2021...emanuel lutheran church january 2021 enlightener michael holman, llm ~231 824-6757 ~cell...
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Emanuel Lutheran Church
January 2021
Enlightener
Michael Holman, LLM
(231)824-6757 (cell)
holmi@1fj.com
Emanuel Lutheran Church: 906-942-7245
emanuel@tds.net www.be-Lutheran.org
Emanuel Lutheran Church of Skandia , ELCA
Celebrating 125 Years
Growing in God’s Grace
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Council Members
Sandi Ruotsi
Richard Cooke
Lois Kokko
Betsy Koski
Jane Sims
Dan Bahrman
Jolene Kokko
Christian Education
Michael Holman, LLM ~
Confirmation
Leah Kainulainen , Karen Maki ~
Sunday School
Sandi Ruotsi ~ Adult Forum
Office
Jolene Kokko ~ Office Assistant
Michael Holman, LLM
(231)824-6757 (cell) Email: holmi@1fj.com
Office Hours: Tuesday 1-5pm, Thurs. 9am-2pm
Committee Leaders
Sandi Ruotsi ~
Council President
Barb Bach ~ Stewardship
Sarah Kimball ~ Outreach
Betsy Koski ~ Christian Education
Jane Sims ~ Worship & Music
Roger Kimball ~ Building &
Property
Pam Bahrman~ Cemetery
Business Manager
Emanuel Lutheran Church has both a Face Book
Page and website! Catch up on upcoming and past
events, our monthly calendar and Enlightener
newsletters and view our Sunday worship service at:
www.be-lutheran.org
Congregational Leadership
Sunday Worship is available online only at www. be-lutheran.org through
January 3, and beginning January 10 in person at 11 am while social
distancing and wearing masks in the sanctuary. We may also hear it via
radio station 87.9FM during the worship service while in the parking lot.
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Remember in Prayer …
Our members, family, and friends who are ill, have
health concerns, are grieving, or are in need;
the family of Herb Anderson.
Our members and friends who are absent from
worship and unable to attend,
prayers for Elsie Haglund, Vonda Berglund.
Our Thanks and Praise to God. If you have a prayer
request, please let the office know by calling or by
leaving a message at 942-7245.
January 1—Mark Arnett
January 9—Betty Ahola
January 12-Angie Kremer
January 13-Judy Berglund
January 14–Tim Peiffer
January 29-Todd Maki
January 30-Melody
Trimble
January 1—Sid & Mary
Heetland
January 11—Vernon & Elsie
Haglund
Birthday Blessings
Anniversary Blessings
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“ For I am about to create new heavens and a new earth; the former
things shall not be remembered or come to mind.” Isaiah 65:17
God’s grace and peace be with you my Sisters and Brothers in
Christ,
These last few weeks of the year seem to have bombarded me with
the phrase “I will be glad when this year is over”. That sentiment is
sweeping throughout the nation as many lament over all the things
they have had to miss out on this year of pandemic. Gatherings have
been down scaled or completely eliminated, we have been
encouraged to stay away from family and friends, to maintain social
distancing and remain masked up. Many have not been able to work,
diners have been closed to indoor seating with the hope that a carry
out business will sustain them. We have not been allowed to visit
loved ones in hospital or various care facilities as well as limiting what
our worship life is so that we might help reduce the spread of the vi-
rus that is so prominent in our lives right now. So I guess we are all
tired of the isolation, we just want to get back to the way things were.
I would suggest to you that this is not necessarily where we are right
now though. Throughout this last year we have been quite creative in
the way that life is experienced. I have been witness to small groups
of people gathered with their lawn chairs in a vacant parking lot,
chatting up the solutions to our problems. I watch as takeout food is
carried over to a table, that there is some sense of dining. Restaurants
have created outdoor spaces for their customers’ enjoyment as we
long for the old ways to come around again. In all of this there seems
to be a growing respect for the outdoors as people seek new activities
to fill the time they now seem to have plenty of, finding new ways to
connect with one another. So we adapt, as we have with our worship
practices. Although we no longer sing aloud we “hear” the comforting
words in our minds or perhaps a recording. WE have learned to gath-
er on the lawn weather permitting, or to gather in our parking lots to
listen to the service on the old FM radio. We have adapted commun-
ion practices to be safe and have changed the way Christian education
is presented and through it all have found a way to make a difference
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In this world by sharing that which we have received, the love of God
for all of creation through Jesus the Christ.
As we end this year and welcome in the new one let us not be pulled
down by the negatives of 2020, rather raise ourselves up knowing that
God is with us and is indeed making all things new. We do have much
to be thankful for, so rejoice and be glad, giving praise and glory to
God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Peace,
Michael
P.S. Thank all of your for your generosity and support for me
throughout the year and putting Christ Jesus first in your life.
Update
With the COVID pandemic we are
looking at ways we can safely
hold our annual meeting,
traditionally held the last Sunday
of January. The council has been
given information about remote meetings, Michigan laws, and ideas
for annual meetings during a pandemic from the synod office. It was
decided to have our annual report compiled and available by January
24 and wait to either hold the meeting via virtually or possibly in
person, both later this spring.
Emanuel has two council positions available for 2021 and two Synod
Assembly representatives are needed. Be aware that the Synod
Assembly 2021 will be online. If you need to use the computer at
Emanuel to virtually attend, you are always welcome. Please let Sandi
Ruotsi or Michael know if you are interested in any of these positions
or have and questions and thank you for considering these valuable
and important positions representing Emanuel.
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The Northern Great Lakes Synod has launched a new
series of classes for adults who want to increase
their knowledge and understanding of the Bible,
church history, Lutheran Theology, world religions,
and more. The new program, Lifelong Faith
Formation, evolved from the synod’s Lay School
for Mission.
Registration for all Winter Lifelong Faith Formation classes closes on
Thursday, January 7 at 5pm ET (or when enrollment for a class reaches
20 participants). The classes provide fun and interesting opportunities
for people to connect with each other online, via ZOOM, during these
challenging times. For more information visit www.nglsynod.org or
contact Deacon-Elect Lori Ward at (615)519-1969 or
lori.ward @nglsynod.org
The Northern Great Lakes Synod Council declared May
2020 to May 2021 as a “Year of Discovery.” It is a call for
our synod members to better understand and appreci-
ate the history, heritage and culture of Native American
peoples, as we reflect on the historical content of the
Doctrine of Discovery and its impact on American and religious
psyche, creating a society that harmed, and continues to harm, our
Native siblings. And perhaps this Year of Discovery can also take you
to a sacred place…a place of discovering and learning from a valuable
culture; a spirituality filled with grace and gratitude; and an awareness
that we are all related.
Resources to help you in this Year of Discovery are available at
www.nglsynod.org. In addition, all of us are invited to learn together
in community. Pastor Bucky Beach of Good Shepherd, Houghton, will
be leading an adult education classes entitled From The Doctrine of
Discovery: From Myth to Reality. The class will be held on Monday
evenings at 6PM ET, via Zoom, beginning January 11. More infor-
mation is available on the synod website: www.nglsynod.org.
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Since there will be no Sunday School classes held in person due to the
corona virus, a teacher booklet and children
been given to each family for home lessons. Adult Forum will begin
the first Sunday of October, meeting after the Sunday worship
services. Protocol will be set prior to the their first meeting
concerning precautions to be used with the virus.
Leaving a Legacy Workshop
Plan now to make a future gift from your estate
to support the work of Christ
If you are considering an estate plan, reviewing/updating a plan,
or would simply like to know more about thoughtful estate
planning that will consider your heirs and your church, this
event is important for you! Each session will focus on thoughtful
estate planning and giving. Cindy Halverson, our Regional Gift
Planner from the ELCA Foundation, will lead the presentation
and discuss how each of us can make informed decisions that
will bless the work of Christ into the future.
The workshop is being held via Zoom Thursday, February 11,
2021 6-7:30 pm CT/7-8:30 pm ET or Saturday, February 13,
20219-10:30 am CT/10-11:30 am ET.
To register, go to: www.nglsynod.org
Lighting the Way
A celebration of Christ’s light through 90 years of ministry together!
Sunday, January 10, 2021
Worship with the Fortune Lake Association churches. In appreciation of our association congregations through this pandemic, we invite you to this worship experience
with our FLLC community! The service will be posted on our YouTube channel on Saturday, January 9.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5mPMk-u17chosDFxOjPGXA
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GWINN AREA COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
GWINN, MICHIGAN 49841-9180
Ladies and Gentlemen:
On behalf of the Board of Education and the students of the Gwinn
Area Community Schools, thank you for the donation of school
supplies (valued at $500) and food for the weekend backpack
program at KI Sawyer Elementary School.
The Board of Education graciously accepted the donation at their
meeting on November 23, 2020.
We appreciate and thank you for your support of the Gwinn Area
Community Schools.
Sincerely,
Sandra L. Petrovich
Superintendent
With our winter season, if inclement weather
causes our Sunday worship services to be can-
celled , we will have a message reflecting the
cancellation on our phone, 942-7245. We will
also post it on our Face Book page. Please call if
the roads and conditions are questionable before traveling. During
the week, if the winter weather causes cancellations or delays, or
road conditions are questionable, the church office may be closed
until conditions improve, so please call the office if you plan to visit.
2021 Offering Envelopes are now available in
your mailboxes. If you don’t have a key to the
church, during this time of online worship,
please call during office hours first to be sure
someone is here.
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Digital Monthly Newsletter
Would you like to receive the Enlightener via email instead of the mail?
Please send an email to the office: emanuel@tds.net
and request your Enlightener to be emailed, thank you!
This year sixteen Christmas food baskets were given to families in
need in our community. This was done with monetary and food
donations, milk from Jilbert’s Dairy, a discount form Super One
Foods, a Community Action Grant from Thrivent Financial Services
and volunteers for organizing, shopping, assembling and delivering
the baskets. In lieu of gifts for each children, five quilts were given to
families along with a small gift bag of Christmas goodies for each
child. Thank you all for supporting this outreach ministry!
Sarah Kimball
The sign up for sponsoring monthly bulletins
during 2021 is now available. Cost is $30 per month.
Please note if you are sponsoring bulletins in
memory or in honor of others and make it aware by
calling or emailing the office for now; 942-7245 or
emanuel @tds.net. Thank you for helping with our
worship ministry.
2021 Worship Times at Emanuel Lutheran Church
Jan-Feb 11AM Mar-June 9AM July-Oct 11AM Nov-Dec 9AM
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December Council Highlights
~Correspondence Received-Thank you letter from Room at the Inn
for the recent $144.50 donation. Pastor Chrys Levesque thanked
Emanuel for our annual benevolence to Rev. Anna Makyao in
Tanzania.
~ The Outreach Committee will be adding a few extras to the Christ-
mas baskets this year; cookie plates, small gifts for the children of the
families and quilts made by our quilting group for families with
children. With the extra money in the Food Basket account, $100
was given each to Gwinn Paw Packs, St. Vincent De Paul’s and the
Salvation Army.
~We had a baptism on November 22 at Emanuel. Michael gave
thanks to all for time off for hunting season in November. Michael
delivered 49 quilts for Lutheran World Relief to Fortune Lake Bible
Camp in Crystal Falls, then they were taken to St. Paul, Minnesota.
Plans for our Christmas Eve worship service outdoors and bonfire
continue.
~The 2021 budget was discussed line by line and was compiled.
~Looking in to various ways to hold our annual meeting safely. The
annual report will be compiled for the end of January. Two council
positions are available, and two Synod Assembly representatives
positions are needed to be filled. The Synod Assembly will be held
virtually online.
~The December local benevolence is the Gwinn Senior Center.
~Both the Financial Secretary and Treasurer’s reports were reviewed
and found in order, with no outstanding bills.
~The next council meeting is Sunday, January 10, 12pm.
Both the December council meeting minutes and financial
reports are posted on the bulletin board in the fellowship hall.
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January 2021
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wed Thursday Friday Sat
1 2
3
Worship
Available
Online
4
AA
Meeting
7 pm
5 6 7 8 9
10
Worship
11am
Council
Meeting
12pm
11
AA
Meeting
7 pm
12 13 14 15 16
17
Worship
11am
18
AA
Meeting
7 pm
19 20 21 22 23
24
Worship
11am
25
AA
Meeting
7 pm
26 27 28 29 30
31
Worship
11am
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