Immanuel Newsletter GOD S WORK OUR HANDS

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1 SEPTEMBER 2018 IMMANUEL EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH Connecting people with God and with other people to make a difference! WORTHINGTON ROAD PHILADELPHIA, PA Phone: Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Philadelphia, PA Permit No RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Immanuel Newsletter GOD S WORK OUR HANDS TIME-SENSITIVE MATERIAL Table of Contents CONNECTING WITH GOD From Pastor Hahn Pg. 3 Message from Bishop Davenport Pg. 4 Bishop Davenport Installation Pg. 5 New Member Service Pg. 5 Bible Study Pg. 5 A Very Special Anniversary Pg. 6 New Worship Schedule Pg. 7 CONNECTING WITH OTHER PEOPLE Birthdays Pg. 8 Steuben Parade Pg. 8 MOSES Pg. 9 Immanuel German School Pg. 9 German Circle Pg. 9 Yard Sale Pg. 9 MAKING A DIFFERENCE Thank You Pg. 10 God s Work. Our Hands. Pg. 10 Project Linus Pg. 10 PPH Thank You Letter Pg. 11 Calendar Pg. 12 COME JOIN US! September is a month filled with special events. Sunday, September 2, 2018 Services celebrating our labors. Sunday, September 9, 2018 God s work. Our hands. Sunday New Member Sunday Thursday, September 13, 2018 The movie MOSES Saturday, September 29, 2018 Community Yard Sale EVERYONE IS WELCOME!

2 IMMANUEL NEWSLETTER Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church Worthington Road, Philadelphia, PA Telephone: FAX: Websites: and Facebook: Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church, Philadelphia Ministers: Members and Friends of the Congregation Pastor: Rev. Norbert F. Hahn, Ph.D Secretary: Diane Burgess Council President: Barbara Hannon CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS, MEETING TIMES, LEADERS Bible Study Wednesdays 10:00 AM, Pastor Hahn Choir As needed Dr. James M. Clements Congregation Council 3 rd Monday Barbara Hannon Christian Event Team 1 ST Tuesday Eileen Szentjobi Finance Team 4 th Tuesday David W. Cook Frauenverein 3 rd Wednesday 12:00 Noon Marianne Haug German Circle/Deutscher Kreis 1 st Sunday Ruth Muggler Girl Scouts Wednesdays Nancy Smith Hand Bell Choir As needed Dr. James M. Clements Immanuel German School Saturdays Dr. Del Hausman Ladies Guild 2 nd Tuesday Barbara Hannon Member Care Team 1 ST Tuesday 10:00 AM Judy Friedman Mutual Ministry Team TBA John Scholtz Social Ministry Team 3rd Wednesday 12:30 PM Michele Cook Sunday School Sundays Eileen Szentjobi Women s Book Club TBA Judy Friedman Worship Planning Team 2nd Tuesday 10:00 AM Pastor Hahn Youth Group TBA Chris Blankenhorn and Eileen Szentjobi NEWSLETTER EDITORAL STAFF Diane Burgess David W. Cook Pastor Norbert F. Hahn Marianne Haug Immanuel Church needs your help in ensuring its future ministry. Please include the church in your will. You may want to at least tithe (give 10%) of your estate to the Lord. Remember to include the church s name and address along with the amount of your bequest. Should you wish, Pastor Hahn will provide you with the name of a caring and capable lawyer who can assist you. Page 2

3 From Pastor Hahn My dear church family: So much good stuff has happened over the summer at Immanuel and so much more good stuff is coming your way in September that I can only make brief comments: The parsonage renovations are completed. (Thanks, Property Team!. An open house was held for the congregation. An agent was hired to list and rent out the house. Friends of our church family were invited to a special Meet and Eat event, and 14 friends participated. (Photo on page 8.) Another one will be held on September 23 for those who missed the first one. (Thanks, Member Care Team!) David Derr and I hand-delivered invitations to 100 of Immanuel s neighbors. Seven neighbors responded and attended a Neighbor Appreciation Dinner. (Thanks, Christian Events Team! Thanks, David!) The Search Team looking for a new organist and a new music director/developer finished position descriptions and placed ads. A review of candidates is underway. (Thanks, Search Team!) The Feed our hungry neighbor garden was tended and yielded vegetables for Aid for Friends. (Thanks, gardeners!) More on page 10. Almost 400 grocery items and many items for the Protestant Home and the Seafarers Mission were given by the members and friends of our church family. Two extra-ordinary worship experiences are planned for September: Labor Day Sunday and Gods Work. Our Hands. Sunday. Also, one more Communion Sunday. (Thanks, Worship Team! Thanks, Social Ministry Team!) More on pages 7 and 10. You know it s good for you: Bible studies are offered on Wednesdays at 10 AM and 7 PM starting on September 12. More on page 5. A beer-tasting event called Hops on the Hill for members and friends of Immanuel will take place on Saturday, September 15. (Thanks, Christian Events Team!) Moses the Movie. Join others from the congregation for a viewing of this movie. See page 9 for details. (Thanks, Member Care Team!) Three estate gifts were given to Immanuel ministries by the late George Shuster who remembered Immanuel s work in his Last Will and Testament. (Thanks, George!) This is something all of us can do as well! A community yard sale will be held on the Immanuel church campus on Saturday, September 29. More on page 9. (Thanks, Christian Events Team.) Coffee and treats were and will be available during the fellowship hour on nearly all Sundays. (Thanks, Rosi and all volunteers!) The Congregation Council had a great planning retreat in August! (Thanks, Council!) In Christ, Pastor Hahn Page 3

4 August 1, 2018 A Welcome Message from Bishop Patricia A. Davenport Greetings, Beloved. Grace and peace to you in the name of the One who can do all things but fail, Jesus the Christ! Let me say with a grateful heart: I am honored to accept your call to shepherd Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod in her quest to do God s work through our hands. Come, Holy Spirit was our assembly theme. I know the Holy Spirit is moving across our synod. I sensed the movement at our assembly in response to the scripture, Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1, KJV). You shared your faith stories; you told me how God is drawing you into a deeper relationship with Jesus causing you to act differently towards others. I felt the energy, the excitement, the power as our 500 young people returned from our national youth gathering in Houston. They came home with a hunger and a thirst to do more to serve others in their communities. I get chills when I think of the number of people who are praying in the Spirit with and for us that our Synod might be a stone cast upon the water that causes a ripple effect, not just in the ELCA but in our five-county area and throughout the nation. We truly can do more together than we can alone, through our relationship with God that is reflected in our relationship with others. We are Marked with the cross of Christ forever, we are claimed, gathered and sent for the sake of the world. Beloved, we make a difference. I am so excited to work with our rostered ministers, our lay leaders, and our Synod s mission partners to help build the kingdom of God in our midst. Yes, there is much we can do together. It starts with prayer. I promise to pray for you, and I ask you to pray for me, the Office of the Bishop, our synod organization and our ministry partners. Now, please join me in a word of prayer. Good and gracious God, we come to your throne of grace this day, a day to rejoice and be glad. Glad for new beginnings as we embark on this journey of kingdom building. Continually open our hearts to your guidance, let us speak hope to those in despair, be a light to those in darkness, and servants to those in need. Let us celebrate with those who celebrate. So, Lord, your children simply ask in the name of Jesus, that you bless us that we might be a blessing to all those who cross our paths. In the name of The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen! Yours in Christ, The Rev. Patricia A. Davenport, Bishop Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America 7241 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA bishop@sepa.org Page 4

5 Bishop Davenport s welcome message is available in video format at If you are receiving this newsletter in electronic format, just click on the link above. If you are receiving the paper copy you can access the video thru our website Celebrating our labor even if we are retired: A Special Service Labor Day Sunday, September 2, 2018 Whether you are employed, retired, a student, or a stay-at-home mom/dad, you are doing stuff. You are busy, engaged, dedicated. You work. You labor. On Labor Day Sunday, we want to recognize and bless your labors with a special ceremony and blessing. Please bring an item to worship that represents a typical activity of yours during the week. In the past, people have brought ID badges, vacuum cleaners, computer keyboards, tools, pots, books, and more. Invite a friend, neighbor, colleague or family member. September 9 is New Member Sunday Several friends of our congregation have expressed a desire to formally unite with our church family. We will welcome them on September 9 at the combined worship service at 10:30 AM. Participate in Bible Study: (You Know It s Good for You!) Wednesdays, 10 AM or 7 PM (start September 12) If you are, or know someone who is, interested in joining our church family, please let the church office know: or office@immanuelphilly.org No prior knowledge is required. You don t have to answer or even speak if you just want to come and listen! To save your spot, please register by contacting the church office by noon on September 11: or office@immanuelphilly.org. Page 5

6 Ein ganz besonderer Feiertag Der Ökumenische Rat der Kirchen (ÖRK) erinnerte am 23. August mit einem Festgottesdienst in Amsterdam an seine Gründung vor 70 Jahren Der ÖRK ist eine Gemeinschaft aus 350 Mitgliedskirchen, die insgesamt mehr als eine halbe Milliarde Christen zählt. Der Ökumenische Rat der Kirchen ist der größte Dachverband der nichtkatholischen Christenheit. ÖRK-Mitgliedskirchen finden sich in allen Regionen der Welt. Zu ihnen zählen die Mehrzahl der orthodoxen Kirchen, alt-katholische, anglikanische, baptistische, evangelikale, lutherische, mennonitische, methodistische, reformierte und unabhängige Freikirchen sowie einige Pfingstkirchen. Die römisch-katholische Kirche, die an die 1,4 Milliarden Gläubigen vereint, ist nicht Mitglied. Vertreter des Vatikan arbeiten jedoch seit Ende der 1960er Jahre in wichtigen ÖRK-Gremien mit. Das Jubiläum des ÖRK sei eine Gelegenheit, auf die Erfolge der letzten 70 Jahre zurückzuschauen, die wir mit unserem Bemühen um die Einheit der Christenheit und ökumenische Aktionen erreicht haben, teilte der Weltkirchenrat mit. Zugleich müsse sich die Gemeinschaft der Kirchen den vor uns liegenden Herausforderungen stellen und Gottes Ruf nach Einheit, Mission, Gerechtigkeit und Frieden folgen. Die Veranstaltung war Teil einer Reihe von Jubiläumsfeierlichkeiten, die während des gesamten Jahres an verschiedenen Orten stattfinden. A Very Special Anniversary On August 23, the Ecumenical Council of Churches (ECC) held a special celebration worship service to commemorate its founding 70 years ago in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. More than 350 member churches and more than half a billion Christians belong to the ECC. It is the largest umbrella organization of Christians who do not belong to the Roman Catholic Church. Member churches of the ECC can be found all over the world. Member churches include the majority of the Orthodox churches, the Old Catholic, Anglican, Baptist, Evangelical, Lutheran, Mennonite, Methodist, Reformed and Independent as well as some Pentecostal churches. The Roman Catholic Church, with its 1.4 billion members, is not a member church. However, since the End of 1960s, representatives of the Vatican have been participating in all important ECC bodies and committees. According to the World Council of Churches (WCC), the anniversary of the ECC is an opportunity to lift up the successes in our striving for Christian unity and of our ecumenical efforts over the past 70 years. At the same time, the community of churches must address the challenges that remain and obey God s Call for unity, mission, justice and peace. The event was part of a series of anniversary celebrations which are taking place throughout the anniversary year in various locations. (Source: ekd.de) (Quelle: EKD.de) Page 6

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8 Karl-Heinz Vollrath September 1 Margot Purucker September 15 Vincent Carpino September 2 Sarah Luseni September 16 Hilda Haug September 4 Georgann Cothren September 17 Liana Jones September 6 Myrna Pankowitz September 17 Scott Jaudas September 7 Christina Kosempel September 18 Irmhild Terzija September 8 David W. Cook September 19 Margot Wilhelm September 10 Derek Ploucher September 19 Floyd Guy September 11 Savannah Vetter September 19 Sieglinde Jakymiw September 11 Denise Young September 19 Chris Cartledge September 12 Peter Garden September 20 Ralph Dornauer September 12 Grete Jess September 20 Patrick Dauber September 13 Ursula Karnas September 20 Emil Sim September 13 Regina Marsh September 20 Anna Martin September 14 Nicole Blankenhorn September 21 Ann Vetter September 14 Christopher Apple September 23 Christopher Ojeda September 14 Annette Rowles September 29 If your birthday is not listed here, please let us know so we can update our records. CAUGHT DOING MINISTRY. MEET AND EAT At a "Meet and Eat" event for friends of Immanuel in early August, a good time was had by all. Another event will be held in September. Recently Sylvia Hansen, Barbara Hannon, and Christine Blankenhorn were spotted cleaning out the Fellowship Hall. STEUBEN PARADE Please come out and support our German - American community, on Sunday, September 30, as organizations march down Huntingdon Pike beginning at 1:00 PM. Immanuel German School and Immanuel Church will be participating. For additional information, contact Barbara Hannon. Page 8

9 MOSES The epic musical drama MOSES from Sight & Sound Theatres comes to cinemas nationwide September 13 and 15 through Fathom Events. Filmed in front of a live audience, the original stage production was seen by nearly two million people at Sight & Sound's theaters in Lancaster, PA and Branson, MO. The Member Care Team is planning to attend the movie on Thursday, September 13 at 6:30 PM. at the AMC Theatre at Neshaminy Mall. Seating is limited. If you are interested, please let Judy Friedman know as soon as possible, no later than Sunday, September 9 th. We plan to meet at the church and carpool. GERMAN CIRCLE Dear Members of the German Circle, It is time again for our September meeting, which will be on the 9th at. I hope you all had a very nice summer. We will discuss a date for the Sauerkraut Supper. I hope you all will come out to this meeting. Ruth Muggler This event will be held on Saturday, September 29th, RAIN OR SHINE, from 9:00 AM 2:00 PM. Why not stop in to check out our treasures? Plenty of parking. No early birds, please! We are looking for vendors! Have things that you want to sell? Reservations and payment are required PRIOR to the event. Save your spot! $10.00 donation per 2 parking lot spaces. Must supply your own table, chairs and/or canopy. Vendor set up begins at 7:30 AM. All proceeds will be donated to the victims of the California fires and matched dollar for dollar by Thrivent Financial. Free coffee! Other food available for purchase. Please contact Chris at , no later than September 21 for vendor information. Page 9 IMMANUEL GERMAN SCHOOL School starts on September 8. It's not too late to register and no one is too old to learn or brush up on his or her language. Dr. Hausman thought folks might be interested in this testimonial we received from an IGS family who moved to Switzerland: Lieber Dr Hausman Unsere Familie wohnt seit Februar in der Schweiz und ich muss Ihnen und der IGS vielmal danken! (I'm switching to English now, trying not to feel guilty about it, since I speak and work in German all day-everyday now!) We are all settling into Bern, Switzerland so nicely. Our two daughters are so happy here. After two weeks in the local Swiss school, my 10 year old proclaimed " I'm never going back!" My younger daughter, with her complex medical needs, is completely cared for. I could not be happier with the quality of life here and the people. We are totally integrated with the community, speaking only German and haven't met another American yet! I wanted to send a note of thanks, because without IGS I don't know if I would have had the confidence to make such a big move. I always looked forward to Saturday mornings, being surrounded with such nice, like-minded people. It is really such a wonderful school. I'd go so far as saying life-changing for our family. Thanks to Andy Baker for being welcoming, to Josie Dunn for being my Swiss mentor, and to Ed for giving me the confidence to speak. Also thanks to Frau DeMarco for setting Kate up for success when she started school here. "Mit Deutsch ist alles möglich!" noch einmal vielen Dank Freundliche Grüsse [Sender's name omitted.]

10 Thank You Thanks to everyone for their generous support of our many projects. June donations to PPH Body lotion and Moisturizer 15 Powder 7 Bath soap 103 Toothpaste 21 Toothbrushes 70 Shampoo 21 Conditioner 7 Deodorant 35 Tissues 26 July donations to Somerton Food Bank A total of 395 items (and 7 cucumbers from the Szentjobi garden) were collected over five Sundays and delivered each week. Aid for Friends 19 Soups made by Christel Birgel 5 Chili made by Christel Birgel 25 Dinners made by Christel Birgel 49 Breakfast Bags made by Bible Study Group SOCIAL MINISTRY God s work. Our hands. Sunday Save the date! God s work. Our hands. Sunday is September 9. This day is an opportunity to celebrate who we are as Lutherans a church that loves and cares for their neighbors. Our focus is on feeding the hungry around us. There will be several activity stations from which to choose. We will be making meals for Aid for Friends breakfast bags, soups, and dinners. You may also choose to write a letter to your Senator and Representative encouraging them to support programs that reduce hunger and poverty in our country and the world. Each station will have a leader to teach and assist you. We hope you will be inspired to continue with these activities beyond just this Sunday. Our service activities will begin after a combined worship service. All supplies will be provided through a grant from Thrivent Financial. Feed Our Hungry Neighbors Garden As of August 22, we have picked: Basil, sage, rosemary, oregano and parsley 13 peppers 23 quart bags and 10 ½ pounds of green beans All the produce has been shared with Aid for Friends. Look for the garden on Immanuel s website: and select MAKE A DIFFERENCE THE GARDEN THE 2018 GARDEN Upcoming Event Saturday, October 27 th -1:00 PM If you would like to learn to knit or crochet, do not hesitate to join us. Your help is also needed to sew on Linus labels or help tie fleece blankets. Please mark your calendar to join us for this rewarding gathering. For information contact: Barbara Hannon or Alma Dallas Page 10

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12 IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH SEPTEMBER 2018 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost English Service with Holy Communion 10:30 AM Fellowship 11:00 AM German Service with Holy Communion 9 Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost GOD S WORK. OUR HANDS. SUNDAY 10:30 AM Bilingual Worship 11:30 AM GWOH Service (See page 10) German Circle 16 Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost English Service with Holy Communion 10:30 AM Fellowship 11:00 AM German Service with Holy Communion Newsletter Deadline 23 Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost English Worship 10:30 AM Fellowship 11:00 AM German Worship 5:30 PM Meet and Eat 30 Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost English Worship 10:30 AM Coffee Break 11:00 AM German Worship 1:00 PM Steuben Parade (See page 8) 3 LABOR DAY 4 12:30 PM Staff Meeting Christian Event Team :30 PM Staff Meeting 17 Congregation Council 2:00 PM Worship Planning Team Ladies Guild 18 1:30 PM Staff Meeting :30 PM Staff Meeting Finance Team 5 6 9:00 AM Member Care Team 12 10:00 AM Bible Study 1:00 PM Social Ministry Team Bible Study 19 10:00 AM Bible Study 12:00 Noon Frauenverein Bible Study Lower Bucks Conference Meeting 13 6:30 PM Movie Moses (See page 9) 20 Dean s Meeting 7 8 Immanuel German School at LMHS Immanuel German School at LMHS 21 Newsletter Mailing Hops on the Hill (See page 3) 22 Immanuel German School at LMHS 2:00 PM Installation of Bishop Davenport (See page 5) Immanuel German School at LMHS Save the Dates! October 12 - Bingo October 28 - Annual Trunk or Treat December 1 - Annual Global Taste of Christmas 9 AM 2 PM Community Yard Sale (See page 9) Page 12