Current Publications

The Emmanuel Weekly - Bulletin

Eve of Easter Sunday Worship Service
​April 3, 2021
bulletin_easter_1_april_3_2021.pdf
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The Emmanuel Epistle
Newsletter

April 2021
newsletter_april_2021.pdf
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News & Events
Calendar
Publications

Emmanuel's 1st Baptism

James Matthew Wagner, infant son of Matt and Megan Wagner and little brother of big sister Anna, entered the Body of Christ through the washing of regeneration and renewal on Saturday, October 12, 2013.

LBW #194
"All who believe and are baptized shall see the Lord's salvation; baptized into the death of Christ, they are a new creation. Through Christ's redemption they shall stand, among the glorious heavenly band of every tribe and nation!"

Bible Reading Class

A Four Week Bible Reading Class for grades 3-5 was held on Wednesdays in October, 2013. Materials & a simple meal were provided each week. Youth participated in family devotions during the month of November, reading 20 Devotions from the Gospel of Mark and practicing Bible Reading in the home. Youth read Scripture at worship on Oct. 26 and also provide a gift of music. They received their "sword of the Spirit" (Bible) on Oct. 26, 2013--see picture.
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Saturday School 2019-2020:
Weekly, we come together in celebration of Christian Education for all ages. Rally Day was held on Saturday, September 7 at 5pm. Julie Steffenson is coordinating Saturday School for our young people, teaching Bible Stories. Pastor Steffenson is leading the adults in a study on "Church Renewal." G.I.F.T. - Growing In Faith Together is an opportunity for adults to engage in a faith conversation with each other, which hopefully will extend into the homes, families sharing faith talk with each other.

Confirmation Class (grades 3-9): Youth have read and discussed with Pastor Dave three of C.S. Lewis' books from the Chronicles of Narnia. Our next study will be on the Ten Commandments.

Women's Bible Study

The Women of Emmanuel have completed a six session in-home study on First Peter. Due to the Coronavirus, this study was done via phone and emails. Final Session was May 28, 2020. New Study is set to begin in the Fall of 2021!

Men's Bible Study

 The The Men of Emmanuel Lutheran meet on Tuesday mornings (8am) at Oasis Church for Bible Study and fellowship. Join us each week for conversation and coffee! The Men's Bible Study was launched on September 10, 2013. Presently, due to COVID-19, the men are meeting via an email conversation on Tuesday mornings from 8:25-9:30am. We are looking at the Scripture Readings for the upcoming Sunday. We are also meeting In-Person in the Oasis Church twice a month on Wednesdays at 11am. 

Council Highlights - Zoom Mtg. from March 5, 2021 
​Budget Income for the month of February was $7,879.89; Expenses were $15,250.74. Pastor’s pension for 2021 was paid in full. Benevolences for India Transformed were paid, allowing Emmanuel to double it’s gift with a matching funds gift. Lenten and Easter plans were discussed. Canned soup is being collected. Scripture readers for Easter Monday are being recruited. Rev. Mark Chavez, General Secretary of the NALC has submitted his resignation & will be returning to full time parish ministry. Mary Bates will be in Rochester on Sunday, April 24 at Holy Cross     Lutheran Church (LCMS) speaking on Disaster Response. Gary Froiland will be with us on September 25 with a Gideon presentation (a freewill offering will be received). Don Wanek has resigned from the Implementation Team. Dan & Mary Jo Grimsrud have been appointed to replace him. The Church Council is working with the Implementation Team on a SIGN for our church land. Joel Simpson, Oasis Church Musician, will offer a worship video training session to Emmanuel. Julie Engle asked about  a wheelchair for Emmanuel. An Emmanuel Huddle has been set for April 17 to discuss plans for the church land. The next Council Meeting is April 8 at 1pm. 

Annual Mtg. Highlights & Goals for 2021 - Jan. 30, 2021
A Quorum of 22 voting members was established on January 30, 2021. The Annual Meeting began at 6:55pm, was 20 minutes in length, and accomplished all of its necessary work. Minutes from the January 18, 2020 Annual Meeting were approved. Reports were received.
Elections were held. Deb Vomhof & Judy Caudill were each elected to serve a 2-year council position. Lee Pearce, Leitha Bothun, Julie Steffenson, & Heather Mikesh were elected to serve on the Nominating Committee (1 year). Bob Mulvihill was elected to serve on the Audit Committee (3 year). Deb Vomhof & Judy Caudill were elected to serve as Emmanuel Voting Delegates at NALC Convocations.
A Mission Plan Budget of $117,800 was approved for 2021.
The Following Goals were approved for 2021:
A. Church Land Development: Implementation Team is meeting regularly to recommend a Site Master Plan to the church council & membership of Emmanuel Lutheran for approval.
B. Signage: Place a sign on our church property. LeRoy Quam is constructing a large Cross. “Announcing the presence of Emmanuel!”
C. Emmanuel Picnic on our Church Land on Sunday, August 1.
D. Update Aerial pictures of our church land to be posted on our website and Facebook Page.
E. Upgrading the video and audio quality of our weekly worship services.
F. “S’more Singing” – monthly campfires on church land (seasonal; weather permitting).
G. Neighborhood Visitation Program: Introducing Emmanuel to our Neighbors.
H. Growing the NALC presence in S.E. MN. – Trinity, St. Charles; order NALC Banner.
I. Support SEMAC Mission Trip to Pensacola, Florida -- Feb 7th–19th. ($500 in mission support has been given; prayers being offered)
J. Easter Monday Bible Reading of the New Testament (April 5); growing number of participants. – Virtual option: Telephone Tag-Team approach, also done in 2020.
K. Host an Emmanuel virtual baby shower for New Life Family Services in conjunction with a National Sanctity of Human Life Worship Celebration (January 16-17). ($1,000+ in baby gifts; 600+ Facebook engagements)
L. Host a Thanksgiving Eve Worship Service.
M. Secure 10 Thrivent Action Team Grants. (#1--Pastor Dave: SOHL—Sanctity of Human Life; #2--Joe Vomhof: SEMAC Mission Trip; #3--Julie Steffenson: Soup to Go!)
N. Each One Reach One: Disciples multiplying themselves. Growing our Membership.
O. Construction of a Storage Shed (perhaps in conjunction with NALC Disaster Response) & a Picnic Shelter on the church land; pending approval of: “Church Land Site Master Plan.”
Following the Annual Meeting, a Special Council Meeting was held. The following officers were elected: Barb Steffenson as President; Deb Vomhof as Vice-President; Don Holtan as Secretary; and Judy Caudill as Treasurer. Installation will take place on Saturday, February 27 (6pm worship).

MEMBERSHIP: DISCIPLESHIP at EMMANUEL - 2021

Sixty Discipleship Covenants (52 adults; 8 youth) were approved for Emmanuel membership in 2021.
“Now you are the Body of Christ and individually members of it”—I Cor. 12:27. Baptized members are servants of Emmanuel, living out their God-given faith in congregational life; committed to the walk of discipleship, growing up into the full maturity of Christ. Each December, Christians desiring membership at Emmanuel Lutheran of Rochester for the upcoming year are invited to sign up (be enrolled for the calendar year) on our Servant Roster. To be a member is to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, baptized and committed to the Marks of Discipleship. If you desire to “praise, proclaim, and practice Emmanuel—God With Us—in daily life,” then complete the 2021 Emmanuel Membership Covenant and walk with us to the glory of God! Members are eligible to hold office and vote.  37 signed covenants were signed in 2014. 54 discipleship covenants were signed for 2015. 58 Covenants were signed for 2016. 62 Covenants were signed for 2017. 64 Covenants were signed for 2018. 64 covenants for signed for 2019. Nothing would please us more than to have you join us in the walk of discipleship in 2020. 62 Covenants were signed for 2020.
publication_membership_covenant_2021.pdf
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Emmanuel's Annual Meetings

Emmanuel's first Annual Meeting was held on January 25, 2014. 25+ people were in attendance. An excellent Chili Supper was enjoyed by all. Council Members elected for 2014 were Kari Richards, Arne Nelson, Lee Pearce, & Kalo Lockerby. A 2014 Mission Plan Budget of $88,560.00 was approved along with Goals and Mile Markers for 2014. Other action items included: approval of Emmanuel’s Logo, Brochure, Mission Statement, and Child Protection Policy.
Emmanuel's second Annual Meeting was held on January 24, 2015. Highlights available!
Emmanuel's third Annual Meeting was held on Sunday, January 31, 2016. Highlights available!
Emmanuel's fourth Annual Meeting was held on Sunday, January 29, 2017. Highlights available!
Emmanuel's fifth Annual Meeting was held on Saturday, January 27, 2018 at 3:30pm followed by a potluck meal at 4:45pm.
Emmanuel's sixth Annual Meeting was held on Saturday, January 26, 2019 at 3:30pm followed by a potluck meal at 4:45pm.
Emmanuel's seventh Annual Meeting was held on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020 at 3:30pm followed by a potluck meal at 4:45pm.
Emmanuel's eighth Annual Meeting was held on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021 following evening worship at 6:55pm.
annual_report_january_2020.pdf
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