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Immanuel News & Notes (Baptism of Our Lord)

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THIS WEEK AT IMMANUEL

Sunday (1/10)

  • 9:00 am—Divine Service with Holy Communion
  • 10:30 am—Bible Class & Sunday School
  • 11:15 am—Church Council Meeting
  • 11:30 am—Catechism Class

Monday–Thursday

  • 7:30 am—Matins

Monday

  • 5:00 pm—Board of Mission & Evangelism
  • 6:00 pm—Board of Education
  • 6:30 pm—Board of Trustees
  • 7:00 pm—Board of Elders

Tuesday

  • 9:00 am—Classical Conversations Home School Coop
  • 9:00 am—Mattoon Circuit Meeting

Saturday

  • 5:30 pm—Divine Service with Holy Communion

Sunday (1/17)

  • 9:00 am—Divine Service with Holy Communion
  • 10:30 am—Bible Class & Sunday School
  • 11:15 am—Church Council Meeting
  • 11:30 am—Catechism Class

Monday (1/18)

  • 7:30 pm—Voter’s Assembly Meeting

IN OUR PRAYERS

HEALTH CONCERNS: Mia Anderson (great-granddaughter of Joan Vukelich); Ava Binion (schoolmate of Regann Bowles); Brenda Bunting (friend of Ann Carroll); Ellie Crawford (daughter of Laran Crawford); Don Czerwonka; DeDe Eversole; Virginia Goble (friend of Joyce Alexander); Jim Harbaugh; Kim Hausman (friend of Ann Carroll); Adriane Heins (sister of Lauren Braaten); Joel Hilgendorf; Dennis Lee (nephew of Dolores Ford); Scott McCumber (friend of the Russos) Laurie McMillen; Tiffany Meyer (friend of Rachel DeWitt); Sandra Oehmke (sister of Joan Vukelich); Rev. Lynn Podoll; Fred Rahn (son of Joan Rahn); Sara Urban (wife of Ron Urban); Bob Vukelich (husband of Joan Vukelich); Harold Wattjes.

BIRTHS: Georgia Joelle Heins (daughter of Chris & Adriane Heins)

SEMINARY STUDENT: Hayden Folks.

DEACONESS STUDENT: Katelyn Lower.

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

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

THE ANNOUNCEMENTS

NEXT WEEK’S READINGS . . . Exodus 34:29–35; 2 Peter 1:16–20; Matthew 17:1–9.

ABOUT THIS WEEK’S READINGS . . . Our Lord Jesus is baptized “to fulfill all righteousness” (Matt. 3:13–17). He partakes of a baptism for sinners in order that He might be our substitute and bear the judgment we deserve. In the water, Jesus trades places with us. Our sin becomes His sin. His righteousness becomes our righteousness. Our glory, therefore, is in “Christ Jesus, who became to us . . . righteousness and sanctification and redemption” (1 Cor. 1:26–31). Jesus is the “chosen” One sent from the Father to release us from the prison house of sin and death (Is. 42:1–7). Baptized into Christ, we also become the chosen ones, beloved of the Father. We cross the Jordan with Jesus (Joshua 3) through death into the promised land of new life with God.

THOUGHTS ABOUT STEWARDSHIP . . . Matthew 3:14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” John is right: what Jesus is doing makes no sense! But this is the upside down, outlandish grace of God: the innocent Jesus takes our sinner’s place. This is the greatest act of giving the world has ever known or will know: The Father gives His Son to die in the place of sinners.

THE ALTAR FLOWERS . . . are given by Tim & Sherrie Hoel in memory of Agnes Joan Spence to the glory of God on the occasion of the commemoration of her birthday.

POINSETTIAS . . . If you forgot to take home your Christmas Poinsettia, they are in the kitchen on the counter.

PASTOR WILL BE AWAY . . . January 20–22 for the annual pastors’ conference at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana. If you need assistance you may contact him on his mobile phone or call one of the Elders (Ronald Legg, Greg Nau, Bryce Reifsteck, Mark Whitson).

MEN’S BIBLE STUDY . . . On Sunday, January 17, 7:00 pm, at Bryce Reifsteck’s home, a new Men’s Bible Study will begin. We will meet monthly at someone’s home to talk about the Bible, Lutheran Theology, our vocations as husbands, fathers, sons, and workers, over good food and barley sodas. Bring your own favorite beverage and an appetizer to pass, plus your Bible.

LOOKING FORWARD TO SUNDAY BIBLE STUDY . . . Beginning on Wednesday, February 17, at 10:00 am, Pastor will offer a new weekly Bible Study looking at all the Propers (Introit, Gradual, Collect of the Day, and the Readings) for the coming Sunday. This will go into more depth on the things that don’t make it into the sermon. So if you’ve ever read or heard something in church from one of these readings and wondered more about it, this will be another opportunity, besides Sunday morning Bible Class, to explore it further.

HOMECARE PARTNERS, LLC . . . is a company based in Mattoon, Illinois, that provides in-home care services for people in need. If you or your loved one is looking for a reliable person to help with daily needs such as grocery shopping, cleaning, laundry, and transport, Homecare Partners can help. For more information, call Tish Kirk at (217) 246-7065 or (217) 234-3763.

GREETERS

THIS WEEK

  • Laverl Byers (West)
  • Ruth Sims (East)

NEXT WEEK

  • Tim & Teri Pollock (West)
  • Donna Campbell (East)

COMMUNION HELPERS

THIS WEEK

  • Greg Nau
  • Carol Munson; Lexie Russo

NEXT WEEK

  • Greg Nau
  • Carol Munson; Cassie Russo

ACOLYTES

THIS WEEK

  • Caleb Stumeier (Crucifer)
  • Ethan Stumeier (Torches)
  • Coulson Poffenberger (Torches)
  • Oliver Braaten (Gospel)

NEXT WEEK

  • Ethan Stumeier (Crucifer)
  • Caleb Stumeier (Torches)
  • Josh Dyer (Torches)
  • Oliver Braaten (Gospel)

COFFEE COMMITTEE

  • Pastor & Lauren Braaten—January
  • Craig & Carol Munson—February

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