Immanuel Lutheran Church, Grand Ledge, Michigan

Unto us a son is given,
And the government will be on his shoulders.
He will be called… Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9)

Such a telling title for Christ. After “Immanuel,” to whom our congregation is dedicated, “Prince of Peace” is arguably the most common title. Could this be because the world so deeply desires to live in peace and so frequently does not? It seems to me that in my years as a pastor almost every Christmas people from my family and my parish community are serving in harm’s way. Our country is so extensively involved in the affairs of nations, there is always violence and evil breaking forth somewhere.

God has sent his Son. Into this world he enters as Prince of Peace. His advent is for this year, too; for us Americans and for Iraqis, as well as for Israelis, Palestinians, Sudanese, Filipinos and so many others.

When we long for peace, we are seeking something that God promises. Peace is one of the characteristics of the Kingdom of God – peace as shalom (שלןם). Jesus is the Prince of (שלןם). Such peace is social. It is just and righteous for everyone under the rule of the monarch. All have a niche, opportunity, occupation and a contribution to make to the common welfare and freedom.

These ideals transcend all nations. They are part of God. We long for them as God’s people. We affirm them as a nation of principles and ideals. And so we work to bring shalom to reality and serve to protect what we have accomplished. But the Kingdom comes only from God. And his Son is the Prince: the One who fights for it with his body and blood; the One who governs it with justice.

So in December, we fervently pray for the Prince of Peace, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” It is a prayer of hope. It is also an intercession, “Show us how to protect and build peace, even in places of war and in times when some must fight. Protect those whose serve this kingdom-cause.” It is prayer of faith. It is prayer for Advent and Christmas.

Amber Lewis and Joseph Rozycki married in Christ on November 27^th at church. Joe is in Air Force Pilot training. Amber is teaching elementary school. They are residing in Alabama. lease pray that will be blessed in marriage and that their marriage will be a blessing to others.

The Stewardship and Worship Committees will be sponsoring an afternoon of HANGING of the GREENS and a PIG ROAST potluck luncheon immediately following the 10:30 service in celebration of commitment Sunday and to prepare our Sanctuary for the celebration of our Savior’s birth.

There will be crafts for our younger members of the congregation, a nursery for the even younger, and caroling for the homebound. All members will be asked to complete a pledge card for 2005 during services on that Sunday or to have filled out a pledge card sooner if they are unable to participate that day.

Pledges are promises to make monetary gifts within a set time period. Although, Immanuel Lutheran Church does not use the congregational commitments for the annual budget, the church seeks reasonable assurance from the supporting membership that sufficient revenues are promised for funding the daily ministry and related expenses.

The Stewardship Committee is charged with the responsibility of asking the congregation for annual pledges. Immanuel Lutheran Church believes these pledges are between each member and God. We leave the fulfillment of this obligation to you and God. We want to assure you, the only person to see this commitment is the Financial Secretary. The Financial Secretary holds them in confidence, records your giving and will supply you with a semi-annual and annual statement for you to follow your commitment progress.

The Stewardship Committee would greatly appreciate you taking time to commit between yourself and God a pledge of support for 2005. You can drop it in the collection plate during Commitment Sunday service on December 5^thor turn it in to the financial secretary anytime.

December 12 1:00 p.m. Special Needs Service
This service is for members, families and friends who find it difficult to attend regular services. Pr. Rick will officiate and Immanuel's Handbell Choir will play. Holy Communion will be celebrated and healing prayer will be available.

4:00 Children’s Service of Holy Communion
7:30 Service of Nine Lessons and Carols
11:00 Candlelight Holy Communion

All Christmas Eve services will have special music. The 4:00 service will focus on helping our children worshiping the Son of God at his birth. The 7:30 service has become as much “our gift” to the GL Community as much as it is for our church family. The 11:00 service is the “Midnight Mass,” a quieter and more intimate time to adore the Savior of the world.

Please, attend one of them. And please invite someone to attend with you: family, out of town guests, co-workers.

December 26 8:00 & 10:30 a.m. Holy Communion liturgies. There will be no Sunday School on December 26th.

Pastor’s Bible Study class will be studying the Advent/Christmas Gospel readings. The texts will be studied on the Sunday they are read in church. Gaining a deeper understanding of these Scripture passages will complement and deepen your worship experience. Additionally, it will help prepare for a more spiritual CHRISTmas. Sundays at 9:15 in Pastor’s Classroom.

Join us for this 4 part course in January. Classes will be held on Sundays from 9:15 – 10:15 a.m. on January 9, 16, 23, 30. The course includes video, dialogue, and practice. This course will help us develop healing prayer ministry at Immanuel. Contact Pr. Paul Pretzlaff or Karen Eichelberger, RN for further information.

Our December event is a luncheon on Monday, December 13, 2004 at Christie's Bistro in the Sheraton Hotel. Meet in the church parking lot at 11:00 a.m. Bring a white elephant gift or $1.00.

CYVA (Children, Youth, and Vulnerable Adults) is the name of Immanuel’s abuse policy. All members involved with youth and vulnerable adults are required to complete this 45 minute training before the end of the year. Staff and volunteers who must be trained include pastors, staff, Sunday School teachers, VBS workers, visitation team, health ministry team to name a few.

Monday, December 6 at 6:15 in Pr. Rick’s Classroom
Tuesday, December 7 at 6:15 in 501 building

If you work with children, youth or vulnerable adults at Immanuel and you have not yet attended CYVA training, please plan on attending one of these sessions.

The following article is from the Board of Pensions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in

America

Feeling a call to minister to leaders in this church, Tammy Devine found her place at the Board of Pensions.

“God calls us to be well and grounded, living a balanced life. It is only when we are well that we can pass on our faith,” said Devine, the Board of Pensions’ new wellness coordinator. “I have always felt a call to minister to leaders in our church, to equip and encourage them to take responsibility for their personal wellness. Helping them to recognize their modeling of living well in Christ will help congregations become centers of healing, health and wholeness.”

Devine, who is also a registered nurse and diaconal minister, will focus on providing whole person health promotion, education and inspiration to ELCA health plan members and advocate for wellness by speaking at ELCA synod and congregational gatherings.

Devine previously served as director of wellness at Martin Luther Manor in Bloomington, Minn., and has a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, S.D., a master’s degree in leadership from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minn., and has completed parish nurse preparation courses at Concordia College – Moorheads, in Moorheads, Minn., and the International Parish Nurse Center in Chicago.

The National Church now has a parish nurse as “wellness coordinator.” Here at Immanuel we have had on staff a parish nurse, Karen Eichelberger, since 1999.

Recently there has been concern that our church attendance has been going down. At our last Outreach Committee meeting, this was discussed and, as a committee, we would like to recommend a few things to everyone.

The committee does work with the church office records and with Pr. Rick to see who is not attending church. One of the concerns we have is that we’ve seen a pattern of some folks noting that they have been in church, but they have not completed the attendance form. The church office records then become inaccurate and members may be contacted about their inactivity when they have actually been attending.

It is important to complete the attendance record, so we’d like to encourage everyone to do this whether attending 8:00 a.m. or 10:30 a.m. service. With the holidays quickly approaching there will be more opportunities to worship. If you attend the services, please record your attendance.

We also need your help reaching out to those you may not have seen in church. If you have missed seeing someone in church give them a phone call and let them know you have missed them, see if they are okay and if you find that they have concerns, let Outreach Committee members know and pray for them.

The Outreach Committee will continue to keep track of inactivity and try to communicate more with those not attending.

The Outreach Committee is also hoping to reach out more to visitors. In order to do that, we need a couple of people who would be interested in phoning visitors and thanking them for visiting, answer any questions they have and invite them to a visit again.

In 2005 we also need to be about evangelism within our community. If you are interested in helping with visitor calls or in being part of an evangelism team please contact Den Graeber (627-3116). Thank you and please give these things some thought and prayer.

(The Outreach Committee consists of Orv Erickson, Ruth and Bob Buckley, Marlaine Teahan, Bob Eichelberger and Den Graeber)

The Worship committee will be decorating the Sanctuary with red & marble poinsettias this Christmas season. ORDER FORM and MONEY (checks made payable to Immanuel Lutheran Church) must be sent to the church office (501 S. Clinton Street) by Sunday, December 5.

COST: $8.50 each

Total Number of Red Poinsettias w/gold foil ________

Total Number of Marble Poinsettias w/gold foil ________

Plants are to be dedicated:

in honor of: ____________________________________________________________

in loving memory of: _____________________________________________________

in celebration of our Lord's birth.

Worship committee requests all plants remain in the sanctuary
until after the 11:00 p.m. service on Christmas Eve.

SPECIAL GIFT FOR PASTOR RICK & ELLEN

It’s that time of year when we say thanks to Pastor Rick. As a congregation we are truly blessed to be served by him. Anyone wishing to contribute to this cash gift may do so by giving your donation to John Van Hoesen or the church office by December 16. Please make checks payable to John Van Hoesen. The gift will be given to them on December 19 at the 10:30 a.m. Worship Service.

Several members have indicated an interest in making prayer shawls for members, friends and family. An informational meeting will be held Sunday, December 12 immediately following the 10:30 service in Pr. Rick’s classroom. All are invited. Call Karen Eichelberger @ 886-6172 for questions.

We have just finished a 10-week course on the foundations of healing prayer. We have discovered both a need and desire for healing prayer ministry at Immanuel. If you would like further information and/or would be interested in participating in healing prayer ministry complete this form and return to the church office or place in the offering plate. Someone will contact you.

We would like to say “Thank you” to everyone at Immanuel for your financial support, your love, prayers and encouragement toward our doing Lay Missionary training. It means so much to have friends who say “Good Job”. This will be a long road and you all make it so much easier. Thanks again.