God is with us in Word and Sacrament

Immanuel News & Notes (Epiphany 1)


THIS WEEK AT IMMANUEL

Saturday

  • 9:00 am—Take down Christmas Decorations
  • 3:30 pm—Individual Confession & Absolution
  • 5:30 pm—Divine Service with Holy Communion

Sunday (1/8)

  • 9:00 am—Divine Service with Holy Communion (Installation of New Officers)
  • 10:30 am—Bible Class
  • 11:30 am—Church Council Meeting

Monday

  • 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

Wednesday

  • 7:00 pm—Bible History Class

Saturday

  • 3:30 pm—Individual Confession & Absolution
  • 5:30 pm—Divine Service with Holy Communion

Sunday (1/15)

  • 9:00 am—Divine Service with Holy Communion
  • 10:30 am—Bible Class & Sunday School
  • 11:30 am—Voters’ Assembly Meeting

IN OUR PRAYERS

HEALTH CONCERNS: Bernita Ashwill; Connie Bruns (cousin of Mary Appleby); Brad Butler (friend of the Hilgendorf’s); Connie Coats; Lynn Corrie (friend of Arleigh Jones); Dillon (friend of Dave Holzrichter); Nash  Foreman (friend of Sofie Reifsteck); Lisa Hall (sister of Holly Wikoff); Rick Hardesty (family of the Hoels); Kim Hausman (friend of Ann Carroll); Adriane & Baby  Heins (sister of Lauren Braaten)  Deanna Henningsen (sister-in-law of Jerry & Joyce Alexander); Glenda  Klim (sister-in-law of Irene Wattjes); John  Lamkin (friend of Dave Slaughter); Kurt McDaniel (friend of Joan Vukelich); Joan Rahn; Emma Silver; Carolyn Stremming (sister-in-law of Arleigh Jones); Doris Threet (sister of Wanda Long); Irene Wattjes; Lynn & Jane Whitson (parents of Mark Whitson); Brooklyn  Wiegel (great granddaughter of Linda Brewer); Brett Willoughby (friend of Matthew Waldrop).

SEMINARY STUDENT: Gunnar Campbell, Preus Hasselbrook

DEACONESS STUDENT: Elizabeth (Fodor) Dobbelaire.

MISSIONARIES: The Jastram Family

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; Blake Stokes; Scott Walter.

THE ANNOUNCEMENTS

NEXT WEEK’S READINGS . . . Exodus 33:12–23; Ephesians 5:22–23; John 2:1–11.

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.

REMINDER: CHURCH COUNCIL MEETS . . . today, Sunday, January 8, at 11:30 am.

BOARD MEMBERS . . . For those new to serving on Immanuel boards and for those moving from one board to another, please note meeting times for Monday evening, which are listed under This Week at Immanuel. Thank you for serving!

VOTERS’ ASSEMBLY . . . will hold their 1st quarter 2023 meeting on Sunday, January 15, at 11:30 am.

LAST OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE POINSETTIAS . . . If you would like your poinsettia, but have not taken it from the kitchen, please take it with you this weekend.

BELIEVE, BELONG, BECOME . . . Each week a new E-NEWSLETTER will be delivered called BELIEVE, BELONG, BECOME. It’s a tagline of sorts for our mission as Christians in this world. We BELIEVE that Jesus Christ purchased and won us from sin, death, and the devil with His own blood. Therefore, we BELONG to Him and in Him we belong to one another, so that we BECOME like Him as we mature in faith toward God and fervent love toward one another. There will be three sections in this e-mail. The BELIEVE section will highlight something we believe from the Catechism for us to review throughout the week. The BELONG section will give names of various people in our congregation, town, county, state, and nation to pray for by name. The BECOME section will high light what we as Christians are striving to become better at with some practical tips, often related to the upcoming readings of the church, but not always. The first BELIEVE, BELONG, BECOME will be sent early this coming week. The e-newsletter will not replace the Immanuel News & Notes, but will be in addition to them.

NEW OFFICER INSTALLATION . . . will be Sunday, January 8, 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!

THE JANUARY CALENDAR . . . with birthdays and anniversaries is available on the table across from members’ mailboxes.

SERVICES ONLINE . . . This video option will continue to be made available until our usual service times resume. You can access these online services in three places:

  1. On Immanuel’s Facebook page
  2. On Immanuel’s Website under the Sermons tab
  3. On Immanuel’s YouTube channel

CHURCH MEMBER INFORMATION UPDATE


PRAYER REQUESTS


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