Palm Sunday



Holy Week will begin with Palm Sunday on Sunday, April 2nd. There will be palms for everyone and the Sunday School children will have a palm parade at the beginning of the 10:30 worship service.

Lent began with Ash Wednesday on February 22nd. The imposition of ashes was a part of this service. The confirmation students attended with their mentors and shared a faith talk with their mentors following the service.

The soup suppers began on Wednesday, March 1st. These will continue each Wednesday through March 29th. These suppers are at 6:00pm on Wednesdays followed by the worship service at 6:45.

Greetings ILC Families! Spring Is coming! Well…someday...maybe…ugh! 

In Children’s Ministry, we began a new unit in Sunday School covering The Armor of God. We spent that last couple of months learning about the Ten Commandments, and continue to enjoy our curriculum from Group Publishing titled “Dig In”. It’s a very customizable curriculum, which allows us to pick and choose what works well for us in our classrooms and time, as well as age appropriate material. Speaking of classrooms, you will find that our Nursery room is now being occupied on Sundays by BOTH nursery aged children, and our pre-k through 3^rd grade students. We are trying different ways to utilize our limited spaces, to see what works best. 

Calling all 5^th graders! It’s time to learn and celebrate First Communion. Learning sessions for caregivers and students will be held two Sundays prior to Maundy Thursday. Sunday March 26^th following 10:30 service, as well as Sunday April 2^nd, following 10:30 service. Celebration of First Communion will be held on Thursday, April 6^th during the evening service. 

VBS will be here before we know it! Do you enjoy being creative, and having fun? Then we need YOU to join the VBS Decoration Dream Team! This year has an outer space theme, and so the possibilities for amazing decorations are endless! Contact Jill DeCent to voice your interest!

In Youth Ministry, confirmation students transitioned to Lent Season programming. Each student selected an adult to become their Faith Mentor, and meet each Wednesday following the evening service. Mentors and students are also encouraged to enjoy soup supper together, as well as the evening service. This is an excellent opportunity for each youth to form a positive, lasting, and faith forming relationship with an adult. The hope and prayer is that these relationships are carried through years to come!

I am lifting up many prayers, as to how as a church, we can continue to support families as a whole. We have been given some great ideas following a meeting with Mark Holmen, Leader of the “Faith at Home” movement. We hope to form a strategy that will begin to lead us to being a “Faith at Home” church. Where can we meet families where they are, as well as support faith formation at home, as well as overall mental well-being? 

God is so good. I feel truly blessed each day that I have been hand picked by the heavenly father to be here, in this position. God does not call the equipped, he equips the called! 

Members of Immanuel's youth group helped prepare the Crosby Food Shelf for painting on February 15th by moving food and furniture to a semi trailer. After everything was moved Mark Carlson spent some time explaining to the youth what the food shelf does.

The Hallelujah Bell choir has had some weather and vacation interruptions recently but are continuing to gather to praise God through music. Our next Sunday to perform is April 9th, Easter!

An attempt was made to revive the Chapel Chimers but at this time busy schedules have limited participation. We will try again in the future!

As always, we are always looking for new ringers, old ringers, and even "retired" ringers - the more the merrier!!!

The Meal With A Mission on February 19th benefited Immanuel's Youth. The funds raised will be used for camp and retreats for the youth.

The March Meal With A Mission will be on March 26th will benefit Cuyuna Lakes Lunch Bunch which is the program that provides lunches for school children during the summer. Note the date change for this event.

Our event this year will be on Sunday, August 20th at the Bridge Tavern. The band will be Wyld Ryce. Would you like to be on the planning committee this year? Contact Pastor Paul or Terri Wisniak. 

Last year we asked for volunteers to solicit businesses for silent auction items. That worked out well so we will be doing that again. If you have been crafting during our long winter and have something you would like to donate, let us know. 

This event is how we help feed and educate the orphans in Kanyenyeva, Malawi. Check out the progress reports from the project. They are on our website under Ministries. Remember how it all started? We became members of MOCP and helped finance the building of a well and now the project has blossomed. To God be the glory. 



Souper Bowl Sunday was February 12th. This is the Sunday designated for Immanuel members and friends to donate to the Crosby Food Shelf. Soup kettles are provided for the donations. This year $1,024 was donated.