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THIS WEEK AT IMMANUEL

Sunday (2/19)

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

Wednesday

• 5:30 pm—Midweek Lenten Supper
• 7:00 pm—Ash Wednesday Divine Service

Saturday

• 9:00 am—Sunday School Teachers Meeting
• 3:30 pm—Individual Confession & Absolution
• 5:30 pm—Divine Service with Holy Communion

Sunday (2/26)

• 9:00 am—Divine Service with Holy Communion
• 10:30 am—Bible Class & Sunday School
• 2:30 pm—Tuscola Health Care Center Service
• 6:00 pm—Youth Group Event

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IN OUR PRAYERS

THE ANNOUNCEMENTS

ASH WEDNESDAY’S READINGS . . . Genesis 3:1–21; Corinthians 6:1–10; Matthew 4:1–11.

ABOUT THIS WEEK’S READINGS . . . The seeing are blind, while the one who is blind can see (Luke 18:31–43). Jesus tells the twelve that He is going up to Jerusalem to suffer and die and rise again, but they cannot understand or grasp what He is saying. The meaning of His words is hidden from their sight. However, as Jesus makes His way up to Jerusalem, a blind man calls out to Him for mercy. This blind man sees that Jesus is the Messiah, the Savior, for he calls Him “Son of David.” Indeed, Jesus is the Lord’s anointed, the keeper of sheep (1 Sam. 16:1–13) who goes to lay down His life for the sheep. He is the incarnate love of the Father who suffers long and is kind, who is not puffed up, who never fails us (1 Cor. 13:1–13). Jesus opens the eyes of the blind (Is. 35:3–7) to see Him not according to outward appearances of lowliness, but according to His heart of mercy and compassion. Those who behold Him thus by faith follow Him to the cross through death into life.

THOUGHTS ABOUT STEWARDSHIP . . . Luke 18:34 “This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.” Even our understanding of the Word of God is a gift—the disciples here can’t understand Jesus because it is not given to them to understand him. By nature they are deaf to the Word. So everything we have is a gift of God. To realize this is the beginning of thankfulness, generosity, and kindness.

DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME BEGINS . . . Sunday, March 13. Don’t forget to set your clocks forward one hour.

LENTEN MIDWEEK SUPPERS . . . will be served this year before the Midweek services beginning on Ash Wednesday. Serving time will be 5:30 pm–6:45 pm. We are returning to traditional way of providing food where each board provides a meal. Here is the schedule.

• February 22, Ash Wednesday—Church Potluck
• March 1, Midweek Lent 1—Board of Christian Education
• March 8, Midweek Lent 2—Youth Group
• March 15, Midweek Lent 3—Board of Mission & Evangelism
• March 22, Midweek Lent 4—Boards of Stewardship and Church Council (Chair, Vice-Chair, Treasurer, Financial Secretary)
• March 29, Midweek Lent 5—Boards of Elders and Trustees

LENTEN MIDWEEK SERMON SERIES . . . will be going the book of James. Each week will focus on one chapter from book. The Epistle of James is sometimes called “the Proverbs of the New Testament,” the book of James practically and faithfully reminds Christians how to live. From perseverance to true faith to controlling one’s tongue, submitting to God’s will, and having patience, this book aids readers in living authentically and wisely for Christ. Many have claimed that James and the apostle Paul differed on the question of faith versus works, but in reality the spiritual fruit that James talks about simply demonstrates the true faith of which Paul wrote. Their writings are complementary rather than contradictory. Possibly one of the earliest of the New Testament writings (A.D. 40–50), the book is believed to have been written by Jesus’ brother James (Gal. 1:19)

LENTEN BIBLE CHALLENGE . . . Since we will be meditating on James through our Lenten midweeks, let us read through James each week before each midweek service.

CONTRIBUTIONS & ATTENDANCE . . . Total YTD offerings $24,950.78, YTD expenses $15,464.31. Average weekend attendance for January, 62.

CALLING ALL LADIES OF IMMANUEL . . . On Saturday, March 4, at 9:00 am come to help prepare meals for our homebound church members.

ATTENTION ALL LADIES . . . We are bringing the Altar Guild back!  During COVID, Pastor and Lauren Braaten and the younger ladies of our congregation (Annabelle Cash, Willa Braaten, and Ava Whitson) assumed the role of communion ware clean up and altar cloth care—and for that we thank them. If you would like to assist them with this role, please sign up for monthly commitments on the sign-up sheet at the back of church. Like Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome (Mark 16:1), who came to the tomb upon Jesus’ death to take care His body, as members of the Altar Guild, we participate in caring for Jesus’ body and blood post communion. Thank you for your willingness to serve. We will be scheduling a refresher for those interested in what is involved with caring for the linens and communion ware in March.

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

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CHURCH MEMBER INFORMATION UPDATE

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PRAYER REQUESTS

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