We would also like you to join the Retirement Celebration for Dennis and Marsha Neumeyer on Sunday, May 20, 2012. To mark the occasion of the retirement of Immanuel’s long-time teachers Dennis and Marsha Neumeyer a special service will take place on Sunday, May 20, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. Friend of the Neumeyers, and special guest preacher, the Rev. Harry Edenfield, from Brownstown, Michigan, will be with us that day. Special music is also planned.

If you would like to donate a monetary gift for these individuals, please send in to church office no later than May 13, 2012. If you have photos or special stories to share, send digital copies by email to Scott Neumeyer or send actual photos by mail to the church office also no later than May 13, 2012.

NOTE: Please, please, please….remember to make a special effort to spread the word to any former students of the Neumeyer’s that you may be able to contact (via Facebook or word of mouth) since we are not mailing special invites to them.

Immediately following the 10:30 Church Service, we will gather in the school gym for a Potluck Dinner and Celebration Program. Meat, bread, drinks, and table service will be provided.

Family names A-J are asked to bring a hot potato or vegetable dish. Family names K-R are asked to bring a salad (pasta, fruit, jello, vegetable, etc.). Family names S-Z are asked to bring a dessert.

You may drop off the food in the school kitchen anytime after 9:00 a.m. Sunday the 20th. Any questions regarding the Potluck Dinner can be directed to Todd and Sandi Brechtelsbauer.

~In His Service, The Immanuel Retirement Celebration Committee

Jesus Christ Is the True Vine Who Bears Much Fruit in Us  The crucified and risen Lord Jesus is with His Church through the word of His Apostles, who “are witnesses of all that He did.” He was anointed by God “with the Holy Spirit and with power” and “He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil,” and so He was with those whom He sent “to preach to the people” (Acts 10:38–42). The Holy Spirit is bestowed on those who hear that apostolic preaching, who are “baptized in the name of Jesus Christ,” so that “everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name” (Acts 10:43–44, 48). For as He came by the water of His Baptism, even to the blood of His Passion, so the Spirit testifies to the truth with “the water and the blood” in the apostolic ministry of the Gospel (1 John 5:6–7). By these means, Christ Jesus speaks to us, that His joy may be in us and that our “joy may be full.” For this purpose He appointed the Apostles to “go and bear fruit,” in order to make known His divine friendship to us (John 15:11, 15–16).

Reminder: Ascension Day is coming up quickly. Ascension Vespers Service on Thursday evening, May 17: 7:00 p.m. Plan now to attend!

Many churches have given up having an Ascension Day Service, or never held one. Everyone is welcome to attend and hear more about this  important event in Jesus’ life and its significance for us. Jesus’ Ascension to heaven means that He is returning one day to take all believers in Christ to live there with Him forever.

 Over the recent academic break at the seminary, from February 27–March 10, 2012, Rev. Pless made his sixth teaching trip to Pretoria. He reports:

Coming to LTS twice a year has allowed me to build an ongoing relationship with numerous students who now are nearing the completion of their studies.  I have been able to mentor and advise some of these students in their thesis projects at the University as well. I am willing and eager to continue to come to LTS two times per year to teach courses in practical theology (pastoral theology, ethics, catechetics, pastor’s devotional life, and Luther as pastoral theology) as well as a systematics course in Law and Gospel as long as funding can be found.

He asks, “If we could target funds from your congregation for my trip this coming February that would be good. I’m going back in November but we have a congregation in Montana that has agreed to cover that ticket. Your thoughtfulness and the willingness of Immanuel congregation to assist in helping me provide theological education in South Africa is very much appreciated. LTS in Pretoria is the most strategic and theologically-well positioned seminary for all of Africa in my opinion. I’m not going to cease advocating that our Synod make it a priority for mission work in Africa. I’m honored to have a small part in it.”

The Rev. John T. Pless is assistant professor of pastoral ministry and missions at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, where he also serves as director of field education and editor of For the Life of the World. Since 2009 he has served as a visiting lecture at Lutheran Theological Seminary in Pretoria, South Africa.

Besides serving as our guest preacher at both services Sunday, Rev. Pless will also speak on his work during the Bible study hour at 9:15 a.m. Refreshments will be served at the presentation. A door offering will be received to support this work.

Services:  Sunday and weekday (e.g. Advent and Lent midweek),  The decision to cancel services will be made by Pastor, the head elder, and the elders on duty for thst day—in the consultation with the head trustee if necessary.

The decision will be based on  weather conditions and forecast, road advisories issued by the county or state, cancelations by sister churches, other closings in the community, and condition of the facilities (heat, electric, parking lot, etc.)

Cancelations will be communictaed to all the elders, announced on radio station WSGW 790 AM and local television stations, posted on the church’s web site, and announced through the school’s information phoning system.

Members are advised that when conditions are doubtful to call the church office, Pastor’s cell phone, or contact your elder before coming out in bad weather.

On days when public school is canceled public school catechism class will also be canceled.

Since 1997, more than 38,000 visitors have made their way to Bethlehem via this unique presentation of the familiar Christmas story.

Some fun facts include:

268 costumed cast members participated in 2011 with 93 helping from outside our congregation. Each night over 140 cast members presented, with a combined cast and crew of approximately 170 people. The ages of our volunteers over the years have ranged from 3 – 92 years old.

From start to finish, this year’s production took  approximately 300 volunteers -from rolling scrolls, mending costumes, baking cookies to building Bethlehem and cleaning-up.

2502 visitors kept Caesar Augusts’ census takers busy as they journeyed this year to be counted, listened to the shepherds tell of  the angel’s message, heared prophets recall ancient promises, and visited the town alive with villagers. Going from inn to stable, they heard and saw that God has come to us in human flesh—as a baby lying in a manger.

For more information about the 16th annual presentation for 2012, click here: 2012 Living Nativity Information

Religious News Article for the Frankenmuth News November 2, 2011

By Pastor Mark Loest

16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Revelation 7:16-17 (ESV)

Yesterday, November 1, was All Saints Day for the Christian Church. Our popular culture gets just about everything wrong concerning the state of the souls of the dead and their relationship to the living.

Take the popular Twilight vampire series of books and movies. Not only is Twilight the culmination of recent teen vampire-frenzy, it also feeds the frenzy with its demythologizing of vampires–doing away with all that we previously thought about them, so that the whole genre has gone through a sort of revisionism.

There are no vampires, nor are there ghosts, nor any of the other creatures that roamed about in people’s minds and fantasies Monday night. The dead cannot return. David said of Bathsheba’s dead son whom she bore David as the result of their adulterous, murderous affair. “He will not come to me, but I will go to him.”

The state of the dead in Christ is blessedness in paradise. The living are separated from the dead; the departed may not return. We experience this separation in the grief we feel as we mourn the loss of loved ones in death–even in the death of a loved one who has died in Christ.

John, the exiled apostle, experienced a similar sense of separation from those he loved as he remained banished on the Island of Patmos and could only gaze across the sea towards Ephesus and the congregation he had served. There he received the visions that he was told to write down as the book of Revelation. And that sense of separation comes out in Revelation when he speaks of the “great sea.” Even later, in chapter 21, in his description of heaven he says there will come a time when there will no longer be any separation between God and man. “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.” Revelation 21:1 (ESV)

In the Revelation to John God is in control. Satan has been defeated. The dead await the resurrection. And in the presence of the Lamb, the faithful departed are with the Lord and they know rest. This is how it is for those who have gone before us. And this is how it will be for us, unless we live until judgment day.

Therefore we can already sing in preparation of our future joining with angels and archangels and all the company of heaven: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” Revelation 5:12 (ESV) Amen.

1 Lent A Matthew 4:1-10

Earthquake Destruction in Japan March 2011

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. 

Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and     him only shall you serve.’”  Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to  him. (Matthew 4:10-11 ESV)

Let us all pray. “Love caused Your incarnation; Love brought you down to me. Your thirst for my salvation Procured my liberty. Oh, love beyond all telling, That led you to embrace In love, all love excelling, Our lost and fallen race.” (O Lord, How shall I Meet You? Lutheran Service Book 334)

Dear fellow Pilgrims journeying to the Paschal Feast: 

For almost three days now we have been shown the terrible destruction caused upon the country of Japan and its people by Friday’s earthquake.  It is possibly the worst Japan has ever suffered. Certainly it is the worst in recently recorded history. 

It was followed by tsunamis and now failure at nuclear power stations.  The earthquake brought down buildings. The tsunamis brought in tidal waves and further devastation and flooding.  The inability to cool nuclear reactors have meant melt downs.  And what we are shown looks like a Hollywood disaster movie –or possibly even the end of the world. 

When such events come we Christians can’t help but think of the end of the world.  The rest of the world might scoff, and the scientists might objectively tell us that the earth shifted and all of Japan moved eight feet –but we also remember the words of Jesus in Matthew chapter 24, 

For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.  All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. (Matthew 24:5-8) 

Not long ago we took our kids out to eat.  That was a treat for them, since it was in the middle of the week.  When we sat down –and after we had ordered –we told them we had something we wanted to talk about with them.  Anna said, “Oh, no!” and Andrew, thinking he had already been left out asked, “what? what?”  Anna said, “Andrew –I remember a time when Mom and Dad took us out eat and said they had something to tell us…and we ended up finding out we’re were going to have a brother!” 

Mindy and I sat there taking it all in with amazement.  All we wanted to do was talk about spring break this year.  That’s the idea about the signs of the end times.  Christians don’t know when the end will come.  But we know the signs.  We may very well not know the hour, but we can say that the end is near.  No wonder thoughts of the end of the world pop into our heads when we see such death and destruction! 

But if you are still skeptical–remember the Apostle Paul reminds us in Romans 13:11, 

Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. 

So, why do such terrible things have to happen in the world?  Why doesn’t God prevent them? And where does evil come from?  The answers to these questions are found in our Lessons for this first Sunday in Lent (Genesis 3:1-21). 

Sin is the reason for earthquakes and every other natural and man made disaster.  Adam and Eve were given a beautiful earth and a beautiful garden to live in our.  Our first parents chose to listen instead to the devil and rebel against God. They brought a curse down upon us all. 

The Apostle Paul explains in today’s Epistle Lesson, 

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned – (Romans 5:12) 

God did not make evil or sin.  The devil did. God does not tempt us, the devil does.  We have lost the image of God with which we were created.  We walked and talked with God.  We were meant to be friends with God, and as his creatures to love and serve him in holiness and righteousness.  In that world we were made to be happy. 

The Apostle Paul also tells us elsewhere about the devastating effects of sin upon the whole creation.  Just as people suffered in the earthquake, so did the planet.  The ocean left its limits.  The earth shifted and left huge cracks.  Plants and animals too, were washed away or buried in mud and debris by the tsunamis.  Paul tells us in Romans chapter 8, 

For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. (Romans 8:19-22) 

We might even be tempted to think that since the Japanese are a godless people as a whole and that Christianity makes up a very small number of the people–perhaps one or two percent–that they are suffering because of their sins.  People thought that way when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans and the Gulf region.  They said that God was judging those people for the way they carry one–especially just before Lent at Mardi Gras; that the drunkenness and prostitution and everything else that goes on brought God’s wrath upon those people at that time. 

But good people suffered along with the evil ones who do those things.  Our St. Paul’s Missouri Synod Lutheran Church in downtown New Orleans suffered a great deal of damage then, too. 

In Luke 13:1-5 we read about Jesus answer to the idea that all suffering is direct punishment because of particular sins. 

There were some present at that very time who told [Jesus] about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” 

 I remember this text as the assigned Gospel Lesson for the Sunday following 9/11!  I also remember one of my former seminary professors telling me later that he lost a nephew in one of the towers. 

Jesus says, “No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” 

In our Gospel Lesson Jesus contends with the devil.  He takes up the battle with Satan where Adam and Eve left off.  God told our first Parents the first Gospel: 

“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” (Genesis 3:15) 

We have now entered the Time of Easter and the Season of Lent.  Lent is a penitential season.  We ponder the holy Passion of our Savior, Jesus.  The devil did go after Jesus heel and bruised it.  He struck him terribly in the foot and hands and side.  Our Savior’s brow bled.  His beard was ripped out.  His face was struck multiple times.  He was beaten to a pulp.  He was psychologically mistreated.  Spat upon.  Abused.  Murdered. 

But that was just a heel wound in comparison to what our Savior did to Satan.  You see, Jesus struck the devil down.  He stomped on him.  He crushed his head.  Jesus fought with Satan and He won.  And our Gospel Lesson shows that all the temptations and ways that Satan comes to us and would try to harm us –it is undone by this one word: Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. 

As we see the world get worse around us.  As we see the effects of sin upon our bodies.  As we wonder what might be happing to us and our loved ones as each disease and hardship threatens us, we keep in our minds these words and promises of God.  That He sent Jesus into the world to suffer and die for us –to save us from the sin of Adam, and from all of our sins.  That He is victorious over Satan.  That He will come again some day to take us to be with Him forever.  And that nothing can ever separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus. Amen.