THIS WEEK AT IMMANUEL

Sunday (1/4)

• 9:00 am—Divine Service with Holy Communion
• 10:30 am—Bible Class & Sunday School
• 11:30 am—Parent/Pastor Catechism Meeting

Monday—Wednesday

• 7:30 am—Matins

Monday

• 7:30 pm—Men’s Club

Saturday

• 5:30 pm—Divine Service with Holy Communion

Sunday (1/11)

• 9:00 am—Divine Service with Holy Communion
• 10:30 am—Bible Class
• 11:15 am—Church Council Meeting
• 11:30 am—Welcome Pot Luck for Allison Gummerus

Monday

• 9:00 am—Classical Conversations Home School Coop
• 5:00 pm—Board of Mission & Evangelism
• 6:00 pm—Board of Education
• 7:00 pm—Board of Elders

IN OUR PRAYERS

HEALTH CONCERNS: Mia Anderson (great-granddaughter of Joan Vukelich); Jack Appleby (surgery); Lorraine Best (friend of Ann Carroll); Brenda Bunting (friend of Ann Carroll); Ellie Crawford (daughter of Laran Crawford); Darrell Ford; Jim Harbaugh; Andrea Kleiboeker (sister of Jim Dyer); Erica Kremitzki; Amy Lee (sister of Jim Dyer); Steve Leonard (son of Betty Leonard); Laurie McMillen; Barb Pearson (friend of Joyce Alexander); Virginia Poke (sister of Anne Koss); Fred Rahn (son of Joan Rahn); Harold Wattjes.

SEMINARY STUDENT: Dustin Fry.

DEACONESS STUDENT: Allison Gummerus.

HOMEBOUND: Bernita Ashwill; Bessie Benson; Cora Jahnke; Joan Mulligan; Neil Oliger; Corinne Oye; Art Rahn; Ruth Rentschler.

MILITARY: 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 . . . Isaiah 42:1–7; 1 Corinthians 1:26–31; Matthew 3:13–17.

ABOUT THIS WEEK’S READINGS . . . Israel and all his family went and dwelt in Egypt (Gen. 46:1–7). God made a great nation of him there, but that nation would prove unfaithful to the Lord. Therefore, the New Israel came. In fleeing the murderous Herod, our young Lord goes to Egypt (Matt. 2:13–23), that the prophecy might be fulfilled, “Out of Egypt I called my Son” (Hos. 11:1). Jesus brings to perfection what old Israel could not. He is the faithful Israel, the embodiment of the people of God. He offers His perfect and holy life in place of our own. He submits Himself to persecution and suffering in order to save us. Therefore, we should not think it strange when we who are in Christ experience trials because of the faith (1 Pet. 4:12–19). Rather, we rejoice to share in Christ’s sufferings, knowing that we will also share in His glory.

THOUGHTS ABOUT STEWARDSHIP . . . Genesis 46:6 “They also took their livestock and their goods, which they had gained in the land of Canaan . . .” Look at all the temporal blessings that God gave to Jacob! We have also been greatly blessed to live in a land of freedom and prosperity. Shouldn’t that make us thankful and generous?

MATINS IS CANCELLED THIS THURSDAY . . . because Pastor will be away for a follow-up visit at The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota for his recurring cough. He will be away Thursday, January 8, and Friday, January 9. If you have an emergency, you may call his mobile phone or one of the Elders (Steve Hilgendorf, Ronald Legg, Bryce Reifsteck, or Mark Whitson).

THE FLOWERS ON THE ALTAR . . . are given by Greg & Celeste Nau to the glory of God on the occasion of their wedding anniversary.

THE 2015 CHURCH OFFICERS . . . will be installed today, Sunday, January 4, during the 9:00 am Divine Service.

THANK YOU . . . for your generosity and kindness you have shown us. The church has been a great blessing and God’s perfect provision! Please accept this donation ($175.00) as a token of our gratitude. The Families of CC Home School Coop

POINSETTIAS . . . may be taken home after the Divine Service today, Sunday, January 4, 2015. If you forget, they will be in the kitchen on the counter.

DEACONESS STUDENT, ALLISON GUMMERUS . . . will be visiting Immanuel on the weekend of January 10–11. We will have a pot luck to welcome her on that Sunday, January 11, after Bible Class.

CATECHISM CLASS . . . is canceled next Sunday, January 11, due to the pot luck. We will make up this class over the next couple of weeks.

A NOTE FROM ALLISON GUMMERUS . . . “Merry Christmas! Thank you so much for your gifts and for your prayers. I appreciate your support so much. I pray you all enjoy celebrating the gifts God has given us—but most especially celebrating the gift of His only-begotten Son. May the peace and joy we have in Christ be with you all!” To read what else Allison wrote, see the Christmas Card posted on our Adopt-A-Student bulletin board by the Fellowship Hall.

GREETERS

THIS WEEK

• Joan Vukelich (West)
• Laverl Byers (East)

NEXT WEEK

• Ruth Sims (West)
• Tim & Teri Pollock (East)

COMMUNION HELPERS

THIS WEEK

• Steve Hilgendorf
• Carol Munson; Marissa Russo

NEXT WEEK

• Steve Hilgendorf
• Carol Munson; Lexie Russo

ACOLYTES

THIS WEEK

• Gunnar Campbell (Crucifer)
• Caleb Stumeier (Torches)
• Coulson Poffenberger (Torches)
• Ethan Stumeier (Gospel)

NEXT WEEK

• Gunnar Campbell (Crucifer)
• Ethan Stumeier (Torches)
• Josh Dyer (Torches)
• Caleb Stumeier (Gospel)

COFFEE COMMITTEE

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