Immanuel Lutheran Church, Grand Ledge, Michigan

Our church is publishing a new worship book called Evangelical Lutheran Worship (ELW). It has been developed since 2000 and was approved for publication at the National Assembly in 2005.

Our LBW (green hymnal) is the current official worship book. Our WOV (blue) is an approved supplement. The LBW is 28 years old (1978). It replaced the SBH (red) that was 20 years old (1958), which replaced a black hymnal that was 28 years old (1930). It seems that our worship books are updated every 25 – 30 years.

The national offices report they undertook this task in order to unify in one book “an increasing variety in worship practices.” “As the primary worship book, ELW will contribute to the sense that congregations are connected.” They also write, “The new book of worship helps us all to know and celebrate the historic riches of our worship and the new treasures before us.”

This November 4 there will be an “Introductory Event” held in Lansing from 9 – 4. A group from Immanuel will be attending. We will listen, learn, and evaluate. This group will have to decide if we want to recommend the new worship book for Immanuel.

The event cost is $25, which includes a meal and your own copy of Evangelical Lutheran Worship.

A glance at the schedule indicates there will be lots of singing, as well as information.

If you would like to attend from Immanuel please let Pastor Rick know by October 22^nd. We are each paying our own way.

Sophia Mae LaViolette, daughter of Scott and Lisa, brother to Gavin.

Jean E. Rach -- Our sister Jean was a member of Immanuel for a number of years. She joined while living at Serenity Place. Jean was a life-long Christian, a hard-working single mother, a woman of faith and humor, among so much more. She was mother to Faith and Paul. We rejoice that she is among the saints in the light of God.

October means Halloween, candy, and fantasy fun to millions of children and much of our social culture. Among Christians, Halloween refers to All Hallows’ Eve and reminds of All Saints’ Day on the 1^st day of November.

For Lutherans one more significant event pushes its way into our worship life, Reformation Day.

In truth, the Reformation was a widespread movement. It was happening in Moravia, England, France, Switzerland, and Scandinavia in addition to Germany. The turmoil started about 100 years before Martin Luther and lasted for decades after he died. It was driven by a number of theologians and political leaders.

But on October 31, 1517, Martin Luther nailed to the door of a church in Wittenberg, Germany, a list of 95 Theses, written in Latin. He wanted them to be debated by church leaders. They were mostly about indulgences, eternal life and the abuse of papal authority. This bold, but minor, event caused Martin Luther, priest and teacher, to become the center of the controversy.

And so it has become accepted to celebrate the Reformation on or before October 31^st. We always do at Immanuel. We are Lutheran Christians after all.

Monday, October 9, 11:30 a.m., at the North Pine Grille, 7711 W. Saginaw Hwy at Canal. Bianca Glendinning, owner of three exercise centers and frequent newspaper columnist and speaker will discuss the benefits of attaining/maintaining good health through exercise. Call Annette Ryan, 627-9511 or Sandra Bair, 627-4272 to reserve your spot.

The author of the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts is identified by the Apostle Paul as "the beloved physician." October 18 is St. Luke's Day on the Church's Calendar. We dedicate our Sunday Worship Services on October 15 to St. Luke with a special emphasis on our Ministry of Healing. On that Sunday an opportunity for Prayers for Healing and Anointing with Oil will be available. Immanuel's Healing Prayer Ministers will all participate.

An original drama “Sword of the Spirit,” will be presented at both Worship Services on Reformation Sunday, October 29. The play is based on the life and writings of the Apostle Paul, who described the Word of God as the “Sword of the Spirit.” Incorporated in the play is the congregation’s celebration of Holy Communion. Immanuel’s Drama Team is producing the play.

Immanuel has received $500 from our Synod’s Church in Society Committee. They want to help us reach out to at-risk elementary students. We want to do that through Kid’s Hope USA. They call it “One Church. One School. One Adult. One Child.”

There is more to tell than can be fit in a Manger article, but adults and high school students who participate in this program will make a powerful difference to a child here in Grand Ledge. It takes one hour per week during the school year. Presentations will be made and people recruited later this year by our director.

The congregation has to join Kid’s Hope USA. That’s why Lyn Danes and I wrote for the grant. It will cost Immanuel $2,000 to become a Kid’s Hope congregation. With $500 from the Church in Society Committee and a $500 scholarship from an anonymous Kid’s Hope donor to any Michigan congregation, our cost to join will be $1,000. Donations will be sought later this year. The fee includes all the expenses of the 4-day training workshop in Grand Rapids for Lyn, our director, plus having a presenter come to educate us about the program.

The Church Council will be formally discussing a recommendation at the October meeting. If you want to know, more now go to www.kidshopeusa.org. Lyn also has materials and information. Plus, Oneida Gospel Church is in their 2^nd year of this ministry. Norma Pryor, former principal of Sawdon Alternative High School, is their director.

On the evening of August 9th, Immanuel's Healing Prayer Ministers met at Doug Scoggins’ for supper from his own garden. We reviewed our Covenant, welcomed John Kingsley as the newest member of our team, and discussed several new projects. Once again, we confirmed the joy and blessing that is ours as we continue to pray with and for you each Sunday (and Thursday night also during the summer months.) It is our intent to always serve you through serving our Lord. "Praise the Lord, all nations everywhere. Praise him, all the peoples of the earth. For he loves us very dearly, and his truth endures. Praise the Lord." Psalm 117

What is CYVA training? It is a policy that was created to guard our workers and volunteers from being suspected or falsely accused of wrongful behavior.

We have spoken to our insurance carrier, and they say it is not specified that the training needs to be done yearly, just that the training needs to be done. We will be determining the frequency we will be doing it at Immanuel (probably every 3-4 years).

Who needs CYVA training? Anyone who works with children, youth and vulnerable adults needs to have CYVA training.

CYVA training will be held on Thursday, October 19^th at 6:15 pm in Fellowship Hall.

If you have questions about your last CYVA training date, please call me at the office.

Anyone considering joining Immanuel is invited to a series of seven sessions to present our Lutheran teachings. We will read and discuss the book, “Reclaiming the ‘L’ Word” by Kelly Fryer. During these weeks you will be invited (not required) to become a member of our ministry. You can join by confessing your faith for the first time, or by accepting Christ and being baptized or by renewing your faith that you have practiced in another church.

The group will start Wednesday, October 4^th at 7 p.m. Pastor Rick will be the leader. All members who would like to take a fresh look at our Lutheran core teachings are welcome to attend, too.

If you had your portrait taken for the pictorial directory in August and did not make a purchase, your complimentary portrait is on the credenza in the entryway.

Toddler Time is held every Wednesday at 10:00 am in Immanuel Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall. Music, games and crafts. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Sponsored by Eaton County Early Childhood Connections. Every Child, infant to four years old, is welcome!

Near the end of September, our Roof Fund received an extra gift. Normally members contributions are received each week for this cause. During August, you contributed $275, bringing our total to $11,826. These come as offerings over and above tithes to our General and Building Funds.

Progress is being made. The bids were received (albeit a second time). The amount of work to be done was adjusted downward. Property Committee was going to contact the contractor to begin the work soon. So watch for an announcement soon.

A check was received for $125.31 from Meijer’s Community Rewards. It was our first “rewards” check. Council will be voting on how this money is distributed. Thank you to those who made use of this service to help your church!

Sign up after 8:00 and 10:30 services. Please be a walker or support our walkers. Coordinators: Melissa Goschka and Den Graeber. Let make this year our best year yet!!

Prayer Shawl Ministry

This ministry will come together again starting in October. The creators of prayer shawls get together during the school year to make shawls to comfort and nurture those in need. Most of the crafting is done in your own home on your own time. We come together four times a year at the 501 building at 6:00 pm. The meetings are as follows: October 9, 2006 – December 11, 2006 – February 12, 2007 – April 9, 2007. Mark your calendar and come and join us! If you know someone who could use a prayer shawl, stop by the office and pick one up (there is a simple form to be completed).

1. Transportation problems have been put in the past as Rose and Leland have purchased a minivan. With the help of a member family who stood as a loan co-signer, they were able to buy a van with only 53,000 miles. Thank you to all who drove Leland to work.

2. Future housing is being worked on. Thank you to the whole congregation who by vote has allowed the parsonage to be kept as an option for them, if it becomes necessary. With the assistance of Rep. Joe Schwarz, a housing voucher was secured to assist with rent and utilities for the next year. The support team has contacted MSHDA to inspect the house. If all goes well, Leland and Rose will sign a 1 year-long lease with the church.

3. We would like a Task Force to work with them for this year. We will need people to support with budgeting and finance, education, a dietitian, etc.

The youth who attended the National Gathering in San Antonio will lead both worship services. The liturgy & music from the Gathering will be used and the youth will share their experience.

I sat at a council meeting earlier this year and on the agenda was the timing of the current proposed bylaw changes that was written up by the Bylaw task force.

We as council members were trying to fit this change into our schedules before summer break. Dan Landry provided the devotions for that evening and his message was about things not always being on our time but rather on God’s time. We always seem to be busy running around here and there; fitting things into our hectic, busy schedules and forget that sometimes doing God’s work means answering the call when he asks, even if that means we need to slow down a little.

Dan’s message was a perfect fit into our meeting. We sat back thought about the upcoming congregational meeting we were trying to fit into our schedules before summer hit, and realized that we needed to take a breath, take our time and make sure it was on God’s time. Meetings were changed to slow down our pace, and we scheduled out four informational meetings to allow the whole church body the opportunity to review this major change. By doing this we as council took the time to fit this change into everyone’s schedule, breathe a little and inform the members of the upcoming changes that we felt were needed, and take suggestions from members and incorporate them into the bylaws. We had no idea what impact this little devotion played on us in getting this accomplished.

I would like to thank all those members who played an important role in helping us as a congregation to change, and adopt the new bylaws that will take effect in 2007. There are too many to list and I would forget and miss someone, from the current and past members of council who worked on this over the past 3 years, to the bylaws task force, and right down to the members that participated in the informational meeting, and the members who put little ideas and suggestions into us all in passing.

Now the real work begins, setting up the structure in the next 3 months. As we move forward we will be looking to you the members of Immanuel to serve on the many ministries that we have within the church.

We have learned a great deal in the process and understand that through communication great things are accomplished. The greatest compliment about this change was reflected in the ease of passing this change at the congregational meeting, it showed us as a church what communication, and patience can provide when directed by God.

We are a truly blessed community at Immanuel and we should at all times give God the praise and glory for what he has provided for us.