Because Lutherans know what's important: Over the beautiful weekend some Emanuel's folk were lured outside. Richard Yeatts snagged this shot of Dr. Clarence Lang and his catch! They had a reel fine time. We are better together at church and at the lake!

Announcements

PUB THEOLOGY on Friday, November 15 will be at the Schwartz’ family river house, 1082 River Trail. We’ll gather at 6pm for “beer, conversation, and God.” Really, though, bring any beverage that makes you happy. Contact John at 830-832-2851. ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS DECORATING will take place over a couple of weeks this year, November 18-22 and 25-27, with our big work day on Saturday, November 30. Whether you can give 15 minutes to tie bows or fluff wreaths or an hour to unpack and setup trees, we would love to have your help. Saturday’s work day will begin at 9am in the Sanctuary. Donuts and coffee provided! NIGHTTIME CORN MAZE trip for all high school and middle school youth to the Graff 7A Ranch in Hondo is set for Saturday, November 23 . We will gather and leave form the Mountain Street parking lot at 5:30pm and return around 10pm. The admission ticket is covered, youth just need to bring money for food. Please contact Pastor Marcus or Pastor Kelsie if your youth are able to attend. FOOD, FUN & FELLOWSHIP will meet on Sunday, November 24th at noon in the Women’s Ministry Room. Single, divorced, or widowed friends gather monthly for food and fellowship. Everyone is asked to bring a favorite dish to share.  SALVATION ARMY BELL RINGING hosted by Emanuel’s on Friday, November 29 . We are seeking bell ringers for a 2 (or 1) hour shift between 9 AM and 5 PM at Walmart. Great family activity! The annual Christmas Kettle Campaign is a MAJOR funding source for the Seguin Unit. If you can help, call Frances Vinyard at 830-379-5041. HOLIDAY MEAL DELIVERY on Saturday, December 7 . Join us for the annual delivery of holiday meals to our shut-in and elderly members. Volunteers are needed at 10 AM in the Fellowship Hall to package the turkey and dressing dinners, and drivers are needed to deliver meals. Contact Steve Anderson at 830-305-4542 or sanderson@tlu.edu. HOLIDAY TAMALE SALE Emanuel’s Youth are selling Delicious Tamales this year to help fund their summer activities. Place your order from any youth starting November 10 in the Narthex, or in the office. Orders due by December 8 with pickup of frozen tamales on Sunday, Dec. 15. Chicken, Bean & Jalapeno, Traditional Pork, and Jalapeno Pork Tamales only $12/dz. WORSHIP VOLUNTEERS are needed for our 8am Morning Matins service every first Sunday. If you are willing to read lessons, help set up and take down communion, usher, or greet, please sign up in the Narthex or speak with a pastor. QUILT RAFFLE tickets a re now available! The quilters of the Emanuel’s Ladies Aid are raffling a queen-sized, hand-quilted quilt for the annual bazaar. The drawing for the winner will take place at their annual Christmas luncheon on Wednesday, December 4.  Tickets are $1 ea. or 6 for $5  from any Ladies Aid member, in the Narthex on Sunday mornings, at the Sausage Lunch, at the Bazaar, or in the church office.

We See You!

Kudos to the team who brought "Hope in the Holidays" to Emanuel's this year! Pictured here left to right: performer Mark Schuenemann, performer; Pastor Darwin Huartson, Emanuel's San Antonio Visitation Minister; Donna Simmons, Emanuel's Director of Congregational Care; David Kauffman, singer and songwriter; Cindy Isaacson, David's assistant; and Gabriela Garcia, St. James Catholic Church concert coordinator.

Stewardship 2020

At Emanuel’s Lutheran Church, we are investing in helping Jesus’ followers grow as they develop meaningful relationships with God, each other, and our neighbors. We live out Jesus’ command to love our neighbor as ourselves as we connect with one another. Throughout our history we’ve faithfully responded to being the church God is calling us to be. In the last few years, we’ve taken bold steps to ensure the ministry of Christ through Emanuel’s is here for generations to come. We’ve successfully moved through our strategic plan. We’ve called a new Senior Pastor and boldly expanded our reach by calling a new Associate Pastor, adding a Director of Administration and Communication, and a Director of Business Operations, all in the last two years. There is new energy and opportunity across Emanuel’s, our Day School, and the Seguin community. We are ready to continue that momentum but maintaining and enhancing this renewed excellence and capacity in ministry will require our renewed commitment to increasing our gifts to the church. The Generosity: Creating Generous Generations stewardship appeal has a goal of increasing offerings by $55,000 or more ($1,058 per week). Over the next few weeks we will share how this increased generosity will be invested. Please pray for a generous response, and please prayerfully consider increasing your gift for 2020.

Read more about Generosity: Creating Generous Generations Part 1

Opportunities in the Community

ANNUAL COMMUNITY THANKSGIVING SERVICE First United Methodist Church Tuesday, Nov. 26 7:00 PM Join the Emanuel's family and our neighbors for an evening of thankful praise in music and word. Our own Emanuel’s Heavenly Ringers Bell Choir will participate in the service. HOLIDAY BUS TRIP December 14, 2pm  Beitel Lutheran Church is hosting a bus trip to Burnet, TX to experience a re-creation, hosted by 7 area churches, of what the town of Bethlehem was like when Jesus was born. The bus trip is $20 per person payable to Beitel WELCA, 2515 Austin Highway, San Antonio, TX 78218. There will be a stop at the Bluebonnet Cafe in Marble Falls for lunch/dinner (you pay) and a stop on the way home to see lights/decorations at the pedernales River. Contact Barbara or Donald Gerhart at 210-508-6441 to make your reservation before Nov. 15. Bus leaves from S.A.

Meals on Wheels Needs YOU! Five Simple Requirements: Drivers License Auto Insurance Ability to sign up online A little daytime A giving heart Volunteer applications are available in the church office or from Kathy Villarreal at kvillarreal@nbsenior.org. Meals on Wheels serves people at their home on weekdays. Drivers pick up the meals at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Seguin at 10:15 a.m. and are usually done before noon. Volunteers pick the days they choose to drive- once a week, once a month, whatever works for you- and sign up though signupgenius.com. Help is urgently need in Guadalupe County. We'd love to hear from you.

National Council News

The Rev. Marcus Bigott Elected to Executive Committee of the Church Council Congratulations to Pastor Marcus who was elected to the Executive Committee of the ELCA Church Council on November 9, 2019 at their meeting in Chicago. The work that God has called the 4 million members of the ELCA to in the world goes on 24 hours a day, seven days a week with the guidance, insights and decision-making of ministers of Word and Sacrament and ministers of Word and Service. representing a diverse church and world. Between meetings of the ELCA Churchwide Assembly, the Church Council provides this guidance and leadership for the churchwide organization and the ELCA. The Church Council serves as the board of directors for the church. Its members include the churchwide officers, bishops representing a cross-section of synods and up to 45 other people elected by the Churchwide Assembly. They meet together at least twice a year and communicate by other means when necessary. The Church Council with its day-to-day responsibilities is a vital aspect of how we strive to do God’s work in the world with thoughtfulness, integrity, respect and partnerships that share a common vision.

Summation of November 2019 Church Council Meeting

Bishop Elizabeth Eaton: “No longer will we stay silent” Elizabeth Eaton is presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). On 8 August, the ELCA adopted a resolution to encourage church-wide participation in the World Council of Churches Thursdays in Black campaign for a world free from rape and violence.  What is the significance of the August resolution?  Bishop Eaton:  It was an action that said we, as church, will stand alongside our ecumenical partners working together to resist the violence and injustices that continue to threaten so many in our own communities and throughout the world. That's why I’m wearing black every Thursday, putting on my Thursdays in Black button, and making sure that I show up in solidarity and action, and I encourage you to do the same.  This action reflects our commitment as a church to our social message on gender-based violence, where we look to the story of Tamar and her family. As a member of Christ’s body, the ELCA shares in the brokenness and judgement brought on by gender-based violence.  Read more here . . .

Church Council observing Thursdays in Black on November 7th.

Council News

SPECIAL CALLED ANNUAL MEETING Sunday, December 29th The meeting will immediately follow the celebration of Holy Communion. This meeting will take into consideration with potential action the 2020 budget, 2020 Council members, and updates and changes to the Constitution. Two working and information sessions, for budget and constitution, will take place December 8th and 15th during the 9:15 am education hour in the Women’s Ministry Room.

Christian Education Opportunities

SUNDAYS AT 9:15 The Assembly Class (Family Life Center): DVD Series on the Beginnings of Judaism. The Heritage Class (307): Augsburg Fortress Quarterly Adult Bible Study. Intergenerational Study (Fellowship Hall): Lessons for young and old the last Sunday of every month. Explore God's word with song and play. The Joy Class (204): Bible stories and songs for adults with intellectual disabilities. Preschool to High School Ministry Rotations This is the general schedule. Please check the calendar to confirm. 1st Sunday: Children’s Church, Preschool to 4 years old (during worship) 2nd Sunday: Sandbox Stories, Kindergarten to 4th Grade (during worship) ELYO, High School (9:15 - 10:15 a.m.) 3rd Sunday: Bible, Faith & Science 5th -8th Grade (during worship) 4th Sunday: Intergenerational Study (9:15 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall) Confirmation: 6th-8th Grade (after worship, schedule varies each month) ELYO: High Schoolers meeting monthly at 9:15 on the 2nd Sunday in the Youth Room off the Fellowship Hall for breakfast, discussion, service, games and fellowship. We also gather once a month for a fun outing. Check out the calendar for fellowship events!

WEEKDAY STUDIES Tuesday Morning Bible Study (Family Life Center): on a break. Faith Circle (Women's Ministry Room): Third Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. Joy Circle (Women's Ministry Room): Second Thursday at 9:30 a.m. Ladies Aid (Women't Ministry Room): First Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. What Would Jesus Brew? (The Warehouse): Young Adults meeting First Fridays at 7:00 p.m. Pub Theology meets on the Third Friday of the month.

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