God is with His Church in Tuscola, Illinois, through Word and Sacrament

Immanuel News & Notes (Epiphany 3)

 


THIS WEEK AT IMMANUEL

Sunday (1/26)

  • 9:00 am—Divine Service with Holy Communion
  • 10:30 am—Bible Class & Sunday School
  • 2:30 pm—Nursing Home Service
  • 6:00 pm—Senior Youth Group Event

Monday

  • 7:30 am—Matins

Tuesday

  • 7:30 am—Matins

Saturday

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

Sunday (2/2)

  • 9:00 am—Divine Service with Holy Communion
  • 10:30 am—Bible Class & Sunday School

IN OUR PRAYERS

HEALTH CONCERNS: Joyce & Jerry Alexander; Claire Baud (friend of Rachel DeWitt); Connie Bruns (cousin of Mary Appleby); Brad Butler (friend of Hilgendorfs); Chelle Carson (friend of Dave Holzrichter); Rena Carson (friend of Dave Holzrichter); Darla Combs (friend of Dave Holzrichter); Darren Cooper (friend of Joan Vukelich); Crystal Davis (friend of Dave Slaughter); Ben, LaNéce, & Baby Dyer (family of Greg & Celeste Nau); Tim Flynn (friend of Dave Holzrichter); Nash Foreman (friend of Sofie Reifsteck); Rick Hardesty (family of the Hoels); Kim Hausman (friend of Ann Carroll); Nyle Hoke; Julie Holzrichter (sister-in-law of Dave Holzrichter); Mary Houvanagle (friend of Hilgendorfs); Ashley Kerns (friend of Joan Vukelich); John Lamkin (friend of Dave Slaughter); Mike Marana (friend of Josh Whitson); Lisa McGill (friend of Dave Holzrichter); Steven Pingolt (friend of Mathew Waldrop); Rebecca (friend of Celeste Nau); Emma Silver; John Stewart (grandson of Laura VanCleave); Janet Stumeier; Kim Travis (friend of Jaimee Whitson); Lausanne Walter (mother of Tiffany Cash); Lynn Whitson (father of Mark Whitson).

SEMINARY STUDENT: Jacob Garrison; Nicholas Sinatra.

HOMEBOUND:Bernita Ashwill; Janet Pollock; Joan Rahn; Ruth Sims.

MILITARY: Carl Crawford; Josh Dyer; Jeremy Gordon; Jack Leonard; Jake Lindgren; Raymond Longtin; Blake Stokes; Scott Walter.

THE ANNOUNCEMENTS

NEXT WEEK’S READINGS . . . 1 Samuel 1:21–28; Hebrews 2:14–18; Luke 2:22–32.

ABOUT THIS WEEK’S READINGS . . . The Gospel of Christ is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Gentile (Rom. 1:8–17). Even in the Old Testament, the Gentiles were beneficiaries of God’s saving power. Though unimpressed at first with the Word of God, a Syrian commander is persuaded to receive that Word, and in the water he is cleansed and brought to faith in the God of Israel (2 Kings 5:1–15a). Evil is overcome by good (Rom 12:16–21). So also in the New Testament, a Roman centurion demonstrates great and humble faith in the Lord (Matt. 8:1–13). All he needs is the Word of Christ, for he trusts that Jesus’ Word of healing has authority to accomplish what it says. And indeed it does. The centurion’s faith is praised by our Lord above that of any Israelite. For the last shall be first, and the first last. Apart from faith in Christ, there is no salvation—not even for a Jew—but only weeping and gnashing of teeth.

THOUGHTS ABOUT STEWARDSHIP . . . Matthew 8:8 But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed.” The Word of the Lord is powerful and effective. What God says, goes. “Let there be light.” And there was light. His Word is still effective and creative for us: “This is my Body given for you.” “Your sins are forgiven.” This is why it is no burden for us to live according to the Word of God: we know that His Word is always bent on our blessing.

BI-MONTHLY MISSION . . . is Sunday, February 2, and will be going to the Tuscola Area Ministerial Alliance (TAMA). For your convenience, an envelope designated for TAMA has been placed in your church mailbox. You may place cash or check payable to Immanuel in this envelope. Use the envelope to return your gift in the offering on February 5, or you may return it to the church office on or before February 5. Thank you!

YOUTH GROUP EVENT . . . will meet today, January 26, 6:00 pm –7:30 pm.

THE FEBRUARY CALENDAR . . . with birthdays and anniversaries is available on the table across from members’ mailboxes. You can download it HERE.

ALTAR GUILD & COFFEE COMMITTEE . . . For January the Altar Guild is Lauren & Willa Braaten. Coffee Committee is Donna Campbell. For February the Altar Guild is Jaimee & Ava Whitson. Coffee Committee is Laverl Byers.

THE 2025 FLOWER CHART IS NOW AVAILABLE . . . Please sign up on the bulletin board across from member mailboxes. 2025 flowers are $35.00 and can be special ordered. Flowers can be taken home after the Sunday’s service.

ALTAR GUILD . . . Please sign up for a month to serve on the Altar Guild, caring for our Lord’s body & blood just as the woman who went to be tomb sought to care for the body of Jesus. There are spots for both Senior and Junior members to sign up.

FUNERAL CHAIR . . . Please sign up for a month to serve as funeral chair; the chair is responsible for placing calls requesting food donations and volunteers to help with serving and cleaning up after the funeral dinner. The current call list is included with the chair sign-up list on the clipboard located in the Narthex.

2025 OFFERING ENVELOPES . . . are here and may be picked up in the Fellowship Hall.

JUNIOR YOUTH GROUP EVENT . . . for 4th–6th graders is Sunday, February 2. For our first time together, we will be going bowling. Keep watch on the bulletin for more details.

JANUARY YOUTH GROUP EVENT . . . is Sunday, January 26. This is for our 7th–12th grade youth. Keep watch on the bulletin for more details.

A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY . . . is available for members of Immanuel. Pastor, in consultation with the Mission Board and the Elders, has submitted paperwork requesting a summer vicar here at Immanuel. We are looking for housing options for him. If you have a spare room or a basement the church can rent for him to stay for roughly three months, or you know of housing options locally, please contact Pastor or one of the members of the Elders or Mission Board. Thank you!

 


CHURCH MEMBER INFORMATION UPDATE


PRAYER REQUESTS


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