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Vision Statement: Who We Are Called to Be Emmanuel has always wanted and strived to have a connection with the community. As we grow, continuing to reach out and make connections to the community should be our over-arching umbrella. This will be done purposefully and systematically, as we cannot just expect people to come to us. We will need to utilize various focus areas and venues to teach and encourage current members to share their faith so others may know Christ’s love through Emmanuel. We can do this by serving the needs of God’s people in all stages of life, with particular emphasis on… Young families Youth and young adults Special needs populations …in our church and community We can accomplish this by becoming... Deeper through Discipleship (growing in faith) Stronger through Worship (being nurtured in God’s Word) Warmer through Fellowship (developing relationships with God’s people) Broader through Ministry (serving God’s people) Larger through Evangelism (sharing our faith with others) VISION MOMENT On Sunday, December 11 at our 9:30 worship the Sunday School youth and adult helpers led our worship service. It is truly wonderful to listen to young people tell the Christmas story – it always fresh and new. Besides looking so cute and being so funny, God really uses them to get our attention in a new way as to the meaning of Christmas. Amidst our normal traditions and the hustle and bustle of the season, I know that I find this opportunity to hear and reflect upon the meaning of the season in a new way quite important! And not only that, but I hear my daughters singing the songs for several days afterward. They share with me about their parts and even more importantly begin to ask questions about Jesus and what he means for us. What a wonderful opportunity to share with my children about my faith in Jesus! So, not only does the congregation get blessed by the kids, the kids are also blessed by their learning about God’s love for them in Christ Jesus our Lord. It is truly a blessing to have our 9:30 Sunday School. Not all churches have this blessing and we have a truly wonderful group of kids, teachers, and other helpers that get to learn about Jesus each week of the school year. As I alluded to earlier, my kids ask questions regularly from things discussed in Sunday School that give Karen and I opportunity to begin to plant seeds of faith in their lives. I am sure other parents have the same experience. What a wonderful thing to pass on the faith to new generations! PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS Martin Luther said that we are all a part of the priesthood of believers and have gifts and talents to offer in ministry. At Emmanuel, we are blessed to have many people that gifts for service in ministry, especially in leadership roles. As Pastor Scott is not able nor expected to be able to oversee every aspect of Emmanuel’s vast ministry and mission, please consider the following individuals when seeking input or answers about the different aspects of ministry at Emmanuel: Stephen Ministry – Katherine Van Loke and Connie Kotrba CALLING ALL PARENTS - "PARENTING ACCORDING TO YOUR STRENGHTS" The DVD is currently available for $3.99 from Christianbook.com. You may order you own DVD on line or check with PAstor Scott for an extra. Pastor Scott will lead a discussion on this parenting resource on Sunday, Janaury 29 at 6:00 PM at Emmanuel. Please come and share your thoughts and insights!
“Becoming a Contagious
Christian"
9:30 Sunday School Class These stories have a great deal to teach us about faithfulness. Join us for one week or the rest of the series. Contact Roy Finkenbine with any questions." HELP IS NEEDED TO PROVIDE THE COFFEE HOURS ON SUNDAYS! We are requesting your assistance in helping to continue the wonderful coffee hour opportunities on Sunday between worship services. We need 2 people each week to bring in 2 dozen of donuts, cookies, or other treats (they need not be home made, store-bought is fine!). In addition, Ann Walker would like a second person to help with replenishing coffee and treats between the 9:30 AM and 11:00 AM services. Please sign up on the sheets provided where the coffee and treats are served. Thank you for your assistance in this most important of ministries at Emmanuel! NOMINATIONS FOR 2012 SYNOD ASSEMBLY VOTING MEMBERS AND SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN SYNOD POSITIONS: If you would like to be a voting member for Emmanuel Lutheran at the 2012 Synod Assembly (May 17-19 in Lansing) please contact Pastor Scott. Also, if you would like to be considered for nomination as a voting member to the Churchwide Assembly in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania on August 12-18, 2013, contact Pastor Scott for a nomination form. Livonia Community to experience Hands-On Substance Abuse Education Program Parents come face to face with more than 70 drug paraphernalia items during an interactive drug education and prevention workshop presented by Saint Joseph Mercy Health System. Educators from Saint Joseph Mercy Health System will travel to Emmanuel Lutheran Church on February 16, 2012 to educate parents, grandparents, coaches, teachers and administrators about the various forms of drugs and the peer pressures facing students to use them. The presentation is titled Drugs 101:What Parents Want to Know and is sponsored by Emmanuel Lutheran Church. This two-hour presentation starts at 6:30pm, when participants will enter a mock bedroom of a teenager that has been set up to resemble a teenage drug user’s room. Participants are asked to identify drug and alcohol related paraphernalia that have been placed within the room. Throughout the presentation, more than 70 trendy drug and alcohol indicators will be unveiled to show how some adolescents hide drug and alcohol use. Signs, symptoms and current trends of alcohol, prescription drugs, marijuana, inhalants, tobacco and several other substances will be presented. The program will include demonstrations to help adults initiate conversations with adolescents and teens. The goal of this program is to empower participants with the knowledge they need to spot warning signs of drug abuse in time to intervene and/or prevent it. Any adult who resides in the Livonia Community can register for the program by contacting 734-398-7518 or online at www.stjoeshealth.org/classes Any group interested in hosting a “Drugs 101: What Parents Need to Know” program for the parents of their school, district or community, can call 734-398-7518 or email healthed@trinity-health.org TANZANIA & THANK SUNDAY – JANAURY 29 On Sunday, January 29 we will focus on our outreach efforts in 2011 as we celebrate our partner relationship with the Tanzania Church and our Emphases of the Month in 2011. Pastor Walt and John Chambers will share form their mission trip to Tanzania as well as celebrate other ways in which we reached out to God’s people in 2011. We give thanks for those willing to be a blessing to others in 2011! MEN’S BREAKFAST – Saturday, Feb 4, 2012 Our next Men’s Breakfast will be on Saturday, Feb 4, 2012 at 7:30 PM at church. We will continue the series “Jesus Did It Anyway” as we take a look at the life and teachings of Jesus and other biblical leaders and how they relate to our lives as men of faith today. Breakfast begins at 7:30 AM followed by our discussion. ALL MEN ARE WELCOME!! SCOUT SUNDAY WORSHIP We will be celebrating Scout Sunday at our family worship at the 9:30 worship service on Sunday, February 5. We will recognize the Scouts in our congregation and ask God’s continued blessing on them and their work. If you would like more information or to participate, please contact Dorothy Vande Kieft at 734-953-4048 or Julie Ripple at 734-420-0851. HEALING SERVICES Our next set of Healing Services is scheduled for Sunday, February 12 at all 3 of our Sunday worship services. Healing services give worshippers opportunity to come forward and receive the laying on of hands and anointing with oil. This is a great way to celebrate the healing presence of Christ in our lives! “WHAT DOES THE CROSS HAVE TO DO WITH OUR LIVES?” Lent 2012 We see crosses all over the place – in our churches, made into jewelry, signaled by athletes after they score a touchdown! But what does the cross really have to do with us? How does the cross still inform our lives today? This Lent we will be taking a close look at the cross and what it truly means for our lives of faith. During our Sunday worship, we will look closely at Jesus’ own words from the cross to better understand what the cross means for his followers. Based on what Jesus says on the cross we can get a better understanding of what his death means for us and our salvation. We will also be studying the meaning of the cross in bible groups and as Pastor Scott’s congregational book read. For in depth discussion and study, join one of the weekly bible classes that will be offered throughout the week. Or, take time to read the designated book throughout Lent and join in a one-time discussion at the end of the Lenten season. Further details on resources and meeting times will be forthcoming in the very near future. Ash Wednesday worship will kick off our Lenten journey on Wednesday, February 22 at 11:00 Am and 7:00 PM. We will celebrate Holy Communion and the imposition of ashes as we begin our season of reflection, repentance and renewal leading to the death of Christ and his victorious victory over the grave for the redemption of all humankind. May God bless us as we grow in our understanding of the cross and our relationship with Christ! THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE CONGREGATION WILL BE SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26 FOLLOWING ALL 3 WORSHIP SERVICES: We will discuss the 2011 annual report and need to approve the minutes of the 2011 annual meeting. ** Annual reports form all staff and ministry leaders are due into the church office by February 1. CONGRATULATIONS to our 2012 Council officers elected at the January Council meeting. They are: President – Jim Messineo Vice President – Nick Potter Secretary – Tina Banach Treasurer – Travis Nixon God’s Blessings to you in these important roles of leadership at Emmanuel! TANZANIA & THANK SUNDAY – JANUARY 29 On Sunday, January 29 we will focus on our outreach efforts in 2011 as we celebrate our partner relationship with the Tanzania Church and our Emphases of the Month in 2011. Pastor Walt and John Chambers will share form their mission trip to Tanzania as well as celebrate other ways in which we reached out to God’s people in 2011. We give thanks for those willing to be a blessing to others in 2011! GET TO KNOW EMMANUEL: Sunday, February 26 at 6:00 PM at the Church. This is an opportunity to get to know about the rich history of Emmanuel Lutheran, the mission and vision of Emmanuel, and ways in which you might become a more intentional part of the work of the congregation. Through sharing information and answering questions, Pastor Scott wishes to help newcomers or those interested in Emmanuel understand better how Emmanuel came to be, what our current ministry looks like and is doing, and how individuals can become involved at Emmanuel. Pastor Scott This is a great opportunity to get to know about Emmanuel and what it is doing in the world today! If you or anyone you know may be interested in getting to know more about Emmanuel, please contact Pastor Scott at pastorscott@emmanuel-livonia.org or 248-442-8822.
Emmanuel – God With Us! |
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