JUNE 2018 VOLUME 7, NUMBER 06. Rev. Isaac S. Schuller. Does God love you? How do you know?

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1 NEWS from the First Pew JUNE 2018 VOLUME 7, NUMBER 06 Inside this Issue Agape Fund 2 Rev. Isaac S. Schuller Does God love you? How do you know? Financial Puerto Rican Press LWML News Forget Me Not Prayers June Birthdays & Ann June Calendar Does God love you? How do you know? I ask these questions to many people. The responses are quite different. People who are not Christian will say if God exists He loves me because of the things I do for others. Most Christians will say yes God love me because I feel it. There is no assurance of God s love in our works or our feelings. If God love us because of the things we do for others. Does God love us when we do not do things for others? When we hurt, lie or deceive others? If we know God loves us because we feel it. Does God love us when we are fired from our job, when we or a loved one has cancer, when life is too hard to bare and we want to end it. I don t feel loved in those moments and I am guessing neither do you. For this reason God s love is not based on our work toward our neighbor or our feelings. God s love is based upon His Son Jesus Christ. For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. John 3:16-17 We are taught from the very voice of God in His Word the answer to, Does God love you? How do you know? Yes He does! I know because Jesus has died and risen for me and this is recorded in the Word of God. We do not deserve to be loved by God but He does love us. He has sent His Son Jesus Christ, who is God, to die so our sins of trusting our works and feelings to show us God s love would be forgiven. For is it Christ who loves us and has shown us that He loves us. Serving our neighbor and feelings are not bad. They are simply not God, nor will they save us. Does God love you? How do you know? I leave you with this famous hymn: Pastor Schuller Jesus loves me! He who died Heaven s gates to open wide. He has washed away my sin, Lets His little child come in. Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.

2 Please contribute to the AGAPE Fund to assist our fellow members with special need requests. The AGAPE Fund is administered by the Board of Elders to provide small financial assistance to our Church Members. The meaning of AGAPE is unconditional love. Thank you for your special contribution(s) from the Board of Elders. In 2017, First Immanuel ran a net deficit of approximately $15,000. Some of you will recall that at the November Voter s Meeting, the Board of Trustees expected that the deficit would be smaller than this, due to a surge in giving that traditionally has occurred in December. However, the gifts in December 2017 were substantially smaller than we expected. There are many potential factors that could contribute to this year s shortfall in giving, but the primary reason appears to be the departure or death of some longstanding members. As of March 30, our expenses for 2018 are $83,965 but our income is $75,271. The Trustees urge the members of First Immanuel to give first fruits back to the Lord.

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5 LWML NEWS Two ladies from First Immanuel Lutheran attended the District LWML Convention held in Newark/Fremont area this past April. It s always amazing how many are involved in the planning of each of these conventions that are held every two years. Those who attend are blessed in many ways. This year s was no exception. With the theme Rejoice, Pray, and Be at Peace taken from Philippians 4:6-7 we continued the celebration of 75 years that LWML has served the Lord with gladness. Highlights of the convention included having almost 200 in attendance beginning with the Friday night s communion service. Five YWR (young women representatives, ages 18-35), representing congregations in the CNH District, attended and were involved during the weekend, learning and serving their Lord through LWML. All of the mission grants from had been funded. Music was provided by Dave Anderson and Don Wharton was our inspirational keynote speaker. Both told of their experiences of being involved in a plane crash in the Bering Sea and how they were saved through the miracle of God s grace. Being together with these Lutheran ladies (and men), we were reminded of God s grace through our worship, the study of His Word hearing inspirational segments on how people from various backgrounds are used by God in sharing of His grace. Meeting ladies, some of which attended for the first time and renewing acquaintances and meeting ladies was such a joy. These two ladies who attended from FILC also enjoyed the warm chocolate chip cookies that the hotel provided. As you read this article, our own LWML societies - the Lydia Ladies and the Dorcas Guild LWML societies will recess during the summer months and start up again in September. Any of our LCMS ladies can become involved in LWML and with the talents given to them use them to serve the Lord with our church family. We continue to have available the LWML Quarterly and mite boxes in the church Narthex. You can bring God s love and grace to others through these mite box offerings.

6 Forget Me Not Prayers If you have an opportunity, please reach out with a call, a visit or a card! Those in need of prayer for health and healing: Tony Montalvo Harriett Glass Michael Hockenson Mora (Beatriz Scott) Patty Tim (Veda Connor) Debbie Sara Mello Corey Renella Lucia Vivas Teresa Cuevas Gail Castro Mark (Karen Deichmann s nephew) Those unable to make it to our worship due to health or other issues: Rosemary Thode Joan Barnes Wayne Frazier Elaine Payne Those receiving treatment for cancer: Chris Schieber Deena Steward (Deanna Bye s daughter) Jeanne (daughter-in-law of Eloise) Dave, friend of Beatrice Scott Angie, friend of Beatrice Scott Angelena, friend of Rena Torres Pastor Ron Kusel (Veda Connor) Elaine Kusel (Veda Connor) All those serving our country in the Military including: Dimas Jr. & Veronica Cuevas Benjamin Brighton David Newton 6/4 Maya Pineda 6/5 Pastor Schuller 6/5 David Newton 6/8 Joan Barnes 6/10 Gary White 6/14 Mary Jayne Arce October Anniversaries 6/16 Rachel Melo 6/21 Karthik Kolichelimi Venkatrao 6/27 Liz Schuller 6/27 Shirley William Anthony 6/28 J.R. D Amelio 6/9 Lowell and Roberta Marcus ~ 34 years 6/11 Adam & Geri Hallmark ~ 2 years 6/23 Art and Deanna Bye ~ 56 years We pray for God s protection on our missionaries around the world and especially: Pastor & Gema Schuller We pray for God s strength and protection for: Mario & Christy Abby Reyes & Family Emma DeMay

7 2018 First Immanuel Lutheran Church 374 South Third Street, San Jose, CA Phone: Fax Rev. I. Schuller Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 Pastor Schuller s Day Off 9:00 Church Clean Up 3 1st Sunday aft Trinity 9:00 Divine Service 10:15 Bible Study 11:30 Servicio Divino 12:30 Estudio Bíblico :30 Bible Study Pastor Schuller s Day Off 6:30 Play Practice 11:00 Dorcas Guild 1:00 COME Food/Clothing 1:00 COME Food/Clothing 6:30 Young Adult Bible Study 6:30 Elder Meeting 6:00 COME Food/Clothing 10 2nd Sunday aft Trinity :30 Bible Study Pastor Schuller s Day Off 10:00 Visiting Ministry 1:00 COME Food/Clothing 1:00 COME Food/Clothing 6:30 Play Practice 6:30 HS Youth Group 6:30 Young Adult Bible Study 6:00 COME Food/Clothing 9:00 Divine Service 10:15 Bible Study/SS 11:30 Servicio Divino 12:30 Estudio Bíblico 17 3rd Sunday aft Trinity Pastor Schuller s Day Off 23 Father s Day 10:30 Bible Study 9:00 Divine Service 10:15 Bible Study/SS 11:30 Servicio Divino 12:30 Estudio Bíblico 1:00 COME Food/Clothing 1:00 COME Food/Clothing 6:30 Young Adult Bible Study 24 4th Sunday aft Trinity :30 Bible Study 1:00 COME Food/Clothing 9:00 Divine Service 10:15 Bible Study/SS 11:30 Servicio Divino 12:30 Estudio Bíblico 6:30 Play Practice 6:30 Play Practice 6:00 COME Food/Clothing 1:00 COME Food/Clothing 6:30 Young Adult Bible Study 6:00 COME Food/Clothing Pastor Schuller s Day Off 6:30 PM Nerf &

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