Immanuel Lutheran Church

The Beacon Online - November, 2008

Parish Notices

"Immanuel’s Got Talent," is a special Advent Celebration to share and enjoy the many God-given talents of the people at Immanuel on Sunday, November 30, at 6:30 p.m.

This is an invitation to people of all ages if you are a singer or play a musical instrument, for solos or groups to participate in the musical program. If you are a crafter, sewer, quilter, painter, wood worker, weaver, knitter, or other hand worker, or baker there will be an opportunity for you to exhibit your talent in the Fellowship Hall. There will also be coffee and desserts following the program. If your talents are baking and cooking you can display your talents at dessert time. There will be a free will offering for the Fortune Lake Scholarship Fund. Participation is welcomed for everyone. Let’s make it a joyful Happy New Year for the church.

The Play Group is meeting at local parks for the summer. Everyone is welcome at any time. August 4 at Birchview; August 11 at Lakeview; August 18 at Birchview & August 25 at Miners Park. If weather is bad, we meet at Immanuel Lutheran Church. For questions, call Stacy at 475-9127 or 361-9123.

Veteran’s Day, November 11, is an appropriate day for us to spend in fasting and prayer for peace. This is also the birthday of St. Martin of Tours, a fourth century soldier who was the first conscientious objector. Lutheran Peace Fellowship encourages us to use this day as a day of repentance for all violence-violence against others in war, oppression, abuse, neglect, and violence against ourselves as we are bombarded by anxiety, busyness, materialism and fragmentation. We encourage you to pray for an end to violence in every aspect of our lives. It takes faith to believe that the way of the non-violent Jesus, the returning of good for evil, love for hate, reconciliation for revenge, will truly bring peace. Fasting is a way to strengthen our faith in the power of God’s love and presence in our lives.

Since 1985, the Veteran’s Day fast has drawn the support of growing numbers of Lutherans from around the world. We invite you to use November 11 as a day to reflect on the Biblical vision of shalom and to pray for peace in our world, especially in areas of intense conflict and suffering such as the Mid-East and Iraq.

"Reconciliation of Life" is a non-profit organization which tries to provide support for the families of men incarcerated in the Upper Peninsula. Prisoners in the Upper Peninsula who are from downstate typically receive few visits from family members because families lack the economic resources necessary to make travel to the U.P. feasible. Maintaining relationships is critical both to the inmate and to the parents, siblings, spouses, and children of their absent loved ones. "Reconciliation of Life" is a program that attempts to build family relationships by providing support - - assistance with travel, meals, and lodging to families who wish to visit a loved one imprisoned in one of the U. P. prisons.

For more information or if you are willing to make a contribution to this program, please contact Martha Hayward at 475-7582 or the office at 475-9161.

We are in desperate need of nursery volunteers. If you can volunteer even just one service for the whole year, or would like to volunteer more often, please contact the office at 475-9161 or Stacy at 475-9127.

Nursery workers for the 8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. services. Lectors, Ushers, and Communion Assistants are needed at the 11:00 a.m. services and for Monday night services.

Hospital Visitation

Please, please, sounds the broken record that is me (Pastor Dave), if you go to the hospital let us know because we do not always have access to the records. Over the years we’ve found about 90% of you who are hospitalized on our own. Due to new laws, we do not have access to the records at Bell Hospital. Patients are asked to sign a release so the pastor can visit but just because you sign it doesn’t mean we know because they often do not give it to the admission desk! The only way you can be sure that you are visited is to call and let us know. Call the Office 475-9161 or Call us at home 475-4817 (You can always call us at home). We want to visit you, but you will have to let us know.

Attention Relatives of Service Personnel and College Students

The Parish Life committee would like names and addresses of college students and military personnel.  We feel that it is important to keep in touch with these young people while they are in changing circumstances and to help them feel closer to home.  These can be given to the secretary in the church office by calling 475-9161 or by calling Saima Kuivila at 475-6655 or email us at Immanuel@chartermi.net. We are also accepting donations of cards. Drop any donations off at the office.

Tapes for Homebound Members:  Immanuel provides audiotapes of the Sunday morning service to many homebound members.  In order to continue this ministry, there is need for new drivers who can deliver the tapes (which are completed by Tuesday morning).  Anyone interested in distributing tapes on Tuesdays or Wednesdays, please contact the church office.  If you know of neighbors who could benefit from a tape (and you're willing to bring them one), please notify us of this too!

PRAYER CHAIN REMINDER - When receiving a Prayer Chain prayer request, please call until you talk to a person. You can leave a message but please continue to call until you reach someone and please try to call right away. Thanks!

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