Immanuel Weekly Newsletter for Sunday, June 8, 2025

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10:00am Bulletin

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Dear Friends,

The church campus has been buzzing this week with Vacation Bible School preparations—truly a beehive of activity! It’s been such a delight to witness how deeply this congregation is invested in creating a fun, meaningful, and engaging experience for Immanuel’s children and for kids from the wider community. As an interim pastor, one of my roles is to use a kind of metaphorical “metal detector” to search for where the energy is in a congregation. Well, I’ve found it!

So much work goes into this vital ministry—it’s a perfect example of the saying, “many hands make light work.” And you all have certainly risen to the occasion. Kudos to Kris Goorsky and her dedicated crew of volunteers for the time, energy, and love they’ve already poured into this year’s VBS!

I asked Kris for some stats, and here’s what she shared: as of this writing, 45 children are registered, with 75% of them coming from outside Immanuel (how wonderful is that?). Thanks to the generosity of your members, 13 scholarships have been provided. Over 30 volunteers of all ages are giving their time this week and next, and 20 more of you have contributed by donating supplies and other items. When I asked Kris how many total hours it takes to make all of this happen, she gave me a look that clearly said I might want to take that question back!

There are still two important ways each of us can support VBS:

1. Come to the Grand Finale: join us next Friday, June 13 at 5:30pm in the sanctuary for a joyful celebration. There will be music, a presentation, a tour of the different VBS stations, photos from the week, hot dogs, and more!

2. Pray: lift up both participants and volunteers in prayer. Pray that their experience is not only fun and engaging, but also sparks curiosity about the Bible’s stories and fosters a sense of the presence of Christ, our “true north.” After all, isn’t that what being the Church is all about?

Joyfully,

Pastor Bart

Upcoming News and Events

Virtue/Vice Sermon Series: For seven weeks beginning June 15, we will engage in a sermon and discussion series inspired by Robin Myers’ book, The Virtue in the Vice: Finding Seven Lively Virtues in the Seven Deadlines. Myers takes a “two-sided coin” approach to the classic list, arguing that, “Sin is real, and so are heroic efforts to live a noble life, but such a neat and simple polarity does not and has not ever existed. Virtue is not the alien opposite of vice. It swims around in the same gene pool, beginning with the same raw material, the same appetites, the same universal human desires.” Join us in worship at 10:00am and in Witherspoon after service for a conversation on each topic and the corresponding chapter (even if you haven’t read it). This will be an interesting, applicable, and even fun series!

June 15: Worthiness/pride
June 22: Emulation/envy
June 29: Righteous indignation/envy
July 06: Holy eros/lust
July 13: Communion/gluttony
July 20: Wanting wisely/greed
July 27: Contentment/sloth

Vacation Bible School Decorating Crew Needed! We are just a few days away from hosting over 40 children for an amazing week of Alaskan adventures! We need your help decorating the campus and sanctuary - no experience necessary. The decorating schedule for this weekend is:

Friday 10:00am - 3:00pm

Saturday 9:00am - 3:00pm and Sunday 11:00am to finish

We will provide lunch. Come as much as you are available - even if it is just for an hour. Any and all help is greatly appreciated!

Ever Wonder What Missions We Support? The Immanuel mission outreach team would like to share what mission partners Immanuel supports - one of which is Haven Totes. Haven Totes is a Christian based food and educational assistance non-profit based at Fountain of Life Lutheran Church here in Tucson. Haven Totes supports low income, children, families and seniors. Several Immanuel members volunteer at the Haven Totes food pantry and Immanuel's annual Lenten food drive supports the organization. Immanuel also provides several needed items throughout the year whether it be food items or school supplies.

The mission outreach team (Ann Jarvis, Cliff Fujii and Leslie Cullins-Schecter) is looking for more members to be added to the mission team. Let us know if you are interested.

For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger, and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick, and you looked after me, I was in prison, and you came to visit me… Truly, I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. - Matthew 25:35, 36, 40

Ways to Connect, Grow and Have Fun

Summer Worship Time is Now 10:00am - We are in summer worship mode with one 10:00am service on Sundays, now through July 27, 2025. We will resume our two regular worship times the first Sunday in August.

Sunday School and Youth Group are on Summer Break - will return on Sunday, August 3, 2025

Men’s Bible Study on Mondays at 10:00am - Come hang out with the guys, have coffee and dig deeper into scripture and connect with friends. Meets in Witherspoon Hall.

Desert Sages Games on Tuesdays from 10:00am – 12:30pm. Join us for games, fellowship and food in Witherspoon Hall every Tuesday from 10:00am – 12:30pm. Enjoy new friends and old while playing Mexican train, bridge, hand and foot, Rummikub and anything else you want while snacking on popcorn. A $1.00 donation a week supports our luncheons every six weeks. Contact Mary Kay Bush at 520-661-6737 or ausmbush3@gmail.com. Meets in Witherspoon Hall.

Crafters Group on Thursdays from 9:30am – 12:00pm. All are welcome to come and work on your crafts together and enjoy fellowship and laughs. We make quilts, blankets and projects for local missions. We also work on our own projects for fun – grab your gear and join us!

Agape Circle Women’s Bible Study - Come join us on the second Wednesday of every month from 9:00am -12:00pm in the home of Mary Kay Bush. A light brunch is provided by members prior to the start of the study. New members are always welcome! Please contact Jean Nelson at 520-886-6586 or Mary Kay Bush at 520-661-6737 for more information.

Lydia Circle Women’s Bible Study - meets on the 3rd Monday of the month at 6:30pm in Witherspoon Hall. We start with refreshments then dive into our bible study. All are welcome – email Kay Schmidt for details at hkschmidt10@aol.com.

Casa Maria Sandwiches on Saturday, June 28 from 8:00 – 9:00am. Come drop off your bagged lunches and also any clothing or hygiene products. (Casa Maria is the last Saturday of every month).

Upcoming Calendar of Events

Sunday, June 08

10:00am Worship Service

11:00am VBS Decorating Crew

Monday, June 09