THIS WEEK AT IMMANUEL

Sunday (11/22)

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

Monday–Wednesday

• 7:30 am—Matins

Tuesday

• 9:00 am—CC Home School Coop

Wednesday

• 7:00 pm—Thanksgiving Eve Divine Service

Thursday—Offices Closed for Thanksgiving

Saturday

• 5:30 pm—Divine Service with Holy Communion

Sunday (11/29)

• 9:00 am—Divine Service with Holy Communion
• 10:30 am—Bible Class & Sunday School
• 11:30 am—Catechism Class
• 7:00 pm—Youth Group Event

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; Virginia Goble (friend of Joyce Alexander); Jim Harbaugh; 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); Bob Vukelich (husband of Joan Vukelich); Harold Wattjes.

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 . . . Jeremiah 23:5–8; Romans 13:11–14; Matthew 21:1–9.

ABOUT THIS WEEK’S READINGS . . . “The day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night” (1 Thess. 5:1–11). The arrival of the bridegroom will be sudden and unexpected. Therefore you are to be watchful and ready like the five wise virgins. “For you know neither the day nor the hour” when the Son of Man is to return. (Matt. 25:1–13). The lamps are the Word of Christ. The oil in the lamps is the Holy Spirit, who works through the Word to create and sustain the flame of faith in Christ. The foolish are those who do not give proper attention to the working of the Holy Spirit in baptism, preaching, and the supper, and so their faith does not endure. The wise, however, are those who diligently attend to these gifts of the Spirit, and who therefore have an abundance of oil. The flame of faith endures to the end. By God’s grace they are received into the eternal wedding feast of the Lamb in His kingdom, the new heavens and the new earth created by the Lord for the joy of His people (Is. 65:17–25).

THOUGHTS ABOUT STEWARDSHIP . . . Matthew 25:4 “ . . . but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.” Why did they take flasks of oil with them? Because they listened to the Bridegroom’s words and believed them. Our actions always start with and flow from our beliefs. What do your actions in the realm of stewardship say about what you believe?

ALTAR FLOWERS . . . are given by Roger & Wanda Long to the glory of God on the occasion of their 61^st wedding anniversary.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS . . . because the first week of December (Tuesday, December 1, and Wednesday, December 2), Life Touch photographers will be at Immanuel to take family pictures for an updated church directory. Life Touch is offering a 20% discount on prints ordered in December. To schedule an appointment, sign up with Tammy Kresin in the last Sunday School room next to the Fellowship Hall or call her at home (217) 2534164.

THE 2016 FLOWER CHART IS NOW AVAILABLE . . . Please sign up on the bulletin board in the hallway by the sanctuary or call the church office. Flowers are $30.00 and can be special ordered. Flowers can be taken home after the Sunday’s service.

GERMANY TOURS . . . Rev. Dr. David Bueltmann plans to lead tours to the Martin Luther sites in Germany in 2016. Dates of the tours are May 9–17, July 5–13, and September 26–October 7. For more information contact him at (217) 6911252 or by e-mail at pastordave@Bueltmann.org.

BI-MONTHLY MISSION . . . is Sunday, December 6. All loose cash in the offering will go to the East Prairie Angel Tree. You also received an envelope for the Angel Tree Bi-Monthly Mission in your church mailbox. You can place cash or check in this envelope and place it in the offering on December 6 or return it to the church office on or before December 6. Reach deep to help area children receive a few gifts under the Christmas Tree from our Church.

NEWSLETTER ITEMS DUE THIS WEEK . . . The December issue of Immanuel Monthly will be assembled and printed this week. If you have items for announcements or the calendar, please put them in writing for Pastor Braaten by Tuesday, November 24. You can put your requests in his church mailbox or e-mail him at pastor.braaten@gmail.com.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED . . . Immanuel Lutheran Church will be entering a float in the Tuscola Christmastown Parade (Saturday, December 5) and hosting a live Nativity (Sunday, December 6) at our church. The live Nativity is an opportunity for Immanuel to display its spirit of Christmas for the benefit of all members of our community. YOUR help is needed to make this possible. For the Parade: help is needed decorating the float.  We also need volunteers to walk in the parade with the float. For the Live Nativity: volunteers are needed to serve as the shepherds and magi. Christmas carolers are needed to sing as cars drive through to view the Nativity. Help is needed painting the backdrop. To volunteer see the sign-up sheets in the Narthex or contact Deborah Reifsteck at 217-369-5468 or daplby13@hotmail.com. Questions may be directed to the Board of Missions and Evangelism.

GREETERS

THIS WEEK

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

NEXT WEEK

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

COMMUNION HELPERS

THIS WEEK

• Steve Hilgendorf
• Janice Arthur; Cassie Russo

NEXT WEEK

• Steve Hilgendorf
• Janice Arthur; Mackenzi Bowles

ACOLYTES

THIS WEEK

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

NEXT WEEK

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

COFFEE COMMITTEE

• Craig & Carol Munson—November
• Laverl Byers—December