Another week has come and gone here at Immanuel! Today we hear some words from Psalm 91...
 
           "Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of
             the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, 'He is my refuge and my fortress,
                                           my God, in whom I trust."
                                             (Psalm 91: 1-2 NIV)
 
Since we live in an area prone to severe winter storms, we know that sometimes it's unwise and unsafe to venture out, even for a short time, when the snow is falling, the ice is forming, and the wind is howling. Common sense should guide us to the best decision for that day: Stay sheltered indoors where it's dry and warm.
   
The writer of Psalm 91 understood well the importance of remaining sheltered in the Lord, especially in times of difficulty and danger. He knew that God never promised him a trouble-free life (verse 15), but he also was convinced that his best hope was to dwell "in the shelter of the Almighty."
   
God hasn't changed one iota since Psalm 91 was penned all those centuries ago. Today, we still have the privilege of resting in the shelter the Lord provides. When we purposefully take shelter in our loving heavenly Father's shadow, we put ourselves in the place to receive an amazing blessing: God's protection and comfort. 
 
Lord Jesus, thank you that because I belong to you, I can take refuge under the Father's shadow today and every day. May I never stray, for even one moment, from that shadow. Amen. 
 
+++ We worship on Sunday at both 8:30am and 10:00am. This week we will hear, once again, the Great Commission from the end of Matthew's Gospel account and my message is entitled, "Comings and Goings". Following our 10:00am worship service it will be time for our annual Church Picnic! We have lots of people signed up and will have lots of fun, as well. And, of course, it is always a tasty treat when Methodists gather for a picnic. During the picnic take a few moments and get your car washed at the Youth Car Wash! All of the proceeds will be split between the Golisano Children's Hospital and Devin's Rec Room here in Camillus. We will also be celebrating the Sacrament of Holy Baptism at the 10:00am worship service. If you can't be here in person, look for us on the church's Facebook page at 10:00am for our "live stream" or after the worship is completed on the church's YouTube channel.

+++ Also on Sunday we will make our commitments to Immanuel's M2 campaign. This program provides needed support for our Maintenance and Mission work! We will have extra pledge cards available if you forget yours and we hope you will pray about supporting this important work. 

+++ Next Sunday, June 21st, we switch to our summer worship schedule with one worship service at 9:00am. This schedule will continue through the Labor Day weekend. We will welcome Rebekah Solar, from our conference staff, as our preacher next Sunday.   
 
Make this day a great day and always rest secure in God's protection and comfort.  Pastor Jack 

Happy Friday, Friends!  

Here are some words from Mark's Gospel account....
 
             "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up
                              their cross and follow me."         (Mark 8:34  NIV)
 
When asked if we'd be willing to die for Christ, many of us are eager to raise our hands. Hearing stories of missionaries who are killed by natives, we feel inspired and ready to face death for a cause we believe in. But why does it seem we're often more willing to die for Christ than we are to LIVE for Him?
   
At worst, it might be because deep down we all know how improbable such scenarios are, so we feel safe in plugging ourselves into the stories. But maybe the answer is something less cynical. Maybe it's because the act of making a sudden, dramatic decision is easier than living a quiet, consistent life. When it comes to the daily grind --- the consistent refusal of temptation in a world that mocks us, the willpower to show kindness toward those who annoy us, and the quiet dedication that drives daily devotions --- noble sentiments tend to fade fairly fast.
   
But this is exactly the kind of life to which Christ calls us --- a life born not of emotion or a sense of self-importance but of dedication to the one who dedicated His life to saving us. Are you willing to make that sacrifice?  
 
              Lord, fill me heart not with shallow notions of grandeur but with a deep longing for Your righteousness.   Amen.   
 
+++ We have a great Sunday of worship planned for this weekend! It is the 2nd Sunday after Pentecost and we will be celebrating the Sacrament of Holy Communion at each of the worship services at 8:30am and 10:00am. At 8:30am my message is entitled, "Outside In and Inside Out" and I am thinking about the call Jesus places on our lives to lead others to a relationship with God, from both the inside and the outside. At 10:00am we will celebrate the Rite of Confirmation for 5 of our wonderful young people and we will be meeting them and hearing from them, as well. The Choir is also back with another beautiful anthem and the confirmands will be serving Communion at this service! We will, of course, be "live-streaming" on the church's Facebook page at 10:00am and then "uploading" the completed worship to our YouTube channel. We hope to "see you" in worship on Sunday!

+++ We welcome Hae Kue Gay Moo this Sunday as our new Nursery Supervisor. Hae Kue will be available in the nursery for both services each week to care for our littlest members. Please stop by and welcome her to our church family.

+++ Hopefully you have received your M2 estimate of giving forms in the mail. We invite you to prayerfully consider supporting our Missions and Maintenance for the upcoming year. We will return our forms during worship on June 14th. If you need a form, please see Shelley or contact the church office.

+++ Our Finance Team meets on Tuesday night at 6:00pm and then the Administrative Council meeting follows at 6:30pm. Members please try to be here for these important meetings. Thanks!

+++ Next Sunday is our annual Church Picnic. Please make sure you sign up this Sunday so we know how many people to prepare for. As we picnic our young people will be offering their annual CAR WASH with this year's proceeds being donated to help the work of Golisano Children's Hospital in Syracuse. Plan to get your car washed next Sunday and we encourage you to be generous in your donation to support the important mission work of our young people.  

+++ Remember to mark your calendars... as we switch to our summer worship schedule of one worship service at 9:00am starting on Sunday, June 21st. We will also be celebrating Peace with Justice ministries on this Sunday. So look for the special offering envelopes when you enter the Narthex on that day.  
 
Make this day a great day and  always be willing to take up your cross and follow Jesus!   
​Pastor Jack 

Happy Friday, friends! Today we hear some scripture from Mark's Gospel account...
 
                    John had been telling Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife!"  So Herodias held a grudge against him and wanted to kill him.  
                                      (Mark 6: 18-19 HCSB)
 
The world we live in loves the idea of knowing the truth. Scientists dedicate their lives to the quest for knowledge. Celebrities are idolized for being honest about their personal lives. And countless books, movies, and songs repeatedly quote Jesus' famous line: "The truth will set you free" (John 8:32 AMPC).  
   
But what happens when the truth is something that people don't want to hear? What happens when the world that's in love with it's sin, hears that Jesus died to rescue them from sin? Do they stick to their guns and accept it like they do everything else? For some people, yes. Otherwise, the Church would be long gone. But usually people react much the same way Herodias acted when John told Herod the truth: anger. Even we Christians can become upset when brothers and sisters in Christ point out flaws in our lives that need to change.  
   
But it's our responsibility to uphold the truth, whether they (or we) like it or not. When confronted with hostility, strong faith doesn't back down --- it doubles down. By planting your roots in the truth, your faith will stand when the world's lies turn to ashes.  
 
                    Jesus, You are the truth upon which I want to build my life.  
                     May I never succumb to the easy lies around me. Amen. 
 
+++  Sunday worship is at 8:30am and 10:00am as we gather to celebrate PENTECOST! That's right... It's the celebration of the arrival of God's Holy Spirit. It is also international WEAR RED TO CHURCH DAY! Check your closets to see what red apparel you might have for worship on Sunday! Our Gospel lesson hears Jesus teaching about life-giving waters and that is also the title of my message!  We will, of course, be "live-streaming" the worship service on the church's Facebook page at 10:00am and then "uploading" the recorded  worship to our YouTube channel after it is completed. We hope to "see you" for worship on Sunday morning!  

+++ The church office will be closed on Monday in observance of Memorial Day. We will reopen the office on Tuesday morning at 9:00am.

+++ On Tuesday, 5/26 St. Michael's Lutheran Church is offering another of their Grab and Go dinners. The serving starts at 5:00pm in the parking lot and don't be late for this Chicken cacciatore dinner!   

+++ Next week Pam, Helen Forward and I will attend the Annual Conference sessions in Syracuse. I will have my cell phone in the case of pastoral emergencies and the office will be staffed by volunteers each morning. Thanks to those who offered to help out!  

+++ This is the last call for summer campership scholarships to be into the office!  Thanks! 
 
Make this day a great day and always stand on the truth of Jesus!   
​Pastor Jack 

"Sing praises to God, sing praises; For God is the king of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm." Psalm 47:6-7

+++ Join us for worship on Sunday, May 17!  Come in person at 8:30am or 10am. Join us on Facebook Live at 10am or later on YouTube. However you come, we are glad you came!

+++ Tomorrow, Saturday, May 16, the Cornell Master gardeners will hold a plant sale from 9am-11am in the Fellowship Hall. These are all locally grown plants and are indigenous to our area. Come early for the best selection!

+++ On Sunday May 17, our Highway Clean up crew will be heading out to pick up trash along Route 695. It's not too late to join in, and you will also get lunch!

+++ Our confirmation class will meet after Highway Clean up as many of our confirmands will be joining the work crew.

+++ Pray for Peace, Tuesday, May 19 at 6:30pm. Are you concerned about the growing tension around the world, our country, our communities, or even the growing tension within yourself? You are invited to join us for a time of communal prayer and quiet reflection as we raise our voices together. We will gather to seek peace through the reading of the Psalms, the lighting of candles, and reflective meditation.

+++ Coffee with the Pastor. Wednesday mornings at 9:30am in the Fireside room. All are welcome for this time of coffee and fellowship.

God is good. All the time.
All the time. God is good.

Blessings from the church office.

As we prepare for another weekend of worship and ministry, we hear some words from Matthew's Gospel account....
 
           When the disciples heard it, they fell facedown and were terrified. Then Jesus came up, touched them, and said, "Get up; don't be afraid."     
                                                                                                   (Matthew 17: 6-7   HCSB) 
 
The phrases "fear God," "fear of God," and "fear of the Lord" appear fifty-five times in the Holman Christian Standard Bible, from which today's scripture reading is drawn. While it's true that fear implies an element of strong respect for God, in many cases in scripture, it's an actual terror of the Lord's holiness and power.
   
Matthew 17 describes Jesus' transfiguration, when He granted Peter, James, and John a preview of His coming glory. That must have inspired awe: Jesus, accompanied by the long-ago prophets Moses and Elijah, "was transformed in front of them, and His face shone like the sun. Even His clothes became as white as the Light" (verse 2 HCSB). But when God's voice from heaven silenced Peter's babbling about erecting tents for Jesus and the prophets, the disciples fell on their faces in abject fear.
   
Jesus' response for them is the same as he has for us: "Don't be afraid." The fearsome God of the universe proved His love by sending Jesus to die for our sins (Romans 5:8). And when we follow Jesus by faith, however imperfectly, we are "blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavens" (Ephesians 1:3 HCSB). So remember to fear.... but don't be afraid. 
 
                  Jesus, thank You for making Your Father my Father as well. Now I don't have to be afraid! Amen.  
 
+++ On Sunday we will gather once again for worship at 8:30am and 10:00am. We will be celebrating not only the 6th Sunday of Easter, but also Mother's Day! In worship we'll continue hearing from Jesus' words to his disciples on the last night he would spend with them and his assurance never to leave them alone. My message is entitled, "Jesus Will Never Leave Us" and I am thinking about all the ways Jesus demonstrates to us that he accompanies us always. Come and join me as I think this through, please. There will be great special music at each of our worship services on Sunday and we will save you a seat! We also continue our "live streaming" on the church's Facebook page and "uploading" the recorded worship on our YouTube channel, as well. However you can join us, we can't wait to see you in worship on Sunday!

+++ On Tuesday our Finance Team will meet at 6:00pm in the Fireside Room and then our Administrative Council meeting follows at 6:45pm. We hope to see you all at these important meetings next week!

+++ Each Wednesday morning we gather for Coffee With the Pastor at 9:30am in the Fireside Room. Great conversation and fellowship is always available (along with a good cup of coffee or tea)!  

+++ Next Saturday, May 16th is the plant sale offered by the Cornell Cooperative Extension's Master Gardeners group. The sale starts at 9:00am.....so be here early for the best assortment of plants for your summer gardens.   

+++ Have you signed up yet to help with the Highway cleanup project after worship on May 17th? Many hands make light work and a luncheon will be offered here as well! Please sign up on the white board today!   

+++ Mark your calendars to attend a new gathering of our Prayer for Peace group which meets on Tuesday night, May 19th at 6:30pm in the Fireside Room. We will join together to pray for peace in our lives and in the world. We hope to see you there!  
 
Make this day a great day and always be fearful but never afraid!   
​Pastor Jack