A newsletter for the family and friends of Immanuel Ev. Lutheran Church
ITEMS
Rev. David P. Constien, Senior Pastor
Rev. William C. Ryden, Associate Pastor
Volume 57 No. 7
August 2015
The Road Of Life
God of our life,
there are days when the burdens we carry
chafe our shoulders and weigh us down;
when the road seems dreary and endless,
the skies gray and threatening;
when our lives have no music in them,
and our hearts are lonely,
and our souls have lost their courage.
Flood the path with light,
turn our eyes to where
the skies are full of promise;
tune our hearts to brave music;
give us the sense of comradeship
with heroes and saints of every age;
and so quicken our spirits
that we may be able to encourage
the souls of all who journey with us
on the road of life,
to your honor and glory.
—St. Augustine
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Serving the Living Lord at Immanuel
Management of life’s resources for God’s purposes
"Caring and sharing since 1850, the mission of the family of God at
Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mokena
is to effectively teach the Word of God. promote the spiritual growth of the
Christian family, and continuously reach out with love and service."
June and July 2015
OUR OFFERINGS TO GOD: $ 22,774.24
OUR MINISTRY AT A GLANCE:
Mortgage ~ $ 2,430.62
Mortgage Balance ~ $316,210.89
Outreach ~ $ YTD $ Education ~$YTD $
Mission ~ $570 YTD $3,990
Personnel ~$23,097.98
Utilities ~ Electric $932.44; Gas $363.69
Phone $429.23; Garbage $194.15; Water $129.83
Total Expenses: $30,740.71
Bulletin & Items Publishing
Bulletin articles are due on Wednesday by 1 p.m.
Articles for the September Items are due August 21st and will
be on our website/e-mailed/available in narthex after
August 26th.
We post Items Newsletter
on the Website!
www.immanuelmokena.org
If you plan to move or have already moved,
PLEASE CALL THE CHURCH OFFICE with your new
address!!
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Official Acts
Baptisms: Maddox Pollock July 19, 2015
Weddings: Paul Somerville and Christina Sneideraitis June 19, 2015
Funerals:
Transfers:
Weekly Attendance May 31- July 19, 2015
May 30-31
June 6-7
June13-14
June 20-21
June 27-28
July 4-5
July 11-12
July18-19
July 25-26
5:00 pm
52
42
57
38
37
40
42
47
35
8:00 am 9:30 am Total
34
90
176
40
39
121
34
25
116
32
47
117
27
37
101
24
32
96
37
36
115
41
51
139
39
30
104
Baptized Membership 816 Confirmed Membership 697 Households 352
Immanuel has elders who assist the pastors during the worship service
and outside of worship. Their job is to be of service to you in any
cares/concerns you may have with the congregation and within your
family. Here are your elders:
Elder 1: Marty Olsen 815-464-4373
Elder 2: Jim Bowlds 708-479-3757
Eder 3: Jim Bubeck 708-479-7573
Elder 4: Kyle Klode 815-723-5933
Elder 5: Nick Whittier 815-485-9269
Elder 6: Jerry Vrshek 815-469-5059
Please
contact
these
Elders
needs/concerns/questions.
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should
you
have
any
NEWS
Thunderbolts Baseball Game will be on August 1, at
6:05pm.Contat Lyn Thorne for tickets at 708-805-4456.
God's Kid's Club Rally Day is September 13
COAL CITY STRONG
a disaster relief concert event
with the Peter Mayer Group
[ w w w . c o a l c i t y s t r o n g . o r g ]
PURPOSE:
To be a tangible blessing to the neighboring
community of Coal City in the name of
Jesus. Specifically: to raise money and
support for the families and organizations
that were devastated by the June 22nd
tornados in the Coal City area. All proceeds
from tickets sold, 50% of vendors’ profits
and any donations will go toward the Coal
City Relief Fund to help families rebuild their
homes and lives. In addition to a day of
family fun in the park, Sanctuary’s worship
band will lead of time of music, during which
time Pastor Dan will pray over the families of
Coal City who are in attendance. The
evening will be capped off with a Benefit
Concert by the Peter Mayer Group.
DATE & TIME:
Sunday, August 2nd
8:00AM
Prayer Walk of Entire Park
10:00AM
Vendors and Booths and
Jumpies Set-Up
1:00PM
Park Opens (Family
Fun, Games and Food)
3:00PM
Music begins with Sanctuary
Band
4:00PM
Peter Mayer Group Concert
LOCATION:
Manhattan Park District - Round Barn Farm
Park
24115 S. US Rt 52, Manhattan, IL 60442
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CONTACT:
Jerome Gabriel, event coordinator
Dan Hudson, pastor of Sanctuary
(419) 889-0098
(815) 216-2727
[email protected]
[email protected]
PARTNERSHIPS:
As partners with us throughout our mission
planting process, you have been vital to the
growth and establishment of a new church
presence in our community. In continuation
of that partnership, we want to invite you to
join with us again for the specific purpose of
pulling together this benefit event. We need
your help. Here is how you can help:
Prayer:
Commit to praying for our church and those
involved in the planning. We have already
experience some pushback in the ‘public’
arena for our plans, but, by God’s mercy, He
is allowing us to continue forward in being a
public voice for healing and renewal in the
name of Jesus.
Volunteer:
We need a total of 100 volunteers. There will
be up to 1,000 people in attendance and we
will need help with all aspects of the event.
To volunteer to help run the event or to help
set up for the event, contact Jerome Gabriel
at the info above. Please let us know your
desire to volunteer no later than July 27th.
We will be setting up the park during the
afternoon of Saturday, Aug 1.
Donations:
Many of the Village entities we are working
with are donating their services or giving
them at a reduced price, however, we will
need to raise another $3,000.00 to pay for the
infrastructure of the event (rentals, stages,
tents, porto-potties, permits, etc…). If you
would like to support this missional event by
partnering with us financially, please contact
Pastor Dan Hudson.
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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Frankfort, IL will be hosting a LERT
Training Workshop on September 19. Registration and a light breakfast will
begin at 8:30 am with class from 9 am-noon. Training is provided by Lutheran
Church Charities.
As of January 2010, by federal guidelines, any volunteers
responding to a disaster must be trained and certified or they
will be turned away. Over a year ago, Lutheran Church
Charities started making plans for providing training for and
establishing Lutheran Early Response Teams (LERT)
throughout our district. Should a disaster happen, these teams
would be put on call and may be asked to deploy in 72 hours or less to respond
to the disaster.
The core areas covered in the training are:
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Ministry Opportunities
Chainsaw Safety - All LERT members will receive the chain saw
safety training. If you are want to serve on the team as a chain saw
operator you must also be chain saw certified. Only certified trained
volunteers may operate chainsaws or be within 6' of a running saw. For
those individuals, chainsaw operation certification will take place at a
separate time and location to be announced.
Training will be held at:
Clean Up & Debris Removal
Good
Shepherd Lutheran Church
Trap & Patch Safety
177 Luther Lane
Muck Out Training
Frankfort, IL 60423
Flood & Storm Surge Training
815-469-2549
3 Phases of Disaster Work
4 Phases of Emotions
National Credentialing
Registration is $35 and helps cover the cost of the training materials, and the
LERT vest, which is required to be worn in a disaster response situation.
Registration can be paid by credit card online at time of registration or by cash
or check at the door.
In order to better manage volunteers and resources, FEMA has finalized a
guideline on credentialing volunteers for large-scale disasters. The federal
guidelines indicate that volunteers responding to
a disaster should be trained and certified.
Lutheran Church Charities is providing training
for Lutheran Early Response Teams (LERT)
throughout our district.
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Should a disaster strike these teams would be put on call and may be asked to
deploy in 72 hours or less to the disaster site.
This training will prepare team member for credentialing and will focus on the
safety, work, and ministry of Lutherans as Early Responders.
For more information, call Dianna Bonfield at 866-455-6466, or visit
http://LutheranChurchCharities.org/lert for more information or to register.
Bible Quiz
Before Job’s great misfortune, how many animals did he own?
A.
7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen and 500
donkeys
B.
70 sheep, 30 camels, 50 yoke of oxen and 50 donkeys
C.
2,000 oxen and 4,000 camels
D.
250 sheep and 250 goats
Answer: A (See Job 1:3.)
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Immanuel Youth Group
“Connecting youth to Christ and each other”
Check out our web site at www.immanuelmokena.org and click on the
“youth” link.
New Youth Program!!!
The Confirmation and Youth Discipleship Ministry at
Immanuel will have a new look this year. Both Junior High and
High School youth will learn about the history of God’s salvation
for mankind and Christian doctrine as well as receive training in
practical Christian discipleship on Wednesday evenings. 7th and 8th
grade students will receive basic teachings in these areas in
preparation for Confirmation. Freshmen and sophomores will build
on the basics and explore how to defend their Christian faith and
more faithfully live as disciples of Christ. Juniors and seniors will
discover how God has equipped them to serve in the church and
the world as mature Christians.
Parents, I want to challenge you. I know you want what’s
best for your kids. You want them to grow to be godly people in
this world. But if you’re like most people you feel unequipped to
teach them. We want to change that. That’s why we’re going to
provide the opportunity for you to be a part of this new ministry in
a way that will help you be the model for your children that they
need.
If you have a 7th or 8th grader who will be coming on
Wednesdays to prepare for Confirmation, I ask that when you drop
them off you stay for the first 15 minutes and take time to read
from the Bible, have a short spiritual discussion based on what you
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have read and spend a few minutes in prayer with your child. I
believe that those 15 minutes will become the most valuable 15
minutes of the day for you and your child.
If you are a parent of a high school student I challenge you
to talk with your child about their Christian faith and life. Discuss
the opportunity for them to continue to grow in their Christian faith
and life by being a part of the new Youth Discipleship Ministry at
Immanuel. Commit to coming with them and spending those first
15 minutes reading and talking and praying with them. Show them
that you too want to grow as a disciple of Jesus Christ.
I am very excited about this new approach to youth
ministry. It not only teaches young people what we believe, but
why we believe it and how to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in
tangible ways. I want to challenge our high school youth to
continue to grow in the faith and Christian discipleship.
Confirmation is not graduation! Come join us as we connect with
Christ and one another every Wednesday evening from 5:30 to
7:00.
A Work In Progress
A Christian is always in the process of becoming, never in
the state of having become. The Christian life is not being pious
but becoming pious, not being healthy but becoming healthy, not
being but becoming, not rest but exercise. We are not yet [what we
are to be], but we are becoming it. It is not yet done and has not yet
happened. It is, however, going on and coming to be. It is not the
end, but it is the way.
—Martin Luther
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Read The Bible In One Year
These Bible readings walk you through the Bible over the course
of one year. If you miss a day or want to read ahead, just use the
calendar to navigate to the next reading. Order of Family worship,
Luther's Morning and Evening Prayers, and mealtime prayers may
be found in any Portals of Prayer in the first pages.
You may also use this simple order:
Leader: In the name of the Father and of the son and of the Holy
Spirit.
Response: Amen
A Psalm may be read.
Morning Psalms:1,2,8,19,27,45,62,67,72,84,98
Evening Psalms:4,23, 91,110,111,114,133,134
Scripture Reading and Reflection
Prayers (Grow out of Word of God and reflection)
Leader: May the almighty and most merciful God, Father, Son
and Holy Spirit, bless and preserve us.
Response: Amen
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Read The Bible In One Year
August Verses
This outline is a devotional reading plan that covers the entire Sacred
Scriptures in one year. The selections are based on ancient models and
are generally in harmony with the liturgical church year. The daily
reading is 1 to 4 chapters daily. A seasonal canticle is assigned for each
month and is scheduled to replace the Psalm on the first and last day of
the month.
1. Habakkuk 3:2-19 & 2 Chronicles 1-3
2. Psalm 57 & 2 Chronicles 4-6
3. Psalm 58 & 2 Chronicles 7-9
4. Psalm 59 & 2 Chronicles 10-12
5. Psalm 60 & 2 Chronicles 13-15
6. Psalm 61 & 2 Chronicles 16-18
7. Psalm 62 & 2 Chronicles 19-21
8. Psalm 63 & 2 Chronicles 22-24
9. Psalm 64 & 2 Chronicles 25-27
10. Psalm 65 & 2 Chronicles 28-30
11. Psalm 66 & 2 Chronicles 31-33
12. Psalm 67 & 2 Chronicles 34-36
13. Psalm 68 & Ezra 1-5
14. Psalm 69 & Ezra 6-10
15. Psalm 70 & Nehemiah 1-3
16. Psalm 71 & Nehemiah 4-6
17. Psalm 72 & Nehemiah 7-9
18. Psalm 73 & Nehemiah 10-13
19. Psalm 74 & Esther 1-3
20. Psalm 75 & Esther 4-6
21. Psalm 76 & Esther 7-10
22. Psalm 77 & Job 1-3
23. Psalm 78 & Job 4-6
24. Psalm 79 & Job 7-9
25. Psalm 80 & Job 10-12
26. Psalm 81 & Job 13-15
27. Psalm 82 & Job 16-18
28. Psalm 83 & Job 19-21
29. Psalm 84 & Job 22-24
30. Psalm 85 & Job 25-27
31. Habakkuk 3:2-19 & Job 28-30
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August Birthdays
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Donna Bakken, Jennifer Battistoni
Ervin Hentsch
Kate Costigan, Carly Kruspe, George Moyle
Eleanor Golden, Mason Loucks, Jason Sommerfeld
Jacob Dudczyk, Kimberly Limanowski
Lauren Blokel, Taylor Deacon, Jillian Spargo
Sharon DeSanto, Nichole Fox, Jill Gerken
Julie Banser, Kaitlin Fox
Ethan Imlach, Adrienne Klecka, McKenna Malley,
Kimberly Nykrin
Kevin Beckstrom, Richard Golden
Nancy Roe
Joseph Banser, Daniel Signore
Hannah Grebic, Tristan Lucas,
Jessica Fox, Arletta Mundt, Erik Strilich, Elsie Weich
Joan Baker, Leann Yunker
Mikayla Hohl, Kayci Klode, Daniel Knight Jr.,
Kelly McDonnell, Robert Skrodal
Janice Klaisner, Kevin Oswald Jr., Jeffrey Spice,
Barbara Weidner
Jessica Nilsen, Stephen Thompson
Arianna Fleckenstein, David Moyle
Laura Burt, Karla Cernauskas, Sara McNally
Rebekah Pachmeyer, Cheryl Thompson
Patricia Bryan, Ronald Hamning, Gene Krohn,
Jason McNally
Thalia Pugh
Raymond Bernard, Susan Chiaro
Tammi Carlson, Elizabeth Limanowski, Ian Prosken,
Erich Sneideratis
Lynette Falbo, Melissa McNally
Brett Bartnik, Shannon Hamning, Adam Sommerfeld
Jean Smith, Linda Steinbrenner
Helen Krohn, Marcia Prosken
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August Anniversaries
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Randy and Deborah Snedden Jr.
Robert and Rebecca Burke
Arthur and Edith Constien
James and Theresa Bubeck
Darrell and Vicki Fisher
Donald and Lisa Heath
Michael and Shirley McDonnell
Carl and Jamie Hathorn
James and Janice Klaisner
Edward and Gayle Melby
Joseph and Kimberly Hack
Joseph and Lisa Ramos
Sidney and Marie Victor
Gene and Helen Krohn
David and Deborah Ebert
James and Linda Roberts Sr.
40 Yrs.
4 Yrs.
57 Yrs.
26 Yrs.
32 Yrs.
32 Yrs.
43 Yrs.
8 Yrs.
43 Yrs.
10 Yrs.
32 Yrs.
22 Yrs.
33 Yrs.
67 Yrs.
29 Yrs.
46 Yrs.
WE WISH GOD’S BLESSINGS ON ALL THESE PEOPLE CELEBRATING A
BIRTHDAY OR ANNIVERSARY. IF WE HAVE FORGOTTEN ANYONE’S SPECIAL
DAY OR IT IS IN ERROR, PLEASE CONTACT THE CHURCH OFFICE.
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Teacher Appreciation
What is a teacher, if not a mirror in which we perceive the
divine image hidden in the soul? What is a teacher, if not a sower
of seed and a cultivator of young gardens? What is a teacher, if not
a shaper of souls and a guide who gently shows the right path for
the journey? What is a teacher, if not the most hopeful of dreamers,
who plants and nurtures and sees the bright destiny and harvest of
the work even when the student cannot? What is a teacher, if not a
shepherd watching over the flock and leading it to abundant
pastures?
Dreamers and sharers of dreams, sowers of seed and guides
who chart the way, mirrors of goodness and shepherds of grace —
it is for these teachers and this ministry that we give abundant
thanks to God.
—Author unknown
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On Vocation? Use GPS!
Many vacationers rely on a global positioning system to get
them easily to a destination. But in every season of life, God sends
us on vocation — following his call to both feed our passions and
serve others. Our “calling,” Frederick Buechner said, is “where
[our] deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.”
But is there a GPS for vocation? It’s not as detailed or
predictive as we’d like. It doesn’t name our destination at the
outset, and it offers general instructions rather than specific
directions. And we may end up “recalculating” our life route more
often than our vehicle GPS recalculates our vacation route.
Even so, we travel in safety. This “GPS” might stand for
God’s Peace and Strength, or Gospel Promises Sustain, God
Provides Salvation or Go! Proclaim! Serve! The GPS guiding our
vocation speaks to us through Scripture, worship, trusted Christian
friends, life events and the silence of our heart. Listening, we hear
our Guide’s calm voice and continue on vocation.
—Heidi Mann
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A God-Created Super Star
“God made ... the greater light to rule the day ...” (Genesis 1:16,
NRSV). The first biblical description of Creation reveals that God made the
sun — a truly amazing body of light.
At the sun’s center (where the temperature reaches 15 million
degrees!), every second, 600 million tons of hydrogen fuse into 596 million
tons of helium. The 4 million “missing” tons become sunshine, making life
on earth possible. The sun’s magnetic field (which reverses direction every
11 years) and the resulting sunspots and solar flares impact the earth in ways
most of us rarely think about.
Writes Dennis Overbye in the New York Times: “In all of recorded
history, as far as scientists have been able to tell, the sun’s output has varied
by only a tenth of a percent.” If the sun were more volatile, like many stars,
earth would either burn up or freeze at regular intervals.
As you spend time outside this summer, give thanks for this bright
marvel that God designed.
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Lutheran Ministries Media, Inc.
5 Martin Luther Drive, Fort Wayne, IN 46825-4996
Chicago and Northwest Indiana
(includes Rockford, Central Illinois & Southwest Michigan)
Sunday 11:30 am - Comcast 138 (Total Living )
August 2, 2015 – John 6:22-35
“Enduring Food” by Rev. James L. Elsner, Prince of Peace Lutheran
Church~Stroh, IN
Are you hungry? So many things can fill us – for the moment. There is
enduring food that fills us and sustains eternally. That food is the Bread of Life.
August 9, 2015 – John 6:41-51
“One Thing Remains” by Rev. Dr. Thomas R. Ahlersmeyer, Holy Cross
Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne, IN
So much of what occupies our thoughts and activities is so, so temporary. When
things such as house, car, job, appetite and, yes, even family are willingly or
unwillingly surrendered by us, ONE THING REMAINS. Jesus is the “Bread of
Life” who exchanges His life for “the life of the world.”
August 16, 2015 – John 6:66-69
“The Words of Eternal Life” by Rev. Dr. Walter A. Maier III, Concordia
Theological Seminary~Fort Wayne, IN
The words of Christ – the Gospel – are the words of eternal life. These are the
most important words that we can hear and read. These words convey, convert,
and comfort, and result in our having tremendous blessings – now, and forever.
August 23, 2015 – Mark 7:1-13
“Tradition and Doctrine” by Rev. Dr. Daniel J. Brege, St. Paul Lutheran
Church~Decatur, IN
God has given us His Word, the Word which centers in Christ Jesus our Savior.
God's people have developed and handed down traditions. These can be good if
they magnify God's Word. If they replace God's Word, the Word centering in
Christ, they are evil. May we both magnify God's Word and use traditions that
support and enhance that Word.
August 30, 2015 – Ephesians 6:10-20
“Dressed Appropriately” by Rev. Paul E. Shoemaker, Emanuel Lutheran
Church~New Haven, IN
We are engaged in a real fight at close quarters against spiritual forces of
wickedness. Against such enemies, it is necessary to put on the whole armor of
God so that we will be able to stand firm in the day of fierce temptations and
attacks, whenever that day may come.
Tel: (260) 471-LOVE (5683) † Toll-Free: (888) 286-8002
www.worshipforshutins.org † Email: [email protected]
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