A Sunday morning worship service

The priorities of our ministry are:

• Worship
• Fellowship
• Discipleship
• Stewardship
• Mission

Worship

 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.  Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:1-2)

Worship is at the heart of everything we do at Immanuel.  Above all else our desire is to worship and glorify God our Father and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  On Sunday mornings we meet together to give praise to God for Who He is, thank Him for all He has done and is doing for us,  to fellowship together, to hear the proclamation of the Word of God, and to pray with and for each other.  In this way we are strengthened and equipped  for our ‘spiritual act of worship’ – living lives that honor Him.

Fellowship time after Worship

Fellowship

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.  (Hebrews 1:23-25)

Fellowship is a part of all our gatherings at Immanuel.  These are times of encouragement, sharing one another’s burdens and lighter moments as well.  Many times our fellowship revolves around food.  After worship on Sundays we spend time with one another to connect, share our weekly happenings and prayer concerns, and hear from one another’s heart.  During our Wednesday evening Bible Study and Prayer Fellowship we study a portion of the Word of God and bring our concerns as a body before our Heavenly Father.  Throughout the year we have special times of getting together for fellowship, food and fun.

Discipleship:

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  To Him be glory both now and forever!  Amen.  (2 Peter 3:18)

Bible Class

We are privileged to Study the Word of God and share what we learn with others.  Sunday morning we have Bible Classes for adults as well as children.  Sunday evening there is a Bible Study for Women focusing on being set free to be who God would have us be.  Wednesday Evening in our Bible Study and Prayer Fellowship we study God’s Word and then lift our voices in praise and prayer concerns to our Lord.  Our goal is for each person to grow in their faith and, in the process of growth, to proclaim God’s truth to all they come in contact with, through their words and their lives.

Preparing a meal for others

 Stewardship:

“Remember this:  Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.  Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  And God is able to make all grace abound to you so that in all things at all times, having all you need, you will abound in every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:6-8)

We, at Immanuel, believe that faithful stewardship is very much a part of our “growing in grace and the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ”.   God’s will is that all should be saved and come to a knowledge of the Truth (1 Timothy 2:4) .  We participate in God’s redemptive plan as we give our resources, time and giftedness, to further His Kingdom locally, nationally and around the world.

Mission:

“Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’”  (Matthew 28:19-20)”

Fundraiser for Esther Dama Sewing Center

Reaching out beyond ourselves is also a part of our ministry.  Immanuel Lutheran Church is a part of a larger body known as The Church of the Lutheran Brethren of America (CLBA).  In addition to monetary and prayer support for the missionaries of the CLBA, we have supported a number of mission projects, i.e. digging water wells in Africa, finances to build a sewing center in Benin, providing finances for the supplies for that center, support for a specific missionary, etc.  In the history of this congregation there have been many who have been called to become pastors, missionaries, chaplains, etc.  Locally we are privileged to interact with and encourage the ministry of our neighbor, The Walter Hoving Home, which is a home for women who are recovering from addictions.