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Immanuel News & Notes (Palm Sunday)

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THIS WEEK AT IMMANUEL

Sunday (3/20)

  • 9:00 am—Divine Service with Holy Communion
  • 10:30 am—Bible Class & Sunday School
  • 11:30 am—Catechism Class
  • 7:00 pm—Men’s Bible Study (Craig Munson’s home)

Monday–Thursday

  • 7:30 am—Matins

Tuesday

  • 9:00 am—Classical Conversations Home School Coop

Wednesday

  • 10:00 am—Looking Forward to Sunday Bible Study

Thursday

  • 7:00 pm—Maundy Thursday Divine Service

Friday

  • 7:00 pm—Good Friday Divine Service

Saturday

  • 9:00 am—Sunday School Teachers Lesson Planning
  • 5:30 pm—Easter Vigil

Sunday (3/27)

  • 6:00 am—Easter Sunrise Divine Service
  • 7:00 am—Easter Breakfast
  • 9:00 am—Divine Service with Holy Communion
  • 10:30 am—Sunday School Easter Egg Hunt

IN OUR PRAYERS

HEALTH CONCERNS: Mia Anderson (great-granddaughter of Joan Vukelich); Regann Bowles; Brenda Bunting (friend of Ann Carroll); Ellie Crawford (daughter of Laran Crawford); DeDe Eversole; Virginia Goble (friend of Joyce Alexander); Paula Hancock; Jim Harbaugh; Kim Hausman (friend of Ann Carroll); Patti Heath (friend of the Hoels); Joel Hilgendorf; Erica Kremitzki; 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); Sara Urban (wife of Ron Urban); Bob Vukelich (husband of Joan Vukelich); Harold Wattjes; Jill Zartler.

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; Carl Crawford; Jeremy Gordon; Jack Leonard; Sam Leonard; Jake Lindgren; Raymond Longtin; Joey Pollock; Chase Reifsteck; Blake Stokes; Paige Stokes; Ruben Wilson.

THE ANNOUNCEMENTS

THIS WEEK’S READINGS . . .

  • Holy Thursday—Exod 12:1–14; 1 Cor 11:23–32; John 13:1–15, 34–35
  • Good Friday—Isaiah 52:13–53:12; 2 Cor 5:14–21; 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 14:1–15:1
  • 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.

THANK YOU . . . family and friends for helping me celebrate my 95th birthday. You helped create many lasting memories! May your blessings always be many, your problems be few, and the love you give always come back to you!  Alberta Dallas.

THANK YOU . . . to all who helped with the spring cleaning day on Saturday, March 19!

EASTER LILY ORDER FORMS DUE . . . today, Sunday, March 20. If you would like to order an Easter Lily as a memorial or thank offering, please fill out the order form and leave it in the church office or in Leigh Ann Whitson’s mailbox. Lilies are $13.00 each.

EASTER BREAKFAST . . . Sign up for the Easter Breakfast! We’re asking for donations of an egg dish/breakfast casserole, muffins (or cinnamon rolls if you’re Mary Appleby—hint, hint, wink, wink), fresh fruit or juice. Or all of the above! Signup sheets are located on the table in the Narthex.  Donations this year will go to BETHS Place. Come have a tasty breakfast from 7:00 am to 8:30 am on Easter morning. Thanks!

THE FAMILY ALTAR . . . How do we keep our children connected to God’s Word after they leave the church on Sunday mornings? The Sunday School teachers will be sending home with your children the March—April issue of Lutherans Engage the World, which includes an article on the importance of family devotions and provides tips for studying God’s Word in the home. Also included in this issue are articles on how we, as parents and mentors, can serve as examples through witness and mercy throughout our communities and the world.

FREE BINGO . . . at the Tuscola Senior Building, Thursday, March 24, after a menu of Fried Chicken, Mashed Potatoes with Gravy, Tomatoes and Zucchini, Whole Wheat Bread, and Apricots, at 11:30 am. The meal is for people over 60 for a donation of $3.50. Reservations must be made by noon of Wednesday, March 23. Telephone: 253-2278.

APRIL BI-MONTHLY MISSION . . . is Sunday, April 3, for the Tuscola Christmas Bureau.

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!

GREETERS

THIS WEEK

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

NEXT WEEK

  • Joan Vukelich (West)
  • Laverl Byers (East)

COMMUNION HELPERS

THIS WEEK

  • Ronald Legg
  • Theresa Fields; Mackenzi Bowles

NEXT WEEK

  • Ronald Legg
  • Ann Hilgendorf; Marissa Russo

ACOLYTES

THIS WEEK

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

NEXT WEEK

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

COFFEE COMMITTEE

  • Janet Stumeier—March
  • Arleigh & Mary Jane Jones—April

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