FROM PASTOR RICK’S COMPUTER:
HOPES AND DREAMS AND FINANCIAL REPORTS

Do you have hopes and dreams for our church? I mean really. Beyond wishful thinking about wouldn’t it be nice if we had ... Beyond saying, “Over at my (friend’s, cousin’s, parents’) church, they do this. I wish we could do that here.”  Do you have a dream to which you would give yourself?

The song asks God to “gather the hopes and dreams of ALL.” It assumes that all disciples have something they really see themselves doing for Christ. It would be something to which they would give their time, talent and treasure, as the Stewardship folks teach us.

One example of such a dream is the Bell Choir. The Worship Committee “dreams” of involving more people in praising God in worship. Those who dream this also work to make it happen. They don’t say, “I wish we had..” but, “IHow can I help?”

There is good news and bad news about us and our dreams. The Financial Secretary reports that giving is up 4% over last year. And the average gift is up 6%. These are on the good news side. People are saying, “I want to help make it happen.

The bad news? The average number of people giving is down 2%.

Overall the report says we are doing OK financially. Thank you to those who are giving to God faithfully. It also might mean a few people are holding back on their hopes through our church.

If you are reading this and are among those who are not contributing (time, talent and treasure) to your church, would you let me know what your deep down hope is? Together we will commit it to prayer. You are here for God’s purpose and praise. These (purpose and praise) will come out in your hopes and dreams. You will be better for it and so will we.

AMONG OUR MEMBERS:

DEATH

William Kirchen, a long time member of Immanuel died June 26^th following a 10 month battle with cancer. In his family, he was the 3^rd of 15 children. Bill was a WWII vet having served in Europe during the invasion of Germany. He worked longest for Pryor Bros. and as a mechanic for Anchor Motor Freight. He was a handy and helpful friend. Bill leaves his wife, Elsie and his daughter, Bonnie. We are thankful for his faith and his faithfulness. And we extend our sympathy to Elsie and Bonnie.

NEWS AND EVENTS:

OUTDOOR SERVICE AND HEALTHY POTLUCK

Sunday, August 3^rd, weather permitting, our Outdoor Service will be held. It will be followed by Health Ministries “Healthy Potluck.” So bring a friend to share the fun, a passing dish to satisfy your hunger, and lawn chairs for your comfort. We worship under the canopies in the Memorial Garden (fenced area behind the church). We eat in the parsonage backyard.  If the weather is contrary, we will do it all inside, minus the lawn chairs.

ANNUAL JOINT WORSHIP WITH 1st CONGREGATIONAL UCC CHURCH

Our annual joint worship service with our brothers and sisters in the faith at the 1st Congregational Church will be held on Sunday, August 27 at 9:30 a. m. at Immanuel. Sing and pray with our sisters and brothers. Bring your friends to this ecumenical service of Word and Prayer.

5th ANNUAL BLOOD DRIVE

Please consider a gift of life on Saturday, August 9.  We join Trinity Methodist and St. Mike’s at Trinity from 10:00 - 3:45 for our  annual Red Cross Blood Drive.  As you may know, the Red The Red Cross is very short on blood this summer.  This is a great way to share our love.

PICTORIAL DIRECTORY

Don’t forget to make an appointment to have pictures taken for the 2003 Pictorial Directory.  To make an appointment please call Joyce Oswill (627-6839) anytime.  Pictures will be taken August 14, 15 & 16 and September 3 & 4.

LUGNUTS

Calling all 6, 7, 8^th graders.  Lugnut Baseball Game and Christian Rock Concert Thursday, August 7 . . . meet at church at 5:15 p.m. Cost: $8.00 (includes game and concert).  Call Cheryl Pitchford (627-1284) or Priscilla Lane (627-8340) to reserve tickets and a ride.

RALLY DAY ‘03

Rally Day is September 7th.  Worship at 8:00 a.m. or 10:30 a.m. Join us for Sunday School at 9:15 a.m. then come outside to a potluck after the 10:30 Worship Service.  Rally Day is our traditional celebration of returning to the regular worship schedule (two services) and the start of Sunday School.

NEWSLETTER 

The deadline for submission of Manger articles is the 15^th of each month.  If you e-mail an article for the newsletter and do not get a reply please call the church office to see if the article arrived.  Unfortunately some articles were send via e-mail but the church office never received the articles.

ACTION FOR LSSM

ACTION for LSSM would like your help in filling "School Bags" for foster children.  On Sunday, August 24th, we'd like to collect some of the following supplies to go in the bags: 8 1/2 X 11" spiral notebooks; 24 pack crayons (or larger); colored pencils or markers; coloring, activity or puzzle books; pencils and erasers; pencil sharpeners; 12-inch rulers; blunt-end scissors; white glue or glue sticks; construction paper; folders; zippered pencil bags or other appropriate school supplies. Whatever you can give will be greatly appreciated. There might be some good "Back to School" sales going on in August.

"GIVE-A-BELL" PROGRAM UPDATE

Will there be a handbell choir?  Time is running out to contribute toward a handbell choir.  As of this printing, we have received contributions or pledges for 19 bells – we need a minimum of 25 to start our choir.  So, if you have been considering making a donation toward this purchase, please do so soon.  Our deadline for pledges is August 10, 2003.  Remember, any size contribution is appreciated.  Please sign up on the board in the Narthex, and/or provide your check designated “Give-a-Bell” program in the offering plate, or to the office, by August 10, 2003.

Thanks to all of you who have signed up to contribute to our campaign.  You will be receiving instructions soon on how to forward payment (if you haven’t already done so), and as we get closer to ordering, you’ll receive instructions on how to memorialize your gift.  We are well on our way toward the purchase of these beautiful instruments.  Remember, there are many different options available; you don’t need to purchase an entire bell.  If you want to contribute $1, $5, or any other denomination toward the purchase of a bell, please feel free to do so.  Any and all contributions are appreciated.  You can denote a dollar value on your envelope to go towards the bell purchase.

It’s also time to consider joining the bell choir!  You don’t even need to know how to read music to join us.  As we are all new at this, the choir will begin very basic, so the more the merrier!  Please contact Barb Paulins if you have any questions regarding a contribution, or to get information on joining us as a “ringer.”  I look forward to hearing from you.

SNL IS COMING

SNL is coming to Immanuel. It is! Fersure.

SNL is exciting

and cool

and interactive

and fun

and educational

and fast

                                 and small group based

                                      and spiritual.

SNL stands for Sunday Night Live.

SNL is for 6^th through 8^th graders (with an occasional 9^th grader). It is going to be our totally new, totally revamped catechism program. Yes, it is for 6^th graders too.

Parents watch for your letter coming soon with more details and the date of the orientation meeting will be September 7 at 6:15 p.m.  Please plan on attending the orientation.

THE FRIENDSHIP CLUB

Our next event is a BBQ for 8.  Groups of 8 people will meet at the home of a host person/family for a BBQ.

The Friendship Club is a social group that is open to all adult members of the congregation.  The BBQ for 8 will be on August 9, 2003 from 5:30-9:00 p.m.  Sign up in the church lobby today.  You can sign up as host of a group of 8 (including yourself) at your home or as a guest.  Hosts will provide beverages, and guests will provide salads and side dishes.  Everyone bring your own meat.  The last day to sign up will be August 3, 2003.  For more information contact Jim and Marlaine Teahan at 627-5637.

NOTES FROM OUR HEALTH MINISTRY:

LESS CAN BE MORE ...
Controlling portions in a super-sized society.

Weight management is an issue many people struggle with.  Regardless of what type of nutrients you eat (carbohydrates, protein or fat), if you take in more calories (energy) than you expend on a regular basis you will gain weight.  Portion control is therefore the key to healthy eating and weight management.  Even a low-fat, nutrient dense food can add up to unneeded calories when the portion is too large.  A recent study showed that, on average, the bigger the portion served, the more one eats.  Participants in this study ate 30% more from a five cup portion of macaroni and cheese than from a portion that was two and a half cups without reporting feeling any fuller after eating.

This is called unconscious eating:  not being aware of a feeling of satiety and simply responding to the clean plate club rule, eating because the food is there.

Conscious eating; on the other hand puts the eater in control.  Be aware of what you put in your mouth and enjoy it!

The following can give you ideas about how to regain control of portions:

1. Be attentive to the flavors on the plate and use spices and herbs to give your food a flare. Then, eat smaller portions.

2. Choose smaller servings and use smaller plates at home.  Use an eight to nine inch dinner plate or a salad plate for the meal.

3. Divide your plate into quarters and fill ¼ of it with the meat portion, ¼ to ½ of it with vegetables and ¼ to ½ of it with food from the grain group.

4. Visual cues such as:

5. Eat slowly and really enjoy your food.  Turn off any other distractions such as the TV.  Eat only at the table not in your car, or in front of the TV.

6. When eating out split your entrée with a friend or have half of the meal boxed before it’s even brought to the table.  Some restaurants are starting a quiet revolution by offering a variety of smaller dishes in artfully assembled, intensely flavored meals called “small plates.” Not exactly appetizers but not quite entrees, small plates (think Spanish tapas, Chinese dim sum, Middle Eastern mezze) offer “just right-sized” portions of great savory cuisines.

Learning and recognizing appropriate portion sizes is a crucial step in creating a healthier lifestyle.  So make a few small changes and remember with smaller portions, there are no bad foods!

Opportunities to Serve:

CARD MINISTRY

Many thanks to Melissa Goschka for her role in our card ministry over the last several years.  We know how much everyone appreciates hearing from Immanuel when faced with illness or loss.  Health Ministry Team is looking for someone to assume this role.  Please contact Melissa (622-2070) for more information or Karen Eichelberger (886-6172) if you feel called to this ministry. 

NOTES:

Thank you for all the prayers for Bill during his illness.  Also for the many cards and visits.  The love of our church family helped us so much. 

Elsie & Bonnie Kirchen

Thank you for all of your hospitality, we really appreciate it.  We also want to thank you for making our program awesome.  This was the best church we have visited so far and we believe it was because of the congregation we had before our eyes.

In God’s Peace, 
Michigan Spoke Folk 2003

FROM THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT'S DESK:

Welcome to summer everyone!

Summer is well upon us here in Grand Ledge. We have seen a lot of things happen so far this summer. Vacation Bible School, Confirmation Camp, Elementary Camp, National Gathering, Troop 901 at Philmont, Spoke Folk, Relay for Life, and many other activities. We have Family Camping coming up, soon it will be return to school and let’s not forget Crop Walk.

All of these things, and  more, give us all an opportunity to further the mission of Immanuel Lutheran. It continues to give me a feeling of peace to see all the people involved in making all these activities happen in our community.

I hope that we are all able to take at least some time before this summer ends, to reflect on all the things God has accomplished through His people here, and for all of us to look forward to how we can contribute to His ministry the rest of this year and beyond.

Before fall begins, school starts, vacation's over, and we all get back into the workaday part of life, take time and enjoy the summer, the blessings, and our wonderful gifts from God. ( Try it through the eyes of a child).

CELEBRATIONS:
AUGUST BIRTHDAYS

AUGUST ANNIVERSARIES

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