Friends of Immanuel,
The violence from yesterday with the assassination of Charlie Kirk and the school shooting at Evergreen High School here in Colorado, today the remembrance of the nearly 3000 people who lost their lives on September 11^th, 2001, the school shooting on August 27^th in MN, the fatal stabbing in NC on August 22^nd… the heaviness has been palpable since early afternoon on Wednesday, the weight of all this recent violence catching up with so many of us. What do we do with all this?

I’m going to lean in on Charlie Kirk and the example he has left us. If you don’t know him, I encourage you to Google him for more information. He was a young man (31-years-old) who spent his too-short adult life actively speaking out in the political realm about politics and social issues. He was a conservative voice, a strong Christian, a man who shared his faith regularly and boldly with friends and family, on social media, in his speaking engagements, and through the organization he started.

Charlie is best known as a man who travelled around the country speaking on college campuses to audiences of thousands of young adults, in a debate-style format, inviting any and all questions that these young people had about the political and social issues of the day. Charlie was extremely intelligent, winsome and conversant with the issues of the day, and someone who spoke the Truth in love, as the Lord commands us in Ephesians 4:15. His “conversations” at the many campus events were not judgmental or a speaking-down to those with whom he engaged, yet he spoke biblical truth in bold, honest, and loving ways. Because of this style and being the person God made him to be, he has attracted a major following, especially of young people, particularly of young men. I believe Charlie was at least one piece of the reason we’re seeing the rise in young men, and young people in general, returning to church, to faith, to family, to Jesus, and seriously exploring why these things matter when it comes to living our lives.

Charlie was a hero of faith for our times. His voice and the person he was will certainly be missed, especially by his wife and his two daughters (1 and 3). But his influence has been felt and, I pray, will continue to have a powerful impact on many others for generations to come.

To the question, “What do we do with all this?” Charlie was a man of faith who encouraged others by sharing Scripture passages, by living his faith, speaking God’s Truth in bold and winsome ways. What I believe we are called to do with all that we’re experiencing right now is to stand firmly on Jesus. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life and no one comes to the Father but through Jesus (John 14:6). He invites us to come to Him when we are weary and burdened (Matthew 11:28). He tells us to be still and know, remember, and be assured that He is God (Psalm 46:10). He reminds us that the devil is real and his influence is powerful in this world, prowling around like a roaring lion looking for someone, anyone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). In spite of the devil’s reality, the Lord’s call to us is to “resist him (the devil), standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of suffering” (1 Peter 5:9). Similarly, Jesus reminded us before He went to the cross that in this world we’re going to have trouble, even as believers in Jesus, but that we can take heart because He has overcome the world (John 16:33) through His victory over sin, death, and the devil, by His sacrificial death on the cross and His victorious resurrection from the dead on that first Easter morning. While we may not understand all that is happening, the Lord assures us that He will work out all things for good to those who love him and that nothing in this created world, even death itself, can separate us from the love we know in Jesus (Romans 8:28-39). We have our Lord’s promise of His faithfulness and ongoing presence and help in our lives, knowing that He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).

What do we do with all this? Come running back to our Lord and Savior Jesus. He is our hope, our help, our Savior. Gather with others in worship, taking to heart our Lord’s encouragement to praise Him in every situation (found throughout the psalms and Philippians 4:4-9), as we sing together, hear God’s Word, confess our brokenness, seek His grace and forgiveness, and remember His promises – together!

We are in a battle, my friends, and as Luther wrote in his powerful Reformation hymn, “A Mighty Fortress,” we know that Jesus has won this battle for us. But fight we must. Luther wrote, “Though hordes of devils fill the land all threat’ning to devour us, we tremble not, unmoved we stand; they cannot overpow’r us. Let this world’s tyrant rage; in battle we’ll engage. His might is doomed to fail; God’s judgment must prevail! One little word subdues him… the body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still; his kingdom is forever.” Let’s stand strong together as followers of Jesus against all the evils of our world, standing boldly and courageously on the Truth of God’s Word in Jesus, speaking and living that Truth in love for all to hear.

Serving together in Christ alone!
Pastor Glen

Friends of Immanuel,

Wow, what a day yesterday was!! Walking in the doors on Sunday morning, you couldn’t help but get the sense that there was something exciting happening. With the atrium filled with tables and displays and descriptions of ministries, Bible studies, small groups, fun activities, opportunities to serve, and more, multiple people told me that it was almost overwhelming to see everything that is happening here at Immanuel – and then they smiled and told me how great this is and how they’ve never seen anything like this! Way to go, Pastor Robin, for your leadership and vision of making all this happen! And way to go, all of you ministry leaders who decorated and manned your tables, engaged in conversations, and practiced Radical Hospitality in a beautiful way!

What a joy it was to celebrate with Miss Emma as she was commissioned and installed as Immanuel’s Director of Chrisitan Education (DCE). I appreciate those who were willing to serve as congregational representatives to speak God’s Word over her in the blessing and laying on of hands. I’m excited to see the many ways God is going to continue to work in Emma’s life and how He will be using her, along with all of us, to carry out His mission, share His love, and to spread His message of hope and life!

Miss Emma’s dad, Pastor Scott, did an amazing job of preaching yesterday, sharing God’s Word with us in a very real and practical way, and kicking off our new fall series, Radical Discipleship. He did a great job of laying the groundwork for us and what we will be exploring throughout the fall when it comes to our following Jesus. I had to smile as he shared with me after worship that a number of you complimented him on his sermon but told him that I was your favorite pastor! He and I both got a big laugh out of that! It is truly a privilege to me that I get to be here as your pastor and serve together with all of you in this place and time!

There is more to come! I want to put in front of all of you next Sunday’s Vision Casting event that will take place during the Education Hour on September 14^th, starting at 9:30am in the sanctuary. Miss Emma, Pastor Robin, and I will be sharing more of what’s coming this year as we look to carry out the mission the Lord has given us as His people. I hope all of you can be here and be part of the excitement as we prayerfully and purposefully step into this new season to serve our Savior together, furthering His Kingdom, and sharing His love in every way possible!

Related to the mission we’ve been given, I know that a good number of you are interested in joining me in my next Immanuel 101 class. That will start on Sunday, September 21^st during the Education Hour (9:30-10:20). It’s a great opportunity to invite someone to come and find out more about who we are at Immanuel, including what we believe and teach and what drives us to be who we are and do what we do. I encourage you to invite others who may have an interest and plan on sitting with them in the class (for a refresher for yourself!). Send me a quick email if you’re interested in joining me for the fall Immanuel 101 class!

Thanks for being here and be part of the fun and exciting work the Lord is doing in us, among us, and through us here in northern Colorado!

Serving together in Christ alone!
Pastor Glen

Friends of Immanuel,
We talk about discipleship regularly – and we should! It can be defined or described in several different ways. Discipleship is about growing in our faith and in our sanctified life of following Jesus. Discipleship is about responding to God’s saving message of love by striving to be more and more like Jesus, living as He’s called us to live as His people. Discipleship can also be described as walking alongside other people, encouraging them, helping them, guiding them as best we can to what a life with Jesus can look like. In other words, outreach through relationships!

To talk about “radical” discipleship means living a life fully devoted to following Jesus, where every aspect of one’s life is shaped by His teaching and example. It’s more than nominal Christianity; it’s a whole-hearted commitment to living out the values of the Kingdom of God. It’s being extreme to our roots and committed to Christ to the very core of our being. Is there a willingness to prioritize following Jesus above everything, including laying down of self and a willingness to forsake earthy ties and comforts?

The thing about discipleship is this – the way Jesus talks about it, demonstrates it, teaches and preaches it – discipleship is an extremely radical concept in contrast to the world and the culture in which we live. Even as followers of Jesus, paying close attention to what Jesus says and taking it seriously will rock our world! This fall, we’re going to try to do just that – look deeply and seriously at what Jesus is calling us to do and at who He is calling us to be using the theme Radical Discipleship. Each week we’ll take a look at a different aspect of discipleship, sometimes topics that we take for granted, and put it under a microscope to see just how radical following Jesus really is!

I’m looking forward to the journey together into some Radical Discipleship this fall!

Serving together in Christ alone!
Pastor Glen

Friends of Immanuel, 

Labor Day weekend and the unofficial end of summer is now in the rearview mirror and we’re ready to launch into the fall with the start-up of many ministries that have taken a break over the summer. I have to say, it’s an exciting time around Immanuel! Next Sunday’s Ministry Fair is going to be an excellent opportunity to check out many of the options for various groups, Bible studies, service opportunities, and more.  

I’m going to take advantage of my lead article today and hold up something just for men. Since 2008 I’ve been hosting Men’s Movie Nights at Immanuel on Wednesday nights from 6:00pm-7:00pm. I’ve long been a fan of movies and so out of that love, a bunch of guys gather together every Wednesday through the school year to munch on popcorn, grab a cold one (sorry – Sprite, Diet Coke, Mountain Dew, etc.! LOL!), and watch some GUY movies! 

Exactly what kind of guy movies do we watch? Over the years we’ve watched  The Dark Knight, The Bourne movies, Iron Man, Glory Road, Gran Torino, James Bond movies, Mission Impossible movies, Gravity, World War Z, Interstellar, McFarland USA, Deepwater Horizon, some of the Jurassic movies, Arrival, Tenet, Remember the Titans, Inception, the Top Gun movies, Braveheart, Sound of Freedom, Gladiator, Reagan, and Twisters, to name just a few! 

How does it work? Over the course of two weeks, we watch the movie that’s been voted on – about 60-75 minutes each week, sometimes it’s a little longer, depending on the length of the movie. Then the third week we talk about and discuss the movie, sharing what we liked or didn’t like, and making application to our lives as men of God. Joe Sarr of our congregation has partnered with me for many, many years and he puts together some pretty amazing discussion guides for us.  

All movie-loving men are welcome to come and enjoy the movies and discussions. You don’t have to be a member of Immanuel to take part. We meet in Immanuel’s movie room, which is room 36, a room equipped with a full-wall screen and surround sound (I like my movies with plenty of volume!). Come and bring a friend! I send out email invitations and weekly reminders about what movie we’re watching, the opportunity to vote on the next movie, or if we have changes to our schedule. If you’d like to be included on that email group, just send an email my way and I’ll get you added. 

We’re starting our new season NEXT week on Wednesday, September 10th and we’ll be watching Green and Gold. It’s a movie that was sponsored by Culvers as a way to highlight the struggles of family farmers and support the agricultural community through its Thank You Farmers Project. It also includes plenty of fun nods to the Green Bay Packers (yes, that’s partly why I love this movie!!). 

While being a somewhat predictable film, the thematic elements make it worth taking the time to watch and discuss! Here’s a short synopsis of Green and Gold:  

“A hymn to America’s heartland, Green and Gold is less a movie than a sermon. Directed by Anders Lindwall, this drama set in the early 90s is inspired by true events. We witness the struggles of a bankrupt dairyman when he stakes a championship bet to preserve his family farm as his granddaughter seeks a fresh start as a musician. This homage to the Green Bay Packers blends farming and football culture, seeking to weave a poignant tale of family, tradition, and the changing face of rural America. Quaint visuals, folk music, and explorations of environmentalism, generational conflict, and community appeal to a rustic charm.” (from a film review by Miranda Zampogna)  

Come and join me and some other great guys here at Immanuel this fall as we take in some fun movies and discussions! And I hope to see you next Sunday for our single/combined worship service at 9:00am and the Ministry Fair before and after worship to check out everything happening this fall. 

Serving together in Christ alone! 

Pastor Glen 

Friends of Immanuel,
As you’re reading this email, I’m at Moraine Park Campground in Rocky Mountain National Park (our favorite!), sitting with Kathy by a campfire, reading a spy novel, our dog Luther sitting by my side, and enjoying the beauty of the mountains and the great outdoors that our Lord has created and with which He has so amazingly blessed us! We’re taking a couple days to enjoy a change of scenery before re-entering the real world when we come back down the mountain on Saturday night to worship with all of you on Sunday morning.

Labor Day camping has been a long-standing tradition in the Schlecht home! Kathy and I have taken our kids up, most often to Moraine Park, to camp around Labor Day weekend since they were toddlers. Neither of us grew up camping but when we got to Colorado, someone in the congregation loaned us their pop-up camper, gave us some quick instructions on how to put it up and take it down, and told us to go camping. We were hooked!

I had done some reading about parenting, families, and how to be a better dad, and one of the things that I remember reading in multiple books and articles was the importance of time together as a family. That time together could be experienced in lots of different ways – regular time around the dinner table together, going to worship together, family devotion time, taking walks or bike rides together, intentional dates (dad-daughter, dad-son, dad-kids, or the same with mom and the kids, or the family together), and so many more ideas. But it was the suggestion of camping that jumped off the page for me.

What I loved about our bold venture into the camping world, and our continued camping through the years, is what it offered me as a dad and us as a family. When we camp, we’re together and there’s no escape!! LOL! Whether it’s sitting around the campfire watching it burn, or playing a game in the pop-up, or going on a hike, skipping rocks in the lake, reading books, making meals together, eating meals together, or cleaning up after meals together, we were together. And so many of those times afforded us the opportunity, either as our entire family or in one-on-one situations, to talk about all sorts of things – school, band, the Packers, growing up, dreams for the future, and so much more.

I share all this as a way to offer some encouragement. God placed us in families very intentionally. Family is at the foundation of God’s plan, as well as how societies and cultures are supposed to work in healthy ways. Here at Immanuel, we recognize the value and importance of family. As “A Family Place,” we try to provide resources, support, and encouragement to families of all shapes and sizes, from single adults, to married couples without kids, to divorced and/or remarried couples, those families with kids and without kids, empty nesters, widows and widowers. We’re certainly not perfect, nor do we have all the answers, but we strive by the activities and ministries we offer, the way we choose to worship, the staffing we provide, articles I write and sermons I preach, and in many other ways, to support and build-up families as God intended.

I feel so blessed by the resources provided to me and by God’s leading me as a child of His, as a husband, as a father, and as your pastor. This Labor Day weekend, whatever your family looks like, take time – with friends, with family – to spend some time together. Talk, share dreams, ask questions of each other, get to know each other better, and wonder together about things in your life. Reflect on how amazing our Savior is and the blessings He has poured, and, I pray, continues to pour into your lives.

Serving together in Christ alone!
Pastor Glen

Friends of Immanuel,

What the Lord gives to us in yesterday’s Old Testament reading from Jeremiah 1:4-10 are some simple yet powerful promises that I want to reiterate for all of us to be encouraged by today. Jeremiah 1 is the Lord’s call to Jeremiah to be His prophet, his voice to the nations, speaking the Lord’s Good News and hope.

As we explored these verses, we discovered that what the Lord was saying to Jeremiah was just as applicable to each of us still today. I share these promises with all of you to build you up and encourage you today!

The Lord says to you and to me, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you.” You are the very handiwork of God. Check out Ephesians 2:8-10 also. There are multiple places where the Lord is very specific in telling us that it was He who formed us, who knit us together in our mother’s wombs, who gave us our personalities and traits, who made us just as we are in all our uniqueness, those things that make me me and you you! You are a child of God who is loved and cherished by our heavenly Father.

He also says to us, “Before you were born I set you apart.” We are not some accident of evolution or purposeless people. Far from it! As New Testament believers, we know that one of the promises of baptism is that through water and the Word, we are set apart, made holy, assured of the purposes which God has given us. The Lord God has always known you, loved you, and set you apart for Himself! We are the beloved children of our heavenly Father!

Finally, the Lord says, “I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” This is our purpose! While we may not have literal nations to whom we are being sent like Jeremiah did, we have been given this purpose. Jesus told us in Matthew 28:18, “Go and make disciples of all nations.” For us, those “nations” are likely family members, extended family, friends and neighbors, classmates and teammates, co-workers, bosses, and employees. What do we share? Essentially, we share “Jesus,” by sharing the wonders God has done and is doing in our lives, the difference Jesus makes in our lives, even what it is the inspires us and gets us out of bed in the morning. We can share our faith stories, both the ups and the downs of following Jesus.

As the Lord urged Jeremiah when Jeremiah gave several excuses as to why he wasn’t qualified to do what the Lord was asking of him, I encourage all of us to step into this week’s What Now? with boldness and courage. Be willing to move out of your comfort zone, assured of the Lord’s promise to us – “I have put my words in your mouth.” The Lord will help us to speak of Him, to share His love, to show His grace. Everything we’ve been given is gift upon gift upon gift from our Lord. And why? Because He loves you! 

What Now?

Set aside your excuses and your fears this week and pray for an opportunity for God to use you to share Jesus and His love with someone.

Serving together in Christ alone!
Pastor Glen

Friends of Immanuel,
I got word that Dr. James Dobson, the founder of Focus on the Family, passed away today. That caused me to pause and reflect a bit on the blessing he has been for me as a husband, dad, and pastor over these many years. I would put him in that category of a hero of the faith that we’ve been reflecting on the past couple of weeks in worship from Hebrews 11.

His work, including the studies he conducted, books and articles he wrote, and the encouragement given to parents and families around the world, have had a tremendous impact on so many. We can truly thank God for the blessing of Dr. Dobson and the ways He chose to use this faithful man of God.

I’d like to share a few quotes from Jim Daly, current president and CEO of Focus on the Family and host of the daily “Focus on the Family” radio broadcast, in an article that he sent out today, sharing the news of Dr. Dobson’s death.

“If you’ve followed Focus for many years, you’re already familiar with Dr. Dobson’s remarkable life. And if you’re a relatively new friend of Focus, you should know that so much of what we do here is a testament to his passion for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and his desire to nurture and defend the God-ordained institution of the family.

Although Dr. Dobson departed Focus in 2010, even today we continue to hear testimonies from people who were impacted by his books or broadcasts, or whose lives were touched as a result of his care and compassion for the hurting and the vulnerable. We have put together a web site in his memory here, and we have also recorded a tribute broadcast that you can find here.

Please join me in remembering Dr. Dobson’s wife, Shirley, a Focus board member emerita, and their family in your prayers during this time of mourning. And rejoice with us in the knowledge that he is now in the presence of his Savior, and that his legacy lives on in the generations of families he touched. God bless you.”

I know that Dr. Dobson had an impact on Kathy and me and the way we raised our children. The ideas and encouragement given through a myriad of Focus on the Family resources, including the beloved radio drama series, “Adventures in Odyssey,” that we enjoyed on so many road trips, have helped strengthen our marriage and our family in many ways. In later years, Focus on the Family branched out to support pastors and that, too, was a help and encouragement to me and certainly played a part in our adopting the phrase, “A Family Place,” to describe who we are here at Immanuel. So I give thanks to our Lord for this man of God and the powerful ways He used him through his lifetime, to strengthen families in such solid, bible-based ways for the furthering of the Kingdom.

Serving together in Christ alone!
Pastor Glen

Friends of Immanuel, 

I thoroughly enjoyed yesterday and rounding out God’s Hall of Fame, the Heroes of Faith chapter of the Bible from Hebrews 11. It’s so inspiring to be reminded of the many amazing and unexpected ways in which God has chosen to work throughout history – including the wide variety of people He chose to work through. Three things I want to encourage for today – one is this week’s What Now?, which is the same as last week. I’m using the same one as the previous week because of the importance and value of stories when it comes to sharing our faith and the impact that faith has had on our lives. So think about the questions in this week’s What Now? and look for those opportunities to tell your stories and also to seek out the stories of others. 

Second, from yesterday’s message, I had you think about who your heroes of faith are – the people who have had an impact on you and your faith. While we didn’t have time to share during worship, I would love to hear who those heroes of faith are in your life. Send me an email or a text or drop me a note. 

Third, I want to encourage you to see yourself as a potential hero of faith for someone else in your life. Not that we aspire to hero-hood, but believe that God wants to, and can, use every single one of us to speak Jesus and His messages of love, grace, and hope into the lives of others. As we walk together, keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, look for those opportunities to walk alongside others in our lives, to befriend or care for or show love to those God has put into your life. Show them Jesus by your words and your actions. 

What Now? 

Think about some of the faith stories from your life – when you came to faith, times when you grew in your faith, or times you’ve struggled with your faith. Then share some of those stories with your spouse, family, or friends, and ask to hear their stories as well. 

Finally, I want to share a few pictures with you of Miss Emma and her wedding! Rick and Annette Overton (Rick is our high school’s Executive Director and Annette serves on our Executive Council) attended Emma and Josh’s wedding in St. Paul this past weekend and passed along a few pictures to all of us who weren’t able to be there. They were married in the chapel at Concordia University—St. Paul, where both Emma and Josh attended and graduated from. The first picture is of Emma and her parents walking her down the aisle. Her dad, who is also a pastor, was blessed to not only be a proud dad on Saturday but was able to be part of the “official” parts of their being joined as husband and wife!  

Congratulations to the Hubbles, Emma and Josh, and our Savior’s richest blessings as they begin this new season in their life together! They will be returning to Loveland around the first of September and Emma will be commissioned and installed as our Director of Christian Education (DCE) on Sunday, September 7th at our single service (9:00am). Exciting times for all of us! 

Serving together in Christ alone! 

Pastor Glen 

Friends of Immanuel,
On Monday morning, Pastor Robin asked to talk with me and what he shared was some very surprising and some very big news. I’ll let him share by way of what he wrote to Immanuel’s leadership on the Executive Council and the Board of Elders on Tuesday.

Hi dear friends – I’ve decided, after TONS of prayer and thought, to “retire” from my call as Immanuel’s Director of Discipleship and Connecting ministry position effective November 1^st, 2025. 

Vicky and I have been so blessed in the past four years that we have shared with all of you: life in Jesus and His mission. We are and will be eternally grateful for your love, friendship, generosity, and support. To have the opportunity to share this precious time with you in a staff capacity has been a blessing in our lives. You (and our Pastor, Church/School staff, and Congregational Leaders) have graciously given me the trust to lead you in vital areas of our congregation’s life and ministry vision from which I’ve grown along with you in dependency and fruitfulness as a disciple in God’s Kingdom. Though not on staff for a given number of hours per week, I will continue to be part of Immanuel’s future in whatever ways I feel led to offer my gifts, talents, and ministry passions. That means that I will be “pulling back” for a bit after November 1st, but during that time, I will be seeking the Lord on how best to serve our congregation with my gifts. So, you’re not done with me yet!

With all my heart, I’ll close by stating again our love and our gratitude to God and you! If you have any questions, please know that I am available for a conversation. 

In Jesus’ love,
Robin

Pastor Robin and I first met in October of 2020 when he was driving back up to Fort Collins after spending time with his dying father in Boulder and, driving past Immanuel on highway 287, he pulled over in the parking lot between the Burger King and Christian Brothers and called the church, asking to set up a meeting with the pastor. As I remember, we met within a day or so and during that conversation as we shared our ministry and life stories, we made a wonderful connection, and I knew God was working out something pretty special.

It wasn’t long after that first conversation that he and Vicky landed here at Immanuel. After more conversations with our leadership about the possibility of bringing Pastor Robin on staff, it didn’t take long for us to see God’s guiding hand. On Sunday, March 6^th, 2022, we installed Pastor Robin as our Director of Discipleship and Connecting Ministries. And we were off and running! Pastor Robin has been an amazing addition to ministry at Immanuel these last 5 years with his high energy, his passion for discipleship and connecting people to Jesus and to each other, his creative ideas, his obvious love for Jesus, his humor, his many gifts, talents, and abilities, his depth of theology and ability to teach Scripture and difficult topics in a very practical and easy-to-understand way, and on and on it goes! He is going to be sorely missed!!

You can talk directly with Pastor Robin about some of what was behind his decision – I want to let him tell more of that part of his story. As we talked on Monday, I assured him that as hard as it will be to not have him on staff, I fully honor and respect his decision to retire. I’m thankful that he and Vicky will continue to be part of our Immanuel family moving forward, just in some different capacities starting November 1^st.

I appreciate the transition plans that he has shared with me, to ensure as best he can that the various ministries he has led and participated in will continue to move forward. As leaders and as a congregation, there will be some decisions we need to make in terms of how we will move forward as well. It will certainly be a new and different season for us – but one that the Lord, as always, will lead us into! In the meantime, let’s enjoy these next few months of working and serving together with Pastor Robin as we transition together and pray over what the Lord has in store for us.

Serving together in Christ alone!
Pastor Glen