FROM PASTOR RICK’S COMPUTER:
DADS ARE POWERFUL

Dads, do you realize how powerful you are in your children’s faith? The data are so clear they speak for themselves. Here are the numbers of boys and girls who grow up to participate in the church[1]:

2%    when Mom goes regularly but Dad never:
3%    when Mom goes but Dad is irregular;
33%   when both Mom and Dad participate regularly;
38%   when Mom is irregular but Dad is regular;
44%   when Mom never attends but Dad is regular.

Dads, your influence on your kids cannot be overestimated. Of course, it is most important to be real, especially in your relationship with God, however close or distant it is. Still, God designed you to lead your children into that life, as well as other values. In other words, do it. Lead by example and word.

Similarly, all adult men are important to our church’s youth. Your attention in fellowship, by teaching Sunday School or children’s church, mentoring in your skills, sports, prayer, scouts, Dad’s and kids' weekends – these are invaluable to them.

Men, you have been created to be a strong, spiritual influence in your daughters and sons. You will influence them in good or bad ways. Make the choice to be a good influence in your family.

Rally Day is a fresh-start Sunday. The fall is a joining time for participating in church activities. Consider this both invitation and challenge from your Pastor.

[1] Source www.churchformen.com link to Touchstone Magazine

AMONG OUR MEMBERS:
New Member

Arlene Zuker
Independence Village
Apt. 220
Grand Ledge, MI 48837
Phone:  627-7484

Arlene has been attending Immanuel with others who live in the “Village,” and enjoying it. She studied with Pastor Paul to prepare to be a member and joined on August 14. Arlene comes from a Roman Catholic background. Ruth Kastilahn is her sponsor. Welcome!

YOUTH

Dan Frysinger's Eagle Scout Project took place during the week of August 21, 2005. It included the organization of efforts to install a flagpole and surrounding garden at the Hospice of Lansing residence. Several members of our congregation were solicited for help on the project.  The majority of the funding was provided through a $1,122.00 grant from Thrivent for Lutherans. It was possible because of a program which Thrivent for Lutherans has called 'Care Abounds in Communities'. This program exists to do good in the community by providing funds for certain activities. The grant was decided by the organization's chapter leadership board. "

Jason Morrall, 7th grade, played in the ‘world series.’ His summer baseball team made it all the way to the national finals down in Tennessee. They finished 7th out of 40 teams. He said it was a blast. Way to go, Jason.

COLLEGE

Young Adults are back at college and already busy. Please, send us your email addresses so that we can stay in touch with you now and then.  (Maybe parents can forward this to Pastor rmckenzie@immanuel-gl.org)

NEWS AND EVENTS:

Luther League II

October Outing Monday, October 10 to the original Schuler's Restaurant and Pub in Marshall, MI for lunch and also for a visit to shops in the historic downtown area.  Enjoy the Scarecrow Festival exhibits and autumn colors too.  Meet in the Church parking lot at 10:30 a.m. for car pooling.  Lunch at Schuler's is at 11:45.  Call George or Annette Ryan, 627-9511 or Lee or Sandra Bair, 627-4272 if you have questions.

Join us for Adult Bible Study

Two Adult Sunday School Classes will begin meeting at 9:15 a.m. on Rally Day, September 11.

Pr. Rick’s class will study the Book of Revelation.  This last book of the New Testament contains an unveiling of the near future which will bring the world’s history to an end.  In a Document addressed to seven churches in Asia, Minor, the author John discloses what God has revealed to him, namely that the world’s history is in God’s hands.  In recent years many popular books have been written about the “end times”.

The second class beginning on September 11 will be a three session course on faith and finances, entitled “Managing God’s Blessings”.  The presenter will be Adam Heinleim of Lutheran Financial Services.

 A third adult class will be led by Pr. Paul Pretzlaff and Parish Nurse, Donna Gibbons beginning Sunday, October 2 @ 9:15 a.m.  They will use as a text the book “Armchair Mystic”.  According to the author, Mark Thibodeaux, “this user-friendly book blends theory and practice, gently and concretely taking the reader through the first steps of contemplative prayer.”  Copies of the book will be available in the church’s entryway during August,  at a cost of $8 or you may call the church office.

HEALING AND PRAYER MINISTRY 

Donna Gibbons has lived in Grand Ledge her entire life.  She has been a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church for twelve years.  Donna has been an active member, being a part of the first informational meeting on starting a Health Ministry here at Immanuel in February 1990 and has been on the Health Ministry team since that first meeting.  Donna is involved in many areas, the Health Ministry Team, Prayer Shawl Ministry, Immanuel Visitation Team and Healing Prayer Ministry.

She received her nursing degree from Lansing Community College twenty-two years ago, working in the Sparrow System for twenty-one years.  She is currently working for Hospice of Lansing.  This is an area of nursing that has been her goal from the start. Donna is our parish nurse here at Immanuel and states she feels privileged to serve our congregation.

Donna married William (Bill) Gibbons at Immanuel twelve years ago.  They have four (adult) children and one grandson.  Donna enjoys sewing, genealogy, scrapbooking, gardening, and crocheting rugs.

Ruth Kastilahn at 85 years of age is the oldest member of the Healing Prayer Ministry.  Ruth has been a member of Immanuel for four years, joining soon after she moved to Independence Village from Lady Lake, Florida.  Ruth says she is blessed to be a member of the Healing Prayer Ministry Team and knows that the Lord has given her more opportunities to help others.

We all feel privileged to serve you as an instrument of the Lord in Healing  Prayer.  We are here for you.  We hope to see our ministry grow and would like to have you join us on October 2nd. at 9:15 a.m. when Pastor Paul Pretzlaff and Donna Gibbons, our Parish Nurse, will conduct an adult class on "Contemplative Prayer" If you feel the Lord is leading you to find out more about the Healing Prayer Ministry, please join us for this class, and the Lord may just lead you to become a part of this team.

Joan Nolff,
Healing Prayer Ministry Team

CYVA TRAINING
(Children, Youth, and Vulnerable Adults)

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.  It was created to meet insurance requirements and needs to be done yearly.  My goal is to have this completed by the end of October  It is important for those leading groups and those who are participating in activities to have the training.  We have looked at our congregational roster and have identified approximately 100 people in the congregation as needing CYVA training.

We have shortened the paperwork, so that it can be completed in a minimal amount of time (approximately 20 minutes).  I will be offering four sessions for the paperwork and requirements to be met.  I ask that everybody who needs this training, to please arrange to attend one of the scheduled sessions below:

1)      Thursday, September 15 @ 6:30 p.m.
2)      Sunday, September 18 @ 11:45 a.m. (following worship)
3)      Thursday, October 20 @ 7:00 p.m.
4)      Sunday, October 23 @ 11:45 a.m. (following worship)

How do you know if you need to attend?  If you are ever alone with another person  then you may need the training.  Examples of people who need to attend are:

• Staff

• Sunday school teachers

• Leaders/helpers of children’s church & nursery

• those who transport people

• Health Ministry Team members

• IV Team members

• Healing Prayer Ministers

• Church Council

• and others

If you are in question as to weather or not you need the training, please contact myself or Denise Lund at the church office (627-6310).

Thank You,

Parish Nurse

Our gracious Lord has given us more blessings than we can possibly number.  As we enjoy these autumn months individually, with family, friends, church family, and co-workers, let us daily thank God for our blessings.  Look for blessings you can see, hear, touch, feel, and taste. Also become aware of the intangible blessings that fill each of our lives such as: emotions, relationships between God and His believers, family relationships, our spiritual being, thankfulness, trust, and faith.  Appreciating God’s daily gifts is a blessing in itself.  Being thankful is an exciting, enriching, and rewarding part of our lifelong faith journey and relationship with our Savior. 

As with all things, begin your day with praise to the Lord (for His love, mercy, grace, salvation, tender care, for the daily blessing of the Holy Spirit, etc.).   Ask God to help you today become more aware of the specific blessings in your life, aware of blessings you take for granted, and those of which you are not even aware.  Try to write some of these down each day.  You will be amazed after one week how much God is doing for you!

What things in God’s creation am I most thankful for today? Where did I see God at work today?  How did others bring joy or a smile to someone else today?  For whom in my life am I thankful to God? Why?  How was God present with my family today?  How do I feel the presence of God?  When?  Today the Lord has blessed me with _________.   What blessing did you receive today when reading God’s Word?  May these questions help guide you and your family to a daily joyous search for God’s gifts.

The more blessings we recognize daily, the more we look for ways the Lord is working in our life and the lives of those around us. The more blessings of which we are aware, the more we praise and give thanks to God each day. Our faith grows. Our faith becomes active. Our active prayer life grows. Our personal relationship with Christ grows.  Thankfulness to God throughout each day brings joy and strength in all things! 

RALLY DAY
Sunday, September 11 at Immanuel

Sunday school begins at 9:15 a.m.
Potluck immediately following 10:30 service.
Bring a dish to share.  Hot dogs and drinks provided!

FALL WORSHIP SCHEDULE
(begins September 11, 2005)

8:00  & 10:30 Worship
9:15 Sunday School for all ages

EDUCATION CLASSES STARTING UP

Which class do you want to attend?  Let the office know.

1.             SNL (Sunday Night Live): catechism for 6^th, 7^th & 8^th graders.  Sept. 11 @ 6:15.

2.             “Breaking the Seals” 13 sessions on Revelations.            Sept. 11 @ 9:15.

3.                New Member Class: 6 sessions plus Orientation for those who want to join Immanuel. Sept. 13 @ 7 p.m.

4.                First Communion Class: 4 sessions, for 5^th graders to prepare to take receive Holy Communion. Sept. 7^th @ 7 p.m.

5.                Finance Class Prayer Class

6.             Tuesday Morning Men’s Group: Bible study, prayer, support.  6:30 a.m. @ Cracker Barrel

7.                “Duh”-ciples Saturday Men’s Group: Bible study, prayer support. 9:00 a.m.@ 501 Building Circle

EDUCATION CLASSES INFORMATION SHEET

To express interest or seek information about the classes listed above please circle the classes you are interested in and return to the church office.

1. SNL

2. New Member Class         

3. 1^st Communion

4. Finance Class      

5. Prayer Class             

6. Tuesday Morning Men’s Group       

7. “Duh” –ciples Saturday Men’s Group

8. Youth Ministry Team –Spiritual Gifts

9. Youth Ministry Team –Young Adult (college)

10. Youth Ministry Team –Prayer Partner

          Name ___________________________________________________

          Phone number  ____________________________________________

          E-mail address  ___________________________________________

Return completed form to:

Immanuel Lutheran Church
501 S. Clinton Street
Grand Ledge MI  48837

or

call us at 517.627.6310
e-mail: dlund@immanuel-gl.org

MOTHERS' GROUP

M.O.M.S. (Mothers of Many Seasons) will begin meeting on Monday, September 12th.  The group meets every Monday from 9:15am to 11:15am in the lower level of St. Michael Parish. The church is located at 345 Edwards St. in Grand Ledge.  Childcare is available.  All faiths are welcome.  Please come and join us.  Contact Ann at (517) 626-2466 for more information.

FINANCES HEADING IN RIGHT DIRECTION

At the end of July, for the 2^nd month in a row, our deficit decreased. The Church Council is encouraged by the spending restraints and the increased generosity of members. As a congregation, we likely will enter September in better financial condition than we entered the summer. It has helped that we have had only one unexpected, costly event this year, and that particular “furnace repair” was paid for by a special gift of one member family. With both restraint and generous giving, the Council expects that end of 2005 will see a large improvement. Thank you for your faithful and extra mile giving.

Opportunities to Serve:

YOUTH MINISTRY TEAM

We have leaders for LYO (high school), SNL (middle school), camp programs, bookkeeping, and fund raising events. To round out the leadership team we need leaders in: Youth Spiritual Gifts, Young Adult (college), and Prayer Partners. You need faith, a desire for our youth to have faith, flexibility to work in an uncharted way in team ministry.  

Prayer Shawl Ministry Meeting

September 12 @ 6:00 p.m. in the 501 building.  We meet monthly the second Monday of each month during the school year.  Bring your project and join us.  If you have questions, please call Donna Gibbons (627-3462).

SUNDAYS AND SEASONS 2005

The more we actually sing and attend to in worship, the more we fall in love with the God whose reign we celebrate and the more thoroughly we are formed in kingdom habits and manners.                                             Marva J. Dawn

As you prayerfully identify and review your own spiritual gifts this summer—and how you might joyfully share them with the Immanuel congregation in the upcoming year—I ask that you consider joining your voice with a zany group of loving people who meet at 7:15 p.m. on Thursday evenings to “sing and attend to in worship”. While reading music is not a requirement, it is helpful (and our current readers will help you to read).  While carrying a tune in a bucket is most helpful, most people can learn to carry a tune in a bucket (and our current bucket haulers will help you).  While consistent attendance on Thursday evenings is helpful, we understand family commitments, school commitments, job commitments, and infinitum. We adjust. We sing twice a month at the 10:30 a.m. worship—more during Advent/Christmas/Easter—and try to present one cantata or spiritual concert during the church year. We learn new hymn tunes and liturgies to assist with introduction to congregational worship and provide many of the song leaders on Sunday mornings.

We consider ourselves to be one of Immanuel’s small group ministries as we attempt through song to make the very means of grace more accessible to the people gathered in worship and as we gather for prayer circle after we sing on Thursday evenings and after rehearsal on Sunday mornings. We struggle with our musical literature as we attempt to understand its insights into God’s greatness and love and celebrate through laughter our human frailties in the learning of it. We are eclectic in what we sing and we embrace all God’s children from 8^th grade up…

We invite you to check us out. Come sing with us a couple of times. (Our first gathering meeting is Thursday, September 1st, in the Church basement.) See and “hear” if you think this is where you are being called to find out what comes to expression when God’s people gather in song and corporate worship.

My goal as Choir Director this year is to add 1-2 voices to each section—soprano, alto, tenor, bass. This is such a good year to add your voice to ours—to help us join others to bring a sense of renewed worship to this congregation. It is going to be an exciting year…one full of hope and promise as we gather, prepare, and serve our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Please let me know what you decide.

Ellen McKenzie,
Choir Director
517.627.6202

YOUTH NEWS:

HIGH SCHOOL LUTHERAN YOUTH ORGANIZATION

Meeting September 18 @ 6 p.m.
Games, Bible study, business, food.   Lisa and Dan are looking forward to welcoming you. Friends are welcome.

THE GATHERING 2005

Tuesday, December 27 through Friday, December 30, 2005 at the Holiday Inn South in Lansing

Theme: "E³: Empower, Equip, Energize"

The cost is $125.00 To attend, send a non-refundable deposit of $75.00 to the church office by September 6th.

2006 ELCA Youth Gathering
July 12 – 16, 2006
San Antonio, Texas
To register call the church office (627.6310) by September 14.  For more information visit: http://www.elca.org/gathering/home.html

NOTES:

THANK YOU

We would like to thank everyone who helped with Immanuel’s part of the Island Art Fair.  We had some very nice displays.  We hope that next year we can get lots more.  So many in the Immanuel family have talents and gifts to share with others. 

• Thank you to all who worked on Saturday.  Special thanks to Emily Zipple and Redmond Riggs for playing the piano.  It was great.

• Thanks Bill for the use of the display unit.  Things would not be the same without it.

• Thanks to Cindy and the Cub Scouts.  Hope you had a good time. 

• Thank you to the Grand Ledge Lionesses for the A&W Hot Dog Stand.

Finally, the winner of Best of Show was Van Powis for Hummingbird painting.

The Outreach Committee

FROM THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT'S DESK:

A new season shortly will be upon us, and a great many things will be renewed.  An annual sign of the season is Rally Day which is being held on September 11^th this year.   This is the start of our new year for Sunday School classes for both youth and adult. 

I hope you will view this as an opportunity to consider how you are serving in the church.  So many people already find time and energy to contribute to our church family and community, but there is always room for more.  For those already serving, this may be a chance to “move on” to a new ministry.  Perhaps you have a calling to do something we haven't done in the past, but where you feel you can best serve.  I encourage you to let someone know – Pr. Rick, a member of Council, a member of any standing committee, or any one of the staff.  Council is looking for ways to encourage participation, build excitement, and build the mission of the church.

Council has been working very hard to align the organization of the church to support building the mission.  Preliminary information about the proposed changes was posted in May in the entryway and hand-outs were available during coffee hour.  Council has continued refining the details and will be making a formal presentation to the congregation prior to the annual meeting in November. 

In a Manger letter early this year, Pr. Rick described the proposed organizational changes as re-arranging the furniture  in a room.  I feel that this is a very apt description as we are not going to stop doing anything we now do, rather we hope to empower people to individually take ownership for a small slice of the pie.  There are tasks that require many people, but so much good can be accomplished by one or two working together on activities that are especially meaningful to them.

If you would like to provide any input to council on the work that is being done, join us at our monthly meetings.  The date and time are printed in the bulletin, newsletter, or you can call the church office.  Our next meeting will be Monday, September 12 at 7:00 pm.  I hope to see you there.

CELEBRATIONS:
SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYS

SEPTEMBER ANNIVERSARIES

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