The family of Immanuel Lutheran Church welcomes you. We hope that you will Worship with us often. IMMANUEL EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH 3184 Church Street, P.O. Box 739 Manchester, Maryland THE REV. CHRISTOPHER S. LITTON Interim Pastor “A Stephen Ministry Congregation” Our mission as disciples of Jesus, is to commit ourselves to making Christ known through worship, service, outreach, learning, and loving one another Sunday, March 1, 2015 Second Sunday in Lent A SPECIAL WELCOME TO OUR GUESTS! Immanuel welcomes you to our worship today. We hope that you will feel a warm sense of welcome. If you are without a church home, we invite you to become a part of the ministry of Immanuel. Please complete the Friendship Pad (the red registration booklet) found at each center row pew. Small children are always welcome at worship. However, a nursery is provided for families with young children, infant to preschool, in the education building for your convenience. The Head Usher is here to assist you at any time during the service. September through May, Sunday school classes are offered for children 2 years of age through adult. We welcome you to join our program! Contact the church office or if classes are in session, simply stop by a classroom when you are here. Classes are at 10:15am, following the Sunday service. Please join us!! Visit website for more information: www.immanuellutheranccmd.org. *Cell Phone Reminder Announcement: Please either turn off or silence your device during our service. Thank you. WORSHIP ASSISTANTS Sun, March 1 Sat, Feb 28 Lent 2 Lent 2 Head Usher Skip Nickels Head Usher Greeter Mary Ayers Altar Guild Lector Offering Ushers Communion Linda Black Fred Ayers Mary Ayers Linda Black Greeters Lector Offering Ushers Communion Acolytes Pray w Pastor Bell Ringer 2 Bart Walder Dawn Burris Steve Burris Connie Dattilio John Popp Barbara Guthrie Maripat Luntz Linda Schmidt Ron Schmidt Sandy Voight Frank Burnette Susan Burnette Jo Fleck Joe Fleck Jared Patterson Justin Patterson Christine Crouch Frank Burnette PRAYER OF THE DAY O God, by the passion of your blessed Son you made an instrument of shameful death to be for us the means of life. Grant us so to glory in the cross of Christ that we may gladly suffer shame and loss for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. FIRST READING A reading from Genesis. Genesis 17:1–7, 15–16 As with Noah, God makes an everlasting covenant with Abraham and Sarah. God promises this old couple that they will be the ancestors of nations, though they have no child together. God will miraculously bring forth new life from Sarah's old womb. The name changes emphasize the firmness of God's promise. When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said to him, "I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless. 2And I will make my covenant between me and you, and will make you exceedingly numerous." 3Then Abram fell on his face; and God said to him, 4"As for me, this is my covenant with you: You shall be the ancestor of a multitude of nations. 5No longer shall your name be Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you the ancestor of a multitude of nations. 6I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. 7I will establish my covenant between me and you, and your offspring after you throughout their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. 15God said to Abraham, "As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. 16I will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall give rise to nations; kings of peoples shall come from her." The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. 3 PSALM Psalm 22:23–31 23You who fear the LORD, give praise! All you of Jacob's line, give glory. Stand in awe of the LORD, all you offspring of Israel. 24 For the LORD does not despise nor abhor the poor in their poverty; neither is the LORD's face hidden from them; but when they cry out, the LORD hears them. 25From you comes my praise in the great assembly; I will perform my vows in the sight of those who fear the LORD. 26The poor shall eat and be satisfied, Let those who seek the LORD give praise! May your hearts live forever! 27All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD; all the families of nations shall bow before God. 28For dominion belongs to the LORD, who rules over the nations. 29Indeed, all who sleep in the earth shall bow down in worship; all who go down to the dust, though they be dead, shall kneel before the LORD. 30Their descendants shall serve the LORD, whom they shall proclaim to generations to come. 31They shall proclaim God's deliverance to a people yet unborn, saying to them, "The LORD has acted!" 4 SECOND READING A reading from Romans. Romans 4:13–25 Paul presents Abraham as the example for how a person comes into a right relationship with God not through works of the law but through faith. Though Abraham and Sarah were far too old for bearing children, Abraham trusted that God would accomplish what God had promised to accomplish. For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith. 14If it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15For the law brings wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there violation. 16For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (for he is the father of all of us, 17as it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations") — in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. 18Hoping against hope, he believed that he would become "the father of many nations," according to what was said, "So numerous shall your descendants be." 19He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was already as good as dead (for he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. 20No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21being fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 22Therefore his faith "was reckoned to him as righteousness." 23Now the words, "it was reckoned to him," were written not for his sake alone, 24but for ours also. It will be reckoned to us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25who was handed over to death for our trespasses and was raised for our justification. The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. 13 5 GOSPEL The holy gospel according to Mark. Glory to you, O Lord. Mark 8:31–38 After Peter confesses his belief that Jesus is the Messiah, Jesus tells his disciples for the first time what is to come. Peter's response indicates that he does not yet understand the way of the cross that Jesus will travel. Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things." 34He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. 36For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? 37Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? 38Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ. 31 From Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2015 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #28649.New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Next Sunday’s Readings: Exodus 20:1-17; Psalm 19; 1 Corinthians 1:18-25; John 2:13-22 6 ++++++++++ Last week’s Altar Flowers were sponsored in honor of Immanuel’s 255th Anniversary, from your friends at Lazarus Lutheran Church ++++++++++ Altar flowers on February 15th were sponsored in honor of our son, Brian’s 35th birthday and in honor of our brother and sister-in-law, Bobby and Sue’s 36th wedding anniversary, all on February 17th, 2015 with lots of love, Barbara and Gene Yingling ++++++++++ Stewardship Reminder: The weather has caused us to cancel services the last two weeks of February. This was not an easy decision and the decisions were made with the safety of the congregation as the most important factor. With that said, please understand that while worship may not occur, whether it be from weather conditions or vacations, the ministries of the church continue. Please consider keeping your giving current and we thank you. Midweek Lenten Family Time: During Lent we will focus on the tree of life. The tree of life is a phrase that can be used to express central religious beliefs and understandings. For us, the tree of life is the cross. Throughout Lent we will gather on Wednesdays at 12pm to discuss scripture and how the tree of life affects us in our daily life. We also have time at 6:30pm for those who cannot make the noon gathering. All are encouraged to bring a sandwich. See you there! 7 MARCH WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES Brett and Jessica Grimm Walter and Charlotte Hann John and Mary Popp March 3, 2006 March 5, 1966 March 5 MARCH BIRTHDAYS We wish the following people a “Very Happy Birthday” and hope that you have a great day! Meghan Lee Greg Miller Iva Martin Ketti McCarty Janis Hagert Heather Hoffman John Taylor Reese Harden Doris Dell Rodgers Hagert Shawn Pittinger Audrey Shaffer Jacob Braun Pat Hentz Jennifer Holbrook Jared Patterson Dolly Ruby Matthew Rooney Claire Sunderland Dave Robinson Daphne Lee Laura Kiler Dennis Geiman Bryan Lopata Susan Adami Steven Suderland Henry Adami Dana Martin Jennifer Hamlet Brooks Hoffman March 31st is the last date to designate your Choice Dollars for 2014. As of November 30 the Carroll County Chapter had 703 Thrivent Members eligible for Choice Dollars but only 174 designated their dollars!! If you are eligible, please consider designating your Choice Dollars! And remember Thrivent’s Action Team Project is still available. Eligible Thrivent members can get $250 seed money to start a project. Over 70 projects were approved and completed last year. Snow Tubing has been rescheduled to Friday, March 6th from 7 to 9pm. Join us at Ski Liberty - the cost is $10 per enrolled Sunday School child with Immanuel covering the remaining cost. All other youth or adults, the price is $23 per person. The signup sheet is located in the back of the church. Advanced sign up is required because Immanuel has to prepay for this event. The money can be given to any of the Sunday School teacher or placed in an envelope marked "snow tubing" with your name on it and dropped off at the church office. Any questions, please contact Angie Eckhardt. 8 Lenten Wednesdays: March 4, 11, 18 and 25 12noon and 6:30pm Saturday, March 7 Daylight Savings Time begins – clocks FORWARD one hour March 8, 15, 22 Luther Men Choir practice – Choir Room at 10:15am March 14/15, 21/22 and 28/29 Easter Lily Sales March 28-29 Passion Saturday Service at 5pm Palm Sunday Service at 9am Thursday, April 2 Maundy Thursday Service at 7pm Friday, April 3 Good Friday Service at 7pm Saturday, April 4 Vigil of Easter Service at 5pm Sunday, April 5 Easter Sunrise Service -7am Easter Breakfast -8:15am Easter Resurrection Service -9am Please note: Because of the Lent Season and Holy Week, Women’s Bible Study will NOT take place in March and April. It will resume on May 6. 9 Fresh seasonal flowers enhance our worship experience, adding color and beauty. Each weekend, Altar Flowers, Center Arrangement or the Lessons & Prayers are available for your sponsorship. SIGN UP TODAY! *Altar vases $40 ~ Center arrangement $30 ~ Lessons & Prayers $20* As of this printing, the following options are available: March 7-8 Center Arrangement Lent 3 March 21-22 Altar Vases ~ Center Arrangement ~ Lessons & Prayers Lent 5 March 28-29 Altar Vases ~ Center Arrangement ~ Lessons & Prayers Palm Sunday Thur, April 2 Lessons & Prayers Maundy Thursday Fri, April 3 Lessons & Prayers Good Friday 2015 Easter Lily Sale During the weekends of March 14~15, 21~22 and 28~29, Worship and Music will be taking orders for Easter Lilies. COST: $10 each How To Order an Easter Lily? Use the order form found in the March Visitor newsletter OR Take an order form from the Easter Lily bulletin board display Please fill out the needed information on the order form: 1. Select either “In Memory Of” or “In Honor Of” 2. Choose your method of payment of $10 each (cash or check) 3. Enclose order form and payment in the supplied envelope 4. Drop envelope in Easter Lily Basket on the lamp table in the office 5. Deadline for ALL Easter Lilies is Palm Sunday, March 29th All orders received by the deadline date will be printed in the special section of the Easter bulletins. Direct all questions to Susan Burnette or Greg Patterson of Worship and Music. Thank you. 10 Lenten Collection: Did you know schools do much more than educating? Our local schools as well as many other schools help the young people of our community more than we may know. One of the things that they do is help provide clothes, especially undergarments, for children who are in need at school. During Lent there will be a collection bin beneath the bulletin board outside the office. We are asking if you could donate children’s undergarments and socks (preferably 3 packs, boys & girls) so that they can be delivered to the local elementary schools. Your generosity is greatly appreciated. MARCH 2015 LECTIONARIES Check out the ‘cool’ bulletin board at the main door entrance. Join our crew and help the youth climb to new heights with Everest VBS! 11 Sermons now online: Did you know that you don’t have to miss a sermon? If you are unable to attend worship, you can now read the pastor’s sermons online. Sermons posted on the church’s website or you can visit the pastor’s blog at http://chris-student.blogspot.com/. This way you can access the sermon from anywhere at any time! Daylight Savings Time returns next Sunday, March 8th beginning at 2am!! So DO NOT FORGET to ‘spring forward’ all your clocks (and your alarm!) ONE hour before going to bed Saturday night, March 7th. By-laws Committee: As our Constitution is in the process, our By-Laws are also in need of updating. This is important because, according to the current by-laws, there are committees that have been formed that are not contained in the by-laws and thus they do not have a specific mission in the life of the church. Updating the By-laws is also important to more clearly define the roles of the committees, council officers, and the need to provide direction to members of the congregation with regard to policies and procedures. We will have our first meeting on Tuesday, March 3, 2015 at 7 p.m. If you would like to be a part of this committee, we will be meeting in the Library/Sunday school room Blessing of the Animals: Saturday, March 7, 2015 there will be a blessing of the animals. This is a time to bring your household pets or animals to church at 1 p.m. and they will be blessed in the parking lot in back of the church. This will be a rain (or snow) or shine event. Pets are not just pets. They are members of our family and they are God’s creatures great and small and deserving of blessings. I look forward to seeing you there and the different kinds of pets that will be blessed. 12 Today’s altar flowers for March 1st are unsponsored. Anyone wishing to enjoy them at home or while visiting someone this week, please see Altar Guild after the Sunday service. Thank you. The missions Special Offering will be collected next weekend, March 7/8. Join us after service this Sunday morning for Coffee Hour. **Reminder: Newsletter articles need to be in by the 15th of the month!** ++ CALENDAR ++ Sun March 1 Mon March 2 Tues March 3 Wed March 4 Thur March 5 Fri March 6 Sat March 7 Sun March 8 Worship Service / Communion Coffee Hour Sunday School Lazarus Church Service –Downstairs Listening Post at Java Vault Al-Anon AA Scouts Mid Week Lenten Mid Week Lenten Finance Meeting AA Choir Practice Prayer Group Scouts Pastor’s Day Off Snow Tubing AA Al-Anon Missions – Special Offering Blessing of the Animals Worship Service / Communion AA Missions – Special Offering Worship Service / Communion Sunday School Lazarus Church Service –Downstairs 13 9:00 am 10:15 am 10:15 am 10:30 am 11am-1pm 8:00 pm 8:00 pm 7:00 pm 12:00 pm 6:30 pm 7:30 pm 7:15 pm 7:00 pm 7:00 pm 7:00 pm 6:30pm 8:00 pm 8:00 pm 1:00 pm 5:00 pm 6:30 pm 9:00 am 10:15 am 10:30 am PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS: Jeff Dell (parkinsons) Walter Ruby June Brown Ardice Holbrook Ann Trent Cary Myers Gail Brown Fred Davies Helen Nelson (stroke) Betsy Clowes Cindy Conrad Steven Booth Betty Dell Elissa Snedeker Francis Pometto Keaton Rosborough Treasa Markle Julia Berwager Jean Hoff Fidler Terry Linn Piper Abbott Stella Gary Ann Norris (cancer) Brian Nicoll (cancer) Reid Ronayne Lisa Queen Jill Mousseau Scott Fetrow Frances Parrish Kandee Smith Erin Russell Juliana Carver Elaine Cullison Erik Jankowiak Debbie Bair Chris Gorski Rosie Schade Dave Honeycutt (cancer) Cass Boyle Dorinda Smith Ann Miller JoAnn Maccri Edith O’Reilly Lynne Piper Stephen Kallas Dolly Ruby Coral Colins Ralph Miller Jan Rhoten Robert Rhoten Lisa Fleck Ernie Martin Amy Bornman Joey Morris Ken Kiler Bob Wright Ken Wright Steven Gary Jeremy Edwards Those serving in the military: Brett Richardson Matthew Swain Kyle Pasta Heather Sargent *If you have a name to place on the Prayer List, please contact the Church Office. Names will remain on the list for four weeks, unless we are notified to extend the time. Thank you. 14 IMMANUEL EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH 3184 Church Street, PO Box 739 Manchester, MD 21102 “A Stephen Ministry Congregation” Pastor Chris Cell Phone: 443-517-9890 Pastor Chris Email: clitton@ielcmd.org Church Office Phone: 410-374-4463 Church Office Fax: 410-775-5793 Email: info@ielcmd.org www.immanuellutheranccmd.org Rev. Chris Litton Interim Pastor Jerry Hoffman Organist Steve Burris Sexton Steve & Ann Hull Missionaries Rachel Murphy Office Administrator Jeremy Edwards Treasurer
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