Immanuel Lutheran Church, Grand Ledge, Michigan

Epiphany Day is January 6^th, a Thursday this year. The Day commemorates the visit of the magi to Jesus. The wise men presented gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Or something like that.

It was near the end of an interesting pageant. The baby had been dropped by Mary, who now clung to it protectively. The shepherds nervously sought a “baby wrapped in wrinkled clothes.” Finally, the magi arrived in their bathrobes and paper crowns. “We are the three wise men and we bring gifts of gold, common sense, and fur.” Pastor Brian, wiping the tears from his eyes expressed the appreciation of the entire congregation, “I have never enjoyed a Christmas program as much as this one.”

Luther preached to his Wittenberg parishioners that the gifts from the magi were practical. They were sufficient to support the family financially during their flight and stay in Egypt. If Jesus had been born in our climate, “gold, common sense, and fur” would have been just as practical. They remind us that Epiphany is about finding Christ, claiming him as our savior, and making ourselves useful in his mission.

We will celebrate Epiphany Day January 2nd the Sunday prior to the 6th. It begins the Epiphany Season that lasts until Ash Wednesday. Come. Let’s follow the star, the light of Christ together.

Chris Kaschner: Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Kettering University, Flint.

Kelly Love: Bachelor of Arts in Sports Business from Northwood University, Midland

Congratulations to you both for achieving this honor. God has blessed you richly with talents. May you find your career in his will as you work and serve others.

Committee annual reports are due in the church office January 20, 2005. Immanuel's Annual Report will be available for the congregation on Sunday, January 30.

The task force report of the ELCA Study on Sexuality will be published on January 13, 2005. You may read it on that date online at www.elca.org/faithfuljourney.

This task force is only making a report to the Church. It cannot make any decisions for us. It is a study and report group only, which was formed by a vote at a National Assembly. We all have to wait to see if the members include in their report any recommendations to the Church or to the Church Council. The Church, gathered at National Assembly in August 2005, will make the decisions about blessing unions and allowing ordination of men and women who are living in same-sex unions.

We all had chances to study their materials and to give our faith perspectives. A few from our congregation did that. The published report of our perspectives and opinions will have be a major factor in the forth-coming assembly.

Luther League II (for all seniors) January Kaffee Klatsch, Monday, January 10, Fellowship Hall of the church at 10:00 a.m.

Program: “You are the light of the world”. Entering the new year with prayer, praise and thanksgiving.

Presenter: Pastor Paul

Coffee Cake will be served. If you would like to donate a coffee cake, or for more information, call Joyce Oswill (627-6839) or Pastor Paul Pretzlaff (646-9354)

DINNER AND MOVIE NIGHT

Outreach is coordinating an adult night out. We plan on going to Cugino's and a movie on January 22, 2005. We will meet for dinner at about 5:30 and may go to the Grand Ledge Sun for a movie -- depending on the show. Exact details to follow when we know what is playing on Jan. 22nd. Look for a sign-up board in the lobby. For more details call Marlaine Teahan.

In February we plan on a family sledding/cross-country skiing event at Fitzgerald Park.

LAY ASSISTANTS

We are looking for some additional Lay Assistants to help assist Pastor Rick on Sundays for early and late services and other special services.

If you are interested, please contact Melissa Goschka. We are looking to have a training session sometime the end of January.

WEIGHT MANAGEMENT

Several members have indicated an interest in a support group for weight management at Immanuel. If you are interested in exploring this opportunity, please come to the informational session on Tuesday, January 4 at either 11:00 a.m. or 7:00 p.m. at the 501 building.

Prayer Shawl Ministry

Several members have indicated an interest in making prayer shawls for members, friends and family. An informational meeting will be held Sunday, January 9 immediately following the 10:30 service in Pr. Rick’s classroom. All are invited. Call Karen Eichelberger @ 886-6172 with questions.

How to pray effectively
(in 5 minutes)

Join us for this 4 part course in January. Classes will be Sundays, 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.

“DUH - CIPLES” MEN'S BIBLE STUDY GROUP

This men's study and prayer group will start up again January 8 @ 9:00 a.m. in the 501 building. We meet for about an hour and will start a study of John's Book of Revelation. Need more info? Contact Lead “Duh” – Fred Roush 852-0119.

QUILTING

Quilt Group Update – We have completed and donated 60 quilts so far (You may have seen some of these in church on December 12). They have been donated to LSSM Foster Care Program, Tender Care Nursing Home, Sparrow Pediatrics Unit, Siren Shelter and two local families. If you would like to help with the sewing, please join us on the first and third Tuesday of each month from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. We are also looking for a working sewing machine that we can keep at church. If you have one that is collecting dust please call Lyn Danes, 543-8661. Thanks for your help.

YOUTH & FAMILY MINISTRY WORKSHOPS

Who is invited: All parents, high school youth, members who work with the youth, and anyone in Immanuel’s Youth and Family Ministries.

Dates: Sunday, January 16, 23, and 30
Time: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

This is scheduled during SNL so that parents can attend while their children are involved at SNL. Discussions will revolve around the Eight Faith Factors and how they promote a lifelong faith and commitment to Christ. We will reflect on our present youth program and examine ways to establish the faith factors in our congregation, so that we encourage our youth in their Christian life.

Contact Denise at the church office or Lyn Danes to reserve a spot. Please plan to attend to help build the basis for our future.

VISION AND THE COUNCIL RETREAT

Our Church Council will continue to work on our church’s vision and mission in ’05. We want to bring the two together. We want our mission to motivate everything we do; we want our vision to guide every decision we make.

The Council members are going for a retreat on Feb. 4/5 to the Girl Scout buildings in Wacousta. They will complete the work of redesigning the ministry at Immanuel. They are taking everything we do and locating it according to “Gathering” or “Preparing” or “Serving.” Much of this was done in extra meetings last year. In addition, the committees, teams, ministries, and staff will also be grouped under these headings. There may be some changes in names of committee and numbers of people required.

The Council has been led into this by the Holy Spirit, they believe, at previous retreats. They believe our vision is given by God. With the expertise of John Van Hoesen and Karen Eichelberger, we can structure ourselves to work more effectively.

The vision is moving forward. Please, pray for your leaders and staff to be spoken to by Christ and led by the Spirit!

OUTREACH SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES

At the last Outreach meeting, the following service opportunities were identified. If you are interested in serving, please contact Orv Erickson or Marlaine Teahan.

1. Membership Encouragement Group. We are looking for 2 people to assist Den Graeber in making phone calls one evening every 3 months (once per quarter). We will be making brief phone calls to members whose pattern of church attendance has changed. We want to call to ask if there are any situations that need prayer or other assistance, such as illness, loss of job, death in family, hurt feelings, etc. We anticipate a time commitment of 60-90 minutes per quarter.

2. Coffee Hour needs individuals or families to sign up for the first quarter of 2005. Sign up sheet in the lobby.

3. Meals Program. Whenever a family has a new baby, 3-6 meals are brought over after the baby comes home. In addition, meals are often provided to members after a surgery. Our current coordinator, Denise Proper, who has faithfully handled this job for over a year (Thanks Denise!) would like a replacement so that she can focus on other projects. The time commitment varies. There may be no work for months and there may be 2 babies born in a month. The coordinator is given a list of people who have volunteered to provide meals -- the coordinator simply needs to call the family and meal providers and coordinate!

SNL resumes on Sunday, January 9 at 6:15 p.m. “You shall not covet…” Always check the church website for SNL News. <http://www.immanuel-gl.org/snl>

Our Stony Lake Camp trip is for all middle schoolers. Lake Michigan beach, Silver Lake sand dunes, overnight, high ropes, horseback riding, canoeing, campfires, and so much more. We want at least a dozen going with Pastor Rick from our 30+ middle-school-age kids. We’ll take 2 dozen if you sign up! Forms have been sent home. There are more in office. We go June 19-24, 2005. Deposit of $100 is due NOW! RIGHT NOW! The camp week fills up very fast.

Spring Retreat is coming up fast: April 22-24. A weekend at Camp Michi-lu-ca near Fairview. Theme: Phil and Marty’s Excellent Adventure. It’s about how Lutherans got started.

…to all of you who helped everywhere at the Pig Roast Potluck and Hanging of the Greens. Inside and outside and clean up. You helped with it all. Caroling was the best ever!

…. to Jeff and Stacey’s Huddle who rang the bells at Felpausch for the Salvation Army on Dec. 4^th.

January Meetings are the Faith Factor Workshop on January 16, 23, 30^th. See the article above. We want you to be in the know and help design a fresh ministry. You are servants with gifts. Help us and yourself.

Summer Camp: Two NEW, FUN camps are planned: ROCK AND ROLL Camp & VIDEO Camp. In Video Camp you will be making real movies to show at Bass Lake Festival. In Rock and Roll Camp you form a band, practice and play on Friday/Saturday before 200-300 teens at the Bass Lake Festival. A guaranteed gig. July 31-Aug. 5. Check out the camp website <www.elcalivingwater.com>

RoadRULZ mission trip: 5 high schoolers are signed on. There’s

room for more! Dates are July 19-24. RoadRULZ is a mystery mission trip done out of an RV. Each day a new location and service project, but you won’t know what until you get there! We will work and grow together for a whole week with counselors from Crossways Lutheran Camp in northern Wisconsin. Cost: $450 (We are raising funds for half.)

Fund Raising: Pop Can Drive in the church basement. Everybody bring your pop cans to help our HS youth go on this trip. Thanks, Matt and Justin, for setting it up. Please put empty pop cans in the box in the fellowship hall. Do not leave cans in the coatrooms.

….to those who got together with Lisa to Christmas shop for our family. We used the money given by the church in Baskets of Hope and the money you brought. We worked along with the family so that they could have food and some gifts in a way that kept the parents’ sense of pride in mind. Good job, servants of God!

….to all who came to church for Pastor Jamie on Dec. 5^th. There was a good turn out of high school youth. And some stayed for the potluck and Hanging of the Greens, too! Much appreciated.

Hey, are you in high school and not on Pastor Rick’s email list? Email him with your address, so you can be “in” on all the stuff he shares.

My sincere and grateful thanks to the congregation for your prayers, cards, calls and support during my hospital stay. My special thanks to Pastor Rick, Pastor Paul, Karen, Bob, Bill, and Donna for being there at critical times for me and my family. All of your actions were beams of light during a very dark time.

A big thank you to everyone who helped make the Grand Ledge annual Crop Walk a success this year. The community raised $7,787 for hunger relief. One fourth of this amount will be returned to Grand Ledge to provide for those in need in our community. Immanuel’s portion of the total was $2,700. Thank you so much for your support.

“Thank you for your $1000…used to purchase the Daniel Memorial Independent Living assessment tool...to provide information on what skills need to be taught before a teenager moves into an apartment…. Lansing LSSM is providing services to 99 children..67 refugee minors..20 families in Ingham and 10 in Eaton/Barry counties in Families First Programs.”

Thank you for the folding chairs for the funeral of Frank Fitzgerald. We are partners in God’s service.

Thank you for the wonderful Christmas gift. There was a new chandelier over our dining room table for our family’s dinner. We are grateful for your expressions of love and support.