Embrace the Season of Epiphany

To Know Christ and Boldly Make Him Known

Second Sunday after Epiphany

January 18, 2026

Holy Communion

Saturday 5:00pm

Sunday 8:30, 10:45am

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Coming This Week

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This Week: Second Sunday after Epiphany

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ.

The season after Epiphany is a season of revelation—not sudden, but unfolding as we learn to watch, wait, and listen. God’s light breaks into the world...

Click Here to Watch This Week's Lectionary Preview

Click the picture to preview the Sunday readings and prepare yourself for worship:

Bob Beuther

Valerie Cooper

Janice Curle

Robert Hawkins

John Idzelis

Mary Jean Jensen

Jerry Metzger

Jean Sego

Laura Welch

The funeral service for Jackie Miller will be Friday, January 16th @11am.

The funeral service for Jean Price will be Monday, January 19th @11am.

9:45am - 10:29am

in front Fellowship Hall

This Week's Topic

Growing in Grace: Congregational Care & Faith Formation

9:40am - 10:40am

in back Fellowship Hall

Stay after the 8:30 service or come early before the 10:45!

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Barb's Medical Minute

I’M RIGHT!

Don’t you love when you are proven right? I have never allowed my doctor to test my cholesterol level. He asked me why, and I told him...

Click the cholesterol picture to read more!

Please extend an Emmanuel welcome to Peter & Kiki Damrow from Minocqua, WI. Peter is a retired HVAC technician and Kiki taught K-8th grade at a Lutheran school. They have joined Emmanuel as seasonal members - Welcome from the cold!

We also welcome Al Gatto to Emmanuel. Al served in the Marine Corps in Korea and was a pilot for the Air Force in Vietnam flying over 300 missions. Al lives at VOTI - please welcome him to our Emmanuel family.

This Month: January

Coming Soon: February

Vote on Council & Committee Chair Candidates

Lynne Ross - Secretary

Born and raised in Brooklyn and Long Island, NY, I have lived in the Sarasota area for 39 years. I am also born and raised in the Lutheran Church, ELCA. I am married to Robert Hall and have two grown children, two grown step children and several grandchildren and now several great grandchildren. I have been a practicing Interior Designer for over thirty years. At Emmanuel, I have served as a Stephen Minister, on the Property and Narthex Committees, Worship and Music committee was chair of Property Committee for 5 years and am the Emmanuel Liason for the Haiti Team at the Synod Level. I was the designer Project Manager for the Renovation of the sanctuary as a volunteer after Hurricane Ian and continue to help where I am needed and where I am able.

I feel my experience with other organizations as well as my work experience and training qualifies me to become the Secretary of the Church Council and Executive Committee and I look forward to serving the congregation in this way.

Ray Neall - Treasurer

Ray Neall has his Undergraduate Degree from the University of Maryland and his Masters Degree from Embry-Riddle University. He entered the U.S Air Force in October 1975 and spent nearly 28 years as a Master Navigator flying on the KC-135 air refueling aircraft. He retired in 2003 as a Lieutenant Colonel. After the Air Force, he worked as a government contractor for the Department of Defense and as a government employee for the US Census Bureau before fully retiring in 2018. Ray and his wife Mary relocated to Venice, Florida in October of 2018 and joined Emmanuel in the Spring of 2019.

Bob Olsen - Member at Large

My wife and I moved to Venice from Champaign, IL, in the fall of 2017. The following spring we joined ELC. A year or so later Ed Crary recruited me to be on the weekly offering counting team, which I continue to do. For several years I have served on the finance and property committees. I’ve also assisted with an internal audit and was a member of the 2025 call committee. Outside of church, I volunteer at the Venice Theatre and work for the Atlanta Braves during spring training. My son, Dale, resides with me but my wife has been deceased since 2021.

I grew up on a farm in Illinois outside of Chicago, which my siblings and I still operate. I am retired hydrologist from the University of Illinois where I was involved in groundwater research.

Scott Souza - Member at Large

My name is Scott Souza. My wife Shari and I have been members of Emmanuel Lutheran for several years. Previously, we were members of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Bettendorf, Iowa.

I earned a BS from The U of Illinois in 1977 and a BSN from the U of Iowa in 2006. I retired in 2021 and have lived full-time in Venice since 2023.

My son and his family live in Pleasant Hill, Iowa. My daughter and her family live in Bettendorf, Iowa.

Chuck Koons - Property

Born and raised, Buffalo New York. Married to my beautiful wife Jan for 37 years.

Graduated from State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo with a BS in Civil Engineering in 1975. Worked as a Professional Engineer (PE) for several consulting engineering firms and local governments on infrastructure projects, water filtration plant, waste water plant, state prison, waste-to-energy facility, roadways and bridges.

From 2012 to 2017 served as the secretary for Emmanuel’s Property Committee. Team leader for the Ushers serving at Saturday evening worship service since June 2018.