Week of March 28 eNews -- Emmanuel Lutheran Church

Emmanuel Lutheran Church eNews

Palm Sunday

Week of March 28, 2021

In this week's eNews...

March 30 @ 10am: Torah Tuesdays w/Donna Batchelor
April 1: Thursdays Together cancelled for this week only
April 1 @ 5pm: Maundy Thursday Service
April 2 @ 5pm: Good Friday Service
April 3/4: Easter Worship Services
Holy Week and Easter Worship Registration now available.
Signup is now open for Altar Flowers and Eternal Candle dedication for April-June of 2021 through the links below or contact the church office.
Thank you to Jan Quinn for making the palm crosses for this weekend. You may pick one up as you exit worship.
The office will not have regular hours next week. If you need to come to the office, please call ahead to see if someone is there. We will be monitoring email from home and checking phone messages periodically. Thanks in advance for your understanding and your patience.

Have a blessed Holy Week and Easter weekend.

Correction: There was an error made that did not allow you to signup for both the Maundy Thursday and Good Friday worships. That error has been corrected and you may now signup for one or both.

Registration Information

You may also register for this coming weekend as well as next weekend through our website www.emmanuel-elca.org.
When you register for worship and find your preferred service is full, you might want to check the 11am worship for room!!
If you need to edit or cancel your registration, use the links provided in the email confirmation you received when registering.

Additional Holy Week Information:

Saturday worship will NOT be the Easter Vigil as in past years.
Sunday, 7:30am, will be an Easter Sunrise Service.
All services will have special music.
On Sunday, you may attend virtually via Facebook Live at 10:00am or watch the 7:30am Sunrise Service and 8:30am Easter Service at any time after 11:00am on Sunday via our webpage.
For everyone’s well-being, all safety protocols will continue to be followed. Registration for Easter worship services will be available in an upcoming eNews and via Flocknote texts.

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.
Limited seating is available in the balcony. Please wait for an usher to escort you. The seats in the back of the sanctuary should only be used when the pews are "full".
Please do not stop and visit 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.

Easter is Just Around the Corner

During our Lenten journey this year, our weekly speakers used the murals designed by Pr. Paul Oman and painted by church members to illustrate “being the family of God.” Now we turn our focus to the events of Holy Week that represent both an ending and a glorious new beginning!

We are delighted that, with the continued rollout of the Covid vaccine, we were able to increase our capacity at services to 100 worshipers in time for our upcoming Holy Week services, including five for Easter itself. In addition, after careful consideration and research, it has been decided that it is now safe for us to sing with masks on at our worship services, beginning with the Easter Sunday service on Sat., April 3, at 5:00 p.m.

We appreciate everyone’s patience during this difficult time and your understanding that safety has always been a top priority. We are hopeful that the coming months will allow us to begin moving closer to usual worship practices while still maintaining appropriate safety protocols.

Women’s History Month brings a focus and awareness to the contributions women have made, and continue to make, in our society. Emmanuel women serve in many leadership and support roles at church and in our community. Women’s History Month provides the perfect opportunity to say, “Thank you for making a difference.”

As the WELCA President, I thank the following board members for their role and commitment in furthering the mission of the Women of the ELCA: Kathie Winemiller, Nancy Bollers, Judy Daniels, Jan Quinn, Birdie Clark, Pat Crary, Jadynne Berg, Jackie Miller, Judi Johnson, and Anita Kramer.

We are inspired by another Lutheran woman, Katharina von Bora Luther, “a bold woman of faith.” The Women of the ELCA established the ministry, “Katie’s Fund,” to honor her legacy. Katie’s Fund supports ministry in three key areas: leadership development, global connections, and theology. These three areas are central to the life of WELCA.

God bless,

Dr. Marlyce Holbach. WELCA President

Upcoming Events and Opportunities

Do you enjoy making sure others are well fed? Can you make lunches once a month? The Coffee Talk ministry brings bag lunches each Tuesday and Thursday to homeless people at the Venice Train Depot. We need a few more volunteers who will prepare lunches and drop them off for some of Venice’s neediest residents. Email Pat Moser (psmos2@aol.com) or leave a message for her at 941-493-3541.

See the Torah Tuesday Video Showcase - Click Here

In Our Prayers...

Katy Carlise, Davis Darrington, Ralph Moreland, Beverly Samuelson and Tom Wyneken.

God's Blessings to Joan Evans as she prepares to move to Lancaster PA at the end of April and to Don and Carol Kvarnberg as they move to Michigan.

Barb's Medical Minute

I can’t believe I am saying this, but...vacuuming regularly with a well-maintained appliance can benefit your health. UGH! This time of year especially because of all the pollen and allergies, it should be a weekly event. The best type of vacuum if you have allergies is a bag model. Replacing the bag lets less dust back into the air than emptying a dustbin like a lot of stick models and cordless have. Don’t let the bag or bin get overstuffed no matter which kind you have. Vacuum to breathe and feel better!!

April thru June Now Available!

Click the links below to reserve your date to remember or honor a loved one or a special event by sponsoring the Altar Flowers or Eternal Candle for April-June. 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.

Altar Flowers April-June

Eternal Candle April-June

Readings for This Week

March 28th

Palm Sunday

Isaiah 50:4-9a

Psalm 31:9-16

Philippians 2:5-11

Mark: 11:1-11

April 1

Maundy Thursday

Exodus 12:1-14

Psalm 116:1-2,12-19

I Cor 11:23-26

John 13:1-17,31b-35

April 2

Good Friday

Isaiah 52:13 - 53:12

Psalm 22

Hebrews 10:16-25

John 18:1 - 19:42

April 4

Easter Sunday

Acts 10:34-43

Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24

I Cor 15:1-11

Mark 16:1-8

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 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.

Check out Emmanuel's website on the Events page to view upcoming events, Sunday's announcement PowerPoint, and pictures of recent activities as available.