Because Lutherans love potlucks: there was no doubt what our first returning celebratory gathering would be. Fifth Sunday couldn't come fast enough, and neither could the sausage, potatoes, cobblers, and other heaping spoons full of love from home kitchens. What a way to welcome our newest members and usher in the sweetness of summer! Check out more pictures below. We are better together.
WORSHIP AT EMANUEL'S
Please join us Sundays at 10:30 a.m.

In-person, on Facebook, YouTube, and radio KWED AM 1580.
Following the new CDC guidelines, Emanuel’s Congregational Council approved the following beginning Sunday, May 23, 2021. Detailed gathering guidelines may be found on our website.

  • Fully vaccinated persons may choose to not wear masks on the church campus and may gather closer than 6 feet from non-household members.

  • Unvaccinated persons are to wear masks at all times on the church campus and maintain social distancing of more than 6 feet from non-household members.

  • Our currently modified worship practices will remain in place. These include sitting in every other pew, the taking of Holy Communion while in our pews, refraining from moving while sharing the peace, and not passing the offering plates but providing baskets at each entrance door. Council will reevaluate these practices during the summer months.
BEING THE CHURCH
FOOD, FUN & FELLOWSHIP
Sunday, June 6 @Noon

We are excited to be gathering again and look forward to seeing your shining faces. So excited that lunch is on us this time! If you are widowed, divorced, single, or just don't get out very much then please join us. It has been a long and lonely year for a lot of people. We've missed you and cannot wait to reconnect!
2021 DIGITAL SYNOD ASSEMBLY
June 5-6, 2021
Registered Voting Members from Emanuel's include Jonathan Zitelman, Karen Weinstein, Elizabeth Jandt, Ryanne Hepp, Pastor Kelsie, and Pastor Marcus. 

Please keep them all in your prayers as they listen, discern, pray, and take action for the people of the Southwestern Texas Synod and beyond. Special thanks to Steve Richardson and Pastor Darwin Huartson for leading us in Worship while Pastor Marcus and Pastor Kelsie are away.

Have you always wanted to be a fly on the wall at the assembly? Visitors will be able to join via Facebook Live. Saturday Sessions are from 10-12 and 1:30-4:00. Sunday Worship is from 9-10 a.m. and the Sunday Session are 10:15-12 and 1:00 to adjourn. More information about the event may be found here.
The flock has descended and they're excited to visit residences and businesses in the area to aid our youth in fundraising to get to Minneapolis for the 2022 ELCA National Youth Gathering. The Gathering happens every three years and is an amazingly formational experience.

Send the flock and/or get Flock Insurance to guarantee you don't get flocked! All donations are tax-deductible. Questions? Contact Pastor Kelsie.
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
Ecumenical Build Days
1st Saturday's of each month from 8am - Noon
GVHFH is building its 32nd house in Guadalupe County! The next ecumenical workday is scheduled for Saturday, June 5, 2021. The house is at 521 Newton. Start time will be 8:00am and we’ll work until about 12:00. We will be hanging siding that day and could use a few extra hands. It’s been over a year since Habitat has actively pursued additional volunteer groups and we are looking forward to getting more community involvement with this house. We will be combining our efforts with other local churches on the 1st Saturday of every month for an “Ecumenical Workday”. If you can help out that morning, please contact Garry Miller at 830-534-3290 or email at garry.miller@satx.rr.com. We also build every Thursday and welcome new volunteers to join our Core Team!
DAY CAMP & VBS REGISTRATION
JULY 19-23, 2021
With our friends from Spirit of Joy and First Presbyterian Churches!

CROSS TRAILS DAY CAMP is for students who have completed Kinder through 5th grade. Cross Trails Ministry will be sending their staff to us for the week. Day Camp will run from 1 pm - 6 pm each day, including a snack and dinner for the family. This year's theme is "From the Ground Up!", so come and grow your faith with us! Space is limited to forty students. You can register below.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL is for children three years old to those who have not started kindergarten. VBS will run from 8:30am - Noon with a snack and lunch provided. Registration forms will be available soon on the church website. Turn forms into Pastor Kelsie. Our enrolled Emanuel's Day School students will return to their regular school day after lunch.

Have questions or want to volunteer? Pastor Kelsie would love to hear from you!
We are a church that does God’s work in the world and in local communities pursuing justice, peace, and human dignity. So, what are we doing for all those immigrants seeking refuge both at our southern border and around the world? Locally, we collect food, clothing, and personal need items for distribution, as well as through social services agencies and in coordination with other denominational groups. On a larger scale, and through our offerings, we support LIRS (Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service) which has been part of our church’s work since 1939.
INTERFAITH WELCOME COLLECTION
Emanuel’s Lutheran Church is collecting needed items for the Immigration Hospitality Ministry at the San Antonio Mennonite Church. The ministry provides assistance to refugees and migrants coming through San Antonio. Items for this Interfaith Welcome include:

  • Adult bathrobes- non-fluffy
  • Large towels
  • Small, new stuffed animals and TY Beanie Babies
  • Coloring books & crayons
  • Cash or check (memo section: Interfaith Welcome).

Collection bins are located at the church entrances. For more information contact Gloria H. at (713) 213-5752.
CONGREGATION COUNCIL UPDATES

Emanuel's Congregation Council met for their regularly scheduled monthly meeting in-person and via Zoom on Tuesday, May 11, 2021 at 6:30 p.m. Details of the meeting are available by clicking the button below for the draft of the Council Minutes. They will be approved at the next meeting on June 8, 2021.
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION UPDATES

Christian Education opportunities are in development for both Sunday mornings at 9:15 and midweek studies. Please stay tuned while we roll out programs for children and adults. It is a challenge as we return from our lengthy time apart to coordinate volunteers, physical space, and curriculum. Let Pastor Marcus or Pastor Kelsie know if you are interested in leading a group or sharing a special skill.
SUNDAY ADULT CLASSES at 9:15 a.m.
  • The Heritage Class (307): Augsburg Fortress Quarterly Adult Bible Study led by Steve Richardson and Walter Seidenschwarz. Current study is of the Old Testament, Faithful to God’s Covenant.
  • A Look at the Gospels (Family Life Center): Beginning May 2 with Pastor Marcus for a deeper look at each Gospel, their authors, their faith community, and their differences.

WEEKDAY STUDIES
  • Faith Circle (Women’s Ministry Room): Third Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m.
  • Joy Circle (Women’s Ministry Room): Second Thursday at 9:30 a.m.
  • Ladies Aid (Women’s Ministry Room): Beginning August 4 at 2:00 p.m.
SMALL GROUP UPDATES

Small groups have resumed meeting at Emanuel's. Please contact individual groups or the church office to see how each is creatively managing to proceed with the ministry and life of the church.

  • MUSIC MINISTRY included the Jubilation Singers Choir and Heavenly Ringers Handbell Choir. They are currently meeting on Wednesday mornings to rehearse and record our online service, as well as Sunday mornings. Contact Thomas Engler, Emanuel's Director of Music.
  • LWR QUICK QUILTERS gathers in their first floor sewing suite on Monday mornings to assemble quilts that are distributed globally to those in need. If you are interested in this productive group call or text Jeanne P. at (830) 624-6478.
  • PROPERTY STEWARDS are a stalwart group of doers at Emanuel's who meet on Tuesday mornings. All skillsets are welcome. There are carpenters and gardeners and people good at changing light bulbs! Contact Garry Miller for more information.
  • SWEET HOUR OF PRAYER meets in the chapel on Thursday mornings at 10am to lift in prayer our church, community, and the world. Contact is Donna Simmons.
  • HEALING THROUGH CONVERSATION is a support group for those who have lost a loved on to death. The group meets on the third Thursday at 11 a.m. in the Family Life Center. Facilitated by Donna Simmons,
  • FOOD, FUN & FELLOWSHIP gathers on the 1st Sundays at Noon in the Women's Ministry Room. This ministry is for widowed, divorced, and separated people. Donna Simmons is the contact.
  • WORSHIP LEADERS are the backbone of our services on Sunday mornings. If you would like to be an usher, reader, assisting minister, Altar Guild, communion assistant, hospitality. or radio announcer please let Denise H. know.
  • THE GAREDN OF EATIN' is our community garden on the corner of Walnut and Bowie Streets. The work is seasonal. We'd love to have you dig in with us. Contact our resident gardener Wayne S. .
  • COUPLES NIGHT OUT is an opportunity for couples who are 20-40ish to try new adventures, hang out, and get to know one another. They meet once a month(ish) at various locations. Contact is Pastor Marcus.
Thanks to all for your participation in our first Fifth Friday Potluck in awhile. It was delightful to sit a spell with you. Shout out to the Congregational Care Team for implementing their first event! Please forward any pictures you have of the day to Sherry and she will post them on our photo page.

Please consider coming to one of Emanuel’s newly formed Ministry Team meetings to learn more about what is going on at Emanuel’s and how you can participate. The Team leaders are energetic and enthusiastic about “being the church God is calling us to be.”

  • THE CONGREGATIONAL CARE TEAM meets on first Thursdays at 6pm in the Family Life Center. They are reworking and reorganizing numerous ministries for the church including our new member welcome, funeral reception hosting, 5th Sunday potlucks and fellowship gatherings, and looking for new ways to celebrate the many milestones across our church family.

  • THE EDUCATION TEAM meets on fourth Mondays at 4:30pm in the Family Life Center. Their work this summer will be to revitalize and organize the fall education rotation, schedule, and age groups of our children and youth; support summer VBS programming; and create new educational gatherings, inside and outside the church, that are supported with childcare and activities.

  • THE OUTREACH & SERVICE TEAM meets on first Mondays at 6:30pm in the Family Life Center. Their summer projects include Emanuel’s Hwy 123 Adopt-a-Spot Highway Clean-up, 2nd Fridays Sunset Cinema starting June 11, and “God’s Work. Our Hands.” Sunday in September.
A WORD FROM THE OFFICE
Emanuel's Office Staff is working both at the office and at home. Our schedules are staggered so that someone is in the office Mondays through Thursdays from 8-5. It is best to make an appointment or call before coming in. Everyone is still accessible via email and phone. 
THANK YOU for your continued financial support of the ongoing ministries of Emanuel's Lutheran Church.
Online giving is safe, simple, and quick to do through our Vanco link. One time or recurring donations can be indicated.
You can still mail in your offering to the Church by sending a check to:

Emanuel's Lutheran Church
206 N. Travis Street
Seguin, Texas 78155
Year to Date Giving comparison:

January 1- June 1, 2021
Receipts: $ 205,552.43
Expenses: $ 213,586.71

January 1- June 1, 2020
Receipts:$ 191,966.39
Expenses: $ 222,600.19 

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact the church either through email or phone.
(830) 379-5046
Announcement to share?
Submit a brief, yet detailed description of your event to info@elcseguin.org before noon on Tuesdays for consideration for that week's email news. Late submissions will be considered for the following week's email and/or social media posts.