IMMANUEL HAPPENINGS Immanuel Lutheran Church 1116 E. Devon Avenue Bartlett. IL 60103 October 2014 630-837-1166 [email protected] bartlettimmanuellutheran.com The change of seasons causes me to reflect on all the things I thought I would accomplish in the more leisurely days of summer. My plans were ambitious-- lots of things at home to go through, organize, throw out. Lots of advance planning for church I wanted to do. I did manage to erase many items from my computerized Things to Do List, which has grown to be more pages in length than I like even to think about. Out of sight, out of mind. Because I erase what I have already accomplished, the focus is ever on what is still to be done. My list becomes more like a slave-driver with a whip than a helpful tool. It is never a source of any satisfaction for actually accomplishing things. And its many pages in their entirety are overwhelming. Imagine what a Things to Do List God has! The more we learn about the expanse of the heavens through modern scientific instruments, we can repeat the words of the Psalmist with everdeeper amazement: “When I consider your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that You care for him?” - Psalm 8:3-4 Many people conclude that God could not possibly have time to notice the details of their lives -- that caring for them and what they face each day could not possibly be on His Things to Do List. Amazingly, what seems impossible to us is possible with God. “O Lord, You have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with ALL MY WAYS. How precious to me are Your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I could count them, they are more than the sand.” - Psalm 139:1-2, 17-18a What a source of strength and comfort that is for us-- especially when we are feeling overwhelmed or even helpless by a long list of challenges and problems that all need addressing. “Wonderful are Your works; my soul knows it very well.” - Psalm 139:14 Add to that knowledge from the Old Testament this assurance from the New: “He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all-- how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?” - Romans 8:32 We have a God who does manage His Things to Do List well. And, yes, you and I are on it! Pastor Bauman LWML News: Bev Bayes, Barb Klopp, Velma Gruenwald and Mary Richardson attended the LWML Convention at Timber Creek Lodge in Sandwich, IL. Read more about it in the November Newsletter. Thank you to all who donated items to MOST Ministries. See the sign up sheet on the table in the Narthex if you want to attend the "Singing the Faith" sessions starting on Saturday, Oct. 11,2014 at 10 AM in the conference room. There will be 3 or 4 sessions depending on how long each will take lasting about one hour each. LWML Sunday will be Oct.12. Barbara Klopp Concordia Seminary—St. Louis Have you ever considered becoming a pastor or deaconess? If so, Rev. Bill Wrede from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis would like to meet with you at St. John Lutheran Church, 410 N. Cross St., Wheaton, IL 60187 on Tuesday, October 28th from 4-8 PM and on Wednesday, October 29th and Thursday, October 30th from 8 AM-4 PM at Concordia University Chicago, Koehneke Community Center, 7400 Augusta St., River Forest, IL 60305. Rev. Wrede is interested in meeting with prospective students of all ages —- elementary school age through adults. Appointments are individual, informal, and family/friends are welcome to come with you. Appointments are not necessary but encourages. If you are interested in scheduling a specific time, please contact Rev. Wrede at 314-505-7221 or [email protected]. Humble Stewards As stewards, we are the recipients and caretakers of God’s goodness, love, mercy, and grace. Stewards are managers of God’s creation. We acknowledge God as the owner; therefore, we are to act not as owners but as managers because our lives and resources are simply on loan from Him. The book of Daniel gives an account of a man who failed to recognize God as Creator and provider and exalted himself. King Nebuchadnezzar, walking on the roof of “his” royal palace, surveying “his” kingdom, was overcome by pride as he announced, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty” (Daniel 4:30)? He thought he was asking a rhetorical question, but God condemned him to live like an animal as a consequence of his pride. Pride is destructive. It destroys gratitude to God for all His kindness to us. It destroys our desire and ability to serve others. It destroys contentment for it feeds our competitive nature so that we are not satisfied with just being wealthy or intelligent, but we want to be wealthier and more intelligent than anyone else. Pride has no place in the life of a servant. First Peter 5:6 reads, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand that He may lift you up in due time.” It is God alone Who can exalt us (Psalm 75:7). If Christ Himself, God’s only begotten Son, humbled Himself, should we not follow His example and humble ourselves? Because Christ humbled Himself, God exalted Him (Philippians 2:9) David, the shepherd-king, put our situation in proper perspective: “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place, what is man that You are mindful of him, the son of man that You care for him” (Psalm 8:3-4)? The inference is that we are insignificant, yet David goes on to remind us of what we can be proud: “You made [us] ruler over the works of Your hands; You put everything under [our] feet.” Humility allows us to accept our smallness and God’s goodness. In the words of Martin Luther, humility is the decision to “let God be God”. We are stewards through humility. We are to honor Him with what we have, what we are, and what He will make of us. HARD WORK AND AMBITION ARE COMMENDABLE CHRISTIAN VIRTUES, BUT WE MUST CAREFUL NOT TO ALLOW THEM TO BECOME SINFUL OBSESSIONS. “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men” (Colossians 3:23). IMMANUEL EV. LUTHERAN PRESCHOOL DONATIONS 2014 1. Wise Penny Resale Shop. Wheaton for the benefit of Central DuPage Hospital Auxillary pledge to the new Ronald McDonald House-Toys, Books, Linens and Craft Items. 2.SCARCE-Glen Ellyn Agency that helps people in need. Toys and paper goods. 3.SAVERS-Gary Ave. Bloomingdale Benefit Epilipse-Toys and Books 4.Goodwill-Bartlett Toys, books, playpen, cot and cushion. 5.Bartlett Public Library-Books 6.Hanover Township-School Children-Various School Supplies 7.M.O,S,T, Ministries-for Bible School sessions conducted on mission trips-School Supplies 8.King of Glory-South Elgin Quilters Group-Many various pieces of material and packages of binding. 9.Chicago inner city Lutheran school where Pam Sawusch teaches. Floor rugs. 10.Immanuel-Office supplies and books for Immanuel’s library. 11. Bev and Rebecca cleaned and refurbished the Nursery Room with children’s furniture, toys and books from the preschool. THOSE WHO HELPED WITH SORTING, CLEANING AND DELIVERING DONATIONS Bev and Bill Bayes, Rebecca Hedberg, Barb Klopp, Bob Brinkman, Terry Kainz, Dick Zolick. Julie and Pam Sawusch Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser And Silent Auction For Prison Ministry – Voice of Hope Behind the Wall Deaconess, Lori Wilbert Saturday, November 1, 4:30-7:00 pm Immanuel Lutheran Church & School Family Life Center 950 Hart Road, Batavia, Illinois Advance ticket sales $10 for adults, $5 children (3-10) Tickets at the door $15 adults, $7 children Tickets are available by contacting Kathy Helvey at 630-267-3062 [email protected], or Mary Wert 630-879-7163 Please reserve your tickets by October 19 Checks should be made out to NID-Prison Ministry Come and meet Lori Wilbert and hear more about her ministry to the inmates at Stateville Correctional Center near Joliet. Learn how she brings God’s love and hope to broken individuals. This event is open to all and is sponsored by the following Lutheran Churches – Immanuel, Batavia; King of Glory, Elgin; St. John, Schaumburg; St. Mark, St. Charles; St. John, Burlington; and Thrivent Financial If you wish to donate to this vital ministry without attending the dinner, please mail a check made out to NID-Prison Ministry to LCMS NID Office, 2301 South Wolf Road, Hillside, IL 60162 Help support our monthly food fundraiser. Order from Market Day! Order forms are in the back of the church or you can order online at www.marketday.com. Orders are due to church by Sunday, October 5th or internet orders by Tuesday, October 7th. If you would like to help on pickup day or have any questions, please call Beverly Bayes at 630-289-4505 or Bonnie Hulke at 630-479-0174. Pickup is Saturday, October 11th from 12:30-1:15 p.m. Bob Kazor, Charlotte Loomis, and Ruth Grabske Sunday, October 26th Following our Worship Service Potluck to follow in the Fellowship Hall Fellowship will provide meat and drinks..More info to follow. October Birthdays 10/2 10/3 10/7 10/10 10/16 William Bayes Gale Schroeder Noah Guerra Mike Ongchangco Kayla Ohlson 10/19 10/23 10/25 10/27 Donna Kelly Dylan Lytle Cassandra Murray-Verley Jayden Hoffman Ruby Sherwood 10/30 Ruth Grabske October 2014 Schedules Lay Minister Schedule October 5 - Brad Kuehn & Mike Tellin October 12 October 19 - David Schroeder & Al Thilk October 26 - Reader Schedule October 5 - Al Thilk October 12 - Ellen Patzer October 19 - David Schroeder October 26 - Paul Patzer Acolyte Schedule October 5 - Brianna Murray October 12 - Erin Murray October 19 - Karla Patzer October 26 - Gwen Shirk AV Equipment Schedule October 5 - Jeremy Thilk October 12 - Paul Patzer October 19 - Roger Dreher October 26 - Al Thilk Usher Schedule October 5 - Cindy Jara & Tom Wachter October 12 - Bev Bayes & Barb Klopp October 19 - Mike Tellin & Paul Patzer October 26 - Bill & Bev Bayes If you cannot make it on your scheduled day, please contact the church office. 9:30 a.m. Worship Service 10:45 a.m. Adult Bible Class, Confirmation Class Potluck Dinner following 26 Reformation Sunday 9:30 a.m. Worship Service 10:45 a.m. Adult Bible Class, Confirmation Class Pentecost 19 Nineteenth Sunday after 9:30 a.m. Worship Service 10:45 a.m. Adult Bible Class, Confirmation Class Pentecost—LWML Sunday 12 Eighteenth Sunday after 27 20 13 7:30 p.m. Board of Lay Ministry 9:30 a.m. Worship Service 10:45 a.m. Adult Bible Class, Confirmation Class 6 Pentecost Iglesia Apostolica Cristo La Roca Every Sunday 12-5 Every Tuesday 7-9 Every Friday 7-9 Mon 5 Seventeenth Sunday after Sun 28 21 14 7 Tue 29 1:30 p.m. Clare Oaks Service 22 15 8 1 Wed 30 23 7:30 p.m. Board of Directors 16 7:15 p.m. Board of Stewardship 9 2 Thu 31 24 17 10 3 October 2014 Fri 8:00-10:00 a.m. Church Properties 25 8:00-10:00 a.m. Church Properties 18 Properties 10:00 a.m. - "“Singing the Faith" - Conference Room 12:30 p.m.-1:15 p.m. Market Day Pickup 11 8:00-10:00 a.m. Church 8:00-10:00 a.m. Church Properties 4 Sat