THE IMMANUEL INFORMER

March 2017

Immanuel Lutheran Church 604 Lafayette Avenue Story City, Iowa 50248 515.733.4972

E-mail address - immanuel@iowatelecom.net

Website - www.immanuelstorycity.org

A member of Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ (LCMC).

Ministers - All Members Pastor - Kurt Jensen Visitation Pastor - Tom Hunt Youth & Education Ministry Coordinator - Zachary Bauknecht Deployed Pastor to Riverside - Chris Dahl Office Secretary - Milianna Carlson Financial Secretary - Veronica Wright Custodian - Shelly Nibe Missionaries we help support: Tim & Paula Tjernagel, Spain Pastor Randy Hansen, ISU Gene & Ginger McClugage, Family Life, Arkansas Kevin & Susana B, India Doug & Amy Nunziato, Mission Aviation, Washington

Regular Office Hours

Monday - Thursday Friday 8:30 A.M. - 12 noon, 8:30 A.M. - 12 noon 1 P.M. - 4 P.M.

Sunday Morning Schedule 8:30 A.M. Sunday School 9:00 A.M. Coffee Fellowship (Narthex) 9:30 A.M. Worship Service 10:30 A.M. Coffee Fellowship (Social Hall)

OUR MISSION Building Strong Relationships in Christ,

And Making Him Known to All.

From the Pastor. . .

The unseasonably warm weather last

month made the Surprise Lilies on the

south side of our house pop up early.

They may be in for a bit of a surprise

themselves if winter

returns in force.

They’re also called

Resurrection Lilies

because several weeks

after the green leaves

have withered away, a

tall stalk shoots up and

sprouts beautiful pink

flowers, almost like fireworks.

We’re just starting Lent with Ash

Wednesday on March 1st, but our lilies

apparently can’t wait to celebrate

resurrection!

Post the full Lent calendar in this

newsletter on your fridge or somewhere

else in your house to remind you

of all the opportunities we have for

worship, learning, and meals together

these next several weeks. Come eat and

grow with us!

Eagerly anticipating resurrection with you,

Pastor Kurt

March Ministry Volunteers

Financial Report - January

Fund Beginning Balance Receipts Expenditures Ending Balance

Current & Mission Fund 23,288.39 30,559.98 29,179.65 24,668.72

Improvement Fund 66,088.56 1,655.00 0.00 67,743.56

Missionary Support Fund -647.70 1,040.00 1,499.89 -459.89

Memorial Fund 6,457.62 0.00 0.00 6,457.62

Ministry Fund 2,760.20 505.00 192.89 3,072.31

Ushers Chuck & Laura Carlson, Ben Carlson

Greeters Readers Candlelighters

March 5 Ben & Rachel Winecoff family John Nordeen Adam McIlrath

March 12 Need Need Kaitlyn Rahfeldt

March 19 Rodney & Beth Bunn Jackie Skaar Cole Schrader

March 26 Need Deb Olson Sam Skaar

Secretary Helpers (10 A.M. on Fridays)

March 3 Nancy McMenamin

March 10 Janet Handsaker

March 17 Nadine Beck, Ruby Olson

March 24

March 31

Ardella Mostrom, Florence Hinderaker

Judy McIlrath, Neva Jean Jacobson

Pastoral Acts Funeral Services: Maxine Omvig (January 30) Eugene Voga (February 2)

Baptism: McKena Lee Rickerl, daughter of Lee & Jodie Rickerl (February 12)

Please remember these families in your prayers.

e

Church Financials

Newsletters via e-mail Consider going paperless—contact our church office to receive your newsletter via your email address. Our newsletters are also available on our website. Extra copies are available in the narthex.

Thank you to the people who attended the Ministry Fair on February 26!

We appreciate all the work of the volunteers, too.

Make sure to pick up a copy of our revised church brochure in the narthex!

Celebrating Luther in Lent (post this on your fridge!)

As part of our celebration of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in 2017,

this Lent we will be looking at Martin Luther’s Small Catechism.

His explanations of Confession and Forgiveness, Baptism and the Lord’s Supper,

the Ten Commandments and the Apostles’ Creed

will guide our worship and reflection together.

(Trinity and Confirmation classes will be held from 7:45-8:30 p.m. after each Wednesday evening worship service,

except March 15 during Spring Break.)

Mar. 1 7:00 p.m. Ash Wednesday worship (Holy Communion)--God’s Word at Work: Confession

Mar. 5 8:30 a.m. Faith Weaver Sunday School and Adult Class

9:30 a.m. Worship - God’s Word at Work: The Lord’s Supper

Mar. 8 6:00 p.m. Lenten supper: Immanuel Youth

7:00 p.m. Worship - 1st & 2nd Commandments: No Other Gods / Name in Vain

Mar. 12 8:30 a.m. Faith Weaver Sunday School and Adult Class

9:30 a.m. Worship - God’s Word at Work: Baptism

Mar. 15 6:00 p.m. Lenten supper: Men of Immanuel and Seasoned Souls

7:00 p.m. Worship - 3rd & 4th Commandments: Sabbath / Honor Your Parents

Mar. 19 8:30 a.m. Faith Weaver Sunday School and Adult Class

9:30 a.m. Worship - Apostles’ Creed I: Father

Mar. 22 6:00 p.m. Lenten supper: Senior Choir

7:00 p.m. Worship - 5th & 6th Commandments: Honor Your Neighbor’s Life & Spouse

Mar. 26 8:30 a.m. Faith Weaver Sunday School and Adult Class

9:30 a.m. Worship - Apostles’ Creed II: Son

Mar. 29 6:00 p.m. Lenten supper: Sunday School

7:00 p.m. Worship - 7th & 8

th Commandments: Honor Your Neighbor’s Property & Name

Apr. 2 8:30 a.m. Faith Weaver Sunday School and Adult Class

9:30 a.m. Worship – Apostles’ Creed III: Spirit

Apr. 5 6:00 p.m. Lenten supper: TBA

7:00 p.m. Worship - 9th & 10th Commandments: Honor What Belongs to Your Neighbor

Apr. 9 8:30 a.m. Faith Weaver Sunday School and Adult Class

9:30 a.m. Worship - Palm Sunday

1:00 p.m. Messiah in the Passover event—Trevor Rubenstein, Chosen People Ministries

Apr. 13 7:00 p.m. Maundy Thursday worship (Holy Communion)

Apr. 14 7:00 p.m. Good Friday worship led by Immanuel Youth

Apr. 16 8:00 a.m. Easter Breakfast served by Immanuel Youth (no Sunday School)

9:30 a.m. Easter Sunday Celebration worship

Join us for Sunday morning education and worship and midweek worship

this Lent as we celebrate Reformation 500!

Special Announcements

HOLY COW!

THE CAT IS COMING! The Immanuel Transition Team, with the approval of the Church Council, has recently agreed to move forward with HolyCow! Consulting to help us plan our future. Around the middle of March, the Transition Team will be inviting you to complete the Congregation Assessment Tool (CAT), a completely anonymous, on-line survey instrument that will help the Transition Team gauge the strength, vitality, and trends in our church. The information that we will gain from this assessment will be extremely valuable in helping the Transition Team and the Church Council as we make decisions about the future of Immanuel Lutheran. This assessment will provide to us a clear picture of who we are as a church and what directions are most important for our future. The CAT will provide key indicators of our congregational health along with areas of challenge and potential growth. The CAT will help the Transition Team to collect and understand the range of views that exist among all of us as members of Immanuel, and the possibilities, willingness, capacity and energy for moving our ministry into the future.

WE WANT TO KNOW YOUR STORY!

In the coming weeks, you will be hearing and seeing from the Transition Team a whole lot more with details and information about the CAT! So, as we enter Lent, a time of self-reflection, please be praying about Immanuel, about this time of transition, and about your priorities for our mission and ministry. Your STORY, your input – your perceptions, opinions and experiences - is key to the Transition Team gaining insight into our future together! If you have any questions about the CAT and this upcoming assessment, or questions regarding the transition process, please contact any member of the Transition Team – Joel Danielson, Tammy Hansen, Justin Hanson, Cathy Isebrand, Jillian Lykins, Patty Rathmacher, and Rick Richie.

Church & Community Announcements

2017 Lenten Prayer Guide Our congregation is joining thousands of churches during the 40 days leading up to Palm Sunday in praying for our community and our world. Seek God for the City 2017 gives daily scriptures and fresh prayer topics to help you pray beyond yourself with confidence and clarity. We will Seek God in two simple ways: first, we will seek God’s face, and then we will seek His kingdom. As we come to God, seeking His face, then He comes to us bringing His kingdom.

A companion app with links to prayer ideas for every nation in the world is available for your smartphone or tablet for just $.99—look for it in your app store!

The booklets are available in the church office and on the table in the narthex—only $3.00 each. A free children’s version is available, too, so you can pray with your kids! Find out more at ww.waymakers.org. Join us in prayer for our city and world each day this Lent!

Sunday School Mission Project Update: THANK YOU to all who participated in our Mission Project this year! Together, we were able to raise a great amount of money for orphans in Haiti! Thank You so much. God is so Good!

Thank you from Pastor Stephen and Sandy Anenson:

“Now that we are getting settled in our new house, we wanted to send our appreciation to all the men who helped us in the moving process. It means so much to us. Blessings to you all!”

Meal Train If you know any friends or family in need of meals following births, deaths, illnesses, or surgeries, please contact Sarah Jensen (suttonsbay1@yahoo.com) or the church office. Sarah will help organize the providing of meals using the Meal Train website and will notify the congregation allowing you to sign up for times to provide meals for those in their time of need. Thank you!

Inclement Weather Policy Our church events are cancelled if Roland-Story Schools are dismissed early due to weather conditions. Information will be posted to our website and to Immanuel’s Facebook page.

“In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we

must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how

he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 20:35

Church & Community Announcements, continued

A short service of Holy Communion will follow the worship service on Sunday, March 19. We realize that some of our members are gone for communion the first Sunday of the month. Come, even if you simply would like to participate in the sacrament again.

Immanuel Women’s Ministry Quilt Tying Work Day will be on Thursday, March 9, beginning at 9 A.M. Our work day will end at

12 noon. Come join us for a morning of fun, work, fellowship, Good food, and service to others.

If you would like to bring something to share for coffee break, you are invited to do so.

We hope you can make it! No experience needed.

Reminder: There will be no Confirmation or Trinity Classes on Wednesday, March 15. Enjoy your Spring Break!

A Note from Stephen Ministry: You can play an important role in our Stephen Ministry because you may know of a friend, neighbor, co-worker, or relative who is going through a difficult time and who could benefit from the focused care, encouragement, and support of a Stephen Minister. If you know of someone who is hurting, talk with one of our Stephen Leaders: Pastor Kurt or Gayle Tate. They can talk with you about how we can connect the person you know with one of our Stephen Ministers. It’s a great way for you to show how much you care! Stephen Ministry meets Monday, March 20 at 5:30 P.M. in the Cornerstone Room.

“No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn.”

—Hal Borland

A Story City’s Writers Group will meet Friday, March 17 in Immanuel’s library. We encourage Christian writings only, and will provide peer review and support for publishing. Group will meet for 90 minutes each month. Contact Laura Carlson (515.291.5430) or lauraevecarlson@gmail.com for more information.

Spring begins March 20

Turn your clocks

forward an hour on Sunday, March 12!

Church & Community Announcements, continued Women’s Monthly Bible Study will continue on Tuesday, March 21 at 2 P.M. in the Social Hall. All women are invited to join us for a time of fellowship and study.

A display of Easter Lilies is planned again for this year! They can be given in honor or in memory of someone. Each plant is $10.00. The deadline for ordering Easter Lilies will be Sunday, March 26. If you would like to share a plant for Easter Sunday, please fill out the order form enclosed in your Sunday bulletin (during March). Return the form and payment to the church office by Sunday, March 26.

April Newsletter Articles and Announcements are due to the church office by Thursday, March 23. Please email your items or drop them off during office hours. Thank you!

All Men of Immanuel are invited to meet each Saturday morning from 8 to 9 A.M. in the Social Hall for an informal Bible Study.

Christian music artist Kari Jobe, along with special guest Leeland will be performing at Cornerstone Church in Ames on March 24 at 7 P.M. For tickets and more information, visit karijobe.com or premierproductions.com.

(wElCoMe}nEw}mEmBeRs)

Cradle Roll Pictures Needed! If your child has recently been baptized at Immanuel, we’d love to put your child’s picture on our “Cradle Roll” bulletin board. Please turn in a photo to the church office. Thank you!

On February 26, we welcomed many new families into our church congregation. Our new members are:

Chuck & Laura Carlson, Ben Ben & Kayla Haberl, Bradey, Gracey and Elsey

Pat & Tiffany Earll, Tegan and Gracie Chad & Brittni Reifschneider, Kase and Josie

Seth & Renee Twedt, Zachary Larry & Donna Kallem (associate members)

Ryan Lykins and Tina Bowman Mike & Ashlee Mullenbach, Meredith and Parker

Welcome to Immanuel!

Church Library Notes

Read. Study. Learn.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34

Three little words, “Love one another”, yet what a big responsibility they carry. Following this command and the example of Jesus is at the heart of the story in two of our new books for this month, The Love Letters by Beverly Lewis and Room for Hope by Kim Vogel Sawyer.

Drawing upon her mother’s Amish heritage and her experiences growing up among the Plain people in Pennsylvania, Lewis writes tender yet insightful stories about the Amish way of life. In The Love Letters, Marlena Wenger temporarily puts her own life on hold after the death of her grandfather and goes to spend the summer helping her grandmother. She has a serious suitor who is not very pleased but they agree to try and make it work. When her estranged sister is in a serious car accident, Marlena is asked to take care of her infant daughter, and so little Angela Rose comes to stay with Mammi and Marlena at the farm. Although at times she is nearly overwhelmed by her responsibilities, Marlena is determined to do her best for the ones she loves, knowing that at the end of the summer she will return to her family

and resume her plans for the future. A tragic turn of events challenges Marlena to put her faith to the test and decide what it truly means to “love one another”.

Set during the Depression, Kim Vogel Sawyer’s novel Room for Hope introduces us to Neva Shilling, a busy mother raising 14 year old twins and running the town’s mercantile store during her husband Warren’s lengthy business trips. She doesn’t know what to believe when the deputy sheriff shows up at her door with a load of furniture, three small children, and the news that Warren Shilling and his wife are deceased and left behind the request that their children be raised by “Aunt Neva”. Could it be that the husband she loved and believed to be out traveling the country making sales had really been raising a second family? Torn between feelings of anger, sadness, and even guilt, Neva questions whether she can find it in her heart to accept and learn to love these three little ones.

If you enjoy having a good chuckle, pick up She Who Laughs, Lasts!, “laugh- out-loud stories from today’s best-known women of faith”, compiled by Ann Spangler. You are sure to be smiling if not laughing out loud within minutes of opening this book. As one author put it, “Laughter is to life what shock absorbers are to automobiles. It won’t take the potholes out of the road, but it sure makes the rider smoother.”

Reading the Bible To read the Bible is to take a trip to a fair land where the spirit is strengthened and faith renewed. -Dwight D. Eisenhower

MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH

UNI Dance Marathon is Saturday, March 4, noon to midnight! Since 2012, UNI's Dance Marathon has worked to make a difference in the lives of sick children and their families. Each year, the University of Northern Iowa hosts a Dance Marathon, which supports the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hopsital and the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. During this 12 hour event, kids and their families join in the dancing and games, and the evening is concluded with the reveal of the total amount raised by UNI Dance Marathon for that year. In 2016, there were over 1,200 dancers that fundraised $370, 248.05. You can register for the "Big Event" on March 4, and/or donate (all donations are tax deductible) by visiting http://www.unidancemarathon.com/. To donate to Kirsten Waline's team, click "donate", and put her name in the search box.

High School Musical

Good luck to all who are involved in this year's

musical, Shrek! Thank You for sharing your

talents with us.

Middle School Youth Group

We will be getting together for Youth Group on

Sunday the 5th from 2:00-3:10 PM. We will play

some fun games and have great conversations as

well. We hope you can join us!

High School Youth Group

We will be getting together for Youth Group

on Sunday the 5th from 3:15-4:30 PM. Bring a

friend and get ready for some fun!

We hope you can join us.

Family Roller Skating at Spinning Wheels

For those of you who will be around on Sunday

March 12th, we will be heading to Ogden to go

Roller Skating!! We will meet at church at 1:00 PM.

Skating goes from 2-4 and we should be back by

4:45 PM. Admission will be paid for, so you will

just need to bring $1 for skate rental (if needed)

and money for a snack (if you would like). If you

have your own skates/roller blades you are

welcome to bring them. If you are

planning on coming, please RSVP by

March 5th that way we have

enough drivers. We had a great

time in 2015 when we had over 30

people with us. Thanks!

Spring Break

Please have a safe and enjoyable

Spring Break. Make sure you take

time to thank God for everything

He is doing in your life and

your family's life! See you

when you get back.

Summary of February 2017 Council Meetings Joint Council—Feb. 9 President Terry Thompson called the meeting to

order. Pastor Kurt shared devotions. Welcome to new Council members. Transition Team update by Joel Danielson: the team

attended a helpful workshop in January. Plan to gather area demographic information and do both formal assessment (CAT) and informal conversations in upcoming months.

Denny Bauman gave the monthly treasurer’s report. The balance of funds overall is in good shape.

Report of Boards. Next meetings: March 9, then April 20.

Board of Education—Feb. 9

Opening prayer: Kim Sporleder.

Welcomed new member Jessica Reinert.

Discussed spring curriculum and palms for Palm

Sunday.

Discussed end of year program and teachers to

finish Sunday school year.

Discussed Day Camp.

March 29th Lent meal discussion.

Zach opened first 10 rice bowls from mission project:

$310!

Discussed finding 5th member / new

superintendent.

Zach closed in prayer.

Youth Board—Feb. 7

Opening devotion by Gayle Tate.

Chris reported the Deacons will give $1000 each year

for the Youth Ministry budget.

Discussed budgeting procedures.

Annual Meeting dinner made $341, with 14 youth

helping.

52 people at Inter-generational Night on Jan. 22!

Feb. 10 - Story City Middle School Youth Group Night at Rec Center, root beer floats at Immanuel.

Feb. 12 - Family Valentine Gathering after worship. Lenten Meal Plan (Mar. 8) Walking Tacos and chili. Youth lead worship on Good Friday. No sunrise service again this year – youth do Easter Breakfast.

Mission Trip Payments. Discussed Sunday School. Looking for 5th Youth Board member. Zach closed in prayer.

Deacons The meeting was opened with prayer concerns.

John Rathmacher will serve as chairman, Shirley Frette continues as secretary.

Discussed final distribution of the Daily Texts.

Discussed ideas for dividends from Endowment Fund for community outreach.

Agreed to give the Youth Board $1,000 per year from the Ministry Fund for youth events, etc.

Ordering Small Catechisms and Seek God for the City 2017 prayer booklets for the congregation.

On Palm Sunday, April 9, Trevor Rubenstein from

Chosen People Ministries (merged with Good News

for Israel) will give a message during worship and talk

about the ministry of CPM. At 1:00 he will give a

presentation for the community entitled Messiah in

the Passover.

Trustees—Feb. 9 and 16 Opening Prayer – John Arthur Elected 2017 Chair: John Arthur, Secretary: Tyler Oberender

Overviewed tasks of Trustees, Money Messenger schedule.

Approved bills and Treasurer’s Report. Daycare Exploration Team Presentation: Architect found it would cost $70-120K to update the building to make a daycare center possible; after much

discussion, decided not to move forward with it. Awarded scholarships to Zach Hovick and Tyler Hovick

Project Updates: replacing Social Hall & kitchen furnace/AC units with one new furnace and AC; installing WiFi-controlled thermostats, cabinets in work room.

Sound techs met with Mark Blaede about a new sound system for the sanctuary. Will present this to Council and then the congregation with Mark

available for questions. Looking into sanctuary roof/gutters repair or replacement.

Approved Transition Team’s request to use Holy Cow

Consulting for CAT assessment of our congregation.

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Imm

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2017

Immanuel Lutheran Church 604 Lafayette Avenue Story City, Iowa 50248

Address Service Requested

Non-Profit Org.

U.S. Postage

Paid Story City, Iowa

Permit No. 44

Giving up guilt Rev. Greg Boyle, a Jesuit priest who ministers to high-risk youth in Los Angeles, once quipped, “I … don’t do guilt. I gave it up for Lent years ago.” Many Christians give up something for Lent but usually not guilt! Rather, Lent is seen as a time to somberly examine our sinful nature. Having witnessed sin’s tragic effects through addiction, violence and gang warfare, Father Boyle realizes that dwelling on guilt doesn’t lead to hope or healing. Instead, he helps young people discover their God-given strengths and their ability to make life-affirming choices. His nonprofit Homeboy Industries provides positive alternatives for teenagers, who are reminded not of their guilt but of their identity as God’s beloved children. On Good Friday Jesus conquered sin and death so we don’t have to wallow in guilt. Giving our lives to God frees us to live in the joy of forgiveness. Published in The Newsletter Newsletter, March 2017

“It is spring again. The earth is like a child that

knows poems by heart.”

―Rainer Maria Rilke

1 1 March 2017