FROM PASTOR RICK’S COMPUTER:
PROUD TO BE A LUTHERAN CHRISTIAN:[1]

On May 18^th, 12 of our youth will stand up and say they believe in Christ and will stick by him. As Church, we will confirm their faith. They will take a step toward adulthood as Christians.

The church in which they and we follow Christ is Lutheran. We are Christians along with Roman Catholics, Methodists, Pentecostals and other; We are Evangelical Lutherans along with those in the Missouri Synod and Wisconsin Synod.

A couple of the teachings that make Lutherans unique include “saints and sinners” and “the finite can carry the infinite.”

Sinners and Saints: We are sinners when we look to ourselves, and saints when we look to Christ. We will remain sinners all our lives even after decades of discipleship. When we grow as Christians it not that we sin fewer times but that we learn to trust in and follow Christ more. So we pray for forgiveness daily, and we know we are completely forgiven daily. We are sinners and saints.

The Finite can Carry the Infinite: 1) The son of Mary is Son of God. Jesus is fully human. He is also fully God. 2) The Bible is both human words and God’s Word. The Bible does not “contain” the Word. It is human lives and history and witness though which God speaks to us by his Spirit. We can scrutinize the culture and context of the words and be overwhelmed by the power of God. 3) Communion is both bread and the Body of Christ; wine and the Blood of Christ. He is present in, with and under the form of the elements. They mingle together by the words of Institution. 4) Your daily work is holy. It gives you a paycheck and in it you serve God. It is not just at church or by being a pastor that you serve. It is by being a disciple in our daily walk – as parent, retired autoworker, hair stylist, lawyer, sales, food service, student. Think about this! Whatever you do, do it for the glory of God. You contribute to God’s world, however insignificant the world may consider your work to be. Do it well. You help others. Do it well. The finite can carry the infinite. It doesn’t have to change into something else to be God or holy.

Being Lutheran has much more than justification by faith alone. The above are just two of our teachings. I may not always teach them in such a formal way, but I hope they seem familiar to you. These can help you and inspire you in your walk. Be proud to be a Lutheran Christian!

AMONG OUR MEMBERS:

New Members were received by the congregation on Holy Saturday, April 26, 2003.

BY AFFIRMATION OF FAITH GREG AND KARLENE KETOLA 109 Old Mill Pond Drive Grand Ledge MI 48837 627-4439 Greg and Karlene have been married for about a year.

A gracious welcome to our church family.

NEWS AND EVENTS:

WHAT’S NEW AT CHURCH?

QUARTERS FROM HERE TO AFRICA

At Synod Assembly, from all over our part of the Synod, we will be contributing quarters. We hope to “build a quarter road” from here to Africa. All the quarters will be contributed to Stand With Africa. Would you like to help? A bucket will be placed in the narthex on May 11^th (Mother’s Day), but please, quarters only.

Stand With Africa is a Lutheran World Relief[2] project for AIDS and to promote food self-sufficiency in Africa. The AIDS project is handled by LWR on the international level because it cooperates with various African governments. The projects for food are overseen by ELCA World Hunger through missionaries and partner churches in local areas.  Half of the total raised will go to each project.

The prayer chain is intended to bring prayerful support to the needs of the members of Immanuel Lutheran Church, their families and friends.  There are now 5 Prayer Chains which are in need of more members, having lost some by moves or death.  One is a night chain for those who work but still wish to participate.  The first name on each chain is called by Marge then that person calls the second name; the second name notifies the third, and so on down the list.  The last person on the list calls Marge that the chain has been completed.  Once the call is made, you are asked to take time to pray privately for the need requested.  Subsequent thoughts and prayers are recommended during the days following the request.  These requests may be of someone going into the hospital, financial hardship, strength to carry on, support for loved ones who are dying or death.

God does answer prayers and your prayers help!  Please register to take part in the Prayer Chain at Immanuel by completing the form and returning to the church office no later than May 20, 2003. 

Phone:  __________________________________ Best Time to Call: _______________

I was talking to Pr. Rick about this, and he said, “Take it to the Stewardship Committee”.  I did, and pretty quickly a plan evolved to asking fellow members to witness to the place of faith in their daily lives.  This would take place at Service of Word and Prayer (a.k.a. non-communion service).   One such witness event had already been scheduled for the Sunday after Easter.  Now there will be a witness at each Service of Word and Prayer in the month of May.

If you would like to know more, talk to me or Stewardship Chairman, Greg Vicary (627-5528).

Thanks,

GOT WHEELS?

The Health Ministry Committee is developing a transportation team to assist those members unable to drive.  They may need rides to doctor appointments, hospitals, shopping or to church.  We will be recruiting members who are called to this ministry.  Ruth Kastilahn, who lives at Independence Village, has graciously agreed to coordinate this effort.  So please, prayerfully consider this ministry and watch for a sign-up in the Narthex during May.  Blessings to all who say “yes” to loving and serving one another.

Relay for Life

The Health Ministry Team is spearheading Immanuel’s Relay for Life team this year.  Jan Martinich is taking the lead for this event, but she needs may hands to help.  What can you do?

v      Buy a Luminaria for $10 (Immanuel's Kids will decorate or you can)

v      Collect donations/pledges and walk for an hour or more.

v      Donate money to a walker!

v      Provide food, tables, chairs or a tent

v      Buy a plush bear (limited quantities)

v      Come up with fun fundraisers

v      Read Cancer Survivor list at about 9 p.m.

v      Help set out luminaries at dusk

v      Do anything you can think of to help

Youth Fundraiser -  Spartan Coupon Books

The Coupon Books have $10 worth of free merchandise and a wide variety of valuable coupons. The coupon books can be purchased for only $5.00 – a $45.00 value.  The books will be available for purchase after the worship services in May or contact Ruth Buckley.  Money raised will help send our youth to Elementary Camp. Thank you for your support!

CIRCLE THIS DATE Lauren Martinich is graduating from Grand Ledge High School on May 30th at the Breslin Center.  The Martinich family would love to have you come to the graduation or her party the following day, May 31st from 3 p.m. on.  More food will be there than for John’s – We promise!! Many of you are so special to Lauren and have had a special impact in her life.  Many of you were there to hear her “Borning Cry” at her Baptism that Holy Saturday.  Please come help us celebrate her graduation.  Gifts are not necessary.  Your love and a hug is all we need.

PICTORIAL DIRECTORY  Outreach has contracted with Lifetouch to do our pictorial directory again.  The dates that pictures will be taken will be Thursday and Friday, August 7 and 8, 2003, 2:30 - 9:00 p.m. and Saturday, August 9, 2003  9:30 a.m.– 4:00 p.m. & September 3 and 4, 2003, 2:30 - 9:00 p.m. Please note the dates have changed because of a scheduling conflict. Please put those dates in your calendars now so we can hope for 100 % of our membership to have their picture in the directory.  Each member will get a free directory and an 8X10 photograph.

Outreach will also need three coordinators to help with this project.

They need one for Publicity, Appointment and Lay Out.  There will be a meeting with the photographer on June 16, 2003 at 7 PM in the church to lay out the details and responsibilities.  If you are interested in any one of these positions, please contact Orv Erickson at 517-645-2865 or e-mail at oerickson@aol.com.

Telephone number  ___________________________________

Number of Adults  ____________________  Number of Children _________________

Type of camper  Tent _________  Pop-up _________ Travel Trailer _________

Send to Elizabeth Ayoub, 6552 W. Walker Rd., St. Johns, MI 48879 or give completed form to her at church with a $25 deposit.

DAY CAMP 2003 Spiritlife July 14 – July 18 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. held at Fitzgerald Park

Day camp is an opportunity for children who have completed Kindergarten – 5^th grade to learn about Jesus in a fun, relaxed environment.   Children will hear Bible stories, play games, do art and craft projects, sing songs and go on nature hikes.  The cost is $45.00 per child.   We also need volunteers to help at camp and provide snacks and beverages. Registration & Volunteer forms are available in the church entryway or call the church office (627.6310).

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL July 28–August 1 9:00 a.m. –  12:00 noon For children 4 years – completed 5th grade. Registration & Volunteer forms available in the entryway of the church.

Kids' Corner

U       The Nursery, Kindergarten, and First Grade Sunday School classes will sing during the 10:30 a.m. Church Service on Mother’s Day (May 11)

U       Last day of Sunday School is May 18.

U       VBS News:  In need of Pringle cans for an art project.

U       In need of a music director from 9-12 daily.

SUMMER WORSHIP Our summer worship schedule begins on Sunday, May 25, 2003.  We will hold one Worship Service every Sunday at 9:30 a.m.  We will also hold a ‘Weekender’ Worship Service every Thursday at 7:00 p.m.

Opportunities to Serve:

WANTED ... SONG LEADERS

Do you enjoy the song leaders that you hear at the 10:30 services?  Do you want to participate in the worship service as a song leader?  Currently, our choir members are leading us, but you don’t have to be in the choir to be a song leader.  If you are interested in being a song leader, either solo or with someone else, please contact Ellen McKenzie.  We appreciate the song leaders, and don’t want to wear them out, so we need your help.  Thanks for your consideration.

NOTES:

THANK YOU, IMMANUEL

From Bishop Mark Hansen, Presiding Bishop ELCA and Bishop Gary Hansen, North/West Lower Michigan Synod:

Thank you to the members of Immanuel for supporting the mission of the Church in 2002 by giving $33,790.

 

From Your ACTION representatives, Eileen LaCombe, Kitty  Whitney & Barb Roush:

Thank you to all who generously donated socks, shirts, underwear, toiletries and other items to be used in Duffel Bags for our area’s foster children and refugees.   

FROM THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT'S DESK:

God’s Blessing to everyone.   

Spring is here in full bloom and brings with it God’s promise of new life. We have just finished with the many celebrations of Easter. I was very inspired by the number of people involved in the many services this year. We continue with God’s ministry in many ways.

Council has been working on many projects this last month. The Mutual Ministries Task Force has had informational meetings, and we are ready as a congregation to vote on their proposal. Also we have been working on the communication and vision aspects of the Bridgebuilders. You will be seeing new bulletin boards up which will help everyone keep up with what is going on at Immanuel. Also the Outreach Committee is getting ready to put together a new pictorial directory. Anyone interested in helping with this, please contact someone on Outreach. The Spring cleanup went well and the church is looking great, inside and out.

I ask all of you to continue to hold our national leaders and our Troops, and the individuals from our area in your prayers throughout the war in Iraq. Also we need to remember to keep the people of Iraq and their leaders in our prayers.

Our Youth groups have been meeting and doing service projects, as well as fun things. I am very glad to report that our numbers of young people attending has been growing. Please keep the youth and their leaders in your prayers. We have a group going to Atlanta this summer for National Gathering and I think we have a fine group of people representing Immanuel Lutheran and the Grand Ledge area.

As we all embark on the summer months, please remember we have a mission at Immanuel. We all need to work together to make the changes necessary to further our mission, and as individuals strive to present our personal mission to everyone we meet in our daily lives.

CELEBRATIONS:
MAY BIRTHDAYS

MAY ANNIVERSARIES

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