Because Lutherans value history, and we celebrate historians. Congratulations Steve Anderson! His recently released Forward in Faith: A History of Texas Lutheran University is now available to purchase at area booksellers and online. We also have a (signed!) copy to check out in the church office. Lifelong Lutherans and newcomers alike will be drawn to the story's 130+ year span of events and people. Dr. Debbie Cottrell, TLU President, writes, "... Steve Anderson offers a fresh, meaningful, and well-written history of the 'stately college of the plain,' reminding us of how rich the story of Texas Lutheran University is." Steve, thank you for sharing your gifts with us all. We are better together.

Please join us Sundays at 10:30 a.m.

In-person, online on YouTube, and on radio KWED AM 1580.

Wednesday, July 10 at 5:30pm

Women's Ministry Room

July's gathering in the Women’s Ministry Room will feature lots of pizza, salad, and drinks, a space for our youth and children to engage in Bible study and activities with Jordana, and for all of our teams to look at their fall and Christmas schedules. Our goals for this evening will be to specifically walk away with details hammered out on all large church events, celebrations, and worship services for October, November, and December. Make sure to join us for this Christmas in July time of gathering! All of Emanuel’s Ministry Teams gather on a single evening each month to share a meal, collaborate, plan, and schedule upcoming events.

LWR SCHOOL KIT AND

PERSONAL CARE KIT COLLECTION

Check the back-to-school sales for bargains in July/August to fill the Lutheran World Relief School Kits and Personal Care Kits to support our siblings across the globe. Supplies can be donated at the Mountain Street and Travis Street entrances. Monetary donations are also welcome. Make checks payable to Emanuel’s Lutheran Church with a note for LWR Kit Supplies. Needed:

Because Lutherans take joy in their work. Hard to see the beautifully painted walls behind those fabulous smiles. The office has been visited by a flash mob of eager painters the last few weeks. Emanuel's Staff extendeds a warm thank you to members of the Property Stewards, Puerto Rico Mission Team, and newly recruited volunteers for giving the space a much needed lift. Your enthusiasm is as fresh as, well, a new coat of paint! We are better together.

CARPET UPDATE: We are well aware that the carpet on the second floor hallway (and some other spots in the building) is in bad shape. First paint, then carpet! Please continue to be patient as plans for new carpet are in the works.

Community First! Village Tour

July 12 and 19 in Austin Texas

Our Summer Workshop extends beyond the walls of Emanuel’s. On Fridays, July 12 and 19 we will visit Community First! Village with Mobile Loaves and Fishes in Austin, Texas. Mobile Loaves & Fishes (MLF) is a Christian social outreach ministry that has been empowering communities into a lifestyle of service with the homeless since 1998. The single greatest cause of homelessness is the profound, catastrophic loss of family. It’s from this understanding that MLF’s vision emerged to build Community First! Village to welcome home friends who had been pushed to the fringe of society.

Register below to join us on one of the tours as we explore avenues to helping our neighbors in need. We'll meet at Emanuel's at 9am. The 1.5 hour tour starts at 10:30am in Austin. Paul Sims will contact participants regarding carpooling and lunch plans.. 

“INNOVATING WELCOME”

SUMMER WORKSHOP

Hospitality is a huge piece of our ministry pie here at Emanuel's. How we welcome visitors or returning faces to worship, those seeking assistance from our church, or those encountering our church outreach ministries within the community is vital to our ongoing wellbeing. 

The Congregational Care Team, Education Team, along with Pastor Marcus and Donna Simmons, invite you to a multi-part, multi-week study that will take place on Sundays and Thursdays, June 13 to August 22.

We hope you will come for a part or all of this congregation-wide study! 

BOOK STUDY will be on select Thursdays at 8am in the Family Life Center. We will read Leading Faithful Innovation: Following God into a Hopeful Future by Dwight Zscheile, Michael Binder, and Tessa Pinkstaff. (Available on Amazon in digital, audio, and print.) 

INNOVATING WELCOME DISCUSSION will be on select Sundays at 9am in the Family Life center. We will engage scripture, seek to unpack three major themes of our hospitality: "The Act of Hospitality," "The Space of Hospitality," and "The Follow-up & Invitation," and build a new hospitality plan for Emanuel’s.

INNOVATING WELCOME EXPERIENCE will be on a select Thursday and Friday in July. Our plan is to tour Haven for Hope in San Antonio and Community First! Village in Austin, one on each respective day, and then have lunch together to debrief our experience, discuss what was seen and learned, and discern what could be brought "home" for our work in Seguin. The tour times are tentatively set for 9am and 10:30am, but dates will be finalized in June.

ORGAN REPAIRS ON THE HORIZON

We have begun a special campaign to repair parts and mechanical systems in our organ. Curtis Bobsin, Bobsin Organ Builders, has been contracted to facilitate this work along with ongoing maintenance and upkeep. The goal to be raised for these repairs is $34,000. 

The Church Council invites you to prayerfully consider making a gift, of any amount, toward the goal. You may do so by writing "Organ Repairs" on the memo line of your online gift or the check or on the memo line of the offering envelopes in the pew. The repairs, which will extend the life of our organ for many decades, will begin as soon as our goal has been met.

Read more about our organ and the needed repairs here.

Because Lutherans take care of eachother. BIG THANK YOU to the Compass Cooperative Youth Ministry and volunteers for spending Saturday morning in the Garden of Eatin'. We love supporting our youth and we love it when they support us! We are better together.

CHILDREN & YOUTH EDUCATION

CHILDREN'S CHURCH for our PK to 5th grade learners meets every Sunday. During worship Vicar Jordana leads students to the Children's Church classroom just down the hall from the sanctuary, as we begin the "Gathering Hymn" and then guides them back as we "Share the Peace." We hope you will make this a part of your family's weekly worship rhythm!

THE COMPASS COOPERATIVE Summer programing has begun! We will be joining our 6-12th grade friends from Emanuel’s St. Andrew’s, Spirit of Joy, and Friedens Church for an array of activities. Learn more about this amazing collaboration here.

On first Sundays each month we will head over to Spirit of Joy for Family Movie Night. Looking forward to “Serve and Swim!” These will be a fun Saturdays for Compass aged youth to participate in a service project in the community in the morning, followed by lunch and a pool swim in the afternoon! Check out the entire summer calendar in the link. 

SUNDAY ADULT CLASSES

THE HERITAGE CLASS meets at 9:15 am Sunday mornings on the 3rd floor in room 307. Participants explore the deeper meaning found in the Bible and seek to unlock its wisdom through fellowship and robust group discussion. The aim is to make the Bible relevant and applicable to daily life. 

THE JOY CLASS: Bible stories and songs for adults with intellectual disabilities. This Summer the class will meet on June 16 and July 14 at 9:15am in the Women's Ministry Room.

"INNOVATING WELCOME" Summer Workshop Discussion meets at 9am on June 16, 23; July 14, 21; and August 11, 18 in the Family Life Center. We will engage scripture, seek to unpack three major themes of our hospitality: "The Act of Hospitality," "The Space of Hospitality," and "The Follow-up & Invitation," and build a new hospitality plan for Emanuel’s.

Online giving is safe, simple, and quick to do through our giving 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:

Jan 1 - June 25, 2024

 Church Offering Receipts: $ 194,855.88

Budgeted Church Offering Receipts: $ 185,597.20

Operating Expenses: $ 215,188.70 *

* These figures do not include Forward In Faith remodel expenses or In-Kind Gifts

Jan 1- June 25, 2023

Church Offering Receipts: $ 197,985.64

Budgeted Church Offering Receipts: $ 178,888.87

Operating Expenses: $  186,117.68  *

* These figures do not include Forward In Faith remodel expenses or In-Kind Gifts

Emanuel's regular office hours are Monday - Thursday from 8-5. However, if the office is understaffed, you may find the answering machine catching your call or a "Gone Fishing" sign on the door. Please know that we will get back with you as soon as possible. We encourage you to call before stopping by. Everyone is also accessible via email.