THIS WEEK AT IMMANUEL
Sunday (12/19)
- 7:30 am—Divine Service of the Word (On-Line Video)
- 9:00 am—Divine Service with Holy Communion
- 10:30 am—Bible Class & Sunday School
- 11:15 am—Church Council Meeting
- 12:30 pm—Catechism Class
- 6:00 pm—Sunday School Christmas Service
Monday
- 7:30 pm—Voters’ Assembly Meeting
Friday
- 7:00 pm—Christmas Eve Divine Service
Saturday
- 9:00 am—Christmas Day Divine Service
Sunday (12/26)
- 7:30 am—Divine Service of the Word (On-Line Video)
- 9:00 am—Divine Service with Holy Communion
IN OUR PRAYERS
HEALTH CONCERNS: Bernita Ashwill; Rev. Paul Brink (cousin of Ann Carroll); Connie Bruns (cousin of Mary Appleby); Lynn Corrie (friend of Arleigh Jones); Ellie Crawford (daughter of Laran Crawford); Lisa Hall (sister of Holly Wikoff); Rick Hardesty (family of the Hoels); Kim Hausman (friend of Ann Carroll); Deanna Henningsen (sister-in-law of Jerry & Joyce Alexander); Reuben Hostetler; Becky Kappes; Mary Miller (friend of David Holzrichter); Dennis Pickett (friend of Ann Carroll); Joan Rahn; Emma Silver; Ocil Slone (grandfather of Josh & Jake Dyer); Carolyn Stremming (sister-in-law of Arleigh Jones); Dylan Taylor (friend of Becky Kappes), Doris Threet (sister of Wanda Long); Irene Wattjes; Lynn & Jane Whitson (parents of Mark Whitson); Brett Willoughby (friend of Matthew Waldrop); Dennis Wiltzius (father of Michelle Stumeier).
DEATHS: Family of Ruth Rentschler
SEMINARY STUDENT: Gunnar Campbell
DEACONESS STUDENT: Elizabeth Fodor.
MISSIONARIES: The Jastram Family; The McDermott Family, Julie Lutz
HOMEBOUND: Bernita Ashwill; Leona Czerwonka; Janet Pollock; Ruth Sims; Glen Stumeier; Irene Wattjes.
MILITARY: Carl Crawford; Josh Dyer; Jeremy Gordon; Jack Leonard; Jake Lindgren; Raymond Longtin; Joey Pollock; Blake Stokes; Scott Walter; Ruben Wilson.
THE ANNOUNCEMENTS
NEXT WEEK’S READINGS . . . Isaiah 11:1–5; Galatians 4:1–7; St. Luke 2:33–40.
ABOUT THIS WEEK’S READINGS . . . The coming of God in all His unveiled power at Mount Sinai was terrifying to the people of Israel. The thundering voice of the Lord puts sinners in fear of death (Deut. 18:15–19). God, therefore, raised up a prophet like Moses—the Messiah, the Christ. God came to His people veiled in human flesh. The skies poured down the Righteous One from heaven; the earth opened her womb and brought forth Salvation (Introit) through the blessed Virgin Mary, the mother of the Lord (Luke 1:39–56). The fruit of her womb is the very Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, the One whose sandal strap John was not worthy to loose (John 1:19–28). In Jesus we are delivered from fear and anxiety. In Him alone we have the peace of God which surpasses all understanding (Phil. 4:4–7).
THOUGHTS ABOUT STEWARDSHIP . . . Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Paul puts two things in opposition to each other: anxiety and prayer. So trade your worries for prayers! You have a Father who loves you and desires to hear your prayers and bless you.
THANK YOU . . . to the Board of Christian Education, the Sunday School and music teachers, the parents and students for sharing the good news of great joy that is ours because of the Savior, Christ the Lord, during the Sunday School Christmas Service. Your work and service is a blessing to our congregation and community.
CHRISTMAS CARDS FOR SEMINARY STUDENTS . . . If you’d like to send Christmas greetings to our seminary students, their addresses are: Mr. Gunnar Campbell and Elizabeth Fodor at: 6600 North Clinton Street, Fort Wayne, IN, 46825-4996.
NEW OFFICER INSTALLATION . . . will be Sunday, January 2, during the Divine Service immediately following the offering. If you are a newly-elected officer, please plan to attend. A reception will be held in the Fellowship Hall following the Divine Service to say thank you to out‑going, current, and in-coming officers. Their hard work and dedication are to be commended!
WHY? . . . Why do we worship on Sunday? In apostolic times, the Church was at prayer together daily, according to Acts 2: “They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, the breaking of bread and the prayers.” Even so, they reserved Sunday for the high feast, inasmuch as they recognized Sunday, the first day of the week, as the day when Christ arose from the dead. The Sabbath had been Saturday, of course, but this was fulfilled when Christ rested in the tomb on Holy Saturday. This is why the Apostle Paul declares that Sabbaths are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. So Sunday became the Church’s “high” day of worship, since Christ Himself not only arose on Sunday, But made His subsequent resurrected appearances also on Sundays throughout the forty days leading to His ascension. Then came Pentecost, the fiftieth day from Easter, also a Sunday. So it was Christ Himself who shifted the thinking of His people toward Sunday as the chief of days. Moreover, since, according to St. Luke’s Gospel, Jesus was recognized by the Emmaus disciples (on Sunday) in the breaking of the bread, and that phrase is repeated in Acts, so it was fitting that Sunday be also the chief day on which the Sacrament of the Altar was offered to the people. So it was, throughout the ages, that the Church, whether or not they assembled also on other days of the week, would always assemble every Sunday (which biblically begins on Saturday night), in order especially to receive the Lord’s Supper in the Divine Service.
SECRETARY OFFICE HOURS FOR NEXT WEEK . . . Debra’s office hours for the week of Christmas will be Monday and Tuesday, 8:00 am–3:00 pm, and Wednesday, 8:00 am–2:00 pm.
PASTOR WILL BE AWAY . . .visiting family for Christmas beginning Sunday, December 26 (after church) through Thursday, December 30. In case of emergency, you may reach him on his mobile phone, or contact one of the Elders.
CENTRAL ILLINOIS DISTRICT CONVENTION . . . Nominations forms for elected positions of leadership in the Central Illinois District are available on the literature table across from member mailboxes. All are asked to help with this process. If you are aware of someone who could serve at the District level in one of the positions where nominations are being sought you are encouraged to fill out the form and return it to the church office to forward to the District Nominations Committee. Please get the consent of the person you are nominating. All nominations forms are due at the District Office, 1850 N. Grand Ave. W., Springfield, IL 62702-1626, by December 31, 2021.
UPCOMING SPECIAL SERVICES AND EVENTS
- Monday, December 20 7:30 pm Voter’s Budget Meeting
- Friday, December 24 7:00 pm Christmas Eve Service
- *Saturday, December 25 9:00 am Christmas Day Service
- Friday, December 31 7:00 pm New Year’s Eve Service
* The Saturday night service is canceled on Christmas Day
IMMANUEL’S 125TH ANNIVERSARY COOKBOOK . . . The Board of Mission and Evangelism have prepared a cookbook for Immanuel’s 125th anniversary, which is next July. The cookbooks will be available in early December and cost $15.00. You may pr-order using the order form. They make great gifts for Christmas.
SERVICES ONLINE . . . A copy of the service bulletin, which includes all the responses and the hymns, is available at Immanuel’s website under the Sermons tab by clicking on the button labeled PDF. This video option will continue to be made available until our usual service times resume. You can access these online services in three places:
- On Immanuel’s Facebook page
- On Immanuel’s Website under the Sermons tab
- On Immanuel’s YouTube channel
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