eNews
Week of November 15, 2020
In this week's eNews...
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.
  • WELCA Thankoffering flyers and envelopes are included in the worship folders this weekend.
  • Giving Tree annual gift donation envelopes available in the Narthex this weekend and next (if still available).
  • Sunday, November 15: Jezebel and Elijah, 12noon, Sanctuary. register below.
  • Thursday, November 19: Thursdays Together with Pastor Hall, Zoom 10:00am
  • Thursday, November 19: Picnic of Thanks, Maxine Barritt Park, 11:30am
  • Registration now open for In-Person Worship the weekend of November 21/22 and for Thanksgiving Eve Worship, Wednesday, November 25th.
  • November 21-25: South County Food Pantry food collection.
In Person Worship Update...
An 11am worship has been added on Sundays
  • 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!!!
Thanksgiving Eve Worship

Come and give thanks! A special worship service will be held on Thanksgiving Eve at 5PM, November 25th. It is always appropriate that we worship the Lord and thank Him for all the blessings He has generously poured out on all people. During these uncertain times, this worship service will follow the same safety measures as the other in-person worship services, including pre-registration, social distancing, hand sanitization, and ushered departure starting in the back.

The Outreach committee will also be holding a
food drive for South County Food Pantry
The Pantry is requesting a very specific list of foods to be donated:
Cereal
Tuna
Mayonnaise
Ketchup
Mustard
Pork and Beans
Pineapple
Canned Corned Beef Hash

Collection will begin the weekend of November 21/22. Donations may be dropped off in Fellowship Hall before worship on that weekend as well as at the office November 23rd-25th (during business hours only please). In addition, the South County Food Pantry truck will be at Emmanuel on the 25th for Thanksgiving Eve worship for food drop off.
If you need to contact the office about FlockNote or have any questions about registration, please email us at info@emmanuel-elca.org. Please do not email us through FlockNote. Thanks so much!
Giving Tree with a COVID Twist...helping those less fortunate
Emmanuel's annual Giving Tree tradition continues with a COVID twist! Envelopes will be available for pick up in the Narthex on November 14/15 and 21/22. Labeled envelopes; Adult Female, Toddler, Infant, Parent, Adult Male, etc. will contain gift ideas. Gift lists for SPARCC will be generic gifts and those for Lutheran Social Services (LSS) will be specific to the individual (as they have been in the past). You do not necessarily have to get everything on the list! All gifts should be brought to the Narthex on November 21/22 or 28/29 or brought to the office between November 23-25 . If you are not attending worship in person, a copy of the SPARCC list is available by clicking the button below. For further information, please contact Don Berg.
In Our Prayers...
Rich Albrecht, Robert & Tracey Crary, Sylvia Eckl and Kim Zachary (Judy & Charley Hargreaves' daughter).
THURSDAY TOGETHER with Pastor Hall
Novmber 19 @ 10am
Join our community of faith for conversation around the gospel for the week. This is a thirty-minute Zoom dialogue with Pastor Hall based on the gospel. There is a short litany followed by the reading and open discussion on the text for the following Sunday's worship. It is a time to see faces and an opportunity to connect-up with members of Emmanuel.

Topic: Thursday's Together
Time: Thursday, November 19 @10:00am
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 923 5128 1523
Password: 999623
WELCA Thankoffering this weekend
Thankoffering weekend supports the ongoing ministries of the Emmanuel Women of the ELCA churchwide. Please consider giving generously to this year’s annual Thankoffering in gratitude for all God has given to us. Thankoffering envelopes will be in this week's worship folders. If you are not attending worship, you can mail your contribution to the office and mark for WELCA Thankoffering.
 
THE THANKOFFERING IS WELCA’s 
ONLY SOURCE OF INCOME 
Below are organizations that WELCA supports with one-half of the money received at services:
Luther Services of Florida ELCA 
Lutheran World Relief - Quilt and Kits 
Our Mother’s House - Venice 
SPARCC - Mission is to Stop Domestic Violence 
Farmworkers Self Help 
South County Food Pantry 
Selah Freedom Foundation 
Katie’s Fund - WELCA 
Coffee Talk - Venice 
The other half of our offering goes toward the National WELCA organization ministries churchwide.   

Donations collected at WELCA Gatherings and Events are designated for Pastor Lauvanus for his ministry in Haiti. Due to cancellations in 2020, it is unfortunate that these funds are not available.  Please continue to support Pastor Lauvanus and keep him and his family in your prayers.  
New on our Web page...
To find out what is happening at Emmanuel, go to the Events tab on the webpage to view the PowerPoint from worship. Check it out by clicking on the picture of the church at the top of every eNews!! You'll also see a slideshow of the Pet Blessing held on November 1st.
Items of note...
November is the month of Thankfulness!

The Fellowship Committee has planned a
“Picnic of Thanks”
For all members of Emmanuel
Thursday,
November 19, 2020
from 11:30 – 2:00
At Maxine Barritt Park
All are welcome to come and bring a chair and a bag lunch. We will socially distance and wear masks and just enjoy being thankful to be together.
Canned soda will be provided.
Hope to see you there.
Your Exec. Committee is very encouraged by the ongoing support of all our members during these difficult Covid-19 times.
Here are some recent numbers:

Attendance Numbers November 7th & 8th
In Sanctuary:
Saturday, 85
Sunday @8:30 -- 88; @10:00 -- 76; @11:00am--25

On-line as of 11/9/20:
Vimeo (through webpage): 133
Facebook live: 165

And our Treasurer, Ed Crary, provides the following financial summary: The church continues to be in a sound financial position. For the year, as of October 31st, income for the year is at $675,000 with a budget for $680,000. Expenses have been $630,000 with an expense budget of $680,000. We expect to finish 2020 with income slightly over budget. Thank you for your continuing financial and attendance support; in-person and/or via Facebook and our website. Let’s keep it going!

Remember to always wear your mask, social distance, stay out of large gatherings anywhere and sanitize your hands often. The rise in Florida and Sarasota County pandemic numbers is worrisome but we are able to remain open on a limited number, pre-registration only basis, because you have followed these guidelines. Please help us continue to safely gather together in the weeks ahead.

God bless, Executive Committee
During these uncertain and difficult times, if you know of someone who could use a special "Hug" to remind them that God is their comfort, we have prayer shawls to share. Contact Jadynne Berg at 612.723.3111.
Barb's Medical Minute
What cools down a drink faster, large or small ice cubes?  Ice does not directly transfer its cold to a surrounding liquid. Instead heat, or energy, is drawn from the water and used to melt the surface of the ice. Since a larger surface of ice means this happens quicker, small ice cubes are much more efficient than large cubes at cooling a liquid. To cool a drink, ice must melt, so smaller ice cubes chill faster than big because the more it melts, the colder the liquid gets. Mind Blown!
Outreach Emphasis for November
Who's VISION is to support all people to be recognized as equals at home and in their community.

Loveland Center provides life skills development programs that:
  • Promote daily life skills such as self-care and personal development;
  • Improve independent living skills such as money management, community access, and home management
  • Strengthen employment skills that can lead to building a successful career, thereby leading to increased independence and self-reliance.

Through each of Loveland's programs, individuals are educated and supported to live as independently as they can, as well as inspired and encouraged to become active members of their communities. Individuals, regardless of their abilities, can discover untapped potential, build self-confidence, and further develop skills that will last a lifetime.
Once again, Emmanuel is such a giving congregation stepping up to support another Outreach Project. The Blessing Bags were filled by 6 committee members on November 5th for The Center Of Hope and Coffee Talk.

The Outreach Committee truly appreciates your generosity. We were able to fill 90 bags. The 65 that were delivered to The Center Of Hope are being saved as a special Thanksgiving surprise for their clients.  
 
With grateful thanks,
Barbara McLauchlin, Project Chairperson
Please complete your T&T and Pledge Card now...
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!!
Readings for Worship
November 15th
WELCA Thankoffering
Zephaniah 1:7,12-18
Psalm 90:8-12
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
Matthew 25:14-30
November 22nd
Christ the King
Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24
Psalm 95:1-7a
Ephesians 1:15-23
Matthew 25:31-46
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 and Emmanuel's website. Thursdays Together with Pastor Hall is accessible through the Zoom link above. All previous worship services are also available by clicking on the Vimeo logo in the upper left corner of the posted video on the website.
Contact us at...
Emmanuel Contact Information
Cell Phone for Emergencies: 612.840.7798
Pastor Darrington: Visitation Pastor: 920.309.0879
Jason Kozee: Cell: 941.586.8066 facilitiesmanager@emmanuel-elca.org
Kelley Hurlburt: khurlburt@emmanuel-elca.org
Becky Rothgery: info@emmanuel-elca.org

Emmanuel Lutheran Church
790 Tamiami Trail S
Venice, FL 34285
info@emmanuel-elca.org
941.488.4942
Office Hours: M-Th,
8:30am-12noon
Closed Friday