May 2018

Alleluia! Christ is risen!

                        He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

 

How exciting it is to know that Jesus is risen from the dead. That our sins are forgiven and that we are God’s children. How exciting it is that we can share this Good News, the Gospel of Jesus Christ with those around us. To share the joy that we know we are forgiven our sins.

 

How exciting it is to see what is continuing to happen in our congregation and going on at our school. We are coming to the close of our fourth year of school. The work at the building is progressing, adding another classroom, as we prepare to add the 8th Grade next year. Thanks to all who have helped with this. What an exciting time for us at Immanuel and our school.

 

How exciting it is that we have our teaching staff in place for next year, and to see their excitement about continuing to teach in our school next year. I have the feeling that some of them are already making plans for next year. How exciting it is to see these teachers and the excitement and joy they have to share Jesus and teach the students that attend our school. These are exciting time for us at Immanuel as we carry out the mission that God has given to us. The mission of sharing the Good News, the Gospel fo Jesus Christ our Lord, risen from the dead.

 

How exciting it is that we can all come together to support this mission, to support our school. We join together in prayer and pray for the Lord’s blessing on our school. We come together to support our school with our time and talents and with our treasures. As a congregation we need to come together and support one another in the life that God has given to us here at Immanuel. We need to stir one another up and carry out the plans God has given us. We read in Hebrews 10:24-25:

 

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV)

 

Exciting times for us. How unexciting it is that some of our congregation are in the habit of not coming to the Divine Service. When you do not come to the Divine Service you miss out of so much. In the Divine Service we receive the great gifts that God gives to us. The gift of His Word proclaimed to us, the gift of the Sacraments, Baptism and the gift of His body and blood that He sacrificed on the cross for our forgiveness of sins, life and salvation. It is so easily to get of out of the habit of coming to the Divine Service. Do not let summer activities get in the way of your attendance. Do not let work get in the way of your attendance. Do not let your little grudges and arguments get in the way of attending the Divine Service.

 

There is excitement and exciting times at Immanuel, God’s Word is proclaimed in its truth and purity. The Sacraments are administered according to God’s Word. Hearing the message about our forgiveness of sins and life that Jesus has given to us through His life, death, and resurrection. What more can we ask for. The excitement of continuing to build our school and having this opportunity to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Do not miss out of the excitement that is going on at Immanuel.

 

As our society keeps moving further and further away from God and His Word. A society that is trying to remove the true God from our country. We need to be in God’s Word. We need to be in Divine Service to receive the true Word of God. We need to come together and support one another and the mission God has given us, to support our school that we may have the opportunity to share what Jesus Christ has done for us and for our students who attend and their families. What an exciting time to share what the American society wants to remove from before all people. Do not go along with our society that says the Divine Service is a waste of time. That Divine Service is not entertaining enough, so go find something more entertaining. Come to the Divine Service and receive God’s greatest gifts for you: forgiveness, life and salvation.

 

May we come together at the Divine Service to support and encourage one another, especially as the day is drawing near. We come together to support our congregation and school as we join together in sharing the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ our crucified and risen Lord. Come and join in the excitement of our God and Savior Jesus Christ. Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Pastor Mueller

 

 

Stewardship Corner

            St. Paul teaches, “Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who

teaches” (Galatians 6:6).

            And again, he says, “Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings? In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel” (1 Corinthians 9:13–14).

            In other words, ministers of the gospel are supported by the offerings of those who are served by them. And this is how the Church lives even now. It is standard practice.

            But this deserves closer examination. For it instructs us not just that we are to give but also what we are to give. And it does so with four little words: “In the same way …”

            St. Paul is building his case for supporting the preachers of the Gospel with the sacrificial giving of individual members on the example of the Old Testament people who supported the Levites with their offerings and sacrifices.

            We’re to support the Gospel ministry “in the same way.” But how did the Old Testament people support the Levites?

            Moses records this: “You shall tithe all the yield of your seed that comes from the field year by year. And before the Lord your God, in the place that he will choose, to make his name dwell there, you shall eat the tithe of your grain, of your wine, and of your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and flock, that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always” (Deuteronomy 14:22–23).

            The Levites were supported by the tithe, 10 percent of all the yearly yield of that which was harvested.

            Does that seem like a lot? Does it surprise you that St. Paul instructs us that we are to support the New Testament Gospel ministry “in the same way?”

            If it does, ask yourself: is the Church’s job in the New Testament bigger or smaller than the Levites’ job in the Old Testament? Back then there was one Temple, and the ministry was almost exclusively located in one nation among the descendants of Abraham.

            Jesus calls us to teach and baptize all nations (Matt. 28). And there are churches and ministries all around the world. How could we support this new Gospel ministry with anything less than the Israelites supported the Old Testament ministry?

            Of course, we are free to give more, for we have received more than those in the Old Testament. We have received the fullness of God’s revelation, the fullness of His salvation, the fulfillment of everything that God promised to do.

            For we have received Christ, God’s own Son, in the flesh, who took upon himself our sins and in exchange gave us his righteousness. The Father claimed us as his own in Holy Baptism.

            He gathers us together in the place where his name dwells to feast on the first fruits of the resurrection, the risen and living body and blood of his Son, our Lord, Jesus. He reminds us that we are His, that all things are ours because we belong to Him. He blesses us here in time with physical and spiritual gifts.

            In the same way, and in response to his fatherly divine goodness and mercy, we gladly give to those who proclaim to us “the excellencies of him who called us out of darkness and into his marvelous light.”

            For once we were not a people, but now we are God’s people; once we had not received mercy, but now we have indeed (1 Peter 2:9–10).

 

 

                                     May Coffee     6 - Shirley DeVoogd, Samantha Steinman

                                                              13 - Tara Stanec, Judy Dye

                                                              20 - Janet Toedtli, Kari Narjes

                                                              27 - Starla Endsley

 

 

BIBLE STUDY OPPORTUNITIES. . . 

Sunday Adult Bible Study - 9 am, Fellowship Hall.  

Martha Circle - 2nd Monday, 7 pm

Rhoda Circle - 1st Tuesday, 7 pm

Hemingford Bible Study - Mondays, 2 pm Hemingford Care Center

Highland Park Bible Study - Wednesdays, 9:30 am

Lydia Circle - 2nd Wednesday, 1:30 pm

Bible Break - Thursdays, 9:30 am, Conference Room

Men’s Bible Study - Fridays, 6:30 am, Fizzy’s

Tabitha Circle - 4th Monday’s, 6 pm, Fellowship hall

 

RHODA CIRCLE will meet Tuesday May 1st at Ida Mae Drabbels home, 1220 Missouri.

 

QUILTERS meet the 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month. May 14, 2018 is the last day of quilting until September.

 

MARTHA CIRCLE will NOT be meeting in May. Have a great summer, the next meeting will be September 10, 2018.

 

LYDIA CIRCLE will meet Wednesday May 9th 2018, at 11 am for their annual picnic. Be sure to bring your table service and a covered dish. Sharon Hashman will be the hostess.

 

ONGOING MISSION PROJECTS: We collect good used clothing and shoes. Used bedding is needed by the quilters. Canceled postage stamps are needed for mission projects. Old eye glasses and outdated hearing aids are useful to others. Clothing and bedding may be left in the quilting room. Other items can be left in the cupboard under the guest book.

 

 

OUR SINCERE CHRISTIAN SYMPATHY: The family of Adam Wilson, (nephew of Kevin & Julie Wilson). Be comforted by these words, “I am the resurrection and the life.” John 11:25. 


EASTER LILY on the wooden cross on Easter Sunday was in honor of our mom, Becky Herian, and in memory of our grandmother, Dorothy Mae Francis, and great-aunt, Marilyn Asiala from Holly, Mandy, Jeff and families.

 

THANK YOU to all who shared Easter lilies on Easter morning.

 

GREETING CARDS: If you plan to send greeting cards for any occasion please consider cards from our LWML. We have graduation cards available now! The graduation cards are available in boxed sets or individual ones. These are nice and all have Scripture text. We also have birthday, get well, sympathy, anniversary and others. Featured cards are children’s birthday cards, boxed and individual cards. They are located in the lower level of the narthex of the church.

 

RAISING DISCIPLES total receipts to date as of April 16, 2018 is $556,306.79.

 

IMMANUEL EV. LUTHERAN SCHOOL 2018-2019 ALUMINUM CAN DRIVE is an ongoing year-round fund raiser. This helps fund the operational costs of our school. Please ask everyone to collect and save all aluminum cans and bring them to the east side of the school and place in the bins that are labeled “Aluminum cans.” We appreciate your help in this ongoing effort!

 

LWML WYOMING DISTRICT scholarships for the 2018-2019 school year are being offered once again. A full list of eligibility requirements are available in the church office. The deadline to apply for these scholarships is June 30, 2018.

 

WYOMING DISTRICT LWML will be holding its convention on June 21-23, 2018 in Cheyenne, Wyoming. They will host the following in-gathering to support the Wind River Lutheran Mission. If you can help with any of these items, please bring to the church. Many of the items will be used in back packs for back to school.

 

Color books                                 Boxes of crayons                                   Notebooks

Markers                                winter hats                                   Mittens

Soaps                                Toothpaste                                    Toothbrush

Stuffed animals                                small toys (silly putty, Barbie dolls, play dough, cars, etc…)

Toilet paper                                 paper towels                                    paper plates

Plastic utensils                               33 gal. trash bags                                     5 oz. Dixie cups

Walmart Cards (these can be purchased as scrip from the school)

 

WE ARE STILL COLLECTING STAMPS here in the District office and sending them to Christ the King in Cody. Here’s some info (or a reminder) of why the stamps are being collected and what they are used for:

 

“Stamps for Tubfrim a service program to assist the Norwegian Health Association in its effort to eradicate tuberculosis and aid handicapped and disabled Norwegian children was created in 1928.  Over 20 years ago the Wyoming District LCMS elected to collect used postage stamps for the Tubfrim program.

 

DID YOU KNOW - to date, Christ The King (collection center for the district) has delivered 122 pounds of stamps to the Sons of Norway, the service organization that finances the delivery of used stamps from around the world to Nesbyen Norway. We are currently holding an additional 40 pounds of stamps waiting to be shipped out. Well done Wyoming District!!

 

Reminder: The Stamps for Tubfrim brochure request a ½ inch margin of envelope be left around used stamps when salvaging. The primary reason for the margin is to protect the integrity of the stamp. Any stamp that’s integrity has been compromised (perforation trimmed) we throw out. The Tubfrim brochure specifies any stamp with that condition is trash and not to be shipped. The secondary reason for the margin is self-adhering stamps have to be chemically treated to lift the stamp off the envelope section. Without the margin there is no way to attach the stamps to the machinery that carry them through the chemical treating process.”

 

Respectfully,

Francis J. Vande Veegaete

Stamp Coordinator

 

SCHOOL TIDBITS

 

KINDERGARTEN

 

The April kindergarten theme has been "Tell About Jesus."  The children learned about the Good News of Jesus being raised from the dead and how we share that good news like the women who came to the tomb and the Emmaus disciples. After the solemness of Holy Week, the students celebrated on the Tuesday after Easter with a Resurrection Party.

 

In science, the students have studied Taking Care of the Earth and are now learning about insects including butterflies. The caterpillars have arrived and the class is eagerly watching them grow rapidly and spin the chrysalises.

 

The students have completed kindergarten math and are working hard on first grade math including addition double facts and plus one facts.  

 

In music, the kindergarten and first grade students have been learning to read music notes and practice rhythms and songs with boom-whackers and glockenspiels. In addition, the kindergarten is practicing reading using hymnals.                                                                                                               –Mrs. Gerth

 

 

FOURTH AND FIFTH GRADE

 

The end of the year activities are upon us: field trips, track meets, testing and finishing academics for our grade levels. Grades 3-7 took the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills. We are excited to get the results hopefully by the time report cards go home. 4th and 5th graders finished up their math books and moved up into the 5th and 6th grade books. During science class, the 4th and 5th graders have been learning the 40 most common elements on the periodic table of elements. They have also been reading about Newton’s Laws of Motion. Grammar lessons have been about singular and plural nouns, classifying sentences, and editing. We will close out the year in reading class with a book from the Chronicles of Narnia called “The Horse and His Boy”.

 

It has been another wonderful year with daily reminders of how much God loves us. Our school implements a Classical approach to education. We strive to incorporate the Gospel in all areas of our educational activities. It is our prayer that our students are well-educated in the scriptures, and that they will serve their neighbors with joy and thanksgiving to God.

 

I am very thankful for the countless hours of volunteering that parents and members of our congregation have given to the success of our school. We are also very thankful for the Wyoming District’s Lutheran Women’s Missionary League for donating the funds to build a basketball court at the school. Praise be to God for unending blessings to us!

 

In our end of the year essays, one student wrote, “I know my Savior. My Savior’s name is Jesus Christ! I know that my Savior Jesus Christ died on the cross to wash away my sins. And by coming to this school, I can also help spread the word to everyone. Since I am baptized and I believe in him, I already know I get to go to heaven."                                                                                                   –Mrs. Schnare

 

 

THE LUTHERAN HERITAGE FOUNDATION has been translating the Gospel in Luther’s Small Catechism, Bible stories, and devotions for almost 25 years. They have over 800 titles in 92 languages for people and churches that need them at no cost. For $5.00 you can put a catechism into the hands of another person who wants to be a Christian. Call 1.800.554.0723 or e-mail at info@LHFmissions.org.

 

JC PLAY ZONE is a Lutheran Hour Ministry program on line for children. There are games, music, crafts, Bible stories, devotions, recipes, card making and coloring pages. Go to JCPlayZone.com and JC Parent Zone has answers to spiritual questions and other relevant issues. Check it our at www.JCParentZone.com.

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