The Messenger

Monthly news for Emmanuel Lutheran Church - Menominee, Michigan

JULY 2019

Vacation Bible School

Tuesday-Thursday

July 23, 24, & 25

9:00 a.m. to Noon

This month’s Messenger was given in

thanks to God for His many blessings.

Given anominously.

.

from the pastor

Brothers and Sisters in Christ; Each Sunday when we gather to worship our worship experience is gathered under a common theme. For example, the Fourth Sunday of Easter is always Good Shepherd Sunday and our readings and hymns reflect the Good Shepherd. The guide which we use to determine the theme and readings is called the Revised Common Lectionary, a three-year universal guide that most mainline Protestant churches follow, so that whether you’re worshiping in Emmanuel on any given Sunday or you happen to be traveling to San Antonio and are worshiping at a Presbyterian church there, chances are that the lessons for the day will be one and the same. There’s comfort in the familiar, which includes the Psalms that we recite each Sunday. Over the course of the three years we will lift up the majority of the 150 psalms, but, for the most part, the psalms that we responsively recite are rarely lifted up or placed at the forefront of our worship experience. And that’s an unfortunate loss to us because the richness and the scope of the psalms are such a gift. The psalms were originally sung, and were sung to represent what the author was experiencing, whether it was joy and praise, lament, anger, or the desire to be forgiven, just to name a few emotions. And while we do have the ability to chant the psalms, the way that they were originally sung is unfortunately lost to time, leaving us to simply speculate what they were meant to sound like. But, for five weeks, beginning July 7th, we are going to celebrate the psalms in worship in a unique way with a sermon series titled “Summer Song: Relationship with God through the Psalms.” The psalms are about relationship – with God, with our world, and with one another – and so we are going to experience that

relationship. For starters, we’re going to only have one service on Sunday mornings because it’s important that we are gathered together for this relational experience. Secondly, we will celebrate Holy Communion each Sunday during these five weeks. It is through Holy Communion that our physical relationship with God is experienced, the body and blood of Jesus Christ given just for us. We will offer a summer Sunday School for children who choose it because this time is about learning and growth. And, lastly, we will experience the weekly selected psalms in song, bringing these 3000 year-old songs into the present day. The schedule will be:

July 7 – Psalm 8 “Praise of the Creator” July 14 – Psalm 42 “Thirst for the Living God”

July 21 – Psalm 51 “Prayer for Forgiveness” July 28 – Psalm 98 “God’s Kingship”

August 4 – Psalm 136 “Praise of God our Redeemer” I certainly hope that you can join us for worship and experience the psalms as they come to life in a new way. Have a most blessed and safe July!

Pastor Mark

Thank You!! I was filled with joy to wear my newest stole, a Festival Stole,

created by Karen Walker on Sunday, June 16th, Holy Trinity

Sunday. Four images, reflecting the creation story, have been

woven into it. These images also reflect the Festival Sundays

when it will be worn, such as Holy Trinity Sunday and All Saints

Sunday (1st Sunday in November), as well as when I preside over

weddings or other special services in the church. Thank you,

Karen, for this wonderful gift which you have created that gives

glory to God in such a festive manner! -- Pastor Mark

Are you thirsty? If so, make your way on over to the new drinking fountain that has been installed by the old upstairs restrooms. Thank you to Kay Hebert for graciously designating a memorial in memory of her husband, Darrell, to provide for it and for Marilyn Mouritsen for picking up the remainder of the cost. Darrell was the church’s custodian for many years. We are blessed!

Lake Traverse Indian Reservation South Dakota June 30th – July 5th

Thank you. Thank you for your financial

support. Thank you for your prayers. Thank you for your enthusiasm.

Thank you for your support in making this happen. For five days twelve

youth and six adult chaperones will be God’s hands in South Dakota.

But what we’ll take away will last for the rest of our lives. We look

forward to sharing with you during worship on July 14th what you have

helped make happen.

Sudsy Sunday Carwash

Our mission trip youth held a carwash during each worship service

on June 9th

. It was a huge success! We raised $532.00. Thank

you congregation for your participation and generosity!

Children entering Kindergarten through 5

th grade this fall are

invited to celebrate God’s Greatest Gift at this summer’s VBS!

6th

graders, older youth and teens are encouraged to serve as crew

helpers and leaders.

Kid’s will kick up their heels at Yee-Haw VBS as they stampede

through the wild frontier and celebrate the greatest truth of all –

God is good! Children will engage in amazing experiences that

will guide them through God's Word in unforgettable,

multisensory, and thought-provoking ways that make Scripture

come alive and help faith flow into real life.

Throughout each day, kids will enjoy Moo-sic and More, Bible

Adventures, Country Crafts, Saddle-Up Sports, Chuck Wagon

Snacks, and Closing Corral. Our last day will

end with a special family presentation and

luncheon.

Our children will also participate in our “Kids

Helping Kid” service project where they will

collect money to purchase chickens for the

ELCA Good Gifts World Hunger program.

Registration forms are available in the church office or download

and print a copy from the church website. Please return the

registration form to the church office by July 8th

so you can get

your child enrolled for some fun, laughter, and excitement!

Deadline to register is Monday, July 8th

Congregation, we need a wagon wheel for our VBS program. If anyone has

one we can use, please let the church office know.

2019

Vacation Bible School

Tuesday-Thursday

July 23, 24, & 25

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon

ADULT Ministries

Care & Share

Alzheimer’s support

A support group for caregivers of loved ones with

Alzheimer’s and other dementias will be offered at Emmanuel

starting Wednesday, June 26th

and then every Wednesday from

4:30-6:00 p.m. in the church conference room at the end of the

office hallway. Meetings are casual, so you are free to come and go

throughout the meeting time.

Our group offers an opportunity for caregivers to share

experiences, discuss concerns, and learn about available resources

in our area. June Ehlers, Dementia Friendly Purple Angel Program

Trainer, will facilitate each meeting. You may contact June for

more information at 715-582-3589 or 715-938-3589 or by email at

jmehlers@new.rr.com.

WeDNesDAY morNiNG meN’s Group

Join us each Wednesday, 7:30 a.m., at the Serving Spoon for a

time of fellowship with friends, sharing stories and enjoying a cup

of coffee. Bring a friend!

WomeN’s miNistries

Seeking Enlightenment Group will be meeting on Thursday,

July 18, at 6:30pm. It is a time of sharing and encouraging each

other on our Christian journey, contact Robin Gustafson at 906-

290-1003 for location details.

The Sarah Circle meets monthly (except June, July, August) for

Bible study and fellowship. The circle also provides offerings to

various congregational activities, local community events, and

ELCA worldwide missions.

One of the special

events that the

Sarah Circle

provides in the

community is a

birthday party for

all of the residents

of the Luther

Home who have

June birthdays.

Each month a

circle from one of

the various

churches in our area will host a birthday party. Our Sarah Circle

provided balloons, cards, and angel food cake with strawberries t

to celebrate all of the June birthdays on Friday, June 7th. Shown

above are Sarah Circle members Carol Seith, Nancy Faucette,

Donna Swenson, Sylvia Blom, Ivon Butman, Carolyn Haglund,

and Jeanette Lawton. Missing from the photo is Barb Anderson.

Please consider joining this wonderful ministry! For more

information on this group, please contact Barb Anderson.

OUR EMMANUEL FAMLY

Landon Allen Koenigs was claimed in the waters

of baptism during worship on June 23rd.

Landon’s parents are Drew & Susi and his

sponsors were Emily Lang and Dillon Koenigs.

Back to School Drive

Summer vacation from school has just started, but we are planning

ahead! Help us send kids back to school this fall with the tools

they need to succeed!

We have partnered with the Salvation Army for their Back

to School Drive. There will be a collection box in the church

narthex during the month of July. This is a list of suggested items:

Notebooks, pens & pencils, scissors,

glue, markers, highlighters, and binders.

Thank you for helping make a difference

those in need in our community!

Menominee Waterfront Festival

Emmanuel will again have a float in

Menominee's Waterfront Festival Parade!

The parade date is Sunday, August 4th

.

We would like to involve our members of all ages to participate.

We will need people to help plan, design, gather supplies and

materials, build, drive, ride on and walk alongside the float during

the parade. We cannot do this without your help! Please contact

Patti Treptow at the church office for ways that you can get

involved in this fun activity!

“God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday, September 22, 2019 As we told you about last month, we’d like update you on what activities

the church council has chosen for our “God’s work Our Hands.” service

projects. We have decided on two activities that we feel are very

meaningful and relevant to our mission. We will be hosting a luncheon

for the police department, fire department and rescue squad personnel in

Marinette and Menominee, to show our thanks and appreciation for the

work and sacrifices they make for us all. In addition to lunch, we would

like to give them “goodie” bags with some snacks, and also have “thank

you” cards signed by all, children included!, who help out with this

activity. The luncheon will be on Sunday, September 22, after the 10:00

a.m. church service.

We will also be collecting items for the Marinette and Menominee

Departments of Health and Human Services foster care “emergency

placements” programs. The collected items will be sorted for

distribution to each office during the luncheon on September 22nd

.

More information regarding the lunch menu and items needed for the

foster care donations will be coming next month. The Church Council is

very excited to be taking part in this nationwide ELCA program. Our

congregation will be one of nearly 9,100 congregations of the

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) participating in

the“God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday event. Across the country,

thousands of ELCA members will be engaging in service work to make a

positive change in their communities, build and deepen relationships, and

share God’s love. We hope to have a large turnout of congregation

members working with us on this day. Mark your calendar and plan to

be a part!

Together in Jesus Christ we are freed by grace to live faithfully, witness

boldly and serve joyfully.

SUNDAY MORNINGS AT EMMANUEL Starting July 7

Worship will be at 9:00 am Will include Summer Sunday School

CONTACT US: Phone: (906) 863-3431 Fax: 906-863-4193

Email: mail@e-mmanuel.com Council President, Debbie Villas

Email: elcpresident@e-mmanuel.com or

Visit us on the Web at www.e-mmanuel.com

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook at Emmanuel Lutheran Church Menominee Michigan ELCA

STAFF: Pastor

The Rev. Mark Laatsch - Cell Phone: 906-424-0003

Director of Youth & Family Ministry Mrs. Patti Treptow

Church Secretary Mrs. Judy Raygo

Custodian- inside Mrs. Carol Parrish Custodian – outside Mr. Lee Parrish

We are a congregation of the Northern Great Lakes Synod Evangelical Lutheran Church in America