An Appeal for Help
Deaconess Juanita is in need of one additional chaperone for the Youth Quake
this weekend. It could be one person staying the whole weekend, or two different
people (one to stay Friday night, the other to help during Saturday day time
and staying overnight).
We have been talking a great deal about Giving Life to the Next Generation.
Here is a hands-on opportunity for someone to volunteer to be of help to our
young people – the next generation.
Please contact Deaconess at jebert22@juno.com
Or phone the church office at 257-5401.
If you can help, please respond at your earliest convenience and save Deaconess
a lot of time on the telephone trying to recruit someone.
Brothers and Sisters in Christ
Well, I just returned from another trip to the doctor. We have concluded that
I am suffering from the Northern European Flu – it is a unique strain of the
flu that combines traits from a number of northern European viruses.
The common symptoms are nasal and bronchial congestion, fatigue, coughing, sore
throat and loss of voice. This particular virus has been infiltrated by the
German Flu virus which includes an overwhelming desire to organize one’s life,
a Danish strain that involves intensive introspection and personal self-examination,
and a Norwegian strain that fills you with the aching feeling that everything
is your fault.
I haven’t lost my sense of humor, but unfortunately, I am not much better today
than I was last Tuesday, so we’re headed on a new course of treatment.
I plan to be teaching confirmation Wednesday evening and preaching for Lenten
service.
I will admit that I have had a lot more time to pray and perhaps that is a lesson
for all of us, a good health regimen must include time for prayer. If we don’t
take the time on our own, God may find ways of reducing our schedule to allow
more time for prayer.
Peace in Christ.
Giving
Life
?o
? he
Next
Generation
Our lively discussion in Adult Nurture Hour continue on these topics:
Sunday March 8th
“Giving Life to the Next Generation: What Is a Lutheran in 2009?
Sunday March 15th
“Giving Life to the Next Generation: Is Our Style of Worships Relevant in Postmodern,
Post-Christian America?
Sunday March 22nd
“Giving Life to the Next Generation: Making Life-Choices for Immanuel”
As your pastor, I cannot stress with enough vigor, just how important these
questions are. Decisions about the future of Immanuel, its commitment to confessional
Lutheranism, its style of worship, its relevance in a changing social climate
must be addressed – not by the professional staff, but by you, the members.
I am committed to shaping these as listening sessions in which you will
have a chance to speak your piece on all of these matters. Please, make it a
priority to attend these adult nurture sessions. Your presence will help us;
your absence may suggest you don’t care about the future of Immanuel.
I know that many of you care deeply and passionately about our future. Now is
the time to stand up and be counted. What we hear in these sessions will impact
budget planning for the future, the way we shape our programs and our staff,
the way we worship, the way we serve our community and the way we educate our
children.
These will not be sessions at which I will pontificate on my dreams. You’ve
heard more than enough about those. Your professional staff and elected leaders
need to hear from you.
It is my hope that every elected leader in the congregation will make these
five sessions their highest priority—next to worship attendance—for the next
five Sundays. It is my prayer that the majority of our regular worship attendees
will likewise feel themselves compelled to participate in these crucial sessions
during critical times in our life as a congregation.
Consecrated Stewards
A key element in the process of Consecrated Stewards is prayer. Attached is
a file containing a variety of prayer thoughts that our staff has prepared to
guide your prayers.
Prayer
Vigil Book
If you were not able to set aside ½ hour to be in prayer at the church, then
I would urge you to set aside 30 minutes at home to offer your prayers on behalf
of the future of our congregation as we seek to GIVE LIFE TO THE NEXT GENERATION.
May Christ’s peace fill you today and every day
.
The Rev. Charles E. Werth
Pastor
Immanuel Lutheran Church of Madison
The Church on the Lake with a Heart for the City
+ Inclusive
+ Liturgical
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