Friday, November 15, 2024

As we prepare for worship this weekend, today's scripture reading comes to us from the Prophet Isaiah...

                     "He wakens me morning by morning".     (Isaiah 50:4 NIV)

"Wake me up, Lord! Please don't let me roll over and go back to sleep. Help me seek you early in the morning. I want more of You, but I usually choose to sleep. Help me to hear You calling me to spend time with you. Keep me from being sleepy and lax when I have the opportunity to fellowship with You. Let me give You my complete, undivided attention..."

I think this is the heart cry of so many of us. We intend to wake early and pray more. We intend to be fully engaged whenever we spend time with God. But we either can't get out of bed until the last minute, or when we find a free moment, we turn on the TV.  We can go through our whole lives as if we are sleepwalking. We might pray, but only be half there.  
   
"Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you! Be very careful, then, how you live --- not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity"  (Ephesians 5: 14-16  NIV).  
   
When I need to get up early and pray or I'm going through my day as if You weren't there, or I have an opportunity to do something eternal for You... let me pray, "Wake me up, O Lord. Amen".  

+++ This coming Sunday is Commitment Sunday... when we will return our commitment cards in both our 8:30am and 10:00am worship services. My message is entitled, "Giving our Treasure Back to God" and I am thinking about how each one of us is blessed with such awesome gifts and together we support the ministry program here at Immanuel. Look for us on Facebook Live at 10:00am or after worship is completed on either Facebook or YouTube to be a part of our worshipping family. Of course, the best way to worship is to be in our beautiful Sanctuary where we will be sure to save you a seat!  

+++ The new order of nametags has arrived... so look for yours on the nametag rack in the Narthex. And please, wear your nametag so we can continue to learn everyone's names!  

+++ As mentioned above, we will be receiving commitment cards on Sunday and we ask you to bring yours back after you pray about it on Sunday. If you forget your card we will have additional cards available on the table in the Narthex. And remember... even if you give electronically... it would really help us if you could complete a commitment card to help us in our financial planning for ministry in 2025. 

+++ On Sunday make sure to order your holiday door sprays that support our mission efforts and to support the Angel and Mitten trees that are in the Narthex. There are still some "angels" left on the Angel Tree and these kids are counting on us to help make their holidays brighter. We do so much wonderful mission work in December (and all year long) and we thank you for supporting missions in our community and around the world! 

+++ Worship will be offered at Summerfield Village on Wednesday morning, 11/20 at 9:30am. You are invited to join us there for worship.

+++ Next Sunday, November 24th we will offer a special Celebration of Thanksgiving and Praise during both worship services. Lots of special music by guest musicians, and some congregational "talk back" are planned. Please make sure to join us for this special morning of worship and praise! 

+++ And next Sunday is also United Methodist Student Sunday. We will receive a special offering in support of the denomination's student scholarship funds. Look for the special offering envelopes next Sunday! 

+++ Our Advent Study begins on Monday, December 2nd and runs through Monday, December 23rd (this is a date change) at 12:00noon in the Fireside Room. We will bring our own lunches and enjoy a warm bowl of homemade soup together each week as we study our Advent theme, The Word Made Flesh. Please sign-up outside the Fireside Room so we are sure to have enough soup for all! 

Make this day a great day and join me in praying, Wake me up, O Lord. Amen.
​Pastor Jack