October 2012 - Emmanuel Lutheran Church

I appeal to you to carefully and thoughtfully read the letter from the
Stewardship Committee inserted in this mailing and consider ways in
which you will give your support. Be looking for signup charts in the
narthex or call the church office to let us know how you will help. Be
part of the action. You will be rewarded by a good feeling and the
appreciation of your fellow members.
Our Centennial celebration got off to a rousing beginning in
June with an outdoor festival and contemporary worship services
with former Emmanuel Pastor Martin Ruge as guest preacher. The
second of three major centennial worship celebrations will take
place on October 7. The service that day will give us a backward
vision as we reflect on how our ancestors who founded this
congregation 100 years ago may have worshiped in their day with
liturgy and hymns of that era. I am grateful that our Bishop,
Thomas Skrenes, will be with us to preach at these historic
services. It is fitting in that he is Norwegian by nationality and
comes out of the Norwegian Lutheran Synod. It will be a good day
to reflect on our heritage.
Emmanuel congregation has produced four pastors who have
gone on to serve ELCA congregations. I am delighted that all four
pastors have accepted our invitation to preach at Emmanuel during
our centennial observance. Rev. Cheryl Johnson of Dover, NJ was
with us on August 25 and delivered a memorable sermon reflecting
on the faith nurturing she received at Emmanuel as well as
experiences in her own ministry. Rev. Al Beyer, who was also
Emmanuel’s first Associate Pastor, will be with us on October 14,
Rev. Myron Deschaine on October 21, and Rev. Grant Quever on
November 11. What a privilege it will be for us to welcome these
fine pastors home and hear what they have to say to us about their
faith journeys and ours, their ministries and ours. Coffee receptions
will be held on these Sundays giving us an opportunity to visit with
our guest pastors. Please mark these dates on your calendar and be
present to join us in celebration. To God be the glory in all that we
do!
Pastor Schoen
The Menominee Valley Conference of the Northern Great Lakes
Synod‐ELCA, will hold their Fall Convention Convention on
Thursday, October 25 at the Northland Village community room,
1025 Pine Beach Rd. in Marinette. There will be a soup &
sandwich supper at 5:00 p.m., worship at 6:00 p.m., and the
annual business meeting at 7:00 p.m. The MVC is comprised of
nine area ELCA congregations plus Northland Lutheran
Retirement Community. Those attending may be voting delegates
representing Emmanuel, or just attend as interested participants.
Please notify Pastor Schoen or Jerry Gentz if you would like to be
delegates.
In other Menominee Valley Conference news, Rev. John Shallow
retired after serving Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Peshtigo
for the past 25 years. Pastor John and Sue are now residing in the
Lena area where John was raised. The congregation has begun
the call process for a new pastor.
Have you noticed the new roof that has been constructed over
the choir room entrance (also an emergency exit)? This will
correct the problem of snow buildup over that corner that has
posed a danger to those using that entrance weekly as well as
snow and ice eroding the steps and landing. Other projects
directed by the Property Committee include covering the original
exterior church windows with white aluminum and calking to
prevent erosion and water seepage into the building, as well as
eliminating the need for painting. Additional rain gutters and
extensions have been installed to keep water away from the
building and eliminate seepage problems. Landscaping projects at
the September 29 th Work Bee will further address this problem.