Friends of Immanuel,

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

I love our Easter series, Joy in the Journey, and I hope you are enjoying it as well! There is one thing that has come up with the last two Sundays that I want to clarify when it comes to the joy that we seek as followers of Jesus. The joy we can experience, no matter the circumstances of our journey, is not joy in the difficult things or the challenges we experience. We’re not called to experience joy when we face tragedies or accidents or other difficult things that this broken world can throw our way.

Instead, we find joy in the Lord – whether our journey is taking us down a tough stretch or up a mountaintop. As I’ve described that joy, it is a deep-seated confidence and assurance in Jesus and His resurrection victory on that first Easter. Peter described it so well and so thoroughly in 1 Peter 1:3-9, taking us back to the source of our joy – “new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade.” This is the real joy the Lord offers us, no matter where we may be on our journey of faith and life.

As we heard yesterday, our Lord often chooses to work through very ordinary means to accomplish extraordinary things in our hearts and in our lives. And that includes using all of us – very ordinary people – to carry out His mission, to show His love, to share His grace, and to hold out the hope He gives us, to other people in our lives. What a blessing that is!

Here is this week’s What Now? for you to consider and put to work in your life – I hope to hear from you!

What Now?

Pray that God would open your eyes, ears, heart, and mind to see Jesus this week in both the ordinary things of your life as well as in some extraordinary ways. I’d love to hear what you notice and experience – email or text me (gschlecht@ImmanuelLoveland.org, 970-203-4810).

Serving together in Christ alone!
Pastor Glen

Friends of Immanuel,

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Over the next six weeks there will be a lot of information flowing, encouragement given, and opportunities provided for us to learn and grow and fellowship together as a community of faith here at Immanuel, all around our ministry campaign, Run with Perseverance. As we are now in the Information Phase of the campaign, here is a big picture overview of the many different pieces that are coming.

The campaign booklets were put in mailboxes and made available last Sunday. Hats off to our Campaign Communications Team for the outstanding job they did in putting together this beautiful and information-packed booklet. If you did not get yours out of your mailbox, make sure and stop by to pick it up (all members and regular attenders have a mailbox). Taking your booklet from your mailbox will save us substantial mailing costs, as we’ll be mailing all booklets that have not been picked up by next Tuesday. You can stop by M-F 8:00am-8:00pm, Saturday from 6:00am-12:00pm, or, of course, Sunday morning. Additional booklets are available on the Run with Perseverance table in the atrium.

Along with the booklets, prayer cards were also distributed by our Prayer Coordinators, Paul and Gail Hein. These cards are beautiful reminders to us that prayer is foundational – not only when it comes to this campaign, but for our lives as followers of Jesus. There is so much to be praying for – keep that card handy as an ongoing reminder to pray!

As I’ve shared the last couple of weeks, we have Information Forums starting THIS Sunday. The campaign team is hoping everyone at Immanuel will attend one of these forums. It’s the first opportunity to hear in-person more details about the campaign as well as the chance to ask any questions you may have. Please try to attend one of these forums.

• Sunday, April 19—Ministry Campaign Congregational Forum #1 (after each worship service in the west atrium)
• Tuesday, April 21—Ministry Campaign Forum #2 for all Elected Boards, 6:30pm (west atrium)
• Monday, April 27—Ministry Campaign Congregational Forum #3, 6:30pm (sanctuary)

One of the main responsibilities of the Board of Elders is to help me in the spiritual care of the people at Immanuel. We have 12 elders, and each Immanuel member and regular visitor is assigned to one of the twelve Elder Groups. Over the coming week or so, your elder will be contacting you to make you aware of opportunities being provided for you to meet your elder, to meet some others who are here at Immanuel, to provide you an opportunity in these gatherings to ask questions about the ministry campaign, and simply to be encouraged. I strongly encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity for us to grow stronger together as a community of faith and be part of these gatherings. If you do not hear from your elder, please let us know in the church office so we can be of help.

On Wednesday, May 6^th, we will have a Prayer Service starting at 7:00pm here at Immanuel. What a gift to be invited by God to come to Him in prayer. What joy to pray side by side with our Immanuel Family as a foundation for our ministry campaign. Our ministry campaign is about welcoming renewal and stepping forward in unity as we address the current needs in our church community – both fiscal and spiritual. We look forward to God's work among us in a time rich with scripture and song. No one will be put on the spot to pray aloud, but everyone can gather in the presence of our loving God to receive encouragement, reaffirm His goodness, and look forward to His work among us. Add this to your calendar!

On Sunday, May 10^th, I will begin a 4-week worship and sermon series called Run with Perseverance, digging more deeply into the theme verse of Hebrews 12:1-3 and other passages of Scripture that speak to the mission the Lord has given us.

Commitment Sunday will be the culmination of the ministry campaign. We will celebrate Commitment Sunday on Sunday, May 31^st with one worship service that day starting at 9:00am. During that time of worship, everyone will be invited and encouraged to bring your three-year commitments forward to the altar and we will dedicate those commitments to the Lord and His work. Those commitments will include our financial commitments that we make, which are intended to be over-and-above our regular offerings, as well as other commitments to prayer, learning, and growing over the coming three years of the campaign. If you are not able to be here on May 31^st, you’re encouraged to drop off or mail in your commitments to the church office.

Following worship that morning, we will have brunch together in the gym to celebrate and fellowship together all that God is doing among His people in this place!

If you have any questions about what I’ve written or what’s coming up, don’t hesitate to reach out to Becky York, our Campaign Director (bly80516@gmail.com), or to me, and we’ll be happy to try to answer your questions. These are exciting times and I’m looking forward to the weeks ahead! Thank you for being here and calling Immanuel “home”!

Serving together in Christ alone!
Pastor Glen

Friends of Immanuel,

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

The Easter season is off to a great start! Yesterday’s worship and the beginning of the new Easter series, Joy in the Journey, set the tone for what I’m convinced will be an amazing couple of months immersing ourselves in our Savior’s gift of JOY!

My simple encouragement to all of us today, regardless of the circumstances we are dealing with and no matter where our journey of faith and life in Jesus has taken us right now, is to shout out our thanks to God as St. Peter did at the start of his first letter – “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!”

We are people who have been blessed in so many ways. Pause for just a moment today to consider the blessings our Lord has placed into your life. It is for these things and so much more that we can know this “inexpressible and glorious joy” that is ours because of Jesus! Here is this week’s What Now? for to you keep in mind as you journey through this coming week:

What Now?

Wherever you are at in your journey of faith and life, let the Lord fill you with His “inexpressible and glorious joy” – a gift firmly grounded in Jesus and His resurrection. Looks for ways to express that joy in your journey this week.

Yesterday was also the launch of our ministry campaign, Run with Perseverance. All ten-dozen donuts and three-dozen donut holes were gone by the end of the morning – certainly a fun piece of the launch! If you weren’t able to be here or if you forgot to check your church mailbox (all Immanuel members and regular attenders should have a mailbox – if you don’t have one, be in touch with Beth in the church office and let her know so she can assign you a mailbox – 970-667-4506, ChurchOffice@ImmanuelLoveland.org), we have extra campaign booklets that are filled with a lot of very helpful information about the campaign. Stop in this week or make sure you pick yours up when you’re here next Sunday for worship.

A reminder that next Sunday is the first of our informational forums. I am hoping everyone at Immanuel will attend. It’s an opportunity to hear more details about the campaign as well as the chance to ask any questions you may have. The forums this Sunday will be in the west atrium, and here are the dates of all the forums:

• Sunday, April 19—Ministry Campaign Congregational Forum #1 (after each worship service)
• Tuesday, April 21—Ministry Campaign Forum #2 for all Elected Boards, 6:30pm
• Monday, April 27—Ministry Campaign Congregational Forum #3, 6:30pm

Serving together in Christ alone!
Pastor Glen

Friends of Immanuel,

This Sunday we are launching our ministry campaign, Run with Perseverance. We thought this is a celebration worthy of donuts – so there will be donuts! The campaign booklet has been finished and will be available that morning – it will be placed in your Immanuel mailbox and extras will be available on a table near the entrance. These booklets will have lots of helpful information about the campaign, some inspiring stories and encouragement, and all the important dates for upcoming forums, worship series, and dates you’ll want on your calendar as we look to Run with Perseverance together in the coming months!

Information Forums will be held on three different dates:

• Sunday, April 19—Ministry Campaign Congregational Forum #1 (after each worship service in the west atrium)
• Tuesday, April 21—Ministry Campaign Forum #2 for all Elected Boards, 6:30pm (west atrium)
• Monday, April 27—Ministry Campaign Congregational Forum #3, 6:30pm (sanctuary)

There will be a worship series based on our Run with Perseverance theme starting on May 10^th, culminating with our Commitment Sunday celebration on Sunday, May 31^st. On that morning, we will have a single worship service at 9:00am when we will prayerfully bring our 3-year commitments before the Lord, followed by a time of food and fellowship.

We have an amazing Leadership Team who is leading our campaign. Here is the team and their respective positions (and the pictures are in the order as the leaders are listed here):
Campaign Director: Becky York
Campaign Coordinator: Annette Bures
Communications Director: Justin Logston
Communications Team: Julie Geary, Kurt Holdorf, Josh Hubble
Prayer Coordinators: Paul and Gail Hein
Hospitality Coordinator: Kathy Schlecht
Connection Coordinators: Paul and Donna Gorky
Children’s and Youth Leader: Emma Hubble
Financial Coordinator: Dave Ritter
Fulfillment Coordinators: Jerry Austin and Bill Busacker

If you have a chance to say thank you to any of these individuals for their willingness to help lead this important campaign, please do so! We are so blessed with many amazing people here at Immanuel!

And thank you all for your prayers for this ministry campaign and for this ministry of our Lord that we share. I pray you are blessed as you serve, pray, worship, give, and so much more within this community of faith here at Immanuel. I’m looking forward to seeing what the Lord will do in us and through us in this journey as we Run with Perseverance together – in faith, in love, in Jesus!

Serving together in Christ alone!
Pastor Glen

Friends of Immanuel,

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Today I want to express a few thank yous to those who helped make our Holy Week and Easter celebrations even more amazing. First, 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 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, sound and lights repairs, screens, altar guild and preparing the Lord’s Supper and changing the paraments – you are all invaluable!

Next, thank you to Miss Emma, our Director of Christian Education, for a great Easter children’s message, for prepping and leading the awesome opportunities for the children and families, and for her amazing group of leaders (adults and youth) who helped with the Easter breakfast, including set-up, prepping, cooking, serving, and clean up. Thank you to everyone who gave so generously in supplies, food, and financial donations to help make the Easter breakfast a great fundraiser for our youth and their upcoming summer service trip – $1844 was raised, not counting any online donations.

Thank you to all who helped with hanging banners and butterflies (including David Bongers, the co-creator of all those butterflies!, for Bob Kamtz and Mark Davis) in the sanctuary and atrium, for Cindy Eversole who beautifully decorated and kept up “the dent” in the center of the atrium, and who ordered, arranged, and cared for all the Easter lilies and flowers up front in the chancel area, and put together the planters by the front door. 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 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!

As I mentioned in my Easter message, the next four weeks we’ll be thinking about Joy in the Journey. As we move into the Easter season, we are sticking with one aspect of our Lenten theme – that of “journey.” During the season of Lent we looked at and acknowledged some of the very real and often difficult challenges we face because of the wilderness of this world. We’ll shift our focus in the season of Easter, recognizing the joy that is ours because of the hope we have in the resurrection and life of Jesus. The series will not be devoid of the challenges we face in our sinful and broken world, but we will focus more heavily on the joy that Jesus has come to bring – a glorious reality for all who know and follow Jesus. I’m looking forward to all of us experiencing Joy in the Journey in the weeks to come!

Serving together in Christ alone!
Pastor Glen

Friends of Immanuel,

We’ve been with Jesus in the Upper Room and then travelled with Him to the cross. Today we wait. We wait with great anticipation for what tomorrow holds! I hope many of you can come and join in worship and praise of our risen Savior tomorrow, either in-person or via our live stream (found on Immanuel’s website www.ImmanuelLoveland.org). Don’t forget to extend those invitations for others to join you.

There’s a lot going on in addition to the three worship services, all of which make for a glorious morning. Here’s what’s happening tomorrow.

• Sonrise Easter worship at 6:00am with the Lord’s Supper
• Easter Festival worship at 8:00am with the Lord’s Supper, handbells, vocal choir, and instrumentalists (live streamed)
• Easter Festival worship at 10:30am with the Lord’s Supper, worship team, and instrumentalists (live streamed)
• Easter Breakfast served from 7:00am-8:00am and 9:15am-10:30am. This is a youth fundraiser (free will donations) for the youth’s summer mission trip. In addition to breakfast being served, this will be a fellowship opportunity to hang out as a community of faith.
• Easter Egg Hunt for Toddlers through 4^th grade! Meet at 9:45am in the west atrium.
• You are invited to bring in fresh flowers for our Easter Cross.
• New and Improved Photo Booth available all morning in the West Atrium!

Remember the Flower Cross on Easter Sunday! A beloved Easter tradition at Immanuel is the fresh flower cross, the first thing one sees when entering the atrium Easter Sunday morning. This 7’ cross has mesh around it, allowing those coming to worship to add their own fresh flowers. Please plan to bring a few fresh flowers with you on Easter Sunday to add to the cross, a visual display of new life and beauty!

Easter Photo Booth! Don't miss the NEW AND IMPROVED photo booth in the west atrium this Sunday to take some family Easter photos! If you don’t see your family’s photo in the Immanuel directory, or need to update the one that’s there, this is the opportunity to do that! Take a photo and forward it to churchoffice@immanuelloveland.org; we’ll add your photo (or updated photo) to your CCB profile page and you’ll be in the next directory that we run!

Easter Sunday Easter Egg Hunt! Join us this Sunday for our Easter Egg Hunt! We will meet at 9:45 in the West Atrium, with sections for ages 0-PreK, Kindergarten-2^nd grade, and 3^rd grade and up to hunt for some Easter Eggs! Feel free to bring your own basket – but we will have some on hand as well! Contact Miss Emma at ehubble@immanuelloveland.org with any questions!

Easter Lilies and Plants are provided by:

• Irma Bartz, in loving memory of her husband, Woldemar
• Blake & Beth Bianco, in loving memory of Kathy Hamilton, Calvin Hamilton, Keith & Elaine Hamilton and James & Clara Casey
• Cindy Eversole, in loving memory of Greg Vibber
• Dennis & Linda Frerichs, in loving memory of David Borgelt (father of Linda Frerichs) and Robert & Juanita Frerichs (parents of Dennis, Rhonda, and Marla Frerichs)
• Don & Sharon Gibbons, to the Glory of God
• Dale & Deb Hartman, in loving memory of Jamie Lee Rogers – LOVE BIG!!!
• Ron & Linda Larson, in loving memory of their parents, Alvin & Elnora Larson and John & Betty Thayer
• The Maddox Family, in loving memory of Pam Maddox
• Judy Richendifer, to the glory of God
• Pastor Glen & Kathy Schlecht, in thankfulness for all their grandchildren, including their newest grandson, Micah David
• Annemarie Stollstheimer, to the glory of God
• Ellen Thayer, in loving memory of her brother, Ray Reeb
• Mike & Jeanne Zsolczai, in loving memory of their mothers, Marlene McLean and Mae Zsolczai

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 step 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 our 8:00am and 10:30am Easter services, both of which can be found on Immanuel’s website (www.ImmanuelLoveland.org).

All are welcome and I hope to see many new and familiar 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!

Remaining Holy Week and Easter Schedule:
Friday, April 3 – Good Friday – focus on 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, dimming of the lights throughout the service until total darkness.
1:00pm Tenebrae Worship Service (Service of Darkness)
7:00pm (live streamed) Tenebrae Worship Service (Service of Darkness)

Sunday, April 5 – Easter
You are invited to bring in fresh flowers for our Easter Cross.
6:00am – Sonrise Easter Worship – with the Lord’s Supper
7:00am – Easter Pancake Breakfast
8:00am – Classic Grace Easter Worship (live streamed) – with handbell choir, instrumental ensemble, vocal choir, and the Lord’s Supper
9:15am – Easter Pancake Breakfast
9:45am – Children’s Easter Egg Hunt – meet under the pergola on the west lawn
10:30am – Contemporary Joy Easter Worship (live streamed) – with worship team, instrumental ensemble, and the Lord’s Supper
New and Improved Photo Booth available all morning in the West Atrium!

Serving together in Christ alone!
Pastor Glen

Friends of Immanuel,

A blessed Maundy Thursday to you! Holy Week is filled with so much for us to take in from our Lord – it’s almost too much! You read about Maundy Thursday in my email yesterday, you can read more about Good Friday tomorrow, and then one more Saturday Easter Edition will fill out this Holy Week! In my article today, I want to offer some encouragement.

So much has been leading up to this week – it has, very appropriately, been our focus as a ministry. However, there is still more ministry, events, activities, and

celebrations to come in the weeks and months ahead. One of the more significant aspects of ministry approaching quickly is our Ministry Campaign, Run with Perseverance, based on Hebrews 12:1-3. We will officially launch the campaign on Sunday, April 12^th. We’ll celebrate with donuts! You’ll find them right inside the entrance along with some information about the campaign. Campaign booklets will be in your church mailbox that morning with extras available on the donut table that will include lots of helpful information about the campaign, some inspiring stories, and lots of encouragement as we look to Run with Perseverance together in the coming months! Additional information will be shared at several congregational forums where questions can be asked. Those forums will be:

• Sunday, April 19—Ministry Campaign Congregational Forums after 8am & after 10:30am Worship
• Tuesday, April 21—Ministry Campaign Forum for members of Elected Boards, 6:30pm
• Monday, April 27—Ministry Campaign Congregational Forum, 6:30pm

There will be a worship series based on our Run with Perseverance theme starting on May 10^th, culminating with our Commitment Sunday celebration on Sunday, May 31^st, when we will have a single worship service at 9:00am where will be prayerfully bring our 3-year commitments before the Lord, followed by a time of food and fellowship.

In addition to this important facet of our ministry together, there’s a lot more coming. This includes our upcoming Easter worship series entitled Joy in the Journey, welcoming new members on April 19^th, young adult men’s and young adult women’s Bible studies starting up, Confirmation Sunday on May 3^rd with those youth who are confirming their faith sharing their Expressions of Faith during the Education Hour, the Young at Hearts gatherings around some interesting topics and enjoying fellowshipping and eating together, 8^th grade graduation for our school on May 14^th, blessing of our High School graduates, Kings Kids Summer Camp gearing up, the shift to our summer worship schedule, the Sweetheart City Car Show, Vacation Bible School, Family Camping, Outdoor Worship beginning in July, and summer camp for the kids down at Lutheran Valley Retreat. Believe it or not, there are plenty of other “regular” and ongoing ministries in-between all of that!

I share this to remind us all that God is working in some amazing and varied ways! The ministry campaign and each of these different ministries provides opportunities for us to participate, to grow in various ways, to use our gifts by helping to lead, to invite others to come and be part of God’s fun and God’s work here, to support and give of ourselves, and to celebrate the joy in the journey of our life in Jesus.

So read through today’s email update and give thanks to God for the opportunities all around us to be part of God’s work in this time and place! Step into those areas that are of interest to you and let God work in and through you. Thank you for being part of the Lord’s Church here at Immanuel!

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, “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.” (John 13:34-35)

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 1:00pm service will include accompaniment by harp and flute; 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.

April 2^nd – Maundy Thursday
Old Testament: Exodus 12:1-14
Epistle: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Gospel: John 13:1-17, 31b-35
Sermon Title: “A Journey Into the Upper Room”

One additional resource that was brought to my attention are a series of eight 5-minute videos from The Bible Project for Holy Week and Easter. While they intended this to start on Palm Sunday and go through Easter Sunday, I’ve watched them day-by-day this week and they are really well done. You might consider using them as part of your devotional journey through the rest of Holy Week and into Easter. Here’s the link if you’re interested: https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/68046-bibleproject-holy-week-easter. If you’d prefer not to sign-up, you can simply watch the samples that are provided each day.

Here are my updates for today:
Easter Lilies and Plants are provided by:

• Irma Bartz, in loving memory of her husband, Woldemar
• Blake & Beth Bianco, in loving memory of Kathy Hamilton, Calvin Hamilton, Keith & Elaine Hamilton and James & Clara Casey
• Cindy Eversole, in loving memory of Greg Vibber
• Dennis & Linda Frerichs, in loving memory of David Borgelt (father of Linda Frerichs) and Robert & Juanita Frerichs (parents of Dennis, Rhonda, and Marla Frerichs)
• Don & Sharon Gibbons, to the Glory of God
• Dale & Deb Hartman, in loving memory of Jamie Lee Rogers – LOVE BIG!!!
• Ron & Linda Larson, in loving memory of their parents, Alvin & Elnora Larson and John & Betty Thayer
• The Maddox Family, in loving memory of Pam Maddox
• Judy Richendifer, to the glory of God
• Pastor Glen & Kathy Schlecht, in thankfulness for all their grandchildren, including their newest grandson, Micah David
• Annemarie Stollstheimer, to the glory of God
• Ellen Thayer, in loving memory of her brother, Ray Reeb
• Mike & Jeanne Zsolczai, in loving memory of their mothers, Marlene McLean and Mae Zsolczai

Worship Schedule for Holy Week and Easter Sunday morning:
Thursday, April 2 – Maundy Thursday – focus on the events in the Upper Room on the night Jesus would later be betrayed, includes the celebration of the Lord’s Supper in both services, and Stripping of the Altar at the end of the 7:00pm service.
1:00pm worship with the Lord’s Supper
7:00pm (live streamed) worship with the Lord’s Supper and Stripping of the Altar

Friday, April 3 – Good Friday – focus on 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, dimming of the lights throughout the service until total darkness.
1:00pm Tenebrae Worship Service (Service of Darkness)
7:00pm (live streamed) Tenebrae Worship Service (Service of Darkness)

Sunday, April 5 – Easter
You are invited to bring in fresh flowers for our Easter Cross.
6:00am – Sonrise Easter Worship – with the Lord’s Supper
7:00am – Easter Pancake Breakfast
8:00am – Classic Grace Easter Worship (live streamed) – with handbell choir, instrumental ensemble, vocal choir, and the Lord’s Supper
9:15am – Easter Pancake Breakfast
9:45am – Children’s Easter Egg Hunt – meet under the pergola on the west lawn
10:30am – Contemporary Joy Easter Worship (live streamed) – with worship team, instrumental ensemble, and the Lord’s Supper
Photo Booth available all morning in the West Atrium!

Serving together in Christ alone!

Pastor Glen

Friends of Immanuel,

Holy Week is obviously the main focus around here right now. Yesterday’s celebration of Palm Sunday was a wonderful start to this powerful, meaningful, and important week for all of us who are followers of Jesus. I absolutely love seeing the sanctuary full of waving palm branches as we sing out the powerful Palm Sunday hymns and songs. Having the children (and others!) walk around the sanctuary during that time touches my heart, seeing the littlest among us joining their voices in praising our King!

However, our celebration of Palm Sunday, along with our Maundy Thursday and Good Friday observances, are not supposed to be just sentimental remembrances. These times of worship, along with our Easter celebrations, help us realize how important Jesus is when it comes to our lives today. Jesus brings power to the lives we lead. And He offers us hope, especially when we find ourselves up against very real challenges and struggles in our lives. Our faith and trust in Jesus can make a real, tangible difference in the lives we lead, the attitude we carry, and the outlook we have.

Invite people in your life to join you for these upcoming times of worship as we gather together to be inspired and encouraged by our Savior and the victory that we know is ours. I look forward to seeing many of you in the days to come!

Holy Week and Easter Worship Schedule:

Thursday, April 2 – Maundy Thursday – focus on the events in the Upper Room on the night Jesus would later be betrayed, includes the celebration of the Lord’s Supper in both services, and Stripping of the Altar at the end of the 7:00pm service.

1:00pm worship with the Lord’s Supper

7:00pm (live streamed) worship with the Lord’s Supper and Stripping of the Altar

Friday, April 3 – Good Friday – focus on 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, dimming of the lights throughout the service until total darkness.

1:00pm Tenebrae Worship Service (Service of Darkness)

7:00pm (live streamed) Tenebrae Worship Service (Service of Darkness)

Sunday, April 5 – Easter

6:00am – Sonrise Easter Worship – with Lord’s Supper

7:00am – Easter Pancake Breakfast

8:00am – Classic Grace Easter Worship (live streamed) – with handbell choir, instrumental ensemble, vocal choir, and the Lord’s Supper

9:15am – Easter Pancake Breakfast

9:45am – Children’s Easter Egg Hunt – meet under the pergola on the west lawn

10:30am – Contemporary Joy Easter Worship (live streamed) – with worship team, instrumental ensemble, and the Lord’s Supper

Serving together in Christ alone!

Pastor Glen