bible study opportunities at immanuel 2016.docx · web viewgod is going to do great things...

Good News Letter May 2016

Immanuel Lutheran Church Preschool & Childcare

Good News LetterA monthly publication containing news, schedules and information

Regarding the ministry of Immanuel Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod

May 2016

3834 Rockingham Rd. Davenport, Iowa 52802

www.immanueldavenport.org563-324-6431

[email protected]


Since this is for May’s newsletter I would normally be writing something about the new life of spring or

planting spiritual gardens or bunny rabbits (okay, nothing about bunny rabbits!) and other such related metaphors. But since this is my final newsletter article I will instead focus on what a joy and privilege it has been to serve with you in the Body of Christ at Immanuel. I have truly enjoyed our time together and wish I could have gotten to know you each better than was allowed by the brief time we shared. This congregation has a marvelous spirit of family and warmth that is very encouraging to see, because frankly, it is not present in every congregation. I did not expect to grow so fond of you all given the limited time I knew we would have. You probably thought you were getting the better end of the deal by having a consistent pastoral presence each week instead of a revolving door of different ministers, but you were wrong. I got the best end of the deal by joining with you to worship our incredible Good Shepherd and being given the privilege to proclaim his Word and minister his sacraments in your midst. I have been truly blessed. And now the Lord of the Church brings a new under-shepherd to guide the flock and “prepare God’s people for the work of service.” This is an exciting time to be at Immanuel Lutheran. The fields are white for harvest and the needs are great in your communities and each place God has put you as his ambassador. There is a real spirit at Immanuel right now to move forward, letting go of just trying to be comfortable and eagerly getting out from behind our walls to make a difference for Jesus! If you can help your new pastor catch this spirit, there is no limit to the impact you can make!I remember (vaguely!) coming out of seminary to my first church, and the excitement, yet nervousness I felt at not being worthy or ready to shepherd God’s people. Fortunately, I had a loving congregation like this one who were gracious with my mistakes and encouraging as I developed. Your new pastor will come with a certain skill set and life experiences. Most of his pastoral skills will likely still be theoretical and need time to become practical. He will need grace and patience from you all as he spreads his wings and learns to fly. You will get to


set the tone for his entire ministry and he couldn’t have asked for a better place to learn! Work to develop a relationship built on mutual trust. Begin by trusting him and being trustworthy. Find out his passion for ministry and explore how it can be woven into your passion for ministry and Immanuel’s mission. Encourage him and pray for him constantly. Take care of his family. Nothing helps a pastor be better at ministry than when a congregation looks out for the welfare of his family. He will almost certainly be too eager to work extra hours in his excitement at being a new pastor and will have to be lovingly and gently reminded to keep balance in his life and take time to be with his family. Pastor burnout is a real concern in not only the LCMS, but around the country. You want him for the long haul, so always think how you can bless his family and keep him from doing too much. Keep your expectations reasonable. He can’t possibly be good at all the multitude of things congregations want or need from their pastors. He might try to be great at all of them, but the truth is no one man can be an expert in everything. Your challenge will be to accept the fact that the task or tasks you believe most important, my not be his “sweet-spot.” But that’s okay. Pick up the slack for him and become the expert in that area. Remember, the Body of Christ is not “just the eye – where would the hearing be?” Immanuel is not just the full-time pastor. YOUR ministry involves all of you for the Body to be healthy and functioning well. Exciting times are ahead! God is going to do great things through this church, through you! I will keep you in my prayers and look forward to hearing about all the amazing things that happen. In Christ’s love, Pastor Pete Mueller He is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

PLEASE JOIN US AS WE ENRICH OUR HEARTS AND LIVES WITH JESUS!

Bible Study Opportunities at ImmanuelSunday Bible Class – Begins at 10:30 am. Our Sunday morning Bible Study will join renowned teacher and historian Ray Vander Laan by way of DVD as he guides us through the land of the Bible. In each lesson, we will


look at the historical, geographical, and cultural context of the sacred Scriptures. Filmed on location in the Middle East, the faith lessons DVD series will transform your understanding of God and increase your ability to be a stronger follower of Jesus.Evening Bible Study - The Tuesday Evening Bible Study is at 6:00 pm; all are welcome to join. We are continuing to study an overview of the Old Testament. Pastor Anderson will be leading this. Ladies Bible Study – Is on break through the summer. Look for updates in the fall.Adult Instruction Class – Thursday Evening at 6:00 pm. we are covering the basics of the Christian faith from our Lutheran perspective.

News from the Church BoardsBoard of Elders – Well we are closer to seeing who our new Shepherd will be. The Lord has truly blessed us all here at Immanuel. Pastor Anderson and Pastor Mueller have been wonderful during this

vacancy and we thank them for all they have contributed to keep our congregation together as one. We are about to begin a new chapter in our 90 years of existence here in the west end of Davenport and with God’s help we will continue to bring new souls to join us all. Our next voter meeting is scheduled for Sunday May 15th at 10 am. God With Us, Your Board of Elders Board of Trustees – Mowing Sign Up – We are in need of able bodied adults to volunteer with keeping our grass cut. As our volunteers age and come into health hindrances, we really need others to step forward and assist in keeping our church family and grounds running smoothly. Please prayerfully consider volunteering just a couple hours a week with these necessary tasks. Please see sign up sheet in the hall way.Board of Social Ministries – Board of Evangelism and Stewardship – The Historian Committee would like to inform you there is still time to add to Immanuel’s history. We are starting with the 90th year celebration and conformation reunion. We have 12 scrapbooks of past history, including 2 of early history & continued thru the present, made by Chris Whipple. These can be viewed anytime by contacting the Evangelism Committee, Dorothy, Karen, Margie, or Loretta. Historian Committee – The historian committee is looking for older Bibles, catechisms, song books or other memorabilia to display in the book case. If you can help please see the Evangelism committee or Juliana.Board of Youth – Youth group will be meeting on May 14th at 9 AM. We will be going to the parsonage to clean, weed & trim the yard. Anyone who would like to help are welcome to join us. We raised $565 for breakfast on Easter. 10% of that ($60) is given to the Youth Gathering fundraiser. We sold $322 in popcorn. That gives the


youth group $161 to keep. Thank you to everyone who ordered. Popcorn should be in soon. We are also planning to help with the community clean up and the work day in May. Sue LaMantiaBoard of Education – The Board is still looking for Teachers to help with Sunday School especially for this summer! If you can’t commit to every Sunday you could find a partner and team teach or volunteer to be a substitute. Please prayerfully consider how you can help.Church members please keep Sunday School in your prayers asking God for growth and blessing. Remember the young people in our Sunday School, Confirmation and Shining Stars are our church’s future! Sharon Evans, Chairman

Preschool News

Immanuel Lutheran Preschool Child Care Center “Learning with Love”

I hope everyone will come in and see all the improvements, so I will have the room open during fellowship on Sundays.

I am currently working on finalizing how we spend the second $5000.00 grant that will be coming to us in August. I am trying to get bids on expanding our playground, and also the cost of making our kitchen upgraded with a commercial hood system. I am only allowed to use a microwave for cooking by rule of the Fire Marshall. So if it is feasible to get our kitchen upgraded this will allow many more options when it comes to meals, and even hiring a cook in the future. The presentation for the advisor committee is June 8 th. I will bring these up at the next Voter’s Meeting for approval.

Our half-day preschool program will be ending on May 20th, Childcare will continue throughout the summer. We are enrolling for the summer and also for preschool and childcare next fall. If you would like more info please let me know.

Upcoming Events for preschool: 14th Annual Plant & Bake Sale May 6-7 9am-4pm; Preschool Closing program & Art Show May 22nd 9:00am.

Thank you to the Thrivent members for giving your choice dollars to the preschool in April we received $71.00! Any and all donations to the preschool are greatly appreciated!!

Our preschool is great outreach into the community, so please keep us in your prayers!

Kathy Yaudas, Preschool Director

UPCOMING EVENTSPreschool Enrolling

We are taking pre-registrations from current preschoolers and members of the congregation for preschool next fall. If you would like information, please talk to me and I can give you the form or forms are available on the preschool bulletin board. Family Movie Night


Thanks to everyone who attended our Movie Night in April special thanks to Shonn Bell and Lisha Burch for help in cleaning up afterwards! As it is getting nicer weather and May is a very busy month we won’t be showing a Movie. Be sure to watch for information in next month’s newsletter we are looking into possibly showing a movie outdoors in the shelter. Thanks, Kathy Yaudas

Preschool Plant & Bake Sale &Just a reminder that Preschool will have its “14th Annual Plant & Bake Sale” on

May 6h – 7th 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. If you are moving or thinning out plants this spring, we would love to have any that you would like to donate. Also if you would like to donate baked goods such as pies, cookies, breads, bars, candy, jellies, etc. it would be greatly appreciated!

VBS 2016 – Barnyard Round-upThis year’s VBS starts on Monday, June 6th – Friday, June 10th 6:30 – 8:00 pm Dinner at 6pm Closing Program and Family Cook-out will be Sunday, June 12th at 9:00am with Family Cook-out and Potluck following Sunday

School and Bible study at 11:30am. All the congregation is invited to the Potluck Cook out! VBS is for all children ages 3 through 5th grade. Please take the time to register your child. Pre-registration forms are available in the Narthex. Vacation Bible School We are looking for volunteers to help with this

year’s VBS. We need Site Leaders, Group Leaders, helpers and a decorating committee. Please consider how you can help this year! We would like to build a barn with 1” x 2” and frame it with cardboard. This would be used for site decorations as well as the float for the parade. We are looking for a trailer and tractor to use in the parade. If you would like to donate items for us to use in decorating we are looking for all things farm or garden related such as: wheelbarrows, gardening tools, metal watering cans, pails, rope, bandanas, chicken wire, and any stuffed farm animals. We are also looking for picket fence border (2’ to 3’) so if anyone sees any of these things at garage sales please let us know!

Shining Stars Closing ProgramThe congregation is invited to join us for Shining Stars

Closing Program on Wednesday, May 11th at 6:30 p.m. Dinner at 6:00 pm. The children along with the Jr. Confirmation class are working on sharing some of the things we learned this past year with skits, and singing some of our favorite songs. Pastor Anderson will take part in the program and will be giving a message for us all. We will also Teacher & helper appreciations. Following the program, we will be making our own Ice Cream Sundaes.


L.i.F.T. Fundraiser BreakfastImmanuel’s L.i.F.T. (Lutherans in Faith Team) will be serving breakfast following the service on

Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 8th. The menu is Biscuits & gravy, pancakes, sausage, scrambled eggs, coffee, milk & juice. Thrivent Action is providing the seed money to purchase the food & supplies. All proceeds will go toward L.i.F.T. which will be used in service of disaster areas and work in our community. Prayer Group

Thank you to all who signed up to be part of the prayer group at Immanuel. Our prayer group will meet at 8:30 am on Sunday, May 15th to set up when & times to come together in prayer. Anyone who would like to join is always welcome.

Trivia FundraiserThanks to all who came to our Trivia Night! It was a great night and a lot of fun. We had 5

teams and scores were really close. Thank you to first and second place teams (who actually tied) for donating the winnings back! Thanks to Chris Whipple, Vicki Gamble, & Johnna Gamble for all the work done before the event; and also thanks to all the volunteers who helped that night. Mike Yaudas-Emcee, Misty Hawkins-cashier, Julie Parks, Martha Day, & Betty Hepner-kitchen help, Cora Burch & Alex Yaudas- childcare, and our table runners-Shonn Bell Jr., Charles Buckelew, Aidan Weaver and Shaun Yaudas. Thank you to all who donated baked goods and silent auction items. Silent Auction items are still on-going through Sunday, May 1st so you can still bid on that day. All proceeds will be split between preschool and our Christian Scholarship fund.

To our family and friends of Immanuel,We would like to thank everyone who helped us celebrate our 40th Anniversary and attended our ceremony for our vow renewal. Thank you to Kathy Yaudas, Vicki Gamble, Amy Dawson for helping serve. Kay Willet for helping to prep, Sons, Joshua, Johnnie & Jacob, grandchildren along with our daughter in law Brandi for helping with the kitchen clean up, and Martha Day for making Pastors pie on special request. We feel very blessed with the amount of support shown us. God has truly blessed us with a wonderful life, family and friends.Dave & Vickie Conger

News from Immanuel’s Lutheran Woman’s Missionary League

Mission Club“Spring is in the Air” Our Mother & Daughter Tea is scheduled for Tuesday, May 17 th at 5:30 pm. Anyone who is a mother or has a mother is invited. We will be having a salad dinner, welcome to mothers & daughters and a program by Pastor Neuendorf. We are asking everyone to bring a framed picture of their mother and we will all get to guess

Please keep in your prayers our Shut-ins who have difficulty getting to Sunday services. Helen Pearson Richard Springsteen Sr.Randy Zinger Archie & Charlotte HahnShari Bribriesco Darleen KitzmannFlorence Jones Don & Nancy FerkelDorothy Barton Darlene Luebken

May Volunteer Schedule

Greeters 1 Bev Meier & Trudy Crane 8 Don & Jan Stewart15 Betty Garrow & Diane Cox22 Doris Haussmann & Margee Marsengill29 Lamar & Juliana Buckelew

Elders on Duty 30 Brad Schofield 1 Dave Conger & Luke Yaudas 7 Dan Hahn 8 Dave Conger14 Dave Conger15 Brad Schofield & Mike Yaudas21 Dan Hahn22 Luke Yaudas28 Dave Conger29 Dave Conger & Luke Yaudas

Children’s Church 1 Kathy Yaudas & Teri Gaines 8 Vicki Gamble & Johnna Gamble 15 Vickie Denger & Faris Denger22 Diane Cox & Cheryl Puls29 Vickie Conger & Brandi Conger

Fellowship Servers 1 Volunteers needed 8 L.I.F.T. Breakfast15 Volunteers needed22 Volunteers needed29 Amy & Janice Dawson

Acolytes 1 Alex Yaudas & Dakota Wolfe 815 Kiersten Conger & Sammie Conger2229

Altar GuildDoris Haussmann & Mary Strassburger


which mother & daughter match. Please get this date and time on your calendars. We will be setting up on Sunday the 15th after service if anyone is able to help.

Ladies AidLadies Aid will meet again on Tuesday, May 3rd

at noon. Secretary, Betty Garrow

Dorothy Barton has moved into Assisted Living at Bickford Senior Living4040 East 55th Street Apt. #210 Davenport, Iowa 52807

Aja Parks 5/01Kaylin Blessington 5/04John Lohf 5/04Brendon Springsteen 5/07Sherri Moeller 5/08Bob Baker 5/09Richard Springsteen Sr. 5/10Barb Buchmeyer 5/11Delvin Lindhorst 5/11Brooklynn Stanley 5/12Sandy Holt 5/13Earl Bennett 5/14Jayden Springsteen 5/14Joyce Willers 5/14Robert McKown 5/15Erik Jones 5/17Morgan Sapp 5/17Emily Bergthold 5/18Larry Ferguson III 5/18Luke Willis 5/18Cheryl Puls 5/19Vicki Sloan 5/20Lauren Lassuy 5/22Don Stewart 5/26Benjamin Stoner 5/29Marcus Gomez 5/30Beverly Meier 5/31Zachary Rebarcak 5/31

People in Our CareAs of 4/30/2016

Baptized Members 77Confirmed Members 207

284Gains & Losses

We welcome into membership Benjamin Stoner and Leo Schumacher through Baptism; and

mourn the loss of Delores Stanger through death and the loss of Howard and Joyce Mueller

through Transfer.Attendance & Offerings

We give thanks to God for the blessing of gifts given through his people.

Date Attend Comm Offering 4/2-3 9/87 3/76 $91064/9-10 14/99 $27774/16-17 9/93 9/77

$20234/23-24 NR/79

$1999Our Weekly Budget needed is $2,860 to meet our


Bob & Katie Baker05/01Chris & Kathy Jones

05/09Jason & Diane Cox

05/14Don & Jan Stewart

05/27

Diane Cox 5/01Sydney Schriefer 5/02Tricia Willis 5/04Jeanette Bachman 5/08Liam DeWeerdt 5/09Kenny Dreyer 5/09Gene Jones 5/09Shirley Graham 5/10Earl Bennett 5/13Doris Haussmann 5/13Joyce Willers 5/13Dorothy Jones 5/14Janice Dawson 5/16Dave Conger 5/17Julie Parks 5/19Marty Weaver 5/19Kathy Yaudas 5/19Samantha Sloan 5/20Marcia Lenninger 5/21Mary Strassburger 5/26Delvin Lindhorst 5/27Shonn Bell Jr. 5/30


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