). Baptized into Christ, we also become the chosen ones, beloved of the Father. We cross the Jordan with Jesus (Joshua 3) through death into the promised land of new life with God.

THOUGHTS ABOUT STEWARDSHIP . . . Matthew 3:14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” John is right: what Jesus is doing makes no sense! But this is the upside down, outlandish grace of God: the innocent Jesus takes our sinner’s place. This is the greatest act of giving the world has ever known or will know: The Father gives His Son to die in the place of sinners.

THE LWML THANKS YOU . . . for your support through donations and participation in their Annual Cookie Walk. This year’s Cookie Walk raised $315.00, which will be matched up to $300.00 by Thrivent Financial. The funds raised by the LWML are used for charities both local and abroad. If anyone has suggestions for donations, please contact a member of the LWML. Thank you again for your ongoing support.

SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS NEEDED . . . We are still in need of one teacher for the 4^th–6^th grade class. If this position is not filled those grades will not have Sunday School. Also beginning in January, we will need one teacher for the 1^st–3^rd grade class.

PEACE MEAL BINGO . . . People over 60 are invited to play free bingo with prizes on Thursday, January 15, after Peace Meal. Reservations must be made by noon on Wednesday, January 14 to (217) 2532278. The meal cost is a donation of $3.50. Join us for the food, fellowship, and fun. Hope to see you there.

THANK YOU . . . for your generosity and kindness you have shown us. The church has been a great blessing and God’s perfect provision! Please accept this donation ($175.00) as a token of our gratitude. The Families of CC Home School Coop

POINSETTIAS . . . If you forgot to take home your Christmas Poinsettia, they are in the kitchen on the counter.

PASTOR WILL BE AWAY . . . January 20–23 for the annual pastors’ conference at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana. If you need assistance you may contact him on his mobile phone or call one of the Elders (Steve Hilgendorf, Ronald Legg, Bryce Reifsteck, Mark Whitson).

GREETERS

THIS WEEK

• Ruth Sims (West)
• Tim & Teri Pollock (East)

NEXT WEEK

• Donna Campbell (West)
• Harold Wattjes (East)

COMMUNION HELPERS

THIS WEEK

• Steve Hilgendorf
• Carol Munson; Lexie Russo

NEXT WEEK

• Steve Hilgendorf
• Judy Legg; Cassie Russo

ACOLYTES

THIS WEEK

• Gunnar Campbell (Crucifer)
• Ethan Stumeier (Torches)
• Josh Dyer (Torches)
• Caleb Stumeier (Gospel)

NEXT WEEK

• Gunnar Campbell (Crucifer)
• Caleb Stumeier (Torches)
• Jake Dyer (Torches)
• Ethan Stumeier (Gospel)

COFFEE COMMITTEE

• Pastor & Lauren Braaten—January
• Craig & Carol Munson—February