FROM PASTOR RICK’S COMPUTER:
WELCOME LENT

Lent – it’s not a verb; it’s an Old English noun meaning “Spring” (again not the verb but the season). Lent is a season in our Christian tradition. The 40 days of Lent are the 40 weekdays from Ash Wednesday to Easter. (In other words, don’t count the Sundays.) The 40 days of Lent parallel Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness, during which he fasted, prayed and studied – in short, when he spiritually prepared himself to do those things the Christ had to do.

The one most important thing he had to do was to suffer and die for the sins of the world. So the focus of Lent is on the events of Thursday night, Friday, Saturday and Sunday of Holy Week. During Lent we prepare spiritually to join in his passion, death and resurrection, so that our faith-life will be renewed.

So, though “lent” is not a verb, there are things we do in this season: disciplines. (Disciples grow through spiritual disciplines.) We fast. We pray. We give alms (gifts of charity).

¨       FAST: we bring an extra measure of discipline to our daily routine. We change something we normally would do. Something we have to think about; something we will miss. It makes us aware that Christ is most important. We remember what Jesus gave up for us.

¨       PRAY: we add extra or more consistent prayer times. Our “fast” reminds us. When we are aware of what we lack, we turn to what we really need: Christ and grace, etc. And we pray for ourselves and the world. We try to make time for Vespers on Wednesdays. We remember what Jesus did for us.

¨       ALMS: we add discipline to our care for the poor. We give a bit more of what God has given us. A little less for ourselves. We remember that we are the spiritually poor for whom Jesus gave up heaven. We remember that he announced good news to “the least of these, my brothers and sisters.”

Jesus told us, “Your father who sees in secret will reward you.” Lent is a season of self-discipline for the followers of Jesus. Let us see what differences he can make in us when we are open and renewed in our faith. The disciple’s best reward is what his master wants for him.

LENTEN NEWS:
ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICES HELD JOINTLY WITH TRINITY

Services on March 5th

12:10 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church (next to GL Library). Repentance, Ashes, Holy Communion.  This is a service for workers and all who choose not to come out after dark.

7:30 p.m. at Immanuel.  Repentance, Ashes, Holy Communion

Ash Wednesday is a Day of Special Observance.

Every member should make an effort to attend church on Ash Wednesday for repentance. The day reminds us that we are mortal and will one day die and stand before God. What then? What’s then is what’s now! Jesus has obediently died with us and for us, the righteous for the sinner. We gather to begin the Lenten pilgrimage to Good Friday and Easter. We need it because we need him.

The members of Immanuel and Trinity Episcopal will celebrate jointly (“noon” there; night here). We can do this due to the full communion agreement between our 2 churches nationally. Pr. Rick and Fr. Greg hope to fill up both churches with praying and singing disciples.

Somewhere, somehow get to church on Ash Wednesday!  There are services everywhere at all times of day.

WEDNESDAY VESPERS ARE PRAYER TIMES (cf. Welcome Lent)

Corporate prayer is different from personal prayer. Corporate prayer is when the “body” comes together to pray as one before the Lord. We will pray Vespers each Wednesday at 7 p.m. Time will be made in the liturgy for meditating and for speaking personal prayers too.

Each week there will be a monolog from the series “In Their Own Words.” A character from the Bible, presented by different members, will tell about their encounter with Jesus.

Our corporate prayers will include praying for peace and safety for our nation, and for a vision for our ministry. For personal prayer time, pick up a “Christ in our Home” or a “Family Altar” or a special Lenten daily guide in the Entryway.

ALMSGIVING:
Redeemer Church & Boergers in Solomon Islands

The following will receive our Lenten special gifts:

1)  The Bishop’s Fund for Redeemer Lutheran, Lansing. The synod has taken on repaying the mortgage for Redeemer. They had to borrow $150,000 to replace their roof and boiler last year. The bishop has asked us, the congregations to unite in paying this debt.

2)  John and Brenda Boerger, Missionaries to the Solomon Islands. They serve with the Anglican Church under Wycliffe Bible Translators. Many have become believers, become literate, and been able to worship and read Scriptures in their own language under the work of Brenda and John. They have preserved an island language and made it a written language in the service of the gospel. Life is tenuous at best. The political situation is volatile; personal safety is minimal; the economy is in shambles; travel is very difficult; daily necessities cannot be taken for granted. These servants need all their help from the outside (people like us) in order to be servants to their people, and not “takers.” The Boerger’s are in their 3rd and final tour. They are the son and daughter-in-law of Pr. John and Fay, and the brother, etc of Jeannie Boerger-Dixon.

AMONG OUR MEMBERS:

BAPTISM

Isaak Arthur Thoms, son of Jason and Treva entered into the promises of Christ and became a member of the holy, catholic Church on Feb. 16^th. His Christian sponsors are Jonas Thoms and Sonja Thoms. Know this: Isaak is a joint heir with us of grace and eternal life. He has a place in Christ’s mission. May he claim it as his own.

NEWS AND EVENTS:

DEAD SEA SCROLLS

Join us on a bus tour to see the Dead Sea Scrolls at The Van Andel Museum in Grand Rapids

Sign-up in the Narthex by March 17.  For more information call Joyce Oswill 627-6839. All Welcome!  Sponsored by Luther League II.

HEY, LUGNUTS FANS!

Outreach has scheduled another Lugnuts night at Oldsmobile Park for Saturday, June 21, 2003 at 7:05 P.M.  We have 25 tickets at $7.50 each on reserve that must be paid for by Sunday, May 4th.  We can also have a Lugnuts T-shirt with Immanuel Lutheran printed on the front for $8.50 per shirt with a minimum order of 20 shirts (you do not have to go to the game to order a T-shirt).  If you are interested in either or both of these, call Orv Erickson at 645-2865 or e-mail him at oerickson@AOL.com and let him know how many tickets and/or T-shirts you would like. 

WAR THOUGHTS

Serving our country overseas are: Joe Kelly, Ron Haskell, and Greg Mangione lift them to God in your prayers.

Regarding war and peace, copies of our ELCA Statement by the same name are in the Entryway. Mark Hanson, our Presiding Bishop, has asked us to refer to it as we work for our nation’s peace and security.

BRIDGEBUILDERS

Check www.immanuel-gl.org/bridgebuilders for reports, people, and feedback. Reports are also available in the Entryway.

YOUTH NEWS:

Kids' Klub

Our March event is a ‘Pajama Dance Party’ on Friday, March 21 from 6:30-8:30.  Wear your pajamas. Come to dance and play games.  If you have questions call Cheryl Pitchford 627-1284.

Youth Summer Schedule

	Confirmation Camp	June 15 – 20	open to all 6th–8th grade children
	Elementary Camp	July 13 –18	open to all 3rd–5th grade children
	Day Camp	July 14 –18
	Vacation Bible School	July 28 –Aug. 1

If interested in Confirmation or Elementary Camp call the church office (627.6310) to register.  More information about Day Camp and VBS to come as dates get closer.

Heirline Activities

Remember Mike & Teresa are here to pump you up for God.

March 2	Meeting 6-8 p.m. @ 501 Building
March 4	Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper
March 12	Serve Community Meals @ the Methodist Church 4:45-5:30 p.m.
March 30	Meeting 6-8 p.m. @ 501 Building

NOTES:

Thank you’s were received this month from The Grand Ledge Emergency Assistance Program and Loaves and Fishes, Lansing (family shelter) for our Advent gifts to their on-going work.
 

I want to thank you for the prayers and cards over the past months.  They have given me great strength and comfort.  The last tests showed the cancer is stable!  Praise to God!  There is such power in prayer and I am so grateful.           

Reply to Church Mouse in February Manger

There is nothing as easy as denouncing.  It don’t take much to see that something is wrong, but it takes some eyesight to see what will put it right again.

FROM THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT'S DESK:

March is looking like a very busy month at Immanuel Lutheran. We have the Congregational Meeting March 9th to consider the Bridgebuilders' report and to consider suggestions from the Council/Congregation member groups to address the Bridgebuilders' findings.

Also in March, we are going to be looking at the revised proposal from the Mutual Ministries Task Force. This will be presented in a proposal form to the congregation.

Most importantly, we begin Lent. This is a very important time in the Church year, and in our personal lives. I hope we are all able to take the time this Lenten season to reflect not only on what God and His Son Jesus have given to each of us but to reflect on and make a personal commitment on what we can each give to God. His grace is freely given, our faith making acceptance of that grace possible, and our personal mission and vision is what results from these two.

Please, during this season, take the time to thank God for his Son and his grace. Let’s take the time to look deep inside ourselves and renew our personal faith and decide how we can use these gifts to further our personal mission and our Church’s mission of serving God.

Yours in Christ, 

CELEBRATIONS:
MARCH BIRTHDAYS

MARCH ANNIVERSARIES

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