FROM PASTOR RICK’S COMPUTER:
DON’T FORGET THANKSGIVING

Tucked between Halloween and Christmas is Thanksgiving. It is becoming an almost neglected holiday. People have taken to calling it “Turkey Day.” Other than football and a huge advertisement-filled newspaper, there is little commercial gain from it. However, I like Thanksgiving much more than Halloween. In addition to its historic significance are its spiritual meanings.

1)  Reflection – Thanksgiving Day reminds us to reflect on how blessed our nation is in its heritage and history; in its bountiful resources. It also asks each of to realize how materially blessed we are. If we have food, clothing and shelter plus a little bit of cash in our pockets, we are more wealthy than the overwhelming majority of all the people in the world. In truth, we have those necessities plus so MUCH more. (Just reflect on the privilege of being able to read this!) Thank you, Lord.

2)  Response – Thanksgiving Day reminds us that we are blessed to be a blessing to others. We can and we should be giving to help someone, and doing so with gratitude. Some call it “Thanks-giving.” Others call it “Thanks-living.” At Immanuel, we give an extra offering for Grand Ledge Emergency Assistance Program (GLEAP). Thank you, Lord.

3)  Nation – Thanksgiving Day is a holiday for Americans, all Americans. The people in France or Australia won’t be taking a day off. Americans in Iraq and in Brazil will be. We all are called to give thanks: Christians, Muslims, Hindus, even atheists. We are all recipients of God’s bounty in nature and heritage. Thank you, Lord.  

4)  Home – The best depiction of Thanksgiving for me is a picture of an extended “family” around the feasting table holding hands with heads bowed in prayer. American communities make “Thanksgiving homes” in houses, church basements, restaurants, shelters, community centers so that homebound and aliens and homeless and travelers can be as close as family. Thank you, Lord.

So make a big deal for one day about Thanksgiving. It is good for our souls and good for our homes and country. As Christians, let us join with all others and make OUR praises to God “through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. Amen!”.

AMONG OUR MEMBERS:

BAPTISM

Carisa Faith, daughter of Nathan and Ellen Flanderswas clothed with Christ and became an heir in the family of God, along with us, on October 23^rd. (Gal. 3, 4) She belongs to Christ her Redeemer. We rejoice in salvation.

FIRST COMMUNIONS

On October 2^nd our 5^th graders were welcomed to God’s Table of Grace. They studied with Pr. Rick and Lori Van Hoesen for 4 weeks. They learned about the Words of Institution and the cross; Passover and Jesus; the sacraments and grace, and how to confess sin. They are:

   Haley Kingsley[1], daughter of John and Melissa Kingsley;
   Pete Graeber, son of Doug Graeber and Jodi Graeber;
   Jessica Berg, daughter of John and Shari Berg;
   Adam Van Hoesen, son of John and Lori Van Hoesen;
   Redmond Riggs, son of Russ and Brit Riggs;
   Jayne White, daughter of Geoff and Kelly White;
   Sarah Cermak, daughter of Matt and Kate Cermak.

This is an important step for them as they grow up in being disciples. We thank God and are happy for them and for their families.

NEWS AND EVENTS:

THANKSGIVING SERVICES

Grand Ledge Community Thanksgiving Service
Tuesday, November 22nd
7:00 p.m. at Grand Ledge 1^st United Methodist Church
Downtown at the corner of Scott and Harrison Sts.

Immanuel’s Thanksgiving Eve Service
Wednesday, November 23rd
7:00 p.m. ~ Holy Communion 

THANKSGIVING OFFERINGS

Grand Ledge Emergency Assistance Program (GLEAP) helps area people in emergency needs all year round. With no office or employees, virtually 100% of gifts go directly to help. GLEAP’s core assistance is food, transportation, and medicine. If there are sufficient funds, the program will, at times, assist with rent and utilities. All our Thanksgiving Offerings will be donated to GLEAP to stand with our neighbors when they have an emergency need. Please give with a generous heart.

COMMITMENT SUNDAY
Mark your calendar for December 4^th!

Last year's pig roast was such a success, we are doing it again. We are combining the “Hanging of the Greens” with Commitment Sunday and celebrating with another feast. In the weeks to come, you will be receiving information to help you determine how best to be a steward in Christ’s church. There will be new opportunities to give the gifts of time and talents as well as treasures.

Thanks and God’s peace.

Stewardship Committee

LUTHER LEAGUE II

Luther League II, Immanuel’s Senior Group, will visit Congregation Shaarey Zedek in East Lansing and meet Rabbi Richard Baroff on Monday, November 14, at 10:30 a.m.  For transportation, meet in Immanuel’s parking lot at 9:45 a.m.  Following the visit at the Synagogue.  The group will go to lunch at Smokey Bones Barbeque & Grill in Eastwood Towne Center.  For more information, contact Doug Scoggins, 327-0988 or Pr. Paul Pretzlaff, 646-9354.

ALL SAINTS' DAY SERVICE

Members and friends of Immanuel who have lost spouses are invited to a brief Service of Remembrance for our departed husbands or wives at 11:00 a.m. on All Saints Day, Tuesday, November 1.  There will be time for sharing, of memories, and you are encouraged to bring your wedding pictures.  After the service and sharing time, we will go to the A&W Restaurant for lunch.

RESETTLEMENT FUND

Immanuel has agreed to provide the Clark-Showers family with housing and utilities for a period of one year. A Resettlement Fund has been set-up to receive any monetary donations to assist with utilities or housing expenses.  If you wish to contribute to this fund please designate Resettlement Fund on your offering envelope.  

HEALING MINISTRY 

The evangelical Lutheran Church in America believes and teaches that “a ministry of healing is integral to the life and mission of the Church.  It expresses our faith in the power of God to create and to save, as well as our commitment to care for our neighbor.  The Holy Spirit empowers us so that we can care for all people as God’s children and seek their healing.”

There is also in the Church a renewed emphasis on the role of prayer in the healing of the body, mind, spirit, and relationship.  Occasionally we devote an entire worship service to healing prayer, with the laying on of hands and anointing with oil.  In so doing, we are embracing the Church’s historic ministry of healing and wholeness in ways that are biblical and sacramental.

In addition, there is the offer of healing prayer at the conclusion of each worship service, every Sunday.  Eight members of the congregation have been designated as Healing Prayer Minters.  They have completed a series of classes on healing prayer and formed a covenant group which meets monthly.  They are  Donna Gibbons (Parish Nurse), Ruth Kastilahn, Karl & Cindy McCormick, Joan Nolff, Pr. Paul Pretzlaff, Doug Scoggins and Nicole Sullenberger.  For healing prayer for yourself, or intercessory prayer for others, come to the Care Room (off the Narthex) where a team of Healing Prayer Ministers is available immediately after every worship.

In the New Testament Letter of James, we are assured that “the prayer of faith will save the sick.” And so we pray, trusting not in our faith nor in our prayer, but trusting in God to whom we pray and from whom the healing comes, according to His good and gracious will.

Pr. Paul Pretzlaff & Nicole Sullenberger
Health Ministry Team

Healing and Prayer Ministers
Getting To Know Us

Cindy and Karl McCormick

Cindy and Karl have been married for twelve years and reside in Grand Ledge with their three "Kids" (Golden Retrievers) Daisy, Abby, and Blossom. Cindy has been a lifelong resident of the Mid-Michigan area.  Her grandmother  taught her to weave on a weaving loom when she was thirteen years old.  She has worked in fiber art since that time and now has a home studio where she creates a wide variety of fiber works. Cindy, carrying on the tradition her grandmother taught her, also teaches a variety of weaves/fiber art classes.  These classes are held at the newly opened Dream Spinners Studio  and store in Eagle, Michigan.  Cindy and her work have also appeared at judged events having passed the criteria to participate.

Karl grew up in the suburban Detroit area, moving to East Lansing to attend Michigan State University and has resided here ever since.  He completed a BS degree in Psychology and an M.A. degree in Rehabilitation Counseling.  Karl has been a Rehabilitation Counselor for the last twenty-three years, working with individuals with a wide range of physical,  psychological, developmental and cognitive disabilities.  His job involves assessment, coordination of services, (individual, surgical, psychological, etc.), counseling, vocational tests, career counseling, job searching, skills training, assigning school training programs and job placement.   Karl has had many blessings in his rewarding career, including owning his own firm for the last sixteen years.  He has received recognition for "Counselor of the Year"  award at the State, Great Lakes Region, and National levels.

Joan Nolff

Joan moved into the Delta Township area thirty-six years ago with her husband Norm (now deceased) and a "yours, mine and ours" family of seven children.

Joan became a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church about seventeen years ago.  She has always been active in the church on National, State and local levels.  This has been a major part of her life since she was a young girl.  She took the Auxiliary of LSSM and changed it into ACTION for LSSM.  This new group included, for the first time, not just women but men and children.  This continues to this day.  She also set up regions, chapters, and local areas, writing the handbooks for all areas of leadership, project books, and instituted the Action Christmas Bazaar and other activities that helped to raise money for the people LSSM serves.

She also open the Action Thrift Store in Saginaw (going through many buildings, cobwebby basements, etc. to finally settle on the present site of the store.  Serving on the LSSM Board of Directors and Executive Board of Directors saw her leaving Action and LSSM after almost eighteen years of service.  Joan received many awards and recognition for her service to LSSM and her church.  Among them was a tribute from the Governor of the State of Michigan, several from LSSM, from Action for LSSM, from the Cabinet of LSSM and from the Michigan Federation of Private Child and Family Services. Joan served on the Mission Church Committee at the local level, on the Stewardship and Evangelism National support committees, taught Sunday school, mid-week school, served on Calvary Lutheran Church Council, and worked with the youth on special outings.

A great love of hers was and is her continued learning about the Word of the Lord, the Bible.  She took the Bethel Bible studies, Bible Study Fellowship six year course, classes from Nazerath College and many other classes, all leading her on the spiritual path that has so influenced her life.  She is a Healing Prayer Minister and member of the Immanuel Visitation Team.  She has participated in VBS, coffee hours, funeral dinners, and other events at Immanuel over the years.

Immanuel Lutheran church is a vital part of Joan's life and is very dear to her.  Here she has found a home and people that are truly special, finding them to be selfless, caring, compassionate, praying people of deep faith, people that want to share their faith with others, help others, and just be friends, a family of Christ.  It is her hope that she can return to them what they have given her.

Craft Bazaar

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