The Messenger NOVEMBER November 4. Commitment Sunday November 11. November 21-6:00 p.m. At Bethel Lutheran Church With Pie Social to follow

Transcription

1 The Messenger Monthly news for Emmanuel Lutheran Church - Menominee, Michigan NOVEMBER 2018 November 4 Commitment Sunday November 11 November 25 November 21-6:00 p.m. At Bethel Lutheran Church With Pie Social to follow

2 This month s Messenger is sponsored by TEST 2 JOHN S TAXIDERMY State and Federal Licensed since 1960 Quality is our specialty Fish Mammals Birds Big Game Heads John Helfert Thank you, John, for sponsoring the Messenger Emmanuel members who own or operate their own business or members who would like to recognize a significant event in their lives are invited to sponsor the Messenger. Full sponsorship of the Messenger is $100. This covers a portion of the cost of mailing the Messenger each month.

3 from the pastor Brothers and Sisters in Christ; On September 30th, Emmanuel participated in the ELCA Funds for Young Leaders offering. The purpose of this offering was to raise money to offset costs for those who are enrolling into seminary to prepare themselves as leaders in the church. Your response was awesome - $564 was raised and sent to the Synod Office to be joined with other monies in giving our future leaders in the church a head start in their seminary careers. But what also transpired on this particular Sunday was a Pastor Appreciation event in which 113 Thank You cards were handed to me by Deb Villas prior to our worship services. To say that I was humbled was an understatement of enormous proportions. You could have knocked me over with a feather when I received those cards (and, based on my girth, that s saying a lot!). I have read each one of them over and your words, encouragement, messages and invitations remind me why I am so blessed to call Emmanuel my home. Thank you. It feels so wonderful to say thank you as we transition into this season of thanks in our nation, as well as in our church. For the past two months our sanctuary has been ordained with two banners which celebrate what God provides with the words of Psalm 107:1 O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever. On Sunday, November 4th, All Saints Sunday, we not only recognize those saints who have been born into their eternal homes during the past year, but also give thanks for their lives of faithfulness and passing along that faith to those of us who yet carry out the ongoing work of God s kingdom. On Tuesday, November 6th we have the opportunity to go to the polls and to cast our ballots for those who we want to represent us on local, state, and national levels. We give thanks because there are so many places around the world where citizens don t have this opportunity. On Sunday, November 11th, we celebrate Veterans Day, and will do so in the church as well, taking time to recognize those among us who have so selflessly given of their selves.

4 Thank you veterans; your commitment to a greater cause has not gone unnoticed. On that same Sunday, November 11th, we collect our 2019 Stewardship pledges, our theme being, God s Gift to Me, My Gift to God. As a congregation we give thanks for the continuing work of the church the following Sunday, November 18th as we announce our pledge total. Lastly, on November 22nd, Thanksgiving Day, we give thanks for abundance that we have and share. The church will give thanks in worship when we join with our brothers and sisters down the street at Bethel Lutheran on Thanksgiving Eve, November 21st. Our church certainly has much to give thanks for! My encouragement for you all in the coming weeks is to be intentionally mindful of these various opportunities to give thanks for what God has so graciously and generously provided for us. For each one of these days that I have listed, as well as every day that God gives you breath and sustenance, live in the moment and allow the thanksgiving to wash over you. Because, unfortunately, as our culture dictates, before the Thanksgiving turkey settles, the big Christmas machine will already be moving full steam ahead and these moments for giving thanks may be more difficult to come by as we get swept up into it. I pray every one of you has a most blessed November, that deer hunters may be safe and bounteous, that those traveling will arrive at their destinations without incident, and that your turkeys may be filling and our fellowship more so. Be reminded that God is present in it all, for without God s generosity, we would have nothing to give thanks for. Thanks be to a God who provides, and does so always; never giving too little, never giving too late. In Christ, Pastor Mark

5 Youth and Family Ministry From the Director: Patti Treptow This time of year brings our focus to giving thanks and serving others. As we celebrate Thanksgiving and give thanks to God for all we receive, we also think of ways we can give to each other. In the November issue of Parenting Christian Kids we learn the importance of making acts of serving others a family affair. The main article of this newsletter points out that when we teach children to serve, we re also teaching them to become servants for life.kids who serve, become adults who serve. Fitting big service events into busy family schedules isn t always possible. The good news is that not every service project must be a large affair. The truth is, Jesus loves and honors service of every size. As we model the giving of aid and encouragement in our homes and in the community, children learn that service is a way of life, not necessarily just a single event. The November Parenting Christian Kids has a wonderful list of service ideas you can do with your family along with the service activities we offer here at Emmanuel. Read through this month s Messenger for fun ways you can get involved and serve others! 3 rd Grade Bible Presentation Pastor Mark and Sunday School teacher, Margaret Stewart present the 3 rd grade class with their Bibles on Sunday, October 14 th during the 10:00 a.m. worship service. Thank you congregation for your gift of Bibles for our children! Those receiving Bibles were: Brody Daigneau, Brayden Daigneau, Oliver Jones, David Machalk, Madi Christiansen, and Mylie Slawinski. Missing from the photo are: Kaden Hoppe and Lilli Menza.

6 Sunday School Children s Christmas Program Sunday, December 16th during the 10:00 a.m. worship service Program Dress Rehearsal and Christmas Party Saturday, December 15 th, 9:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. Program practices will begin on Sunday November 25 th during the last part of the Sunday School class time. Because we have limited practice time, it is important to have your child at Sunday school as much as possible. If you know that your child will not be able to participate in the Christmas Program on December 16 th, please let Patti Treptow know as soon as possible so a speaking role is not given to your child. This year, the Youth Committee/Little Lutherans will be providing the Christmas party that immediately follows the children s program dress rehearsal on December 15 th. The party will be from 11:30-1:00 p.m. This allows parents free time from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. to get those holiday chores accomplished! Children will enjoy pizza, cookies, and beverages. They will also make Christmas ornaments and receive a gift from the congregation.

7 Upcoming Classes November 4 th and December 2 nd. 4:00-6:00 p.m. Leaf Raking Sunday, November 4 th 11:30 a.m. 2:00 p.m. confirmation students will be raking the leaves of our members who need assistance. A lunch will be provided before we head out. Youth should bring a rake, gloves, and dress weather appropriate. Parents who can help drive and chaperone are needed please let Patti Treptow know if you can help. Reminder to confirmation students - this activity will count toward your community service requirement for confirmation. Baking for the Church bake sale Confirmation students will join with our members of the Youth Advisory Council to bake cookies and other yummy treats on Saturday, December 8 th, 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon. A sign-up sheet will be handed out during confirmation class. Parents are encouraged to help! Emmanuel's High School Youth! Emmanuel s Youth Advisory Council GLOW invites you to a bonfire party to kick off our fall program year. When: Sunday, November 18th Time: 6:00 8:00 p.m. Where: At the home of Olivia Engman N1753 County Road BB, Marinette Please RSVP to Patti Treptow at the church office. GLOW Youth Advisory Council is open to all of Emmanuel s high school youth and is a great way to grow in faith and engage in fun and meaningful activities. Please contact Youth Council Representative Anna Magrane or Patti Treptow at the church office for more information.

8 Rite of Confirmation Our 2018 confirmands who were instructed in the Word of God and the teachings of the Lutheran Church affirmed their baptism on Reformation Sunday, October 28 th during the 10:00 a.m. worship service. Congratulations Confirmands! This year s confirmands are (back row, left to right) Laura Magrane, Aidan Bellisle, Mason Heckel, Molly Knutson, Dylan Ziemke, Rylee Wickstrom, Layla Weissgerber, (front row, left to right) Kade Lesperance, Seth Johnson, Nick Kriedeman, Collin Engman, Alex Engman, and Max Heckel.

9 FOR ALL THE SAINTS WHO FROM THEIR LABORS REST... Sunday, November 4th, is All Saints Sunday in the church. On this festival day we remember Emmanuel s members who during the past year have died to Christ in the waters of baptism and those who have risen to new life eternal with Christ. If you would like to add a loved one s name, in addition to Emmanuel s members, to this list of those to be remembered, please contact the church office this week. As their names are read, a bell will toll in their memory. Larry Eatherton / Leona Webber / Ellen Raygo / Nathalie LaPlante / Carol Klumb / Shirley Pedersen / William Swanson / Scott Klitzke / Wayne Louis /

10 Emmanuel's Outreach Projects Christmas Food Baskets The collection of food and non-food items for the Christmas food boxes will take place November 18 th through December 16 th. The donated items will be given to individuals and families in our community who are in need. This gift will help bring some joy and hope to them at Christmas. Donated goods may be placed in the marked area in the narthex. Food items needed include canned meats (tuna and chicken), canned dinners, complete meal foods like spaghetti sauce with meat, peanut butter, soups, canned fruits and vegetables, pasta and rice including boxed meals, pancake mixes and syrup, cereal, and juices. Please no expired foods we cannot include them in the food boxes. Non-food items needed include toothbrushes, deodorant, soap and shampoo, paper towels, toilet tissue, dish soap, laundry soap, and general cleaning supplies. Please note when buying in bulk, items must be individually wrapped. Local Tree of Love Emmanuel's local Tree of Love will be located in the narthex from November 18 th through December 16 th. The Rainbow House, Haven of Hope, and Abundant Life Homeless Shelter will provide us with information about individuals and families in need of support from our community. If you wish to purchase a gift to help make someone s holiday brighter, take a tag from the tree and sign up on the sheet provided. Please return wrapped gifts to the church office by December 16 th.

11 Christmas Bake Sale.. We Need Your Help! Our annual Christmas bake sale will be held on Sunday, December 9 th between worship services. Our youth will be baking cookies on Saturday, December 8 th to sell, but we need your help to make this sale a success! Our youth will be baking 24 dozen cookies and we are asking the congregation to match or exceed that amount. If each person could bake one or two dozen cookies or baked items, we will easily meet our goal. Proceeds from the bake sale go to support the Christmas food basket project. Please bring your baked goods for the bake sale to the fellowship hall on Saturday, December 8 th by 11:00 a.m. Salvation Army Bell Ringing! Saturday, December 1 st, 12:00 noon 3:00 p.m. Emmanuel will be ringing bells for Salvation Army. We are seeking members of all ages to sign up for a shift of ringing and maybe even some singing! A sign-up sheet will be made available in the narthex where you can sign up for one hour shifts or more. Let s make it a great turnout and show our community Emmanuel cares! Thank you! to everyone who donated for this year s Coats for Kids drive. Your response was tremendous! You have made a warm and wonderful difference for the children in need in our community. Celebrate Community Day! Sunday, November 18 th Menominee Marina 11:00 a.m. 3:00 p.m. Come celebrate our community and learn more about what our local organizations are doing. Along with fun activities for the entire family, non-profit organizations, churches, and schools will provide information on their programs and projects in booths that will be inside a large heated tent. Emmanuel will be participating. We are hoping that you will come and enjoy this fun community event and help us by manning our booth. We will have handouts and a photo board to help you tell Emmanuel s story. Please sign up in the narthex if you are interested in working the booth. We are asking for only ½ hour of your time. You may, of course, sign up for more. If you have questions, please see Patti Treptow.

12 Emmanuel Lutheran Church Little Lutherans will be participating in the 10 th Annual Downtown Parade When: Friday, November 16 th, 2018 Where: Time: Who: Line up will be on 7 th street & we will walk to the front steps of Spies Public Library 5:15pm (line-up) parade at 6pm PreK - 6 th Graders There will be a sign-in sheet at the lineup area for your child and a sign-out sheet at the library when the parade is done. You are welcome to walk in the parade with your child. You are invited stay to enjoy free hot chocolate and/or cider, dancing and singing performances, the giving of the First gift of Christmas, and the lighting of Tree Ceremony. Please dress your child for the weather. Any costume we may wear will go over their coats/hats. Sign-up in the narthex so we know how many children will be participating.

13 OUR EMMANUEL Family CALLED HOME BY God... The funeral for William Swanson, who was called to his eternal home on September 29, was held at Emmanuel on October 5. Our sympathy to his wife, Marilyn, and children Terry Wickman and Kristin Easter and their families. The funeral for Scott Klitzke, who was called to his eternal home on October 8, was held at Emmanuel on October 11. Our sympathy to his wife, Kelly, and children, Tyler Klitzke, Mandi Thoune and Amber Berman and their families. We also want to extend our sympathy to Scott s parents, Warren and Mary Ann Klitzke, and brother, Randy, and sisters, Wendi Nolde and Sally Nielsen-Conklin. The funeral for Wayne Louis, who was called to his eternal home on October 12, was held at Emmanuel on October 17. Our sympathy to his wife, Carol, and children, Terri Sue Krause, Kellie Hartman, Mike Louis and Gary Louis, and their families MARRIAGE... Ken Landree and Lori Ceesay were united in marriage on October 19. BAPTIZED... Wyatt Michael Schmidt was claimed in the waters of baptism at Emmanuel on Saturday, October 20 th. Wyatt s parents are Cody & Jessica, and his sponsors, Lacy Schmidt and Jacob Kaster. Thank you to the members of Emmanuel Isabel Haulotte would like to thank everyone who sent cards while she was in the hospital and nursing home. To my fellow members of Emmanuel. I would like to thank you all for your kind thoughts and prayers. Thanks to you, I am now home and on my way to recovery. Hearing from so many of you really warms my heart and gives me strength. Thank you so much! Bonnie Jackson

14 STEWARDSHIP MESSAGE The following is a copy of Stewardship Committee member Cookie Kramer s 2018 Kick-off temple talk during church services on September 23. We have received many comments from members of the congregation about how Cookie s speech has touched them, how meaningful and inspirational it was to them. We thought we would share it here for those that might have missed it that day. Today is Sunday, September 23, I have the privilege and honor to introduce to you our 2018 Fall Stewardship message to prepare for our lives in Christ in The Stewardship Committee selected a theme called God's Gift to me... my gift to God. With this theme there is a picture of a treasure chest placed securely in the hands of God, one hand on top one on the bottom of the treasure chest. The Bible verse is Matthew 10:8 - Freely you have received, freely give. Throughout the next few months, we will hear from others about their walks with God. We will have a church committee information Sunday, a packet distribution Sunday, a commitment Sunday, and a Celebration Sunday. For a moment now, I'd like to flash back to a horrible tragic date that I have talked about a lot, March 9, 1979 the day my husband died in a car accident. I had a 2 and half year-old daughter, Kelly, and I was about 2 months pregnant. This tragic day touched the lives of many people in our family, especially my mother-in-law, June Kramer. Because of my pregnancy, I held back a lot of grief to keep from losing my baby, but my mother-in-law, June, did not. She lost her way and became very angry with God. My pregnancy went well and I was expected to have my baby in October. Let's forward to Sunday, September 23, Pastor Al Beyer, our associate Pastor, was giving a sermon that day about my mother-in-law and how her anger toward God for taking her son was destroying her life. I have a copy of Pastor Beyer's sermon and I'd like to read just a short part of the sermon to you. He starts out his sermon with a prophesy about not hearing or seeing God and how God's word comes to us, in reference to my mother-inlaw's experience. After the part about her, this is what Pastor Beyer wrote: Less than a year ago a young man from our congregation was killed in a tragic auto accident. Now, months later, what was once a complete family is now a young widow, a young daughter and a child soon to be born.

15 At that moment, that he said those words, September 23, 1979, I was at the hospital giving birth to my son, Michael. Michael was born at 9:34 that Sunday morning when Pastor Beyer was preaching this sermon. Throughout childhood, confirmation, High School graduation, College graduation and a Master s degree in History, through ups and downs of life, Michael has been carried in God's hands every day, just as he freely received his Gift of life in Today is his 39 th birthday. The Flowers (on the alter) are for him. He is my treasure. He is a gift from God, freely received. Think about it for a moment... do you have a treasure? Do you have a gift from God freely received? Let's keep these questions and answers in our minds as we journey together on our Stewardship path, freely receiving and freely giving. Thank you. Commitment Sunday is November 11. We will receive the pledge responses during worship at each service. We invite you to prayerfully consider your 2019 Plan for Giving, and deepen your relationship with God. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8 ADULT CHRISTIAN EDUCATION WEDNESDAY MORNING MEN S GROUP Join us each Wednesday, 7:30 a.m., at the Serving Spoon for a time of fellowship with friends, sharing stories and enjoying a cup of coffee. Bring a friend! WOMEN S MINISTRIES The Sarah Circle will meet on Tuesday, November 13 at 1:00 p.m. hosted by Ivon Butman Seeking Enlightenment Group will be meeting on Thursday, November 15, at 6:30pm. It is a time of sharing and encouraging each other on our Christian journey, contact Robin Gustafson at for location details.

16 SUNDAY MORNINGS AT EMMANUEL Worship at 8:00 & 10:00am Nursery care provided at 10:00am Sunday School at 10:00am CONTACT US: Phone: (906) Fax: (906) Council President, Debbie Villas or Visit us on the Web at Follow us on Facebook at Emmanuel Lutheran Church Menominee Michigan ELCA STAFF: Pastor The Rev. Mark Laatsch - Cell Phone: Director of Youth & Family Ministry Mrs. Patti Treptow Church Secretary Mrs. Judy Raygo Custodian- inside Mrs. Carol Parrish Custodian outside Mr. Lee Parrish We are a congregation of the Northern Great Lakes Synod Evangelical Lutheran Church in America