Service

Why does Immanuel Lutheran School exist?

Why does Immanuel Lutheran School exist? What is our purpose?

We could create a long list of the benefits of attending Immanuel. We could go through the long list of goals that we have for students as a group and for students as individuals. The goals on this list would, no doubt, all have merit. That being the case, it may be tough to identify one simple, overriding goal. I’m going to try anyway. I believe that all of our educational goals can be neatly summed up in a single sentence: We are here to learn to serve.

Striving for recognition, for glory, for self-gratification comes as naturally to us as does breathing. It is our human nature to look out for #1. Fighting our nature is not an easy task, therefore our mission at Immanuel is not an easy one.

Approximately 2009 years ago God the Father sent to us our first and most important Christmas gift. This much we know. But I have a few questions for you:

• Why a manger?
• Why in Bethlehem?
• Why to Mary & Joseph?

We know of the Old Testament prophecies that clearly point to Jesus’ birth and some of the specifics of that birth, so that is one answer to the questions. It happened this way because the Scriptures must be fulfilled. But the Bible points to another reason.

• Why a lowly manger?
• Why in tiny Bethlehem?
• Why to commoners Mary & Joseph?

The reason God fashioned the birth of His Son in these humble circumstances is that He was sending His Son to serve Therefore, He chose for His Son, a servant’s birth.

The humility Jesus exemplified at His birth was on display throughout His life. He tells us: “…the Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve, and give his life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:18). We are to strive to be like Jesus and those who strive to be like Jesus strive to serve as Jesus served.

Do we exhibit the same type of humility Christ did. Will we serve? The answer to question on the WWJD (What Would Jesus Do?) wrist band is always: “He would serve.” Countless situations demand we answer that question. What is our answer? Will we serve?

“The Lord lifts up the humble and casts the wicked down to the ground.” (Psalm 147:6). What do we see when we look around us today? Do we see humility? When professional basketball players can’t throw the ball into a hoop without thumping themselves on the chest—is that humility? When singers decide that they need to show the world just about their entire body whenever they are in front of the camera is that humility? Make no mistake about it. Society imitates the stars. I see it all around me and you see it all around you. There is one place that we never see it: The life and testimony of Jesus. There is one place that we should never see it: In the mirror.

My wife has begun to read the book, The Purpose Driven Life. I’ve read portions of it. The book, despite being very Christ centered, has certain drawbacks so I’m not promoting the entire book. It does, however, discuss the topic of Christian service in an extremely effective manner. Better, I think than I could. For that reason, much of the remainder of [this article] is taken from this book. The excerpts are in quotation marks and the Scripture passages are italicized and the references are cited.

“Real service starts in your mind.” Your mindset has to be that of a servant’s. The author, Rick Warren, outlines four attitudes for which a Christian should strive.

1. “Servants think more about others than they do about themselves.”

The author states that true humility is “not thinking less of ourselves but thinking of ourselves less…being self-forgetful. Paul encourages us in Philippians 2:3 to ‘Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.’ When we stop focusing on our own needs we become aware of the needs around us. Jesus emptied Himself by taking on the form of a servant.”

When was the last time you “emptied” yourself for someone else’s benefit? You can’t be a servant if you are full of yourself. “It’s only when we forget ourselves that we do the things that deserve to be remembered.” As I mentioned earlier, Immanuel’s goal of teaching service is a difficult one because man is selfish by nature. It’s a daily struggle. Think about any one situation that you faced in the recent past. That situation no doubt carried with it the choice of you serving yourself or serving others. Denying yourself is the “core of servanthood.” The author states that you can test yourself. “You can measure your servant’s heart by how you respond when others treat us like servants. How do you react when you’re taken for granted, bossed around, or treated as inferior?” Jesus tells us, “If someone slaps you on the right cheek, turn the other to him also” (Matthew 5:39).

2. “Servants think about their work not the work of others.”

We are all on the same team and our goals are the same. Our goal is to make God look good, not to make ourselves look good. Remember when Martha complained to Jesus about Mary not helping prepare the dinner. Mary was just sitting at Jesus’ feet listening as Martha was scurrying around working to prepare the meal. The author states that when Martha complained, she lost her servant’s heart. “Real servants don’t complain of unfairness, don’t have pity parties, and don’t resent those not serving.”

3. “Servants base their identity on Christ.”

“Because they remember they are loved and accepted by grace, servants don’t have to prove their worth. They willingly accept jobs that insecure people would consider beneath them.” You may remember Jesus washing the feet of the disciples.

“In order to be of service to others, we have to die to them; that is, we have to give up measuring our meaning and value by the yardstick of others…thus we become free to be compassionate. When you base your worth and identity on your relationship to Christ, you are freed from the expectations of others and that allows you to really serve them best.”

Your identity should not be based on your achievements or the connections you’ve made. This book uses the example of James the brother of Jesus. “If anyone ever had an opportunity to flaunt his connections and ‘name drop,’ it was James.” James was the brother of Jesus! Yet in introducing his letter, he simply referred to himself as “…a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ” (James 1:1). “The closer you get to Jesus, the less you need to promote yourself.”

4. “Servants think of the ministry as an opportunity, not an obligation.”

“Servants serve with gladness. Because they love the Lord and they are grateful for His grace, they know serving is the highest use of life, and they know that God has promised a reward.” Jesus says “If anyone serves me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there my servant will be also. If anyone serves me, him My Father will honor” (John 12:26).

Our mission at Immanuel is to train servants. If we are successful, then our students will be willing to think and act like servants throughout their lives. In service to Christ and to your fellow man, God will use you. This will bring you true happiness and more importantly bring to the world the witness and testimony of our Savior. May God help us in our mission. Amen.

A PTO Devotion Delivered by Mr. Daniel Roehl
Mr. Roehl teaches Social Studies, Health, and Physical Education Immanuel Lutheran’ School

Planning for the Future in Immanuel’s Ministry

During the past two years, we have been taking steps toward developing a long range plan for Immanuel’s facility needs. Last year, a congregational survey was conducted to gauge individual members’ thoughts on the matter. The congregation approved a feasibility study and chose Paulsen Architects of Mankato to conduct the study.

During the closing weeks of 2004, Paulsen Architects met with the congregation’s Boards, various groups (Study Guild, Bible Studies, etc.), and held open discussion forums. From these meetings, the architects compiled a list of needs and desires pertaining to the facility from which we conduct our ministry. These needs and desires were later prioritized and the architects developed long range options, the projected costs for each option, and the overall feasibility of each option.

Paulsen Architects presented the findings of their feasibility study at on open meeting on April 18. In short, the three options are:

1. Option 1: Renovate the existing facility and add onto it, incorporating as many of the identified needs and desires as possible.
2. Option 2: Remove the gymnasium and high school classrooms, renovate the remaining building, and add onto it to produce a newly configured church and school facility that would better address the many identified needs and desires.
3. Option 3: Relocate to a new site and construct a new church and school facility to meet our needs.

Drawings and information on all three options are currently on display in the church narthex. Copies of the feasibility report can be checked out from the church library (these copies are also on display in the narthex).

There are a few things that will assist your understanding of the feasibility study as you review it: 1) This is a feasibility study to determine a long range plan that will best suit our needs, provide for growth, and follow a wise and effective stewardship of our resources. It is prudent to have this type of long range plan. Nothing in architects’ presentation has been approved and no construction or renovation is imminent—this is long range planning. 2) All three options include as many of the identified needs/desires as possible. In a finalized long range plan, any of these options could be adjusted, downsized, upgraded, or revised in other ways. 3) The estimated costs assume mid-quality materials (nothing extravagant and nothing inferior). The costs do not take into account volunteer labor, etc. 4) The drawings of the three options are conceptual. They are not fine-tuned construction plans. 5) All three options are designed to allow a “phased” approach—doing one part of the project at a time.

One of the larger elements in all three options is land acquisition. The Committee for the Exploration of Facility Needs is working to acquire more information about availability and cost of land acquisition within the city block where we are currently located, as well as any potential new sites in the expanding areas of Mankato. If you are aware of information concerning the properties around our present location or regarding potential new sites, please contact the committee through the church office. The committee plans to have more information on potential land acquisition by the time of the next Quarterly Voters’ Meeting (July 18).

As we continue to join together in developing a long range plan for our facilities, we pray for the Lord’s guidance so that in the end we will follow His will, glorify Him, and have a facility that will serve well in our ongoing work of ministering with the Gospel through church and school. To this end, there will be a number of opportunities to discuss the feasibility study and related issues. We will be reviewing the feasibility study and discussing the long range plan in each of the meetings listed below. We invite each of you to attend at least one, but as many as you wish.

Sunday, May 15th — 10:45-11:45 a.m. and 7:00-8:00 p.m.

Wednesday, May 18th — 8:00-9:00 p.m.

Sunday May 29th — 10:45-11:45 a.m. and 7:00-8:00 p.m.

Wednesday, June 1 — 8:00-9:00 p.m.

Discussion of long range plans will also be held during the regular meetings of various groups — Study Guild (5/17), Ladies Auxiliary (5/25), PTO (5/25), Senior Bible Study (TBA), Men’s Breakfast (TBA).

We would also like to have In-Home Discussions—smaller, informal discussions of long range plans in members’ homes. Dates and locations of these home opportunities will be announced in the bulletin. If you would be interested in hosting one of these fellowship/discussion opportunities, please contact the church office.

Helpful Hints For Family Living…

Involving Your Children in Worship Services

Would you like to have your younger children more involved in the worship service? As soon as possible have them sit on your lap during the singing of hymns. Take their hand in yours and follow the lines of each hymn pointing to the notes as they are sung—kind of like following the bouncing red ball of yesteryear! Within a short time each of our four children began to “ah” along as we sang. Oh, yes, their “ah’s” were in monotone to begin with, but in time their pitch improved. Months before they could actually speak and years before they could read, they were praising their God along with the congregation. By the time they were able to read, they were accustomed to singing with all their hearts, which has led to an ongoing involvement in hymn singing and other choral activities as they have grown older.

Paul D. Nolting

From the Desk of Pastor Eichstadt

Dear Members and Friends of Immanuel,

On Sunday (April 24), I received word from the members of our sister congregation—Redemption of Lynnwood (Seattle), WA—that they have extended a call to me to serve as their pastor. Redemption’s current pastor (John Hein) will be moving in mid-June to become the pastor of Grace in Fridley, MN when Grace’s current pastor (John Ude) moves to Eau Claire, WI to begin his service as a professor in Immanuel Lutheran Seminary.

Redemption has 138 members. In recent years they have had an increase in the number of children. Their current school enrollment is 19 (former Immanuel teacher, Quinn Sprengeler, is the teacher and principal at Redemption). Washington is often cited as the "least churched" state in the union. A very basic knowledge of Christianity is lacking in much of the population making it an area where there is great need for mission work.

During the next few weeks I will be prayerfully deliberating between the two calls and ministries—the work at Immanuel, Mankato and the work at Redemption, Lynnwood. Through that process I pray the Lord will lead me to a clear decision of where He wishes to use me in the work of His kingdom.

I ask that you keep me and this process in your prayers, asking that the Lord’s will be clear to me and the decision will be to His glory.

I would also like to hear any counsel you have for me in this decision process. Please speak to me at anytime, or phone, or email. I will also have office hours next week: Tuesday (5/3) 2:30-5:00 p.m., Friday (5/6) 8:00-10:00 a.m., and I will be in the church office and available on Wednesday (5/4) after the worship service, 8:00-9:30 p.m.

CLC Youth Conference 2005

These were some of the words used by those who attended the CLC Youth Conference 2003 in Tennessee when describing their experience! Saddle up! We are headed for Como, Colorado for the CLC Youth Conference 2005!

This year’s conference will be held from Tuesday, August 9 through Sunday, August 14 at Camp Como which lies about 100 miles southwest of Denver. We will travel by coach bus from Mankato, leaving early Monday morning, August 8 and returning late Monday afternoon, August 15.

The theme of the conference is: Live Strong, Lift High! It will focus on two Bible passages: Galatians 5:22-23 which identifies “the fruits of the Spirit” leading to a strong Christian character; and 1 Peter 3:15, which urges us to be prepared to share our Christian hope with others. The ten teaching sessions will include in-depth Bible study of the fruits of the Spirit, their source in the Gospel, their meaning for our lives, and their application to our lives. The studies in God’s Word will include small group discussions and large group activities which will focus on how these virtues will help us better to share our faith. Additional activities at the conference will include whitewater rafting, singing, and a talent show. Optional activities include basketball, softball, volleyball, rock climbing, mountain biking, and more!

This year’s staff features a superb blend of veterans and first-timers. Speakers include—Pastor Luke Bernthal, Tina Eichstadt, Pastor Del and Jodi Maas, Pastor Paul Nolting, Professor Michael Sydow, Dr. Jim and Beth Sydow, and Jill Tiefel. Pastors Bernthal and Maas will provide morning and evening devotions. Counselors will include: Alana Ahrens, Matthew Busch, Joel Gullerud, Sarah Kruse, Marie Meyer, Sara Pfeiffer, Jeff Radichel, Tim Schreyer, and Nick Stelter. Paul Stelter will be along as our bus driver and EMT.

The cost to participants is $260 if paid before May 30 and $275 after May 30. The deadline for all registrations is July 15. Transportation costs for the bus are yet to be determined, but should not exceed $50/passenger. Good Shepherd Lutheran Church of Rapid City will provide lodging on the way to Colorado, and Grace Lutheran Church of Valentine will be providing lodging on the return trip. Twenty-three scholarship applicants have been awarded a combined total of $2,900.00 in scholarships. Registration forms for the conference are available in the Narthex, from the church office, or online: http://ilc.edu/activities/CLCYC/home.htm

Reading Is Important

National surveys recently pointed out that the American public is no longer reading as it once did, a fact which has many public officials and educators alarmed. Reading is essential in order to have an informed citizenry and workforce. Even more importantly, God has chosen to convey His Gospel message through the written word in His Bible. Consequently, reading is important to the Christian not just for this life, but also for the life to come. How you approach reading, however, is also important, as Sarah Naumann, a Senior in our Immanuel Lutheran High School, points out in this summary of an article on reading taken from World magazine.

Reading is important to Christians because God speaks to us in a book—the Bible. By teaching people to read God’s Word, Christian churches have contributed to the literacy, and consequently the political and economic freedom, of people throughout the world.

Reading conditions us to think and makes us exercise our imaginations. In contrast, watching television is a passive activity wherein we soak up the product of someone else's imagination. Because knowledge is power, and reading is an excellent way to obtain knowledge, those who continue to read will be leaders and culture-makers.

Christians should read actively, making sure to think critically about what is happening in a book. Some books depict evil in order to set a moral example by showing its consequences, but others put it in only for the sake of intriguing the Old Adam. Two books, both with the same subject matter, may not have the same value; the way the material is dealt with is very important.

Reading gives us a glimpse into someone else's mind, and reading with the author's worldview in mind gives us a clearer idea of what he actually means to say in the work. When reading, a Christian should draw on the insights of the author while rejecting any errors. Our worldview is that the Bible is the absolute authority, so we can benefit from an author’s ideas that agree with God’s Word, and dismiss those that do not. Human philosophies are incomplete and narrow-minded, but God's Word gives us the whole picture.

When choosing books, we should follow the words of Philippians 4:8 and read those that are excellent, worthy of praise, lovely, and of good report. Books that have withstood the test of time often have more merit; they can show us the ideas of many centuries rather than just the narrow window of time in which we live. Reading on a broad range of topics will expose us to a greater variety of ideas.

In our day, almost everyone has the ability and opportunity to read; however, many people do not because they spend too much time plugged into the television. Eventually, they may become bored with this passive activity and want to stretch their imaginations by reading. But even if the whole rest of our society becomes alliterate, Christians must always be people of the Book.

Sarah Naumann
Sarah is a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Sleepy Eye
and a Senior in Immanuel Lutheran High School

News & Announcements

Ascension Worship Service

Thursday, May 5 - 7:00 p.m.

The worship service includes the Immanuel Grade School Choir Concert.

MN Twins — Watch ‘Em Play!

There will be a congregational outing to the Minnesota Twins game on June 3. It is a 7:10 p.m. game against the New York Yankees. Our seats will be in the Family Zone (sections 215-216)—upper deck in the right field corner. Tickets are $10.00 and include a free soft drink and hot dog. Group transportation will be arranged if there is enough interest. Signup for the trip is in the church narthex (you may also call the church office). The DEADLINE for sign up and payment is May 11.

Vacation Bible School

June 27-July 1 — Evening Family VBS

July 11-15 — Spanish/English Outreach VBS

July 18-22 — Morning VBS

Helpers and teachers will be needed for all three VBS opportunities. Currently, we’re looking for volunteers to lead music in the morning VBS and the Outreach VBS, and for craft leaders in all three VBS weeks. A teacher volunteer sign-up sheet will be coming soon. Please contact Pastor Eichstadt if you would like to assist in some way.

Men’s Breakfast Bible Study

The men of Immanuel are invited to participate in the Men’s Breakfast Bible Study, which will be held each Friday morning at church beginning on May 6. A breakfast will be served at 6:30 a.m. with a half hour Bible Study to follow beginning at 7:00 a.m. The cost of the breakfast will be covered by free-will donations.

The initial topic for study will be “Servant Leadership,” focusing on the type of leadership that God would have men provides their wives, their families, their congregations, and their communities. It is hoped that this Bible Study will prove beneficial in many ways to the men of our congregation and to all those whom they seek to lead.

Men—please join us!