Because Lutherans are creative, we find a way to pray together while apart. O God, full of compassion, we commit and commend ourselves to you, in whom we live and move and have our being. Be the goal of our pilgrimage, and our rest by the way. Give us refuge in your garden from the turmoil of the world beneath the shelter of your sprawling branches. Let our restless hearts find peace in you, O God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  W e are in this together. We are better together. We may be apart, but we are not alone.
No Gatherings AT the Church,
BUT the Church Still Gathers

Find our services, videos, and podcasts on SoundCloud , YouTube , Facebook and Radio KWED AM 1580.

Join us on Sundays at 10:30
Emanuel's Sunday Radio Broadcast Legacy
Who knew that in the days of high tech and fast speed everything that a good, old fashioned radio program would be so valuable? While other congregations were scrambling to adapt and provide at-home worship services this year, Emanuel's has been doing such for decades. Kudos to Pastor Marcus and Pastor Katy for honing their videography and editing skills. A tip of the hat also to our predecessors who started this outreach ministry with radio. Learn more about Emanuel's history in this article by veteran radio personality Walter Seidenschwarz.

Sunday Worship Services now include Holy Communion. To participate in the Eucharist at home, please read the Pastor's thoughts, guidelines, and reminders in the link below. 
Join us each week at 12:05 and 7pm with Facebook Watch Parties for
Wednesday Worship.
With the Watch Party format we can check-in and say "Hi!" in real time.
The service is also available on: YouTube | SoundCloud
Summer Camp 2020 Pics
Pastor Kelsie has spent the week at Camp Chrysalis with our 6-8th graders exploring God's beautiful world. Pastor Marcus is headed back to Ebert Ranch Camp to retrieve our LYLE 1 youth this weekend. Prayers appreciated. Photos in the link below.

Beginning July 1st you are invited to participate in Emanuel's Prayer Tree located outside the front entrance of the church on Travis Street.

Emanuel's Prayer Garden, protected by the sprawling branches of the ancient, and historic, Ranger Oak, is a communal place to think, reflect, and pray. Feel free to use the tags provided there for your prayers or bring your own. Tie the tags to the rail around the Prayer Garden. Spend quiet time reading and praying for others if you wish.

It is our hope that at the Prayer Tree you can "leaf" a prayer, but also feel connected more physically to the church than we've been able to in awhile. Please practice social distancing while you are visiting and be considerate of those seeking solace in this reverent place.
VBS is July 20-24, 2020
While we cannot have in-person Vacation Bible School, we can still do it - crafts, stories, songs, snacks, and all! Join us for our virtual in-home VBS Compassion Camp! Let Pastor Kelsie know how many kids you have participating so we can prepare a VBS bag of goodies for your family!
Compassion Camp supply pick-up day will be Monday, July 13 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the church.
Ladies and gentlemen, get your pens ready! Emanuel's Congregational Care Ministry is coordinating a weekly letter writing campaign called CARE CARDS. This week we will be sending encouraging notes to our Emanuel's members serving in the military. Send your kind notes to the church and we will forward them in a big bundle.

Emanuel's Lutheran Church
Attn: Service Members
201 N. Travis Street
Seguin, TX 78155

Or email to i n fo@emanuels-seguin.org
Come on out and CHALK THE WALK! Let's decorate the sidewalks of Emanuel's with colorful chalk and words of encouragement. Superior activity for families that need some wiggle room. Entirely appropriate for adults, as well!
Word of the week:
HOPE
Pastor Darwin Huartson, Emanuel's San Antonio visitation pastor, coordinates an online ALZHEIMER SUPPORT GROUP via Zoom. If you are interested in joining this group please contact Donna Simmons.
Come get dirty at the GARDEN OF EATIN' on Tuesdays from 9-11. In July we are harvesting (super fun) and weeding (not-so-much fun). The garden is open to the community at all times, but Wayne will be there on Tuesdays to answer your questions and help you get your green thumb on.
  • The newly announced WALKING GROUP will not be meeting yet due to recent Covid-19 restrictions.

  • Due to Covid-19 uncertainties, LADIES AID meetings are cancelled until further notice.  The Ladies Aid Bazaar and Coffee Cake baking is postponed until next year.  If you have any questions, you can contact Jeannie Hall at 830-379-4185.  

Why You Need to Share your Grief with Others
Director of Congregational Care Donna Simmons provides this insightful piece adapted from Pastor Rick Warren at pastorrick.com. This is the first of a three part series.

“Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill
the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2 (NIV)

During the coronavirus crisis, your emotional health needs to be an important priority. Feelings are neither good nor bad - they're just emotions but they need to be expressed appropriately to God and to a trusted friend. The Bible says, "Carry each other's burdens, and on the way you will fulfill the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2 NIV).

You don't have to share your feelings with everybody, but you do need to have one person you can confide in. Someone you can go to and say, "Hey, can I just tell you how I'm feeling right now?" This is someone who will listen, share in your pain and frustration, and then help you move forward.

Sharing your feelings with others may not come naturally to you. But it is the only way to be emotionally healthy. Find that person you trust to help you process what you're experiencing, and then be that friend to someone else.
We are Better Together:
A Plan to Safely and Purposefully Join Together
Friday, June 26, 2020
 
Greetings Congregation Members and Partners in Service,
 
Grace and peace to you all from God the Creator, Jesus the Redeemer, and the Holy Spirit the Sanctifier. Amen.
 
Following today’s Executive Order from Texas Gov. Abbott and an Administrative Letter from Southwestern Texas Synod Bishop Sue Briner, all in-person gatherings at Emanuel’s are suspended. This suspension includes, but is not limited to:
  • Congregational small group ministries, such as LWR Quilters, Ladies Aid, Circles, and Property Stewards
  • Partners in Service gatherings, such as RSVP, NAMI, TruLight Ministries, GVCCC, Al-Anon, and Boy Scouts
 
Our Church Staff will maintain their current, modified work schedules, but will resume online staff meetings. Emanuel's Day School will continue to stay open, following all guidelines and mandates pertaining to child care facilities
 
"We are Better Together: A Plan to Safely and Purposefully Join Together," Emanuel's working guidelines to assist with Covid preparedness and eventual campus re-entry, emphasizes the need for flexibility. Pastors and Council continue to monitor state and local data and recommendations. Our hope is to keep every member and ministry partner safe and healthy. This requires each of us to do our part.
 
As Gov. Abbott wrote, “Every Texan has a responsibility to themselves and their loved ones to wear a mask, wash their hands, stay six feet apart from others in public, and stay home if they can.” Thank you for your continued prayers. Our hearts are with you all. We are in this together. We are better together. We may be apart, but we are not alone.
 
Yours in Christ,
ELC Pastors and Executive Council

Below is a link to the document, We are Better Together: A Plan to Safely and Purposefully Join Together, which outlines Emanuel's plan to return to campus activities.The current document includes pending changes that will be presented to Council on Tuesday, July 7, 2020.

Please keep in your prayers our leaders as they continue to be the church while navigating strange waters. It is with great care and compassion for all that we move forward.
Please call before coming to the church to meet with staff. For the health and safety of all we are limiting the number of persons in the office at a given time.
Office Staff is on campus Monday - Thursday from 8am - 5pm.
Our schedules are staggered. Everyone is still accessible via email and phone.  We continue to hold each of you and your families in our prayers. We are BETTER TOGETHER… even if it is virtually!
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
Giving comparison for 2019-2020:

June 1-30, 2019 $29,797.50
June 25-30, 2019 $4,878.00


June 1-30, 2020 $30,979.00
June 25-30, 2020 $1,645.00

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@emanuels-seguin.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.