1

Office will be closed on Friday, August 4th.

Immanuel Lutheran Church Children of God, called to proclaim the mighty acts of Jesus

through lives of love and servanthood.

August 2017 Newsletter

Weekly Services and

Communion

Sunday ~ 9am

Wednesday ~ 6pm

Office Hours

Weekdays

9:00 am–1:00 pm

Inside this issue:

Monthly updates p. 2

Birthday & Anniversaries p. 3

Upcoming Events p. 3

Thank you notes p. 4

Activity p. 9

Volunteer of the month p. 7

Church Happenings p. 5-9

Calendar p. 10

Find us on Facebook at Immanuel Lutheran Washington Iowa or online at luthwash.org.

Come visit us at 1226 East Washington Street, Washington, Iowa 52353

Church ~ 319.653.3950 Pastor Howard ~ 319.333.7758

“My Salvation Will Be Forever, and My Deliverance Will Never Be Ended.” by Peter J. Weller It is believed by a number of biblical scholars that the Book of Isaiah was written by three different authors or groups of authors. They credit the first Isaiah with writing the first 39 chapters before the Babylonian captivity. Chapters 40-55 were authored by a different prophet or possibly a group of prophets near the end of the captivity somewhere around the year 540 B. C. The third Isaiah was written by yet another prophet as the exiles began their return to Jerusalem, about 520 B. C. This month’s text from chapter 51:1-6 is attributed to the second Isaiah, and it calls on the Israelites to return to the Lord, and he will comfort them and lead them and establish justice and provide for their salvation forever. The second Isaiah writes: “Listen to me, you that pursue righteousness, you that seek the LORD. Look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were dug. Look to Abraham your father and to Sarah who bore you; for he was but one before I called him, but I blessed him and made him many. For the LORD will comfort Zion; he will comfort all her waste places, and will make her wilderness like Eden, her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the voice of song. “Listen to me, my people, and give heed to me, my nation; for a teaching will go out from me, and my justice for a light to the peoples. I will bring near my deliverance swiftly, my salvation has gone out and my arms will rule the peoples; the coastlands wait for me, and for my arm they hope. Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth beneath, for the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment, and those who live on it will die like gnats; but my salvation will be forever, and my deliverance will never be ended.” (Isaiah 51:1-6) In these six verses, God is definitely working to get our attention. Notice how many times he says “Listen” or “Look”: “Listen to me.” “Look to the rock.” “Look to the quarry.” “Look to Abraham and Sarah.” Again, “Listen to me.” “Give heed to me.” “Lift up your eyes.” “Look at the earth.”

Continued to page 8

2

Monthly Updates (Month to date)

General Funds– $5,928

Benevolence-gifts outside of church $4

Monthly expenses- $12,000-$15,000

Building Fund Gifts- $876

Monthly payment- $810

Debt reduction- $604

Attendance

Sunday, July 2-93

Wednesday, July 5-13

Sunday, July 9-93

Wednesday, July 12-13

Sunday, July 16-73

Wednesday, July 19-9

Sunday, July 23-88

Wednesday, July 26-8

Wandering Worshipers Jane Kruse worshipped with our brothers and sisters in

Christ at Bethany Lutheran Church in Northpoint, Michigan on July 16, 2017.

Gary Fischer worshipped with our brothers and sisters in Christ at High Street Methodist Church in Muncie,

Indiana on July 23, 2017.

July Milestones

-I lost a tooth on Saturday. Ainsley Six

-I will be teaching a class this fall at Coe College.

Mike Howard

-State Bound for the Fairfield Trojans softball team.

Allison Rebling

We extend our deepest Christian sympathies to the

family of +Earl Findley, Rex Findley’s father.

And to the family of +Barb Westpfahl, daughter of

+Dorothy Grim, sister of Joyce Westen and +Sheryl

Lewis, Aunt of Katie McWhirter, Tina Montz,

Maddie Widmer, and Vanessa Westen.

May these families find comfort and peace in the

promise of the resurrection of Christ.

New Arrival

God’s blessings upon Logan James Morrison born on Thursday, July 14th. Alissa and Ryan Morrison are Logan’s proud parents. Debbie and Mike Jewell are Logan’s beaming Grandparents. May Logan always walk in the light of God’s guidance and know the joy of a relationship with God though Jesus Christ.

Don’t Forget Immanuel Lutheran Summer is winding down and the Washington schools will resume classes on Wednesday, August 23rd.

During these last few weeks of summer, vacations are still occurring. Don’t forget to support the work of

Christ while you are on vacation. God continues to bless us daily; our response to God’s abundant blessings

does not go on vacation. Don’t forget to write your offering check and mail it to the church. God’s mission,

God’s church, and our response of thanksgiving.

Sunday Worship Times

Sunday, September 10th is Rally Sunday; the beginning of Faith Formation classes for all ages. September 10th, we will resume our Fall, two-worship services schedule;

8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. with Faith Formation Education

held at 9:15 a.m. Until September 10th, continue to enjoy our summer schedule of one-worship service at 9 a.m.!

Please take a moment to sign up for treats for

coffee in August and September. The sign up

sheet is in the fellowship hall.

3

Upcoming Meetings

Education– Sunday, August 6th @ 12:30 pm

Property– Tuesday, August 15 @ 7pm Finance– Thursday, August 21 @ 6pm

1- Phyllis Hagensick 3- Rose Lloyd 3- Tom Lyons 8- Kristin Jones 9- Rachel Quigley 12- Judy Venzke 12- Claire Wubbena 15- Mikaila Matheson 15- Mary Chmelar 15- Joyce Westen 17- Rachel Peterson 18- David Croft 19- Alan Rebling 19- Thomas Lueck 29- Maggie Baker 30- Tom Tanner 31- Mike Jewell

Birthdays for August

Anniversaries for August

1- Jack & Margaret Quigley 5- Jim & Linda Six 7- Rod & Julie Hill 7- Scott & Michelle Bartholomew 9- Peter & Sandy Weller 10- Grant & Diana Wubbena 18- Brad & Tricia Kroll 28- Neil & Julie Giesmann 30- Dennis & Sherry Ives

It’s VEGETABLE month at

Immanuel!!

Please consider donating canned vegetables to send to HACAP this month. Other items will be accepted and

appreciated but this month’s focus will be vegetables.

Thank you, truly, for your

generosity!!

Ladies Night Out will be

Tuesday, August 15th at 6:00

pm at Panda Palace.

Hear all about the New York trip

The youth and adults who just returned from

New York are excited to share with you their

experiences and how they saw

God active in their activities.

Join us for 9 a.m. worship on

Sunday, August 6th as the New

York participants will be

leading the sermon.

Hiring an Immanuel Lutheran

Church nursery attendant.

Must be at least 16 years of age, infant/child

CPR certificated, available to work on Sunday mornings. Starting

August 13, 2017. Call 653-3950 or email

Immanuel Lutheran Church Family- Please join us in Fellowship Hall on Sunday, August 6th following church at 10:30 am to celebrate the wedding of Christopher and Roosa Jewell. They were married in Helsinki, Finland on June 30, 2017. Come visit and enjoy refreshments as we celebrate God's work in our lives! ---Mike and Debbie Jewell

Mariah Howard’s last Sunday as a staff member

in the nursery will be Sunday, August 6th.

Thank you, Mariah for your time and talent

watching over the little cherubs of Immanuel

Lutheran who come in the nursery.

4

Dear Congregation,

Thank you for sending me to this camp I had a lot of

fun. I learned that God is always with us. We might

doubt him being with us but this is part of believing. I

really liked the leap of faith. Climbing up a pole then

jumping to a bar was so fun I had to do it twice.

Quinn

Dear Congregation,

Thank you for sending us to camp. I had a good time

playing 4-square. We went canoeing and we tipped

our canoe though. I leaned that God will always

forgive you and always be with you.

Ryan

Thank you for supporting my trip to Camp

EWALU. It has been a fun trip. I really

enjoyed leap of faith. We can see God in the

world. Sincerely, Rob T. Dear Congregation,

Thank you so much for supporting me and my friends for the opportunity to go to Camp EWALU. My very favorite part of the camp was the zip-lining, it would’ve been canoeing, but I tipped. One thing that I learned about the Bible at camp, was that it says Jesus will come back when the world is bad. Thank you, could not have done it with out you! Sincerely, Lucas Kroll

THANK YOU to everyone who prayed for and/or participated in the fundraisers to

financially assist our confirmands Ryan Jones, Lucas Kroll, Rob Taylor, and Quinn Wubbena in going to Camp Ewalu’s confirmation camp July 9th – July 14th. During the

week Christian community was formed and lived as the youth learned about a love that never ends. Don’t hesitate to ask the confirmands what they learned and/or what their favorite activity was. The week at Ewalu was GREAT (even if the kids got wet in the Turkey

River)! Photos of the week’s activities are posted on the church’s Facebook page; Immanuel Lutheran Washington Iowa. You may also go to Camp Ewalu’s Facebook page to see more photos of the week; EWALU Bible Camp & Retreat Center.

THANK YOU to Margie Runaas for leading worship on Wednesday, July 5th while Pastor Howard was on

vacation. To Lee Buchholz for leading worship on Wednesday, July 12th while Pastor Howard was at Camp

Ewalu with the confirmands. Also to Linda Six for leading worship on Wednesday, July 26th while Pastor

Howard was on the New York trip with our youth and chaperones. The congregation loved your enthusiasm

for God’s word and God was given honor and praise through your leadership.

5

2017 Kinnick Clean-Up Schedule

Sunday, Sep. 3 Wyoming

Sunday, Sep. 17 North Texas

Sunday, Sep. 24 Penn State

Sunday, Oct. 8 Illinois

Sunday, Oct. 29 Minnesota

Sunday, Nov. 5 Ohio State

Sunday, Nov. 19 Purdue

All are welcome to join Luther League

to help clean the concourse!!

Immanuel Work Night! We are going to have 11 Jr High youth this fall for Faith

Formation!!! This is amazing!! But this means we need to have a work night to

revamp the Jr High class room in a way that will work best for this group of

youth. Please join us Thursday, August 3rd at 6:00pm to make this a space

our youth will be able to enjoy growing their faith in!!!! The Jr High room is the

large room at the end of the hallway (the old sanctuary room); if there are items

that belong to you in this space and you do NOT want them thrown out please

have them removed before this date!

By Heart: Conversations with Martin Luther’s Small Catechism

Pastor Howard will continue leading an adult class on Luther’s Small Catechism on Sunday mornings

beginning, Sunday, September 17th , 9:15 a.m. We will use Luther’s Small Catechism as our text along with

the brand new publication By Heart which is a richly illustrated, in-depth exploration of

the Small Catechism. The participant’s guide will generate meaningful conversations

about the biblical and historical context of the Small Catechism, its link to the church’s

faith, and its connection to Luther’s life and your life today. We’ll begin class viewing a

video which will pique our interest to stimulate engaged conversations. Join us for this

class and deepen your understanding of the Lutheran tradition; especially during the

celebration of the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation. If you would like a personal

copy of By Heart please let Kelly know (653- 3950). Book orders of 1-5 $14.99/book,

orders of 6-20 $12.99/book. Kelly will place your book orders at the end of August.

Checks are to be made out to “Immanuel Lutheran” with “By Heart” in the memo.

If you have youth aged 0-18

we need an updated, 2017-

2018 health waiver on file

for them or they cannot

participate in any church

activities. Waivers can be

found attached at end of

newsletter, on church website

(luthwash.org), or sitting on table

outside sanctuary. Please have one for

each child on file in the church

office before Faith Formation resumes

in September for youth to be able to

participate. One form per youth is

good ALL year for ALL church

activities. Please see Carrie Lueck or

Pastor Maureen with any questions.

Thrivent rewards its policy holders by donating money to the charity or charities of their

choice. They previously had sent a notice when you had accumulated a bit of money. I don't

think they do anymore. Type in : "How to Direct Thrivent Choice Dollars" and click on the

article of that name. Or go to your financial page which lists your investments and policies.

You'll need to know your Thrivent ID and your Thrivent password. Several thousand dollars

come into our church each year but only if you start the action. Judy V.

6

Where will Jesus pop up next?!

It’s School Kit Time Again

This is the time of year that we shop for school supplies for children (and adults) in other lands where educational materials are scarce or non-existent. The following items are ON SALE at this time of year so we can get a lot of “bang for our buck.” Lutheran World Relief distributes these materials. This is the list of items we need:

· Pencils with erasers · Ball point pens · Pencil sharpeners · 2” erasers · 70+ sheet spiral notebooks · Children’s scissors · 16 or 24 pack crayons · 12” rulers (with metric measure)

Please help us by shopping for any or all of these items. You can leave them in the narthex of the church in the receptacle provided, or by the sewing room door. OR….take a bag (or several) from the pile in the narthex, to fill with the items on the list inside of each of them. Bring them back to the church before September. This has been a project in which families can participate together. It is a wonderful way to teach children the need of school supplies in other parts of the world, and how they can help by filling these LWR kits. Hopefully this will help them to realize how lucky they are for our schools in this country. If you would rather participate by giving money, that would also be appreciated. Just drop your donation in an envelope in the offering plate and the HOPE workers will do the shopping for you. Be sure to notate SCHOOL SUPPLIES on the envelope.

“God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday September 10th Immanuel is participating again celebrating whom we are as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America — one church, freed in Christ to serve and love our neighbor. On Sunday, Sept. 10th nearly 10,000 congregations of this church gather to serve communities in ways that share the love of God with all of God’s people. Last year for “God’s work. Our Hands.” Sunday, Immanuel helped do odd jobs around our members’ homes. This year, one of the projects will be packaging food boxes for HACAP distribution. Details about the job(s) we will be doing will be published soon. People of Immanuel Lutheran have purchased these cool ELCA t-shirts for the workday. If you have not ordered a shirt and would like to purchase one for September’s workday, please go to http://oldlutheran.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=OL&Category_Code= ELCA and order yours.

“Christ has no body but yours…” The benediction Pastor Howard blesses the congregation

with is a prayer of St. Teresa of Avila (a prominent Spanish mystic and a Carmelite nun of the

1500’s and a Roman Catholic saint). The words remind us that WE bring Jesus to the world

through the Holy Spirit acting through us. The hallway of Immanuel is filling up with photos

of US bringing Jesus to the world! Continue taking your family photos and/or selfies of your

outings with “flat Jesus”. Wherever you go, Jesus goes. Whatever you do, Jesus does. We have

pictures of Jesus: hiking, kayaking, relaxing, at restaurants, shopping, gardening, walking the

dog… Whatever you are doing, Jesus is doing it with you! Pick up your “flat Jesus” at

Immanuel or create your own “flat Jesus”. Send your photos of you and “flat Jesus” to church

(luthwash@hotmail.com) and we will hang them up. Post your photos on the church’s Facebook

page: Immanuel Lutheran Washington Iowa.

7

If you have any questions, concerns or ideas for Jesus’ church known as Immanuel Lutheran, please contact anyone on Immanuel Lutheran Church’s council. They are:

Steve Vetter , Pres. Nancy Baker

Angela Taylor, V.P. Travis Brink Katie McWhirter, Sec. Pastor Maureen Howard Tim Johnson, Fin. Sec. Ray Poe

(Non-voting) Jon Runaas Deidra Baker Linda Six

Mutual Ministry Committee

Ron Andersen– Chair

Gary Fischer

Ron Heineman

Mary Gail Lyons

Kathy Vetter

Danielle Six

Nursery to be Relocated

To better serve the infants through preschoolers attending the nursery on Sunday mornings,

Immanuel’s Church Council has approved the relocation of the nursery. The carpeted area on

the east side of the building, by the bathrooms, and the door to the fenced-in yard will be the

new site of the nursery. A half wall will be erected enclosing the carpeted area; allowing the

enclosure to be fully visible by adults while safely protecting the children. A half door will be

included on the north side, near the door to the fenced-in yard. This will allow the nursery

attendant to monitor the bathrooms while children are playing in the nursery. This new

location will also allow the nursery attendant to bring the children outside to play, in the

fenced-in yard, when weather permits. All children, participating in the nursery, will have to be

signed in and signed out by an adult. Nursery aged children will not be allowed to come and go

as they please. The present nursery will be used as a cry room and/or a nursing room. The

Church Council is excited about the relocation of the nursery. Look for the nursery to be

constructed soon.

Sunday Worship Times

Sunday, September 10th is Rally Sunday; the beginning of Faith Formation classes for all ages. September 10th, we will resume our Fall, two-worship services schedule;

8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. with Faith Formation Education

held at 9:15 a.m. Until September 10th, continue to enjoy our summer schedule of one-worship service at 9 a.m.!

8

“My Salvation Will Be Forever, and My Deliverance Will Never Be Ended.” by Peter J. Weller

Continued from page 1 And, in these same verses, God makes some very significant promises: He will comfort Zion. He will make Israel’s wilderness like Eden. He will issue a new teaching. He will bring near his deliverance swiftly. His salvation will be forever, it will outlast the heavens and the earth, and his deliverance will never be ended. One can find hints of the coming Messiah in these promises. Even greater hints are found in chapter 53: “He was despised and rejected by others. . . .Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases. . . . he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities. . . . and the LORD laid on him the iniquity of us all. . . . The righteous one, my servant, shall make many righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will allot him a portion with the great. . . because he poured out himself to death, and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many. . . .” (Isaiah 53:3-12) Other references to the coming Messiah can be found elsewhere in Isaiah. And, that is what makes this book so compelling. The Book of Isaiah is quoted many times by New Testament writers. Ten of those references are about the Suffering Servant, how he will suffer and die to save many from their sins, be buried in a rich man's tomb, be a light to the Gentiles. The Gospel of John even says that Isaiah "saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him." In particular, John quotes from Isaiah, chapters 6 and 53, to show how the failure on the part of many Jews to believe that Jesus was the Messiah, was a fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy: “ ‘Lord. who has believed our message, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?’ And so they could not believe, because Isaiah also said, ‘He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, so that they might not look with their eyes and understand with their heart and turn— and I would heal them.’ Isaiah said this because he saw his glory and spoke about him.” (John 12:38-41) But, many Christians do believe that Jesus was, and is, the Messiah of whom the Old Testament prophets wrote, that he is the one of whom God spoke when he said, “. . . for a teaching will go out from me, and my justice for a light to the peoples. I will bring near my deliverance swiftly. . . . my salvation will be forever, and my deliverance will never be ended.” And, that is the promise that God grants to all who believe.

August 2017, LSI Bulletin/Newsletter Article and Story Back to School Month School is right around the corner! But imagine being a child or teen with an emotional or behavioral disorder. This time of year can be extremely stressful. They are afraid they won’t be able to concentrate or fit in at their school. They worry about the transition adjusting to a new classroom routine. Did you know Lutheran Services in Iowa (LSI) partners with schools across the state to provide mental health services right in their communities? Our therapists can work one-on-one with children while our Behavioral Health Intervention Services team is there to collaborate with families in their home and develop skills like anger management and decision-making. We thank you for your support of LSI’s mission as we respond together to the love of Jesus Christ through compassionate service! If you would like to learn more about how you can give a gift and support these crucial services, please contact Deb Whitford, LSI director of philanthropy and church relations, at deborah.whitford@LSIowa.org. Our Mission: Lutheran Services in Iowa responds to the love of Jesus Christ through compassionate service.

LSI is an affiliated social ministry partner of the Iowa congregations of the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) and a member of LSA (Lutheran Services in America). We proudly serve people of all ages, abilities, religions, sexes, gender identities, national origins, ethnicities, races, and sexual orientations.

Learn more at www.LSIowa.org and www.facebook.com/LSI.iowa. Happier, healthier families For years, Bia struggled with her daughter’s behaviors. McKenna, 8, lashed out against authority, and tempers regularly flared at home. “It took a little more time to work with her on anything,” Bia said. Bia couldn’t find a way to help gain control of her child, and she became more and more frustrated. That’s when her DHS social worker recommended LSI’s Families Together program. Through the program, Bia regularly meets with her Families Together worker, Gaylene. Together, they are working on what Bia calls a “three-step technique.” “Whenever a possible argument comes along, I start by telling McKenna to go take a break and reset herself. Then I can go calm down and eventually, we can talk it out,” Bia says. “It’s teaching both of us. My main goal right now is to learn how to better handle McKenna and better handle myself.” Bia is also practicing the technique with her younger daughter, Brynn, which she says is “working perfectly.” It’s drastically improving the way her family communicates, and Bia says she has recommended Families Together to any friends looking for guidance. “I love the program,” she says. “I love how it works and I know if I have questions, they can give me advice on how to go about things.”

9

Activity Page

10

Service Date Greeters Ushers Readers Acolyte Communion

Setup/Clean up

August 6 Dale & Judy

Venzke

Michael Howard

Katie McWhirter

Ray Poe

Michael Howard Mikaila Matheson Set up– Mary Gail

Lyons

Clean up– Jane

Kruse

August 13 Bev Crandall and

Sherry Ives

Stan, Kristin, Cody

and Ryan Jones

Linda Brown Kylee Statler Set up– Brad &

Tricia Kroll

Clean up– Ray &

Alta Poe

August 20 Scott & Laurie

Pemberton

Rich, Deidra and

Marty Baker

Jon Runaas Emma Taylor Set up– Jane

Kruse

Clean up– Corrine

Martin

August 27 Aaron & April Six

and family

John & Peg Harris

and Brad Kroll

Mikaila Matheson Quinn Wubbena Set up– Jane

Kruse

Clean up– Doris

Moore and Naomi

Erickson

Sept. 3 Yaro & Mary

Chmelar

Brian & Carrie

Lueck and Tom

Gaughan

Katie McWhirter Issac Giesmann Set up– Mary Gail

Lyons

Clean up– Jane

Kruse

Confirmation Camp at

EWALU 2017