950 Hart Road-Batavia, IL 60510
Church Office-630.879.7163
School Office-630.406.0157 Fax-630-879-7614
info@immanuelbatavia.org
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Lots of This
and That: I’m writing this just hours after our closing chapel services before Christmas break. So some things are fresh on my mind. At our preschool chapel we concentrated on the manger—that unusual cradle Mary and Joseph used for their special Baby. I told the boys and girls, “Jesus still sleeps in a manger. This one isn’t in a cave in Bethlehem. It’s in your heart! And He also wants to be awake in your heart, too. He wants to be in our hearts because we are all in His heart. He wants to live in us every day, all the time.” Invite Him in! Many of you have asked about the results of our special offering for Zion—Summit, along with Nazareth in Chicago, seeks to call or contract a bi-lingual worker to help their outreach to their burgeoning Hispanic communities. Pastor Ted Groth (a son of our congregation who was ordained here some years ago) had shared their hope that somehow we might be able to help with $2,000 for 2010. It was my job to tell Ted, “Well, we didn’t raise $2,000. We did raise $5,102!” Let’s say Pastor Groth was stunned into silence. He was amazed and is extremely grateful. And I want to congratulate all of you for helping these brothers and sisters pursue their hope of ministry. It’s all part of our mission of “Igniting Lives for Christ – N.O.W.” By the way, after my initial report to Pastor Groth, another $100 was added to the total. WOW! It’s so easy for us to take for granted the things we find here at Immanuel. Once again, our Family Life Center was transformed during the holidays into a beautiful worship space. It didn’t happen on its own. The giant lighted tree branches were primarily the handiwork of Dee and Pat Dodd, Jim Hagemann, and Aaron Kuhn. All our Christmas trees, not only in the FLC but also in the sanctuary, were put up by our high school youth and our confirmands. Our massive outdoor Nativity was put up in a matter of just two hours because of the 35 or so volunteers who helped on the day after Thanksgiving. Kudos to all our choirs and their directors for providing so much wonderful music for the holidays. Once again, we enjoyed inspiring Christmas services led by our preschool, our Sunday School, and our Immanuel School students. It takes many, many hours of loving dedication to make such services happen. Thanks to all our teachers and volunteer moms and dads who guided and directed those events. And didn’t the sea of poinsettias that adorned our sanctuary and FLC look glorious? Thanks to all the donors and our Altar Guild for making that happen! We truly appreciate all that is done by so many! Our St. Nicholas Day Celebration at the Riverwalk on Sunday, December 6 was, by all accounts, a rousing success! The weather may have seemed a bit on the cold side. But by comparison to what followed just a few days later, it was actually a bit balmy! The choirs (children, contemporary, and adult), the musicians, the puppeteers, the drama, the goody bags, the hot chocolate and cookies—ALL were first rate! We had hoped to attract perhaps 250 people to this first-ever event. We were off on that estimate. Somewhere between 450 and 500 people came out to celebrate with us! Once again all we can say is: “WOW!” Thanks to our steering committee: Kim Diehl, Al Gerbitz, Sara Harms, Sandy Jacobi, Laura Klein, Art and Judy Koeller, Lori St. Vincent, and Mary Wert. Job well done! The next Basics of the Faith Class will start on Thursday, January 14 at 7 p.m. It will meet each Thursday through March 4. If you have not attended one of these classes, why not make a New Year’s resolution to do so now? If you need any incentive, just ask anyone who has been to a class. They tell me all the time how valuable it was to review “the basics” today, these many years after their confirmation (whenever that occurred). If you are a recent “Basics alum,” please urge someone else to attend. You are the best advertisement we have! A sign up is in the church narthex/lobby.
IT WILL BE A HAPPY
NEW YEAR OF 2010 IF WE KEEP JESUS AT THE HEART OF IT! |
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