Because Lutherans believe in love: together we pray. Generous One, Thank you for all of the ways we are loved. Thank you for all of the ways we can love. Teach us to listen closely to each other, and to our world, for all of the ways and places love is shared. Amen. We are in this together. WE ARE BETTER TOGETHER. We may be apart, but we are not alone.
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Sunday Worship in-person is suspended at this time for the safety of our congregation and community as COVID-19 numbers rise.
Please join us Sundays at 10:30 a.m.
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Sunday, December 27, 2020 | 10:30 a.m.
Emanuel’s will join other congregations across our Synod for a Service of Lessons and Carols hosted by Zion Lutheran Church of Helotes. The service will be streamed on our Facebook page and YouTube channel, as well as broadcasted via the radio at our usual 10:30am time slot. We are grateful for the work of the congregation of Zion Lutheran and their willingness to share this service. Please note, there will not be a bulletin available for this service. We hope you will enjoy this beautiful time of traditional hymns, ancient stories of God’s love, and beautiful singing.
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As has become our practice of setting aside bread and wine or bread and juice for the celebration of Holy Communion, we invite you to set aside four candles to join in the lighting of the Advent Wreath.
These candles can be anything you have. They can be used or new, fragrant or not, similar in shape in size or completely random. Set them in the place where you worship each week and light them along with those being lit in worship. If you can, take a picture of what you have created for your Advent wreath and share them with the church office or online. We would love to see them.
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A Time to Mourn, A Time to Dance,
There is a Time for Everything
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Pastor Marcus joins Pastor Darwin in the Emanuel's Sanctuary to talk about the gifts that we give to each other during Christmas and all the year through. If we are still and listen during this unusual time it is possible to understand that new gifts abound. You are invited to join their conversation as we transition from Advent into Christmas. Together they provide language to help us make sense of a season that is both undeniably familiar and at the same time foreign in many ways. |
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Advent is a time to prepare one's heart for newness, newness inbreaking amid angelic song, newness inbreaking as innocence, newness drawing the world together in hopeful anticipation. You are invited to read these devotions daily, all at once, or however the Spirit moves you. A digital download is available at the link below. Limited print copies are available in the church office. May the Holy Spirit guide and lead you over the season of Advent. |
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CHRISTMAS GIVING WITH WATER TO THRIVE
Build Wells - Change Lives
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Emanuel's holiday giving campaign is now underway with Water To Thrive. Donations my be given as you rejoice the season, as a gift to someone special, or given in memory or honor of loved ones. Our Easter water well campaign was wildly successful, and we are excited to provide a second community across the globe with access to clean water.
You can donate online at https://tinyurl.com/emanuelsgiving or complete the Water To Thrive giving form below. Printed forms are also in the church office. Learn more about Water to Thrive and the amazing work they do here.
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The Christmas season is not a time for glitter and tinsel, joyous gatherings of family and friends, or “tidings of comfort and joy” for all. There are those who are alone… those who grieve… those who have lost hope... those who need to give voice to the discomfort of their souls… those who need a guided time of quiet and reflection on the life-giving word of God. The Christmas season of 2020 will surely be such a time for many in our congregation and community.
“The Longest Night” is a worship service produced by the Southwestern Texas Synod for those with such spiritual need. It is available to all who desire to focus a worship time on the hope and promise of God that came to us in the manger… and lives among us still… amidst the reality of life in this time of Covid, chaos, challenge, and change in the church and society. The service will be available on the SWT Synod website here beginning December 15th.
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CHRISTMAS POINSETTIA
Pick Up Information
If you donated a poinsettia this year through the church office then you may come by to pick them up Thursday, December 17 or Monday, December 21 from 9-5. Poinsettias left after this time will be donated to area care facilities.
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A WORD FROM LADIES AID
A decision has been made once again by the officers of the Ladies Aid to discontinue the meetings until further notice. It was our plan to start meeting again on January 6, 2021, but due to the rise of COVID-19 cases in Seguin and Guadalupe County we have decided to cancel meeting.
We did give our contribution to the Christian Cupboard and continued to give Christmas gifts to the church staff.
We will keep everyone in our prayers and we hope we will meet again soon. Thank you for your understanding our decision in this difficult time.
-Jeannie Hall
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CHRIST IN OUR HOME
DELIVERY DELAY
As of Wednesday, December 16th we have received only the Large Print January, February, March 2021 edition of Christ in Our Home daily devotional. The pocket size devotionals were mailed at the same time weeks ago. What we have available is now in a box outside the Mountain Street door for pick up.
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SMALL GROUP UPDATES
Small groups at Emanuel's are patiently pivoting as new restrictions are implemented following our “We Are Better Together” COVID Safety and Gathering Policy. Rising COVID-19 numbers necessitate such action.
Please contact individual groups or the church office to see how each is creatively managing to proceed with the ministry and life of the church. Groups may be meeting online, in clusters of 2-5 people, or by other flexible means. Call first to see how best to participate.
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- Jubilation Singers Choir
- Heavenly Ringers Handbell Choir
- Joy Circle
- Faith Circle
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- Heritage Bible Class
- Youth Ministry
- LWR Quick Quilters
- Property Stewards
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Online and other social distancing opportunities are also available.
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DEVOTIONAL PODCAST every Tuesday @10am on Facebook and Soundcloud. Join our pastors and their colleagues each week for the Faces of Our Faith devotional podcast. Devotional Booklets are available here.
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WWJB (What Would Jesus Brew?) meets on First Fridays at 7pm on Zoom. WWJB is our once-a-month young adult fellowship where we talk about life, faith, movies ... anything and everything. Contact Pastor Kelsie for Zoom link.
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CONFIRMATION CLASS meets monthly online and in-person with students and leaders from Emanuel's. Spirit of Joy and St. John Marion.
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Face masks and other Emanuel's merch is available at our Teespring ELCSD ONLINE STORE. Order at teespring.com/stores/emanuels-lutheran-church.
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Tuesdays at the GARDEN OF EATIN' from 9-11. Come see what the fall garden looks like and how you can dig in with us!
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CHRISTIAN CUPBOARD is taking donations. Oatmeal, canned soup, empty egg cartons (esp. 18 count) , and personal care products are needed now. Monetary donations are especially welcomed
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CARE CLOSET in the church office meets small, immediate needs of those coming to our door seeking assistance. We are always in need of small snack bars, toiletries, new socks, and other items.
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What a treat that we all get to join the Day School for their Christmas Chapel that was Wednesday, December 16th. The school was brimming with Christmas cheer all day as the students waited patiently (Tried to wait patiently.) in their holiday attire for the afternoon program. Catch the video here.
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Emanuel's Office Staff is working both at the office and at home. Staff may be in the office as needed or by appointment Mondays through Thursdays from 8-5. Don't forget to wear a mask on the church campus. Everyone is still accessible via email and phone.
This timely funny comes with lyrics!
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We three kings are six feet apart.
We'll Purell before we depart.
We've been tested as suggested.
Careful are we, and smart!
O-oh! Do our masks go with our gowns?
Do these face shields hide our crowns?
We've had plenty twenty, twenty!
Still we head toward David's town.
Melchior is now quarantined!
Stuck in Persia, so it seems.
No more travel on a camel
'til there's a good vaccine. Refrain
Balthasar has lost his taste.
Eating food is such a waste.
How disquieting, now he's dieting.
Life now is slower paced. Refrain
Caspar left the caravan.
He postponed his stargazing plans.
No more roaming; Caspar's homing,
scrubbing his reddened hands. Refrain
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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:
December 1-16, 2019
Offering $24,592.00
Expenses $14,871.96
December 1-16, 2020
Offering $16,988.00
Expenses $28,802.94
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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