NEXT WEEK’S READINGS . . . Isaiah 55:10–13; 2 Cor 11:19–12:9; Luke 8:4–15.

ABOUT THIS WEEK’S READINGS . . . The people of Israel contended with the Lord in the wilderness (Ex. 17:1–7). They were dissatisfied with His provision. In the same way, the first laborers in the vineyard complained against the landowner for the wage he provided them (Matt. 20:1–16). They charged him with being unfair, but in reality he was being generous. For the Lord does not wish to deal with us on the basis of what we deserve but on the basis of His abounding grace in Christ. The first—those who rely on their own merits—will be last. “For they were overthrown in the wilderness” (1 Cor. 10:5). But the last, those who rely on Christ, will be first. For Christ is the Rock (1 Cor. 9:24–10:5). He is the One who was struck and from whose side blood and water flowed that we may be cleansed of our sin.

THOUGHTS ABOUT STEWARDSHIP . . . 1 Corinthians 9:25 “Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.” Self control is a fruit of the Spirit – for the desires of the flesh are at war with the desires of the Spirit. Having received the new life in Christ by his grace, he now calls us to follow him deliberately, with self-control, with intention.

ALTAR GUILD & COFFEE COMMITTEE . . . For February, the Altar Guild is Jaimee & Ava Whitson. Coffee Committee is Laverl Byers.

THE 2025 FLOWER CHART IS AVAILABLE . . . Please sign up on the bulletin board across from the member mailboxes. 2025 flowers are $35.00 and can be special ordered. Flowers can be taken home after the Sunday service.

ALTAR GUILD . . . Please sign up for a month to serve on the Altar Guild, caring for our Lord’s body & blood just as the woman who went to be tomb sought to care for the body of Jesus. There are spots available for Junior members to sign up.

FUNERAL CHAIR . . . Please sign up for a month to serve as funeral chair; the chair is responsible for placing calls requesting food donations and volunteers to help with serving and cleaning up after the funeral dinner. The current call list is included with the chair sign-up list on the clipboard located in the Narthex.

A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY . . . is available for members of Immanuel. Pastor, in consultation with the Mission Board and the Elders, has submitted paperwork requesting a summer vicar here at Immanuel. We are looking for housing options for him. If you have a spare room or a basement the church can rent for him to stay for roughly three months, or you know of housing options locally, please contact Pastor or one of the members of the Elders or Mission Board. Thank you!

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN . . . for the 2025 Martin + Katie Conference at University Lutheran Church in Champaign, Illinois, on Saturday, March 29, 2025. At this free conference, grow as Christian mean and women, meet new friends, get to know each other, and have fun. The conference is open to ages 18-30. Married or single are welcome. Registration is required as capacity is limited. Please register no later than Friday, March 21. Info and registration are available at http://martinpluskatie.org.

JOIN THE LINK . . . You’ve heard it said that the family that prays together stays together. Something similar happens in congregations. The congregation that knows each other grows together, and the congregation that grows together stands together. That is what The Link is all about. It’s about getting linked up with someone else in our church in order to know, grow, and stand together. The Link is an opportunity during Lent for members high-school age and up to be partnered with another member of our church 1:1 in order to get to know them better, grow together where God has placed you, and stand together as members of God’s family. You can sign up for The Link by filling out the form on the table in the Narthex and returning it in the box provided.

2025 NOT ASHAMED CONFERENCE . . . It is time to begin planning the 2025 Not Ashamed Conference, and you are invited to join in on the fun as a member of the planning committee for 2025! The first meeting will take place on Monday, March 3 at 6:00 pm in the double classroom.

CID DOLLAR FOR MISSIONS . . . The current Dollar for Missions project is $25,000 for masonry repair and repointing at University Lutheran Church in Champaign. The all-brick church and student center has been next to the University of Illinois campus for over 70 years. Some portions of the brick and concrete are in need of immediate, special attention. This project will fund this targeted work to ensure the building remains in good shape and always open for the Word of Christ to be shared and preached to the 60,000 students at the U of I.

RATE & REVIEW IMMANUEL ON GOOGLE . . . Did you know that throughout the United States each month over 2 million people search on Google for “Churches Near Me.” That’s how a majority of people find churches to visit. Therefore, being visible on Google as one of the top results for searches is important to get found. One way to increase your visibility on Google is through their Rate & Review feature. Please consider rating and review Immanuel on Google by going to: https://g.page/r/CdbSahe0h2B0EAI/review

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR VBS . . . This year’s VBS is June 9–13. The theme for this year is UNBREAKABLE: A Journey through God’s Promises. Registration will begin in May.