52 Great Bible Verses

12 Great Bonus Verses

February 5, 140 million people all over the world will tune in to the Super Bowl football game. There will be parties with abundant food, friendship and fellowship. At the same time, there will be people worrying about staying warm, finding shelter and a warm meal. Please join young people around the US as they demonstrate God’s love by loving their neighbors through the Souper Bowl of Caring. It’s a simple, yet significant act of caring for others. Drop $1 in the soup pot and put a can soup in the shopping cart as you leave worship Sunday, February 5th.

Water is nearly everywhere.  Water surrounds us in our natural world, in oceans, rivers and lakes.  We live on a chain of lakes that contains 25% of the world’s fresh water.  We use it to bathe and refresh our thirst.  Water and the Word of God mark us in our baptism as we are made part of Christ’s death and resurrection.  Water Marks is a part of the E.L.C.A.’s Book of Faith Initiative.

During our Mid-Week Lenten Services we will explore God’s Word through the many passages about water.  From the stories of creation to the prophets and Psalms to the life of Christ and the disciples, we will immerse ourselves in water.

Please join us for the Mid-Week Lenten Services each Wednesday evening during Lent beginning with Ash Wednesday, February 22^nd, at 7:00 PM.  Soup and Bread starts Wednesday, February 29^th, at 6:00 PM.

Ash Wednesday begins the 40 days of Lent, a season leading us to Holy Week and Easter.  During this season Christians reflect on Christ’s death for us, faith and trust in God, and acts of love and kindness for others.  The Ash Wednesday Service encourages us to contemplate our faith and life in light of Jesus’ giving himself for our salvation.  Ashes are a sign, reminding us of our mortality, our frailty and our own undoing.

Please join us for Ash Wednesday Service and Immanuel’s other Lenten Services.

For the past year we have worked together to memorize, learn, discuss and digest a different Bible verse each week – “52 Great Verses of the Bible.”  Click on these links to view the Bible verses: 52 Bible Verses and 12 Great Longer Verses .  This was another way for us to take hold of some of the notable passages of Scripture – letting them guide and support us.  This effort concluded at the end of August.  What a year it has been!  We have read.  We have memorized.  And, we have had the Scriptures permeate our lives.  Thank you for joining me in this endeavor.

As we begin a new program and ministry year in September we move on to another way that helps our faith grow and strengthen – Singing the Songs of Faith: 52 Great Hymn Stanzas.  Pastor Paul worked with our former Organist/Director of Music Thatcher Lyman, Izzie Davis and Jeremy Shoop (Organist/Director of Music Ministries at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Herndon, VA) to identify 52 Great Hymn Stanzas.  Beginning in September we highlight a different hymn stanza each week.  And, we will encourage you to ‘memorize’ the stanza the same way we memorized the Bible verses of this past year.

Music so often will penetrate into our lives in very special ways – communicating God’s care and love, reassuring us in troubling times, conveying thanksgiving and joy, and even expressing our deepest feelings or thoughts.  These hymns are born from faith and grounded in the scripture’s witness to God’s interaction with God’s people and all creation.

During the coming year, the stanzas will vary.  Some will be old favorites.  Some will be new or different.  Each of them was selected to witness to the faith we are given and help us grow in our appreciation for the diversity and depth of God’s love.  Click on the link to view the hymns:  52 Great Hymns_web

Thank you for intentionally committing this past year to learning more of the Scriptures, our first language of faith.  And, join in the effort to continue the growing and deepening of that faith.

Wellness On Wednesdays meets every Wednesday, and is for those 55 and older. Join us from 10 am to 12:30 pm for blood pressure checks, light exercises, speakers and lunch.

The program schedule for the next couple of weeks –

Jan. 18 – ‘A Visit to Germany’ – Back by popular demand, Marguerite Manning will show her photos from a recent trip to Germany and share how life has changed in this country over time.

Jan. 25 – ‘Zephryos Winds’ – Enjoy music from graduates of Eastman and Ithaca College.  This gifted group includes Lisa Brumberger on clarinet, Susan Van Buren on bassoon, and Elizabeth Million on flute.  All three are retired teachers who love to share their beautiful music.

Feb. 1 – ‘Webster Hearing Center’ – Hearing is a vital part of our lives.  Learn about ways of fine-tuning our hearing abilities from a representative from the Webster Hearing Center.

Feb. 8 -   ‘Valentine Cards’ – As this holiday approaches, here’s a chance to show your creativity!  We’ll provide lots of varied materials as we all create cards to be given to area shut-ins and others.

Feb. 15 – ‘Heritage Square Museum’  -  This little museum in Ontario might be Wayne County’s best kept secret.  Vera Graves and Herm Auch will show photos
and tell us all about this wonderful ‘step back in time’.

Feb. 22 – ‘The Jello Museum’ – This is another unique place not too far from Rochester.  Come and hear the history of this interesting place.

Feb. 29 – ‘Time to Get Organized’ – Too much to do and too little time?  Drowning in paper?  Wasting time looking for things?  Dorothy Madden, Professional Organizer, will share ways to help us get better organized.  Bring your questions for the Organizer!