newsletter - Immanuel Lutheran Church and School

IMMANUEL EPISTLE
Immanuel Lutheran Church
4650 Sunview Drive
Loveland, Colorado 80538
PA G E
Immanuel
Epistle
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And now we have
these three: faith
and hope and
love, but the greatest of these is love.
IMMANUEL EPISTLE
1 Corinthians 13:12-13
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Worship Schedule
8am Classic Worship
9:30am Education Hour
10:30am Contemporary Joy
FROM PASTOR GLEN…
GLEN SCHLECHT, SENIO R PASTOR, GSCHLECHT@ IMMANUELLOVELAND.ORG
Friends of Immanuel,
With the turn of another page on the calendar and the beginning of another new year,
there are some great opportunities in front
of us when it comes to being the people of
God in this time and place.
FOUR FOUNDATIONS OF IMMANUEL’S VISION
WE SEE OURSELVES AS A CHURCH THAT IS EVANGELICAL, REACHING OUT BOLDLY TO THE LOST AND HURTING IN OUR COMMUNITY, TAKING RISKS
AND GETTING OUT OF OUR COMFORT ZONE SO THAT WE MAY, LIKE ST. PAUL “BY ALL POSSIBLE MEANS SAVE SOME.” (1 COR. 9:22)
WE SEE OURSELVES AS DISCIPLES, JOYFULLY INVOLVED IN A CONTINUOUS JOURNEY OF INTENTIONAL SPIRITUAL GROWTH, HOLDING OURSELVES
AND EACH OTHER ACCOUNTABLE TO THE MARKS OF DISCIPLESHIP.
WE SEE OURSELVES AS BELIEVERS LIVING IN TRUE COMMUNITY WITH EACH OTHER, VALUING HEALTHY, LOVING, VIBRANT RELATIONSHIPS AMONG
ALL THOSE WHO CALL IMMANUEL HOME.
WE SEE OURSELVES AS A CHURCH FIRMLY FOUNDED ON WORD AND SACRAMENT, ROOTED IN CHRIST, SCRIPTURE, AND IN THE TEACHINGS OF
THE LUTHERAN CONFESSIONS.
OUR CHURCH STAFF & MINISTRY COORDINATORS
SENIOR PASTOR: REV. GLEN SCHLECHT
PASTORAL ASSISTANT: REV. AL SCHROEDER
SCHOOL PRINCIPAL: WILLIAM BUSACKER
DIRECTOR OF WORSHIP & MUSIC MINISTRIES: KATHY SCHLECHT
DIRECTOR OF YOUTH MINISTRIES: TIM HANDRICK
DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN’S MINISTRIES: SARA HLAVA
PARISH NURSE: KANDI QUICK
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS: MIRANDA GROSSAINT, PATTY POOLE
FINANCE OFFICE: TERRI DURNBAUGH, DAVE RITTER
MAINTENANCE SPECIALIST: ANDERS MCEWEN
NEWSLETTER EDITOR: PATTY POOLE, [email protected]
WEBSITE: WWW.IMMANUELLOVELAND.ORG, CHURCH PHONE: 970-667-4506, SCHOOL PHONE: 970-667-7606
Let me start with sharing that my next Immanuel 101 class will begin on Sunday, January 31st. This is a 10-week class that meets during the Education Hour on Sunday mornings, from 9:30-10:20 in room 36
(which is on the 1st floor in the SW corner of the building).
This class is for people who would like to learn more about
Immanuel, what we believe and teach, as well as for those
who are interested in possibly joining Immanuel. There is no
obligation by attending, which is what makes it a great way
to explore Immanuel. If you know of someone who may be
interested, I would encourage you not only to invite them to
attend but that you would offer to go through the class with
them! That would be a great way to ease some of their anxiety or nervousness about not knowing what to expect and
it would offer you a good review of some of the basics of
our Christian faith and who we are at Immanuel. Let me
know if you are interested in attending, or you may simply
come to the class. And if you see this after January 31st, it’s
not too late to jump in!
Starting Wednesday, February 10th we begin the season of
Lent. Lent is a 6-week journey of preparation leading up to
our celebration of Holy Week and Easter. Historically the
season of Lent has been a time of deliberate reflection and
repentance, a time of study and growth in the faith, and a
time for people to prepare to be baptized and confirmed.
While that is not exactly our tradition here at Immanuel, it is
a wonderful opportunity to be thinking very specifically
again about our Savior’s journey to the cross and all that He
did to secure our future, to bring to us His love, grace, and
forgiveness, and to grow in our appreciation and love for
our Lord.
Part of the season of Lent here at Immanuel includes an
additional opportunity to worship each week. Every
Wednesday, beginning on Ash Wednesday (February 10th),
we will have a brief devotional service at 1:00 and 7:00. Ash
Wednesday will be a longer service as we celebrate the
Lord’s Supper and offer the imposition of ashes on our fore-
FEBRUARY 2016
heads or hands (see Kathy Schlecht’s newsletter article giving a little more explanation about Ash Wednesday). But
the remaining five Lenten midweek services will be 30
minutes in length and give us the opportunity to pause during this season and reflect again on the great love of our
Savior as we move closer to our celebration of Easter. So I
encourage you to take advantage of that simple opportunity we offer in the weeks to come.
We are continuing to make our way through The Story and
what a fascinating trip this has been. I’ve really enjoyed the
way this year-long series has been put together as it’s really
helped give to me a better perspective on the Old Testament, the kings, the prophets, and how all of this fits together. And not only to read it “as is,” but with this different perspective to be able to bring it home more directly for me
has been a real joy. One of the insights I’ve gained is to see
the many wars and battles that were fought and the kings
that led them not as these nice, tidy little events but to see
these kings as the leaders they needed to be, making difficult decisions, being true warriors who led their men in battle and not merely sitting in their long robes and on their
sterile thrones. Life was tough! And God was working
through it all. The other thing that I’ve gained is the perspective of time. To talk about a 200 year span in the Bible
and then to relate that to life today has taken on different
meaning for me.
If you’re not part of The Story, participating in a small group
or reading each chapter for yourself, I want to strongly encourage you to jump in. It’s not too late! Pick up a book for
yourself and look at the listing of small groups that we have
– or talk with Pastor Al or with me and we’d be happy to
suggest a group for you to be part of, either on a Sunday
morning or throughout the week. It’s a journey you won’t
regret being part of!
My thanks to all who are part of this ministry and the willingness to serve our Savior together. God’s richest blessings as
we continue to look to Him!
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IMMANUEL MINISTRIES FINANCIAL OPERAIMMANUEL EPISTLE
OLDER ADULTS - SAVE TH E DATE! FEB. 13
Mark your calendars for the next Rocky Mountain District - sponsored Older Adult seminar scheduled for Saturday, Feb 13 at
Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Lakewood. Last year, 186 seniors
attended this inspirational event! The $15 registration includes
program, materials donation, lunch and coffee breaks. Registration forms (due Feb. 7) can be found in your church mailbox or
in the church office.
ASH WEDNESDAY
February 10th
1pm and 7pm in the Sanctuary
MIDWEEK LENT WORSHIP
30-minute devotional time
Wednesdays, February 17- March 16
1-1:30PM and 7-7:30PM
FAMILY CAMPING EARLY HEADS - UP
Family camping New Location
WOMEN — SAVE THE DATES! FEB. 19 - 20
Immanuel’s Women’s Retreat – “Renewed” - From Fearful to
Fearless will be held here at Immanuel
on Friday evening, Feb 19 and Saturday, Feb. 20. Come for conversation,
fellowship and renewal in God’s word
with Bernardine Eckelkamp. High
school age and above are welcome;
invite family and friends. Sign-up
sheets are available in the Atrium or
Contact Gail Hein:
[email protected]
HOUSE OF NEIGHBORLY SERVICES FOOD DRIVE
Family camping June 24-26 will be at Olive
Ridge campground, about 8 miles south of
Estes Park on highway 7, beyond the Long’s
Peak entrance. The grounds are wooded
and are a short drive from the trails in Wild
Basin. This campground does not have running water or RV hookups. Going camping
right after VBS is a great time to get families
together before we go our separate ways for
the summer. We will plan activities for children like scavenger hunts and nature walks.
.You can make reservations on line at recreation.gov or by phoning the reservation line, 1877-444-6777. Try to get a spot between sites
25 and 39. Call Jim and Sue Found for more
details: 663-5490
NEW YEAR/NEW BLESSIN GS
What a whirlwind the first half of this fiscal year has turned out to be. We have completed the annual audit,
(Hooray!) and continue regular church operations, the activity for which is reflected in the following reports.
Thank you all for the warm welcome and your continued prayers as I step into the role of Treasurer. I’ve been
truly blessed by the experience thus far.
As we look forward to the pace of life returning to normal after the holidays, whether that means quiet, slow
and laid back or brisk, chaotic and loud, I’d like to encourage you to resolve this year to try one or all of the
Executive Council’s list of stewardship focused acts of giving. Any of the items on the “stepping out in faith”
list make service to our Lord and our community together a great New Year’s resolution.
Jul - Dec 15
Canned items: vegetables, beans, *tuna, tomato sauce,
pop-top meats, *fruit
$ Over Budget
% of Budget
Income
Church Income
418,063.48
481,803.00
-63,739.52
86.77%
School Income
790,408.76
801,247.00
-10,838.24
98.65%
Daycare Income
101,596.24
100,400.00
1,196.24
101.19%
1,877.51
1,500.00
377.51
125.17%
1,311,945.99
1,384,950.00
-73,004.01
94.73%
1,311,945.99
1,384,950.00
-73,004.01
94.73%
Worship Services
258,989.34
302,808.00
-43,818.66
85.53%
General & Administrative
138,382.10
146,075.00
-7,692.90
94.73%
School & Daycare
676,767.23
848,086.00
-171,318.77
79.8%
23,098.84
100.0%
Interest & Finance Income
Total Income
Gross Profit
Expense
6560 · Payroll Expense Clearing
Total Expense
Net Ordinary Income
23,098.84
1,097,237.51
1,296,969.00
-199,731.49
84.6%
214,708.48
87,981.00
126,727.48
244.04%
Other Income/Expense
Other Income
Unrestricted Other Income
Temporary Restricted Income
Other non-perishable foods: *cereal, flour, baking mixes,
*peanut butter, pasta, *rice, macaroni & cheese
Personal care & paper products: shampoo, lotion, *laundry
detergent, *dish soap, paper towels, Kleenex, toilet paper,
deodorant, *razors, toothpaste
Budget
Ordinary Income/Expense
The House of Neighborly Services provides help to many
families in Loveland who are in need. The goal of HNS is:
“To provide help for today and hope for tomorrow, as we
directly impact the living conditions for low-income and impoverished residents.”
As part of our community outreach, Immanuel collects food
and other needed items for the House of Neighborly Services every February. Listed below are suggested items to
donate. Please note “*” items are especially needed.
IMMANUEL EPISTLE
KRISTI R. ARNOLD,TREASURER
Permanently Restricted Income
Total Other Income
2,034.66
17,910.00
-15,875.34
11.36%
50,302.87
67,200.00
-16,897.13
74.86%
9,684.04
19,000.00
-9,315.96
50.97%
62,021.57
104,110.00
-42,088.43
59.57%
610.48
15,905.00
-15,294.52
3.84%
Other Expense
Baby items: diapers, (especially sizes 4-6), pull-ups (any size),
baby shampoo
Unrestricted Other Expense
Temporary Restricted Expense
16,098.39
28,000.00
-11,901.61
57.49%
Take a look around your house for items you may have
“extras” of, or make a trip to the store to purchase items. All
will be appreciated!
Permanently Restricted Expense
18,917.41
2,200.00
16,717.41
859.88%
Debt Service Expense
98,379.06
98,380.00
-0.94
100.0%
134,005.34
144,485.00
-10,479.66
92.75%
-71,983.77
-40,375.00
-31,608.77
178.29%
142,724.71
47,606.00
95,118.71
299.8%
Please put items on the tables across from the mail boxes.
Thank you making a difference in someone's life!
Total Other Expense
Net Other Income
Net Income
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CARING MINISTRIES
STEWARDSHIP MINISTRY
IMMANUEL EPISTLE
LINNEA NELSON, BOARD OF STEWARDSHIP
Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a
wise man who built his house on the rock. Matthew 7:24
KANDI QUICK, PARISH NURSE, 667-4506/[email protected]
IMMANUEL EPISTLE
FORGIVENESS
BUT H E WOULD WITHDRAW TO DESOLATE PLACES AND PRAY
(LUKE 5:16)
We have been living in “end times” for two millennia now. Evil seems to be ramping up
around the world. All one needs to do is turn on the news for more evidence of Satan’s fury: Therefore, rejoice,
O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in
great wrath, because he knows that his time is short (Rev 12:12)! What then is our answer?
Prayer! The model prayer Jesus taught the disciples contains every element we need: Praise, reverence
(hallowed be thy Name), Hope (thy kingdom come) Confession (forgive us), Petition (give us this day), Protection in spiritual warfare (lead us not into temptation, deliver us from the evil one).
… in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God (Phil
4:6b).
What if “everything” in this familiar verse includes things we don’t want: Pain, illness, homelessness, loss, financial struggles, hunger, messy relationships, estranged families….?
What if God is challenging us…to dare to feel the pain all around us. To move from praying ‘for’ people from the comfort of
our own salvation to interceding ‘with’ them from a position of need…..Will we allow the things that break God’s heart to
break our hearts too? ……It may even be the reason why so many of us struggle with our own personal burdens and heartaches-God is allowing us to feel the pain, to be weak and broken so that our prayers have power.1
When God has moved in a large way in history, He starts by mobilizing His people in prayer. A few examples:
David’s launch of Solomon’s Temple building project began with the population gathering for prayer (1 Chron
29); Nehemiah fasted and prayed before leading the returning exiles to rebuild Jerusalem’s wall (Neh 1); One
Great Awakening in America began with businessmen praying at lunchtime in 1857; George 6th called for a
national day of prayer and fasting for May 26, 1940, when Britain was near defeat and the army was trapped
on the beach at Dunkirk. With a storm that grounded the Luftwaffe and an historic calm on the Channel, hundreds of tiny boats rescued 335,000 soldiers in what is still referred to as “the miracle of Dunkirk” prefacing the
ultimate defeat of the Axis.
A group from multiple congregations has been praying at Immanuel for our nation and the world for over a
year. God has shown us other groups also praying simultaneously in D.C., Australia, and dozens of countries for
Revival in America. A group called 24-7 has mobilized students praying around the clock in over 46 nations.
Another group, also organized in 1999, called International House of Prayer (IHOP), organizes groups to pray 24
hours for weeks at a time. What is the Lord planning to do?
I wonder if you are thinking: “Why would a nurse write about forgiveness? It doesn’t have
anything to do with our health.” I was thinking the same thing; but everywhere I turned was
that word - Forgiveness. I witnessed anger flaring, rumors abounding and accusations flying;
satan hard at work; forgiveness needing to be given and received. I have a book of inspirational quotes on my desk; these are 3 that came up while I was looking for a topic for the
Epistle: “He who forgives ends the quarrel” African Proverb; “The best way to get even is to
forget.” Anonymous; and “A Christian will find it cheaper to pardon than to resent. Forgiveness saves the expense of anger, the cost of hatred, the waste of spirits.” Hannah Moore (1745-1833)
I decided to see what I could find medically on the topic so I entered ‘forgiveness and health’ into a search
bar and was very surprised that there has been a lot of scientific research on that topic. What did the scientists
find? This is a compilation of the definitions of forgiveness I found from the Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins and the
Berkley Press: it is a decision to let go of resentment and thoughts of revenge. Forgiveness does not excuse the
act that was committed against you but brings a kind of peace that helps you go on with life.
What happens to your body if you hang onto your anger, hurt and resentment instead of forgiving someone?
The above mentioned studies found that you will bring anger and bitterness into your relationships and experiences; you will have difficulty enjoying the present, often will become depressed, have low self esteem and
have poor health in general. Chronic anger and stress puts your body in fight-or-flight mode which results in
changes to your cardiac health and your immune response. Forgiveness will cause these physiological responses to cease! Scientists have proved that forgiving brings health, happiness and peace to the ‘forgiver’, even
when the ‘forgiver’ is forgiving themselves! According to a study at Johns Hopkins University, there is even an
increase in the forgiveness-health connection as you age.
So far I have stated what science says about the forgiveness-health connection. What does the Bible say? The
Bible has a lot to say about our actions. We are to accept one another as Christ has accepted us. Proverbs
10:12 – ‘Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all wrongs’. When we are angry 1Timothy 2:8 states ‘I want
men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing’ and Mark 11:25 ‘And when you
stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you
your sins’.
As we hold onto our anger and withhold forgiveness, we will suffer from the physical ailments noted above and
with forgiveness we will improve our health. Remember that forgiveness does not mean you are saying that the
act committed was not wrong, but rather that you are not going to hang on to the anger and hurt. Proverbs
14:30a ‘A heart at peace gives life to the body..’
Come and pray Mondays 1-2 pm in Immanuel’s conference room. Start a mom’s prayer group at your house.
Start a business lunch prayer group. Pray with your spouse. Pray without ceasing (1Thess 5:17).
On this subject, the Bible and science agree – forgiveness is necessary for our own good health. And for those
inspirational quotes, even those could be based on scripture. “He who forgives ends the quarrel” African Proverb = “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” Proverbs 15:1; “The best way to get
even is to forget” Anonymous = “Do not take revenge. Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with
good” Romans 12:19a, 21; and “A Christian will find it cheaper to pardon than to resent. Forgiveness saves the
expense of anger, the cost of hatred, the waste of spirits” Hannah Moore (1745-1833) = “Refrain from anger and
turn from wrath; do not fret – it leads only to evil” Psalm 37:8.
1Red
Forgive yourself, forgive those that have wronged you and accept
forgiveness offered to you. You will live a happier, healthier life.
And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female servants in those
days I will pour out my Spirit. “And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of
smoke. The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the Lord
comes. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved (Joel 2:28-32a).
Moon Rising, Peter Grieg and David Roberts, Relevant Books, Kingsway Pub., Eastbourne, England, 2003.
ALTAR FLOWERS
Do you ever wonder where the beautiful flowers come from that grace the front of the
Sanctuary? They are usually provided by loved ones in honor of birthdays, anniversaries, or
in memory of special dates or loved ones.
If you are interested in providing flowers, you may sign up on the 2016 Flower Chart which
is posted next to the mailboxes in the Information Hallway. Please include the occasion or
person you’re remembering so we can list in the weekly announcements. The cost is $30
for two arrangements; make checks payable to Immanuel Lutheran Altar Guild.
Questions? Contact Lorna Miller, 667-3973 or the church office, 667-4506.
Did you know that
Immanuel’s website has
sermons that you can
listen to anytime?
Check it out at
ImmanuelLoveland.org
Go to worship and music/
sermon podcast
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DEVELOPMENT CORNER
IMMANUEL EPISTLE
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HONORING OUR MILITARY — SERVING OUR COUNTRY
IMMANUEL EPISTLE
BROOKE VANDERWAL, DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR 667-7606/[email protected]
GOD LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER
The past few weeks, it has been hard to miss all of the publicity about the huge Powerball
Lottery Jackpot. The record $1.55 Billion jackpot had many people dreaming of how they
would spend the money, even if they were more likely to be struck by lightening or killed by
a shark than win.
One reporter was asking people how they would spend the money. One man responded, “I
would give a lot of money to charity. Why not give, if I had that much money? I have always
wanted to help out, and this would give me the chance.”
Immanuel would like to honor our military heroes who are currently serving. The Military Support Team would
like to include their names on a plaque in the atrium and their pictures on the “military picture board”. We can
honor them with this recognition and with our on-going prayers and support. If you are a
church and/or school family and you have someone you wish to recognize in this way,
please contact MarJean Carpenter, 669-5337, Shirley Goltz, 669-5422, Arlene McCormick,
685-1424, Sandy Northrup, 613-9733 or Sally Smeeding, 532-0801. Also, anyone who would
like to join the team is welcome.
SERVING OUR COUNTRY:
Andrew Brandt, Josh Geidel, Marshall Miller, Chas Schroeder, Colin Small, Richard Smeeding, Patrick Stauffer,
Mark Weinrich, Marco Tiscareño, Shelby Lyn Boyd.
This gave me pause. How often do I say someday when God asks it of me today?
While it is easy to see that this person feels he is unable to give to charity in his current financial state, how
many of us have a similar, “someday” attitude about being generous?
Someday, we will have enough money to give some away. Someday, we will give to the church, payoff the
church debt, and help our friends and neighbors.
God calls us to do that NOW. With what he has given us TODAY.
In 2 Corinthians, Paul instructs the church in Corinth to give cheerfully, not under compulsion or out of duty, but
out of a heart full of thanks.
“Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each
one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you
may abound in every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:6-8
The Asbury Bible Commentary states, “Despite Paul’s mention of the self-serving benefits of generosity, he
makes it clear that people are not to give in order to get, but because they have already received.”
Lord, help us at Immanuel be a people who give because we recognize what we have already received. Help
me to see the abundance you have given this church today, and help us to cheerfully give in accordance to
the overflowing blessings we count today, not waiting for Someday.
Thank you to those who partnered with us and gave cheerfully toward the Playground Campaign. And if you
have not given toward this effort and feel called, please know that your gift, no matter the size, is appreciated.
Serving Him and You,
Brooke Vander Wal
Development Director
“Developing opportunities to respond to God’s generous outpouring of love.”
PLAYGROUND CAMPAIGN UPDATE
It’s not too late to join the FUN(d)!
We are making progress toward our goal of giving Immanuel’s Kids updated playground equipment!
If you haven’t given yet, it’s not too late! Drop your donation off at the bookkeeping office, in the offering
plate on Sunday at ILC, or the box outside childcare.
Thank YOU for partnering with Immanuel to make our ministry home great!
In Him,
Brooke Vander Wal
Development Director
“Developing opportunities to respond to God’s generous outpouring of
love.”
FACILITIES
SITE & SOUND
Facilities Ministry Team: Bud Westermann, Bud Jorgensen, Derald Huber, John Lewis, Anders McEwen, Jeff Deaner, Tim Pomeroy, Suzie Meier, Linnea
Nelson, Dennis Whitfield, Rhonda Warren, Ken Meier; Facilities Computer Team: Bob Warren (System Administrator), Kerstin McEwen, Heather Selbert,
Art Walker; Columbarium Team: Francis and Linda Sedlacek, Sound Chair: Bob Warren; A-Team Sandy Northrup, Janet Huber, A-team sidekick and
general factotum Derald Huber.
During the months of cold weather our gym humidifiers are running constantly. Without them, our gym floor
would risk serious damage. What’s that you say? Damage? It’s made to be
used!
The potential damage is not from using the floor, but from the low indoor air
humidity of heated air. Without the humidifiers, Colorado indoor air can easily
dip into the teens or single digits.
Back in pre-and early construction days, the Building Team agreed to the request by Immanuel athletes that we seek a maple floor rather than the allSCHOOL GYM HUMIDIFIERS
purpose cushioned engineered floor planned. In our research we contacted at
least 5 large institutions who already used this type of floor. We questioned their maintenance costs, durability,
playability etc. Their glowing recommendations helped lead to the decision to install the German-designed
engineered “floating” laminated maple floor that you know and love. However, none of the locations we contacted were located in high altitude, semi-arid geographic areas, except Sydney Neb., under construction only slightly ahead of us. None of us knew or were told of the humidity requirements – a minimum of 40%- until after we had lived with the floor and seen the “cupping” and some splitting of the boards over time.
That need for humidity resulted in a series of improvements to maintain our beautiful and well-designed floor.
Two industrial-sized humidifiers reside near ceiling height, providing more than the calculated water volume we
need, additional ductwork and fans help direct and circulate that humid output. The ongoing request to keep
gym doors closed is due to the need to contain the hard-won humidity. We constantly monitor gym humidity
levels in order to maintain the balance.
Praise God for His provision and enjoy all the benefits and playability of a truly great floor for sports- that is also
adaptable for all our plays, dinners, and receptions. We are so blessed to have such a great facility serving all
the many ministries of the Lord at ILCS.
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DISCIPLESHIP MINISTRY TEAM
IMMANUEL EPISTLE
PASTOR AL SCHROEDER, 667-4506/[email protected] FOR THE DISCIPLESHIP MINISTRY TEAM
WORSHIP & MUSIC MINISTRIES
KATHY SCHLECHT, DIRECTOR OF WORSHIP & MUSIC MINISTRIES, [email protected]
IMMANUEL EPISTLE
IMMANUEL AT 85 YEARS
First gathering was Ash Wednesday, February 18, 1931, in a living room on Factory Avenue, now Madison, near the
sugar factory.. Pastor Paul Fritsche was installed June 28 at the East Side Park, where now the library is and the Chilson
Center. That might have been a congregational picnic with outdoor worship.
The congregation grew among the mostly Germans from Russia in the east side neighborhood around 4th and Madison. They were immigrants escaping the Marx-Lenin revolution. The core of Immanuel became a family as they braved
through the WWII years. Through the ‘50s and ‘60s Immanuel realized vibrant growth. Pastor Osborn Reeb led the congregation in evangelism outreach actions to good effect. Immanuel was worshiping in the brick church at 7th & Washington purchased in 1946. Sunday School grew to 70-80 children gathered in the parsonage basement. Imagine! There
is a picture at the west atrium of the families in front of the church. Under his leadership the congregation took on its
next purchase of property, first building program and first capital campaign. Immanuel settled at Hilltop for fifty years.
Immanuel has birthed two new churches, Faith in Johnstown (1958) and Mount Olive in Loveland (1975). Young families were coming to Immanuel, and by spring of 1974 membership had grown to 1200 souls. The youth program was
growing. A director of Christian education was engaged.
In 1975 Immanuel decided on a school. It was a decision with a mind not to serve only Immanuel families, as many
parochial schools have done, but to serve the larger population of Loveland and surrounding area. They called it at first
Loveland Christian Preschool. They hired Nadine Walter as director, a Loveland resident newly graduated from UNC in
Greeley. The school opened in September and was quickly full. Next year Pastor Bob Strawn came to serve Immanuel.
In his wisdom he persuaded the congregation to take the school on as Immanuel Lutheran School, still with the mandate to serve the area families. Warren Ruland was called as its principal. It began operation in the fall of 1977. The first
students were 3 from ILC, 3 from other Lutheran churches, 17 from non-Lutheran churches and 8 with no church connection. So it continued through the years, students came largely from outside ILC. At that time another building program was undertaken. Several more expansions followed in time.
ASHES TO ASHES
As part of my ministry at Immanuel, I
have the privilege of participating in
many funeral and memorial services.
Oftentimes, rather than a casket, there
is an urn or box that holds the ashes of
the recently deceased, and each time I
see a container of ashes I am surprised
at how little substance there really is to our bodies.
I am also reminded of the liturgy spoken at the time of a burial that includes these words:
In the sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ,
we commend to Almighty God our brother; and we commit his body to the ground;
earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust…
These words are in reference to what God told Adam and Eve when he sent them from the Garden: By the
sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground since from it you were taken; for dust
you are and to dust you will return. (Genesis 3:19)
This is one of the reasons behind the Imposition of Ashes during Ash Wednesday worship; it serves as a stark reminder of our mortality and the thin veil that exists between this life and the next. But fear not! Jesus’ death and
resurrection allows us to view our mortality square on and not be afraid, knowing that death has been conquered and the grave can no longer hold us.
Pastor Glen Schlecht was called fresh from Concordia Seminary in Saint Louis. He began his ministry as associate pastor on August 4 of 1989. On December 13, 1992, President John Petersen of the Rocky Mountain District installed him as
Senior Pastor of Immanuel, Kathy Schlecht as Director of Parish Music, Tony Shull as Director of Outreach, and Bill Renzelman as Director of Parish Education. Under his leadership new ministries were added and the outreach spirit continues.
You are invited to join the Immanuel community for Ash Wednesday worship at 1pm or 7pm on Wednesday,
February 10 to remember our mortality, confess our sins, and rejoice in the forgiveness and eternal life that is
ours in Christ Jesus our Lord!
The school continued to grow, even faster than the congregation. March 17, 1998, a Facilities assessment Task Force
was appointed, headed by Bud Westermann. They brought this report six months later to the congregation:
A CHANGE IN CHRISTMA S TRADITION?
“We believe that we have prayerfully and faithfully done the wok expected by the Voters’ Assembly in the charge of
March 17, 1998. It now remains for your Task Force to make the rational recommendations to the Voters’ Assembly and,
indeed, the entire congregation called for in that charge.
Before the memory of your Christmas celebration gets pushed back too far into the recesses of your mind, Immanuel’s Worship Planning Team would like you to let us know how the following proposed worship time
changes on Christmas Eve would affect your family - for better or worse?
Again, this evening, we have seen how God has continually blessed this congregation with new opportunities and
challenges. And those opportunities HAVE ALWAYS BEEN TO MOVE FORWARD.
We currently have three distinctly different Christmas Eve services at Immanuel:
The decisions of Immanuel congregation have never been to retreat, pullback or constrict the dissemination of God’s
saving message of salvation. Your … Task Force has adopted that example.” (Proposed options for short term and long
term follow, and these were taken up by the congregation.) Eventually a plan came to be agreed on. The present site
was purchased in 2000. Construction began in spring 2007.
In May of 2008, a host of Immanuel Lutheran Church members and school families packed up our possessions to store
in six 48 foot long semi trailers and in some basements and garages and barns. The final worship service was held at
1101 Hilltop Drive on Sunday, June 1. The principal and two teachers from Ferguson High School came at our invitation
to the closing services. A symbolic key was passed to them. Prayers were spoken over them for divine blessing on the
education of youth that continues to be done in that place. Immanuel operated and worshiped briefly in the summer
weeks at Edmundson Elementary School. The outdoor worship was held on the new site. We were moving!
Again Immanuel members and school families came out to unload and unpack our possessions and deliver them to
their appropriate places. Hundreds of hours were volunteered for cleaning up after construction and beautifying our
new home. We were in!
The congregation received this report: On August 1, 2008. “We had our first Bond Redemption of $2,450,000 (debt
principal reduction)! The cost for our ministry relocation, construction, and land purchase is $14,505,000 and we have
already minimized our debt down to $6,698,000 within a few days of moving in! We have much to rejoice and be glad,
for our ministry is home! Thank you for your continued gifts to support our Immanuel ministries!” (Epistle, September 2008)
At the end Bud Westermann voiced what many felt, “What hath God wrought?!”
And now we are here at 4650 Sunview in our eighth year. What challenges and what opportunities for ministry has the
Lord laid before us? Let us be in prayer and faithfully take up our call from the Lord!
Pastor Al Schroeder. The Story of Immanuel Lutheran Church and School is available in the church office.
• Our 5pm Family Service is filled to the brim with children, parents and grandparents.
• Our 7pm Service of Lessons and Carols is accompanied by a large number of musicians and includes personal reflections on Scripture readings around the Christmas story.
• Our 10pm Candlelight Communion Service is a quiet, reflective service that draws a large number of visitors from our community.
We are looking for your input on moving up the times of the last two services!
Christmas Eve worship would now look like this:
• 5pm Family Service
• 6:30pm Service of Lessons and Carols
• 9:00pm Candlelight Communion Service
What’s your reaction to this proposed time change? Is it,
“No! That would completely mess with our family’s Christmas tradition!” Or, “Great idea - that 10pm service always
gets too late for our family.” Whatever your reaction is,
we’d like to hear from you! Please either send me an
email or talk to one of the other members of the Worship
Planning Team and give them your thoughts on this. Team
members include Pastor Glen, Pastor Al, Pastor Ed Seely,
Jim Found, Fred Goltz, Paul and Gail Hein, Jerry McEwen,
Sharon Tuxhorn and Mike Zsolczai.
PA G E 6
PA G E 7
IMMANUEL LUTHERAN SCHOOL
CHILDREN’S MINISTRIES
IMMANUEL EPISTLE
WILLIAM BUSACKER, PRINCIPAL, 667-7606/[email protected]
SARA HLAVA, DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN’S MINISTRIES, [email protected]
So last Sunday I joined the 20 million Americans who were grieving during the first half of the
Broncos/Chargers game as we anticipated our beloved Broncos giving up our first seed
playoff position with each ridiculous turnover they had. Pretty much all hope was
gone. Then came the second half and Coach Kubiak made the decision to reinstate Manning as quarterback. The crowd was ecstatic. The offensive line started blocking and actually protecting their quarterback instead of laying out the red carpet for the defense. We
started catching balls and making plays. Pretty soon, hope was restored…just like that. Now
make no mistake, this in no way is comparing Manning to God. But how many times in our
own life do we respond to God in the same way? Life gets tough, we start screwing up, we blame others, we
look for ways other than God to help us. Then when things get really bad we finally start looking towards
God. And just by placing our trust in Him, things turn around and our hope is restored. Now this doesn’t mean
we won’t have problems or that we will win every game; but that doesn’t matter. Why? Because the war has
already been won! It was won when Jesus died on that cross. Now, that doesn’t give us permission to just sit
on the sidelines. God has called each and everyone of us for a purpose. He has given us everything we need
to fulfill that purpose. He didn’t promise it would be easy or come without strife. However, He promised He
would be with us every step of the way—we just need to listen to his play calling. So I challenge you as you
start this new year by really taking a look at who is making the calls in your life.
IMMANUEL EPISTLE
JANUARY 2016
It was Christmas Eve. Sue and I were visiting family in Wisconsin. My parents still attend the
church in which I grew up. It is always fun to go back there when we are in Wisconsin. However, this year, for a variety of reasons, we went to Christmas Eve worship at a church closer to
where my parents live rather than going to their home congregation. We visited a congregation in the area where Sue and I lived for 15 years when we served in Wisconsin. We walked in
as strangers. We worshiped. We also walked out as strangers. Not a single person said a word
to us. Nobody greeted us. Nobody acknowledged our presence. In fact, I saw from a distance several people I knew. I hoped to have a chance to talk to them, but by the time we
walked out of the sanctuary, they had left. It seemed that nobody stayed to visit after the service. People
gathered their coats and left immediately.
We were left feeling very cold. We were also left with a deep appreciation for our Immanuel family. This experience was so different from what we are accustomed to here at Immanuel. What a joy and blessing it is to walk
in on Sunday morning and to have the opportunity to visit with so many of God’s people. What a warm feeling
we experience each Sunday. We have moved around a bit in 40 years of ministry. As I have told many others,
we have never been made to feel at home so quickly as was the case when we first moved here to Loveland.
It is easy to assume that this is the way it is in every congregation. Sadly, that is not the case.
It can be easy to lose sight of the blessings we have. It can be a temptation to take our blessings for granted.
Here at Immanuel we have the tag line, “A Family Place”. What a blessing that this is not just a marketing line.
What a blessing that we see this lived out each and every week! Thank you for being a part of that Immanuel
family. Thank God for this blessing that He pours out on us.
Serving Him and you,
Mr. Busacker, Principal
Interested in camp? Or learning more about camp? Definitely
attending camp!!! Please attend the informational meeting on
Sunday, March 6th at noon (after 10:30 worship). This meeting is
for everyone, even those who have attended in the past.
•
June 20th-24th Vacation Bible School 9am-noon
•
July 5th-8th Lutheran Valley Retreat
•
July 11th– 15th Camp Timberline Outta Bounds Summer Day Camp
Serving with you,
Questions about children’s ministry? Want to learn more about
children’s ministry at Immanuel? Want to get involved? Stop in
anytime, send me an email, text or call.
DIRECTOR OF YOUTH MINISTRIES
TIM HANDRICK, 667-4506/ [email protected]
THRIVENT MEMBERS TAK E ACTION
The youth of our congregation have been taking action with the help of several of our congregation
members. If you are a member of Thrivent on any level, did you know that you are eligible to receive 2/
$250 gift cards each calendar year that you can use
towards a service project or non-profit fundraiser? We
have used Thrivent action team money to support our youth breakfast
burrito fundraisers, Christmas Bazaar meal, as well as service projects for Orchard Place and Lago Vista. What
an impact we can all have in 2016 if everyone gets involved! All you have to do is let Tim Handrick know that
you are a Thrivent member and he can guide you through the rest of the process.
YOUTH EASTER BREAKFA ST DONATIONS
The youth are accepting donations for their annual Easter
morning breakfast. Sign-up sheet will be in the Atrium during
the Lenten Season. Talk with Tim if you have any specific questions about it. Thank you for your support!