God is with us in Word and Sacrament

Immanuel News & Notes (Advent 1)

THIS WEEK AT IMMANUEL

Sunday (12/3)

  • 9:00 am—Divine Service with Holy Communion
  • 10:30 am—Bible Class & Sunday School
  • 12:30 pm—Catechism Class
  • 4:30 pm—Live Nativity

Monday—Thursday

  • 7:30 am—Matins

Wednesday

  • 7:00 pm—Midweek Advent Serice

Saturday

  • 9:00 am—Immanuel Christmas Decorating
  • 3:30 pm—Individual Confession & Absolution
  • 5:30 pm—Divine Service with Holy Communion

Sunday (12/10)

  • 9:00 am—Divine Service with Holy Communion
  • 10:30 am—Bible Class & Sunday School
  • 12:30 pm—Catechism Class

IN OUR PRAYERS

HEALTH CONCERNS: Joyce Alexander; Mia Anderson (great-granddaughter of Joan Vukelich); Bernita Ashwill; Mark Ashwill; Randy Bergeson (friend of Pastor Braaten and Ann Carroll); Leonard Boerngen; Dale Brown (friend of Margaret Stilwell); Connie Hilgendorf Bruns (cousin of Mary Appleby); John Carico (brother of Greg Nau); Owen Clark (friend of Mark & Leigh Ann Whitson); Judy Cox (daughter of Ruth Sims); Ellie Crawford (daughter of Laran Crawford); Mike Ekstrom; Charles Gilbert (brother of Janice Arthur); Rev. Andrew Gray (friend of Pastor Braaten); Jim Harbaugh; Rick Hardesty (family of the Hoels); Kim Hausman (friend of Ann Carroll); Patti Heath (friend of the Hoels); Fred and Barbara Holste (friends of Arleigh and Mary Jane Jones); Rev. Ted Mitchell (pastor of Tuscola United Methodist Church); Bill & Mary Negangard (grandparents of Bryce Reifsteck); Janet Pollock; Ena Raaymakers (friend of Josh and Jaimee Whitson); Debbie Rahn (wife of Leroy Rahn); Ruth Rentschler; St. Paul, Sadorus; Carl Smith (husband of Lynnette Ashwill-Smith); Joy Stenger; Kevin Weaver (friend of Guy & Margie Stevens); Jill Zartler.

DEATH: Family and friends of Jimmee Barger (friend of the Alexanders); family and friends of Mike Kerner (friend of Josh and Jaimee Whitson).

SEMINARY STUDENT: Joshua Schiff.

DEACONESS STUDENT: Carolyn Walsh.

MISSIONARIES: Rev. Dr. Edward and Monica Naumann; Rev. Alan and Patricia Ludwig; Julie Lutz.

HOMEBOUND: Bernita Ashwill; Bessie Benson; Dolores Byers; Marylin Joergens; Joan Mulligan; Janet Pollock; Art Rahn; Ruth Rentschler.

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

THE ANNOUNCEMENTS

NEXT WEEK’S READINGS . . . Malachi 4:1–6; Romans 15:4–13; Luke 21:25–36.

ABOUT THIS WEEK’S READINGS . . . The new Church Year begins by focusing on the humble coming of our Lord. “Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey” (Matt. 21:5). Even as He was born in a lowly manger, so Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a beast of burden. For He bears the sin of the world. He is the Son of David riding to His enthronement on the cross, where He shows Himself to be “The LORD is our Righteousness” (Jer. 23:5–6). Our Lord still comes in great humility to deliver His righteousness to us in the Word and Sacraments. Before receiving Christ’s body and blood, we also sing, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” (Matt. 21:9) And as we receive the Sacrament, we set our hearts on His return in glory, for “our salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed” (Rom. 13:11).

THOUGHTS ABOUT STEWARDSHIP . . . Jeremiah 23:6 “And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The LORD is our righteousness.’” Jesus is our righteousness, our justification, our all. In Jesus we are forgiven and free. This knowledge sets us free to live as children of the Heavenly Father without fear. Freed from the supposed need to justify ourselves, good works can be done by us for the right reason: to thank God and to serve our neighbor.

REMINDER: ANGEL TREE . . . offering envelopes are due today, Sunday, December 3. There will be an Angel Tree envelope in your member mailbox. You can place cash or check payable to Immanuel in this envelope and place it in the offering on December 3 or return it to the church office on or before December 3. Thank you for your generosity in helping area children receive a few gifts under the Christmas Tree.

IMMANUEL’S LIVE NATIVITY . . . is tonight, Sunday, December 3, 2017, beginning at 4:30 pm. Everyone is invited to join in singing carols as cars drive through – the more carolers, the merrier! Snacks and drinks for the volunteers are always welcome, too!

WEDNESDAY BIBLE CLASSES . . . Looking Forward to Sunday Bible Study and Bible History Class will not meet during the Advent and Christmas season; classes will resume on Wednesday, January 10, 2018.

CHRISTMAS DECORATING . . . Saturday, December 9, 9:00 am. The Christmas season is near! With it come the sights, the sounds, and the fellowship that unite Christians as we anticipate the birth of our Savior. Come on December 9 to help put up the Christmas trees and decorations that beautify Immanuel. There will be decorating for the kids, too! Come and enjoy Christmas music, coffee, hot chocolate, juice, and doughnuts.

LWML COOKIE WALK . . . will be on Sunday, December 17, immediately following the morning Divine Service. A tin of cookies will be $7.00. More information will be included in upcoming bulletins.

POINSETTIA ORDER FORMS . . . are included in this week’s bulletins. Please complete and return them by Sunday, December 17. Poinsettias are $13.00 this year and, immediately following the Christmas Day service, can be taken and enjoyed at home.

THE SUNDAY SCHOOL CHRISTMAS SERVICE . . . will be Sunday, December 17. The service is at 6:00 pm, followed by cookies and punch hosted by the Board of Education. Join us for a Christmas Service where our children will remind us of the real reason for the season with all your favorite Christmas hymns and then food and fellowship.

2018 OFFERING ENVELOPES . . . are here and can be found in your mailboxes. The envelope boxes do not include communion cards as they have been discontinued by the supplier and are no longer available for our use. If you have any questions, please feel free to talk with Pastor Braaten or the Elders.

THE 2018 FLOWER CHART IS NOW AVAILABLE . . . Please sign up on the bulletin board across from member mailboxes. Flowers will be $35.00 again in 2018 and can be special ordered. Flowers can be taken home after the Sunday’s service.

2018 SCHEDULES OF VOLUNTEERS . . . are in appropriate member mailboxes. Please review them and let Leigh Ann know of any necessary changes. Thank you for your ongoing volunteerism!

A CHRISTMAS CANTATA . . . “Hope Was Born This Night” is scheduled for Saturday, December 9, 7:00 pm, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Sadorus. Come and enjoy an evening of Christmas Carols followed by the Cantata. A door offering will be taken with the proceeds going to the Crisis Nursery and the Sadorus Food Pantry.

GERMAN CHRISTMAS SERVICE . . . is Sunday, December 10, 4:00 pm, at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church, 645 Poplar Street in Terre Haute, Indiana. This is a wonderful opportunity to sing German Christmas hymns and carols, hear the Christmas Gospel and sermon in German, and afterwards, enjoy Gemütlichkeit in the Parish Center. English translation is available, so one need not know German to enjoy the service.

ST. JOHN’S MATTOON . . . warmly invites everyone to join them on Wednesday, December 13, 7:00 pm, as they celebrate the Nativity of our Lord with music by Michael Praetorius, Carl Schalk, John Rutter, and many more! The congregation will sing with the choir many beloved Christmas carols and hymns as we hear about the promises of the coming Messiah. A door offering will be taken with proceeds going to the St. John’s Organ Fund. For more information, please call St. John’s Lutheran Church at 217-234-4923.

YOU ARE INVITED . . . to the Camp CILCA Annual Banquet from 5:00–8:00 pm on January 28, 2018, at the fellowship hall of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Springfield. The evening includes musical entertainment, dinner, and guest presenter Rev. Dr. Joel Heck who will speak about the importance of Creation for Christian faith and life.  Tickets are $40 and can be purchased from the camp office at 217-415-2311 or camp@cilca.org.  Child care will also be available for $5.

LUTHERAN INDIAN MINISTRIES . . . will no longer be shipping devotion booklets to congregations. Individuals who have made a gift to LIM will still receive their book in the mail. Devotion books are available to download and print at home (lutheranindianministries.org/devotions), and free daily devotion emails are available by signing up at eepurl.com/urL8f.

UPCOMING SPECIAL SERVICES AND EVENTS

  • Saturday, December 2, 11:00 am—ChristmasTown Parade (Line up at 10:30)
  • Sunday, December 3, 4:30 pm—Live Nativity
  • Wednesday, December 6, 7:00 pm—Advent Midweek Service
  • Saturday, December 9, 9:00 am—Immanuel Christmas Decorating
  • Sunday, December 10, 10:20 am—Sunday School Christmas Service practice
  • Wednesday, December 13, 7:00 pm—Advent Midweek Service
  • Sunday, December 17. 10:15 am—LWML Cookie Walk
    • 10:20 am—Sunday School Christmas Service practice
    • 6:00 pm—Sunday School Christmas Service
  • Monday, December 18, 7:30 pm—Voter’s Budget Meeting
  • Wednesday, December 20,7:00 pm—Advent Midweek Service
  • Sunday, December 24, 7:00 pm—Christmas Eve Service with Communion
  • Monday, December 25, 9:00 am—Christmas Day Service with Communion
  • Tuesday, December 26—Immanuel Offices Closed
  • There will be no evening New Year’s Eve Service since New Year’s Eve falls on Sunday

GREETERS

THIS WEEK

  • Kenny & Tammy Kresin (West)
  • Tim & Teri Pollock (East)

NEXT WEEK

  • Donna Campbell (West)
  • Dave & Michelle Stumeier (East)

COMMUNION HELPERS

THIS WEEK

  • Jack Appleby
  • Sue Rothe; Marissa Russo

NEXT WEEK

  • Jack Appleby
  • Sue Rothe; Lexie Russo

ACOLYTES

THIS WEEK

  • Ethan Stumeier (Crucifer)
  • Caleb Stumeier (Torches)
  • Jake Dyer (Torches)
  • Caiden Russo (Gospel)

NEXT WEEK

  • Coulson Poffenberger (Crucifer)
  • Jake Dyer (Torches)
  • Oliver Braaten (Torches)
  • Isaak Burgener (Gospel)

COFFEE COMMITTEE

  • Janet Stumeier—December
  • Josh & Jaimee Whitson—January

FUNERAL CHAIR

  • Sharon Allen & Scott Dallas—December
  • Joan Vukelich—January

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