On Ash Wednesday, people all over the world receive the sign of the cross in ashes on their forehead as we remember that we are dust and to dust we shall return. When you run into someone in the supermarket and see that mark on their forehead or watch the evening news and see the newscaster with a sooty cross, you are part of an ancient tradition: the season of Lent. As Lutherans, we remember that God creates us, but as sure as we are born, we will eventually die. On Ash Wednesday we begin the journey to Jerusalem with Jesus, as he travels the road to his eventual death.
A while ago, there was a New York Times article by Oliver Sacks, a professor of neurology at the New York University School of Medicine. Sacks was diagnosed with a reoccurrence of cancer, and it was terminal. One day he was swimming a mile, and a week later, he was told that he was dying. Life is like that…full of unexpected turns. Dr. Sacks was told that he had months to live. In the article, he talked about what he planned to do with the rest of his life. It made me realize, Jesus knew that he only had months to live. As he journeyed to Jerusalem, he was going to his death, his death on the cross. We will hear in the weeks ahead what Jesus decided to do with the rest of his life. He healed the sick, he fed the poor, he taught people how much God loved them, he visited his friends, he raised the dead and whenever he had a chance…he stole way by himself and he prayed. We have in these weeks a template of a life well lived, an example of love in action.
As we take to heart the words of Ash Wednesday and remember that we are dust and that we will return to dust, we make the choice each day what we are going to do with the rest of our lives. During this season we will be gathering on Wednesday evenings to sing the Holden Evening Prayer Service, to hear Faith Stories and to share a simple meal of soup and bread. I encourage you to take this Lenten season and spend some time like Jesus: in prayer, in worship, in sharing the Good News—the good news that God seeks us always, walks with us always and goes ahead to prepare the way.
In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went to a deserted place,
and there he prayed.
Mark 1:35
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Tricia
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Save the Date: Upcoming Events at Emmanuel
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- Friday, March 1: Blood Drive, 1:00-5:00pm
- Saturday, March 3: Eagle Scout Project, 9:00am
- Saturday, March 3: Gene Cook memorial service, 3:00pm
- Sunday, March 3: Mardi Gras Ministry Faire, 9:30am between services
- Wednesday, March 6: Ashes available in sanctuary, 12:00pm-1:00pm
Ash Wednesday service, 7:00pm
- Thursday, March 7: Interfaith Meal prep, 9:00am
- Friday, March 8: Interfaith Meal, 11:00am
- Sunday, March 10: Thrivent meeting, 9:30am
- Sunday, March 10: Inquirers' class, 11:30am
- Wednesday, March 13-Wednesday, April 10: Weekly Lenten Soup Supper & Service, 6:00pm
- Saturday, March 16: Saturday Evening Worship, 5:00pm
- Confirmation Camp: March 30-31
- Friday, April 5: LifeLine Screening
- Saturday, May 4: Spring Fling
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March Outreach: Meals on Wheels
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From their website
Casa/Meals on Wheels is an important non-profit organization that has benefited many of the area's elderly and all home-bound people since 2009. Monday through Friday, seniors and disabled individuals can receive a daily meal that is approved by a licensed nutritionist. Depending on the program, meals are delivered by volunteers. In addition to providing nutrition to sustain the health of a person, a meal delivery by a Meals on Wheels volunteer also serves as a safety check and a source of companionship for the client.
How can you help?
- Donate
- Share the word
- Volunteer
Find out more abou
t Meals on Wheels
by clicking HERE
. During March, you can make a contribution to
Meals on Wheels
through the monthly outreach, and if the project is close to your heart, you may learn more and volunteer.
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Ash Wednesday Service is this Wednesday evening
March 6 at 7pm as we begin our observation of the season of Lent. If you are unable to get out in the evening, Pr. Tricia is offering ashes from noon to 1pm in the Sanctuary.
Then beginning Wednesday, March 13
there will be Lenten Evening Services of Holden Evening Prayer at 6pm in the Sanctuary followed by our Lenten Soup Supper at 6:45pm in the Fellowship Hall.
The weekly meals will be hosted by various groups and Bible Studies of our congregation, but if you haven’t been contacted by a group yet and would like to donate a pot of soup, contact Carole Rebholtz.
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Join us Sunday between services for the Mardi Gras Ministry Faire!
The ministry teams of Emmanuel will be set up in the Fellowship Hall to share what they do and how you can take part.
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Interfaith Meal
This month’s Interfaith Meal will be a festive one for St. Patrick’s Day! Join us for corned beef and cabbage on Friday, March 8 at 11:30 a.m.
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Join
Good News Puppet Ministry of American Lutheran Church at Young at Heart
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Wednesday, March 20, 2019 at 11:30 am
Join the
Good News
Puppet Ministry of American Lutheran Church
as they present
“
Lenten Thoughts in Today’s World.” This will be a somewhat humorous show with serious biblical facts provided that can relate to the world we're living in. Sign up to attend today in the narthex!
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What
Luncheon and
entertainment
When
Wednesday, March 20 at 11:30 am
Where
Emmanuel Lutheran
Church, Fellowship Hall
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On March 12, Pastor Tricia's 10am Women's Bible study will begin reading
Want What You've Got!, written by none other than Brita Hammit!
Please contact Pastor Tricia if you are interested in joining the journey of knowing that we are
enough!
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The Food Bank is requesting the following items:
- Canned beans
- Canned fruit
- Canned meat (tuna, chicken)
- Canned soup
- Cereal
- Crackers
- Pasta
- Pasta sauce
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The ELCA strongly encourages its members to be involved in community affairs because it is just one more way of serving our neighbors just as Jesus exhorted us to do. Quite a few of Emmanuel’s members are already community volunteers.
If you would like to volunteer in your community, please let the Outreach Ministry know what you would be interested in doing. The Outreach Ministry will do its best to find a connection that meets your interests.
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Emmanuel's next blood drive will be March 1
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The next blood drive at Emmanuel is
Friday, March 1, 1-5pm
. Judy Nielsen has coordinated the semiannual blood drives at the church for many years.
During severe flu season, blood draws around the state are suffering, leaving blood supplies to hospitals at very low levels. If you are able, please reserve the date and plan to give, either a pint of whole blood or one of the double red cell units. Sign up with Judy Nielsen or online at
Bloodhero.com
(Sponsor Code: Emmanuel). Drop-ins will be welcome!
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Thrivent
On March 10 between services, Scott Lang will present Thrivent program “Learn How to Leverage Available Seed Monies” during a 30-minute information workshop in the Fellowship Hall.
Enjoy refreshments and snacks while you learn how to apply for and direct Seed Monies to benefit ministries within Emmanuel Lutheran Church.
Each member qualifies to apply for two $250.00 Action Cards to benefit the community. Additional qualifying monies are available now to direct before the March 31 deadline.
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Our every-other-month Inquirers' Class is scheduled for Sunday, March 10 following the 10:15am service. Gathering at about 11:30am in the Fellowship Hall, this class is for anyone considering becoming a member of Emmanuel or interested in learning more about what it means to be part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Join Pr. Tricia and the Welcoming Ministry Team for this educational meeting. What inquiring minds want to know!
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With approval from the congregation at our Annual Meeting on January 27, Building and Property presented three bids to the Church Council on February 12. The council approved the purchase of the 25 ton heating unit from Red Rock Refrigeration. The order was placed with the manufacturer on February 13 as it takes approximately 5 weeks to produce the unit. At present we are also waiting for approval from the Mission Investment Fund for approval of the additional funds needed to purchase the unit. Building and Property is hopeful that an installation date could be mid to late March.
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Emmanuel Youth Mission Trip
June 15
–
22, 2019
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Join St. Luke's in service!
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St. Luke's Episcopal Church has invited us to join their group in San Diego, CA to participate in several serving opportunities such as soup kitchens and food banks.
The trip will also include some fun activities and sightseeing, as well as a day at the beach!
So far, St. Luke’s has a group of 11 teens and 6 adults signed up! Youth need to be at least 13 years old to attend. The group will be staying at an Episcopal Church in San Diego. We will drive there together in vans with supplies. St. Luke's is also supplying a cook, so we will not have to shop or prepare food!
This trip will cost around $300/person (gas, lodging, food, supplies, fun). The more fundraising we do, the more the price goes down. Scholarship funds will also be available for youth with financial need to attend this trip.
Parents and volunteers are welcome to come! Youth may invite their friends as well! Bee Sena has already volunteered to be group leader for Emmanuel, as Adam is unable to take the 10 days from his hospice work (Yay Bee!) and we will need at least one other adult from Emmanuel to come along.
Please contact either Adam Bissell or Bee Sena with questions, and to let them know of your interest. A $50 deposit to the church will secure your spot and help us plan. Put "youth mission trip" in the memo line of check. Deposits are due by March 13.
More specific details to follow, but we first need to see the interest and commitments for the trip ASAP, as this trip will move our VBS week into July. We will have parent and youth meetings to prepare for this mission trip, including gathering with St. Luke's group and leaders.
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March 1: Mindi Tunstall
March 2: Jesse Chisholm
March 3: Kathie Siggs
March 4: Susan Youngblood
March 5: Christopher Knoblock
March 7: Jean Kiser
March 11: Bruce Lamb
March 11: Russell Wells
March 13: Robert Meuers
March 13: Donna Morgan
March 14: Stephanie Taska
March 15: Ron Hess
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March 16: Christine Geiger
March 16: Jack Northrup
March 17: David Ramirez
March 17: Patricia Wakefield
March 19: Andrea Worthington
March 22: Phyllis Pohlman
March 24: Elaine Kuykendall
March 24: Anna Namanny
March 26: Bonnie Cain
March 29: Eilene Andes
March 29: Judy Nielsen
March 30: Jessi Martin
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March 22: Joe & Sammie Berry, 16 years
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What's going on at the church?
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Did you know that we have an online calendar?
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Emmanuel Lutheran Church
7763 E.Long Look
Prescott Valley, AZ 86314
PH (928) 772-4135 • FX (928) 759-3541
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