Weekly eNews - Emmanuel Lutheran Church

eNews

Week of November 29, 2020

First Sunday of Advent

As a gentle reminder to everyone, if you have been exposed to COVID in any way or are not feeling well, please follow self-management steps to ensure you are not exposing other members of our congregation. Your cooperation is very much appreciated by everyone. In addition, should you contract COVID, please notify the church office for contact tracing.

Due to increasing Covid numbers in the area, the Executive Committee has determined that all non-worship activities should be cancelled through December 1st. The Executive Committee will re-evaluate at that time.

In this week's eNews...

The office will reopen Monday, November 30th.
Pandemic Cookbook distribution, Nov 30-Dec 2. See below for details.
Order a new name badge if you've lost yours.
Thursday, December 3rd - Drawn to the Word Advent with Pastor Hall.
Individual Advent Bible Study - Watching and Waiting. The second Sunday of Advent study will be available as you exit the church.
Altar Guild is accepting orders for poinsettias to be used for Christmas worship.

Click Here to Register For Next Weekend - December 5/6

6 feet social distancing requirements - do not crowd pews.
Remember to wear a mask and use the hand sanitizer available in the narthex or pews.
Please do not stop in the narthex or inside the sanctuary.
Wait for the ushers to dismiss your row. They start at the back of the sanctuary. For everyone’s safety and proper distancing, follow the ushers instructions.

Reminder: Please wear your Name Badges when attending worship so we know who you are while wearing your face masks!!!

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The Advent and Christmas devotional booklet "Our Hope and Expectation" are available for pick up in the Narthex before services and in front of the office during office hours. It includes a special "Household Blessings and Prayers" section specifically for the season.

Join Pastor Hall beginning Thursday, December 3rd at 10am for Drawn to the Word Advent with Paul Oman. This series of Advent video messages coincide with the Revised Common Lectionary gospel readings for this year. Professional music and sound effects, along with a spoken message provided by Paul Oman. You will literally see the Bible stories come to life on canvas, and continuously transition from part of the story to the next as Paul quickly works in layers to “tell the story.”

Click Here to Join Thursday's"Drawn to the Word Advent"

Advent Gospel Study

Each week during Advent, a study guide will be available for you to pick-up as you read the gospel for the following week. Our thanks to Kathy Anderson for providing these study sheets.

Click Here for the Nov 29th Study Sheet

Click Here for the Dec 6th Study Sheet

Poinsettias for Christmas Worship

The Altar Guild is now accepting orders for poinsettias to be used for the Christmas Eve services. To order, print the form by clicking the link below or completing the form in your worship folder this weekend and return to the office, with payment, no later than December 14th. This year's cost is $12.00.

Poinsettias may be picked up after the last Christmas Eve Worship (7pm) or at the office the following week (M-Th, 8:30am-12noon)

Poinsettia Order Form

They're Here! Fellowship Pandemic Cookbook

The Fellowship Committee's Pandemic Cookbooks have arrived! If you pre-ordered, you may pick them up Monday, November 30th - Wednesday, December 2nd between 10am - 12noon in the front of the church. Please have checks ready and payable to Emmanuel Lutheran Church and put "cookbook" in the memo line of your check. Cookbooks are $8 each.

Remain in your car and remember to wear your masks!

In Our Prayers...

Mary Chapp, Robert Crary family, Edna Ertel, Lin Mertens, Beverly Trebesch, Debra Trebesch and Ellie, (Riggs' great-granddaughter).

Prayers are offered for the friends and family of Ken Shaweker who entered the church triumphant on November 16th. A private family service is planned at Lake Worth National Cemetery.

Also prayers for the friends and family of James Johnson, husband of Stephanie Johnson, who entered the church triumphant.

Thank you Emmanuel members for your Thankoffering in support of the Women of the ELCA (WELCA) ministries. Your donation will help to accomplish the goal of supporting those most in need in our community. We are blessed at Emmanuel with members who live our Lutheran faith, “God’s Work, Our Hands.” Your generous giving spirit is valued and appreciated. Your gift truly makes a difference; the women of Emmanuel (WELCA) are extremely grateful.

We thank the girls and women who assisted during WELCA’s Thankoffering weekend. Donna Batchelor, thank you for sharing your time and talent. The sermon you presented was lovely. We thank the following staff and committee members for your support in the planning and organization of this event: Pastor Rob, Kris Bowker, Nancy Bollers, Kathie Winemiller, Marlyce Holbach, and Meredith Johnson.

The WELCA Board members ask God’s blessings on you and your families this holiday season. The COVID restrictions prevent WELCA from hosting, “Advent by Candlelight,” or the gorgeous candlelight tea this year. Let’s join together, each in our own homes, and participate in this beautiful, “New Advent Tradition.”

New Advent Tradition

Beginning December 1st read one chapter of the book of Luke in the Bible each evening.

There are 24 chapters

On Christmas Eve you will have read an account of the works and teachings of Jesus’s life.

Wake up on Christmas morning to celebrate His birth.

God bless,

Dr. Marlyce Holbach, WELCA President

Almighty God, we humbly thank you for your goodness to us and for all that you have made! During this year of additional challenges, we are especially thankful for:

The patience of the congregation as they respect the current safety measures put in place to protect themselves and their neighbors.
The ability to attend worship services virtually or in person and to celebrate Holy Communion “separately together”..
Weekly Zoom worship and Gospel discussions.
The support of staff and volunteers who prepare and welcome, preside and preach, sing and play, record and edit, and clean and sanitize.

Click the image below for a blessing.

Barb's Medical Minute...COVID Testing

I did a lot of research and came up with this information, there are two kinds of Covid-19 tests. The first is an antibody test. This is a finger prick blood test that detects antibodies that suggest you have had the virus in the past. LabCorp and Quest Diagnostics both do these tests, and you need a doctor’s order to get the test. Then there is the antigen test. This is a nasal swab test that detects active virus to determine if you currently have Covid-19 and no order from your doctor is needed to obtain this test. This test is available from various facilities including CVS Pharmacies on Jacaranda (485-8393), on Tamiami Trl. By Wal-Mart in Venice (493-6882) , in Nokomis at 1111 Tamiami Trl (484-8406), in Osprey at 1220 Tamiami Trl (966-5667), and in North Port (426-1144). Also Millennium Physician Walk-in Clinic in Venice (by Perkins) 244-5716, and North Port 888-0770. Gulf Coast Urgent Care on East Venice Ave. will administer the test if you are a Gulf Coast Medical Group patient. There are a bunch in Sarasota too. Call or email me if you want to know what’s in Sarasota. I hope this is helpful for anyone who thinks they might have the virus or thinks they have already had it. Sorry, this is more like a medical 10 minutes!!

Dedicate Altar Flowers and Eternal Candle - Jan-Mar 2021

Sign-up to dedicate Altar Flowers and the Eternal Candle for the First Quarter of 2021 (Jan-Mar) is now available online by clicking the links below. Once you have reserved your date, please submit your dedication with payment no later than 2 weeks prior to your reserved date. If you have any questions, contact the office.

Jan-Mar Altar Flowers

Jan-Mar Eternal Candle

Food Pantry donations....

After Thanksgiving Eve, any food donations to the South County Food Pantry should be taken directly to the South County Food Pantry located at 121 Warfield Avenue, Venice, 34285. The church is not collecting on a regular basis at this time. Their website states that their hours vary so call before you go! 941.408.2911.

Have you completed your 2021 Stewardship Forms?

Thank you to everyone who has already completed their forms

It's not too late to complete your virtual copies of the 2021 Time & Talent Sheet and/or Pledge Card. Just click on the buttons provided below. If you prefer a paper copy of these forms, they are available at the table in the Narthex or at the office during office hours. Any completed paper copies may be returned by mail or placed in the offering plate as you enter or leave worship.

Please take some time to complete both of these forms this now!!

2021 Time & Talent Sheet

2021 Pledge Card

Loose your Name Badge?

We will be placing an order for Name Badges on December 1st. If you need a new one, forms are available at the Narthex table or in the office. Cost is $8.

Readings for Worship

November 29th

First Sunday of Advent

Isaiah 64:1-9

Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19

1 Corinthians 1:3-9

Mark 13:24-37

December 6th

Second Sunday of Advent

Isaiah 40:1-11

Psalm 85:1-2,8-13

2 Peter 3:8-15a

Mark 1:1-8

For your information...

Want to know more about some of the items in eNews? When viewing the eNews online or on your mobile device and you see the pointing finger when running your mouse over a graphic or text, you will be able to link to more information such as a flyer, website, etc. Try it with the top picture of the church!!

Devotional/worship: Sunday Worship is available on Facebook live at 10am Sundays and Emmanuel's website. Thursdays Together with Pastor Hall is accessible through the Zoom link above. All previous worship services are also available through our website by clicking on the Vimeo logo in the upper left corner of the posted video on the website.