News This Week
Parents of 7th-High Schoolers are encouraged to join in the conversation and get to know Emma and her vision for youth ministry, as well as the opportunity to discuss your vision for your kids’ experience! Come prepared with any thoughts, ideas, or wonderings as we work together to make youth ministry at Immanuel the best it can be! This will take place next Wednesday, November 13th starting at 4:30pm in the atrium at Immanuel – look for Emma!
The next Family Night @ Immanuel is happening NEXT Wednesday, November 13th with a free meal from 5-6pm, a family/adult seminar, children’s activities led by Miss Emma, and Men’s Movie Night from 6-7pm, as well choir rehearsals: 5:30-6pm BELLievers Handbell Choir and 7-8pm Christmas Choir.
On November 13th, the family/adult seminar will focus on the topic, “God's Call to Parenting – What the Bible Says!” Our guest presenter will be Immanuel’s own Rev. Dr. Ed Seely. Pastor Ed not only leads our “Ask a Pastor” ministry at Immanuel but also teaches adult education classes and leads our Church Library team. He has life-long experiences in church ministry leadership (especially in the realm of family ministry, spiritual formation, and Christian Education) as well as college and seminary teaching. He is a proud dad and grandfather and loves to share what God’s Word has to say about the family.
As we all know, when the subject of parenting arises today, much confusion emerges. What can and should parents be doing? What shouldn’t they do? Whose opinion counts? What authority do parents have? Do parents have rights? If so, what are they, and where does that authority and their rights come from, and how can a parent maintain and explain the solid source of his or her authority and rights to others in this postmodern age that disregards and even rejects any objective standard? This Family Night Adult/Parent seminar will offer answers to these and other questions, including questions raised by those who attend. Parents, grandparents, family members, or anyone who loves kids – you don’t want to miss it! It will be informative and encouraging! Our Family Nights are loaded with information, relationships, conversation, and a free dinner! Come and invite a friend!
This year’s Children’s Christmas Program will be held on Sunday morning, December 15th, at 9:30am (in between the 8:00am and the 10:30am service). Rehearsals for this are starting NEXT Wednesday! Do you have any kids or grandkids in Preschool-5th grade that are interested in being part of the year’s Children’s Christmas Program? Let Miss Emma know (egiger@immanuelloveland.org)! Practices will be Wednesdays November 13 (in room 112) & 20 and December 4 & 11, 6:00-7:00pm, in the sanctuary. While the kids are strongly encouraged to be at all the practices, we can make it work if you can’t make them all but still want to be part of the program!
Come join an awesome group of 7th graders through high schoolers as we eat snacks, play games, get to know one another, and grow together through Bible study! We meet every Wednesday from 6:00pm-8:00pm! Contact Miss Emma with any questions! (egiger@ImmanuelLoveland.org or text/call 317-946-7719)
Friday, November 15th, starting at 1:00pm at Immanuel, there will be a re-enactment of an early settler named Marie Osmund, and the story of early Loveland given by the President of the Loveland Historical Society. Any one who is available can come! Contact him by email or phone.
See the poster below for all the important information you need to load up on your favorite Butter Braids! In addition to the QR code, here’s a direct link you can use (and share with others). Thanks for supporting our school ministry in this delicious way! https://store.myfundraisingplace.com/108a4259-2923-4055-a65d-d40ccbac6729
Take advantage of our amazing Education Hour classes that provide opportunities to learn, grow, study, and enjoy fellowship with other followers of Jesus. We have classes for all ages from 9:30-10:20am. Below is a list of the current class offerings. Questions? Adult classes, email Pastor Robin rdugall@immanuelloveland.org; children and youth ministries, contact Miss Emma (egiger@ImmanuelLoveland.org).
Adult Classes:
- Financial Peace University – Shawn York (room #36 – LWML Room).
- Discussing Mere Christianity – Joe Sarr (room #205)
- The Gospel of Luke – Pastor Robin (room #206)
- Immanuel 101 – Pastor Glen (room #112)
Sunday School for Kids:
- Infant/Toddler Class: Room 110, 0-4 year olds, with music, a Bible story, and time to play.
- Sunday School Opening: All 4-year-olds-4th Graders start in Room 113 for opening. After Opening, children go to their age-appropriate classes as follows:
- PreK-1st Grade Class: Room 108, 4-year-olds attending Preschool through 1st Graders, a Bible story, game, craft, and snack.
- 2nd-4th Grade Class: Room 113, 2nd through 4th Graders Bible story, game, activity, craft, and snack.
- Bridge56: Room 204, 5th and 6th graders, Bible overview!
Sunday School for Middle School and High School Youth:
- Middle School Confirmation – 7th and 8th graders, Room 207
- High School Youth – Join Joe Sarr’s class on Discussing Mere Christianity (Room 205)
Don’t forget to take advantage of some of the amazing retired pastors, theologians, missionaries, and church workers we have here at Immanuel with our “Ask a Pastor Ministry” that is now happening every Sunday morning after each worship service. You are welcome to raise any subject of interest to you and talk about it with one of these amazing individuals on Sunday mornings. Stop by the “Ask a Pastor” podium in the atrium beside the church library book carts after either worship service. Come when you can; leave when you like.
Upcoming Events
- Sunday, November 10—Young Adult Gathering, Rost home, 6:00pm
- Wednesday, November 13—Parents of Youth Roundtable with Emma, 4:30pm Immanuel atrium
- Wednesday, November 13—Family Night @ Immanuel
- Wednesday, November 13—Children’s Christmas Program first rehearsal, 6:00-7:00pm, Room 112
- Sunday, November 17—Operation Christmas Child deadline
- Wednesday, November 20—Children’s Christmas Program rehearsal, 6:00-7:00pm, sanctuary
- Saturday, November 23—Christmas Bazaar, 9:00am-3:00pm
- Thursday, November 28—Thanksgiving Day worship, 9:00am
The Immanuel Young at Hearts (senior adults) have some great events coming up over the next couple of weeks. Check it out – these are open to any and all senior adults so spread the word! Any questions can be directed to Jim Found (inquirer.jim@gmail.com, 970-663-5490).
- Wednesday, November 20th at 11:30am, the group will join together for lunch at Asia One (1431 N. Denver Ave., across the street north of Walmart, next to Smashburger). Please let Jim know if you plan to attend by November 15th.
- Friday, December 13th, 1:00pm – Mrs. Grimm’s 4th and 5th grade class joins YAH with a program and table discussions.
- Saturday, December 14th – Christmas caroling at Good Samaritan, lunch at Culvers, then to Brookdale North at 1:30. (participate in any or all).
The LCMS Foundation is hosting a free webinar on Tuesday, November 12th from 10:30am-11:30am, titled “Planting Seeds: How to Convert Your Farm into Retirement Income and Leave a Gift to Ministry.” This webinar warmly welcomes farmers or ranchers getting ready to retire, or simply looking to sell land or farm equipment, but who are seeking options to create an ongoing source of income for themselves or for loved ones. It also speaks to LCMS Lutherans who feel called to turn their farm, ranch, or other God-given assets into substantial gifts for their local congregation or LCMS ministries.
Craig Stirtz, the LCMS Foundation Senior Gift Planning Counselor for the Nebraska District, will lead the discussion, and Andy Behrmann, Director of Ministry Partnership, will moderate.
During this webinar, Craig will cover:
- An overview of Charitable Remainder Trusts (CRTs)
- How farmers planning for retirement or selling land can benefit from CRTs
- Setting up a CRT during your lifetime or as part of an estate plan
- Structuring a CRT to align with personal values and reduce taxes
- Success stories of CRTs making an impact on LCMS ministries
Here is the direct registration link: LCMS Foundation | November 2024 CRT Webinar; or you can use the QR code.
“The God Who Restores” is a short 4-week study of daily bible passages and a template for applying truth to your day. This study will help the participants to remember the promises God has already fulfilled in our Messiah Jesus’ incarnation and focus our eyes expectantly on His return when He will restore what sin has broken. Participants can then share in conversation about the readings in any of three ways: meeting in person on Wednesday evenings at 5:45pm prior to 7pm Advent worship; meeting in person Thursday mornings at 9:30am; or meeting online in a closed Facebook group.
The meeting dates are November 20/21, December 4/5, 11/12, and 18/19 at Immanuel. For questions or more information, contact Gail Hein (gheinsite@gmail.com or call/text 970-443-3078). All women are welcome!
Immanuel’s Christmas Bazaar will be held Saturday, November 23, 9:00am-3:00pm. Last year, we had well over 1,000 guests along with 80 vendors in our facility for this event. Let’s be ready to extend Immanuel’s Radical Hospitality to our community! Check out the sign-up sheets in the atrium or use this link to see the many different opportunities to serve leading up to, or on the day of, the bazaar: https://signup.com/go/MJtGmvf
And don’t forget to add this event to your personal calendar whether or not you are able to help on that day. Stop by for breakfast and/or lunch (pulled pork or chili!), purchase a cookie tray, view the beautiful homemade quilts, get your picture taken with Santa, give your kiddos an opportunity to make their very own Christmas gifts to give away (without mom or dad in the room with them), enjoy live Christmas music, and start—or finish!—your Christmas shopping!
Thanksgiving Break Office Hours
Monday, November 25—8am-4pm
Tuesday, November 26—8am-4pm
Wednesday, November 27—8am-4pm
Thursday, December 26—Closed
Friday, December 27—Closed
Christmas Break Office Hours
Monday, December 23—8am-4pm
Tuesday, December 24—Closed
Wednesday, December 25—Closed
Thursday, December 26—8am-4pm
Friday, December 27—8am-1pm
Monday, December 30—8am-4pm
Tuesday, December 31—8am-4pm
Wednesday, January 1—Closed
Thursday, January 2—8am-4pm
Friday, January 3—8am-1pm
Plans are underway for the 2025 Northern Colorado Men's Conference, a conference put on by some of our area LCMS churches. The date for this year’s conference is Saturday, February 1, 2025. Conference location is Saint John's Lutheran Church, 305 E. Elizabeth St., Fort Collins. Registration will begin at 8:30am and the closing worship for the conference will be concluded by 3:30pm. There is no cost for this conference. It is being underwritten by the Missions and Ministry Committee of Peace with Christ Lutheran Church, Fort Collins and supported by the congregation at Saint John's Lutheran Church, Fort Collins. A freewill donation will be accepted to enable future conferences. All interested ages are welcome!
You can register anytime to reserve your spot by emailing Noreen Linke at noreen@linkes.net or call/text 281.770.6686. This helps with planning for adequate food and materials. The speaker is Rev. Jeffrey Hemmer. His biography follows:
The Rev. Jeffrey B. Hemmer is an assistant to the Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison, president of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS). Prior to joining the president’s staff in August 2021, Hemmer served as pastor of Bethany Evangelical Lutheran Church in Fairview Heights, Ill. He continues to serve as pastor there in a part-time capacity.
Born in Belleville, Ill., Hemmer received a B.A. in English from Concordia University, Nebraska, Seward, Neb., and an M.Div. from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Mo. He is currently a Ph.D. candidate at Concordia Seminary, working on a dissertation on the theology of body and the theology of place. His other theological and academic interests include biblical masculinity and the function of Christian fathers, the role of the resurrection in Christian ethics, and martyrdom and the cross-shaped Christian life.
Hemmer is the author of Man Up!: The Quest for Masculinity (CPH, 2017); Behold the Man! Lenten and Easter sermon series (CPH, 2019); A Noble Army sermon series on the martyrs (CPH, 2020); and assorted other articles, essays and posts.
Hemmer and his wife, Laura, live in Fairview Heights, Ill., while they restore an 1860s farmhouse in Caseyville, Ill. They have eight children.
Serving and Giving
We are excited to announce our Little Caesars Fundraiser through Monday, November 18th! To support this fundraiser: Order Here and add all your favorites to your cart. Once you’re ready, proceed to check out and add in your payment information. That’s it! Your Meal Deal code will be sent to you via email. Please follow the instructions provided to redeem your code. Every promo code we sell earns our youth $6. Feel free to share this link with friends and family all over the nation! Thank you for your support!
Christmas is quickly approaching, so it’s almost time for the Orchard Place Gift Giving Tree! The Orchard Place Gift Giving Tree will be set up in the atrium by Sunday, November 24th. Immanuel will be giving each of the 45-50 households at Orchard Place a family gift bag and the 75 kiddos a Christmas gift from their personal wish list. This is a huge endeavor, so many volunteers are needed to make this a success.
Current Volunteer Needs:
- Help fill out the wish list tags for the Christmas tree;
- Help set up the Christmas tree on Thurs, Nov 21st;
- Purchase 50 Christian Christmas cards and 50 treat bags (to hold candy) for the household gifts (please contact Teresa before doing this);
- Purchase 50 large bags (or a portion of 50) from Dollar Tree for the family bags (please contact Teresa before doing this);
Questions? Please text/call/email Teresa Rost (teresa@rost.org or 970-218-0719). Thank you for making a difference in the lives of these families this Christmas as we show them Jesus and His love!
Orchard Place is located just south of Immanuel and is a Section 8 housing development, meaning the Housing Authority of Loveland provides rental assistance for qualifying participants. Immanuel has partnered with Orchard Place since moving to our current location in 2008, showing Christ’s love in many different ways to support and assist all those living at Orchard Place.
We are in need of additional ushers for the 10:30am Contemporary Joy service. Primary responsibilities include greeting people at the door of the sanctuary with a smile and a bulletin, and ushering at the time of communion. Your family’s schedule is taken into consideration when monthly schedules are put together. If this is a way you might consider serving about once a month, or if you have questions about it, please reach out to Kathy Schlecht directly or email churchoffice@immanueloveland.org. Thanks!
Immanuel’s Christmas Bazaar will be held Saturday, November 23, 9:00am-3:00pm. Last year, we had well over 1,000 guests along with 80 vendors in our facility for this event. Let’s be ready to extend Immanuel’s Radical Hospitality to our community! Check out the sign-up sheets in the atrium or use this link to see the many different opportunities to serve leading up to, or on the day of, the bazaar: https://signup.com/go/MJtGmvf
And don’t forget to add this event to your personal calendar whether or not you are able to help on that day. Stop by for breakfast and/or lunch (pulled pork or chili!), purchase a cookie tray, view the beautiful homemade quilts, get your picture taken with Santa, give your kiddos an opportunity to make their very own Christmas gifts to give away (without mom or dad in the room with them), enjoy live Christmas music, and start—or finish!—your Christmas shopping!
We are looking for a couple of volunteers to join Immanuel’s live stream team, specifically to live stream the 8:00am Classic Grace service once a month. We are also in need of screen operators for the 10:30am service. For both positions, schedules are put together around your calendar and ample training is provided. Are you interested in learning more about either of these? Talk to Kathy Schlecht (kschlecht@immanuelloveland.org) or stop up in the tech booth before or after an upcoming worship service to take a look at the equipment, talk to those serving, and see what you would be doing. Thanks for considering serving in this way!
Looking for volunteers to bring God’s Word to residents of North Shore Health and Rehab. This has been an ongoing ministry of Immanuel for several decades! At 10:00am on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month, we have a rotating group of volunteers who share a short, simple message from God’s Word with the residents. There are Christian songbooks with CD accompaniment from which you or the residents can choose some favorite hymns to sing. The worship services typically last 35-45 minutes. If you’re interested in being part of this team or if you have questions, call Ron Heusinkveld (970-669-6135). Thank you for considering serving in this way!
Immanuel’s Young Adult Ministry is up and running strong! Once a month on a Sunday evening, approximately 20 young adults meet together to connect with one another and with God through a meal and a Bible Study together. Would you be interested in helping support this important ministry? If so, you can sign up to purchase a food item for a meal and bring it with you when you come to worship on Sunday morning. It’s a super easy way to let our young adults know we love having them part of our community and support them in living out their faith in a world that is very different from what many of us knew growing up. Use this link to sign up for the November 10th Young Adult gathering, which will be Taco Night: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0545ABAE22A75-51238654-young. Questions? Please call/text Teresa Rost at 970-218-0719. Thank you!
Operation Christmas Child gifts are sent around the world, bringing Good News and Great Joy to children in some of the world’s most difficult situations. Pick up your shoebox and fill it with a WOW gift, fun and practical items, and a personal note. You can include the $10 shipping fee in the box (payable to OCC) or pay online and attach the label you receive to your box. https://samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/pack-a-shoe-box/.
No time to shop but still want to provide a shoebox? You can now shop online! Use this link. https://samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/buildonline/
Please avoid liquids, toothpaste, food/medicine, breakables, and used items. All boxes are opened at the distribution center so please don’t seal them shut. More information is available on the table with the shoeboxes in the atrium. Our final day for collection is Sunday, November 17th.
FREE Money for Ministry! Everyone who is a client of Thrivent Financial is eligible for two $250 ministry grants a year. That’s $500 every single year for each Thrivent member! This is a huge blessing to Immanuel’s ministry. Just a few events that have made use of Thrivent grants so far this year include the Car Show, Vacation Bible School, Midweek Meals, and a congregational celebration. And we have many outreach opportunities coming up between now and the end of this calendar year for which a Thrivent grant would be helpful, including Fall Fest, Operation Christmas Child, the Christmas Bazaar, Lago Vista Christmas Shop, and Orchard Place Giving Tree. And there’s many more!
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. We are also looking for an individual or two that would be willing to help Thrivent members make application for grants—the Thrivent member must make the application himself or herself, but they can have assistance in doing so. If you would be willing to serve in this role as an Action Team Grant Ambassador, or if you are a Thrivent member and would like your name added to our list of Thrivent members, please contact that church office (churchoffice@immanuelloveland.org). Thank you!
The Community Assistance Team will be collecting reusable shopping bags for the Lago Vista School Supply Drive. They will be collecting these throughout the year in preparation for the 2025 school supplies project. They will need 50-60 bags in total. There is a plastic tote on the table with food pantry items (across from the mailboxes) and shopping bags can be placed in the tote.
News
As a follow-up to the summer and fall Voting Assembly meetings regarding the budget and Immanuel’s financials, I’m including what Dawn Bowers, Immanuel’s Director of Accounting and Finance, shared with the Finance Team and Executive Council at their October meetings. Both teams had a lot of discussion around this report, striving to be proactive and staying on top of where we are financially.
At the bottom of this email update, you’ll find a short narrative that offers some further explanation for some of the numbers, as well as a spreadsheet comparison of budget versus actual from July through September of our current fiscal year. Here is a brief summary of the offerings, including what we have budgeted as well as the actuals for July, August, and September. The plan moving forward is to share all of this information each month following the Finance Team and Executive Council meetings. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Dawn (dbowers@ImmanuelLoveland.org, 970-667-4506) or our congregational chairman Greg Northrup (Greg Northrup gregnorthrup@yahoo.com) or any member of the Finance Team or Executive Council.
Thank you to all who give to the Lord through His ministry here at Immanuel so faithfully and generously with your tithes and offerings. Continue to pray over this – for our ministry together and the financial challenges that are still before us, as well as your own personal giving. If you do not already, consider online giving through our website (https://pushpay.com/g/immanuelloveland) as a way to make sure your first priority regarding your personal finances (your “first fruits,” or your offerings to the Lord) are consistently given to Him out of faith and trust in His provision and out of thanksgiving for all His blessings. If you have questions about online giving or if you need some help setting that up, contact ChurchOffice@ImmanuelLoveland.org or call the church office at 970-667-4506.
- Church Offerings Year-to-Date are under budget $7,044 or 3.2%
- Year-to-Date budget $219,744 versus Year-to-Date actual $212,700
- Year-to-Date actual $212,700 versus Prior Year-to-Date actual $180,483
Immanuel Lutheran Church & School
Budget vs Actual Narrative
July – September 2024
Revenue
- Church Offerings YTD are under budget $7,044 or 3.2%.
- YTD budget $219,744 versus YTD actual $212,700
- YTD actual $212,700 versus Prior Year actual $180,483
- School Revenue YTD is under budget $28,500 or 7.5% primarily due to lower than budgeted revenue in Toddler and Childcare Revenue.
- YTD budget $381,908 versus YTD actual $353,408
- July does not include any PK-8 tuition revenue as school is not in session which resulted in a budgeted loss for the month of July.
- Total Revenue YTD is under budget $42,199 or 6.3%.
- YTD budget $671,119 versus YTD actual $628,921
Expenses
- Total Expenses YTD are over budget $10,264 or 1.6% primarily due to sewer line break in the ceiling of the athletic equipment storage room (ball closet).
- YTD budget $641,184 versus YTD actual $651,448
Net Revenue from Operations less Mortgage and Line of Credit Payments
- For the three months ending September 30, 2024, the YTD budget vs actual variance is ($52,718).
- YTD budget ($51,623) versus YTD actual ($104,341)
There is also an attachment of the spreadsheet here, if you wish to open it up and enlarge it.
Last Saturday, 26 folks gathered together for Immanuel’s second, bi-monthly, mini-retreat. Our latest Called Into Community event had a simple agenda – to listen to Kathy Schlecht share some very spiritually important, Biblical, and relevant content as well as engage in conversation with each other, intentionally seeking to build a growing sense of community.
The goal of every one of these mini-retreats is to focus not just on information we can learn about what it means to follow Jesus, but also to seek God for the transformation of our lives individually and especially in relationship one with another. We believe we grow as disciples as we grow relationally with brothers and sisters in the faith. Many of the group came a few minutes early to enjoy a continental breakfast that was provided by one of our Called Into Community hosts, Gail Hein.
After that, Kathy turned the group’s attention to the topic, “Calendars the Shape our Lives.” Have you ever considered how calendars in your life shape who you are? Kathy challenged the group to consider how we become more like somebody when we follow their calendar. How powerful is it that as we follow the story of Jesus, His birth, life, ministry, death, resurrection, and continual presence through His mission in and through the Church that His transforming Spirit would become more real in our daily lives?
One participant remarked, “Kathy, you made it all so clear that as we put the Christian calendar first, it is simply another way of putting God first in our lives.” Throughout the event, there were plenty of times where the entire group shared with each other around tables how Kathy’s content was making an impact. The feedback we received from the group was filled with anticipation for the next Called Into Community event, thankfulness for the time shared, appreciation for the depth of spiritual teaching, as well as overwhelming enthusiasm for this new ministry.
Our next “Called Into Community” event will be held on Saturday, January 4th at 9:30am to 11:30am with Gail Hein sharing about “Radiating God’s Love and Light.” Circle that date on your calendar now and plan on joining us at that next event. We echo the remark of one of those in attendance last Saturday who emailed us and said, “I can’t wait for the next Called Into Community!”
Here is the month’s statistics for Worship Attendance and Online Viewing of Worship Services for October from Pastor Robin:
October 2024 average worship attendance – 252
2022 – 236 average
2023 – 219 average
2024 – 252 average
Percentage increase/decrease 2023 to 2024 = +15.0%
Percentage increase/decrease 2022 to 2024 = + 6.8%
YouTube – Live Stream, Shorts/Reels, etc.
YouTube LIVE STREAM viewing (watching the service in real time) – October 2024 = 352
YouTube LIVE STREAM viewing average viewing time = 12 minutes
YouTube LIVE STREAM viewing average per week = 37
Top LIVE STREAM of the month – Ray Starck’s memorial service
Top LIVE STREAM worship experience of the month – 10/20 8:00am worship
YouTube Shorts/Reels of sermons – October 2024 – high number = 560; low number = 1
YouTube Shorts/Reels of sermons – total October 2024 views = 3800; weekly average = 575
70% of YouTube “viewers” are viewing the Shorts/Reels
Total views on YouTube channel - 4400
“Top” video - short on “Is Christianity Full of Hypocrites?” (618 views)
We just discovered a glitch in the program we use to send out Monday email updates (The Immanuel Weekly) and are working to correct it. It seems that if you do not have a cell phone number included in your information on Church Community Builder (CCB, our church database), that you are not receiving the Monday email updates. Would you please take a few minutes to update your cell number with the church office? You can update your profile by yourself or we’re happy to give you a hand. You can also email churchoffice@immanuelloveland.org or call us at 970-667-4506, to give us your cell number. Having a complete profile on CCB will ensure you are receiving all our communications, including the Immanuel Weekly every Monday and Pastor Glen’s updates on Thursdays. Thank you for your help with this big project!
If you or someone you know has questions about our great school ministry, is considering changing schools, or would like more information, check out the school website (https://school.immanuelloveland.org/), and you can 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 about toddlers through 8th grade. 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/).
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.
Continue to spread the word about our amazing, Christ-centered school!
Friends of Immanuel,
Yesterday as part of our time of worship we had the privilege of recognizing, thanking, and honoring the veterans at Immanuel. I had promised to share the link to the video I used as part of that recognition for those who wanted to see it again or share it with others – so here you go: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHG_TA1T5mg
On this Veterans Day, as a country we collectively say, “Thank you!” to all who have served our country. What a gift we have received – a gift with so many different facets with regard to the freedoms we enjoy. It’s a gift we often take for granted except on special days such as today. If you have opportunity, say thank you to a veteran today or in the week ahead. And thank YOU to all who are reading this who have served our county!
I’m in awe of the number of veterans we have here at Immanuel. Lindy Hafeman and Lorrie McLaughlin, both veterans themselves, have agreed to take the lead on a Military Support Team at Immanuel, looking for various opportunities throughout the year to support and honor our veterans and those currently serving in the military. If you have an interest in being part of this team, contact Lindy or Lorrie, or the church office, and we can put you in touch with one of them. One of the first things they are trying to do is to make sure we have an accurate and up-to-date list of all the veterans here at Immanuel.
Below is a list of what we have so far. If you are a veteran and your name is not included, please call or email the Church Office (ChurchOffice@ImmanuelLoveland.org, 970-667-4506) with the appropriate information so we can add you to the list. I know we also have some veterans who are deceased, both young and old, who have Immanuel connections – we would like to have information on those individuals as well, so please pass those individuals’ information along, too. We would also be happy to include children or grandchildren in this list. Finally, Lindy and Lorrie are requesting a current active duty picture and/or a before and after picture of military service for veterans. Thank you!
First Name | Last Name | Branch | Years of Service | Notes |
Jerry | Austin | Air Force | 1962-1966 | |
Thomas | Baird | Air Force | 1961-1965 | |
Gerald | Boedeker | Army | 1966-1969 | |
David | Bongers | Air Force | 1966-1975 | |
Chad | Bruns | Navy | 2003-2007 | |
Ginny | Bruns | Navy | 2003-2007 | |
Danny | DeGroat | Army | 1971-1972 | |
Gene | Dorsey | Navy | 1967-1972 | Served in Vietnam |
Terry W. | Emerine | Air Force | 1966-1990 | |
Steve | Foss | Air Force | 1987-2013 | |
Pat | Frysinger | Navy | 1951-1954 | |
Gary | Gentry | Navy | 1974-1979 | |
Art | Germann | Army | 1954-1955 | |
Tom | Gonzales | Army | 1970-1972 | |
Lindy | Hafeman | Marine Corps | 1980-1989 | |
Jacob | Hollen | Army | 2000-2012 | |
Wesley | Janssen | 1969-1973 | ||
Bob | Kamtz | Navy | 1970-1974 | Served in Vietnam |
Norbert | Kleidon | Air Force | 1951-1952 | |
Lonnie | Leininger | Army | 1966-1972 | |
Nick | McCarthy | Marines | 2013-2018 | |
Don | McCormick | Army | 1962-1968 | |
Scott | McIntire | Marine Corps | 1983-1984 | |
Lorrie | McLaughlin | Navy | 1966-1970 | |
Rodney | Miller | Air Force | 1980-1984 | |
Greg | Northup | Air Force | 1971-1974 | |
Jon | Pfeiffer | Air Force | 1964-1970 | |
Roger | Pilant | Army | 1961-1965 | |
Dave | Ritter | Air Force | 1971-1974 | |
Dick | Smeeding | Army | 1968-1972 | |
Glenn | Troester | Army Infantry | 1968-1972 | Served in Vietnam |
Barbara | Tuttle | Air Force | 1973-1977 | |
Greg | Vibber | Army | 1985-2011 | |
Todd | Waln | Marine Corps | 1994-2002 | |
David | Westfall | Air Force Security Police | 1981-1985 | |
Mike | Zsolczai | Navy | 1971-1975 |
Lastly, as a follow-up to yesterday’s message about End Times, two things. First, I encourage you to use this week’s Bring It Home devotions written by Mike Zsolczai. Mike knocked it out of the park with so many more details that he went into regarding End Times than I had time to go into with yesterday’s sermon. We have paper copies of those devotions inserted into the worship folder, they are accessible on our website (https://immanuelloveland.org/bring-it-home/), and you can also receive them by email each day. If you would like to receive these devotions each day by email, just let us know and we’ll add you to that email group (ChurchOffice@ImmanuelLoveland.org).
Second, below is this week’s What Now? As I said yesterday, Jesus’ primary focus in Mark 13 was not on the destruction of the Temple or of Jerusalem; it was not the glorious eschatological return of Jesus at the end of time; and it was not “end times.” His primary focus was on response – the response of His disciples and the response of us as followers of Jesus to what Jesus acknowledged was coming and all that He was warning us about. What are the responses Jesus is urging us to do? As He said multiple times in Mark 13: don’t ever be alarmed; don’t ever be afraid; be on guard; watch; be alert; be vigilant; don’t be deceived; be careful. I included some of the appropriate responses in this week’s What Now?
What Now?
Don’t ever be alarmed! Remain focused on Jesus. Stay in the Word. Pray every day. Keep gathering in worship. Share with others the love, the grace, and the hope we have in Jesus. Invite others to join us as we walk together, encouraging one another, and expanding the Kingdom of God.
Serving together in Christ alone!
Pastor Glen
Friends of Immanuel,
On this Thursday of election week, the vast majority of the races and various ballot issues across the country have been decided. We have a change in the White House with President Trump returning on January 20th. We are seeing a shift in Congress. Through social media and podcasters across the country I’m hearing cheering, celebrating, anger, discouragement, fear, skepticism – the whole range of emotions.
As followers of Jesus, what are we to do following this year’s election? The same thing we’ve always been called to do – keep our eyes on Jesus, the true King and ruler of our lives; share and show His love in our words, attitudes, actions, and lives; seek daily our Savior’s forgiveness and grace and then, in turn, offer the same to others; live our lives without fear; share with others the hope, the real hope, that we have because of Jesus our Savior; read, meditate on, and study God’s Word; worship with fellow believers and extend invitations to others to join us; led by the Holy Spirit, do what we can to further God’s Kingdom and reach many more people with the Good News of Jesus; and pray.
Continue to pray for our country in these post-election weeks – for a coming together, for peace and no violence or other bad behavior, for those elected, and for these next few months before transitions occur. Pray for all of us as followers of Jesus to keep all things in proper perspective, remembering who our one and only Savior is, and to continue to be the people of God in these times.
Over the past weeks, you have heard me speak and pray very directly about Amendment 79 in Colorado, which, very disappointingly, was approved. In light of this, I encourage all of us to continue to pray for God’s gift of life, for the unborn, and for amazing life-giving ministries across the country like our local Life Choices Pregnancy Center.
In the weeks leading up to the election, I had a documentary, The 1916 Project, shared with me from two separate sources – from Life Choices and from an individual whose work has him pretty directly engaged with these issues on a daily basis. This 75-minute film recounts the history of Margaret Sanger and what led to the opening of her first “birth control” clinic in New York City, which has led to what we currently know as Planned Parenthood. It is a very dark and very chilling movie, at times hard to watch. But I share this with you to raise awareness of what is not a political or social issue, but what I believe is a biblical and spiritual issue. If you want to watch it, here is a YouTube link: https://youtu.be/wbcML4KGTuo. We are also considering having a showing of this, along with discussion of it, here at Immanuel. If we do, I’ll include that information in one of these updates.
As I’ll be talking about this Sunday, these are challenging times – even as Jesus told us 2000 years ago, we continue to “hear of wars and rumors of wars,” as well as all manor of destruction, evil, and struggle. But as people of God, let’s not lose heart but let’s continue to “run with perseverance the race marked out for us,” keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus! I hope to see you Sunday in worship!
Serving together in Christ alone!
Pastor Glen
Friends of Immanuel,
As we are all well aware, tomorrow is election day. I want to share two things with you. First is from a former president of our church body (The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod – LCMS), Rev. Dr. Jerry Kieschnick. He writes a weekly blog called, “Perspectives,” and addresses a wide variety of topics. Last Thursday he wrote about the elections in an excellent way that I thought worthy of sharing with all of you. Second is an email I received on Friday from the current president of the LCMS, Rev. Dr. Matthew Harrison. I share with you several pieces from his email as additional encouragement for us as followers of Jesus with regard to the political process.
First, from Dr. Kieschnick: Living with Life's Disappointments
In life, disappointments abound. Athletic contest outcomes are always disappointing to fans of the team outscored by the opposition. Medical exams with diagnosis of a serious or even fatal disease are more than just disappointing. They’re also discouraging and depressing. Results of an important election like the one our country is facing in a few short days will produce disappointment in the lives of the voters whose preferred candidate is not chosen. That kind of disappointment is significant and can last long after the elected official’s term expires.
That topic is on my mind today and probably also on your mind. How should people who will surely be disappointed with next week’s election results live with that disappointment in life? It looks like that group will number just about half our country. It will surely affect people of all ages, sizes, shapes, religions, genders, races, national origins, and political persuasions. For Christians, living with disappointing election results can be guided by principles of faith, humility, and trust in God's plan. Though not always easy to do, the Bible encourages believers to respect governing authorities. God allows leaders to rise and fall according to His purposes.
Christians can find comfort in prayer, seeking a measure of peace and daily strength to accept outcomes that may not align with personal perspectives, hopes, beliefs, and values. Service, compassion, and constructive community involvement can provide meaningful ways to express basic Judeo-Christian values and positively impact the lives of people in need. Regardless of who is elected, Christian people will be blessed by believing that faith in God transcends any election and helps believers remain resilient today and hopeful for tomorrow.
Consider again this Prayer for Responsible Citizenship (Lutheran Service Book p. 313):
Lord, keep this nation under your care. Bless the leaders of our land that we may be at peace among ourselves and a blessing to the other nations of the earth. Grant that we may choose trustworthy leaders, contribute to wise decisions for the general welfare, and serve you faithfully in our generation, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Hopefully these thoughts and encouragements will help those in our land who will most likely be disappointed with the outcome of next week’s election live with that disappointment in life. Lord, have mercy!
Dr. Gerald B. "Jerry" Kieschnick
And then from Dr. Harrison:
My fellow family members in Christ,
As Lutherans, we look at this political mess and understand that God works in the world in two different ways: through the church (the “kingdom of the right hand”) and through the state (the “kingdom of the left hand”). In the church, He works through the proclamation of the Word of God and the administration of the Sacraments to bring about the salvation of sinners. In the state, He works through the laws and the sword to curb wickedness and enable us to live in peace. As Christians, we live in both kingdoms, submitting in love to Christ and in obedience to the government, insofar as we are not commanded to violate our Lord’s teaching (Rom. 13:1–7; Acts 5:29)…
First, then, let me urge you to participate in this privilege. Vote. Pray for God’s guidance and vote. Participate in the governing duty you have as a citizen of this country and as a fellow brother or sister in Christ.
Second, vote according to God’s Word. You do not leave your beliefs behind you when you enter the voting booth. You may enter the booth by yourself, but you are not alone. The God who has redeemed you, who sanctifies you, who has made you in His image and is working to complete this work in you, enters that booth with you.
What does this mean? It means that when you vote, you must vote for the good of your neighbor. The LCMS does not align itself with any particular party or endorse any political candidate. But some things need to be said: Some issues have clear biblical mandates. We stand for the protection of life from conception to death. We stand for the protection of children from the predations of the LGBTQ+ agenda. As God’s people, we seek to protect the right to freely exercise our beliefs and practices in this great country.
Many other issues are also on the table. Workers should be paid fairly. Citizens — across the board — should not be unfairly taxed. The government should wield the power of the sword fairly and for the good of all. We should consider these issues and make the decision that best serves our neighbor, first and foremost. And Jesus, our Good Samaritan, has something to say about serving your neighbor in need (Luke 10:25–37).
It is not a violation of Lutheran teaching on the Two Kingdoms to encourage Christians to this task of voting. God calls His people to be salt and light in the world (Matt. 5:13–14). In our time, this includes voting for the good of our neighbor…
In Christ,
Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison, President
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS)
When all is said and done, know that regardless of the outcomes of the election tomorrow, as followers of Jesus, we know Christ is King and He continues to reign supreme. We continue to carry out the mission our King has given us, which is to speak the Gospel at every opportunity, to show His love, to offer the hope we know in and because of Jesus, and to continue to live bold and courageous lives without fear, as His Kingdom people!
Serving together in Christ alone!
Pastor Glen
Friends of Immanuel,
Happy Reformation Day! As I mentioned on Sunday at our Reformation Celebration, it was on October 31st, 1517, that Martin Luther posted his 95 theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenburg, Germany – an event that is recognized as the beginning of the Reformation. I’m not going to go into any more historical detail here, but if you’d like more info or other suggestions to learn more about this world-altering period of history, here’s the trailer to “Luther,” an excellent movie which came out in 2003 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oe84Aolmmcg – you can rent or stream this. Here is a link to a well-done documentary by Ligonier Ministries called “Luther: The Life and Legacy of the German Reformer”: https://youtu.be/6VK0p-tuuao. And one more resource is Rick Steves’ “Luther and the Reformation,” which can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXK9NNp1yk4.
For today, give thanks to God for His gifts that are highlighted from the Reformation – Grace Alone, Faith Alone, Scripture Alone, Christ Alone. We are blessed as a Church and as God’s people to be recipients of these amazing gifts God pours into our lives!
Last night was our annual Fall Fest and in spite of the sprinkles all night, we had hundreds of children and adults who came out for a grab-and-go dinner, Trunk-or-Treating with 33 vehicles, petting some very cute ponies, and a huge attraction of a horse-drawn wagon ride that was packed all night long. A huge thank you to Miss Emma, our DCE Intern, for the fantastic job she did in bringing all the many pieces of our Fall Fest together to be a wonderful success! Way to go, Miss Emma! And thank you to all who came out to be part of this fun event, to those who decorated their “trunks” and handed out candy, to those who helped in the kitchen, to those of you who donated food or money or supplies, to those who invited others, and to those who came and extended some Radical Hospitality and showed Christ’s love to the kids and families. I’m including a couple pictures here today, including a snapshot of a few of the trunks, and also Pat Frysinger, our faithful and enthusiastic 93-year-old who had a trunk, too! Watch for an email from Miss Emma who will be sending out a “Special Edition” update that will feature lots more pictures from last night.
Finally, as we all have our ballots for this year’s election, in addition to the various election resources that have been in these email updates for the last few weeks, I want to encourage and challenge all of us to pray mightily for our country. Pray for these elections that God would raise up godly men and women to serve in these important positions of leadership in our country. There will also be a specific time of prayer for our elections and our country this Sunday morning during the Education Hour in the sanctuary from 9:30-10:15, led by one of our retired pastors, Pastor Greg Hafeman. I encourage you to come together in this opportunity to corporately join our voices in prayer!
As always, thank you for being part of this amazing ministry of our Lord here at Immanuel. It takes all of us, praying, serving, giving, and being His people together! What our Savior continues to do in us, through us, and among us, humbles me as I see His power, His love, and His will be carried out in these times and in this place. Praise God!
Serving together in Christ alone!
Pastor Glen
Friends of Immanuel,
Grace Alone. Faith Alone. Scripture Alone. Christ Alone. Those are the banners of the Reformation that we celebrated yesterday in worship. The Reformation, begun by Martin Luther back in the early 1500s, is far more than a notable historical time. The need for “reformation” continues – in the Church, that we be focused on the mission Jesus has given us of sharing His great Good News and that He would use us to continue to build His Kingdom and reach more and more people; and in our lives, that the Lord might shape and mold us into His likeness day-by-day, that we be filled with His Word, that we be prayerful, and that we would be open to Him using us as His hands and feet and voice.
The re-discovery of God’s grace was life-changing for Luther. His experience of that gift of our Lord’s unconditional love and full forgiveness changed his entire outlook on God and on life. As we’ve been talking recently in worship and in sermons, God’s grace is a life-changing gift! As baptized, believing children of God, it provides the opportunity for us to live our lives freely and boldly in Jesus. It takes away the fears that our culture is continuously trying to foist on us. It lifts the burdens of guilt and shame that can weigh us down, assuring us that our Savior’s forgiveness is real. We don’t have to worry about our eternal well-being, wondering if we’ve done enough, given enough, or been good enough – by grace through faith in Jesus we are saved. Period!
That means we can be the people our Lord created us to be. We are His handiwork, His masterpieces! Filled with the Holy Spirit and overflowing the promises and assurances we know in Jesus, we are here to share that Good News with others. With whom can you share that Good News – family members, friends, neighbors, classmates, co-workers, workout or walking buddies, etc.? Don’t make it complicated. Pray daily for these people in your life, for the various needs of which you’re aware. Pray for the Lord to guide you and give your courage and boldness and winsomeness to hear and listen and then speak into their needs, sharing the hope, the grace, the forgiveness, and the love of Jesus.
We’re living in tumultuous times, times brimming with fear, with lies, with deceit, with uncertainty. So many people are looking for answers, for help, for support, for encouragement. You and I have SO much to offer. Extend invitations – to Wednesday’s Fall Fest, to Sunday morning worship, to a Bible study, to the Christmas Bazaar, to Thanksgiving Day worship, or any of the many, ongoing events, activities, and ministries happening here at Immanuel. And keep walking with these folks God has put into your life. See them not as “projects,” but as friends – life-long friends!
Here is this week’s What Now? for you to consider and put into practice in the days ahead.
What Now?
In these times of lies, deceit, half-truths, and more, recognize the freedom that comes to us in the truth God shows us in His Word. This week denounce fear and hopelessness that the devil, through all sorts of means, is trying to create. Rest in the blessing of freedom that His Truth brings.
Serving together in Christ alone!
Pastor Glen
Friends of Immanuel,
Over the last several years we’ve had 200-300 children and adults be part of Immanuel’s annual Fall Fest – it’s a Big Deal and a great touch-point with many in our neighborhood and community. We’ve made a slight shift in how this year’s Fall Fest will look and the main feature will be Trunk-or-Treat in the north parking lot. It would be awesome to have 50-60 vehicles! You’ve seen my picture in my Packer gear from last year. There have been some very creative and elaborate trunks decorated in fun ways. But it can also be as simple as opening your trunk and setting a pumpkin next to you – really! It’s about providing a fun and safe place for children to enjoy dressing up in costumes and trick-or-treating for candy.
Immanuel has a great reputation for being a safe, secure, and fun place to be for an event like this. It can also foster a fun sense of community among “the trunks,” as you have some opportunity to talk to the people set up around your vehicle. This year we’ll also have Pet-a-Pony (yes, a real live pony!), horse-drawn fall rides, and grab-and-go dinner. It’s a great opportunity to extend invitations – not only to your own children or grandchildren, but to friends and neighbors as well!
Miss Emma will be sending out a separate email with a variety of examples of decorated trunks to help get your creative juices flowing. But remember, don’t get overwhelmed or hung up on the decorations. All you need is a vehicle, a HUGE bag of candy, a smile, and a welcoming attitude, ready to share Christ’s love in this simple and tangible way.
So join in the fun and help fill the north end of our parking lot with a good time for the children! Here’s the sign-up to save your spot – https://signup.com/go/GhWnyPd.
Serving together in Christ alone!
Pastor Glen
Friends of Immanuel,
As Kathy and I were driving down to Centennial yesterday morning for our granddaughter’s baptism, we were watching (well, I was listening!!) to the live stream of the 8:00 Classic Grace service here at Immanuel because I was really interested to hear what Pastor Robin was going to do with his message on the elections. What he did was excellent! If you missed worship here at Immanuel yesterday, I would encourage you to check out the live stream and take in his message.
I’ll just reiterate a couple thoughts Pastor Robin expressed with some encouragement from me. We have both a civic and a spiritual privilege and a duty to vote – it’s part of the freedom we have of living in this great country of ours. Invest some time in understanding the candidates and what they stand for, as well as the issues and what they are all about. Then pray. Pray for guidance to vote for those people and issues that align most closely with your biblical values. Then vote.
We all know how crazy our world is right now. There’s so much going on that can raise anxiety and stress, pushing emotions all over the board. When all is said and done, don’t forget our bottom line as followers of Jesus. Our trust and confidence does not lie with our president, the Supreme Court, the Constitution or the Bill of Rights, or our state or federal Senate or House of Representatives. We pray for godly men and women to be in these leadership positions for our country, people we pray will govern wisely and well on the foundation of Jesus and His Word. But our trust and confidence must always lie in our Savior. In Jesus, we win! In Jesus, we have nothing to fear. In Jesus, we have hope. In Jesus we know the power of real love, grace, and forgiveness. Amen!!
Yesterday I had the privilege of baptizing my newest granddaughter, Eva Katherine, at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Centennial. I’m indebted to my good friend, Pastor Brad Stoltenow, the senior pastor at Shepherd, for allowing me to do that. He also gave me the opportunity to preach, which I thoroughly enjoyed as well. I praise God for the amazing gift of baptism, knowing that little Eva is now claimed by Jesus and welcomed into His family of believers!
Now we have the joy of surrounding her, along with her mom and dad (David and Cassie), supporting, encouraging, and praying for all of them in this journey of life and faith and following Jesus. As an added blessing, after the worship service we enjoyed lunch at the church with about 30 people to celebrate Eva, and then followed that with a few of us watching the Packer game together, which we had recorded. The pictures include me baptizing Eva, Kathy and me with David, Cassie, and Eva, and me holding Eva (in her Packer outfit!) watching the end of the Packer game! My thanks to Pastor Robin for taking the service here at Immanuel to allow us the opportunity to be gone yesterday to celebrate with our growing family.
In the meantime, let’s continue to be about God’s mission – sharing His amazing Good News with the people in our lives, showing Radical Hospitality, engaging fully in Transformational Learning, and Living Fearlessly as God’s people! Thank you all for your partnership in the Gospel!
Serving together in Christ alone!
Pastor Glen
Friends of Immanuel,
The view out of my office window at Immanuel is gorgeous right now! Last weekend I sent a picture of our front yard and our two ash trees that were starting to turn color to all of our kids to share some of the beauty that we’re enjoying. That sparked a few back-and-forth pictures from our kids in the Midwest and similar blessings that we’re all enjoying this time of year.
I know that the time is very short that we’ll be able to take in these fantastic colors in the trees. There’s talk of rain, maybe even snow, this weekend with temperatures dropping a bit more. With colder temperatures, coupled with any wind or precipitation, the leaves will be dropping quickly. And that will mean lots of raking, filling our green recycle bins with leaves, and maybe some trips to the recycling center to dispose of all those dried leaves. And suddenly the trees are bare and the look of winter begins to take shape with another change in seasons coming.
As I reflect on all this, it reminds me of how quickly life changes. There are times of amazing beauty and opportunities to sit and gaze and take it all in. Then, almost on a dime, that can change, and we focus on all the work it takes to clean things up, colder temperatures that require us to pull out heavier jackets, hats, and gloves, and then rain or snow and gray clouds. Isn’t that a snapshot of life? You can make those connections around this metaphor of the seasons with what may be happening in your own life.
The reminder it’s giving me today is to not miss the beauty that is all around us. Any given “beauty” may only last a few days or weeks, or perhaps a bit longer season – whether it’s leaves, health, children, hobbies, or vocations. Beauty can also come in moments, minutes, or hours – can you think of some examples in your own life right now?
And then the winds of change blow through. We experience the death of a friend or loved one, there’s an accident or a health crisis, a job change, a relationship challenge. These are times when we become keenly aware of our need for the Lord and His strength, His gifts of grace, forgiveness, acceptance, and love. These are times that we need each other as well. As I was talking with someone earlier this week, the importance and value of being part of the Body of Christ is a gift in and of itself. The Lord has put us here together, in community, in family, in His Body. We are here to walk together, to support and encourage one another, to listen, and to speak into each other’s lives.
As I waxed poetic today, my prayer for each of us is two-fold: that we might pause and take in some “beauty” and blessings that are all around us, which the Lord has put into our lives right now, and not let that pass us by; and that in the changes and challenges, whether they are coming or we’re living in them right now, that we would lean into our Lord and His promises, as well as lean into each other as sisters and brothers in our Savior.
Serving together in Christ alone!
Pastor Glen
Friends of Immanuel,
Last week many on Immanuel’s staff attended the annual Rocky Mountain District Fall Church Workers Conference in Breckenridge. This annual conference is such a blessing to be able to receive some continuing education, the opportunity to network with other churches, schools, teachers, pastors, and other church workers in our district, to be encouraged, and to learn and grow.
While there were many of the sessions and times of worship together as a whole group, the pastors had the privilege of having the Rev. Dr. Peter Nafzger, a professor at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, lead multiple sessions on the importance of community. A lot of what Dr. Nafzger shared with us was very affirming of what we are doing here at Immanuel in regard to community. There were also some helpful thoughts, suggestions, and encouragements toward continued growth in this area of ministry and life.
A significant cultural issue touched on at the conference is one we must battle continually – individualism. Biblically, the way the Lord speaks to us throughout the Old Testament, including through the prophets, in the Gospels, and the entire New Testament, is with a plural “you.” That means whenever we read the word “you” in the Bible, more often than not, it is referring not to each of us individually but to us as God’s people and followers of Jesus collectively. I discovered tremendous value in that shift in thinking about “us” rather than thinking about “me” when it comes to how I write, how I think about preaching, and how I approach our ministry together.
Dr. Nafzger spoke to community as it relates to worship, the Lord’s Supper, and preaching. An interesting learning for me came in regard to the celebration of the Lord’s Supper. Something Martin Luther spoke to in the 1500s was the community-aspect of the Lord’s Supper. Luther believed that when we commune together at the Lord’s Table, we are agreeing to truly walk together in community, specifically, that we are saying that we’re willing to bear one another’s burdens and celebrate each other’s joys. That’s powerful!
A couple of other take-aways for me regarding building community are these simple suggestions:
- During our time of welcome at the beginning of worship, introduce yourself to those you don’t know – names are important when it comes to community!
- Related to that, because names are so difficult for so many of us to remember, make it a point to wear your nametags – that’s a very helpful thing for everyone. If you don’t have a nametag (children and youth included!), contact Beth in the church office and we can get one for you (ChurchOffice@ImmanuelLoveland.org).
- I’ve said this before, but it’s important enough to repeat. Don’t forget the children and youth when it comes to community here at Immanuel. Get to know the names of the children and youth who you see regularly and talk with them! Greet them by name (or ask them to remind you of their name – that’s OK, too!), get to know them, ask them about things they do or like. While I’ve emphasized that about the kiddos, the same can be said for the other adults around us – community is about knowing each other and being known!
So much of what I learned at the conference came into play with yesterday’s time of worship here at Immanuel as we talked about the blessing and power of having an empathetic God. As the writer to the Hebrews expressed (4:15), we DO have high priest (Jesus) who is able to empathize with our weaknesses. All that our Lord did He did on purpose, because His desire is to be in relationship with us. He really does understand what we’re going through – the struggles, the frustrations, the difficulties, the disappointments, the joys, and the celebrations. So take this week’s What Now? to heart as we embrace this amazing gift of who our God is!
What Now?
When you find yourself facing challenges or struggles of any kind this week, lean into our Lord’s empathy, remembering that you’re not in this alone!
We have an amazing community of faith here at Immanuel! Thank you for being an integral part of it and working hard to make it even better and stronger as we work and serve, pray and play together in our Savior!
P.S. Christmas Bazaar Date Correction! Yesterday after worship someone brought to my attention that the wrong date was listed on the LWML insert for Christmas Bazaar. Just to be clear, the correct date for this year’s Christmas Bazaar is Saturday, November 23rd from 9:00am-3:00pm. Sorry about the confusion!
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!
Immanuel Lutheran Church
Immanuel Lutheran Church and School
4650 Sunview Drive,
Loveland, CO 80538
(on the corner of Highway 287 and 50th Street)
Church office hours:
Monday - Friday: 8am–4pm
Phone: (970) 667-4506