Friday, February 7, 2025

As we head into another weekend, today's scripture reading comes to us from Paul's second letter to the Corinthians...

                 "Our faces, then, are not covered.  We all show the Lord's
                     glory, and we are being changed to be like him. This
                     change in us brings more and more glory. And it comes
                                      from the Lord, who is in Spirit."    
                                       (2 Corinthians 3: 18   ICB)

Lately it seems so true, doesn't it? The only thing that is constant in our lives... is change! Things we have loved, people we have spent our lives with, situations we are really comfortable with... are changing all around us.  
   
Our kids take jobs out of town (and take our grandkids with them!), the employer we've been with for years moves its operations out of town, or a much loved family member goes home to be with Jesus. And we are left behind feeling like all these changes are just overtaking us and filling us with sorrow. How can we ever continue to live with all these changes???
   
But scripture reminds us that many of these changes come directly from the Holy Spirit to allow God's plan for us and the world to be brought to fruition. But still... all these changes are tough! Maybe.... just maybe... it will help us to hear the words of God in these times...
  
"I am shaping you into the person I want you to be. Don't fight the changes, or try to speed them up. Let Me set the pace as I create a better You!"

+++ We gather for worship on Sunday at 8:30am and 10:00am. This week we will hear from Luke's Gospel account as Jesus takes his friends on a fishing trip! They learn (and I hope we will as well) that sometimes it takes a view from a different perspective to really find the fish we seek. Join us as we hear this story and think about what it says to each of us in worship this week! We will, of course, be "live-streaming" at 10:00am on the church Facebook page and then "uploading" the completed worship to our YouTube channel when it is completed!  

+++ Also on Sunday we celebrate "SOUPER Bowl Sunday".  Wear your favorite team's gear (whether they are in the big game or not!) and bring a few cans or boxes of soup to use to vote for the team you think will win! You get to vote with SOUP! All the donated soup will be shared by the food pantries at St. Joseph's church and Brown Memorial UMC. And Lisa will offer us a special musical offering as we bring the SOUP forward to cast our votes. Who says you can't have FUN while worshipping? Come prepared to enjoy SOUPER Bowl Sunday here at Immanuel. (There will be buckets for monetary donations if you would like to do so, also one for each team so you can vote for the winner.)

+++ Following worship our Second Sunday Lunch offering is an indoor tailgate party! Thanks to all who have signed up, as we enjoy tailgate foods together in the Fellowship Hall!      

+++ Our Finance Team meets on Tuesday night at 6:00pm in the Fireside Room to do their important work. 

+++ Our Annual Report books are completed and available on the table in the Narthex. Pick one up if you would like. Thanks to all those who lead here at Immanuel and got their reports in in a timely manner!  

+++ The deadline for articles for our March/April newsletter is coming up on February 20th. Please make sure your articles are in the church office by that date.  Thanks!  

Make this day a great day and try to embrace life's changes as God moves among us!    Pastor Jack