Family Brunch -Everyone is invited to share in brunch after the 11:00 service on Sunday, May 4th!! We will celebrate our “seasoned” seniors - those who have a healthy dose of wisdom and knowledge and are willing to share it with the younger generation !! Special guests will be the home bound. You do not need to bring anything except your appetite for the excellent repast. And this year as a bonus, there will be entertainment provided by – oh, sorry, it’s a surprise, but you are guaranteed to enjoy it!! After brunch, Pastor Paul will offer Holy Communion and you will have a chance to visit with friends. If you need transportation to the brunch, call the church office (872-5180) and we will come and pick you up!! COME ONE, COME ALL!

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From the Pastor - Dear Friends in Christ: It is a new year. We all know that January 1st is just an arbitrary date. There is nothing intrinsically significant about this particular day – it is, in reality, the same as any other day. Years, months and days mark the passage of time. They are a way we order our lives to the rhythms and cycles of the world in which we live.

It is a New Year! Traditionally we look to new opportunities. We make resolutions. We want to make changes. We promise we will change. We talk and act as if it all depends upon us, our efforts and our good intentions – the strength of our resolve. We know from experience that change does not happen on its own or merely because of our good intentions. There is more.

It is God’s time. The time we have and the time we mark are all gifts from God. Whether in the ordinary activities and tasks of our lives or in special moments we remember forever, we are living the gift of time which God gives to us and all people. The use of that time is our gift to God.

What do you do in your stewardship of time that gives God glory and honor? How do you make a difference in God’s world with the things you do, the tasks you undertake and the time you use? It is God’s time.

As we move into the New Year, may God bless you and guide you in your life, in your faith and in your serving.

In God’s love,
Pastor Paul E. Shoop

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Television Schedule - If you would like to receive a bulletin to follow the Sunday service on Webster Cable Channel 12, please contact the church office at 872-5180. Please leave your name and phone number and someone will return your call as soon as possible. For a complete schedule of Cable Channel 12 programming, click here

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Spotlight on Kathy Bannon - Kathy Bannon currently teaches all of our children from Kindergarten to 5th grade during the opening worship of our Sunday School Program. Every year she brings bible stories and other important lessons about our faith to life for all of us! Ask any of your older children if they know the Apostle song, and I'll bet they can rattle off a verse or two !! She has been a part of our Sunday school program for over 25 years including time as a classroom teacher and superintendent. Kathy is a lifelong member of Immanuel. She has been a member of a choir since she was in the 4th grade, and even directed the Children's choir for 11 years. In her "earlier" years, she was a substitute organist throughout the Rochester area. Kathy graduated from Valparaiso University with a degree in Chemistry and has worked at Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics for 28 years; currently she is a Quality Manager. Kathy has enjoyed attending two very different work camps with Brett. She likes being a sports mom and in her spare time she reads, cross-stiches, plays the piano, sings, and likes to cook for a crowd!

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Roof and Organ Repair Pledge Drive Our church building enables us to carry out our mission, and it is a legacy that we are working to preserve. The roof repairs are nearly complete now, and we should be prepared for just about any winter weather. Music is also an important part of who we are, and the first phase of the organ work will be starting by the end of January. This phase will cover the physical repairs necessary to keep the organ in proper working order. A second phase, to re-voice the organ, will start as soon as the experts are available in 2005. As individual stewards, we are called to act in response to the gifts that god has first given to us. Through our response, we work together to preserve and enhance our legacy and the mission of Immanuel. To date, approximately $49,500 has been received, with an additional $15,000 pledged. Expenses for the roof repair are $57,00. The first phase of the organ repairs is estimated at $31,000 and the second at $29,250. Based on our votes at the Congregational Meeting, we are moving forward with both initiatives, though we are still more than $50,000 short on pledges for paying the full amounts. Please consider a pledge to help us restore this historic place of worship we call our church. By clicking here, you can view and print a pledge card that you can then mail to the church office. For more information, call 872-5180.

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Welcome Joel ! ! ! - Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church is pleased to announce the addition of Joel Shoop to our staff. Joel has been hired as the Associate for Congregational Ministries (ACM). This is a new position at Immanuel, combining a series of unfilled part time positions. As ACM, Joel will work coorperatively with the Pastor, committees and the congregation to develop and facilitate the growth of faith and Christain community by prayer, study, community outreach and other activities.

Joel is a very energetic and creative young man looking for new ways to bring together the Immanuel church family as well as reaching out to the community. Joel is a graduate of Roberts Wesleyan College with a Masters of Education. He also holds a BA in History from Grove City College in Pennsylvannia. Take some time to come out and meet the newest member of our staff and share your ideas for how we can grow in a community of faith and worship.

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Thrivent Night at The Red Wings -The fourth annual Thrivent Night at the Red Wings is Saturday evening, May 31. The event consists of an American Favorite picnic with all you can eat hot dogs, hamburgers, and salads, starting at 6 PM, followed by a Red Wings game at 7:05 with fireworks immediately following the game. The food line closes shortly after the game starts, so arrive early to enjoy the picnic. The tickets for the picnic and game are $9 for adults $3 for youth. If you just want to go to the game it is $2 for adults and free for youth. In the event that the game is rained out, the picnic still occurs. We will meet at church at 5:00 pm to carpool, rain or shine. A sign-up sheet is in the lower hallway on the bulletin board. Checks should be made out to Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and put in the offering plate (so marked) or given to Joel Shoop, Ed Huehn, or Marguerite Manning. The Thrivent chapter plans to construct a Thrivent Builds House in Rochester and needs to raise $10,600 toward the cost. A free-will offering will be collected during the picnic as one of the fund raisers sponsored by Thrivent. Tickets will be mailed to church on May 16 for distribution the next Sunday, so make your decision soon and come and cheer on the Red Wings!!! Get a group together and come party!!

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Kids Night Out - What is it?

It is a chance for the youth of Immanuel to get together and make new friends at church and have some fun.
It is a chance for parents to have a couple of hours for whatever they would like.
It is a fundraiser for the LYO San Antonio 2006 trip.
It is all of the above!

Kids Nite Out! is on the second Friday or Saturday each month for Immanuel members and their families. The dates and times are listed below. There will be a sign up sheet on the Narthex bulletin board so we can make sure there are enough older youth and adults to supervise. There will be a short contact sheet to fill out for each child. When the kids arrive there will be a short devotion or Bible story, followed by age appropriate craft activities, games, snacks and more (we can’t give away all of the fun)! All ages are welcome (including babies).

Cost: Totally up to you! This is a fundraiser but it is also a service project. Freewill donations will be accepted. Hope to see you on the following dates:

Next Kids Night Out Will be: December 15th, 2007 5:30 - 8:00pm

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		"Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge." (Psalm 16:1) God of the mountains, wind and seas, the awesome power of nature can be both a wonder as well as a source of tragedy and suffering. We cry out to you in this time of great need to the people affected by Hurricane Katrina
How Can You Help? The most effective way people can assist relief efforts is by making cash contributions to humanitarian organizations that are conducting relief operations. As the disaster continues to unfold, new needs become evident. Many thousands of people will be without housing and basic needs. By contributing to the organizations involved in the relief efforts, they are able to remain flexible in their ability to obtain needed resources quickly and efficiently. Below you will find several organizations that have been selected for receiving the highest ranking by Charity Navigator, a non-profit organization whose mission is to help people make decisions in their charitable giving. A four-star rating from Charity Navigator is reserved for highly efficient charities that in most cases use more than 95% of their resources on programs. This means that you can be assured that your dollar makes its way to those who need it. Updates on the cleanup can be found below the donation links.

HELP NEEDED FOR HURRICANE VICTIMS

The four states of the ELCA-Southeastern Synod, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee have suffered damage from hurricane Katrina.

E.L.C.A. Disaster Response teams will be deployed shortly, however, much of the region is currently closed to all but emergency response vehicles. Reports so far are appeals for prayers and monetary assistance. A bulletin insert will be included with bulletins on September 4th and 11th with information for members of Immanuel. Financial contributions will be received by the church and forwarded directly to the E.L.C.A. Disaster Response. If you want to give directly go to www.elca.org/disaster or call 800-638-3522 (credit card donations can also be given at this number). Checks may either be placed in the Sunday offering plate or sent directly to E.L.C.A. Disaster Response, P.O. Box 71764, Chicago, IL 60695-1764. One hundred percent of your gifts will go to help individuals and communities rebuild their lives following this disaster.

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans has announced a generous gift supplement program for individual Thrivent members giving to Hurricane Katrina relief and recovery. If you are a member of Thrivent Financial, please visit www.thrivent.com/fraternal/Katrina.html for more information and an important form that is required for the supplement.

Christus Victor, Ocean Springs, MS - has significant damage to administrative building of the church. Associate in Ministry Suzi Harvey says people are ok as best they know. They are planning today for providing shelter to many members without homes. They have a generator and gas for cooking. About 25 people are now at church for shelter.

Grace, Long Beach, MS - Pastor Barb Hunter - She is at the church with about 30 people from the congregation. They are safe - the church isn't hurt to badly. They have gas for cooking and a generator.

Grace, Gulf Shores, AL - Pastor Bill Funk - All is ok - cleaning up.

St. Paul's, Mobile, AL - Pastor Karnig Kazanjan - The church seems ok with some damage to the house.

Augsburg Fortress is offering a prayer for churches to use in worship in response to Hurrican Katrina. As we all respond to this tragedy, prayer is a way for us to link those in need. You can find this prayer by following the badge titled "Prayer in the Wake of Katrina" on the Augsburg Fortress home page (www.augsburgfortress.org) They hope to post other prayers at the same place in the days to come.