Week of January 24th eNews -- Emmanuel Lutheran Church

Week of January 24, 2021

Third Sunday after Epiphany

In this week's eNews...

January 24th @11:45am: New Member Orientation
January 26th @ 1pm: "Between the World & Me" book study
January 28th @ 10am: Thursdays Together with Pastor Hall
January 28th @1pm: Revelation Bible Study
January 31st @ 11:45am: Annual Congregational Meeting
February 5th & 9th: LWR Quilt/Care Kit drop-off at Emmanuel
Signup is now open for Altar Flowers and Eternal Candle dedication for Jan-Mar of 2021 through the links below or contact the church office.

Registration Information

When you register for worship and find your preferred service is full, please contact the office. Note: The 11am worship always has room for more!!

Click Here to Register For Next Weekend's Worship - January 30/31

January 31, 2021

Mark your calendars for the annual congregational meeting on Sunday, January 31st at 11:45am in the sanctuary. This will be a hybrid meeting (both in person and Zoom). The meeting is open to all members, although only full and seasonal members may participate in the voting.

If you will be attending in person, please register below:

Click Here to register for in-person Annual Meeting

If you'd like to join the meeting via Zoom - click the link below on Sunday, January 31st. The meeting begins at 11:45am.

https://zoom.us/j/98029489637?pwd=RFg2NExpNWhoSXVuZmVURFNHNFdBUT09

If the link does not work for you, you may enter the meeting ID and password below:

Meeting ID: 980 2948 9637

Passcode: 384324

THIS SUNDAY, January 24th

at 11:45am in the Sanctuary.

Anyone wishing to join Emmanuel's Church Family is Welcome!!!

Check out the Narthex bulletin board next weekend so you can welcome our new members while socially distancing!

Please DO NOT leave food outside the office or at church

Food donations for the South County Food Pantry should be taken directly to the South County Food Pantry located at 121 Warfield Avenue, Venice. The church is not collecting on a regular basis at this time. Their website states their hours vary so call before you go! 941.408.2911.

Thursdays Together with Pastor Hall

January 28th at 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, January 28th @10:00am

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/92351281523?pwd=Q0FMOGFxSUNnUFhpZzBQdHF6RW03Zz09

Meeting ID: 923 5128 1523

Passcode: 999623

In Our Prayers...

Marcia Hatteberg, Bernie Mauer, Bill Pitman (Debi Hammett's father), and Jim Szyman.

The family and friends of:

Eva Ballard who passed away January 10th in Texas. Private memorial services will be held in Venice at a later date.
Ken & Carolyn Ruble, who's daughter, Lisa, passed away.
Don & Irene O'Connell, who's son, Brian, passed away January 15th.

January Outreach Emphasis

Building communities, strengthening lives.

Family Promise of Sarasota is a nonprofit, non-denominational organization affiliated with National Family Promise, which was founded in 1986. We provide shelter, meals, and support to homeless children and their families. We initiate coordinated local efforts that bring communities together to help homeless families regain their housing, their independence, and their dignity. We envision a nation in which every family has a home, a livelihood, and a chance to build a better future.

Remember or Honor a Loved One

There are several dates open!! Sign-up to dedicate Altar Flowers and the Eternal Candle for the First Quarter of 2021 (Jan-Mar) is now available online by clicking the links below. Once you have reserved your date, please submit your dedication with payment no later than 2 weeks prior to your reserved date. If you have any questions or are unable to sign-up online, contact the office.

Jan-Mar Eternal Candle

Jan-Mar Altar Flowers

Are you, like us, looking forward to Lent and Easter? While some aspects will be different this year, the Worship & Music Committee is already making plans to provide meaningful, yet safe, services for the upcoming Lenten season and Holy Week.

Ash Wednesday worship will be held in person at 5:00 p.m. on February 17. In order to follow the in-person worship safety protocols, there will be no imposition of ashes this year.
Mid-week Lenten worship services will be held in the sanctuary at 5:00 p.m. Wednesdays in Lent from February 24 through March 24. The theme is “Family of God” and will feature messages based on the completed murals. As a safety precaution, there will not be a fellowship activity following worship this year.

For those of you attending worship virtually, remember that you may pick up consecrated communion elements at the office from 8:30 a.m. – noon, Monday through Thursday. Thank you to all of our in-person worshipers for your patience and perseverance in following the safety protocols of registration, hand sanitization, masks, refraining from singing, and social distancing.

Attending in-person worship? We are in need of ushers for all services. If you are interested, please email the office and we will forward your information to the appropriate usher captain. Please include which service you are available. Thank you for your consideration.

Supporting Our WELCA Sisters and Others When We Can’t Meet Together

February, with its celebration of Valentine’s Day, provides us with a perfect time to spread the unconditional love of God and lift the spirits of our WELCA sisters and others. We can embrace the opportunities God has given us to support one another. Women of the ELCA (WELCA) have many possibilities for building relationships, offering support, and reflecting God’s love in our lives.

We can be a blessing to our WELCA sisters, family, friends, and neighbors. With each passing day, it is apparent that it may be many weeks before we can gather together again in groups. During this time of separation it’s essential we stay connected. There are numerous ways to serve and encourage others from a distance. The following, “Random Acts of Kindness,” list may be all we need to prompt us into action. Our kindness will brighten someone’s day, and also enrich ours.

Social Distancing Random Acts of Kindness May Our Compassionate Hearts and Kindness Bring Others to Jesus

· Pray for one another

· Call a friend and enjoy catching up

· Send a Valentine

· Send a ‘thinking of you’ card or letter

· Message or email a friend

· Take a meal or treat to a friend

· Greet/wave to your neighbors

· Pick up groceries for a friend needing help

· Donate food to our local food pantry

· Thank those who offer a service

· Donate to Coffee Talk, or other WELCA outreach

· Your Ideas – limitless!

"Dear children, let us not love with words or speech, but with actions and truth." 1 John 3:18

God bless, Dr. Marlyce Holbach. President

Telephone Triage Communication: The Importance of keeping in touch with our congregation.

The Church Council has approved for Emmanuel to roll out its new telephone triage communication plan to touch base with you. 41 Team Leaders have been selected and each have approximately 12-13 members of the congregation names on their list. The concept as a caring church community is to briefly talk with you to see how you are doing and just to let you know we care about you. These telephone contacts may be quarterly or more depending on concerns you may have, or because of the pandemic, and or for information the Pastor or Council wants to relay to you. Don’t expect a call right away, your Team Leader maybe busy and has planned his schedule very differently from another Team Leader. However, if you have not been contacted within six months, please let Barbara Spenks know so she can check it out. Remember this is just a brief hello just to let you know we care about you.

Volunteers Needed!

Lutheran World Relief Quilt Distribution

Emmanuel Lutheran is once again the gathering church for all the quilts made by congregations in our area to benefit Lutheran World Relief. We are in need of able bodied volunteers to help unload (February 5th) from 9am-3pm and reload (February 9th) from 8am-10am in Fellowship Hall. Sign ups are available via FlockNote by clicking the date you'd like to volunteer above. Sign up for as many time slots as you'd like-all help is welcomed! If you have any questions, please call Samantha Schnittker at 630.209.2518.

Barb's Medical Minute

January Events

A four-week Zoom discussion based on the book “Between the World and Me” by Ta-Nehisi Coates will begin this Tuesday, January 26, 2021 from 1-2pm. This autobiographical book explores the “place” of American black men and women, as influenced by past and current issues. The Zoom link and pages to read will be emailed a week before each session. There are numerous copies of this book in the Sarasota library system, including audio editions, and it is available for kindle, in paperback and hardcover. To participate please contact Kathy Anderson (ktanders55@yahoo.com).

Study of Revelation

Thursday, January 28th - join us!

A Bible study on the book of Revelation started on January 21 from 1-2 pm but you can still join us on Zoom. It is based on the book “ You Can Understand the Book of Revelation” by Pastor Skip Heitzig. If you have any questions about how to use Zoom or any other questions, or if you want to sign up for the class and receive lesson materials, call or text Judi Johnson at 616-299-0759. You can also email her at judiajohn@aol.com.

"Energized Knitters"

A special THANK YOU to all who have been busy knitting beautiful shawls at home to support our ministry. We brought 10 prayers shawls to the Florida Cancer Center to give our support to those receiving treatment. We also appreciated a wonderful supply of yarn from Millie Myers to keep our needles busy.

I have needles, patterns and yarn available and a supply of shawls for all who need that extra warm love of God. Feel free to contact me for any supplies.

Blessings and stay safe and healthy.

Jadynne Berg

Readings for This Week

January 24th

3rd Sunday after Epiphany

Jonah 3:1-5,10

Psalm 62:5-12

1 Corinthians 7:29-31

Mark 1:14-20

January 31st

4th Sunday after Epiphany

Deuteronomy 18:15-20

Psalm 111

1 Corinthians 8:1-13

Mark 1:21-28

Remember these guidelines when coming to worship:

6 feet social distancing requirements - do not crowd pews.
Remember to wear a mask with nose and mouth covered 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!!! Also, please silence your cell phone out of consideration for all worshippers.

For your information...

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.

Although the news is improving in the COVID numbers in the area, the Executive Committee has extended the cancellation of all non-worship activities through February 2nd. The Executive Committee will re-evaluate at that time.

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 posted after 8:30am to the website and the 10am service is live-streamed on FaceBook. Thursdays Together with Pastor Hall is accessible through the Zoom link above. All previous worship services are also available through our website by clicking on the Vimeo logo in the upper left corner of the posted video on the website.