Friday, May 30, 2025

As we prepare to turn another page on our calendars, we hear these words from John's Gospel account...

                  Jesus shouted to the crowds, "If you trust me, you are trusting not only me, but also God who sent me. For when you see me, you are seeing the one who sent me. I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark."        (John 12: 44-46 NLT)

You know, if you want to know how God feels about you and other people, how God wants you to treat other people, how you are to relate to God... closely watch and listen to Jesus as you read His earthly story in the four gospel accounts.
   
In today's scripture verses, Jesus told a crowd of His followers that trusting Him was the same thing as trusting the heavenly Father. Earlier in the Gospel of John, Jesus said, "My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me. Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own"  (John 7:16-17 NIV).
   
You can trust Jesus and build your life of faith around Jesus' every action and word.

   Loving Father, thank you for sending your only Son to earth, where He would teach and heal many before dying a sacrificial death so that we could be saved. Thank you, Jesus, for revealing the heart and mind of God during your time here on earth. Amen. 


+++ Join us on Sunday for worship at either 8:30am or 10:00am, when we will celebrate the 7th Sunday of Easter. We will hear Jesus' prayer that we all might be one in our faith and my message is entitled, "Helping the World to Believe". We will celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Communion at each worship service and at 10:00am we will also welcome Emma and Hugh to the family of God through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism. We will also hear information about Immanuel's M2 ministry work and begin to think about how we can support our church ministries through this program. We will, of course, be "live streaming" the 10:00am worship live on the church's Facebook page and then "uploading" the completed worship to our YouTube channel.  However you can join us, we look forward to "seeing" you in worship on Sunday!

+++ Following the 10:00am worship, a group of folks will be heading out to do some highway clean-up work along Route 695. It isn't too late to participate and you can talk to our coordinator Lynne H. to get more information.

+++ Our Board of Trustees meet on Wednesday afternoon at 4:00pm in the Fireside Room. All trustees please try to attend this important meeting. 

+++ Next Sunday is Pentecost and there is a lot going on...

• We hope you will try to wear something RED from your closet on Pentecost!
•  It will be Commitment Sunday for M2 pledging during worship.
•  Following worship, we'll enjoy our annual church picnic! Are you signed up yet??
• Our young people will also be offering a fundraising Car Wash for their animal rescue mission project!
• We will deliver our monthly Meal Ministry deliveries. Let Marilyn V. know if you have a name to add for a meal delivery.  

Make this day a great day and keep an eye out for Jesus at work in your life today!  Pastor Jack