THIS WEEK AT IMMANUEL
Sunday (4/21)
- 9:00 am—Divine Service with Holy Communion
- 10:15 am—Bible Class & Sunday School
- 11:30 am—Voters’ Assembly Meeting
- 2:30 pm—Nursing Home Service
Monday
- 7:00 am—Matins
Tuesday
- 7:00 am—Matins
- 4:15 pm—Catechism Class
Wednesday
- 7:00 am—Matins
Saturday
- 5:30 pm Divine Service with Holy Communion
Sunday (4/28)
- 9:00 am—Divine Service with Holy Communion
- 10:15 am—Bible Class & Sunday School
- 6:00 pm—Youth Group Event
IN OUR PRAYERS
HEALTH CONCERNS: Joyce Alexander; Connie Bruns (cousin of Mary Appleby); Tim Burk (friend of Joan Vukelich); Brad Butler (friend of Hilgendorfs); Chelle Carson (friend of Dave Holzrichter); Rena Carson (friend of Dave Holzrichter); Darren Cooper (friend of Joan Vukelich); Tammy Dolman (friend of Hilgendorfs); Tim Flynn (friend of Dave Holzrichter); Nash Foreman (friend of Sofie Reifsteck); Rick Hardesty (family of the Hoels); Kim Hausman (friend of Ann Carroll); Deanna Henningsen (sister-in-law of Jerry & Joyce Alexander); Julie Holzrichter (sister-in-law of Dave Holzrichter); Matthew Hostetler (nephew of Dorothy Hostetler); Mary Houvanagle (friend of Hilgendorfs); John Lamkin (friend of Dave Slaughter); Lisa McGill (friend of Dave Holzrichter); Larry Munro (father of Megan Hilgendorf); Steven Pingolt (friend of Mathew Waldrop); Rebecca (friend of Celeste Nau); Emma Silver; Wendy Stata (aunt of Pastor Braaten); John Stewart (grandson of Laura VanCleave); Michael Stumeier (grandson of Dave & Michelle Stumeier); Kim Travis (friend of Jamiee Whitson); Lausanne Walter (mother of Tiffany Cash); Lynn & Jane Whitson (parents of Mark Whitson).
DEATHS: Family and friends of Leona Czerwonka.
SEMINARY STUDENT: David Scarborough, Jackson Scofield.
MISSIONARIES: The Jastram Family (Japan); The Preus Family (Romania)
HOMEBOUND: Bernita Ashwill; Janet Pollock; Ruth Sims; Glen Stumeier.
MILITARY: Carl Crawford; Josh Dyer; Jeremy Gordon; Jack Leonard; Jake Lindgren; Raymond Longtin; Blake Stokes; Scott Walter.
THE ANNOUNCEMENTS
NEXT WEEK’S READINGS . . . Isaiah 12:1–6; James 1:16–21; John 16:5–15.
ABOUT THIS WEEK’S READINGS . . . The people of God are pilgrims and sojourners in this world, looking ahead to a destination yet to come (1 Peter 2:11–20). Though we are now children of God, the fullness of what we shall be has not yet been revealed (1 John 3:1–3). We are those who wait on the Lord. “The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him” (Lam. 3:25). Jesus tells us that the wait is just a little while. “A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me” (John 16:16). Though you must experience sorrow for a time, though you must live as strangers in a world that is at enmity with Christ, yet your sorrow will be turned to joy when He returns. “But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength” (Is. 40:31). The little while of weeping shall be replaced with an eternity of rejoicing in the presence of Christ the crucified and risen Savior. “And no one will take your joy from you” (John 16:22).
THOUGHTS ABOUT STEWARDSHIP . . . 1 Peter 2:11—“Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.” Surely one of the “passions of the flesh” we all struggle with is greed: the desire to have more things to bring us comfort and peace of mind. But that shows us the real problem with greed: it wages war against our soul—it urges us to place our trust in the things of this world and not in God. But St. Peter reminds us that we are sojourners and exiles: we belong to the Kingdom of God. We have been purchased by the blood of Christ and belong to Him.
PASTOR’S OFFICE HOURS & CONTACT INFO . . . Pastor Braaten will be in his office Monday–Thursday, 9:00 am –12:00 pm, unless stated otherwise. You may contact him for other appointments and visits by phone (O) 217.253.4341, (H) 217.253.4539, or (M) 217.460.2077, or by e-mail pastor.braaten@gmail.com.
APPLICATIONS FOR THE ILC COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP . . . sponsored by the Board of Missions and Evangelism are now being accepted. The deadline is May 1, 2024. Applications are available by contacting Pastor.
SEMINARIAN JACKSON SCOFIELD . . . will be visiting us this weekend. He will be preaching and available during Bible class for questions on how his studies are progressing, what the rest of this year will be like, and what is coming next year.
THANK YOU . . . to the anonymous person who left the kind and thoughtful card and gift on my desk for me and my family. Your goodness is known to the Lord, and we give thanks to Him for all the gifts He showers upon us. Next to His Son, His people are the best. Thank you. Pastor and Lauren.
TO THE SAINTS OF IMMANUEL . . . We may not be feeding 5000 this weekend, but the 105 young adults flooding UniLu are just as important. Thank you for knowing it and for remembering their needs (and ours!). Thank you for feeding us all kinds of delights—brats, hotdogs, cookies, candy, chips, pretzels—and for helping these precious people know that they are loved in the body of Christ. Certainly, we are encouraged by that love. Yours in Christ, Pastor Michael & Katie Schuermann and all of University Lutheran Church, UIUC.
IMMANUEL JUNIOR CHOIR . . . will be singing on Sunday, April 28. Choir members, please come up to the choir loft prior to the start of the service. Thank you!
NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER . . . The Tuscola Ministerial Alliance is hosting its annual National Day of Prayer lunch on Thursday, May 2. Prayers for our nation and people will be offered 12:05 pm–12:35 pm. A soup luncheon follows immediately afterward. Immanuel has been asked to provide a few pots of chili. If you’re able to help out, please let Pastor Braaten know.
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