CANCEL CHRISTMAS?! No way! “The light [of God, Christ Jesus our Lord] shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” (John 1:5)
No, we will not gather at church this Christmas season, but we can and, I exhort you, will gather as church.
For those with internet access,by Noon on Christmas Eve, three services will be available:
A kid-friendly worship service
A candlelight worship service
A synod-wide worship service (for our Northern Great Lakes Synod of the ELCA)
At www.ImmanuelNegaunee.org, look for the “Worship at Home” button or the “Worship” pull-down menu.
For anyone with a TV, the synod-wide worship service will air as follows:
Christmas Eve Christmas Day WLUC: 4-5 pm ET FOX-UP: 9-10 am ET FOX-UP: 7-8 pm ET WLUC: 12-1 pm ET
For anyone without internet access that wishes to gain access to our Immanuel online services, please call the church office to be included in our new tablet lending library ministry. Worship recordings can be uploaded weekly to these simple-to-use smart-devices for viewing and participation at home.
As we continue amidst COVID-19 threat, we praise God for vaccines and currently decreasing local COVID numbers. To help further this trend, especially at a time when our local hospital censuses remain extremely high, Immanuel’s council has decided to NOT hold in-person worship services or meetings at least through January. During this time, our online gatherings will continue. Thank you for your patience. God grant us rich supply of everything needed for these days. Remember who you are and Whose you are in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Blessed Christmas!
Pastor Steve Solberg
“But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12-13)
November 18, 2020
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
I thank God for you and pray that God’s Word of love, peace and hope lights your way through these difficult days of pandemic. COVID-19 is in our midst, touching us through family, friends, neighbors, co-workers and, perhaps, even in our own bodies, but God is here and holds us.
As council met last night, the decision was made to continue refraining from in-person worship and small groups through the end of December. Offerings of worship, Bible studies, meetings and other resources will continue online through our church website.
In addition, a set of four easy-to-use computer tablets have been purchased through a generous synod grant for use in a lending library that can share our worship videos and more with those who do not have internet access. Please call the church office if you are interested in making use of one of these tablets, are interested in helping with distribution and pick-up, or have an old tablet that can be donated to this ministry effort.
We’re also in process of organizing a phone tree for checking in by phone with you. Please let the office know if you’d like to be a part of making these phone calls.
As Immanuel, our ministries continue despite not being able to exercise the privilege of in-person gatherings and fellowship. Thank you for your continued financial, time, talent, and prayer participation. We could not continue our ministries without each other’s support, offering ourselves to God, each other and the world! Also, thank you for your offering of Estimate of Financial Giving and Time & Talent for 2021. If you have not yet done so, I invite you to use the online forms at https://immanuelnegaunee.weebly.com/stewardship-commitment.html or by calling the church office. You truly bless all of us as Immanuel and more through this sharing. Thank you! God’s Word Lights Our Way!
Videos of worship services and other resources will be posted by 9:30 am Sundays. From our homepage (www.ImmanuelNegaunee.org), simply click on the “WORSHIP AT HOME” button to find the current and past worship offerings and use the online “CONNECTION CARD” to stay in touch. I invite you to have bread and wine or grape juice present at home that we might together celebrate Holy Communion. Jesus holds us as one across space and time. IF you don’t have internet access, I invite you to contact the church office for participation in our new computer tablet loaning library ministry.
NOTE: Special worship service videos for Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve are also being prepared and will be made available through the connections above.
Following each Sunday service, I’ll have a Zoom meeting room open for fellowship time should you wish to join with others in conversation and mutual support. Look for the “COFFEE HOUR” button to access this. You can even participate with a normal phone. Please call the church office for instructions.
Two Bible Studies are presently taking place each week via Zoom. For instructions, click on the appropriate buttons on our homepage or participate by phone. Whether you wish to share or just listen, I invite you to…
Bible Study on the upcoming Sunday’s Scripture on Wednesdays at 10:00 am
Bible Study on Thursdays 6:00 pm presently working with “The Four-Gospel Journey” (videos and reflection questions are posted following each session for those unable to join live)
Excellent Sunday School, Confirmation, devotional, and other home faith resources are available through our church website under the “GROW” pulldown menu. Hard copies of the 2021 Daily Texts will also soon be available from the church office.
Our synod’s many resources include…
Lifelong Faith Formation (formerly Lay School of Ministry) winter semester 2021 offerings. Please check out the enclosed flyer and register to participate.
A Synod-Wide Christmas Eve Worship Broadcast that will be televised on WLUC and FOX-UP! The tentative days and times are Christmas Eve (WLUC: 4-5 pm ET; FOX-UP: 7-8 pm ET) and Christmas Day (WLUC: 12-1 pm ET; FOX-UP: 9-10 am ET)
AS IMMANUEL WE GIVE OURSELVES TO ONE ANOTHER AND THE WORLD:
Thank you for continuing to financially support our shared ministries. Make your offerings by:
Mailing your offering check to the church office.
Use your debit/credit card or checking/savings accounts to donate via VANCO to our General Fund, Building Fund, Monthly Mission Emphasis, and other special offerings by....
Clicking on the “GIVE TO IMMANUEL” button at the bottom of each page in our church website.
Downloading the GIVEPLUS mobile app onto your smartphone, designating Immanuel as the recipient
Calling VANCO at (800) 675-7430 ext. 1 with your payment information, designating Immanuel as the recipient
Request a VANCO giving paper form from the church office at (906) 475-9161