THIS WEEK AT IMMANUEL
Sunday (12/8)
- 9:00 am—Divine Service with Holy Communion
- 10:30 am—Bible Class & Christmas Service Practice
Monday
- 7:30 am—Matins
- 5:00 pm—Board of Mission & Evangelism
- 6:00 pm—Board of Christian Education
- 6:30 pm—Board of Trustees
- 7:00 pm—Board of Elders
Tuesday
- 7:30 am—Matins
- 9:00 am—Mattoon Circuit Meeting (Paris, IL)
Wednesday
- 7:30 am—Matins
- 7:00 pm—Advent Midweek Service
Thursday
- 7:30 am—Matins
Saturday
- 3:30 pm—Individual Confession & Absolution
- 5:30 pm—Divine Service with Holy Communion
Sunday (12/15)
- 9:00 am—Divine Service with Holy Communion
- 10:30 am—Bible Class & Christmas Service Practice
- 11:30 am—Voters Assembly Meeting
- 6:00 pm—Sunday School Christmas Program
IN OUR PRAYERS
HEALTH CONCERNS: Joyce & Jerry Alexander; Claire Baud (friend of Rachel DeWitt); Connie Bruns (cousin of Mary Appleby); Brad Butler (friend of Hilgendorfs); Chelle Carson (friend of Dave Holzrichter); Rena Carson (friend of Dave Holzrichter); Darla Combs (friend of Dave Holzrichter); Darren Cooper (friend of Joan Vukelich); Crystal Davis (friend of Dave Slaughter); Ben, LaNéce, & Baby Dyer (family of Greg & Celeste Nau); Tim Flynn (friend of Dave Holzrichter); Nash Foreman (friend of Sofie Reifsteck); Les Hall; Rick Hardesty (family of the Hoels); Kim Hausman (friend of Ann Carroll); Nyle Hoke; Julie Holzrichter (sister-in-law of Dave Holzrichter); Mary Houvanagle (friend of Hilgendorfs); Ashley Kerns (friend of Joan Vukelich); John Lamkin (friend of Dave Slaughter); Mike Marana (friend of Josh Whitson); Lisa McGill (friend of Dave Holzrichter); Steven Pingolt (friend of Mathew Waldrop); Rebecca (friend of Celeste Nau); Emma Silver; John Stewart (grandson of Laura VanCleave); Janet Stumeier; Kim Travis (friend of Jaimee Whitson); Lausanne Walter (mother of Tiffany Cash); Lynn Whitson (father of Mark Whitson).
SEMINARY STUDENT: Jacob Garrison; Nicholas Sinatra.
MISSIONARIES: The Jastram Family (Japan); The Preus Family (Romania)
HOMEBOUND:Bernita Ashwill; Janet Pollock; Joan Rahn; Ruth Sims.
MILITARY: Carl Crawford; Josh Dyer; Jeremy Gordon; Jack Leonard; Jake Lindgren; Raymond Longtin; Blake Stokes; Scott Walter.
THE ANNOUNCEMENTS
NEXT WEEK’S READINGS . . . Isaiah 40:1–8; 1 Corinthians 4:1–5; Matthew 11:2–10.
ABOUT THIS WEEK’S READINGS . . . The day on which our Lord returns will be a “great and awesome day” (Mal. 4:5). For He will come in a cloud with great power and glory. To the wicked and the proud, it will be a Day of judgment that will “set them ablaze” (Mal. 4:1). The signs preceding this Day will bring them fear and fainting. But to those who believe, who fear the name of the Lord, this Day is one to look forward to and rejoice in: “. . . straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near” (Luke 21:28). Christ our Redeemer is coming; the Sun of Righteousness will bring healing in His wings. Let us, then, give attention to the words of the Lord, which do not pass away. Let us “through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures” (Rom. 15:4) be strengthened in our hope by the Holy Spirit and watch diligently for Jesus’ coming. Then, by God’s grace, we shall escape all these things that will come to pass and stand before the Son of Man.
THOUGHTS ABOUT STEWARDSHIP . . . Romans 15:4 “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction.” God’s Word was given to us to bless us. The Bible warns us of our sin and points us to Christ for our salvation. The Bible also instructs us as to how to live out our Christians lives—this is the “third use of the Law.” As Christians we should welcome this instruction in humble faith.
REMINDER: IMMANUEL BOARDS MEET . . . on Monday, December 9. If you have not done so already, please submit your 2024 budget request to the church office as soon as possible following your board meeting.
THE NEXT VOTERS’ ASSEMBLY MEETING . . . is Sunday, December 15, 11:30 Am. This is the annual meeting where next year’s budget is approved and for the election of next year’s officers.
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 for both Senior and Junior members to sign up.
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL CHRISTMAS SERVICE . . . will be Sunday, December 15. The service is at 6:00 pm, followed by refreshments 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.
POINSETTIA ORDER FORMS . . . are located on the table by this weekend’s bulletins. Please complete and return them by Sunday, December 15. Poinsettias are $13.00 this year and can be taken and enjoyed at home immediately following the Christmas Day service.
CHRISTMAS CARDS FOR SEMINARY STUDENTS . . . If you’d like to send Christmas greetings to our seminary students, their addresses are: Mr. Jacob Garrison and Mr. Nicholas Sinatra, at: 6600 North Clinton Street, Fort Wayne, Indiana, 46825-4996.
BOARD OF MISSIONS & EVANGELISM . . . will be selling our church cookbooks again this Holiday season. They are $15 each. See one of the Board members: Terra Waldrop, Lauren Braaten, Ann Carroll, or Deborah Reifsteck.
UPCOMING SERVICES AND EVENTS
- Sunday, December 1 — 10:20 am, Sunday School Christmas Service practice
- Wednesday, December 4 — 7:00 pm, Advent Midweek Service
- Friday, December 6 — 5:30 pm, Christmastown Parade (Line up at 5:30 pm)
- Saturday, December 7 — 9:00 am, Immanuel Christmas Decorating
- Sunday, December 8 — 10:20 am, Sunday School Christmas Service practice
- Sunday, December 8 — 12:45 pm, Youth Group leaves for Dance
- Wednesday, December 11 — 7:00 pm, Advent Midweek Service
- Sunday, December 15 — 10:20 am, Sunday School Christmas Service practice
- Sunday, December 15 — 11:30 am, Voters’ Assembly
- Sunday, December 15 — 6:00 pm, Sunday School Christmas Service
- Wednesday, December 18 — 7:00 pm, Advent Midweek Service
- Tuesday, December 24 — 7:00 pm, Christmas Eve Service with Communion
- Wednesday, December 25 — 9:00 am, Christmas Day Service with Communion
- Thursday, December 26 — Immanuel Offices Closed
- Tuesday, December 31 — 7:00 pm, New Year’s Eve Service
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