Because Lutherans cherish the beauty of the earth:
we are thankful for Emanuel's bountiful Garden of Eatin'. "For the wonder of each hour of the day and of the night, hill and vale and tree and flower, sun and moon and stars of light, Christ, our Lord, to you we raise this, our hymn of grateful praise." (ELW 879) Learn more about this community ministry below.
W
e are in this together. We are better together. We may be apart, but we are not alone.
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A Message from Pastor Darwin
To help us navigate these challenging times Emanuel’s Lutheran Church offers an opportunity to reflect on what this means for us as individuals and as a faith community. This is the first of a 3-part video series from Pastor Darwin Huartson, emphasizing how we can best take care of ourselves and each other during these challenging COVID-19 days. Click on the image below to watch the video.
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No Gatherings AT the Church,
BUT the Church Still Gathers
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Join us on Sundays at 10:30
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Midweek Worship:
Commemoration of the Emanuel Nine
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We've deviated a bit from our 'normal' midweek worship and are instead remembering the Emanuel Nine, confessing of our sin of racism, and asking God to help us to see the face of Christ in each and every face we meet, but especially those of persons of color.
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On June 17, 2015, Clementa C. Pinckney, Cynthia Marie Graham Hurd, Susie Jackson, Ethel Lee Lance, DePayne Middleton-Doctor, Tywanza Sanders, Daniel Lee Simmons, Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, and Myra Thompson were murdered by a self-professed white supremacist while they were gathered for Bible study and prayer at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church (often referred to as Mother Emanuel) in Charleston, South Carolina. Pastors Pinckney and Simmons were both graduates of the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary. A resolution to commemorate June 17 as a day of repentance for the martyrdom of the Emanuel Nine was adopted by the Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America on August 8, 2019. Congregations of the ELCA are encouraged reaffirm their commitment to repenting of the sins of racism and white supremacy which continue to plague this church, to venerate the martyrdom of the Emanuel Nine, and to mark this day of penitence with study and prayer.
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You can learn more about this tragic event by watching the documentary "Emanuel" featuring intimate interviews with survivors and family members. It is a poignant story of justice and faith, love and hate, examining the healing poser of forgiveness.
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We took a departure this week, but join us next week at 12:05 and 7pm with Facebook Watch Parties for
Wednesday Worship.
With the Watch Party format we can check-in and say "Hi!" in real time. The service is also available on: YouTube | SoundCloud
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Lutheran World Relief Ingathering
June 23, 2020
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Thank you! Emanuel’s is once again preparing to ship items for distribution among peoples of the world in need. The Strong and Masked will have packed and delivered 142 quilts, 98 school kits, and 48 personal care kits to add to the Lutheran World Relief Ingathering.
We participate in LWR emergency relief efforts. There are also agricultural, climate, and health projects. Projects over the years change to meet differing needs. In the early days of LWR, following WWII, Esther Oelke sent boxes of coats, socks, mittens, coffee, and chocolate!
Property Stewards will assist in loading three vehicles for delivery to the Ingathering at Zion Lutheran Church in Helotes. We don’t have to load the 18-wheeler, but we sure would appreciate a few more Masked and Strong folks to help move the 25-30 pound boxes into their building. Join us at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, June 23, for the drive to the church in Helotes. RSVP: Elin Oelke, 303-5440.
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Come Play in the Garden of Eatin'
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Have you driven past the lush corner of Bowie and Walnut Streets recently? Emanuel's community ministry, The Garden of Eatin', is showing off this season. Softball size tomatoes, squash as big as a toddler, and sunflowers reaching for the stratosphere greet every visitor. But you don't have to simply be a bystander. Gardening is a fabulous activity during this time of social distancing.
Garden Coordinator Wayne Stalsworth invites everyone with a mind and heart for soil and souls to learn more about this ministry. Join him at the garden on
Tuesdays from 9-11
to learn how you can participate.
Currently, harvesting (the most fun) and weeding (obviously, the least fun) are on the agenda. Please, come take what you can eat! A few weeks ago Wayne and Melissa B. took boxes and boxes of produce to the Christian Cupboard. Community interest has also increased. You might make new friends as well as gather enough cherry tomatoes for all of July.
Can't make it on a Tuesday? Wayne is there every other day to water and tend. Give him a call at 830-491-4658 to get started.
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A few tips to make your gardening experience more fruitful:
- Take home only what you can eat so that there will be plenty for others.
- Pick produce gently with two hands.
- Use clippers if needed to avoid tugging on plants and harming roots.
- Let unripe veggies ripen on the vine before harvesting.
- Weed as you go.
- Extra produce can be taken to the Christian Cupboard or shared with your neighbors.
- Let us know if something needs attention.
- Do you have other gifts? Are you a painter or a carpenter? Let us know how you would like to be a part of this ministry.
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A Word About The Christian Cupboard
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Speaking of the Christian Cupboard, we talked with Executive Director Regina Lee this week. She said they have made a few distribution modifications to meet social distancing requirements but that operations are running smoothly to meet area food insecurity needs.
She emphasized a need at this time for the following items in addition to the regular non-perishable donations:
- personal care products
- oatmeal
- soups
- egg cartons, particularly 18 count.
Donations may be left at Emanuel's inside the Mountain Street entrance on the table with the baskets
or
at the Cupboard, 516 N. Camp Street.
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Hey! We see Garry M. and our Habitat friends on the front page of the paper! Grateful for their dedicated work providing affordable housing for people to call home.
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Christ in Our Home
now available
July, August, September 2020
Bringing you a daily message of God's amazing grace.
Pick up your copy in the box at the Mountain Street door. Pocket size and large print available.
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Are your kids (and you!) sad that there's no VBS this year?
THINK AGAIN!
While we cannot have in-person Vacation Bible School, we can still do it - crafts, stories, songs, snacks, and all! Join us for our virtual in-home VBS
Compassion Camp!
Let
Pastor Kelsie
know how many kids you have participating so we can prepare a VBS bag of goodies for your family! Compassion Camp supply pick-up day will be Monday, July 13 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the church.
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PLEASE NOTE UPDATES
We are Better Together:
A Plan to Safely and Purposefully Join Together
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While considering recommendations from the Synod for returning to campus, the Council announces the following schedule of beginnings.
Please note that this is a TENTATIVE schedule.
Decisions will be made on a weekly, and at times daily, basis pending current Covid-19 cases in the county and surrounding areas. Church leadership is committed to staying informed and being flexible during this pandemic.
- June 1, 2020: Staff Return to the Church Office. Please call before coming to the church to meet with staff. Work schedules are staggered.
- July 1, 2020: Small Group Ministries Resume. Masks to be worn at all times in the building. 6 foot social distancing to be observed. Not gathering to exceed 15 people.
- August 2, 2020: TENTATIVE date for Sunday Worship to resume on campus with modifications still to be determined.Radio broadcast and Facebook live streaming will continue.
Below is a link to the completed document,
We are Better Together:
A Plan to Safely and Purposefully Join Together,
which outlines Emanuel's plan to return to campus activities.
Please keep in your prayers our leaders as they continue to be the church while navigating strange waters. It is with great care and compassion for all that we move forward.
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Please call before coming to the church to meet with staff. For the health and safety of all we are limiting the number of persons in the office at a given time.
Office Staff is on campus Monday - Thursday from 8am - 5pm.
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Our schedules are staggered. Everyone is still accessible via
email
and phone.
We continue to hold each of you and your families in our prayers. We are BETTER TOGETHER… even if it is virtually!
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THANK YOU
for your continued financial support of the ongoing ministries of Emanuel's Lutheran Church.
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Online giving is safe, simple, and quick to do through our
Vanco link
. One time or recurring donations can be indicated.
You can still mail in your offering to the Church by sending a check to:
Emanuel's Lutheran Church
206 N. Travis Street
Seguin, Texas 78155
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Giving comparison for 2019-2020:
June 1-16, 2019 $18,890.50
June 14-16, 2019 $2,950.00
June 1-16, 2020 $21,122.00
June 14-16, 2020 $5,904.00
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact the church either through
email
or phone.
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Submit a brief, yet detailed description of your event to
info@emanuels-seguin.org before noon on Tuesdays for consideration for that week's email news. Late submissions will be considered for the following week's email and/or social media posts.
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