Living Waters Immanuel Lutheran Church and Preschool /Kindergarten Winter, 2016 Volume 10, Issue 1 Psalm 99:9Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for the Lord our God is holy! THE INTERRUPTIONS OF GOD Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ. There used to be a soap opera TV show called As the World Turns. At our congregational retreat January 16th, Pastor Buchmann referred to the affairs of this world as re-run episodes of As the World Churns. In his devotions he showed us how Jesus dealt with the churning world around him - a world that continually interrupted his ministry. He would be on his way somewhere, thinking he would get there but invariably he was interrupted by the needs of the people. Amazingly he did not get frustrated or put out. He took the time to minister and bless. He saw these interruptions as his true calling and ministry. Pastor led us to understand that even as we attempt to plan for our lives individually - and as a congregation - we ought to be always ready for interruptions - seeing them as God s ministry. But it sure is fun to turn this idea on its head a bit and see it from a different angle. Ultimately we as Christians are all about how the on-going drudgery of the ugly churn of the world has been rudely interrupted by the call of Christ to repent and know the Kingdom of God that is upon us. The life of Our Savior, the true King of the Jews, is being lived out in and through our lives. Individually and corporately, the members of Peace and Immanuel Lutheran are the powerful agents of God interrupting the evil churn of the world. We interrupt the regular programing of the world now with the Good News of true peace with God, true healing of the heart, beautiful forgiveness, and eternal life. As we conclude the season of Epiphany and enter into Lent, let us together thrill in the blessed ministry of interrupting the evil around us with God s grace and Kingdom come. Our Godly devotions, worship, and everyday life - filled with kindnesses both small and large - are God s beautiful serendipity and grace for the world in chaos and sin. To God be all the glory! In Jesus, Pastor Bjornstad
2 L u t h e ra n B ra i l l e Wo r ke r s Sir, we would like to see Jesus. John 12:21 By the grace of God, millions of blind souls have the gift of vision through scripture printed in Braille. Since 1988, Braille work station 192 at Immanuel Scranton has been part of this greater ministry providing God s word to those who would like to see Jesus. We are blessed to serve in this great ministry. Sunday, January, 31st is designated as Braille Sunday at our church and we will have the honor of recognizing Elmer Pencek the founder and leader of our work center who in deed has retired this year. Along with Elmer, his faithful wife and Braille coworker Esther will receive commendation from The International Lutheran Braille Workers. Following Sunday worship, a reception at the Fellowship Hall for Esther, Elmer and all current and retired Braille workers will take place. Everyone is invited to this very special celebration.
3 I m m a n u e l L u t h e ra n P r e s c h o o l a n d K i n d e r g a r t e n... a n d t h e L u t h e ra n A c a d e m y Over the remaining program year you will be invited to participate in many fund raising opportunities to assist Immanuel Preschool and Kindergarten. Our goal is to raise $5000 for additional learning devises such as ipads, improvements to the facilities including a major renovation or replacement of our outdoor equipment and other items including tuition assistance necessary to continue providing an outstanding education for God s precious little ones. You are under no obligation to take part in any of these fund raising activities. We sincerely thank you for your past and present support. At our January pasta dinner activity at the Lutheran Ministry Center, over a hundred tickets were sold. Between the ticket sales and donations, each school received $250! On Monday, February 15, 4-7pm, Immanuel Preschool and Kindergarten will host another Pasta Dinner. Tickets are $10 for adults and $6 for children under 12 years. Take outs and sit down dinners will be available. On Sunday, February 7th, The Lutheran Academy will host their annual Chocolate Valentine Pancake Breakfast. (Plain and Blueberry will also be available). Tickets will be available at the door only, and are $6 for adults, $3 for children, and free for youngsters under 5. Because of the changes in our worship service times, complications arose getting over to Peace Church to participate. This year the Pancake Breakfast will take place both at Peace and Immanuel. The Call meeting will take place on the 7th at 12:30 so why not join us for breakfast and then stay for the Call meeting. Celebrate Lutheran Schools Week with us on Sunday March 13. Our Preschool/Kindergarten will sing. The Academy choir and band will perform followed by a another wonderful Pot Luck luncheon at our Fellowship Hall. This has become annual event hosting the families of our Lutheran schools and those of Immanuel and Peace Church. Something to think about.. Studies prove that investment in quality Preschool and Kindergarten education such as that found at Immanuel predict: -Greater success at school in the future, including less grade retentions, less need for special education, and higher graduation rates. -Higher employment and earnings -Less welfare dependency -Better health outcomes -Lower crime rates
4 LIVING LENT - 2016 Living Lent will be our theme for Lent 2016, which begins on Wednesday, February 10. Here is our planned worship schedule for the season: Regular Weekend Services will be held at the usual times: 5:30 pm Saturday and 9:30 am Sunday Immanuel Additional Worship and Fellowship Opportunities: Feb. 10: Ash Wednesday Pondering our Relationship with God 10 am Peace 7:30 pm Immanuel (no supper) Feb. 14: First Sunday in Lent Finding God s Purpose in Your Life Feb. 17: Midweek Lenten Services 10 am Peace Lutheran 6:30 pm Fellowship Supper (St. Stephen s) 7:30 pm St. Stephen s Feb. 21: Second Sunday in Lent People Matter Feb. 24: Midweek Lenten Services 10 am Peace 6:30 pm Fellowship Supper (LMC) 7:30 pm Lutheran Ministry Center Feb. 28: Third Sunday in Lent Proclaiming Christ March 2: Midweek Lenten Services 10 am Peace 6:30 pm Fellowship Supper (Immanuel) 7:30 pm Immanuel March 6: Fourth Sunday in Lent Praising the Crucified Christ March 9: Midweek Lenten Services 10 am Peace 6:30 pm Fellowship Supper (St. Stephen s) 7:30 pm St. Stephen s March 13: Fifth Sunday in Lent - Living with Pain March 16: Midweek Lenten Services 10 am Peace 6:30 pm Fellowship Supper (LMC) 7:30 pm Lutheran Ministry Center March 19: Lenten Fair for all children and youth 10 am 1 pm, Held at the Lutheran Ministry Center HOLY WEEK March 20: Palm Sunday Follows Regular Weekend Schedule March 24: Maundy Thursday Jesus Prayer of Anguish 7 pm Immanuel March 25: Good Friday Witnessing the Passion and Death of Christ 11:30 am Reenactment of the Crucifixion at Peace 7:00 pm Good Friday with Holy Communion Immanuel March 26: Holy Saturday - 10 am Easter Experience Easter Egg Hunt for Kids -Immanuel No Saturday Worship Service Held at Immanuel March 27: The Resurrection of Our Lord Paradise is Ours 6:30 am Easter Sunrise at Evergreen Cemetery 9:30 am Easter Communion Service Immanuel
5 Just Thought You Might Enjoy: E A S T E R S T O R Y B I S C U I T S O R C O O K I E S (These need to be made the evening or day before Easter. ) You Will Need 1 cup whole pecans 1 tsp. Vinegar 3 egg whites Pinch salt 1 cup sugar Zipper baggy Wooden spoon Tape Bible Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Place pecans in zip lock bag and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested the Roman soldiers beat him. Read John 19:1-3. Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1-tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross he was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30. Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11. Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27. So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1-c. sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him. Read Ps. 34:8 and John 3:16. Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12-15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah 1: 18 and John 3:1-3. Fold in broken nuts. Drop teaspoons of mixture onto a baking parchment covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Read Matthew 27:57-60. Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matt. 27:65-66. Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22. GO TO BED! On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matthew 28:1-9. (Original recipe source unknown)
6 and service to the neighbor. We are saved by faith alone, but the faith that saves us is never alone. That is because faith is a living, busy, and active thing. It inhales all of God s riches in Christ and exhales this in love But who is my neighbor? God in His mercy has placed us into three distinct communities: society, family, and the church. That means we have a duty to those around us in each of these communities. We pray for the people in these three communities daily. We rejoice with them in times of joy and suffer with them in times of sadness. And we give to them from the income that God provides as we are able and as they have need. So we pay taxes to our governments so that they may do the work that is needed for our neighbors in society. We give to our families so that they have food and clothing, house and home, even educations. And we give to our church our local congregations so that the gospel may be preached and the sacraments administered for us and others. The beauty of this is that God smiles upon all that giving. When you pay your taxes, God is pleased that you have served your neighbor who needs what the government provides. When you provide for your family, God is pleased. That you have helped your neighbor with the necessities of life by sharing with them what He has given to you, God is pleased. And when you give to your local congregation to support the ongoing preaching of the gospel, God is pleased. To all this giving, He says to you, Well done, my good and faithful servant. Looking at giving in this light makes it a joy to give. The joy is multiplied. There is joy in you because you have served your neighbor in his need. There is joy in your neighbor for God has answered their prayers through you. And God rejoices and is pleased with it all. It might just make the humdrum of grocery shopping and mortgage payments a bit more joyous. It might even make April 15 tolerable (St. Paul had to have this pep talk with the Romans, also, This is why you pay taxes. Rom. 13:6). And it surely will make the envelope placed into the offering plate a joyful thing. Indeed God is pleased with you. You are saved by faith alone because of Jesus Christ. And that saving faith is never alone. It is busy and active. It serves the neighbor in society, family, and church with free and cheerful giving. http://www.lcms.org/stewardship/ resources#newsletterarticles
7 Continue in God s Word! Faithful study of God s word will inspire and bless you and give you courage to face the many challenges of life. Joining together with others in our study helps to keep us focused on Christ and gives an added dimension as we share our ideas and experiences. Immanuel welcomes people of all ages to study with us each Sunday morning for Sunday School and Adult Bible Class at 11 am. An adult Bible Class also meets on Saturdays at 9:30 am. Sunday s class is almost at the end of our study of St. Paul s letter to the Romans, and on Saturday we are in the midst of the Old Testament book of 2 Kings. Our Sunday School lessons are focused on the life of Jesus. We invite everyone to come and join us in God s Word and fellowship. For personal study, daily devotions are available online or via e-mail through: http://www.lwml.org/mustard-seed-devotions http://www.lhm.org/dailydevotions/calendar.asp A special series of Lenten devotions will also be offered by Lutheran Hour Ministries at: http://www.lhm.org/lent/ Calling all kids! All our friends and neighbors are invited to join us at Immanuel for our annual Easter Experience and Easter Egg Hunt on Holy Saturday, March 26 The program begins at 10 am. And ends around Noon. You won t want to miss it!
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10 Immanuel Lutheran Church and Preschool 238 Reese Street Scranton, PA 18508 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Non-Profit org. U. S. Postage PAID Scranton, PA Permit No. 152 Phone: 1-570-342-3374 Fax: Please call first e-mail: immanuelscranton@verizon.net Immanuelscranton.com The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod Immanuel Preschool And Kindergarten We re on the Web at LECCS.org Address Label Immanuel Lutheran Church and Preschool Rev. Kristian Bjornstad, Vacancy Pastor Immanuel Preschool and Kindergarten Teacher: Mrs. Brooke Gilpin President: Mr. Arthur Pencek Vice President: Mr. Roger Borchin Secretary: Mrs. Kathy Norris Worship Schedule Saturday Worship: 5:30 pm Sunday Worship: 9:30 am Saturday Adult Bible Study: 9:30 am Sunday School & Adult Bible Study: 11:00 am Office Hours: Wed. Thurs. Fri.: 10 am-2 pm We are a congregation of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. We are a family oriented ministry. Raising kids in today's world is no easy job. Let's face it, the issues parents and kids face today can be scary. Yet, it does not have to be that way. Come discover the difference at Immanuel Lutheran Church and Preschool! Our commitment is to provide a safe and fun learning environment. Let us take a little of the stress out of parenting and help give a child a better start. Morning Session: 8:30-11:30 Afternoon Session: 12:00-3:00 All day program available Before and after school care available -web LECCS.org - Like us on Facebook Open Enrollment