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TRANSCRIPT
THE MESSENGER
Monthly news for Emmanuel Lutheran Church – Menominee, Michigan
_____________________________________________________
FEBRUARY 2018
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday
February 14, with services of
Holy Communion and Imposition of Ashes
At Emmanuel Lutheran Church
10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
Midweek Lenten Services and Soup Suppers
will be shared with Bethel Lutheran and held at
Bethel Lutheran Church
Services will take place on
Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
beginning, February 21
A soup supper will be served at5:00 p.m.
FROM THE PASTOR
Brothers and Sisters in Christ;
The dust has settled….anxiety has leveled off….we can exhale once
again.
The Annual Meeting is over.
In all truth and honesty, the annual meeting is truly a wonderful time
for us as a congregation to celebrate who God has made us and where
God is leading us. Yes, the time put in leading up to the meeting, of
compiling reports and statistics and coordinating nominees and the like,
is hectic and chaotic at times, but when it all comes together and it’s all
packaged neatly into this meeting, it gives you pause, and humbly
reminds you that you are a significant part of God’s greater plan. That’s
a pretty powerful realization.
It’s also a realization that gives us energy, perspective and focus. One
of the great joys that was lifted up and celebrated during the meeting
was the significant budget surplus that we were blessed to end 2017
with. This can be viewed from a couple of different ways: 1) we were
able to pay all of our expenses and put some extra money into our
maintenance fund, or, 2) our congregation has a greater vision for how
we can be active and responsive in our world in mission and ministry.
It’s been said that ten dollar companies are built on ten dollar ideas and
that million dollar companies are born from million dollar ideas. Maybe
as a congregation we’re leaning more toward the million dollar idea
than the ten dollar one. I hope so and I look forward in the coming
months to engaging with and challenging our church council to explore
what this may mean as we journey through 2018.
Dare we dream big? Dare we dream outside the box? Most certainly.
As you are all aware, fourteen of us are headed to Houston in June for
the National Youth Gathering. But maybe another fourteen feel called
to providing a missional outreach opportunity for our local community.
Maybe another fourteen feel called to travel domestically to assist in
the clean-up and rebuilding projects following the many natural
disasters that occurred in our nation last year. Maybe another fourteen
seek to guide or be active in conversations revolving around renewal of
worship or music. I feel that we are in a place right now where we do
dare to dream what more our church can be and do.
If the Holy Spirit is alive and active within you, it is so very important to
release it and make it known around you. Jesus’ parting words in St.
Matthew, those words better known as the great commission, read, “Go
therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name
of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to
obey everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you
always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20 NRSV)
There’s a lot in those words, and, just as importantly, there’s no
boundaries around them. Jesus simply says, “Go…..for I am with you,
always.”
No rules, no restrictions, no reasons not to go. Exhale and let go, and
know that when you do, the Spirit goes with you.
Peace,
Pastor Mark
P.S. As I stated in the Annual Meeting, one of my greatly anticipated projects for this coming year is to gather our stories. I will do this by proposing questions periodically throughout the year and then compiling your answers to be published by the 2019 Annual Meeting. This is an opportunity for all Emmanuel’s members of all ages to connect through our baptismal identities as the gathered saints. Please feel free to email your responses to me ([email protected]), mail them in (2901 13th Street, Menominee, MI 49858), or simply leave them in the marked collection box in the narthex. The first question is: What is your favorite memory/memories of Emmanuel?
Church Council Debbie Villas President
Mike Bellisle Vice President
Ronda Pedersen Secretary
Dave Anderson Treasurer
Anna Magrane Youth Council Member
Council Members Mike Bellisle Kathy Bero
Darrell Eland Stacey Hansen
Boni Nerat-Heckel Ronda Pedersen
Adam Starzynski Matt Vanni
Jim Zobel
Nominating Committee Debbie Lemery Gary Gustafson Randy Demeuse
Representing Emmanuel at the
Northern Great Lakes Synod Assembly James & Terrie Porras Matt Vanni
Representatives for the Fortune Lake Lutheran Camp
Annual Meeting on April 15, 2018 Al Rasmussen Linda Davis
Mission Endowment Committee Denise Ruleau Nathan Anderson
Thanks to all who were in attendance at the Annual Meeting and
those who contribute to the life of our church through volunteering. It
is on days like this that we are reminded how blessed we truly are!
Monthly council minutes will be available
in the church narthex and on the church website
2018 LENT THEME:
BAPTISM’S CALL TO DISCIPLESHIP “Martin Luther taught that through baptism every Christian has a
holy calling in the world, a vocation from God that is lived out in
work, relationships and every part of our daily lives.” [from “Form A
Faithful Foundation,” an article in the January issue of Living Lutheran.] Our midweek Lenten series this year will focus on the gifts and
promises of baptism expressed in the rite of Affirmation of
Baptism in response to the question, “Do you intend to continue in
the covenant God made with you in holy baptism?” The series is
designed to help us understand how our baptism is a call to
discipleship.
Midweek Lenten services, a joint venture between Bethel
and Emmanuel congregations in Menominee, will be held
at Bethel on five consecutive Wednesdays following
Ash Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
February 21 “To LIVE among God’s faithful people”
Preacher: Rev. James Duehring, Assistant to the Bishop,
Northern Great Lakes Synod
February 28 “To HEAR the word of God and share in the Lord’s
Supper”
Preacher: Rev. Craig Mansur, BAMC Chaplain
March 7 “To PROCLAIM the good news of God in Christ”
Preacher: Rev. Doug Schoen, Retired
March 14 “To SERVE all people following the example of
Jesus”
Preacher: Rev. Mark Laatsch, Pastor of Emmanuel
March 21 “To STRIVE for JUSTICE and PEACE in all the
earth”
Preacher: Rev. Scott Ehle, Pastor of Bethel
LENTEN SOUP SUPPERS
5:00 – 5:45pm on Wednesdays - We need your help!
Bethel Lutheran Church is hosting the annual Lenten Soup
Suppers this year. We need your help to provide the simple meal of
soup, bread and dessert. If you can help prepare any of these
ingredients Please see the sign-up chart in the church narthex
or call the church office to volunteer. If you volunteer please be
prepared to donate any one (or more) of the following items:
2 gallons of your favorite soup
1 loaf of bread
1 pan of bars or 2 dozen cookies.
Thank you – from Gary Gustafson
Thank you so much for your wonderful and kind expression of
gratitude given to me on Sunday, January 14. It has been a
pleasure and a blessing to have been able to serve our church as
treasurer for the past 35 years. I really appreciate your
thoughtfulness and am blessed to call Emmanuel my church.
NEW MEMBER CLASS
Pastor Mark will host a New Member class for those who are
interested in membership at Emmanuel. This class will take place
on Saturday, February 17th, at 10:00 am in the narthex. The class
will last approximately 2 hours and will share with prospective
members what membership in Emmanuel Lutheran church means.
We will then welcome our new members during the Sunday,
February 25th 8:00 and 10:00 services. If you are interested in
attending, or have any questions, please contact Pastor Mark at the
church at 863-3431.
From the Director: Patti Treptow
The season of Lent is soon upon us. This is a very
special time of faith reflection, repentance, and giving.
Lent is a wonderful time to teach our children about the deeper meanings
of our faith and to engage them in our Lenten journey. Parents and
family members play a critical role in providing opportunities for our
children to learn discipleship and to practice forgiveness and grace and
what it means to be a Christian.
As you prepare your hearts for a deeper relationship with our
Lord this Lenten season, help your children do the same. By doing so,
you will not only deepen your faith, you will be teaching your children
important aspects of our faith, and in the process you will strengthen the
relationships within your family.
In the following pages you will find more information on our
youth and family activities…...
The last day of winter classes is Sunday, February 11
th. We will
be taking a break from classes during Lent. The spring session of
classes start on Sunday, April 15th.
Emmanuel Confirmation students will be participating in the
Northern Great Lakes Synod event
MARKED!
Sunday, February 25th
This year's MARKED event is hosted by First
Lutheran in Gladstone, Michigan. We will join with other
Confirmation youth in our synod for a day of music,
service, worship, learning, food, and fun!
A letter with detailed information and a registration form will be
mailed out to all Confirmation students the first week in February. An
important component of the MARKED event is the service project. This
year, we will be collecting kid friendly foods for local school backpack
programs.
Congregation!.... you can help us by donating Mac 'n Cheese
Cups (not boxes), Chef Boyardee canned products, applesauce or fruit
cups, snack sandwich crackers, granola bars, peanut butter, ramen
noodles, popcorn, and individual cereal portions. We will be collecting
these items on February 18th
and 25th
.
Youth and Family Ministry
Confirmation students will be
serving at the Lenten Soup Suppers.
This year, the suppers and services will
be held at Bethel Lutheran Church in
Menominee. Please report to Bethel's
kitchen at 4:45 p.m. Serving is from 5:00-6:00 p.m. with worship
service to follow. Please check the schedule below to see which
supper you will be working.
February 21st Aidan Bellisle
Seth Johnson
Laura Magrane
Rachel Magrane
Emma Aichner
Ryan Demmith
February 28th
Gabe Davis
Molly Knutson
Rylee McCarthy
Beau Anders
Gavin Hansen
March 7th
Alex Engman
Collin Engman
Nicholas Kriedeman
Brennen Barrette
Avery Johnson
Ava Slawinski
March 14th
Mason Heckel
Max Heckel
Brea Leow
Marisa Camps
Matt Mellinger
Olivia Stewart
March 21st Lindsay Johnson
Kade Lesperance
Layla Weissgerber
Dylan Ziemke
Kaden Starzynski
5th
Grade
First Communion Training
5th grade Holy Communion training will start
on March 4th
and will run for four weeks. Our 5th
graders will then join with their family for a traditional Seder Meal on
Maundy Thursday and then take their first Holy Communion during the
Maundy Thursday worship service on March 29th. Letters and
registration forms regarding the training will go out mid- February. Any
6th grader who did not complete the training last year is welcome to
attend. Please inform the church office if your 6th grader wishes to
participate in the communion training.
Gift Basket Drawing Fundraiser Starting January 28
th through February 11
th, tickets will be
available in the church narthex for gift basket drawings. Money raised
from the ticket sales will go toward covering the costs for our youth to
attend the 2018 ELCA Youth Gathering that will be held June 27th -July
1st. Winners of each gift basket will be announced at the Potato Bar
Luncheon Fundraiser on February 11th. You need not be in attendance to
win!
Potato Bar Luncheon Fundraiser Sunday, February 11
th the congregation is invited to join us
immediately after the 10:00 a.m. youth-led worship service for a Potato
Bar Luncheon and gift basket drawings. We will provide baked
potatoes with all fix-ins to top your spud! The dinner
will be a free-will offering to raise monies for the youth
who are registered to attend the 2018 ELCA Youth
Gathering.
Along with a delicious dinner,
fellowship, and gift basket drawings, there
will be a short presentation on the National
Youth Gathering. Our participating youth,
their parents, and chaperones are working hard on preparing a fun-filled
event! Also, an anonymous donor has stepped forward offering to match
all donations up to $2500! We hope you can attend to help us get there!
Our 2018 ELCA Youth Gathering Participants
Helping at the Annual Meeting/Luncheon
Sunday, January 28, 2018
ADULT CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
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
The Sarah Circle will meet on Tuesday, February 13 at 1:00 p.m.
hosted by Carolyn Haglund
Seeking Enlightenment Group will be meeting on Thursday,
February 22, 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.
Our Emmanuel Family
BAPTISM…
Ashton Kevin Herrild son of, Nicolas and Kelsey, was baptized on
January 7, with sponsors, Kari Karkkainen and
Christopher Beardsley
Dylan Berkley Gerondale son of Benjamin and Cheryl, was
baptized on January 28, with sponsors, Ashley Stevenson and
Zach Van Hefty
CALLED HOME BY GOD…
Henry Hendrickson passed away November 7, 2017 at the age of
76. Henry was a member of Emmanuel until he moved to the VA
Medical Center in Iron Mountain. Our sympathy to his son, Evan.
Property Notes……
Emmanuel recently had to replace the kitchen refrigerator at a cost
of $2879. The old refrigerator was approximately 30 years old and
had already been repaired several times, and so it was determined
that a new refrigerator would more efficient in the long run. While
Emmanuel was able to cover the initial replacement cost, if it is
upon your heart to reimburse all/part of this replacement cost,
please contact the church.
To make you aware, beginning February 12th, Emmanuel will be
undergoing a painting project which will stretch from outside the
west side of the fellowship room downstairs, up the stairs (parking
lot side), through the narthex, and down the east (13th Street)
stairs, concluding with painting the sanctuary. It is anticipated that
this entire project will last approximately two weeks, though no
worship services or meetings will be interrupted during this time.
Thank you for your very generous Christmas memorial donations
toward the proposed 13th Street Electronic reader board. We’ve
made significant gains in securing the necessary funds to complete
this project, though we’re not there yet. In the spring we hope to
have a concrete idea of what this sign will look like. If you would
like to know more about this sign, or would like to contribute to
established fund for it, please contact the church office and Pastor
Mark will be more than happy to speak to you about it.
Fortune Lake Lutheran Camp (FLLC) is located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula,
a four-season place of beauty that attracts thousands of visitors every year. For
more than 80 years, Fortune Lake Lutheran Camp has been a special place
where God’s abundant grace is not simply taught, but experienced.
Upcoming Camps & Retreats
Week 1 – Victory Camp
June 11 - 15, 2018 $495 - Fortune Lake Lutheran Camp
Week 1: Guys in the Skies- A tree house adventure
camp for men & Kids
June 13 - 15, 2018
Week 2 – Women & Kids Week
June 17 - 22, 2018 $: See below. - Fortune Lake Lutheran Camp
Week 3 – Junior High Night Owls ages 6th – 8th grade
June 24 - 29, 2018 $395 - Fortune Lake Lutheran Camp
Week 3 – Veterans ages 9th – 12th grade
June 24 - 29, 2018 $395 - Fortune Lake Lutheran Camp
Week 3 – Onsite Day Camp #1
June 25 - 29, 2018 $100 - Fortune Lake Lutheran Camp
Week 4 – Vagabond Sampler Week ages – 5th – 6th
Grade
July 1 - 3, 2018 $195 - Fortune Lake Lutheran Camp
Week 4 – Mighty Ones – Sampler Week ages – Grade 1
July 1 - 3, 2018 $195 - Fortune Lake Lutheran Camp
Week 4 – Mini Camp Sampler Week ages 2nd Grade
July 1 - 3, 2018 $195 - Fortune Lake Lutheran Camp
Grandparent/Grandkid Sampler Week all ages
July 1 - 3, 2018 Pricing by age - Fortune Lake Lutheran Camp
Week 4- Villager Sampler Week ages 3rd – 4th Grade
July 1 - 3, 2018 $195
Week 5 – Mini Camp Week ages 2nd – 3rd Grade
July 8 - 11, 2018 $275 - Fortune Lake Lutheran Camp
Week 5 – Villager Week
July 8 - 13, 2018 $395 - Fortune Lake Lutheran Camp
Week 5 – Vagabond Week
July 8 - 13, 2018 $395 - Fortune Lake Lutheran Camp
Week 5 – Venturer Week
July 8 - 13, 2018 $395 - Fortune Lake Lutheran Camp
SUNDAY MORNINGS AT EMMANUEL Worship at
8:00 & 10:00am Nursery care provided at 10:00am
Sunday School at 10:00am
CONTACT US:
Phone: (906) 863-3431 Fax: (906) 863-4193
Email: [email protected] Council President, Debbie Villas
Email: [email protected] or
Visit us on the Web at www.e-mmanuel.com Follow us on Facebook at
Emmanuel Lutheran Church Menominee Michigan ELCA
STAFF: Pastor
The Rev. Mark Laatsch
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