Immanuel Messenger Immanuel Lutheran Church

122 East 88th Street, New York, NY 10128

88th Street and Lexington Avenue, Manhattan www.immanuelnyc.org

www.facebook.com/ImmanuelLutheranChurchNYC/

Rev. Gregory P. Fryer, Pastor (212) 289-8128, church phone Email: gpfryer@gmail.com (212) 828-3665, church fax

May 2018 A Word from the Pastor

Ascension Sunday 11 AM, Sunday, May 13, 2018

ear Members and Friends of Immanuel Lutheran Church,

Ascension Day itself is always on a Thursday – forty days after the resurrection of Jesus (Acts 1:3). Most years we celebrate the Ascension of our Lord on Ascension Eve, during the midweek liturgy. But this time I want to transfer our Ascension celebration to the upcoming Sunday, May 13 this year. That way more people will join in this important liturgy. A line in the Eucharistic ministry moves me to this. During the Easter season we use what is called Eucharistic Prayer II. It has the same trinitarian structure

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as our normal Eucharistic Prayer I, but it is more festive. As the prayer moves toward a pinnacle of rejoicing, we find these words:

But chiefly on this day we remember his rising from the tomb, his ascension to the seat of power, and his sending of the holy and life-giving Spirit.

And so it is that when our Easter liturgy gives thanks to holy God, it does not fail to give thanks for the Ascension of our Lord. Christ’s Ascension is important for us, and so this year we mean to celebrated it with music and preaching on Ascension Sunday, May 13. I hope to see you in church then and whenever you can make it.

Pentecost/Confirmation Sunday

11 AM, May 20, 2018

Then let us hasten back to church the following Sunday for the major festival Pentecost Sunday. The day is about the Holy Spirit. The day is about our own souls and the work of the third Person of the Holy Trinity to sanctify us. Our catechism students will lead us that day in recommitting themselves to our Lord Jesus. LyAsia Tamarez Beltre and Jason David Marquez are already baptized. They were already given to Jesus, and he to

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them, when they were little. Now they have been studying the faith of the church, and they are ready to stand before us all and affirm their baptisms and renew their walk with Jesus. It is always a moving thing to witness the confirmation of young people. So please look forward to this Pentecost/Confirmation liturgy with joy.

In Christ,

Pastor Gregory P. Fryer

Regular Voters’ Assembly Pentecost/Confirmation Sunday, May 20

ur Voters’ Assembly is scheduled to meet on Sunday, May 20th, after the Liturgy. At the meeting, we hear

reports on the state of the congregation as we enter into summer. If you would like to become an official member of the Voters’ Assembly, please mention your desire to Pastor Fryer, who will present your name to the Assembly. Our Constitution gives this rule:

The Voters’ Assembly shall consist only of such members who have reached the age of eighteen, who are diligent in worship, regularly partake of the Lord’s Supper and live a life in conformity with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

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Three Notes from Vicar Caleb Douglas

Theology & Culture

he next date for Theology & Culture is May 24th, at 7 p.m. in the Martin Luther Room. The reading has

not been chosen yet, but may be a play from Dorothy Sayers’ The Man Born to be King. As before, we will share a meal together, and talk about what we have read. I hope that you will be able to make it.

Compline 8 p.m., Sunday evenings during Easter

We continue to sing Compline, or Prayer at the Close of the Day, each Sunday evening throughout Easter. It is a lovely chanted service that entrusts the day behind into God’s mercy, and the night ahead into God’s loving care. However, as I will be out of town on May 13th for Lynnae’s graduation from seminary, there will be no Compline that evening. Compline will resume May 20th.

Success for Lynnae

On Thursday, May 3rd, Lynnae successfully defended her 108 page thesis, entitled Beauty Sub Contrario: Christ and His Cross in the Theological Aesthetics of Hans Urs von Balthasar. Her thesis supervisor was David S. Yeago, who has been to Immanuel many times over the last two decades. This was the final step for Lynnae’s Master of Arts in Church History and Theology, and Lynnae and I

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will be going to her graduation the weekend of the seventh week of Easter.

Vicar Caleb Douglas

Vacation Bible School 2018

Shipwrecked: Rescued by Jesus

Monday, August 20th through Friday, August 24th,

from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Castaways Needed!!

ur VBS Shipwrecked is soon approaching! We still have a few spaces left on our island. Our VBS is open

to children ages 3 to 10. Older children are invited to be crew leaders. Join us as we are rescued by Jesus! We begin each day in prayer. Then, we sing our Shipwrecked songs at Castaway Sing and Play. After our music time, we travel back in time to learn about Jesus during Bible Discovery. At Craft and Play we create items that remind us of our

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time with Jesus. A quick snack at Tropical Treats refreshes us for our Ship Rec Games. Finally, we end our day at the Sail Away Sendoff. We are looking forward to meeting new friends and seeing our old friends again. Please join us as we celebrate being rescued by Jesus.

First Mates Needed!

Adult and teen helpers are needed. Helpers assist with crafts, games, snack and story time. If you are willing to help, please notify Sean in the office or speak to Karen Bazik.

Sunday School

Parents should note that there will no Sunday School on May 27th due to it being Memorial Day weekend, and also note that the last day of Sunday School will be June 3rd (until we resume again after the summer).

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Spring Bazaar

n Saturday, May 19th between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. there will be a Spring Bazaar in our undercroft, with

proceeds going to support our children’s programs. Donations may be delivered Sunday after church or by appointment (call the church office). No donations on May 19th, please! No adult clothing. Things we seek include: Jewelry, Personal Accessories, Books, CDs, Tapes & Records, CHILDREN’s Clothes, Toys, Kitchen and Housewares, Baked Goods: Cookies, Cakes, etc, Silver, China & Crystal, Home Accessories, Small Appliances, Electronics, and Bric-à-brac! Volunteers also needed to work the tables; please talk to Kathy Jolowicz or Karen Bazik.

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