Happy Friday Friends! Today we hear some words from the 24th chapter of the Book of Genesis....
 
                     Her brother and mother said, "let the girl stay with us for about 10 days. Then she can go. But he responded to them, "Do not delay me, since the Lord has made my journey a success."  (Genesis 24: 55-56  HCSB)
 
In scripture, waiting is often good. But delay... not so much.
   
The difference you ask? Waiting is our response to God, a conscious choice to calm ourselves and allow God to work, however long that takes (see Psalm 27:124, 37:7; Proverbs 20:22; Zephaniah 3:8). But delay is a hesitation to do what God clearly expects.  
   
In Genesis 24, Abraham's servant saw delay as an affront to God, who had answered his prayer for success in finding a wife for Isaac. Given the deciding vote, Rebekah herself chose to leave immediately.
   
Sadly, the nation that descended from this couple, through their son Jacob, delayed when given the chance to enter into the promised land. A report of giants caused them to hesitate and rebel --- and, as punishment, only two men from their entire generation would live to see Canaan (See Numbers 13-14). Decades later, when Israel was finally in the land, Joshua still had to prompt the people to do what God said: "How long will you delay going out to take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your fathers, gave you?  (Joshua 18:3 HSBC).
   
When you know what God wants, just do it. Delay only brings trouble.  
 
                          Help me, Lord, to obey You, confidently and quickly. Amen. 
 
+++ We gather for worship on Sunday at 8:30am and 10:00am. This week, the 4th Sunday after Epiphany, we will hear about the individual call God places on each of our lives and my message, Let God Do the Choosing, has me thinking about how we respond to that call. And this week once again, we'll be looking at the Corinthian church to use as an example. We will celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Communion together on Sunday and at 10:00am the choir is back with another beautiful anthem. If you can't join us in the sanctuary look for us on the church's Facebook page for our "live stream" at 10:00am! And then, after worship is completed, we will "upload" the recorded worship service to our YouTube channel, as well. However you join us, we can't wait to "see you" in worship on Sunday!

+++ Next Sunday, February 8th is our Second Sunday luncheon and this month it's a tailgate party in celebration of the big football game that day. Be sure to sign up this week please... so we can plan on how much food to prepare and then plan to wear your favorite team's apparel (even if they aren't in the big game) next Sunday!    

+++ Sunday is your last chance to pick up your 2025 giving statements on the table in the Narthex to save the church the cost of a stamp. Since we are required to provide them, please pick them up (even if you don't need them for tax purposes) to save us the cost of postage. Thanks... and thanks for all your gifts that support the important ministry work we are doing here at Immanuel!

+++ Mark your calendar to be here on Sunday, February 15th when we will welcome the Rev. Dr. Sherri Rood, our District Superintendent who will bring the message that day!  Sherri will be joining us for both worship services that day and is looking forward to worshipping with us and getting to know Immanuel even better!

+++ Ash Wednesday worship, marking the beginning of Lent, will be on Wednesday night, February 18th at 7:00pm in the Sanctuary.  We will offer the Imposition of Ashes as we start our Lenten theme, Dying His Death, Living His Life. In Lent, we are reminded that we are buried with Christ in his death so that we might live with him in his resurrection. The old is gone. The new has come. Each day affords us a chance to die to self and live for him. In word and song, we will contemplate those things that were put to death on the cross so that we might receive the blessings of new life in Christ. Join us on Ash Wednesday and throughout Lent as we journey together to new life on Easter.  

+++ All Annual Reports are due to the office NOW. Thanks for helping us keep our publishing schedule for the report booklet by getting your reports in on time! 
 
 Make this day a great day and wait on God... but never delay!   
​Pastor Jack 

As we move through January, today we hear some words from Matthew's Gospel account...
 
                  "Do not judge and criticize and condemn others, so that you may not be judged and criticized and condemned yourselves."      (Matthew 7:1  AMPC)
 
This verse is one of the world's most popular Bible verses. For many people --- including professed Christians --- it means questioning of others' beliefs or behaviors is off-limits.
   
But as is usually the case, a single verse needs context to be properly understood. In this case, the next four verses elaborate Jesus' true meaning. It's not that we as Christians can never challenge other people --- but we must never attack others for things that we ourselves are doing. Jesus described this kind of hypocrisy as a "beam of timber" in our eyes while we're seeking to remove the "very small particle" from another's eye (Matthew 7:3 AMPC). 
   
Elsewhere, Jesus taught, "Be honest in your judgement and do not decide at a glance (superficially and by appearances); but judge fairly and righteously" (John 7:24  AMPC). As Christians, we have a biblical responsibility to challenge those on a bad path, believers and unbelievers alike (See 1 Thessalonians 5:14; Jude 1: 22-23). But we must only judge according to biblical standards, and always with mercy and grace.
   
Finally, let's admit that the only person anyone can judge with total accuracy... is ourselves. We should expend our greatest energy in dealing with our own faults and failures before we ever attempt to judge anyone else.
 
          Lord, help me to judge fairly and righteously, starting with myself. Amen.  
 
+++ I am glad to be back to see you for worship at 8:30am and 10:00am on Sunday!  Thanks to all who stepped up to help lead worship last week and did such a great job! This week we will celebrate the 3rd Sunday after the Epiphany and we will hear from Matthew's Gospel about fishing for people. My message, "Called to Belong, Follow, and Share" will be examining how we are called to fulfill each of these 3 steps if we are to be true Jesus followers! And we'll use the church in Corinth to gauge our effectiveness. Join us on Sunday as we worship together. We will be "live-streaming" on the church's Facebook page at 10:00am and then "up-loading" the completed worship to our YouTube channel when completed. We can't wait to "see you" in worship on Sunday!

+++ All ministry and team leaders please remember that Annual Reports are due in the church office by January 30th so that we can prepare the report booklet for the congregation. This is a great opportunity to tell everyone about the work of your team and to invite others to join your group.

+++ Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 18th... when we will gather for worship at 7:00pm. This year's Lenten Theme is: "Dying His Death, Living His Life".  Each week we will look at how each of us is called to "die" to a part of ourselves in order to "live" into Jesus. We will also offer a Lenten Bible Study group at 12:00noon on Mondays each week beginning on February 16th. Plan to commit to a Lenten devotion with us each day and week. Just bring your lunch and be a part of our weekly study group each Monday in Lent.

+++ A NEW PROGRAM OPPORTUNITY begins next week! Each Wednesday morning at 9:30am I will be hosting a "Coffee With the Pastor" time in the Fireside Room! We'll engage in conversation, maybe a devotion or scripture or piece of poetry, or just enjoy fellowship together! We will meet from 9:30am - 10:30am and you can feel free to come and go as needed. I will put on the coffee, tea, or hot water and you can bring a snack if you'd like to do so. I hope you will join me on Wednesday mornings each week!  

+++ 2025 Year End giving statements are available for you to pick up in the Narthex. Please help us save on postage by picking yours up when you are here next. We are so grateful for your continued support of our great church.
 
Make this day a great day and try to be a fair and righteous judge!   
​Pastor Jack

Happy Friday! 
 
Today's scripture reading takes us into the 17th chapter of Genesis... to a conversation between God and Abram...
 
            "I am changing your name. It will no longer be Abram. Instead, you will be called Abraham, for you will be the father of many nations."   (Genesis 17:5 NLT)
 
A childless man when he stepped onto the biblical stage, Abram bore an ironic name: it means "exalted father." But after God promised to give Abram a child and make his descendants into a great nation, he was renamed Abraham, "father of a multitude."
   
Abram had grown up pagan in Ur of the Chaldeans, among people who "worshipped other gods" (Joshua 24:2 NLT). But the real God had big plans for Abram, as indicated by his new name.  
   
In a way, God renames each of us when God calls us to faith. The apostle Paul identified sexual sinners, the greedy, drunks, abusers, and idolaters as the kind of people naturally separated from God (1 Corinthians 6: 9-10). But when in God's love, the Lord reaches out and we respond to Jesus, God has much better names for us: "cleansed... made holy... made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ" (verse 11 NLT).
   
Now, like Abram, we please God by simply believing what God says (Genesis 15:6). If God calls you a clean, holy, righteous person through faith in Christ, accept that truth and live into it.  
 
               Lord, thank You for calling me worthy through my faith in Jesus. Help me to live up to the honor You've shown me. Amen. 
 
+++ We gather for worship on Sunday at 8:30am and 10:00am. This week, we welcome back Rev. Dr. Russ Hall, who will be preaching and leading worship while I am away in NYC. Russ's message is entitled, "Love Given and Love Received". We will, of course, be "live-streaming" the worship service on the church's FaceBook page at 10:00am and then "uploading" the completed worship service to the church's YouTube channel when the worship is concluded. Thanks to all those who are stepping up to help with the task of worship leadership this week. Plan to join us for worship either here in the Sanctuary or online on Sunday! 

+++ Congratulations to all the winners of last week's "Chili-Chowder-Soup Cookoff".   We had a wonderful time with great food and fellowship, and we thank the Fellowship Team and all who worked so hard that we could enjoy this wonderful event.  

+++ This Sunday we receive one of our 6 church-wide offerings when we pledge to help with the work of improving Human Relations in our world. Look for the special offering envelopes in the Narthex on Sunday for your second-mile gifts and thanks for supporting this important mission work!  

+++ The church office will be closed on Monday, January 19th as we celebrate Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday. The office will reopen on Tuesday morning at 9:00am. Emergency phone numbers are on the church answering machine if needed. 

+++ For team and ministry leaders... Please remember that Annual Reports for 2025 are due in the church office by January 30th! We will be publishing the Annual Report of the congregation in early February and we want to make sure each team/ministry is represented in this important report of our ministry.   
 
Make this day a great day and enjoy the new name God gives us all when we believe and accept God's call!   
​Pastor Jack  
  

Happy 2026, Friends!  "Chimings" is back and today we read these words from Matthew's Gospel...
 
                 "Someone is coming soon who is greater than I am --- so much greater that I'm not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals."  (Matthew 3: 11 NLT)
 
"Don't think you are better than you really are."
   
Maybe a parent taught you that as you were growing up. Maybe your spouse has said something similar. If so, take heed ... it's a message God Himself spoke through the apostle Paul (Romans 12:3 NLT).  
   
Perhaps Paul was thinking of John the Baptist when he wrote these words. It was John -- miracle baby, prophesied forerunner of the Messiah, the greatest of all time in the estimation of Jesus (Matthew 11:11) --- who spoke today's scripture. Whatever John's goodness (and it was impressive)... he recognized he was nothing in comparison to Jesus.
   
And whatever our intelligence, ability, looks, wealth --- anything we can take pride in -- we are nothing in comparison to Jesus. The most impressive people in history have been (or will be) felled by death. That is everyone's human destiny. But if we keep ourselves in perspective, if we acknowledge Jesus as "the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6 NLT), we gain all of Jesus' perfections and we can look forward to eternal life in God's presence. 
   
Don't think you are better than you really are. In fact, be very skeptical of yourself. Intentionally and regularly direct all the glory to Jesus.  
 
          Lord, forgive me for my pride. Help me humble myself before You, today and every day. Amen. 
 
+++ Sunday worship returns to 8:30am and 10:00am this week. Look for us at 8:30am in the Fireside Room and at 10:00am in the Sanctuary. This week we are celebrating the Baptism of the Lord and you will have a chance to remember and reaffirm your baptismal vows during worship! My message, "God's Affirmation" has me thinking about how God affirms us through God's love. If you can't join us in the church building on Sunday, look for us on the church's Facebook page for our "live-stream" at 10:00am and then on the church YouTube channel for the recorded worship service after it is completed. However you can join us... we look forward to "seeing you" in worship on Sunday!

+++ Following the 10:00am worship service, we will enjoy our Second Sunday Luncheon with our 2026 "Chili, Chowder, Soup Cook Off". We hope you have signed up to come and taste... and then choose the best tasting recipes. 

+++ Your 2026 giving envelopes are on the table in the Narthex, if you requested them. If you'd like envelopes but haven't yet asked for them please speak to Shelley to get a supply of envelopes just for you!  

+++ On Wednesday, Jan. 14th, we will offer worship at Camillus Ridge Terrace at 11:00am and then at Summerfield Village at 1:30pm. You are invited to join us for this time of worship and praise.  

+++ Thanks to all who worked so hard to put away all our Advent and Christmas decorations on Tuesday. Many hands made for lighter work and Julie and her teams did a great job. Thank you all!  
 
Make this day a great day and always remember to stay humble before God!   
​Pastor Jack