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Immanuel Lutheran Church Spring 2016

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Dear Parishioners of Immanuel:As the hymn reminds us, another

forty-day season of Lent is upon us.Another forty days! Just as Israel in theOld Testament wandered in the

ilderness for forty years and our Lordesus Christ endured the temptations of

Satan for forty days in the wilderness,so now we, the new Israel, are in themidst of our perenial forty days of

Lent.The hymn, O Lord, Throughout

These Fory Days, is one hymn thatcan guide us as we begin our Lentenjourney. This particular hymn is a typeof prayer. It is based upon Jesussuccessful battle with Satan andtemptation in the wilderness. Since ourLord fought temptation and wassuccessful, we pray in the first stanzathat our Lord would inspire repentance

ithin us as we battle with daily

temptations. He who overcame Satan inthe wilderness also claimed victory overthe arch-enemy of God through hisdeath on the cross and rising from thedead. He has freed us from our pastand has the power to do so daily as wereturn to the promise of his forgivenessof sins granted to us in our baptisms.

In the second stanza of the hymne pray for the courage, skill, and trust

of Christ in Gods eternal Word. Wepray that he who overcame Satan andtemptation with the written Word ofGod would grant us the strength to dothe same, even as we gather to hear,study, learn, and inwardly digest hisWord.

In the third stanza we pray for Godto bring about godly contentment in hisWord and Will. We pray that God

ould help us seek not our own willand desires first and foremost, but that

e would trust firmly in him to meetour needs and be satisfied with hisprovision for our bodies and our souls.

Finally, in the fourth stanza wepray that God would continue to be

ith us, even as he has promised to beith us and to never leave or forsake

us.We pray that he would guide us

through our Lenten pilgrimage and our

season of preaching on our Lordspassion, penitential reflection, andcatechetical formation. We pray that he

ould guide us and be with us throughall our days. We pray that he do this so "that when the final Easter dawns and ourLord returns, we join in heavens praise." The sermon series that will guide usthrough our "forty days" this year is titled Places of the Passion. The Upper Room,the Garden of Gethsemane, the halls of Pontius Pilate, and the hill ofGolgothathese are among the places we remember when we meditate on ourLords Passion.

In our midweek Lenten series, we will read and contemplate Lukes accountof our Lords Passion. Each week, we will read a different section of the story;

and each week, Luke will take us to a different place, the places of the Passion.Plan to make these Lenten services part of your "forty days" this year.

Prepare to enter into these places of devotion, for there, your Lord will meet you.In Christ,Pastor LaFeve

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@3$.-#, @*#/6*'./5$What wonderful times we are

living in! The season of Lent is here,and I pray that it is for you a time ofreflection and meditation on the greatlove of God for us in sending Jesus,

his only Son, to death for theforgiveness of our sins.

Many things are going on rightnow in preparation for the neworgan. We have paid $40,000 of our$81,500 contract, so work isprogressing very well in their shop.Some pictures of that are includedbelow. Soon we are planning acongregational trip down to GrandRapids to see in person what is goingon with the project. I know, from a

mechanical and woodworkingperspective, that all this is fascinating.I would strongly suggest if you havean interest in this area, that you be a

part of the trip.The organ will probably be

installed now sometime betweenEaster and Memorial Day. Our firstprogram for the new organ is June

12, so it will definitely be installedbefore then!

We need three categories of helponce the organ builders arrive.

1. We need a congregationfamily or families to house the3 employees for the time thatthey are here-probably closeto 3 weeks. This wouldinclude providing thembreakfast.

2. We need someone (or a group

in the congregation) toprovide lunches during thetime they are working on theorgan.

3. We need all able-bodiedindividuals to help unload thetruck when they get here.

More details about all these itemsill be coming in the next two

months. I will be getting firm dates inthe next few weeks, hopefully, and I

ill pass on more information whene know for sure!

This is a very exciting time forour congregation, and Im sure it willbe something we all look back on in20 years and realize it as amonumental blessing from our Lord.Think of all the faithful stewards ofChrist who provided for thisinstrument to be installed in His

service as the Word of God andSacraments are properly administeredthrough worship and song.

Yours in Christ,Mark Peters, music director

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N*/%*/ I*':.-*$QPlaces of the PassionThe scenes of Lent are familiar. The Upper Room,

the Garden of Gethsemane, the halls of Pontius Pilate,and the hill of Golgothathese are the places we

remember when we meditate on our Lords Passion.

Yet when Jesus enters a place, He never leaves it as Hefound it. The most troubling places in our lives becomethe most amazing places of Gods grace when Jesus

visits them.For this reason, in our midweek Lenten series, we

will read and contemplate Lukes account of ourLords Passion. Each week, we will read a different

section of the story, and each week, Luke will take usto a different place, the places of the Passion.

Our focus, however, will not be on these physicalplaces. Instead, we will gaze in wonder on the spiritual

work that our Lord does there. Jesus will share Hisstrength in our times of weakness. He will fill us with

His praise in the midst of our sorrow. Week after week,we will enter the places of the Passion only to discover

our Lord . . . waiting for us . . . willing to share with usa love that was set in place before the foundations ofthe world.

Plan to come to our Lenten services this year.Prepare to enter into these places of devotion, for there,

your Lord will meet you, sharing with you Hiswondrous love that saves a fallen world.

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row. The Hindu priest leads an elephant down the street and it is believed that, ifthe elephant "god" puts his trunk into your pongal pot and eats the pongal, youwould receive a special blessing.

Thank you, everyone, for your prayers and support. It is a blessing to me aswell as to the people here. Remember, "actions speak louder than words", so,whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.--Harry E. Steffens

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Trustees Report:The trustees are continuing to try tokeep up with the maintenance ofthe church property. We feel like weare "caught up". The water has beentested again. We are still waiting for

Consumers Power to do an energyaudit of our church to see how wecan save on our electricity usage.The new steps are working well.Thanks Craig and Chris. The lesssalt we use on them the betterbecause of the new cement.

There are some things to thinkabout for the future. We will need anew roof on the Net and Sundayrooms in the not to distant future.The tree on the east side of thechurch will be coming down. A new

railing on the wall on the west endby the garage should be installed.

The next big project will bethe installation of the organ. We arewaiting for the plans so we can dothe prep work to get ready forinstallation. We know we have torun a new electrical circuit to thebalcony, so that will be done soon.

We just want to let thecongregation know that LakeLeelanau Excavating donated all the

time when they did the excavationwork on the new steps. A thank youletter has been sent. That was alarge donation so if you see anyonefrom that company, give them aword of thanks too.

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