FROM PASTOR RICK’S COMPUTER:

WELCOME, HAPPY EASTER

...the highest, holiest, most joyful day in the Church. There are times and places where we experience a little taste of heaven. Easter is one of those -- both in its celebration and its meaning.

The better we have “kept Lent” the greater the joy when as we break our fasts. Many folks have gathered for study and prayer. More have kept it in their homes and hearts. Some have worked during the season to prepare the celebrations of Holy Week and Easter for others. We welcome, happy Easter, and enter into its joy.

We enter even more deeply into Easter’s meaning, which is God’s victory of grace in the sacrifice of his Son. Defeated are the powers of sin, death and the devil to separate us now and forever from living with God. Christ is risen! And therefore his death and his living and teaching that are consistent with it, are the way, truth and life with the heavenly Father. When by faith we live his way, offering ourselves for others, Easter’s truth becomes ever so sweet to our needs; Christ’s life becomes ever so full – joy-full and power-full – in our weary hearts.

Easter day and Easter power provide us a “little taste of heaven.” Welcome.

EASTER SEASON SERVICES:

HOLY WEEK

Holy Week is full of of opportunities to walk with Jesus our Savior and renew our faith.

PALM SUNDAY is also called the Sunday of the Passion.

Our Drama Team will lead us into the Passion and Death of Christ. Often asked is “Who killed Jesus?” In this service we will yell out “Crucify him!” for in truth it was our sins which put him on the cross.

MAUNDY THURSDAY is a Passover (Haggadah) celebration at 7:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.

We will celebrate the Lord’s Supper much the way Jesus led it on the Thursday night he was betrayed.

NOTE: Please sign up at church or office so that food and place settings can be prepared.

GOOD FRIDAY we have 2 services in 2 locations.

1:00 p.m. The Friday liturgy (Tre-Ore) will be at Immanuel. Church will be open for quiet meditation between 12 and 3 p.m. (The Biblical hours Jesus suffered on the cross.)  Trinity Episcopal and Immanuel will lead this together.

7:30 p.m. The Grand Ledge Community Service will be held at the Seventh Day Adventist Church (corner of North Clinton and Burt St., across from ETM).  Most GL churches will participate in “Gathering before the Cross of our Lord.”

HOLY SATURDAY service at night is the beginning of Easter joy.  Extensive decorating help is needed Saturday morning. Contact Bill Paulins at 645-2914 if you can help. 

Service time is 8:00 p.m.  We celebrate baptisms, re-confirm our faith, and celebrate Christ’s resurrection in song and Communion.  It is a joyful, candlelight Easter service.

EASTER SUNDAY

This Easter the two Sunday Services will be completely different.

At 8:00 a.m. we will celebrate with a full Eucharistic liturgy and sermon.         

At 10:30 the Choir is presenting a cantata, “The Rose of Calvary.”  This service will also include Holy Communion. Some may want to choose by style more than by times of the service this year.

PLUS: An Easter Breakfast will be served at 9 a.m. Prepared by Outreach Committee, this fellowship hour will have a free will offering to cover expenses of the wonderful food.

NOTE: Communion will be received standing and by common cup at both services.

We realize that Holy Week coincides with Spring Break week for many school children. If you are traveling, take time to “travel” with Christ where you are. If you are home, come so that the Word and Spirit will fill you up to overflowing with newness of life.

NEWS AND EVENTS:

JOURNEY TOGETHER FAITHFULLY

If you are not aware, this is the title of our ELCA study about Church policy and practices toward same-sex couples. More specifically, will we or will we not as a Church bless same-sex unions and ordain to ministry men and women who are in committed same-sex relationships.

All confirmed members are invited together to pray about and discuss these things in our faith and fellowship. Three groups will be offered. Each group will be led by a clergy and a lay team. The teams are Pastor Rick and Teresa Barcy; Erin McKenzie[1] and Fred Roush; Pastor John Boerger and Karen Eichelberger. More groups can be added if necessary.

Please consider joining a group by signing up at the church or calling the office. Perhaps you are tired of this topic given the media coverage. Here, though, you can contribute to our denomination’s policy and practices. This is not meant to debate our society’s laws. When our church’s 2001 National Assembly asked for this study, they could not know what would be going on in 2004. It is possible the Holy Spirit meant it this way for us for now.

Some things you should know. 1) Groups will stay together for the 6 sessions; 2) Each group will build its guidelines for mutual respect and confidence; 3) the end goal is for you to give your message to the national Task Force; 4) we hope the groups will cross generations (Teens and young adults, we hope you will participate); 5) a list of “Frequently Asked Questions” is available in the Entryway at church.

The Journey Groups will meet 6 times starting as follows:

Wednesday, April 13th @ 7 p.m. led by Pastor Rick and Teresa

Sunday, April 18^th @ led by Erin and Fred

Date and time to be announced for group led by Pastor John and Karen

LUTHER LEAGUE II

Our next event is Monday, April 19. 2004 (note 3^rd not 2^nd Monday).  We will be traveling to Grand Rapids to see “Butterflies are Blooming” at Meijer Gardens.  ‘Lunch too’.  Car pool from church - leave at  10:30 a.m.  Call Joy 627-7067, Vera 627-5213 or Joyce 627-6839.

FAMILY GAME NIGHT!! 

Outreach Committee announces a Family Game night in member homes on Saturday, April 24, 2004 from 5-8 p.m.  Sign-up in the Church lobby.  So far, we have 3 host families and more will be added as needed.  Sign up to play at a home where “families” will include young children or not – as you desire.  Bring your favorite game(s) to play.  In addition, this activity will include dinner and each family/participant is asked to bring a dish to pass.  Pizza may be ordered at some locations.  Ask your host for more details.  Call Marlaine Teahan at 627-5637 for further information.

HEY, LUGNUT FANS!

Join us on Christian Family Night on June 18, 2004 for a 7:05 PM game. This is also a fireworks night.  Reserved seats are $7.50.  We need a minimum of 20 tickets or we don’t qualify as a group and won’t be able to get tickets so let us know early.  We need to let Lugnuts know if we have 20 people interested by Sunday, April 25^th  and would need the tickets paid for by May 2^nd.  100% preshrunk Lugnuts T-shirts with our name and logo are also available for $8.50 per shirt, minimum order is 20 shirts, kids and adult sizes available.  Deadline for the shirts is also April 25^th.  If you are interested in the game and/or T-shirt, let Orv Erickson know by phone, 517-645-2865 or e-mail at oerickson@aol.com. Outreach is sponsoring this opportunity for fun and fellowship.  

RELAY FOR LIFE

May the 21st and 22nd, the American Cancer Society will hold the 4th annual Relay for Life in Grand Ledge @ the Beagle Middle School Track from 3 p.m. Friday the 21st, to 3 p.m. on the 22nd. This year Immanuel is combining forces with St. Mikes, and United Methodist to make a larger more dynamic Grand Ledge Community Church team. Between now and Relay time, a team member will be in the entrance area of the church to sign up anyone and everyone that's interested. If you want to join a winning team against cancer, please contact myself, Lynne Erickson, or Ruth Buckley. Let's make this a banner year for Immanuel, and the Grand Ledge Community Church team. Remember cancer has in some way touched everyone at Immanuel. If you are a cancer survivor please contact Jan Martinich, Lynne Erickson or me.  We want to celebrate our brothers/sisters victories at this year's Relay for Life.

Let's all of us work to conquer this disease. Cancer makes no cents. Your change can help to make a difference.  The three churches are having a challenge to see who can collect the most change.  Look for the money jar after each service in the entryway. Please give often, give generously and thank you for it all.

Peace,
 

RAFTING TRIP

Immanuel is planning a rafting trip July 12- 14 for all members. 

The Youth Committee will be hosting this trip to West Virginia for all interested in going white water rafting.  Watch for more information coming soon. Parent supervision required for youth 12 years and younger.

immanuel camping trip

We will be camping at Twin Oaks Campground in Wellston, Michigan, which is adjacent to the Manistee National Forest, within walking distance from the confluence of the Big Manistee and Pine Rivers.  There is swimming, canoeing, kayaking, and fishing nearby, as well as numerous mountain biking and hiking trails.  

The camping trip will be July 23-25th, and we have reserved sites.  There are sites with electric, sites without, and there are two cabins.  The cost for a camping site is about $24 night for a group/family of 4.

If you'd like to join us for camping, please complete the form below, return it to me by May 9 with a $20 deposit.

As in previous years, we'll have time together as a group, probably have a meal together on Saturday night, and will have time to pursue individual activities according to everyone's tastes.

Questions, call Elizabeth Ayoub at 989/224-2608.

Name  ____________________________________________

Phone  ____________________________________________

Number in camping party __________________________

Type of camper:  tent ____  pop-up _____ R.V. ______  cabin  ______

Need electrical   Yes ___   No ___

Return to Elizabeth Ayoub, 6252 W. Walker Rd., St. Johns MI 48879 by May 9 with a $20.00 deposit. 

PEW CUSHIONS

We are on our way!!!  With your generous support we have received $4,930 or 30 pew cushions.  Only 8 more needed to add comfort to every pew.  Pew cushions are $162 for a full length cushion.  Any amount will be welcome. As soon as we reach our goal, the cushions can be ordered.

STRESS RELIEF

Here is a resource you might have missed. “Calming Moments: Resources to Reduce the Stress in Your Life”  comes with a quick-read book and a CD of soothing, stress-reducing music.  This resource is distributed by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.  To order call 877-535-9181.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

You know what they do. You know that it is an ecumenical, Christian-based, Biblical values organization. Are you aware that there will soon be a home built (mostly) by Lutherans in the Lansing area?  Money has been donated by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.  A location is selected on the south side. The work will be done this summer and fall.

Are you aware that we have 3 members who are willing to help to see us get involved in this homebuilding project?  Would you like to help those 3 help us get involved in it? They would like about 3 more to work with them on organizing Immanuel’s involvement in this. To help them and ask about what needs to be done at this level contact Bob Eichelberger (886-6172) or Pat Gabriel (622-1705). 

Folks, it is time for this and for some of us to get involved in housing for the poor.

Opportunities to Serve:

GREETERS

The Outreach Committee is pleased to announce that GREETER TEAMS are formed and trained!  You will now see familiar faces greeting each month.  Our goal is to greet each member warmly and recognize and welcome visitors.  On the first Sunday of the month, you will be greeted by Team #1, second Sunday by Team #2, and so on.  We have a list of substitute greeters but need more substitutes for sick days and vacations days of our Teams.  If you would like to be a substitute greeter, please contact Marlaine Teahan at 627-5637.  Our Teams and Substitutes are as follows:

NOTES:

…from Bishop Gary Hansen for our mission support. Last year we gave $33,573 to the ELCA for Christ’s work. This amount is split about 50/50 between the North/West Lower Michigan Synod and the national church.

…from Pastor Rick. “March 14^th was our 20^th anniversary at Immanuel. Thank you to the Second Circle for the beautiful Coffee Hour; to all who attended worship that day; to all – here and gone – who have laughed and cried and grown together with Ellen and me.”

Thanks for the prayers, calls, and cards during my recent surgery and convalescing. All are very much appreciated.

Praise the Lord,

CELEBRATIONS:
APRIL BIRTHDAYS

APRIL ANNIVERSARIES

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