immanuel lutheran church & school€¦ · and classes will resume on monday, january 7th at the...

Rev. Kevin Jones Senior Pastor

Rev. Chris Garcia Associate Pastor

God is with us! Rejoice! I pray that this Advent and Christmas season might draw you closer to God by revealing Immanuel anew.

- Pastor Garcia

Immanuel, God with us. What a blessed reminder we have as a congrega-tion. We have an advent name, a name of anticipa-tion. And we have good reason to be in eager ex-pectation. Jesus Christ came to Earth that all men might be united in Him. He will return to bring all His faithful into everlasting peace. As we await this second coming we have been given charge to “go and make disciples of all nations.”(Mt. 28:19) This is not an order for a solo mission of conquering the world by force. Rather, it is a mission of peace to all people and Jesus promis-es that the Holy Spirit will lead us in this effort; “And behold, I am with you al-ways, to the end of the age.”(Mt. 28:20) So it is true that God is with us. He came, He will come again, and His Holy Spirit is with us now. As your new pastor I have the joy of seeing God at work through so many of you. I have the privilege to work with the amazing staff that God has called here to serve our young ones through our Day School. I see the heart of our employees that work with the littlest ones in our Learning Center. Our mu-sic ministries are top

notch. Our Youth Director does a phenomenal job leading our youth, Sunday school, and Bible Studies. Our secretaries keep eve-rything running as smooth-ly as possible. And we are blessed with a loving sen-ior Pastor, who cares for his flock with gentleness and respect. Can you see what I see? Do you see Immanuel the way I do? Do you see Immanuel- God with us? If you have been here for a while it can be easy to become blind to the Holy Spirit working in our midst. The good things that our people do year in and year out can easily become expectations. The bless-ings that God pours out on us here in Bay City can become entitlements. I want to encourage you to ask God to help you see His work among us. Ad-vent and Christmas are the perfect time to expect God to be with us and to work amongst us. Encour-age those who serve in this congregation. Be en-couraged to become more involved in what God is doing here. Ask what you can do to contribute to the mission to go and make disciples and ask God to be with you as we join to-gether following the Spirit’s lead.

From The Pastor’s Desk . . .

January, 2018

Immanuel Lutheran Church & School 300 N. Sheridan

Bay City, MI 48708 (989) 893-4088

www.immanuelbaycity.com

December Service Assistants † Saturday, December 1 Sunday, December 2 Wednesday, December 5 Elder: Bob Ricker Elder: Warren Abbs Advent Service—6:30pm Usher: Dave Howard Usher: Gordy Bushong / B. Bachman Elder: Ian Mills Communion Asst: Dan Kretchman Acolyte: Sawyer Kalinowski Usher: Art Davis Broadcast: Dan Kretchman Broadcast: Becky Trinklein Greeters: Brian & Bonnie Young Greeters: Pat Fulkersin Greeters: Bill, Nichole & Elliott Noonan Fellowship: Board of Fellowship

Saturday, December 8 † Sunday, December 9 Wednesday, December 12 Elder: Dennis Metevia Elder: Ian Mills Midweek Communion Service—1:30pm

Usher: Robert Samyn Usher: John Nyquist / G. Czuba Broadcast: Karen Couture Communion Asst: Don Rose Advent Service—6:30pm Greeters: Dennis & Sharon Metevia Acolyte: Kylin Ardahl Elder: Dennis Metevia Broadcast: Gary Bremer Usher: Robert Samyn Greeters: Nancy Greene Fellowship: Ladies Aid Bazaar

† Saturday, December 15 Sunday, December 16 Wednesday, December 19 Elder: Warren Abbs Elder: Brandon Kern Advent Service—6:30pm Usher: Art Davis Usher: Amber Storey / K. LaPlant Elder: Gary Bremer Communion Asst: Brian Young Acolyte: Sarah Mills Usher: Dave Howard Broadcast: Tom Jacobs Broadcast: Becky Trinklein Greeters: Kaye Schultz Greeters: Barb Davis Greeters: Fellowship: Kathy Watson

Saturday, December 22 † Sunday, December 23 Monday, December 24 Elder: Randy Tomke Elder: Bob Ricker 5:00pm Usher: Dave Howard Usher: Gordy Bushong / C. Pennell Elder: Dennis Metevia Broadcast: Dan Kretchman Communion Asst: Dennis McNeal Usher: Robert Samyn Greeters: Sue King Acolyte: Alliyah Morse 7:00pm Broadcast: Gary Bremer Elder: Greg Wischmeyer Greeters: Kevin & Kim Bublitz Usher: Art Davis Fellowship: Pat Tucker 9:00pm Elder: Ian Mills Usher: John Nyquist Tuesday, December 25 † Saturday, December 29 † Sunday, December 30 Elder: Brandon Kern Elder: Dennis Metevia Elder: Ian Mills Usher: Amber Storey Usher: Robert Samyn Usher: John Nyquist Greeters: Amy Jones Communion Asst: Dennis Datte Communion Asst: Don Rose Ian Jones Broadcast: Karen Couture Acolyte: Alexis Betzold Liz Garcia Greeters: Rich & Pam Morse Usher Ment: Ethan Burrows Lucy Garcia Broadcast: Becky Trinklein Madelyn Garcia Greeters: Larry & Susan LaRose Gabriel Garcia Fellowship: Kevin & Tiffany Burk

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 8:00am Handbells

5:00pm Communion

8:45am 2 Christian Educ. 10:00am Worship 11:00am Voter’s Meeting

3

7:00pm All Boards

4 5 5:00pm -Dinner 5:15pm—Choir 6:30pm--Service

6 1:00pm Cards 3:15pm Staff Bible Study 6:30pm Choir

7 8 8:00am Handbells

5:00pm Worship

9 8:45am Christian Educ 10:00am Communion

10 6:00pm Friendship Guild

11 12 1:30pm Mid-week Service 5:00pm -Dinner 5:15pm—Choir 6:30pm--Service

13 Noon Ladies Aid 6:30pm Choir

14

Newsletter Deadline

15 8:00am Every-one His Witness

5:00pm Communion

16 8:45am Christian Educ 10:00am Worship

17 7:00pm Church Council

18 19 8:30am-Newsletter prep 5:00pm -Dinner 5:15pm—Choir 6:30pm--Service

20 Holly Jolly Shoppe in Multi Purpose Room All Day

21

1/2 day of School

22 8:00am Handbells

5:00pm Worship


24 5:00pm 7:00pm 9:00pm Christmas Eve Services

25 10:00am Festival Communion Service

26

27 28 29 8:00am Handbells

5:00pm Communion


31 6:30pm Communion Service

December 2018

Friendship Guild

December 10—6:00pm

Musical Variety Entertainment…..

Enjoy a catered dinner (nominal cost); musical entertainment by Richard Wrobleski and Randy Howard; and a general gift exchange ($10 limit).

Hostesses: Sarah Geikas, Leslie Fox, Kathy Paeth and Laurie Allison.

Ladies Aid

December 13—Noon

Program: Christmas pro-gram with Immanuel’s kids.

Hostesses: Marian Sorgenfrei, Bonnie Sorgenfrei, and Kathy Watson.

Please bring your Christ-mas stocking.

All ladies of the congrega-tion are welcome.

Women’s Ministry

December Altar Guild Schedule

Board of Social Ministry News

food items, there is a des-perate need for items such as toilet paper, pa-per towels and Kleenex. Also, if you have a few hours during the week that you could help our Food Pantry, your help would be so appreciated. If you’d like more infor-mation on how you can help, please call Nancy Greene at 989-893-3172.

Caring Tree

The Board of Social Min-istry would like to thank you for taking ornaments from our Caring Tree and making Christmas special for those in our communi-ty who are less fortunate. Please remember the gifts need to be returned to the church in a gift bag, by Sunday, December 2, 2018.

Food Pantry

During the month of Octo-ber, Immanuel’s Food Pantry was able to pro-vide food for nine families consisting of 24 adults, 15 children, and 351 meals. With Christmas quickly approaching, please con-sider donating needed items for people in our community who are less fortunate. In addition to

December 1 - Pat Felske, Pat Fulkersin, Diana Hadaway December 8 - Bernice Howard, Sue Howard December 15 - Karen Andrzejewski, Kathy Billmeier, Lois Larson December 22 - Edna Meyer, Marilyn Reedy December 29 - Pat Felske, Pat Fulkersin, Diana Hadaway

PTL Meeting:

Monthly PTL Meeting will be held on Thursday, De-cember 13, 2018 in the school dining room from 6-7PM. Anyone is welcome to attend. Please join us and offer your sugges-tions for activities and events. Hope to see you there.

Children's Christmas Service:

Wednesday, December 19, 2018 @ 6:30PM will be this year's Children's Service. Our service is titled Silent Night, Holy Night will be presented by Immanuel Lutheran School's children pre-school through eighth

grade. Plan to attend and worship our newborn Sav-ior. Holly Jolly Christmas Shoppe:

PTL will be offering the Christmas Shoppe to our school children on Thurs-day, December 20th in the afternoon. If you have items you would like to donate for the children to purchase, please drop them off at the school. If you would like to help with the Shoppe, contact the school office and leave your name or contact Beth Robinson. The stu-dents really enjoy this event.

Christmas Vacation:

Immanuel Lutheran School's Christmas Vaca-tion will begin on Friday, December 21 at 11:30AM and classes will resume on Monday, January 7th at the usual time. We pray that all families will enjoy the break and have time to worship our Lord and Savior.

our time, talents, and money. God uses and works through us to ac-complish His work for which we give Him praise and thanks. It is truly an honor and privilege to be God’s disciples and stew-ards through whom He accomplishes His purpos-es. The Holy Spirit, work-ing through God’s Holy Word, transforms us to be people who do His will. Through faith, we know all of our gifts are from God, the motivation to serve and to give is from Him, the cause to support is His, and the promise to bless the gifts and the givers is His. We will keep you and the entire con-gregation informed on the work of our ministries

Dear Fellow Christians:

Greetings in the name of our risen Lord and Savior, Jesus!

Thank you for the oppor-tunity to present this em-phasis to all of you. Your commitment will further God’s work at our church in 2019 and beyond. The generosity of so many people supports our min-istries for children and youth, the elderly, the sick, the shut-ins, our staff and our facilities, along with outreach and mis-sions. The stewardship emphasis, Disciples Liv-ing as Grace-filled Stew-ards, helped us under-stand that through God’s love He calls us to be His disciples who seek to honor and serve Him with

throughout the year so you can see your contri-butions in action. We pray for your ongoing in-volvement, also, in the ministry and mission of our church.

“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, al-ways in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, be-cause of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now” (Philippians 1:3-5).

In His love,

Board of Stewardship

News From Our School

News From The Board of Stewardship

Preparation For A Celebration

An Advent Bible Study Sunday Mornings December 2—23

8:45-9:45am School Library

Kathy Paeth Class Facilitator

Sending Christmas Cards, stringing lights outside, putting up the Christmas tree, shopping, wrapping gifts, baking cookies, oh the list goes on…..but in this long, nev-er ending list of prepara-tion…..where does Jesus fall in? The true reason for this celebration is the birth of our Savior, the Son of God come to save a fallen creation, born in a manger—a humble begin-ning; God’s mercy-filled gift to all mankind. Join with others to prepare for His coming during Advent and be reminded, He is coming again!

Tuesday Morning Ladies Bible Study

Sip, Savor, and Drink 9:00-10:00am

Conference Room B Bonnie Young, Class

Facilitator

Jesus is such a friend and desires our company. He invites us to meet with Him in His Word. Just imagine what He has in store for us as we meet Him with our “cup” our self—our vessel created and chosen by God, re-deemed in Christ, and ready to be filled for His purpose. Join with other ladies for this wonderful discussion based on study. On select morn-ings, favorite recipes shared, coffee based treat samples and spread joy throughout the hour!

Kingdom Kids Sunday School and Children’s Church

“Growing in Christ Series & CROSS

Exploration Children’s Church”

Sunday Mornings Christmas Practices

8:30-9:45am (New Time for Dec.)

***********************

Youth Bible Study (New Time for Dec.)

8:30-9:45am Christmas Practice and

Lessons Betsy Bourassa,

Class Leader

(Please see related arti-cle in this month’s

Newsletter!)

ourselves that it is God Himself speaking to us through His Word. In-stead of uttering a quick, “Morning. How are you?” we might actually take a few minutes to wait for the answer and offer encour-agement and maybe even pray with a colleague, a friend, a family member. Instead of setting our own schedules, we might ask God to teach us to num-ber our days so that we can go ahead in His wis-dom (Psalm 90:12). What other good habits could we establish is we fo-

“And she gave birth to her firstborn, a Son. She wrapped Him in cloths and placed Him in a man-ger, because there was no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2:7)We are creatures of habit, and it seems that it’s quite dif-ferent to change old hab-its, most of them not very beneficial. If we keep our focus on that simple mes-sage, though, we might be able to create new habits. Instead of hurried-ly scanning our devotions for the day, we might make it a habit to remind

cused on “our Lord Jesus Christ, (Who) though He was rich, yet for (our) sakes became poor, so that (we) through His pov-erty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9)? Do you have room? By His grace, God will warm our cold hearts and give us the desire to be His stew-ards with room in our day to serve Him, room in our finances to give what is needed, room in our lives for Him to work His will in and through us.

Bible Study For All Ages

Do You Have Room?

Celebrate Christmas at Immanuel Lutheran Church

Bay City, MI

Advent Dinners & Advent Services Wednesdays, December 5, 12,

Immanuel Lutheran School

Christmas Program Wednesday, December 19

Christmas Cantata

Sunday, December 23 at 10:00am

Christmas Eve Services Monday, December 24

5:00pm—Nostalgic Service with Children 7:00pm—Traditional Christmas Eve Service

9:00pm—Lessons and Carols Service

Christmas Day Service Tuesday, December 25 at 10:00am

Festival Service with Holy Communion

donating your cash back rewards to Immanuel? Just about every card has “cash back” or “miles” that can be converted to gift cards or cash back on your balance. Consider a gift card for Home Im-provement stores so that small repair jobs could be funded. Or you could use the cash back option to pay part of your payment and then donate the same amount to the church.

Thrivent Choice Dollars Eligible members can recommend where Thrivent distributes a por-tion of its charitable fund-ing by directing Choice Dollars. Members be-come eligible for Thrivent Choice based on insur-ance premiums, contract values and Thrivent vol-unteer leadership.

Credit Card Cash Back Programs Have you ever considered

Employer Matching Dollars Many employers offer matching funds for quali-fying non-profits or chari-table organizations. They may even offer this to their retirees. Check with the Benefits coordinator for details. Most of these programs require dona-tions to schools.

Wednesday Evening Advent Dinners & Services

Other Ways to Support Immanuel

Something to look forward to this month . . . . .

Wednesday Evening Advent Dinners and Advent Services

Dinner Hour—5:00-6:30pm ● Advent Service—6:30pm Served in our Multi Purpose Room Plan to come and join the many other families and friends of Immanuel for a delicious homemade dinner meal prior to Immanuel’s Advent Services. Thank you to the members of Immanuel’s Board of Fellowship, Friendship Guild and Board of Youth Minis-tries and Youth Members for graciously hosting these dinner meals. Wednesday, December 5 Host: Board of Fellowship Dinner: Spaghetti, garlic bread, salad, cookies & bars, beverage Wednesday, December 12 Host: Friendship Guild Dinner: Casseroles, salad, homemade rolls, assorted desserts, beverage Wednesday, December 19 - Immanuel’s School Christmas Program at 6:30pm Host: Board of Youth Ministry Dinner: Meatballs, buttered noodles, corn, bread, dessert, beverage

Kingdom Kids Sunday School & Youth Christmas Eve Pageant

Mary, Did You Know?

Christmas Eve Monday, December 24 at 5:00pm Worship Service

Dress Rehearsal at 3:45pm sharp please—report to school at 3:30pm to dress in costumes.

Set within the stillness of time, a story that never gets too old to tell; the First Christmas; the birth of the Savior of the Nations. “Mary, Did You Know?” a beloved Christmas Carol will come to life as the gentleness of a child’s song, the stillness of a stable and the simplicity of little angels telling the story of the birth of the Christ-child to remind you of the redeeming gift that was given to mankind so long ago. Immanuel’s Kingdom Kids and Youth Members will once again transform you to the town of Bethlehem and a stable where love shown down reaches all who desire to witness the undeniable embrace of our Heavenly Father. This special “candle-lit presentation” will take you back to your childhood and the anticipation found on Christmas Eve as well as the memories you have cherished over the years. Filled with traditional Christmas carols and a child-like recreation of the Nativity story, along with special music interludes with angelic choirs, this Christmas Eve service will certainly bring to life the true joy found within the hearts of every member of God’s Family! Come, let us adore Him! A reminder for ALL students and parents: All children need to report to church at 3:30pm sharp for rehearsal (which will begin at 3:45pm promptly). Children will be getting dressed and gathering props at the school prior to practice. Please be prompt in your arrival time to help children prepare for their Pageant. Parents, please remember: Bring your child to Miss Betsy’s office immediately following the service to pick up their Christmas gifts and treats. Also, all costumes must be returned immediately after the service to Miss Betsy’s office as well. All Kingdom Kids will receive a special brown bag that will include special surprises. NOTE PARENTS: Due to the larger turnout of children for this Christmas Eve Children’s Pageant—we will need to have our Sunday Morning Practices beginning at 8:30am. Please note the following schedule—all practices begin at 8:30am!!

Sunday, December 2—Technical Practice in Church

Sunday, December 9—Technical Practice in Church

Sunday, December 16—Staging Practice in Church

Sunday, December 23—Off

Monday, December 24—Practice at 3:45pm Pageant begins at 5:00pm.

Gifts are given out after service

Sunday, December 30—Christmas Break

Sunday, January 6—Classes resume at 8:45am

As Christ came in simplic-ity, we too are going back to a time when you, your-self may remember re-ceiving oranges and pea-nuts along with special chocolate treats as part of your “brown bag” Christ-mas gift. Each year, our young ones receive that very same special “brown bag” remembrances as part o their Christmas pageant conclusion. If you would like to help though a financial dona-

tion to help defray the cost of peanuts and or-anges, we would be so very grateful.

Thank you once again for helping make our chil-dren’s gilts a reminder of the “simplicity” of an old Fashioned Christmas.

Miss Betsy

Peanuts and Oranges—Sunday School Gift Donations

Rock Solid Youth Group Scoop For December

SNAG Christmas Caroling &

Story Telling at New Hope Bay

Saturday, December 8th 668 N. Pine Road,

Essexville 3:00-4:00pm

Please meet at 2:50pm sharp in the main parking

lot. Please bring your Christmas cards with you

to hand out!

4:00pm “Let’s go to Mickey Dee’s for supper!

(Center Ave location)

Time to reach out and share the joy found at the manger to others as part of our community out-reach to the Shut In popu-lation. On Saturday, De-cember 8th, plan to meet in the parking lot at New Hope Bay on Pine Street in Essexville at 2:50pm for Christmas Carols and Stories to the residents at this facility. We will be sharing Christmas memo-ries, distributing your Christmas cards, singing

carols, and finally sharing the story of Jesus and the first Christmas. Then, once we have shared our Christmas Joy with other, we are off to Mickey Dee’s on Center Ave in Essexville for supper! What a great way to bring “the reason for the sea-son” into the lives of oth-ers, Merry Christmas!

Parents: You are invited to join us in the fun filled outreach event—also be reminded that we need you to pick up your son or daughter at New Hope Bay at 4:00pm and drive them to Mickey Dee’s. If they are carpooling, please make arrangements prior to this date. You will then need to pick you member up at McDonalds as you join them for supper at 4:00pm.

A big thank you is extend-ed to the many individuals and families that attended last month’s Sloppy Joe Lunch Fundraiser. Be-cause of your kindness, we are in the beginning stages of raising the needed funds to attend the Lutheran Church Mis-souri Synod State Youth Gathering at Mackinac in 2020; thank you! It was our joy to serve you at that lunch!! We have a busy month ahead as we focus on Outreach within our congregation, our community and the lives of others…..let’s take a look!

Monthly Devo’s: John 3:16 “God’s Ac-tions—He Gave His Only Son” Pay It Forward: Give God the Glory through Actions RAOK: Affirming Words to others Monthly Assets: Community Values Youth & Youth as Resources

“Jesus is the

Reason for

the

Season!”

Youth Cards of Caring New Hope Bay

Sunday, December 2 during Youth Bible Study 8:45-9:45am

Let’s get creative as you share the Gospel Mes-sage through your artwork for residents of New Hope Bay for the outreach event scheduled for Sat-urday, December 8th. On Sunday, December 2, all youth bible study students will write, draw, and cre-ate a “Christmas Mes-

sage” as part of our spe-cial Christmas event the following Saturday. All Youth members need to report to the youth room for this special Sunday morning event! Oh yes…..treats will be pro-vided.

Christmas Basket Distribution

Senior High Only

Saturday, December 22 10:30—Noon

Meet in the school cafete-ria to help carry our Christmas Food Bags. Thank you High School Youth for once again helping our Food Pantry Workers as part of this Christmas Outreach Event!

dents will be meeting in church on Sunday morn-ings for their portion of the Christmas Eve service, “Mary, Did You Know?” These wonderfully gifted students will be singing, sharing musical talents and serve as “bearers of the Light.”

December practice schedule includes:

Meet in church at 8:30am

Mary, Did You Know?

Christmas Eve, Monday, December 24

5:00pm

A busy month ahead awaits our youth bible study students as they prepare for their Christ-mas program along with Kingdom Kids Sunday School students. As De-cember moves along, all participating youth stu-

each Sunday the 2nd, 9th, and 16th. Practice time will complete at 9:40am. Please remem-ber that we are beginning 15 minutes earlier than Bible Study time. Be prompt in your arrival. On Christmas Eve, Decem-ber 24, plan to meet at school at 3:30pm.

Youth Bible Study Students—Special Project

Youth Bible Study Students Christmas Eve Practice Schedule

Pop Can and 2 Liter Pop Bottle Drive Coming in January

can drive. With the many get-togethers over the holiday season, if you would be so kind to think of our youth members and save them, we will take them off your hands beginning in January. Watch for all the details in next month’s “January, 2019” Church Newsletter, thank you!

Immanuel’s Youth Group “Future LCMS State Gathering Attendees” are asking for your donations of Pop Cans to help them raise the needed funds for their participation at the State Retreat.

While it is December, we are putting a call out for your pop cans and 2 liter pop bottles for next month’s beginning pop

As members of Immanu-el’s Youth Group Rock Solid are preparing for the 2020 State Youth Gather-ing, they are once again planning a “Silent Auc-tion” next month. As part of a youth filled weekend and lunch on Sunday, January 27 our young adults will be holding this exciting auction event.

Each youth that attends is responsible for the cost which is close to $400 per family. As some families

have more than one stu-dent attending, there is a burden on many families that desire to attend this faith inspiring event. As a Youth Board we offer many events to help defer the cost per student, and one of our largest fund raising events is this Auc-tion. With that said, we are asking for help through donations of : new items, crafts that you might create, businesses that offer services, tangi-

ble or certificate items, to be offered to help Imman-uel’s youth reach their goal.

Thank you for your con-sideration for any dona-tion to help our young adults as they work to-ward this State Gathering.

Contact Betsy at the church office 893-4088 if you can help through do-nations. Your donations are greatly appreciated.

Board Members at this service.

ALSO NOTE:

Church Un-Decorating will take place on Monday, January 7 from 5:30-7:00pm prior to All Boards Meetings.

Your help is needed to take down the Christmas Decorations and place them in storage.

Installation of Officers and Board Members

Sunday, January 6 during the 10:00am Worship Service.

As newly elected, re-elected, and continuing Parish Board Members, as well as Church Offic-ers, please make every effort to be at this special service. We also wish to acknowledge the outgoing

Cookies and coffee will be served by the Board of Youth prior to All Boards Meetings.

Youth Group Silent Auction Coming in January

Something to put on your January Calendars

A Word of Thanks to Immanuel’s Army of Volunteers

mind the many members of Immanuel’s Church & School family and the timeless efforts that have been given through volun-teering. As in any family, there are many jobs that need to be done to keep a home running smoothly, Immanuel is no different. Any task, large or small, any time spent in freely given moments, any pro-ject or effort has not gone

unnoticed! A grateful and heartfelt word of thanks is extended to the many, many individuals and fam-ilies who have come for-ward to meet the needs of our church family—our church home. Thank you for sharing your gifts of time and caring!

This past year ushered in so many new projects—new changes-new chal-lenges-new opportunities and we, together as a congregation in fervent service of our Lord and Savior, came together to meet those needs and challenges….Thank you for your dedication and most appreciated volun-teerism! Reflections upon the past years bring to

Thank

You

This is a note to all con-gregations for our fund-raiser this fall as decided by the delegates. We will be joining the LWML of St. Lorenz for their annual Christmas bake sale, which always raises funds for the auxiliary. We are in need of more items for this sale, and since we needed a fundraiser for 2018, we felt our ladies could raise more money this way than the other way last year. Remem-ber, we are not asking for door prizes, we are not selling tickets, etc. Just asking for you to bring items for the bake sale. Christmas cookies are especially needed, as well as candy, butter horns, other pastries, pies,

cakes, caramel corn, etc. Everything sells! Please bring the goodies and tell your congregation about the sale. We are raising funds for the new room that will be a room for people going thru a crisis while at Wellspring Lu-theran Home.

We are asking that you ask your ladies to provide these items and bring them to the activity room (where we meet) on Thursday, December 13 between 4:00 and 6:30pm or by 8:30am on Friday, December 14. The sale will begin at 9:00am.

Please have all items packaged for sale, we will mark the prices. Also,

please encourage other members of your congre-gation to attend the sale on Friday, December 14 from 9:00am. We will stay until 1:30pm if there are still things to sell. Let’s all work together and have a great sale! All of you that worked on our previous fund raisers know that we made more money this way, and our feet felt much better.

If any of you want to vol-unteer to help price items when you bring your baked items on Thursday, please let me know—more hands to make the job easier!

Any questions, please call Marilyn Bernthal at 989-652-2515.

“The gifts are traditional gifts of the East,” the Con-cordia Commentary on Matthew 2:11 tells us. We can’t be sure that these gifts were appreci-ated by our Lord, for St Paul writes, “If the willing-ness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not accord-ing to what he does not have” (2 Corinthians 8:12)Were the gifts of the shepherds that first Christmas night accepta-ble as well? What did the shepherds bring? The Bible does not record their brining any gift at all—except, that is, the gift of their running to the stable with anticipation, the gift of their humble

How much do babies ap-preciate the gifts they re-ceive when they are born? Did Jesus, being the Son of God as well as the son of Mary, value the gifts the Magi brought? We would think those gifts impractical for a baby but then this was not an ordi-nary baby. That gold bought food and lodging and everything that was needed by the holy family as they fled to Egypt and then got established in a new home. The incense was burned as their pray-ers ascended to the Fa-ther in Heaven, and the myrrh was used some thirty years later to anoint the body later of the Baby grown to be our Savior.

worship as their anticipa-tion turned to realization, and the gift of their flocks “glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen” (Luke 2:17-20). It is obvious the willingness was there as the shep-herds brought gifts ac-cording to what they had. According to Scripture, their gifts were accepta-ble. We, too, can be sure that our gifts are appreci-ated by our Lord. Like the shepherds, we use the gifts God gives us, wher-ever we are wherever God places us to spread the word concerning what has been told us.

Fundraiser for Wellspring Lutheran Home

Gold, Incense, and Myrrh….and a Message to All

RE:Member is a new Adult Information Class for any adult who would like to become a member at Immanuel, is already a member of Immanuel, or would just like to know the core of what we believe and teach. For seven weeks starting January 6 we will gather in the Multi Purpose Room during the Bible study hour, 8:45-9:45am, to tackle big questions about the Christian faith and what it means to be a member here at Immanuel. Class will be a mix of lecture, large group, and small group discussion. The cof-fee and tea will be hot, the conversation is sure to be edifying! Join us for RE:Member and be sure to invite a friend to join you.

RE:Member Adult Information Class

Non-Profit Organiza-tion

US Postage PAID

Permit No. 398 Bay City, Michigan

Immanuel Lutheran Church & School 300 N. Sheridan

Bay City, MI 48708 www.immanuelbaycity.com Return Service Requested

immanuel lutheran church & school€¦ · and classes will resume on monday, january 7th at the...

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