Because Lutherans understand important work (pt.2). The popcorn machine has been stowed. The snow cone syrup has been cleaned. Naps have been earned. What a Rally Day Carnival it was! Thank you to everyone who made Sunday's seasonal kick-off event possible. Who said work can't be fun? Check out the photos and let us know who had more fun, the kids or the adults. We are better together.

📷 Carrie M. & Deanna Z.

Sunday Worship at 10:30am is in the sanctuary, online on YouTube, and on radio KWED AM 1580.

11th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C

Remember the sabbath day. Call the sabbath a delight. This is the Lord’s day, and the Lord will do for us what the Lord does: feed us, forgive us, help and heal us. Rejoice at all the wonderful things God is doing.

The Internship Committee invites you to celebrate the end of Vicar Rudy’s one-year internship with Emanuel’s on Sunday, August 31. There will be special refreshments following worship and a chance thank Vicar Rudy for his loving service to Emanuel’s. All are welcome. 

Hi, you wordsmiths. I hope you are getting your hymn lists ready for our second summer session on Sunday, August 31 at 9am in the Family Life Center. I look forward to a great session!

-Tom Engler, session leader

WE SEE YOU!

Talk about work being disguised as fun. Emanuel's Ladies Aid members, pictured here with activity staff from Avir, had a blast spending time with residents at Seguin-Nesbit Nursing Center while playing bingo. This wonderful ministry has activities all year long. The next Ladies Aid meeting is Wednesday, September 3 at 2pm in the Women's Ministry Room. They would love to meet you!

Mark your calendar for Sunday, September 7, when congregations of the ELCA will join together for the annual day of service, “God’s work. Our hands.” Participating in service projects is one way to celebrate who we are as the ELCA — one church, freed in Christ to serve and love our neighbor.

Our projects include: LWR quilt tying; LWR Health and School Kit assembly; card writing to 1st responders, military, and community leaders; Garden of Eat’n weeding and preparation for fall planting; security camera wiring and installation at the Day School; and church campus window cleaning, Mountain Street door security preparations, and potential room painting.

SCHEDULE:

• 7:30am Gather at the Garden of Eat’n to begin the outside work
• 8:00am Gather inside the Day School to begin the wiring installation work
• 8:30am Gather in the Women’s Ministry Room for Mountain Street door projects 
• 9:00am Gather in the Fellowship Hall for all LWR quilt tying, kit assembly, and card projects
• 10:00am Projects begin their wrap-up time
• 10:30am Worship begins, celebrating all of the projects accomplished around the campus

DAY SCHOOL CAMERA INSTALLATION: The Day School needs cameras run in the Ark building, both to the classrooms and to the outdoor playground. This will provide both greater transparency with parents and caretaker training opportunities. Our auditors also told us that within the near future, this will be mandatory for all Day Schools to maintain their certification and we’d like to stay ahead of the curve. Our plan is to run ethernet cables throughout the Ark building ceilings to hang 5 cameras (3 inside classrooms and 2 outside) connected back to the closet in the main office. If you’re interested in making a difference to these kids and our ministry, then hit up Paul Sims, ithelp@elcseguin.org, for more info (bonus points if you have fiberglass cable fishing rods you can bring). Let’s make Emanuel's Day School as great as we possibly can this upcoming “God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday!

MAKING YOUR GRIEF COUNT is a 3-week grief program for those who have experienced loss of any kind to work through their grief, learn about healthy coping tools, and discover a path to healing in a supportive environment.

Pastor Darwin Huartson facilitates this program at Emanuel’s in the Family Life Center on Sundays, September 7, 14, and 21 from 2-4pm. Donna Simmons can answer your questions at 830-379-5046 or donna@elcseguin.org.

2026 Emanuel's All-Church Retreat is January 23-25. Hosted by Cross Trails Ministry, our weekend will be a time of rest and renewal, games and activities, fellowship and fun, and time spent away at beautiful Camp Chrysalis. There will be chances to explore, hike, do archery, canoe, sing and worship, create arts & crafts, and participate in service projects. Starry nights and s’mores, too! Please take a moment to fill out the interest forms in the narthex or via the link below so that our team can best prepare for the weekend. We hope you will join us for this amazing retreat with our Synod’s camping program!

IGNITE YOUTH AND FAMILY: Join us for our first Ignite Youth & Family event of the fall school semester! We will gather at "Main Event" on Loop 1604 for games, pizza, laser tag, and bowling! Sign-up by Sunday, September 21 in the Narthex or by emailing Pastor Marcus or Charis! We will be purchasing games and activity cards for our youth who want to come and we need a good head count. We hope you can make it!

Emanuel's Ministry Teams gather next on Wednesday, September 24 at 5:30 in the Women's MInistry. After dinner we will roll up our sleeves and get to work on events and projects to wrap up 2025. Note that in September we will meet on the last Wednesday of the month. Come see what is going on and how you can help.

Please find the Congregation Council minutes from the July meeting below. The next Congregation Council meeting is Sunday, September 14, 2025 at noon in the Family Life Center.

CHILDREN & YOUTH EDUCATION

CONFIRMATION CLASSES kick off Sunday, August 24 for our 6th to 8th graders. We meet this year on the 4th Sunday of every month after worship in the Women’s Ministry Room. Lunch will be at 11:45 followed by gathering activities and breakout sessions, ending at 1:45pm. Pastor Marcus can answer new schedule and curriculum focus questions.

Children's Church is a weekly time for our younger learners to join in Bible study, crafts, and activities. During worship Children’s Ministry Assistant Charis leads our PK to 5th graders to the Children’s Church room, just down the hall from the sanctuary, and returns as we share the peace.

The Compass Cooperative gathers on Sundays with our four church partners - Emanuel's, St. Andrew's, Spirit of Joy, and Friedens Church- at the Spirit of Joy campus, 416 Dolle Ave., Seguin, TX 78155. Contact: Compass Program Director Hannah Hansen.

Middle School Compass (6th to 8th grade) from 4-5pm

Dinner for everyone at 5pm

High School Compass (9th to 12th grade) from 5:30-6:30pm

SUNDAY ADULT CLASSES

THE HERITAGE CLASS meets at 9:15 am Sunday mornings on Level 3 in room 307. Participants explore the deeper meaning found in the Bible and seek to unlock its wisdom through fellowship and robust group discussion, making the Bible relevant and applicable to daily life. This summer our Bible Study is "Living Faith."

THE JOY CLASS: Bible stories and songs for adults with intellectual disabilities at 9:00 am one Sunday a month in the Women's Ministry Room.

THE DISCIPLES CLASS (Family Life Center): 9:00 am Sept 14 – Oct 19. “Sermon on the Mount: Living the Good Life of the Kingdom of God” led by Paul Sims. The Sermon on the Mount in Matthew is arguably the most influential sermon ever written. Even Gandhi found it life changing, and the Sermon on the Mount was the main idea behind his philosophy of nonviolence. Join us as we work through this literary work of art, grappling with the teachings of Jesus and how we can apply his sayings to our world today.

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 - Aug 19, 2025: 

Budgeted Church Offering Receipts: $  263,279.54

      Actual Church Offering Receipts: $ 257,403.67

        Actual Other Receipts: $ 48,876.00

Total Receipts From Offering and Other Receipts YTD: $ 306,279.67

Operating Expenses YTD: $  302,262.85  *

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

Jan 1 - Aug 19, 2024:

Budgeted Church Offering Receipts: $  263,279.54

     Actual Church Offering Receipts: $ 266,860.47

     Actual Other Receipts: $89,664.21

Total Receipts From Offering and Other Receipts YTD: $  356,524.68   

Operating Expenses YTD:  $ 309,206.44  *

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

Emanuel's 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.