Connecting at ELC
for December 6, 2020
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Greetings from Pastor Mark |
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Brothers and Sisters in the Christ of Christmas,
The Second Sunday in Advent, December 6th as a time of further preparations for Christmas will continue “The Jesse Tree” Sermon Series with the message, “The Tree has Fruit.” Please read the entire Book of Ruth, with special emphasis on Ruth 1:15-18 and 4:18-20, to ready yourselves for this Sunday’s message. As the expression, “the fruit of the womb,” is used for the birth of a child or children, God in His sovereign will blesses Ruth not only with her husband, Boaz, but the two of them are blessed with a son named, Obed. As the Book of Ruth ends we’ll have our first introduction in Holy Scripture to the person of Jesse as Chapter 4, Verse 22 states, “Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David.”
We want to share that there are hard copy “The Jesse Tree” devotionals available for distribution to co-workers, family, friends, or neighbors and that the ELC website has posted the daily devotional too. We’re once again blessed to have the members of ELC write this year’s Advent Devotional, especially the many women of our congregation who provided their inspirational thoughts.
On a very personal note, my wife, Carole and I, want to tell the entire congregation a huge word of thanks for the wonderful outpouring of gifts for this year’s Pastor Appreciation Month. The cards, gift cards, financial gifts, and donations made to the Concordia Retirement Fund on our behalf were all greatly appreciated. In these times of facing the pandemic, I know, personally, that I am one of the most blessed pastors serving in the ministry through the love, care and concern of this wonderful Church Family!!
We’ve refreshed many of the links for this week’s “Connecting at ELC,” so please be sure to click on any of interest to you, especially the link for the Christmas Eve Holy Communion news and the “Celebrations of November.”
Your Brother in Christ,
Pastor Mark
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Christmas Eve and Day Holy Communion
The Pastor, Elders, and the ELC Worship Ministry Team want to make everyone aware that the Christmas Eve 5:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m., and 9:00 p.m. and Christmas Day 9:30 a.m. reception of Holy Communion will happen by communicants sharing in pre-packaged communion sets while seated in their pews, rather than gathering around the ELC sanctuary altar.
This decision is made based on the increased amount of work for the ELC Altar Guild to prepare for 4 Services on Christmas Eve and Day, the anticipated number of Christmas Eve worshipers, and assuring that all communicants have a socially-distanced, safe, worship experience. Final details are being developed by the Elder Ministry Team for an orderly distribution of the pre-packaged communion sets.
We are reminding and reassuring everyone that the benefits and blessings of Holy Communion received through the Body and Blood of Jesus in, with, and under the bread and wine is fully experienced by each communicant as we share the Words of Institution to consecrate the elements. We’ll share in this special moment with all worshipers as together we’ll be encouraged to “Take eat and drink the true Body and Blood of the Christ Jesus, the Babe of Bethlehem, who died and rose to bring us the forgiveness of sins.”
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SUNDAY WORSHIP
LIVE-STREAM
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Click the photo above to go directly to our Live Stream page. You can pull up the Live Stream on your phone, tablet or computer! Worship wherever you are!
Sundays at 8:00 am & 11:00 am
Worship at home or here at Emmanuel!
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Click the photo link above to be connected to our online giving!
We have multiple giving options available!
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Connection Card
If you attended or watched the live stream or the recording of our service, please make sure that you fill out the digital Connection Card so that we know you worshiped with us. Stay Connected with Us. Click our Logo on the right to be taken directly to the Connection Card.
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Bulletins, Prayer List, & Sermon Notes
Digital versions of the bulletins, prayers, and sermon notes are provided here as printed bulletins are not available for distribution prior to worship services. Please feel free to print out copies to bring to services or view the digital versions from your phone or tablet during the service. All service materials are also available to be viewed on the in-service slides.
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Altar Flowers
If you wish to honor a special occasion or remember a loved one with a bouquet for the Altar, the sign-up book for Altar Flowers is located at the Connection Center. Suggested donations for floral bouquets are $25.00.
If you do request Altar Flowers, please make sure to have them picked up by Monday afternoon to make sure that the flowers still look beautiful!
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Mid-Week Advent Services
Due to recent public health advisories, Advent Services will be
online only, and will be broadcast at noon and 7pm each
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Christmas Eve Candlelight & Communion Services
December 24th - 5:00 pm , 7:00 pm, 9:00 pm
Christmas Day Service
December 25th - 9:30 am
For our Christmas Eve Services, due to public health restrictions, we have created a "Reservation System" for each of the three services. Use the links below to reserve your spots. We will be monitoring the planned attendance numbers closely, and when we near capacity for a given service, we will disable the form for that service.
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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY!
The second pickup date for SOUPS ’n SWEETS is next
Saturday, December 12. We are in need of four volunteers
(a family unit if possible) to come and help with orders being picked up.
One adult for the front door and two younger folks to take the orders
from the kitchen to the customers waiting at the new north entrance.
Hours are from 10-2. Please contact Christine Tripp (937–312–5356)
if you are interested.
It’ll be fun!
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Connection Group Opportunity:
"Highlighting Jesus"
How will my neighbors know that for me, for my household… CHRIST is the most important part of Christmas?
- Send Christmas cards
- Deliver a small treat or gift
- Stop during a walk to chat outside for a few minutes
- Display an outside nativity or nativity flag
- Wish "Merry Christmas" by phone
Spirit of CHRIST, impel us to follow the examples of the shepherds who visited Jesus, Mary, and Joseph after the angels announcement - "When they had seen Him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child." Luke 2:17
Let us know the ways YOU are connecting with neighbors! Send to Randy Holdeman, ELC Director of Connection Groups, rholdeman@emmanuellc.org.
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HEY KINGDOM KIDZ!!
We’ve been having a great time at our Family Style Classes and are excited to have some in-person events come back into the mix. Join us every Sunday Morning in the Fellowship Hall!
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Not Too Late to Join in on the
Adult Discipleship Class !!
You can tune in via LiveStream after the 8am service, or come in person! Bob Forsberg continues with the class he started earlier this year on Exodus through Leviticus. Class is held in the sanctuary.
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Poinsettia Plant for our
Christmas Altar!
Visit our online form and order a poinsettia plant to decorate our Christmas Altar! Plants are $10 each, and we have a small window of opportunity to get them ordered, so act fast! Orders will be taken now through Dec 13!
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Attendance Report for Sunday, November 29th |
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8 am Worship Service
In Person - 74
Online - 110
Adult Discipleship Class
In Person - 21
Online - 68
Senior High Sunday School
In Person - 8
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11 am Worship Service
In Person - 64
Online - 84
Junior High (Confirmation Class)
In Person - 3
Online - 13
Kingdom Kidz Sunday School
In Person - 22
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Attendance Report for Wednesday, November 25 (Thanksgiving Eve Service)
In Person - 45
Online - 97
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Please note that Kathy Earley is now providing the DVD copies of the services. Requests should be made directly to her. As of now only the 8:00 am service is being recorded. Please contact Dave Malas with any special requests. |
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For all those who have answered the call for volunteers,
we appreciate your willingness to serve.
However,
WE ARE STILL IN NEED OF VOLUNTEERS!
Volunteer staffing for services is an important part of worship on Sunday mornings. We have volunteer needs in many areas and would ask for congregants who have returned to in-person worship to prayerfully consider serving one Sunday per month. Volunteers are most critically needed on the 11:00 service Worship team, but also as Ushers, Greeters, Cantors, Lectors, and at the Connection Center for both services.
Please contact Pastor Mark, Randy Holdeman, or John Cross in the church office at 937-434-1798 or office@emmanuellc.org.
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Altar flowers for this Sunday, December 6,
are given to help us remember God's grace and
love, asking Him to prepare our hearts as He
prepared all of history to receive the gift of His Son.
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"Life Quote" for 12-6-2020
“This Christmas, let us continue to pray for mothers who are afraid and aren’t sure where to turn when they discover they are unexpectedly pregnant. Let us pray that, like Mary, they may find the courage to bring life into the world.”
Right to Life of Michigan
A Life Quote from Lutherans For Life • www.lutheransforlife.org
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Emmanuel Lutheran Church | 937-434-1798 | emmanuellc.org
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