Two thoughts I encountered this past week stick out in my mind now that we come to the end of the week :
The first is from Psalm 146:5 – “How blessed (happy) is he whose help is the God of Jacob.” It’s interesting how often God is referred to in the Bible as the God of Jacob. Jacob was a trickster and was sometimes simply disobedient to God. He certainly seemed to be a person who was often in need of help ! That helps me feel better about my own situation. God is not just the God of people who “have it all together.” He is the God of people who need help … and He is the Father and God of those who love Him even when they are at times disobedient. He helps us through our disobedience ; He helps us through our needs. Happy is the person whose help is the God of Jacob ! Someone has said that happiness is a by-product of trusting and loving God. When we seek happiness in life, we usually don’t find it ; when we seek God, one of the by-products is happiness.
The second thought was a worship thought. We have often said at Emmanuel that in corporate worship we are the “actors” and God is the “audience.” That has been said in an effort to get us out of our natural tendency to be passive in worship (rather than participatory). However, I was struck by the thought that in worship God is also the primary actor. He is leading and instructing and speaking and ministering. We follow Him, listen to Him, consider His holiness, His plans, and His calling upon our lives ; then we go out changed by having encountered Him. Sunday worship is sometimes looked at as a time for me to get “filled up” again for a new week. Again, the filling up is actually a by-product of the greater purpose of worship which is to encounter God. When we go with the purpose of being filled up (i.e., getting my needs met), we may be disappointed ; when we go to encounter the great Actor and King of the Universe, we find we are changed and filled spiritually.
I look forward to encountering God with you this Sunday – the God of Jacob who is our help ! He is also the God of the Judges, and we’ll start our new sermon series in the book of Judges, “Staying Strong When Your World is Falling Apart.” We’ll introduce the book of Judges, highlight themes from chapters 1 and 2, and consider four lessons from those chapters that are always true in our lives.
I look forward to seeing you ! A very special kick-off Sunday at Emmanuel ! Hope you’ll be there.
Reminders, Dates, News – Fall Excitement at Emmanuel !
Kick-off Sunday, this Sunday :
Our kick-off Sunday schedule will look like this —
Classes for adults and children ages 3-11 begin at 9:00.
Word Connections – Fun and Scripture Memory for children, with Lisa Horstmann & Lindsey Engemann.
A Survey of the Book of Acts, with David Kiser.
What is Faith ? with Scott Parker
Discovering Christ & the Church 101 (our new members class), with Jeff Roth.
Worship at 10:15
Carry-in Dinner immediately following worship.
Please bring a main dish and a side dish or dessert for the meal. Drinks and tableware will be provided. We have a great team of people who will help you find a place in the kitchen or dining room for your food when you arrive.
Toward the end of the meal the elders will lead us in some “family time” to update everyone on things going on at Emmanuel.
We’ll conclude our meal with a special Communion time.
Pictorial Directory
Two steps for you to take care of :
Sign up on-line for an appointment for your portrait (www.hermannefree.com).
Make sure you speak to Mike Mahoney at the portrait table at church.
Both of these steps are necessary. Thank you !
Tuesday Prayer
Come to the church Tuesday at noon for a time of prayer for our church family and its ministries. We’ll help the church body get its week of to a Spirit-empowered start !
Congregational Meeting
There will be a short congregational meeting following worship on Sunday, September 14. We need your help choosing a Nominating Committee which will have the task of nominating candidates for church offices for 2015.
Serve St Louis is coming to Hermann
You may have heard about Serve St Louis on 99.1 Joy-FM. Last year 60,000 volunteers took part in service projects all the way from the metro east part of St Louis west to Wentzville. This year St George School is bringing Serve St Louis to Hermann and is asking if some from Emmanuel would like to join them. They are looking for two things :
volunteers to help with relatively simple service projects in the Hermann community on Sunday, October 12, either morning, afternoon, or all day
project ideas you might be aware of.
If you would like to help in one of those two ways, would you please let Catherine Mahoney or myself know of your interest or ideas. We will communicate our church’s participation to Kate Engemann at St George School. Thank you !
Thank you !
Thank you for your excellent giving to the ministry of the church in August ! We will need continued sacrificial and joyful giving toward both the General Ministry Fund and the Building Fund for the remainder of the year in order to keep up with ministry expenses. Thank you for your willingness ! Please indicate on your check or envelope if your gift is to go toward the Building Fund ; otherwise, it will be counted toward the General Ministry Fund. If you have any questions, please speak with Alex Grieshaber (chairperson of the Steward Committee) or Rebecca Gaus (church treasurer).
See you Sunday !
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