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Immanuel News & Notes (Lent 6)

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THIS WEEK AT IMMANUEL

Sunday (3/28)

  • 7:30 am—Divine Service of the Word (On-Line Video)
  • 9:00 am—Divine Service with Holy Communion
  • 10:30 am—Bible Class and Sunday School

Wednesday

  • 12:30 pm—Catechism Class

Thursday

  • 7:00 pm—Holy Thursday Divine Service with Holy Communion

Friday

  • 7:00 pm—Good Friday Tenebrae

Saturday

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

Sunday (4/4)

  • 6:00 am—Easter Sunrise Divine Service with Holy Communion
  • 7:00 am—Easter Breakfast
  • 7:30 am—Divine Service of the Word (On-Line Video)
  • 9:00 am—Easter Day Divine Service with Holy Communion
  • 10:30 am—Sunday School Easter Egg Hunt

IN OUR PRAYERS

HEALTH CONCERNS: Bernita Ashwill; Connie Bruns (cousin of Mary Appleby); Lynn Corrie (friend of Arleigh Jones); Ellie Crawford (daughter of Laran Crawford); Leona Czerwonka; Lynn Davis (cousin of Mark Whitson); Cindy Ekstrom; Lisa Hall (sister of Holly Wikoff); Rick Hardesty (family of the Hoels); Forrest Harvey (son of John Harvey); Kim Hausman (friend of Ann Carroll); Deanna Henningsen (sister-in-law of Jerry & Joyce Alexander); Ruben Hostetler; Mary Miller (friend of David Holzrichter); Kimberly Mulvany (daughter of Pastor Doug Meyer); Mary Negangard (grandmother of Bryce Reifsteck); Dennis Pickett (friend of Ann Carroll); Misti Post (niece of Sue Rothe); Cary & Beth Rahn; Joan Rahn; Jody Reifsteck (mother of Bryce Reifsteck); Emma Silver; Dave Slaughter; Ocil Slone (grandfather of Josh & Jake Dyer); Joy Stenger; Carolyn Stremming (sister-in-law of Arleigh Jones); Doris Threet (sister of Wanda Long); Debbie Tiffan (friend of Deborah Reifsteck); Aurelia Tuegal (grandmother of Bethany Campbell); Brian Walker (uncle of Bryce Reifsteck); Lynn & Jane Whitson (parents of Mark Whitson).

SEMINARY STUDENT: Gunnar Campbell; Logan Smith.

DEACONESS STUDENT: Emily McLean.

MISSIONARIES The Naumann Family; The McDermott Family, Julie Lutz

HOMEBOUND: Bernita Ashwill; Leonard Boerngen; Jim Harbaugh; Janet Pollock; Ruth Rentschler; Ruth Sims; 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

THIS WEEK’S READINGS . . .

  • Holy Thursday—Exod 12:1–14; 1 Cor 11:23–32; John 13:1–15
  • Good Friday—Isaiah 52:13–53:12; Hebrews 4:14–16; 5:7–9; John 18:1–19:42
  • Vigil of Easter—Gen 1:1–2:3; 7:1–5, 11–18; 8:6–18; 9:8–13; Exod 14:10–15:1
  • Easter Sunrise—Isaiah 25:6–9; 1 Cor 15:1–11; John 20:1–18
  • Easter Day—Job 19:23–27; 1 Cor 5:6–8; Mark 16:1–8

ABOUT THIS WEEK’S READINGS . . . “Behold, your King is coming to you . . . humble and mounted on a donkey” (Zech 9:9–12; Matt 21:1–9). Our Lord rides in this humble fashion because He is entering Jerusalem to humble Himself even to the point of death on a cross (Phil 2:5–11). His kingly crown will not be made of gold but of thorns, the sign of sin’s curse. For His royal reign is displayed in bearing this curse for His people, saving us from our enemies by sacrificing His own life. The sinless One takes the place of the sinner so that the sinner can be freed and bear the name “Barabbas,” “son of the Father” (Matt 26 and 27). It is at the name of this exalted Savior, Jesus, that we bow in humble faith. With the centurion who declared, “Truly this was the Son of God!” (Matt 27:54), we are also given to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Phil 2:11).

THOUGHTS ABOUT STEWARDSHIP . . . Matthew 21:3 “If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” Did Jesus really need the donkey? If the man had refused to give the donkey, would the work of salvation have been derailed? Of course not. But what an honor for the man who owned this donkey and foal! Likewise with us—the Lord needs none of us, but what an honor for God to choose to use our generosity in the work of His Church

EASTER BREAKFAST . . . It’s time to sign up for the Easter Breakfast—Easter is April 4! We’re asking for donations of food, drink, and kitchen volunteers. Signup sheets are located on the table in the Narthex. Come have a tasty breakfast from 7:00–8:30 am on Easter morning. Thank you!

BI-MONTHLY MISSION . . . is April 4, and will be going to the Immanuel Funeral Fund. For your convenience, an envelope designated for Immanuel Funeral Fund has been placed in your church mailbox. You may place cash or check payable to Immanuel in this envelope. Use the envelope to return your gift in the offering, or you may return it to the church office on or before April 4. Thank you!

THE APRIL CALENDAR . . . with birthdays and anniversaries is available on the table across from the members’ mailboxes.

MONTHLY BIBLE CHALLENGE . . . Beginning February 1, join the Board of Christian Education as we begin to read the entire Bible over the next 12 months. Recognizing that God chose each Book of the Bible to be included, this is an opportunity to read portions of the Bible we may not often read and learn things we may not have known before. This is also a great way to get the full picture of our rich history and events that have taken place, increasing our faith, knowledge and wisdom. Each month a daily reading map will be available at the church and online at Immanuel’s website under the News tab (immanueltuscola.org). The March reading list is now available! We look forward to learning with you!

THE CELEBRATION of the Triduum . . . the holy three days of Christ’s Passover begins on HOLY (MAUNDY) THURSDAY on the eve of our Lord’s Crucifixion. The service on Holy Thursday culminates the Lenten period of preparation for Christ’s Passion and Resurrection and leads into his sacrifice on our behalf. On this day we remember Christ’s sacrificial service demonstrated in his washing of the disciples’ feet, a servanthood enacted on the cross, whose benefits are bestowed in his means of grace. The service culminates with the Lord’s ministry to his people through the Sacrament of the Altar. The depth of Christ’s servanthood is also demonstrated as the altar is reverently stripped in preparation for the church’s observance of Jesus’ death on Good Friday.

GOOD FRIDAY . . . is not observed as a funeral for Christ. It is a day for repentance over sin and restrained joy and praise for the redemption Christ accomplished for us on the cross. In keeping with its character, music is kept to a minimum, though not silenced, and elaborate words of praise are omitted. Because this service is part of the Triduum, the three holy days, it has neither an entrance rite nor benediction. The concluding hymn ensures that the final note of the service is one of triumph, for God’s faithful know the end of the story.

THE VIGIL OF EASTER . . . which is celebrated at the end of Holy Saturday as the conclusion to the sacred Triduum, ushers in the celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord. To hold vigil means to “keep watch.” In some places in the early centuries of the church’s life, a vigil in expectation of Christ’s return at Easter became a common feature of the celebration of his Crucifixion and Resurrection. It was also a common time for individuals to be baptized. Because the Vigil of Easter marks the final day in the sacred Triduum, the service ends with the Benediction (which has not been heard since the Triduum was begun) and the Easter acclamation: Christ is Risen!

HOLY COMMUNION . . . The offer still stands, during the pandemic, that if you desire the Holy Communion, you can make an appointment with Pastor to receive the Lord’s Supper either at church or in your home until services resume.

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:

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

CHANGES IN MANDATED REPORTER LAW . . . The state of Illinois recently made significant changes to the mandated reporter law. By law, any person affiliated with the church who, in their role, comes into contact with children, either in a paid position or as a volunteer, is now a mandated reporter. Mandated reporters are required to call the DCFS Hotline when they have reasonable cause to believe that a child known to them in their professional or official capacity may be an abused or neglected child. As such, s/he must undergo training within three months of first serving. This is only a training session not a background check. This new law would include the following at Immanuel: all Sunday School teachers, VBS volunteers, youth group chaperones, and those on Altar Guild who work with the Jr. Altar Guild. To that end, we ask that those individuals in the groups listed, follow THIS LINK to take the online training. This training takes roughly 60 minutes to complete. Upon completion of the training, a certificate is awarded which will need to be printed off and a copy be given to Pastor to keep on file. For those who are unable to access this online training at home, time will be available for you to complete this in the church office. Please find time to complete the online training as soon as possible. While we understand that this may be a burden for some, please know that we are willing to help you get the necessary training so that we as a church are compliant with this new law. If you have any questions or concerns, please talk with one of the members of the Board of Christian Education or Pastor. Thank you!


PRAYER REQUESTS

 


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