FROM PASTOR RICK’S COMPUTER:
OUR MISSION IS JOB ONE
300 in '003¹

I am proposing this as my vision for our congregation.²

A first step in realizing this vision is believing that we have a mission from and for Christ. God brought Immanuel Lutheran Church into existence over 130 years ago, maintained it and blessed it with growth by the sacrifices and prayers of countless believers, and brought it to this time, in this town, in this place for a purpose. His purpose.

Likewise, the Holy Spirit has called you to faith, grown you in discipleship, given you talents, abilities and health, and has led you to be a participant in Immanuel Church for a purpose. His purpose.

I sincerely hope you believe this. (And I hope you believe this about your home and work, too.) It is of vital importance if we are going to walk the walk with Jesus.

In numerous places in the Gospels we hear Jesus calling us to walk and work with him. "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."  "Whoever wants to be my disciple must take up his/her cross daily and follow me." "Go, therefore, and make disciples." "Whatever you do for the least of these, you have done for me." "You shall be my witnesses…to the ends of the earth." (from Acts)

The call of grace is a call to be transformed -- personally, and as a church.  As a church, then, our Mission is job one. The Church does not live for itself. Our congregation, as the body of Christ, has not been called into existence for what we "want" but for what Christ wants. The founders knew this; they built for their children's future. They fed themselves in worship and fellowship (they had lots of fun) so that the future could be built.

Without mission there is no Church as the body of Christ. The most important money we spend is in giving away to God's work beyond our congregation: gifts to mission congregations, seminaries, etc. through the Synod and national church; special gifts to world hunger, Christian Children's Fund, GLEAP, Wycliffe Bible Translators, Eaton Shelter/SIREN, LSSM and more. The most faithful way to make our congregation's decisions is to ask how this decision helps us do God's mission for us. Always!

So, if "300 by '003" is going to be our vision³ then we will have to think about both. At a minimum, we must hold what we need to do to move this along as much as what we want to do for our comfort. At our best, we will ask how we can PREPARE ourselves to serve and how we can SERVE at home, church and community in order to GATHER people to a new and a renewed faith in their Savior.

Our congregation's mission is job one. It has to be in order to be Christ's Church.

¹  Average worship attendance of 300 people per week by the end of 2003.

²  Since asking for feedback last month: the Church Council briefly discussed it plus 2 members specifically contacted me. This is hardly enough response to decide with confidence.

³  My request still stands. Your feedback, all kinds, is necessary for me to make a decision. (Please, email, call, write, or leave a message in the church office.)

AMONG OUR MEMBERS:

BAPTISM
STEVEN ANDREW KARKAU
Son of Steve and Carmen (Farris) was baptized on March 17th. His sponsors are Scott and Annette Karkau. "He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." (Phil. 1) We are counting on the Holy Spirit to do this through us: parents, family and church.

DEATH
GLADYS FRITZ
At 93, Gladys was ready to lay down this life for the fuller presence of her Savior.  Gladys was the eldest member of this congregation when she went to be with our living Lord on March 7th. She had been a believer in Christ her whole life, a life-long Lutheran and a member here since her parents purchased a farm at Grand River and Forrest Hill. She was hard-working, thrifty and faithful, and had a wonderful sense of humor."Well done, O good and faithful servant." Services for our sister were held March 11th.

EASTER, HOPE! 

The miracles that have already happened are, as Scripture says, the first fruits of that cosmic summer which is presently coming on. Christ has risen, and so we shall rise. St. Peter for a few seconds walked on the water, and the day will come when there will be a re-made universe, infinitely obedient to the will of glorified and obedient men, when we can do all things, when we shall be those gods that we are described as being in Scripture. To be sure, it feels wintry enough still: but often the very early spring it feels like that. Two thousand years are only a day or two by this scale. A man really ought to say, "The Resurrection happened two thousand years ago" in the same spirit in which he says, "I saw a crocus yesterday." Because we know what is coming behind the crocus. The spring comes slowly down this way; but the great thing is that the corner has been turned. There is, of course, this difference, that in the natural spring the crocus cannot choose whether to respond or not. We can. We have the power either of withstanding the spring, and sinking back into the cosmic winter, or of going on into those "high mid-summer pomps" in which our Leader, the Son of man, already dwells, and to which He is calling us. It remains with us to follow or not, to die in this winter, or to go on into that spring and that summer.                                                       (C. S. Lewis, "God in the Dock")

DID YOU KNOW?

…that 14 middle school youths are going to Stony Lake Camp in June;

…that 8 elementary youths are going to Stony Lake in July;

…that Seventeen 8^th graders are scheduled to be confirmed on May 19^th;

…that both middle school and high school youth have been meeting regularly?

…that Kid's Club has been meeting each month;

…that Friendship Club is for all adults to meet in small groups in order to build Christian friendships;

…that there will be Church Family Camping weekend in August?

THANK YOU'S:

The Worship Committee wants to thank everyone who ordered plants for our Easter Worship Service . . . a total of 87 plants.  Don’t forget to pick up your plant(s) after the 10:30 service on Easter Sunday, March 31st.

A special thank you to Deb Stopper for serving eleven plus years as Church Council Secretary.  Deb, most of us can not imagine what a commitment this has been for you. Thank you very much! Council President 2002 New Council Secretary! We are pleased to have Barb Paulins serve as the new church council secretary.  Thank you Barb for stepping in to fill this position, we appreciate it.

FROM THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT'S DESK:

As we begin the month of April celebrating Easter, the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior, we begin to enjoy the season of Spring.  The season of new life and new growth!

For Immanuel, I hope this new life and new growth means bringing more to Christ, bringing us closer to Christ and bringing us closer together as a part of the Immanuel Family.

The Church Council is beginning to deal with some difficult situations, examining our staffing situation with Pr. Cindy making herself available for call.  Our congratulations also go out to her and Scott as they prepare to begin a new life together.

Unfortunately, it appears our vision for the future with staffing is “fogged over” with our wants for an associate pastor, a youth director/leader, need for a mutual ministry support committee, likely some restructuring in our organization and potential revisions to the church constitution.

There is much concern about Pr. Rick’s schedule and how we can assist him especially during the time further decisions are made about staffing and preparing our church for a vision to the future and moving forward.

We have so many forms of ministries going on at Immanuel that we all love to see, that sometimes I feel we forget to recognize how much time and effort are given to these ministries.  We all can minister to the needs of one another daily by being more involved at Immanuel, using the various spiritual gifts God has given us.  Remember we are all ministers at Immanuel, some ordained, most of us lay.  But all called in service of our mission.

As we work through what many of us on church council are now calling “growing pains” we ask for guidance and direction.

As the mutual ministry support task force works at giving some guidance and direction to the future making recommendations to the management committee and church council, we ask that you pray for them.  They will be considering issues like conflict management and staff/parish relationships and much more (not easy stuff).

Presently, the council is considering a program called the Bridge Builders (conducted by the synod staff) and will be communicating more with the bishop, assistant bishop and Synod staff for guidance, options and direction.  All  of this is especially related to staffing, a more solid vision for the future and youth ministry.

I ask that you pray for our pastors, church staff and Church Council as we explore perhaps some new areas and new relationships as we move into this Spring and Summer.

Let us celebrate Easter knowing that Christ Is Risen! New Life and New Beginnings are always there for us.

Council President 2002

Slump Sunday This year, the Sweet Anointing Trio will lead us in worship at the 10:30 service on April 7th (the ONLY service that day). This is a trio of women singing a variety of Christian music. Their mission statement "To utilize our God-given gifts of music wherever He leads us, spreading His message of love and acceptance."

Healing Service April 14, 2002 8:00 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.

THE FRIENDSHIP CLUB The Friendship Club is a new adult social group at Immanuel.  Our first event: Dinner For Eight, was a huge success!  We meet again on April 13, 2002, from 7-9:30 p.m., for games and snacks.  Sign up in the lobby to participate and bring a snack, or to host a group of eight in your home and provide beverages.  Ask Jim and Marlaine Teahan, 622-4121, or Steve and Lynn Colby, 627-3438, if you have any questions.

ITALIAN POTLUCK An Italian Potluck will be held right after the 10:30 a.m. Worship Service on Sunday, April 14, 2002.  Bring a dish to pass and beverages will be provided.  Hosted by Outreach Committee.

Spring Clothing Drive On Sunday, April 28, we will have a clothing drive for ACTION for LSSM.  There will be a vehicle in the corner of the church parking lot to accept your donations of used clothing between the two services and after the second service.  Receipts will be available for your taxes. We are asking your help in our record-keeping.  Each bag of clothing has to have a tag attached with a list of the contents and we have to give a duplicate tag to the ACTION thrift store.  Please put all clothing in trash bags (no hangers, please).  We will have tags available for you to pick up each Sunday in April.  We will accept Spring-Summer clothing and Winter clothing, BUT they must be in separate bags (both labeled), as they will be going separate places.  Thank you for your donations.

How to Pray -
TEN SIMPLE RULES

1. Pray where you are, God is present everywhere ready to listen.

2. Pray, when possible, in a quiet place where you can be alone. It is well to fix your mind deliberately on God, apart from confusing distractions.

3. Pray to God simply and naturally, as to a friend. Tell Him what is on your mind. Get help from the prayers of others.

4. Pray, remembering the good things God has done for you. Reckon up your blessings from time to time, and give thanks for them.

5. Pray for God's forgiveness for the unworthy things that you may have done. He is near to a humble and contrite heart.

6. Pray for the things you need, especially those that will make your life finer and more Christ like.

7. Pray for others, remembering the situations they confront and the help they need.

8. Pray for the world in its need, asking God to bring better things and offering your help to them.

9. Pray above everything else that God's will may be done in you and in the world. His purposes are deeper and wiser than anything we can imagine.

10. Pray, and then let God use you in answering your prayer.


Source: The Lutheran Prayerbook, page 43-44.  The Lutheran Prayerbook is available by contacting Kitty Whitney (627-4227) or the church office.

Tote Bag Workshop We will be making tote bags on Tuesday, May 7 at 2 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.  If you can sew, please bring your machine and come.  If you don’t sew, we can use you as well.  We need people to measure and cut fabric for the bags.  These bags will be filled with supplies for school children and given to LSSM for foster children. Your ACTION representatives, Kitty Whitney, Eileen LaCombe, Theresa Barcy & Barb Roush

Needed!!! New people are needed to be trained to be ushers.  This is a way you can serve the Lord.  We're especially looking for young people who have been confirmed and new members.  A training session takes approx. 2 hours.  Call Joyce Oswill (627-6839) or Bev Becker (627-2025). ASAP

BRIDAL SHOWER All Immanuel Women (young, as well as adult) are invited to a Bridal Shower for Pr. Cindy Olson on Saturday, April 20th from  2 – 4 PM in Fellowship Hall So that we know how many to plan for, please RSVP by April 8th  to Nancy Zakrajsek  (627-6509) or Barb Roush (645-2266) Please bring a favorite recipe for Cindy’s (just beginning) collection. Cindy & Scott will be married May 24th in Defiance, Ohio. For your convenience, Cindy & Scott are registered at J.C. Penney’s. P.S. April 20th is Cindy’s 33rd Birthday!

CELEBRATIONS:
APRIL BIRTHDAYS

APRIL ANNIVERSARIES

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