eNews - Emmanuel Lutheran Church

eNews

Week of September 27, 2020

Mark Your Calendars:

Thursday, October 1: Thursdays Together with guest moderator, Kathy Anderson, Zoom 10:00am
Registration now open for In-Person Worship the weekend of October 3-4; Scott Pinkerton will deliver the message.
Wednesday, September 30: Confirmation Class, Zoom 7:00pm

In Person Worship Update...

Now that we have had a couple of weekends with in-person worship services, there are a couple reminders we wish to share with you.

First, we want to remind everyone to be diligent with the 6 feet social distancing requirements. This applies everywhere in the building and in the parking lot. It is only normal to want to get up close to someone you haven’t seen during the last 7 months, but please stay 6 feet away when having a conversation or taking a seat in the pew. If there is not 6 feet between you and a person already seated then move on to another available pew! Please do not stop in the narthex or inside the sanctuary doors to visit. This creates a clog and people cannot get through to the pews. We would like everyone to have a seat in the sanctuary as quickly as possible when they arrive.

Second, we ask for your patience with exiting. Please have a seat after Pastor Hall has ended the service and wait for the Ushers to dismiss your row. They start at the back of the sanctuary as this is the safest way for you to exit without close contact to others. For everyone’s safety and proper distancing follow the Ushers instructions.

Click Here to Register For October 3-4

THURSDAY TOGETHER with Kathy Anderson

October 1 @10am

Join our community of faith for conversation around the gospel for the week. This is a thirty-minute Zoom dialogue with Kathy Anderson while pastor is on vacation. There is a short litany followed by the reading and open discussion on the text for the following Sunday's worship. It is a time to see faces and an opportunity to connect-up with members of Emmanuel.

Topic: Thursday's Together

Time: Thursday, October 1 @10:00am

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/92351281523?pwd=Q0FMOGFxSUNnUFhpZzBQdHF6RW03Zz09

Meeting ID: 923 5128 1523

Password: 999623

Stewardship Campaign for 2021

As we rejoice in the return to worship services in our church, your Stewardship Committee is announcing our Fall Campaign for 2021.

This year’s theme is “Let Your Light Shine”. Our Campaign officially begins on October 1, 2020 and will run through Consecration Sunday, November 8, 2020.

New for this year is that our campaign is going virtual, beginning with an email on October 1st, that will be sent to every member who receives the eNews via email . The email will include a letter from Pastor Hall, an updated Financial Contribution Options explanation and links to our online Time & Talent Sheet and Pledge Card. These should be completed no later than November 8th. The Financial Secretary will be the only person to see your Pledge Card. If you receive a printed copy of the eNews via mail, we will send you paper copies of the Fall Stewardship Campaign documents during the first week of October.

Please be sure every adult member of your household over the age of 18 accesses the link provided and completes their own online Time & Talent Sheet.
If you prefer, beginning with church services in October, printed copies of the Time & Talent Sheet and 2021 Pledge Card will be available in the Narthex.

We have many volunteer opportunities in our church to “Let Your Light Shine”. Click here for more information on these opportunities to view the “Become Part of Our Church Family” booklet. We encourage you to review this information before you complete your Time & Talent sheet.

After receiving the links or the mailing of the entire campaign, please complete your 2021 Time & Talent Sheet and Pledge Card by November 8, 2020, Consecration Sunday.

We pray for you and your loved ones continued health and safety, and we look forward to “Letting Our Lights Shine” in the New Year.

Your Stewardship Committee

Barb's Medical Minute

It is flu shot season. I think that more people will be getting the flu vaccination this year than ever before! This is a good thing. But, a couple of thoughts. Recommendations from doctors are October to the first part of November as the ideal time to get your shot. The vaccine does wear off, so you don’t want to get it so early that in January or February you don’t have any protection and we are still in the height of flu season.

Stay Safe, Stay Healthy!

Barb Spenks, Parish Nurse

Weekly Spotlights

We have returned to worship in the sanctuary!! It is WORSHIP and it surely a NEW EXPERIENCE. Masks, hand sanitizer, pre-registration, limited seating, no congregational singing, pre-packaged communion elements and social distancing all make worship in the sanctuary safer. Thank you for your patience and for following the guidelines.

We also continue to improve our virtual worship on the internet and FaceBook. The Worship and Music committee has been busy arranging people to serve in new and modified roles to support worship. If you are interested in helping as an usher, communion minister or sanitizer, please contact Mike Anderson and he will direct you to the appropriate leader.

Consecrated Holy Communion elements are offered at each worship service in the sanctuary and are available for use during virtual worship. Stop by the office during normal hours to pick yours up. Pastor also continues to provide a Wednesday Word and Thursdays Together with worship and discussion of the coming Sunday’s Gospel.

WELCA eNews – October

"Dear Friend in Christ"

One of the foundations of Women of the ELCA (WELCA) is friendship. WELCA nationally is offering a unique friendship letter exchange project, “Dear Friend in Christ.” The women and girls at Emmanuel are invited to participate.

It is easy and fun. Write or type a letter and use the salutation, “Dear Friend in Christ.” In your letter you might ask, “How is your faith in Jesus sustaining you during the pandemic?” You may include words of encouragement and a prayer. Photos, drawings, and recipes are suggested additions to your letter. When you write to, “Dear Friend in Christ,” a friend will get your letter and you will get their letter. Letters are paired at random. Women of the ELCA staff will read all letters. The exchange can be anonymous or you may provide your contact information. Print and sign the, “Dear Friend in Christ,” release form or the online form by clicking on the WELCA logo. WELCA cannot exchange letters without a release. Girls under 18 must have parental consent. Mail your letter and signed release form to Dear Friend in Christ, Women of the ELCA, 8765 W Higgins Road, Chicago IL 60631. Deadline for mailing letters to the WELCA churchwide organization is October 15, 2020. WELCA will continue exchanging letters received through November 1, 2020.

God’s blessings on new friendships.

Dr. Marlyce Holbach, WELCA PresidentETTERS

A new Zoom Confirmation Class with Pastor Hall and Donna Batchelor has begun on Wednesday evenings at 7pm. If you have youth in grades 6th and up who have not been confirmed, contact Kelley Hurlburt, Youth Director for details.

Join Bishop Suárez and your friends from around the Florida-Bahamas Synod for our next Youth Check-In on September 27^th at 4:00pm.

We’ll have special guest speakers, music, and prayers together. PLUS, when you register, you’ll be automatically entered into our drawing to win a surprise gift!

This event is open for all middle and high school-aged youth!

Adult Youth Leaders: Do you have another youth event scheduled for this time? Why not make this event YOUR event? Join our Synod Youth Check-In with your youth group. Click the image above to register.

I SCREAM, YOU SCREAM

WE ALL SCREAM FOR ICE CREAM!

The ChillMobile will be in the Emmanuel parking lot

on Saturday, October 10^th

from 5:30pm to 7:30pm

Park in the parking lot and go to the truck to

Select your free ice cream treat

Remember social distancing (in a lawn chair, if you wish) and wear masks for everyone’s safety.

Are you a Facebook FANatic?

Do you like posting inspirational stories, pictures and quotes on Facebook? Do you find yourself sharing all the GOOD NEWS? Then you should consider taking over the volunteer job of "managing" Emmanuel's FB page. If you are interested in becoming part of sharing the good things happening in the life of our congregation - please contact the office.

The Energizer Quilters!

The Dorcas ladies don't want to stop. We had made 100 quilts when we were shut down at the end of March. The count is now 254 all because Linnea and Chris assemble the back, batting and top, held together with large safety pins, Pennie and Kathy take those to sew around the sides at home, and when those come back, others take them home to tie. It's working very nicely and everyone is happy to see each other even if it's 15 minutes.

Thanks to Jackie Miller for the update!!

In the News...

The office is always trying to keep you informed. Here are a few items for you:

The Oct-Dec edition of Christ in Our Home is available at the office or are also available at worship services.

The only way we know that someone in our church family is in the hospital and/or in need of prayers etc., is if you call the office and give us the information. We will then forward it to Pastor Hall, Pastor Davis, Barb, and/or the prayer chain.

Because of the reduced hours of the office, the deadline for articles for the eNews is Tuesday at 9am.

Please remember to wear your name tag to church - sometimes it is hard to tell who is behind that mask! 🙂

It's not too late to submit your favorite recipe for our Pandemic Cookbook. Click here, log in to Emmanuel, password 3675272. Go to the Recipe Center, then add a New Recipe. If you prefer, you can mail your recipe to Vicki Erickson, our cookbook editor.

Please notify the office of any address, email, phone number, etc. changes you have made so our records are up-to-date. We try to keep our church database and mobile directory current. It is the best source for member information. If you do not have the link to the mobile directory, email the office and we will send you the instructions and password.

Want to know more about some of the items in eNews? When viewing the eNews online or on your mobile device and you see the pointing finger when running your mouse over a graphic or text, you will be able to link to more information such as a flyer, website, etc. Try it with the top picture of the church!!

Devotional/worship: Wednesday's Word and Sunday Worship are available on Facebook and Emmanuel's website. Thursdays Together with Pastor Hall accessible through the Zoom link above. All previous worship services are also available by clicking on the Vimeo logo in the upper left corner of the posted video on the website.

On the Website...

It was great to see people back in the church for worship. We've added a slide show from our first weekend of in-person worship. Click on the picture at the right to see it!!

In Our Prayers...

Remember: David Aemisegger, Debby Bell, Sharon Davis, Debbie Faydash and Marcia Hatteberg..

God's Blessings to:

Rich and Jan Miller as they return to Fort Wayne.
Henry & Carol Arnet who celebrate their 57th wedding anniversary on September 26th.

Stewardship Emphasis for September

Outreach Ministries

Emmanuel's Outreach Ministries implements ways and means by which we reach out to others in our local communities and beyond (globally) through a combination of volunteer services, financial support and relationship building. The committee supports external communications programs and participate in initiatives that focus on community/ecumenical involvement to further Emmanuel's commitment to service evangelism. This includes but is not limited to: Family Promise, Dade City Farm Workers, South County Food Pantry, and many, many more activities during the year.

Outreach Emphasis for September

Boys and Girls Club

Since 1970, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County have played an integral role in the Sarasota County community, providing daily programs and services to thousands of young people. The mission of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County is to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. The vision is to provide a world-class Club experience that assures success is within reach of every young person who walks through our doors, with all members on track to graduate from high school with a plan for the future, demonstrating good character and citizenship, and living a healthy lifestyle.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County provides after-school and summer programs for more than 9,000 children and youth ages 6-18 at six Club locations throughout the county.