THIS WEEK AT IMMANUEL
Sunday (7/19)
- 9:00 am—Divine Service
Sunday (7/26)
- 9:00 am—Divine Service
IN OUR PRAYERS
HEALTH CONCERNS: Jerry & Joyce Alexander; Clancy Appleby (nephew of Jack Appleby); Ryan Bailey (friend of Celeste Nau); Jami Bowles; Cheryl Bozarth (friend of Hilgendorfs); Ruth Bretz; Brad Butler (friend of Hilgendorfs); Darla Combs (friend of Dave Holzrichter); Crystal Davis (friend of Dave Slaughter); Tim Flynn (friend of Dave Holzrichter); Nash Foreman (friend of Sofie Reifsteck); Randy Frye (friend of Dave Slaughter); Jerry Graham (teacher of Charlotte Cash); Rick Hardesty (family of the Hoels); Kim Hausman (friend of Ann Carroll); Julie Holzrichter (sister-in-law of Dave Holzrichter); Nancy Holzrichter (wife of Dave Holzrichter); Dorothy Hostetler; Mary Houvanagle (friend of Hilgendorfs); Anya Knecht (daughter of Gretchen Krieger); Bob Kresin; John Lamkin (friend of Dave Slaughter); Lois Love (sister of Mary Appleby, Ruth Bretz, Steve Hilgendorf); Kelli Manning (cousin of Joan Vukelich); Mike Marana (friend of Josh Whitson); Candace McElhaney (daughter of Corky Fields); Cathy Minear (friend of Josh and Jaimee Whitson); Rev. Doug Meyer; Noah Luke Owen; Tresa Pollock; Jo Richner (mother of Leigh Ann Whitson); Brent Reifsteck (brother of Bryce Reifsteck); Denny Reifsteck (cousin of Joan Vukelich); Emma Silver; Kim Travis (friend of Jaimee Whitson); John Waldrop (father of Matthew Waldrop); Lynn Whitson (father of Mark Whitson); Darlene Wiesner (cousin of Joan Vukelich).
SEMINARY STUDENT: Ethan Baumbach; Reece Parlier.
MISSIONARIES: The Jastram Family (Japan); The Preus Family (Romania).
HOMEBOUND: Bernita Ashwill; Wanda Long; Janet Pollock; Joan Rahn.
MILITARY: Carl Crawford; Josh Dyer; Jeremy Gordon; David W. Holzrichter; Jack Leonard; Jake Lindgren; Raymond Longtin.
CHURCH NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
NEXT WEEK’S READINGS . . . Genesis 2:7–17; Romans 6:19–23; Mark 8:1–9.
ABOUT THIS WEEK’S READINGS . . . “Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matt 5:20). God demands nothing less than perfection and holiness from you in regard to His commandments (Ex. 20:1–17). Your only hope, then, is not in your own goodness but in the goodness of Christ, who did not come to destroy the Law and the Prophets, but to fulfill them for you. In Christ, your righteousness does indeed exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees. For you have been baptized into Christ’s death and your sinful nature crucified. Therefore, he who has died has been freed from sin (Rom. 6:1–11). You are now raised with Christ to walk in newness of life and to share in His resurrection on the Last Day. Christ has brought you through the baptismal sea “out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery” (Ex. 20:2). Therefore, “consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 6:11).
THOUGHTS ABOUT STEWARDSHIP . . . Matthew 5:24 “First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” Our giving to the Lord’s work is part of our wider Christian life. The Lord wants us to walk in His ways in all we do—He wants our hearts united to His. It’s not our gift the Lord wants—it is our very selves in all we think, say, and do.
ALTAR FLOWERS . . . are given by Mark & Leigh Whitson to the glory of God for the blessings of family.
ALTAR GUILD, COFFEE COMMITTEE, & FUNERAL CHAIR . . . For July, the Altar Guild is Ann Carroll and Willa Braaten. Coffee Committee is the Andrésens. July Funeral Chair is Krista Freebairn. For August, the Altar Guild is Dorothy Hostetler and Naomi Furtek. Coffee Committee is the Munsons. August Funeral Chair is Celeste Nau.
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
Volunteers Needed for Altar Guild and Funeral Chair . . . We are looking for volunteers to serve in these important areas of congregational life Altar Guild and Funeral Chair. If you are willing to serve in either of these areas—or would like to learn more—please sign up in the narthex or contact the church office. Your service is a blessing to our congregation and to all who gather here in Christ’s name.
PEACE MEAL VOLUNTEERS NEEDED — AUGUST . . . Each weekday in August, volunteers are needed to deliver Peace Meals to neighbors in need. Deliveries run Monday–Friday, 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. — a two-hour commitment. You may sign up for a full week or just a few days. If you are able to serve, contact Tim Stumeier at (217) 841-4218.
LCMS Young Singles Retreat: . . . Saint John Lutheran Church in Sycamore invites LCMS singles (high school graduates thru age 30ish, not dating, dating, even engaged) to join them on Saturday, August 1 (1:00-7:00pm) for a Singles Retreat titled The Underappreciated Love: Philia. This retreat will feature a prayer office, presentations by Pr. David Petersen, indoor and outdoor activities, food, and fun. Participants are welcome to hang around after 7:00pm to visit and/or play board games. Come and get to know other LCMS singles who faithfully confess Jesus Christ and the one true faith. More info and registration are available: https://stjohnsycamore.360unite.com/singles-retreat. Saint John is located at 26555 Brickville Road in Sycamore, Illinois.
PASTOR WILL BE AWAY . . . Monday, July 13–Friday, July 31, for vacation. In case of emergency, please call his mobile phone, or contact one of the Elders.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT DIVINE SERVICE . . . is canceled while Pastor is away on vacation. Services will resume on Wednesday, August 5, 6pm.
REGISTER FOR THE NOT ASHAMED CONFERENCE . . . Go ahead and mark your calendar right now for the 2026 Not Ashamed conference to be held at the Tuscola Community Building on Saturday, August 29, 9:00 am! Our guest speaker is Rev. Bryan Wolfmueller who is a well-known pastor, author, and podcaster. The theme is Not Ashamed of the Cross — Speaking the Truth Clearly in a Confused Age. This conference will help ordinary Christians understand why the faith will always offend, what must be confessed without apology, and how to speak the truth without fear or belligerence — in a way that remains accessible to all. We would love to see each and every one of you there. Plan now to attend and bring a friend! — register at immanueltuscola.org/not-ashamed-conference
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