Gleaner. The. Immanuel Lutheran Church. January Letter from Pastor Dana. Mission. Joyfully Christian. Humbly Serving. Boldly Loving.

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1 The Gleaner Immanuel Lutheran Church January 2015 The Gleaner is a publication of: Immanuel Lutheran Church 320 S. Bradley St. Mount Pleasant, MI Phone: (989) office@immanuelmp.com Website: immanuelmp.com Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Pastor: Dana Hendershot Layout and Editing: Andrea Redmond and Taylor DesOrmeau Mission Joyfully Christian. Humbly Serving. Boldly Loving. Letter from Pastor Dana Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! I first want to thank you for all the ways you overwhelmingly showered me with love this Christmas in gifts, hugs, smiles, and kind gestures. God gives me a renewed energy through you. I hope each one of you were surrounded by loved ones during these festive holidays! I imagine that it was smothered in love-filled, food-full, peaceful joy! As we begin this New Year of 2015, I want to take a moment to honor each of you. I have witnessed Christ working in your lives. In joy and in sorrow. In exhaustion and in exuberance. In brokenness and in wholeness. There is no doubt that the Spirit is blowing, shaking, and moving among us to be Joyfully Christian. Humbly Serving. Boldly Loving. It is not always easy, but we are leaving a mark on this community. You stepped up to house the homeless in between two very busy holidays. You put together another wonderful Christmas Outreach that served 721 families in need. The children s program filled our sanctuary with an unspeakable joy. Many have stepped up to help those who have been fighting illness. There were cards sent, food delivered, and a listening ear given. I see the Kingdom of God here and now! I see it in you! Your outpouring of love is Christ in the flesh. Thanks be to God! In the light, Pastor Dana Hendershot 1

2 Ministry with the Community and World Receiving The Gleaner Online: If you would like to receive The Gleaner by , please call or the office. It s also available on Immanuel s website. Gleaner Submissions: The deadline for submitting articles and information is the 20 th of each month. The Noisy Offering The noisy offering from Jan. 25, will go toward Lutheran Social Services of Michigan (LSSM). Contributions may be made in the Noisy Offering jar in the Narthex all month. Where s our Pastor? January is an unusual month where Pastor Dana will be out of town for two Sundays. The first week is her long awaited yearly vacation to Florida for a week (Jan ). The second week includes two conferences. The first is, Leading Well, (Jan ) and is the second year she will attend, which has a three-year commitment. Our previous bishop recommended the conference. The second conference is the same week and will prepare Pastor Dana for July s ELCA Youth Gathering. She will fly from Florida to Detroit to attend the ELCA Youth Ministry Network Extravaganza along with Beth Mundwiler (Jan. 31 Feb. 2). Pastor David Sprang will preside Jan. 25 and Pastor Bob Garrels Feb. 1. New Member Classes Not a member of Immanuel? If you are interesting in becoming a member or an associate member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, please talk with Pastor Dana Hendershot. The classes will be held on Sundays from 12:30 3:00 p.m. Sunday, January 11 Welcome and sharing your spiritual journey and Communication within the congregation Sunday, January 18 Lutheran Theology We will formally welcome new members on Sunday, February 8 th. Putting Away Christmas Decorations You are invited to help us put away the Christmas decorations Sunday, Jan. 4 at 3 p.m. Thank you for your help! 2

3 (Community and World, Continued) Sign up to Volunteer for the Rotating Homeless Shelter Immanuel will host the Isabella County Restoration House (ICRH) rotating shelter one more time this season from Feb. 8-14, ICRH opened its rotating shelter Nov. 7 and will keep the shelter going through the end of March. Volunteers from Immanuel are needed to help assist the rotating shelter through hosting and providing food. Sign-up in the narthex or sign up online. We will post a link on our website when the online signup is available. Hosts are needed from: 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. 10:30 p.m. to 3 a.m. 2:30 a.m. to 7 a.m. 6 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. For those interested in providing food, Immanuel provides one main dish, a salad, rolls and a dessert. Contact the office if you are interested in helping provide a meal. All first time volunteers will need to have a background check which can be taken care of through the Church office and attend a training a training session. Please join us in making a difference in someone else s life as well as your own. Immanuel Coordinators: Jennifer and Dan Digmann: (989) Peggy Burke: (989) Brad Long: (989) For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me. Matthew 25:35. 3

4 Ministry with Each Other Immanuel on Campus to Return Jan. 15 Immanuel s college ministry will continue to meet at the Wesley Center on Central Michigan University s campus once classes are back in session. The group meets weekly at 9 a.m. at Wesley, at Preston and Washington Street just north of the main commuter lot. For more information, contact Pastor Dana Hendershot at pastor@immanuelmp.com Electronic Giving Instead of writing out checks and using envelopes, members can make regular contributions to Immanuel through a checking or savings account. This program contributes weekly offerings even when circumstances prevent members from attending service. For more information, click the ($) sign at immanuelmp.com. Contact the office with any questions. January Adult Forum Topics Immanuel invites high schoolers through seniors to its adult forums. The forums meet in the Fellowship Hall between the 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. services. Jan. 4: Meditation Jan. 11: Scripture for meditation Jan 18: Centering prayer-- Examen Jan. 25: Immigration policy issues (tentative) Community Input: Praises and Pinches To be a healthy, faithful community, Immanuel needs to be open with what we expect in all areas of life. If there is anything in our community life that brings joy or causes concern, please share any feelings and questions. Thank you for taking the time to communicate ways we are doing well in our ministry at Immanuel and the areas that need attention. Your Mutual Ministry Team needs your feedback. If you would like a personal response to your praise or pinch, please be sure to sign this form at the bottom. To discuss a concern directly with the Mutual Ministry Team or one of the Team members, please indicate below. Praises: Pinches: Desired Outcome: Is it OK to publish in Gleaner? Yes No (Name must be posted if you wish for this to appear in Gleaner.) A specific question I would like answered: 64

5 (Ministry with Each Other/Worship Ministry) Theological Conversations with Pastor Dana Pastor Dana s theological conversations will continue into 2015 on Wednesday, starting at 10:30 a.m. The conversations are canceled Jan. 21 and Jan. 28, as Pastor Dana will be out of town. Thursday Bible Study The Thursday morning Bible Study will meet at 9:30 a.m. beginning Jan. 8 th to begin a study of Joanna Weaver s book, Having a Mary Spirit. All are invited to join us! Call Trudy Staples at (989) with questions or to reserve a book. Thank you Christmas Outreach Volunteers Immanuel would like to thank everybody who helped serve the community through Christmas Outreach. Your efforts are appreciated and made a difference to many community members. Follow Immanuel on Facebook January Birthdays 1 st Michael McCallum 3 rd Pam McClintic Marcella Armstrong 4 th Tami Schwerin Scott MacGregor 5 th Kyle Behenna 6 th Shae Skop Madison Skop Matthew Oswald 8 th Tanner Shellenbarger 10 th Chris Kauffman 11 th Jill Fultz 13 th John Tyler Karl Mikko Dan Hoffman Allison Karr 14 th Debi Mikko Jim Erickson 15 th Judy Ramsower 17 th Ernie Spycher 18 th Emil Boasson Chris Danielson 19 th Reed Polanco 22 nd Tom Hunt 23 rd Lauren Rogers Tara Chilcote 24 th Lauren MacGregor 26 th Victoria Davis 27 th Rob Wang Dave Wyman 28 th John Warriner Judy Emmons Joel Jurick 29 th Asher Watters Bill Jensen 31 st Blaine Chilcote Keep up with Immanuel during the week by liking us on Facebook. Find us at facebook.com/immanuelmp for updates, pictures and more. 5

6 Worship Ministry January Worship Helpers Cantors (9:00 only) 4 Bill Gallaher 11 Sarah Gallaher 18 Joe Caleca 25 Kathy Gallaher Counters (applies to both services) 4 Jodie Mitchell-Beach & Harry Plouff 11 John Emmons & John Warriner 18 Chuck McCollom & Sue French 25 Jacque Jackson & John Lorand Altar Guild (applies to both services) 4 Billie Plouff & Deb Reimer 11 Linda Wicander & Chris Schuster 18 Sue French & Linda Hoedt 25 Billie Plouff & Denise Little Projector (9:00 only) 4 Deb LaBlance 11 Dan Keller 18 Amy Powell 25 Gabe Goodrich Greeters (9:00) Greeters (11:00) Ushers (9:00) 4 Paul Geisthardt, Ruth Magnell, Ed Berthold 11 Tony & Amy Powell, Paul Geisthardt 18 Sam Staples, Ruth Magnell, Ed Berthold 25 Sam Staples, Carl Graef, Bill Jensen Ushers (11:00) Volunteers needed Nursery Attendants (9:00) Nursery Attendants (11:00) Assisting Ministers (9:00) 4 Linda Wicander 11 Dan Eversole 18 Mary Hageman 25 Dave Simon Assisting Ministers (11:00) 4 Chuck Clise 11 Meaghan McCollow 18 Tony Powell 25 Jodie Mitchell Beach Thank You for your Generosity The staff at Immanuel would like to thank the congregation for the gifts presented to us this Christmas. We are very grateful to have such a loving congregation and we are excited to continue worshiping with you and sharing God s love in Sincerely, Pastor Dana Hendershot, Andrea Redmond, Gail Caleca and Mernie Bidstrup 6