Immanuel Lutheran School has been a great blessing to so many children and families. Are you, or someone you know, wondering what would be the best educational option for your child or children, particularly given the current state of our public school system? Look no further for an amazing school with a loving and excellent faculty who are here for your children, who love Jesus, and who teach and live on the foundation of Him and the truth of God’s Word! Check out the school website (https://school.immanuelloveland.org/), You can also call or email our school office (970-667-7606, SchoolOffice@ImmanuelLoveland.org) to schedule a tour or a time to meet with our Principal Cheryl Gilbert, or one of our administrative assistants to get your questions answered.
An assessment is required for grades K-8th before application is accepted. To begin the process, fill out an inquiry form found on the school website or use this link – https://immanuelloveland.myschoolapp.com/app/embed#inquiry/26643. It only takes two minutes.
Enrollment for Immanuel Lutheran High School is also open! If you have any questions about the high school, you can reach Dr. Rick Overton, Immanuel’s Executive Director of the high school at HighSchool@ImmanuelLoveland.org. Check out the high school website as well (https://school.immanuelloveland.org/high-school/).
There is financial assistance available but deadlines are approaching fast. Information about the ACE scholarship (a scholarship from the community) and Immanuel’s tuition assistance can be requested from the school office (schooloffice@immanuelloveland.org).
Continue to spread the word about our amazing, Christ-centered school!
- Sunday, April 28—4:00pm, Bells of the Rockies (free) concert in Immanuel’s sanctuary
- Monday, April 29—Deadline for ordering Immanuel gear
- Sunday, May 19—Confirmation Sunday with 9:30am Expressions of Faith
- Sunday, May 26—Summer Worship Schedule begins: 8am & 9:30am
- Sunday, June 2—9:00am—ONE worship service; 10:15am—Miss Martha farewell; 11am—Picnic
- Saturday, June 8, 9am-2pm—Sweetheart City Car Show
- June 17-21, 9am-12pm—Scuba Vacation Bible School
- Sunday, July 7—Outdoor Worship begins, 9:30am under the West Pergola
We are currently very shorthanded with the daily custodial/cleaning needs of our facility. Until we are able to hire the two open part-time positions, we are looking for volunteers who can give even an hour or two a day or a few hours each week to help make sure classrooms get vacuumed and desks get wiped down. If you can lend a hand with this, thank you! Contact Jake Hollen, Immanuel’s Facilities Director (jhollen@ImmanuelLoveland.org) or call the church office (970-667-4506).
We have several job openings at Immanuel, both current openings and upcoming openings:
- Third Grade Teacher. Immanuel Lutheran School is accepting names and resumes of both synodically trained teachers (preferred) as well as non-synodically trained teachers who are either living in the NO CO area or willing to relocate for a full-time teaching position for the 2024-2025 academic year. Resumes for a third-grade teacher are currently being accepted and should be sent to Cheryl Gilbert, our Immanuel Lutheran School Principal: cgilbert@immanuelloveland.org.
- Part-Time Middle School Teacher. Immanuel Lutheran School is also accepting applications for a part-time middle school teacher for 10-15 hours a week. If interested, please send your resume to Cheryl Gilbert, our Immanuel Lutheran School Principal: cgilbert@immanuelloveland.org.
- Part-Time K-8 Spanish Teacher. Immanuel Lutheran School is also accepting applications for a part-time K-8 Spanish teacher for 8-10 hours a week. If interested, please send your resume to Cheryl Gilbert, our Immanuel Lutheran School Principal: cgilbert@immanuelloveland.org.
- Two Custodial Positions. Immanuel has two Monday-Friday custodial positions open at Immanuel, one from 6:00-8:00am and another second from 3:00-7:00pm. Job descriptions can be found at www.immanuelloveland.org. Resumes can be sent to Hiring@ImmanuelLoveland.org or call Immanuel (970-667-4506) and ask to speak with Jake Hollen, Immanuel’s Director of Facilities.
Wednesday was an end of a beautiful chapter of ministry at Immanuel as Duncan and Laney Howard taught their last Spanish classes. After the Howard’s served as missionaries in Guatemala, Duncan came to Immanuel in 1999 to serve as one of our 8th grade teachers. While he was here, he began teaching Spanish to the entire school. He taught here for 15 years before stepping away to spend more time in begin the ministry to the people of Lago Vista (just to the north of Immanuel) that God inspired Duncan and Laney to begin some years earlier. We have been blessed to be able to partner with the Howards and Lago Vista for many years. They continue to serve as Executive Directors at Lago Vista, hoping to retire very soon. Six years ago, they offered to teach Spanish at Immanuel, which they have done very graciously as volunteers. We honored them in chapel on Wednesday with a thank you video put
together by the entire school as well as flowers, balloons and many thank you cards. For the message, I interviewed them and asked them to share some of their memories and stories of how they have seen God working in the various places they have served (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tg1zyICkLuQ). Duncan and Laney are a special couple and we offer our thanks and praise to God for them and their servant hearts! Below are pictures of chapel, teaching in the classroom, and of Duncan and Laney.
Donuts and Devos will be happening THIS Saturday, April 27th! Young Adults and Young Families are invited to get together for donuts and devotions at Rob and Amy Meyer’s house (1810 Twin Lakes Circle, Loveland, CO 80538) on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month from 9:30-11:30am! Children are welcome and donuts, coffee, and water will be served. There’s NO NEED to RSVP or bring anything. Call/text Amy (970-689-2076) or Rob (970-420-7528) with any questions!
This Sunday we’ll be recognizing the work of Lutheran Hour Ministries (LHM), an outreach that has been committed to sharing the Gospel with those who need to hear it for over 100 years. Today, LHM energizes, equips, and engages Christians to share the Gospel throughout North America and around the globe. There will be a sample of LHM resources on a table in the atrium this Sunday, and you can explore what they offer at www.LHM.org. Lutheran Hour Ministries is able to offer many free or low-cost resources in an effort to share the Gospel because individuals have joined their mission. Learn more about how you can get involved at www.LHM.org/discoverlhm.
Jesus uses the imagery of a vine and branches to make the point of how important it is that we stay connected to Him. But where does that connection lead? All three readings for this Sunday point us in a similar direction, answering that very question. We’ll be thinking more about the Mark of Discipleship that is discipling or walking alongside another person. I hope you can join me!
As always, if you can’t be here in-person, take advantage of our live stream option. We live stream our worship services directly from the home page of Immanuel’s website through YouTube. You can view our worship live streams here: https://immanuelloveland.org/ Below are the Scripture readings if you want to take a look at them ahead of Sunday.
April 28th – The Fifth Sunday of Easter
Easter Series: Our Journey With Jesus
First Reading: Acts 8:26-40
Epistle: 1 John 4:7-21
Gospel: John 15:1-8
Sermon Title: “Our Journey With Jesus: Discipling Another”
Mark of Discipleship: Dischipleship of one other person
Join in the learning and in the fun with many opportunities during the Education Hour on Sunday mornings between worship services from 9:30am-10:20am. Below is a list of what’s being offered for all ages. Questions? Adult classes, email Pastor Robin rdugall@immanuelloveland.org; children’s ministries, contact Miss Martha (mharkins@immanuelloveland.org); Middle and High School, contact Mr. Marcus (mhoward@immanuelloveland.org or 727-459-7026).
Adult Classes:
- The Holy Spirit and the Doctrine of Salvation: How Does God Work in My Life? (Theology 102 Soteriology) – Rev. Dr. Ed Seely (room #36 – LWML Room). Contact Pastor Seely with questions (eds3456@gmail.com). For those already in the class, Pastor Ed asks that you prepare for class this week by reviewing the following PowerPoint presentation (click on the following link) – Salvation and The Holy Spirit: How Does God Work in My Life (Soteriology and Pneumatology): An 8-Week Course. This link is to the page on which the PowerPoint is located. Look for the Title of the class on the page and click on it.
- The Gospel of Luke – Pastor Robin (room #206) – this class is open to all! Contact Pastor Robin if you have questions (rdugall@immanuelloveland.org).
- Immanuel 101 – Pastor Glen (room #112) – Contact Pastor Glen with questions (gschlecht@ImmanuelLoveland.org).
Sunday School for Kids:
- Infant/Toddler Class: Room 110, with music, a Bible story, and time to play.
- Sunday School Opening: All Preschool-4th Graders start in Room 113 for opening. After Opening, children go to their age-appropriate classes as follows:
- Preschool Class: Room 109, 3-, 4-, & 5-year-olds, a Bible story, craft, snack, and play.
- Kindergarten-2nd Grade Class: Room 108, Kindergarten through 2nd Graders, a Bible story, game, craft, and snack.
- 3rd-4th Grade Class: Room 113, 3rd and 4th Graders Bible story, game, activity, craft, and snack.
- Bridge56: Room 204, 5th and 6th graders
Sunday School for Middle School and High School Youth:
- Middle School Confirmation – 7th grade Room 202; 8th grade Room 203
- High School Youth – Youth Room (Room 201)
Ask a Pastor will be available this coming Sunday following both the 8:00 and 10:30 worship services. Pastor Al Schroeder will be available this week as Pastor Seely is teaching a class. Pastor Al will be set-up in the usual place near the library books in the atrium. You are welcome to raise any subject of interest to you. No question is “dumb,” questions may be spoken or written, and only your questions or comments will be discussed.
Altar flowers this Sunday are given by Blake and Beth Bianco in celebration of life on the 10th anniversary of Beth being cancer-free.
Interested in an Immanuel hoodie? Cardigan? Hat? If so, place your order today so you don’t miss out on being part of the Immanuel gear order happening April 30th. This Sunday, look for the coat rack that has samples with different sizes to try; look for the clipboard close-by to place your order or contact the church office by phone (970-667-4506) or email (churchoffice@immanuelloveland.org) by April 29th to place your order. Payment may be made by cash or check. We are also selling I AM t-shirts while supplies last at a discounted rate. These must be purchased in-person and paid for at the time of purchase. You may stop by during the week or stop by the gear display in the atrium this coming Sunday.
The annual Immanuel Sweetheart City Car Show is only 6 weeks away!! (Saturday, June 8th) Here are the needs and some of the many ways you can be part of this awesome ministry:
- Car Show Sponsors. Get your business noticed and help the cause! In order to make the car show revenue go towards helping single moms with car care, we’re looking for businesses or individuals that would like to sponsor specific activities at the car show. We want to offer face painting for the kids again (a big hit last year) but we need to offset the cost of hiring a face painter. Similarly, we’re considering bringing in a drag-racing simulator! This is immensely popular at racing events and car shows, but we can’t get them to come for free. Both of these activities can be advertised in connection with a business or an individual and will help attract more people to our events.
- Silent Auction. Items are needed for the Car Show’s Silent Auction. Large, donated items can be put under Car Show table in the atrium and small items can be left with anyone in the church office. You can also notify Sandy Cole (srcole@skybeam.com) and she would be happy to pick up your items. You can also put the items in her mailbox here at Immanuel. Questions about the silent auction can be directed to Sandy.
- Curious? Need more info? If you’re not sure about how to get involved or if you have questions about where you could fit in, you’re welcome to attend the next planning meeting next Monday, April 29th at 6:30pm in Room 112 here at Immanuel. You can also contact Randi Rost (970-214-2211, randi@rost.org) or Ed Bublitz (edsap5714@aol.com).
Items are needed for the Car Show’s Silent Auction. Large, donated items can be put under the Car Show table in the atrium and small items can be left with anyone in the church office. You can also notify Sandy Cole (srcole@skybeam.com) and she would be happy to pick up your items. You can also put the items in her mailbox here at Immanuel. Thank you for the support of this important ministry to our community and come and join the fun!
Get your business noticed and help the cause! In order to make the car show revenue go towards helping single moms with car care, we're looking for businesses or individuals that would like to sponsor specific activities at the car show. We want to offer face painting for the kids again (a big hit last year) but we need to offset the cost of hiring a face painter. Similarly, we're considering bringing in a drag-racing simulator! This is immensely popular at racing events and car shows, but we can't get them to come for free. Both of these activities can be advertised in connection with a business or an individual and will help attract more people to our events. Contact Randi Rost (970-214-2211, randi@rost.org) if you are interested in helping sponsor these activities.
There will be a Facilities Team meeting next Wednesday, May 1st, and all who are interested in the facilities-type things are welcome to come! The team will meet at 4:30pm in the west atrium. For questions or for more information on this team, email Jake Hollen, Immanuel’s Director of Facilities (jhollen@ImmanuelLoveland.org).
The 73rd annual National Day of Prayer is Thursday, May 2nd. Pastor Robin will be in Immanuel’s sanctuary facilitating an open time for prayer beginning at noon, which is open to all. In addition, the sanctuary will be open from 9:30am-7:30pm for anyone who would like to come and just spend some quiet time in prayer.
On May 2nd, hundreds of thousands of Christians will be focused on Jesus (in community and/or individually) lifting their prayers of praises and intercessions to the Lord. The theme this year is, “Lift Up The Word – Light Up The World” (from 2 Samuel 22:29-31). We’ll be praying for our nation, churches, neighbors, world leaders, and crises around the globe. Our nation is in desperate need of prayer. All around us we are witnessing moral decay and division. Only God can unify and heal this nation and its people and we have the privilege of asking Him, through prayer, to make this happen. A table has been set up in the atrium with prayer guides to guide us all in prayer for our churches, families, educational institutions, businesses, the nation’s military, government, as well as the arts, entertainment, and media. We will be joining thousands throughout our country in seeking God’s blessing as well as praying for a spiritual awakening in our times. Don’t miss this opportunity to join others in our congregational community in prayer. Please add this date to your calendar and join in prayer that day at Immanuel.
“The Art Club” movie is an important documentary for our times. The Erin Lee story has been produced into a documentary that Immanuel will be showing in Room #36 (the Men’s Movie Night/LWML room) on Thursday, May 2nd at 6:30pm. This documentary tells the compelling story of the Lee family’s experience with gender issues in public schools here in Northern Colorado. Through the telling of their story, a clear message is communicated about the need for Christians to not only understand God’s design for human sexuality and gender expression, but a crucial argument is also made for parents to seriously consider private, Christian education for their children. The documentary depicts what is happening “on the ground.” It is a summary of the actual agenda of not just one local school district but many districts, in addition to highlighting the political trajectory that is occurring here in Colorado many other states in our country. This documentary has been made available at a very opportune time as, per recent conversations with Colorado state legislators, our state currently considers over 500 bills in this legislative session, many of which are attempting to codify initiatives that underscore and champion blatantly harmful LGBTQ+ agendas. After the showing of the documentary, Pastor Robin and Pastor Ed Seely (both from our Christians Engaging the Public Square ministry team) will lead a discussion with those who attend. If you have any questions, email Pastor Robin (rdugall@immanuelloveland.org).
Saturday, May 4th from 8:00am-12:00pm, come help with Spring grounds clean-up! We will focus on the ditches, the gravel walkway to the ballfields, and trash pick-up around the dumpster area. Lunch will be provided. Please respond to Jake (jhollen@immanuelloveland.org) or let the church office know if you can help so we have an idea for supplies needed. Thanks in advance for your willingness to help clean up our beautiful grounds!
St. John’s Lutheran Church in Denver is hosting a concert for Christian Rapper, Flame! Flame is a Grammy nominated recording artist and proud Lutheran! His music focuses on God’s grace and the gifts we receive from God. At this event, Immanuel’s youth will be meeting up with other LCMS youth. Friends and parents are welcome to join us! Tickets for Youth are $10 and tickets for Adults are $20. We will leave around 4:00pm for St. John’s, who has arranged to have food trucks there before the concert. We can either do dinner at the food trucks or dinner somewhere on the way. Please sign-up ASAP for this event here: https://signup.com/go/LePYEeC . Sign up deadline is Sunday, May 5th. If you have any questions, please contact Marcus Howard at mhoward@immanuelloveland.org or call/text at 727-459-7026.
The Producers of “The Chosen” are NOT releasing Season 4 episodes 5 through 8 with the timeline as promised. There are complex legal matters that are causing this delay. We’ve been told that the rest of the episodes will not be available until the DVD set is shipped at the end of May. We know that everyone who has been involved in this presentation at Immanuel will be disappointed that we have to cancel our planned showings for this week and May 2nd but we’re powerless to do anything at this point. Pastor Robin and Vicky have ordered the DVDs from “The Chosen” store and will announce as soon as they arrive. We will then show the remaining episodes on a “to be announced” schedule. Thank you for your patience! We’re excited to show the rest of the series as soon as possible. If you have any questions, email Pastor Robin rdugall@immanuelloveland.org or call/text him at 208.891.4608.
The summer softball season is right around the corner and registration just opened up with games planned to start the week of May 28th. The past several years we have had two competitive men’s teams playing in the church league, one on Tuesdays and one on Thursdays. If you’re interested in playing, it’s “pay to play” as we divide up the registration cost among all who are interested – it will be about $75 plus about $25 for a jersey for new players.
We have not had a co-ed team for a couple of years and we have not had a women’s team for a long time. But if you’re interested in these possibilities, let me know and I’ll see if we have enough interest to field a team or two in either of these leagues.
So if you have an interest, please let Pastor Glen know (gschlecht@ImmanuelLoveland.org) and for the men, which night you are interested in – Tuesday, Thursday, or both. If you’ve got some friends who might have an interest in playing, let Pastor Glen know that as well.
Youth currently in 7th grade through high school are invited to participate in this summer's youth mission trip to Missouri and Arkansas. Our youth will engage in days of service work, will attend The Great Passion Play, are guaranteed to have lots of fun in Branson, MO, and more. If you did not receive the full details from Mr. Marcus and your youth is interested in attending, please email him at mhoward@immanuelloveland.org, and he will send you the full details and share some photos and videos from our past trips. This is a great time of fun, service, relationship-building, and growing in our faith. We highly encourage anyone interested to join us for this experience this summer. If you have any other questions or would like to support our youth trip this summer, please contact Marcus Howard by email or at 727-459-7026.
There’s a new women’s Bible study starting up soon – it’ll be a book study of Generous Justice: How God’s Grace Makes Us Just by Timothy Keller. This study will be held at the home of Yvonne Wittrock, 4200 Angelica Place, Johnstown, CO 80534 (just south of Scheels in the Thompson 1 subdivision). Meeting Time: 6:10am to 7:10am (attendees are treated to refreshments, as well as prayer and fellowship). For those interested, see the information below on ordering the book for the study. Please plan to order your own book. If you have any questions, contact Yvonne Wittrock (208-380-9770, ywittrock@gmail.com). This study is designed for the working woman in mind but all women are welcome anytime. There is no homework with this study. Come and be inspired as we learn together and grow to love Jesus more and more. We typically meet once a week throughout the summer. We realize women travel in the summer, but we also encourage you to come when you can for spiritual refreshment. Book Description: It is commonly thought in secular society that the Bible is one of the greatest hindrances to doing justice. Isn’t it full of regressive views? Didn’t it condone slavery? Why look to the Bible for guidance on how to have a more just society? But Timothy Keller challenges these preconceived beliefs and presents the Bible as a fundamental source for promoting justice and compassion for those in need. In Generous Justice, he explores a life of justice empowered by an experience of grace: a generous, gracious justice. This book offers readers a new understanding of modern justice and human rights that will resonate with both the faithful and the skeptical. Here is the Amazon link for your book order: Generous Justice: How God’s Grace Makes Us Just: Keller, Timothy: 9781594486074: Amazon.com: Books
The “Experiencing God – Knowing and Doing God’s Will” study will be led by Pastor Greg and Lindy Hafeman at their home in Windsor. This study explores the Biblical truth that God is at work around us and invites us to join Him. The group will learn more and share together how our gracious God invites us to experience Him in an intimate relationship through which He reveals His will, His ways, and His work. The group will meet the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of every month beginning Thursday, May 9th (from 6:45pm-8:15pm) at the Hafeman’s home (1440 Grand Ave., Windsor, CO). Registration is required because the group is being capped at 10 people. To sign up, email Pastor Greg and Lindy (greg_hafeman@comcast.net) or stop by the Information Station before or after Sunday worship if you are interested in being a part of this new small group experience!
The most recent newsletter from the Logstons in Belize is on the Immanuel website – here’s the link: https://immanuelloveland.org/missions/. Thank you for your ongoing prayers, love, and support for the Logstons and their missionary work.
The date has been set for this summer’s family camping: June 12-15. That is the week just before Vacation Bible School. These dates include weekdays and the weekend, so that people who are working M-F can be included. We will be camping at Vedauwoo (30 minutes west of Cheyenne), since it does not require reservations, and has overflow spaces in case the formal campground gets full. There are no hookups. Those who just drive up for the day are also welcome. Please let Jim and Sue Found know if you are interested or want more information (cell 970-663-5490, inquirer.jim@gmail.com).
Register here today: https://vbspro.events/p/events/ilcs2024
We are still in need of a new congregational Treasurer. This is a volunteer position. The person should have some reasonable accounting and finance experience in such things as reading financial statements, banking relationships, loan management and budgets. The Treasurer is a member of our Executive Council. If you or someone you know may be interested, please contact Greg Northrup, Executive Council President (gregnorthrup@yahoo.com).
If so, you can help Immanuel with service projects, fundraisers, educational events, and more, up to $500 every single calendar year! The Thrivent Action Team program allows each Thrivent member to apply for a $250 grant twice each year. Many individuals have already applied for and received a grant in 2023. We want to make sure and capitalize on all grants available by keeping an updated list of Thrivent members and connecting those members with projects and events. Please email churchoffice@immanuelloveland.org if you are a Thrivent member to be sure we have your name on the list and so we can keep you informed on opportunities to use your available grant money! More information about the program is available at: Thrivent Action Team or by calling your Thrivent rep.
Beginning last month, our Information Station at Immanuel has been STAFFED weekly. Pastor Robin has been at the Information Station before and after each worship service answering questions and putting information into anyone’s hands about the plethora of ministries in our congregation as well as joining our greeters in creating a welcoming environment for our growing worshipping community. On Sunday mornings, our Information Station is “ground zero” for welcoming our first time or long-time guests, getting people signed up for Pastor Glen’s email updates, answering questions, sharing the contact information of ministry leaders, etc. Pastor Robin is still looking for some individuals who have “hospitality” spiritual gifts and who’d like to see people connect with each other and Immanuel’s various ministries, to help at the Information Station. For anyone who would like to be a part of this new ministry, Pastor Robin will be providing a training session in November that will give an overview of all that’s happening around Immanuel. If interested, contact Pastor Robin (rdugall@immanuelloveland.org).
In the Sunday morning Grief class, Pastor Glen talked briefly about Immanuel’s Columbarium – did you know we had one at Immanuel? A columbarium is a place where ashes of a deceased loved one can be placed. Our columbarium is on the northeast corner of our parking lot. The columbarium was in the works for many, many years and was finally completed in November 2020. A variety of people at Immanuel helped make this a reality but most all of them have moved away and are no longer here. Jerry Austin was the “work-horse” in making the final push to get it done and Jerry is the one who is continuing to take care of the details related to upkeep and promotion of our columbarium – thank you, Jerry!
We are looking for a couple of people who may be interested in being part of the Columbarium Team along with Jerry. Several of the niches are currently in use and a few more have been committed. Policies are in place to administer the program so there is not a lot of ongoing work needed. The Team would simply provide information to support requests to reserve a niche or when a death occurs, to support needs of the family regarding the urn or box size and then coordinate the engraving of the granite cover. Future site development includes plants, irrigation, and more sandstone walking surfaces that can be engraved be placed south of the current paved perimeter. Funds are on hand to begin this work. The Team volunteers are not expected to physically do the work but help plan improvements. If you’re interested in being part of this team or if you have questions about it, contact Jerry Austin at johnpatrick2@yahoo.com or 970-686-5939 (landline, no texts). Below is some basic information and additional comments on Immanuel’s columbarium.
Basic Prices
Cost of 1-person niche (niches 1-9) – $1,000 at time of registration (or $1,100 later).
Cost of 2-person niche (niches 10-45) – $1,800 at time of registration (or $2,000 later).
Engraving of granite is included, once for single niche and twice for two-person niche.
Other Expenses Not in Basic Niche Price
Metal urn – $100 to $150 depending on selection chosen
Engraved Mahogany Wooden Urn (we have this in stock) - $60, Engraved
Additional Comments
The niche prices, which apply to all niches, were set based on the Phase 1 costs of the foundation, approach sidewalk, perimeter sidewalks and the granite columbarium itself. They are in line with Loveland area costs. The cost of engraving the granite faces which is included now, may need to increase at some point. To provide a pleasing Columbarium appearance, the general layout and fonts used for names and dates is standardized. There is flexibility for Bible verses with room for artwork type engravings. There are nice veteran’s plaques that could be worked into the granite faces as well. Granite engraving takes several weeks to schedule. Records have been set up for each niche. Paperwork is simple and aimed at orderly administration of the site over the many years.
Our research disclosed problems with fastening flowers or flower holders on the face of the Columbarium. Our decision was to accommodate low growing flowers at the base of the columbarium unit or in flower urns on each side. This is to prevent hiding adjacent niches, damage to the granite and the problems with flower deterioration. There are many examples of the benefit of controlling all aspects of the columbarium’s appearance.
Funds were raised initially and were increased by reservation of niches as the first phase of construction was completed. Future improvements such as benches, flower urns, irrigation, ground cover, trees, shrubs, and plantings will be funded from the fees for the niches as the Congregation desired the project to be self-funding. This project was the result of many efforts over many years. The main driving force for the current effort was Francis Sedlacek, Linda Sedlacek, Jerry Austin, and Linda Austin. If anyone would like to help with the Columbarium on behalf of the Congregation, it would be an important service and appreciated. With the basic Columbarium and walks created, the remaining work is not hard: helping people who wish to use it and the planning of future improvements, which should be exciting.
Friends of Immanuel,
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! You may have heard the recent national news about Title IX revisions from President Biden. Pastor Robin wrote up the following summary of these revisions and the significant impact this has from our perspective as followers of Christ. Thank you, Pastor Robin!
Serving together in Christ alone!
Pastor Glen
President Biden and his Administration issued a new Title IX ruling this past week. It documents new regulations that will force changes in the way our school children and college students view gender and sexuality (so pervasive that it reaches into locker rooms and bathrooms). The President unilaterally acted, institutionalizing the LGBTQ+ agenda regarding issues such as queer theory, gender identity (that is set by personal preference and feelings), gender transitioning therapies, and imposing a non-biblical ideology on every school from Kindergarten through our nation’s colleges and universities.
This rule aims to inculcate radical change in American society. The new Title IX ruling redefines sex as equal to “gender identity.” Specifically, it also expands the category of “sex” to include “sexual orientation,” “sex stereotypes,” and “sex characteristics.” At the same time, the rule is purposely nebulous as it fails to define what “sex” is or note biological sex as being essential. The irony of the language of the ruling is that it is impossible to know what legally counts as discrimination based on sex if the concept of sex is not clearly defined. The department’s failure to clearly define sex reflects an intentional departure from “long-standing scientific understandings of the human person” and marks the latest advancement of gender ideology via politics into culture. This regulation legally normalizes the increasingly contested idea of “gender identity” and reinforces so-called “gender-affirming care” and “transition” interventions, which have been proven to cause personal harm. The rules also strengthen the ability of schools to lead children down these paths without the responsibility of informing, or securing consent from, parents. This new regulation also threatens to roll back the equal access opportunities and protections of women and girls. Women will no longer be guaranteed equality in education that Title IX was designed to ensure.
In a nutshell, the new rewrite practically means that men/boys can take academic AND athletic scholarships from women, that men/boys will have FULL access to bathrooms, locker rooms, etc., in universities and schools, that men could be housed in dorm rooms with women, and that students and faculty MUST compel their speech by requiring the use of preferred pronouns. If the guidelines above are ignored or even questioned, then the individual can be charged with sexual harassment.
The new regulations make plain the significance of ideas and their consequences, especially when they take on force of the rule of law. It is also significant that this new rule of law will impact the public schools that are attended by children who come from Christian homes that do not support this ideology and redefinition of sexuality, gender, and other issues related to God’s ordering of creation. This should give pause to school choice considerations and decisions faced by every parent when evaluating their family’s educational environments. These regulations prioritize dangerous ideas over the wellbeing of children, the prerogative of the state over the rights of parents, and the wishes of trans-identifying men over the safety of women. Applying this new “guidance” will run contrary to the notion of human dignity in general, and to values outlined in the scriptures.
Finally, on the political spectrum, as we are seeing radical alterations in culture and norms, there is too much at stake for Christ followers to sit out the political process. Christians should stop thinking about voting as a choice between the lesser of two evils but instead, as one of my favorite authors recently wrote, “as how to best lessen evil.” If you want further information, you can read a summary of the new rule at this link – Ethics and Public Policy Center review of 2024 Title IX revisions.
—Pastor Robin
Friends of Immanuel,
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! As we talked about in worship yesterday, worship itself is such a gift. It’s beautiful. It’s mysterious. It’s encouraging and uplifting. And there are so many facets of it. As I spoke to, I love that we have so many children and youth in worship – what a blessing that is! Something I didn’t mention but want to encourage is to get to know the names of the children and youth who are sitting around you. That helps instill the value that these young people are important to God and to us!
I referenced a Harvard study on the benefits of worship and faith and promised to pass the link to you in today’s update – so here it is, for those who may be interested in reading further: https://harvardpublichealth.org/policy-practice/why-are-spirituality-and-health-not-linked-in-public-health/. (My thanks to Eva Knight for sharing this with me.)
I got a chuckle out of the many comments I received about remembering (or not remembering) sermons. Preaching week after week and sharing God’s message of love, grace, hope, and life is such a blessing to me – it’s my favorite part of being your pastor! Thank you for the constant encouragement so many of you give me and the ongoing prayers that you offer on my behalf. It’s a joy to be here at Immanuel together, worshiping and serving our Savior every week.
In case you missed it, here’s this week’s What Now? for you to put into practice:
- As you come to worship in the weeks ahead, come with your heart and mind open for God to continually transform you.
- Who can you invite to join you for worship?
Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! Alleluia! Serving together in Christ alone!
Pastor Glen
Friends of Immanuel,
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! In my article on Monday’s email update, I shared Kathy’s and my experience with the Colorado March for Life. After that article went out, I’ve had a few conversations about how important events like this are for these days and times in our culture.
One of those conversations was with Ashley Jones, our social media guru on staff. Ashley told me, “I recently discovered a pro-life diaper brand, EveryLife, (I think they just launched last July) and was shocked to find out that most major diaper companies support abortion in some way. You can read more about their mission and story here: https://everylife.com/pages/our-mission.” I shared with her that Kathy actually came across this diaper company several months ago as we were getting ready for a “Dudes and Diapers” party for Jonathan down in Parker in anticipation of Emerson’s birth. We shared that information with all the “Dudes” and encouraged them to use EveryLife diapers. It’s very cool!! There were also a lot of EveryLife posters, promoting life, at the March for Life last Friday. In our current culture, the more we can support companies like this, the better!
In today’s update, you’ll see an article on “The Art Show” documentary that we are showing at Immanuel on May 2nd. This documentary speaks to the gender and sexuality issues that are of great importance, particularly regarding the dangers parents today need to be aware of in regard to our public schools.
These are difficult matters to bring up because I know we have many children and families connected to Immanuel who are part of our area public schools as students, teachers, administrators, and support personnel. I share these resources and include examples in my sermons about these issues not to speak judgment but to raise awareness. I praise God for those of you who are being Jesus’ light and love in our public schools – I’m sure that it cannot be easy for you. I also encourage prayer over all of this – for safety and protection, especially for the children who are most vulnerable.
These times in which we are living can certainly create lots of anxiety and uncertainty. We look around and can see very overt demonic agendas and activity. We are eyewitnesses to wars and rumors of wars. We hear of alleged corruption and lies at various levels of our government, judicial, and political system. And what do we make of it? What are we to do? I leave you with Jesus’ words in John 16, what He spoke to His disciples in the Upper Room just before He would be betrayed and crucified. “…the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father… I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:27-28, 33)
We are Easter people who know that Jesus is victorious. His victory is our victory. As His people, we now live with boldness and courage in these times, speaking the truth in love, sharing the hope we have because of Jesus.
Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! Alleluia! Serving together in Christ alone!
Pastor Glen
Friends of Immanuel,
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! This gift of life we’ve been given is a precious, precious gift. As followers of Jesus, we know that gift of life is ours to enjoy in the here and now as well as for all eternity for those who know and believe in Jesus as their risen and victorious Lord and Savior.
Last Friday (April 12th), Kathy and I and our son David attended the Colorado March for Life at the Colorado State Capitol Building in downtown Denver. The event, the speakers, and the gathering together with hundreds of other life-minded people was eye-opening, inspirational, and encouraging. We had the opportunity to meet and talk with our District 51 Representative (and the owner of our Immanuel IT support company) Ron Weinstein, who stepped out from the House business to show his support for pro-life issues, along with many other Colorado Representatives from the House. Representative Weinstein also provided me the picture he took from the balcony above the steps of the Capitol during this event.
We were reminded, sadly, that Colorado has a culture of death, not of life, being one of the most aggressive pro-abortion, pro-death states in the Union. Brittany Vessely, board member of Pro-Life Colorado stated, “While we celebrate the 2022 Dobbs decision, in the last two years Colorado enacted four abortion laws that go far beyond Roe (1973) and Casey (1992). On April 14, 2022, CO Gov. Polis signed into law Colorado’s Reproductive Health Equity Act (RHEA), which codified elective abortion for the full 40 weeks of pregnancy, established a ‘fundamental right’ to abortion, and removed “individual and derivative rights” from preborn children at all stages of development. An additional three abortion bills were enacted in 2023 to include censoring pregnancy resource centers, banning abortion pill reversal (the first state to do so), prohibiting lawsuits from pro-life states against Colorado or abortion providers, requiring large employers and insurance companies to provide coverage for abortion, and violating the First Amendment rights of individuals and businesses that do not support abortion.”
Rep. Brandi Bradley, Colorado House of Representatives – District 39, spoke boldly and encouragingly of the fight we are up against in Colorado and shared a very personal story of her own regarding life and her children. Dr. Catherine Wheeler, Former Abortionist, Board Member of Pro-life CO, American Association of Pro-Life OB/GYNs (AAPLOG) Colorado Chapter President, shared with us her journey from abortionist to pro-life advocate among medical professionals, expressing gratitude for the Lord’s mercy, grace, and love, as well as gratitude for all in the pro-life movement for accepting her and not judging or condemning her for her past actions. Jeanne Mancini, President of the National March for Life Education and Defense Fund, urged us to be strong and bold as we march for, stand for, and speak up for life in every regard. Our son David worked with her on a video he made of her with Catholic Vote – and he was able to catch up to her during the march and speak with her briefly. The president of our own Rocky Mountain District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, Pastor James Maxwell, prayed the closing prayer for the event.
There were many other speakers, many other stories, and so many reminders that our God is indeed a God life – from conception through natural death. Also that He is a God of mercy, compassion, grace, and love, as we prayed that morning for those who have had abortions, as well as for those in the abortion industry – prayers for healing to come to those hurting over the pain and shame of abortion, and for hearts to be turned away from death to life.
This was the first March for Life I have participated in, and it won’t be my last! This is not a political issue – it is an issue of life itself. I look forward to next year and I’ll be encouraging many more of us from Immanuel to join together over this critical issue of our times. Let’s continue to be Easter people, people of LIFE!
Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! Alleluia! Serving together in Christ alone!
Pastor Glen
Friends of Immanuel,
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! After Kathy and I were down in Aurora on Sunday morning for Emerson’s baptism and for worship, I flew out that night to the Twin Cities where I spent Monday and Tuesday at Concordia University-St. Paul meeting our new intern and starting the get-to-know-you process with Emma. The orientation process was very helpful as we worked through several different personality profiles, expectations that the University has of me as Emma’s supervisor and of us as a congregation, and we started thinking about her start date and some first quarter goals. Emma asked lots of great questions, giving me the opportunity for lots of information sharing about Immanuel’s various ministries and what life and ministry in Colorado looks like.
We’re off to a great start--Emma will fit in quite well at Immanuel and is going to be a great addition to our congregation and staff! I included a picture of Emma and me as well as a group picture of the other four interns and their supervisors. From left to right, front row: me, Pastor Tim Braun (Hope Lutheran, Des Moines, IA), Intern Naomi (assigned to Worthington, MN), our Intern Emma, Intern Bethany (assigned to Eldridge, IA); back row: DCO/vicar Shane Acers (Hope Lutheran, Des Moines, IA), Intern Abby (assigned to Des Moines, IA), Pastor David Hahn (St. Matthew Lutheran, Worthington, MN), Intern Dan (assigned to Quincy, IL), Pastor Peter Hoft (Park View Lutheran, Eldridge, IA), and Pastor Matt Riley (St. James, Lutheran, Quincy, IL).
Keep Emma and all of the interns in your prayers as they wrap up their final semester of classwork and get ready to begin their internships. Also, be praying for Martha as she prepares for her transition to her new congregation in Anoka, MN at the end of June, and finally, continue to pray for us as a congregation and the transition we will be making as well. God is amazing in the ways that He continues to work in our hearts and lives and through the congregations and ministries He’s established!
Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! Alleluia! Serving together in Christ alone!
Pastor Glen
Friends of Immanuel,
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Today I’d like to share a bit of history with you – history that is tied to Easter at Immanuel and the amazing butterflies that are hanging in our atrium.
Soon after moving into 4650 Sunview Drive, it was discovered that the atrium was both beautiful and massive, and the wheels started turning for how to use the space. Many liturgical art designs graced the atrium over the years, enhancing worship seasons and themes. At the heart of our liturgical art for many years was David and Gloria Bongers and their daughter, Holly Walker. The teamwork of this trio was a thing of beauty. Gloria and Holly would see the possibilities and, in discussion with David, figure out how to make the dreams become reality.
Though much of what this team created was seasonal, some of their liturgical art currently hangs in the sanctuary and atrium – the angels over the organ, the Shepherd along the front of the sanctuary, The Story cut out of foam board along the atrium walkway, and the massive butterflies that went up Easter Saturday. These are just some of many creative pieces of liturgical art this trio brought to life, always with the intention behind the art of visualizing the Gospel message. The butterflies that are currently hanging in the atrium are an amazing accomplishment, even for this creative team, and not only the design and creation of the butterflies but hanging them from a 30’ ceiling! The first year the butterflies were hung, they were up higher than what you currently see, and one could, believe it or not, walk through the atrium and miss them completely! We learned to keep them low enough to see but high enough to stay out of mischief. Storing these massive creatures is challenging and unfortunately damage has occurred over the years. Thanks to hours of work on the part of David Bongers, repairs were made in time to hang the butterflies once again this year.
There have been others behind the scenes serving in this area. For example, when Gloria had the vision of a larger-than-life nativity scene for the west wall in the atrium, Jon Kindschy fastidiously cut the figures, bringing the wooden nativity to life. Since Gloria’s death and Holly’s move to Georgia, there have been others who have been part of liturgical arts at Immanuel, the most recent being Sarah Rodden who last May helped visualize Pentecost with red, yellow, and orange fabric ‘swooping’ from the baptismal font over the congregation. We are so blessed to have our worship space enhanced by artists who share God’s Word with us in such a unique and compelling way!
Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! Alleluia! Serving together in Christ alone!
Pastor Glen
Friends of Immanuel,
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Easter is not a “one-off,” celebrating it one Sunday and then putting it back on the shelf until next year. Easter is so significant that every single Sunday is intended to be a little Easter. And we are now in the six-week season of Easter, weekly proclaiming that Easter-victory-shout, “Christ is risen!”
This Easter season we’re going to focus on the journey we are on with our Lord and the part we get to play in that journey. Our Easter series is called, Our Journey With Jesus. We know that on our own we are lost, and we rely completely on what Jesus accomplished for us on Good Friday and Easter morning – that is foundational to the life we’ve been given. But just as the Easter season continues past Easter Sunday, so does the journey for all who follow Jesus. Here at Immanuel, we’ve used the Marks of Discipleship for many years as signposts for us to look to along this journey. This Easter season we’ll tap into those Marks, thinking especially about the importance of being intentional when it comes to our spiritual growth (Mark of Discipleship #6). To refresh your memory, or for those who have never heard of the Marks of Discipleship, here they are, along with my brief explanation of why we have them:
Marks of Discipleship
Discipleship is the Christian’s intentional journey in grace. Jesus commanded the Church to “go and make disciples” (Matthew 28:18). The goal of a disciple is maturity in Jesus Christ… “to grow into the maturity of the full stature of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13).
Being disciples of Jesus Christ is what Immanuel is all about. The Marks of Discipleship are significant components of our spiritual growth spoken of regularly by our Lord and laid out clearly in the Scriptures. While they are not “requirements,” we lift these Marks of Discipleship as clarifiers. They help us more fully experience the joy and responsibilities of our faith. The Marks of Discipleship are the benchmarks to strive for especially for our leaders in the ministry. However, all members of Immanuel are encouraged to be continually growing in their relationship with Jesus Christ through the use of and growth in the Marks of Discipleship.
The invitation is to come grow with us, to demonstrate
the following Marks of Discipleship:
- Personal faith demonstrated in daily Scripture Reading; Psalm 119:105
- Personal faith demonstrated in daily Prayer; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-19
- Weekly Worship; Psalm 122:1 and Hebrews 10:23-25
- Active Christian Giving through
- Serving in a ministry at Immanuel; 1 Corinthians 12:4-13
- Tithing or a commitment to move to Tithing; Malachi 3:10 and 2 Corinthians 8:12
- Involvement in at least one Service Project outside of Immanuel at least once a year; Matthew 25:31-46
- Commitment to ministry through Healthy Relationships; be a team player; Mark 6:7
- Intentional Spiritual Growth; develop a personal growth plan including regular Bible study with fellow believers; Ephesians 4:11-16
- Discipleship of at least one other person; Romans 15:1-2, (3-6)
I’m looking forward to our journey together in worship, in growing, in learning, and in living out the glorious message of Easter!
Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! Alleluia! Serving together in Christ alone!
Pastor Glen
Friends of Immanuel,
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! As I promised in yesterday’s update, before we move too far past Holy Week and Easter Sunday’s celebration, I want to express a few thank yous and share some awesome pictures!
First a big thank you to some of our resident photographers – Jason Atkins, Stephen Beer, Bill Busacker, and Randi Rost. We asked them if they would be willing to capture Holy Week and Easter Sunday observances, activities, and worship with pictures. They did an amazing job! What you see below in the collages is their work, with Palm Sunday footage from Marcus Howard. An added thank you to Ashley Jones, our Ministry Support Specialist, for sorting through several hundred pictures and putting them together as you see below.
Second, thank you to all who extended invitations to others to come to worship and express our Savior’s Radical Hospitality in a very real way. I want to thank Kathy Schlecht, our Director of Worship and Music Ministries, for putting together all those times of worship as well as for her musical leadership. Thank you to all of our musicians – vocalists and instrumentalists – for using your gifts and musical abilities to enhance our worship times in a beautiful and powerful way. Thank you to all who served in our many, many worship support roles, including ushering, greeting, acolyting, basket holding, reading scripture, serving communion, serving as head elder, hammering, counting and recording financial gifts, decorating, live streaming, sound and lights, screens, altar guild and preparing the Lord’s Supper and changing the paraments – you are all invaluable.
Next, thank you to Martha Harkins, our Director of Children’s Ministries (and her family), for prepping and leading the awesome opportunities for the children and families, and to Marcus Howard, our Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries (and his wife Eliana) for leading our youth in serving the delicious Easter breakfast along with all our youth and parents who set-up, served, and cleaned up. Thank you to everyone who gave so generously in supplies and financial donations to help make the Easter breakfast a great fundraiser for our youth and their upcoming summer trip. Thank you to Jake Hollen, our Director of Facilities, for all the labor-intensive work of setting up and cleaning and making this place look great, as well as David Bongers and others who helped get the butterflies hung (more on that to come!). Thank you to Cindy Eversole who ordered, arranged, and cared for all the Easter lilies and flowers up front in the chancel area, and Sandy Northrup for her ongoing decorating in the atrium area. Thank you to all who donated toward the beautiful Easter lilies and fresh flowers, as well as all who brought fresh flowers to create this beautiful flower-cross masterpiece! Thank you to everyone who got their picture taken to help further our online picture directory, and to all of our picture-takers. Thank you to all of you for making Immanuel such an amazing community of faith! And finally, thanks and praise, honor and glory to our risen and victorious Savior Jesus Christ, for the gift of life, grace, and hope!
Enjoy the journey to the cross and the empty tomb below with collages below of Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Saturday set-up and preparation, and Easter Sunday.
Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! Alleluia! Serving together in Christ alone!
Pastor Glen
Friends of Immanuel,
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! And now the Easter celebration continues for the next six weeks as together we bask in the glow of our Savior’s victory over sin, death, and the devil. There were lots and lots of amazing pictures taken, capturing some of the awesomeness of Holy Week and Easter Sunday. I’ll be sending out a special “Holy Week and Easter Sunday Follow-Up” edition of my update tomorrow – so keep your eyes open for that showing up in your inbox tomorrow.
With our Holy Week and Easter Sunday celebrations now past, don’t even think for a moment that there’s nothing more happening. To the contrary! All you have to do is read on… We get to be REAL as we live out Jesus’ Easter victory. We do that as we continue to serve our Savior right here and right now in real-time and in real-life, as we serve the people in our community and beyond with some of the many ministries that are ahead. And there are also plenty of opportunities for each of us to keep growing in our faith and knowledge and love of our Lord. If you’re not engaged with anything at the moment but would like to be, don’t hesitate to ask – there’s a place for everyone here! And as I mentioned again on Sunday, you don’t have to be a member here at Immanuel to participate in what is going on – so come and join us in Our Journey with Jesus! (That’s our new Easter series – more on that in Thursday’s update.)
On Sunday I had several of you ask about the prayer I used in my Easter sermon, what I paraphrased from King David in Psalm 71. Some of you had mentioned that it really spoke to you and where you’re at in life right now and you asked that I share it. To that end, here’s the paraphrase I put together. The bottom line of what King David was writing about is that our Lord knows what we’re going through – the ups and the downs – and He’s promised to be here with us through everything the world may throw our way. I invite you to pray this prayer of King David today as we get real with God, with ourselves, and with each other:
“Lord, in You I’ve taken refuge; don’t let me ever be put to shame. On the foundation of Your goodness, Your faithfulness, Your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me when I’m up against it. Be my rock of refuge, the place I can always go, no matter what. You are my rock; You are my fortress. Deliver me, save me from anyone and anything that may try to hurt me, harm me, or steer me toward evil and try to bring wickedness and hardship into my life. You have been my hope, Lord, my confidence. Because of who You are and all You’ve done, I will ever praise You and continually tell others about You. Don’t toss me aside when I get old and my strength fails me. And when my adversaries look to pounce, thinking You, God, have left and forsaken me, stay close to me; come quickly to help me. As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more.”
In case you missed it, I’m also including this week’s What Now? here:
What Now?
Bask in the glow of Easter and look for opportunities to express your faith in Jesus and what His Easter victory means for you in real and practical terms.
Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! Alleluia! Serving together in Christ alone!
Pastor Glen
Friends of Immanuel,
A blessed Good Friday to you all! As we continue our Holy Week observances, celebrations, and worship services this week, don’t forget about the opportunity right in front of us. That opportunity is to extend an invitation for others to join you for one or all of Immanuel’s worship services. With Easter, many people may be more open to have faith-related discussions and even invitations to come to worship. Don’t let this pass you by. And remember, this isn’t about arm-twisting or loading a guilt-trip on someone. Let the conversations and the invitations flow out of the relationships you have – with family members, friends, neighbors, co-workers, fellow gym-mates, and others in your life. Don’t be afraid about not being able to answer every question that may be thrown at you – I’m not sure anybody knows all the answers to questions people have. Rather, approach conversations and extend invitations out of the love and the care you have for those people in your life.
If you do invite someone to join you for one of our worship services, go out of your way to show some Radical Hospitality. Offer to pick them up or tell them you’ll meet them in the parking lot and walk in with them. Walking in the front doors can be the hardest steps someone can take – make it as easy and as stress-free as possible. On Easter morning, “buy” them breakfast in the gym. Introduce them to me and to others here at Immanuel that you know. Let the genuine love that I see here week-in and week-out flow freely through this Easter season.
If people in your life aren’t ready to walk in the doors, remember that live stream is yet another option for them to safely check things out. Tonight’s 7:00pm service will be livestreamed as will all of our Easter services (6:00am, 8:00am and 10:30am), all of which can be found on Immanuel’s website (www.ImmanuelLoveland.org).
All are welcome and I hope to see many new and “old” faces as we gather together to worship our Savior, our King, our Victor in the coming days in the joy and the hope we know!
Friends of Immanuel,
Where have we come since Palm Sunday and Jesus’ glorious, kingly entry into Jerusalem? Noteworthy events on Monday included Jesus cleansing the temple, overturning the tables of the money-changers and declaring, “My house will be called a house of prayer; but you are making it a ‘den of robbers.’” He also cursed a fig tree which, when looking at that more closely, shows us that Jesus was making a significant statement about the importance of His followers bearing fruit and not just looking the part, which apparently was the case with that fig tree.
Tuesday was a day filled with some challenging teaching from Jesus. He criticized the religious leaders, saying, “Blind guides!... For you are like whitewashed tombs—beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people's bones and all sorts of impurity. Outwardly, you look like righteous people, but inwardly, your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness. Snakes! Sons of vipers! How will you escape the judgment of hell?" (Matthew 23:24-33) Then Jesus went on to speak of cosmic disruption, the destruction of the Temple, using parables and symbolic language, He taught about end times events, His Second Coming, and the final judgment, all of which has led to a wide variety of interpretations. Bottom line? Challenging times would be coming for those first believers and they wouldn’t be pleasant times. Adding to the darkness of this Tuesday, Judas negotiated with the religious leaders to betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver, although it’s possible that this occurred on Wednesday.
Wednesday of Holy Week has been called “Silent Wednesday.” There is very little that we know happened on this day. It seems Jesus stayed out of the public eye, perhaps going to the home of a man named Simon the leper, quietly retreating into silence and solitude in anticipation of what was coming.
And today is Maundy Thursday. I explained much of what today is all about in yesterday’s email update. We continue pressing toward the cross and toward the empty tomb on this faith-filled journey. I hope you can come and be part of worship as our celebration and observation of the amazing and powerful events of Holy Week, with worship today at 1:00pm and 7:00pm today.
Serving together in Christ alone!
Pastor Glen
Friends of Immanuel,
Tomorrow is Maundy Thursday. “Maundy” comes from the Latin word mandatum where we get our English word “mandate.” Among many other things, what Jesus gave to His disciples (and to us!) in the Upper Room on that Thursday evening was a new command or mandate. Jesus said (John 13:34-35), “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
It was also on that night that Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper. Jesus and His disciples were in the Upper Room celebrating the Passover meal – a meal that foreshadowed all that Jesus had come to do in fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies. Jesus transformed the Passover meal into what He intended it to ultimately be, our weekly celebration of the Lord’s Supper.
There was much more that went on, some of which we’ll be talking about in our Maundy Thursday worship services tomorrow. Those services are at 1:00pm and 7:00pm. We’ll celebrate the Lord’s Supper at both services and there will be the Stripping of the Altar at the end of the 7:00pm service. That is part of the preparation or transition into Good Friday, as Jesus and His disciples headed out from the Upper Room to the Mount of Olives, the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus would be betrayed and arrested.
The following day we will observe Good Friday, the day of Jesus’ crucifixion, with worship services at 1:00pm and 7:00pm. Both worship services are identical with the exception of the music – the 7:00pm service includes an instrumental ensemble accompanying the singing, as well as participation by the Chancel Choir. Both services focus on the events of the death of our Savior using various Psalms, the account of the events of that day from the Gospel of Matthew, pictures from The Passion of the Christ that accompany the Scripture readings, and dimming of the lights throughout the service until total darkness.
All are welcome at these worship services as we continue to follow our Lord through these powerful days as Jesus looked to complete the mission for which He came – to bring life, hope, and restoration to our world! I hope you can join me and many others over these next two days as we join Christians around the world in our observance of these events. If you’re not able to be here in person, the 7:00pm services on both Thursday and Friday will be live streamed which can be found on Immanuel’s website (www.ImmanuelLoveland.org).
Below are the Scripture readings if you want to take a look at them ahead of Maundy Thursday worship.
March 28th – Maundy Thursday
Lent Series: The Psalms: A Book of Honest Emotions
Old Testament: Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19
Epistle: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Gospel: John 13:1-17, 31b-35
Sermon Title: “Psalm 116: The Cup of Salvation”
Serving together in Christ alone!
Pastor Glen
REGULAR SUNDAY MORNING SCHEDULE
Classic Grace Worship - 8:00am
Education Hour for all ages - 9:30am
Contemporary Joy Worship - 10:30am
SUMMER WORSHIP SCHEDULE
Classic Grace Worship - 8:00am
Outdoor Contemporary Joy Worship - 9:30am
No Education Hour during the Summer
Have questions for us? Ask!