Because Lutherans know serving together is better (pt. 2). It was a beautiful afternoon under the trees at Friedens Church for our “Blessing of the Animals” service on Sunday. Compass Cooperative Youth Ministry Program Director Hannah and youth from our four partnering churches led the service. We also collected and blessed a truck-load of stuffed animals for Plaza de Paz. A wonderful celebration of ministry done together! We are better together.

Please join us Sundays at 10:30 a.m.

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

Stewardship comes in a variety of shapes and forms. Sometimes it is a financial response. Other times it is a service response. While still other times it is about our response to God’s call to love and serve our neighbors. Emanuel’s Stewardship Team invites you to join us in worship for a 5-week sermon series centering on Nehemiah 2:18. Reflections on “Stewardship & Mission” will be presented from five distinctive voices: Garry Miller, Paul Sims, Pastor Gerry Harrison, Deacon John Dellis, and Bishop Sue Briner. 

Emanuel’s welcomes Deacon John Dellis as our guest preacher in the congregation’s “Stewardship and Ministry” series. He serves as the senior gift planner for the members and congregations of the Southwestern Texas Synod through Lutheran Foundation of the Southwest. He works with individuals and couples to plan legacy gifts for family, ministries of our church, and other non-profit organizations. He also works with congregational leaders to help congregations to be prepared to receive, celebrate and steward well legacy gifts from members. Deacon Dellis was a members of Emanuel’s for 13 years when he was on the staff of Texas Lutheran University. In February 2025 Emanuel’s Lutheran Church will host a Legacy Generosity Seminar. Deacon Dellis will be with us to talk about options and possibilities for the future for our congregation. 

BLESSING OF THE QUILTS

Sunday, October 20

Bishop Sue Briner will join us for Blessing of the Quilts as part of our “Stewardship and Ministry” series. Emanuel's Lutheran World Relief Quick Quilters have made more than 200 quilts this year that will be shipped across the globe to be of service to people in need. Please join us as we bless these quilts made in love for our neighbor.

LUTHERAN DISASTER RESPONSE

Two hurricanes recently have hit Florida and moved inland as tropical storms through the southeastern United States. Millions continue to be without power and remain isolated and cut off due to substantial damage in their communities.

Lutheran Disaster Response has strong relationships in the region and is already at work on the ground. Working alongside synods and other partners, Lutheran Disaster Response is prepared to expand to all impacted areas. We anticipate that our greatest impact will be reaching those in underserved and rural areas. By giving to Lutheran Disaster Response, you enable the ELCA to act quickly after disasters such as Hurricane Helene and to remain for as long as the recovery takes. You can support the response today at the link below.

Mark your calendars for Reformation Sunday worship service followed by our annual sausage lunch on the lawn. This year we are also celebrating the 75th Anniversary of Emanuel’s Lutheran Day School, the 125th Anniversary of Emanuel’s Ladies Aid, and the 155th year of Deutsche Evangelish Lutherische Emanuels Kirche, now fondly known as Emanuel’s.

The traditional worship service in the sanctuary honoring our Reformed heritage will feature organ, choral, handbell, and Day School children musical selections. Randall Springs will smoke delicious sausage links and Mike and the Middletones German Band return to entertain during the meal. First responders are invited to lunch as a small token of appreciation for their service. Canned goods donations will be collected for the Christian Cupboard.

Sign-up sheets are in the Narthex for what to bring as well as volunteers for set up on Saturday and Sunday, serving food and beverages, and clean up following.

This is truly a Homecoming Sunday- invite your family and friends to the celebration!

EMANUEL'S TRUNK OR TREAT

Friday, October 25 from 6-8pm

Mountain Street Parking Lot

Emanuel's annual community-wide Trunk-or-Treat is a great way to welcome cooler temps, all things pumpkin, and a wee bit of mischief. Let Jordana know if you will be hosting a trunk and hand out treats to little goblins.

Candy donations are also welcome in the narthex and church office. Start thinking about your costumes and invite your friends. We are going to have a delightfully spooky time!

C3 (Community-Connection-Conversation) is a time of gathering out under the Oak Tree starting in October from 7:30 - 8:30 in the mornings. Bring a chair and join us as we share in fellowship, invite new faces to sit and share their stories, and welcome visitors who pass us on the street. Our format is to be open, very fluid, and provide a place to share, visit, and grow together as a community of faith.

INFORMATION MEETING

2025 MISSION TRIP TO PUERTO RICO

Sunday, October 20 at 9am

Pastor Marcus invites everyone who has already signed up, as well as those interested in partnering again with Cross Trails Ministry and Palm Valley Lutheran Church to work on new and continuing projects for an informational meeting on Sunday, October 20 in the Family Life Center at 9am. Due to some changing plans from partner churches, more spots have come available so if you are at all interested, please join us for this informational meeting.

A WORKSHOP FOR NAVIGATING THE HOLIDAY SEASON

Emanuel’s Lutheran Church Family Life Center

Sunday, November 10 from 2-4pm

Grief during the Holidays is challenging. The season of the holidays renews memories, family ties, and traditions. We become painfully aware that our loved one is no longer present. Learning to navigate a changing world combined with the sorrow of our loss causes us to grieve on many levels. How do we allow ourselves in these times to “make our grief count” and find our resilience?

This workshop will help participants learn self care and coping skills to prepare for the holidays. This will help families to embrace their grief, while strengthening characteristics of resilience. Participants will use the holidays to discover how their loved one can live on into their life story, using this special time to continue to heal.

Presenter: Darwin Huartson, M. Div., BCC

Contact: Donna Simmons, 830-556-3542

ELDS VETERAN'S DAY PARADE

Monday, November 11 at 10am

Church Lawn

Emanuel's Lutheran Day School invites YOU to participate in our Veteran's Day Parade on the church lawn, honoring your service and dedication. This walking parade will take place on Monday, November 11th at 10 AM.

Veterans who attend Emanuel’s Lutheran Church as well as veterans who are family members of our day school children are warmly welcomed to join in the celebration. We encourage you to come dressed in uniform to proudly represent your branch of service.

Let’s gather together as a community to help teach our little ones to recognize the bravery and sacrifices of our heroes. For more information, please contact the Day School office at 830-372-0332.

Because Lutherans love the sound of music. It was a delight to worship with the TLU Orchestra, members of TLU Choirs, their families and educators last Sunday. Thank you Dr. Doug Boyer, Dr. Eliza Jeffords, Pastor Marcus, and the Worship Team for enriching us with the spirit of these bright and talented young adults. We are better together.

MY HEART SHALL SING! CONCERT

Sunday, October 20 at 4pm

All are invited to a casual concert celebrating the gift of music at Spirit of Joy Lutheran Church, 416 Dolle Ave., Seguin.

Musicians in Collaboration: Pastor Kara Hairell-Speed, Leah Matocha, & Keith Robinson. Guest Artists: Madison Clark, dancer, and Debbie Ealy, flute.

BOLD GATHERING

Saturday, October 26

Grace Lutheran Church

708 Bluff Dr, Round Rock, TX 78681

The BOLD GATHERING is a day for men to come together to learn, to network, and be equipped to BOLDLY live out their faith!

Learn more and register here.

CHILDREN & YOUTH EDUCATION

During worship Children’s Ministry Coordinator Jordana leads our PK to 5th grade learners to the Children’s Church room, just down the hall from the sanctuary, as we begin the "Gathering Hymn" and then return as we "Share the Peace."  

The Compass Cooperative is a weekly gathering for youth, hosted by our four church partners - Emanuel's, St. Andrew's, Spirit of Joy, and Friedens Church- and held on Spirit of Joy's campus. Our new rotations start Sunday, August 18 with:

• 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

"Godly Play" for children ages 4 years old through 5th grade also meets at Spirit of Joy from 4-5pm. Friends welcome as we learn and wonder together.

Confirmation Classes for our 6th to 8th graders meet this year on the 4th Sunday of every month after worship in the Women’s Ministry Room on Level 1. Lunch is at 11:45 followed by gathering activities and breakout sessions ending at 1:45pm. Participants are also invited to attend a weekend retreat at Camp Chrysalis with our Compass Cooperative friends for the Synod’s Middle School Youth Gathering in November. Pastor Marcus is available to answer any questions about our new schedule and curriculum focus. 

SUNDAY ADULT CLASSES

HYMNS & HYMNOLOGY II

Sunday, October 13 at 9am

Tom Engler invites you to join him in the Family Life Center for the last of the three sessions on hymns of the church. This session will be entirely devoted to Advent and Christmas hymns. "Some of what we do will be familiar, and some will not. But I want to introduce you to a selection of wonderful hymns contained in ELW, and I hope that we will get to sing them at one point. Then, to bring the whole thing to a close, I have a presentation on the 12 Days of Christmas that I would like to share with you. It is fun and it is light, and I trust you will enjoy it. See you then. Bring friends!"

NEW ADULT SUNDAY MORNING ADULT CLASS: Join us October 27 – November 24 in the Family Life Center as we read and discuss “Life Together” by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a book about real and practical Christian community from the perspective of one of the great modern Lutheran theologians who wrote during the reign of the Nazi Regime in Germany. As a bonus, there is a Bonhoeffer movie (Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin) to be released in theaters during the final weekend which we will go see together as a matinee. Copies of Life Together are available in the Church Office for anyone who would like to read with us. Please read up through Chapter 1 before the first class so we can discuss together.

THE HERITAGE CLASS meets at 9:00 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. 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. Upcoming dates are Sept. 8, Oct. 20, Nov. 10, and Dec. 8 at 9:00 am in the Women's Ministry Room.

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 - Oct 8, 2024

 Church Offering Receipts: $ 309,578.09

Budgeted Church Offering Receipts: $ 320,174.70

Operating Expenses: $ 379,861.23

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

Jan 1 - Oct 8, 2023

Church Offering Receipts: $ 326,650.90

Budgeted Church Offering Receipts: $ 308,602.12

Operating Expenses: $  332,754.60 *

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

We love our Property Stewards! This comedic video from the web pretty much sums up how the office staff feels about our amazing volunteers.

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.