Have you ever found yourself speech-

less after hearing someone make a truth-

claim that you knew was false and against

what you know and believe as a Christian?

What if someone asked you, “How can you

believe God is good when there is so much

suffering in the world?” Or, what do you

say to someone who tells you, “I was

watching this really cool documentary on

the Bible and it showed the Bible was full

of contradictions. It is not reliable. I can’t

believe anyone would be dumb enough to

believe that is God’s Word.” Or, what if

someone at a family function speaks up

and says, “No offense, but Christians are a

bunch of intolerant, homophobic, bigots.”

Or what if someone said to you over coffee,

“You shouldn’t tell people what they are

doing is wrong. If they aren’t hurting any-

one else, they can make whatever sexual

choices they want.” Well, you get the idea.

Such statements and questions, can

surprise us and leave us mostly speech-

less. It happens to pastors, too.

What are we to do? God wants us to

engage! God’s Word has direction for us.

1 Peter 3:15 tells us, “Always be prepared

to give an answer to everyone who asks

you to give the reason for the hope that

you have. But do this with gentleness and

respect.” 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 tells us

For the weapons of our warfare are not of

the flesh but have divine power to destroy

strongholds. We destroy arguments and

every lofty opinion raised against the

knowledge of God, and take every thought

captive to obey Christ.” Truly, there are

lofty opinions and arguments raised up

against the knowledge of God in our cul-

ture. As Christians, God calls us to be

ready to destroy them—not the person

holding the false views—but the opinion or

the argument. Colossians 4:5-6 says,

“Walk in wisdom toward outsiders

[unbelievers], making the best use of the

time. Let your speech always be gra-

cious, seasoned with salt, so that you

may know how you ought to answer eve-

ry person.” We are to be smart, we are

to be nice, and we are to be tactical.

Here’s what we are going to do to

help us be ready to politely and insight-

fully engage any false view we encoun-

ter—we are going to grow in the grace

and knowledge of God! We invite every-

one—from those in confirmation class to

our senior saints—to gather for a six-

week, video-based, Bible Study entitled

Tactics: a Guide to Effectively Discussing

Your Christian Convictions. We will gath-

er—probably in the Fellowship Hall—at

about 11:15 on Sunday morning—after

our “regular” Bible Class and Sunday

School classes dismiss. Our sessions will

last about an hour to an hour and 15

minutes. We plan to dismiss no later than

12:30. We will begin on Sunday, Febru-

ary 7. We will skip Valentine’s Day, and

then meet the following Sundays into

March.

There is a study guide for Tactics, so

please let me know—as soon as you

can—if you plan to join us. Suggested

donation for the guide is $10.

This study is produced by Stand to

Reason, an organization dedicated to

defending the faith (www.str.org). We

will be shown how to effortlessly initiate

conversations about faith; clearly, clev-

erly, and persuasively present the truth;

graciously and effectively expose faulty

thinking; and, maintain an engaging,

disarming style even when under attack.

Ultimately we will learn how to get peo-

ple to think about Jesus, their Savior,

with conversations that are compelling

and full of grace. Please join me!

Your fellow-servant for Christ,

Pastor Mahnken

From Your Pastor

FEBRUARY 2021 VOLUME 35, ISSUE 6

THE IMMANUEL MESSENGER

“Walk in wis-

dom toward

outsiders [unbelievers],

making the

best use of

the time. Let

your speech

always be

gracious,

seasoned

with salt, so

that you may

know how

you ought to

answer every

person.”

Col. 4:5-6

“Always be

prepared

to give an

answer to

everyone

who asks you

to give the

reason for the

hope that you

have. But do

this with

gentleness

and respect.”

1 Peter 3:15

1: Karen Wood

5: Dave Friedrichsen

Patrick McFarland

Wayne Miller

6: Mardella Andresen

Rex Bielenberg

Steve Christiansen

McKenzie Weiss

9: Cynthia Ernst

10: Michael Hatfield

11: Lauri Schoenfeld

12: Bonnie Schroeder

Camryn Schultz

15: Rebecca Segebart

16: Kim Petersen

17: Michelle Richardson

18: Ruth Reincke (95)

19: Craig Harm

Carolyn Schroeder

22: Eve Rohlf

23: Brody Morgan

Leila Reimer (91)

24: Ruby Friedrichsen (93)

25: Tanner Petersen

28: Travis Friedrichsen

Jason Hatcher

==================

Duane & Merry Jacoby

~ February 2, 2013 ~

Dennis & Coleen Bruhn

~ February 4, 1967 ~

Brandy & Rick Porter

~ February 14, 1998 ~

Richard & Becky Hanlin

~ February 16, 1973 ~

Roger & Lois Rothe

~February 16, 1991~

Tim & Cindy Stoppel

~ February 17, 1996~

Please notify the office of any

incorrect or omitted dates.

Thank you!

VOLUME 35 ISSUE 6

LENT begins with Ash Wednes-

day, February 17. There will be

worship at at 6 p.m. with

Holy Communion.

No meals will be served.

This year’s theme is: “Return to

the Lord!” with our circuit pastors

preaching in rotation each week.

Devotion booklets The Marks of Love are available in

our Narthex and may also be accessed at

Lutheran Hour Ministries: lhm.org.

—————————————————

The ABC Book Group (Adventures Between

Chapters) ~ welcomes all readers to join their

monthly meetings at Cheeta’s. The next date

is scheduled for Thursday, February 18 at 7

p.m. The book for discussion is The Seven

Sisters: Book One by Lucinda Riley.

><

THRIVENT Reminder: If you have Choice Dollars to be designated, remember March 31 is the deadline. You can do this online, or if you need help, please call

Danielle at the Denison office, 712-263-6785. =================

As You Spring Clean ...

Schleswig City-wide Garage Sales and

the Church Garage Sale are planned

for Thursday, Friday and Saturday,

June 3,4,5. Rachel Mentink also

plans to have plant sales for missions at

her home again. ++++++++++++++++++

...Let’s Stay Connected … Immanuel’s Website: www.immanuelschleswig.com

Follow our Services On Line On Facebook or You Tube

If You’d Like to Receive The Messenger by email, please

call the church office, 712-676-2235 or email us at:

immansch@iowatelecom.net.

Immanuel Prayer Chain: immansch@iowatelecom.net

or Grace Langholdt, at 676-3899 or 712-431-6691

“Thy Strong Word”:

Every Mon.-Sat. 6:25 a.m. KDSN-FM, 104.9

“The Lutheran Hour”

6:30 a.m. Sundays: KDSN-FM 104.9 Denison10:30 a.m.

KDSN-AM 1530

Camp Okoboji: www.campokoboji.org Mission Central: www.missioncentral.us

Lutheran Family Service: www.lfsiowa.org

Immanuel’s Adopt-A-Student: Tim & Amber Barber ~

Vicarage at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Warner

Robins, Georgia. Email: barbert@csl.edu

The Messenger Staff: Special Articles: Pastor Merle

Mahnken; Coordinator—Typist: Marlene Hight;

Printing: Val Teut; Collators: Mardella Andresen,

Guenter & Joyce Detlefsen, Terry & Nancy Kline, Donna

Meeves, Rachel Mentink, Marie Peters, Marcella Pe-

tersen, Marilyn Petersen, Gloria Schmidt, Norma Schoen-

feld. New Helpers are Always Welcome.

T H E I M M A N U E L M E S S E N G E R PAGE 2

FROM THE MAILBOX use us when, where and how you like, that someone

might know how much You love them.”

Thank you from all of us with ARM and God bless you

with peace throughout the New Year 2021.

In the service of the King,

John and Kathy Duitsman, Missionary Linda Kurta and

the entire ARM team.

Funds are needed and can be sent to:

FAITH COMMUNITY LUTHERAN CHURCH

ARM c/o Linda Kurtz

3505 S Town Center Dr

Las Vegas NV 89135

All donor funds are sent overseas. US administrative

costs are paid separately by volunteers.

——————————————

Last year, I reported on a book by the name of Her

Mother’s Hope by Francine Rivers. It is a two book

series and now we have the sequel Her Daughter’s

Dream. As you may know, Francine Rivers is a top

Christian writer and her books are exceptional. This

book moves to the next generation of a family who

had a lot of sorrows that tear a family apart and a

forgiveness that heals the hurt.

Carolyn Arundel is a three-year-old child who forms

a special bond with her grandmother Marta. Marta

moves in with them because she is a caretaker for the

family. Carolyn’s mother Hildamara is quarantined to

her bedroom with tuberculosis. Marta and her

daughter Hildie seem to be building a wall between

them. Carolyn feels she is to blame. Hildie goes back

to nursing and Marta leaves. Carolyn and her brother

are now latch key kids.

Charles goes to college and joins the service. This is

going on during the Cold War. Carolyn eventually

goes off to college but a family tragedy hits her very

hard, just when she had some independence. She

doesn’t go home, she cuts all ties with everyone she

knows. She heads for San Francisco and doesn’t

understand how God can let all of this happen.

This book will probably bring tears to your eyes but

it’s worth reading every page. Many people face

things in their life that they don’t completely under-

stand, but always remember God is always there, put

it in His hands. Remember Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in

the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine

own understanding … In all thy ways acknowledge

Him and He shall direct thy paths.”

—Submitted by Carol Neddermeyer

AFRICAN RADIO MINISTRIES NEWS January 2021 ~ With field report for 2020

Dear Mission Friends at Immanuel;

African Radio Ministries is in the highly privileged posi-

tion of receiving prayers and offerings to the Lord given

by faithful mission friends who trust that funds and time

are used wisely to accomplish the Lord’s Great Commis-

sion task. The information below affirms our faith in the

work directed by ARM’s CEO, the Lord Jesus, and His

servants on the front lines. Other aspects of the work

that God has given us are not always easily measured or

charted. John 6:28-29 reminds us that the Christian life

centers on faith in Christ, “Then they asked Him, ‘What

must we do to do the work that God requires?’ Jesus an-

swered,’ the work of God is this: To believe in the One He

has sent.’”

We live in God’s grace with faith that we are free to trust

in Him even to the point of loving and praying for those

who hurt us and despise God and His children. None of

this year’s virus and the hardships caused by it have

changed the Lord’s Great Commission. We are seeing

God’s people move forward with His eternal plan while

rejecting distraction and discouragement. His plans and

purposes will surely come to pass (Isaiah 14:24). In

weaker moments we ask as Isaiah did, “Where is God in

all of this?” But His ways, thankfully, are not our ways.

Be assured He is at work as we can see in the 2020 activ-

ity chart. Be encouraged. Our Lord is saying, “Lift up

your eyes.” (John 4:35). Yes, when we look beyond our

immediate frustrations, we sometimes glimpse victories

with eternal consequences.

Plans and Prayers for 2021: Radio Pastor Mengistu is requesting that before the end of this year ARM add a

program for the Tigray people. We replied that he

should begin looking for a radio pastor right away. Join

the Ethiopian staff in praying that a good preacher with

a true servant’s heart can be found for this new pro-

gram. The Tigray are located in Eritrea as well as North-

ern Ethiopia. It will be wonderful to send words of hope

to the Eritreans who are suffering greatly under the anti-

Christian dictatorship now in place.

Many listeners are converted by the Word on radio and/

or are a part of a listener house church but do not call

the office. These numbers only record those that contact

the radio pastors.

2020 Summary of ARM Activity in prisons and

villages: 2019 Baptisms: 185— 2020-225 directly

observed; 2019 Converts: 1772—2020-1225 direct

contacts; 2019 Bibles provided: 351—2020-3802

assistance from ARM friends & Gideons; 2019 new hse

churches; 2019-63; 2020-71 direct contacts.

Gladys Aylward’s mission prayer is our prayer for 2021:

“O Lord give us freedom, freedom in Thee, that You might

VOLUME 35 ISSUE 6 T H E I M M A N U E L M E S S E N G E R PAGE 3

From Your library . . . “Have we got a book for you!”

PAGE 4 T H E I M M A N U E L M E S S E N G E R VOLUME 35 ISSUE 6

THOUGHTS FROM THE PRESCHOOL

Have you ever sat down in a chair only to dis-

cover that the sun was coming through the

window right into your eyes? It just happened

to me. And even when I shut my eyes, I could

only see light. In fact I could even feel the

light. Strange isn’t it? We don’t just see light,

we feel it. I was reminded in that moment that

this is the way I want my entire life to be. As a

daughter of the King of Kings, I want to see on-

ly Jesus. I want to feel the joy that comes in

knowing I’m loved unconditionally by the Fa-

ther. I want to rest in the peace which fills my

heart and mind knowing that Christ’s blood

covers my sin. And to walk daily in the victory

under the guidance and filling of God’s Holy

Spirit.

I looked around trying to figure out how I hap-

pened to sit right in that spot. You know what I

mean, don’t you? If we scooch just a bit to the

right or the left, we can see the sun but not be

blinded by it. But I question whether that is

how we are supposed to live our lives. Are we

supposed to see the Son but not allow His love

to blind us? Do we want to enjoy the warmth

without His vision for life? It is my heart’s de-

sire for myself, and you, to walk into any situa-

tion in life so full of the Son that we only see

Him in it. If the situation is painful, let us see

Him. If it is a time to rejoice, we want to see

Him. If we sense evil or danger, we want to

view it through the eyes of the authority we

have in Christ.

We are learning about the human body this

week in preschool. As we looked at the pic-

ture in the book yesterday, there was a picture

of the shape of the heart and then one of the

actual heart that is in a person’s body. They

are not the same. We were discussing this

when one of the children piped up, “Except

don’t forget our hearts have a door on

them!” He felt the author of the book had in-

advertently forgotten to include the

door. You know the one. It’s the door which

we open to let Christ in. There was not a

doubt in the mind of the children that there

should have been a door pictured. And an-

other student expanded on the conversation

by reminding everyone we can let Him out

again too. Yep, as we love others, we are

sharing Jesus’ love with them. The children

understand. They carry that childlike faith

which views life through the eyes of Je-

sus. They are blinded by the Son. Will we

follow their example? Will we allow our-

selves to sit in the direct Sonlight where we

view the world around us from His perspec-

tive? Are we willing to sit with our eyes

closed and be filled with the warmth of His

presence? Sure, we can choose a seat where

the Son isn’t in your eyes but I question

whether we will really be able to see bet-

ter. Me? I’m going to hang with the little

people. They have the right perspec-

tive. They view life through the eyes of Je-

sus!

Thank you for investing in the ministry to the

children. They are able to grow in their love

for Jesus and their walk with Him because of

your gifts and prayers. We see Him daily in

our classroom. Whether they are playing

together, drawing pictures of Jesus on the

cross, or making the connection that their

kindness to others is a sharing of Jesus’ love,

they are becoming more and more

“ . . . r o o t e d a n d e s t a b l i s h e d i n

love.” Ephesians 3:17b (NIV). It is only Janu-

ary/February, but I am already feeling our

time with them is running short. Please pray

they will continue to grow in their love and

lifelong relationship with Jesus.

Serving Him with you,

Mrs. Gustafson

VOLUME 35 ISSUE 6 T H E I M M A N U E L M E S S E N G E R PAGE 5

Voter’s Meeting Minutes

January 10, 2021

I. OPENING PRAYER: Led by Pastor Mahnken with 38 vot-ers present.

II. READING/APPROVAL OF MINUTES AND AGENDA

Both were approved as presented to the voters.

III. REPORTS OF OFFICERS AND BOARDS

A. Elders (Jason Schultz): Curtis Korner was appointed an Elder. Neil Nahnsen rotated off and was thanked for his ser-vice to Immanuel. Jason alluded to funding the position of technician for streaming/technical services which was ad-dressed later in the meeting.

B. Trustees (Ryan Kragel): Dave Friedrichsen will be on the Board of Trustees. Jeff Hummel will be rotating off and was thanked for his service to Immanuel. Jim Leuth will be doing some repairs/painting to the storage room behind the organ-ists area. New soffit was installed at the parsonage. There will be a new light installed to illuminate the stained glass window at the front of the church. The church’s phone sys-tem was replaced and the secretaries are pleased with it. The west entrance project will be held off until spring. Hueb-ner Funeral Home donated $2,500 towards the project. A new Carillon system is being added as a memorial item to donate towards.

C. Treasurer/Stewardship/Finance (Leroy Hight): When income is compared to expenses, Immanuel is $12,530 ahead at this point.

D. Education/Youth (Pastor Mahnken): There was no VBS in 2020. No Sunday School was held from March to Septem-ber. Bible Class was also suspended for a spell. Preschool started on time during August. Confirmation classes started on time with one exception (6th grade), due to illness and/or quarantined members of the class. Sunday School Christmas program was held. Covid-19 has brought a “poverty of God’s Word” in many ways. The congregation is NOT the primary dispenser of faith and teaching. It is the Christian family Be careful not to adopt the phrase “The New Normal”! We are still experiencing a tremendous amount of change. What we have now is not and will not be the norm. If you are not being exposed to God’s Word and receiving it, then you are being exposed to something else and being shaped and guided by it. Be vigilant!

E. Preschool- No Report

F. Mission/Fellowship- No Report

G. Memorial- No Report

H. Pastor’s Report- will be shared elsewhere in The Mes-senger. (See on page 6).

IV. OLD BUSINESS -None

V. NEW BUSINESS

A. Compensation for Live Stream Technician:

The Elders and the Council recommend giving Ryan Ernst $500 for being the catalyst and providing the know-how to equip Immanuel with the capacity to stream services/events.

They also recommend funding a position at a rate of $50/week for someone to oversee the streaming pro-cess and do some basic tech troubleshooting. A pool of 3 to 6 people could be trained to serve i n this ca-pacity. The Voters moved, seconded and approved the Elders’ recommendations and instructed them to move forward with the trainings as they see fit.

B. Proposal to Add Carillon Replacement to Memorial List:

The Voters moved, seconded, and approved adding the Carillon replacement to the Memorial list.

C. Request Voters for Subsidy from Home Mission Fund to Pay Registration Cost for:

Couples to Attend Weekend to Remember Marriage Conference. ($350/couple. Des Moines: March 26-28 at Marriott Downtown @$125 per night per room. Price reduced until March 12 with limited availability)The Voters moved, seconded, and approved subsidiz-ing this event.

D. Request Home Mission Funds to Cover ⅔ of Registration for:

Okoboji Campers-Pending Scheduling of Camps in 2021. The Voters moved, seconded, and approved subsidizing these camps.

E. Nomination of Circuit Visitor for Next Triennium

Acting on Pastor’s recommendation, the Voters moved, seconded, and approved the Nomination of Pastor Keinath from Zion to serve in this capacity.

F. Select Congregational Representative to Attend Circuit Forum

Loren Jepsen will attend as the Voters approved his selection.

G. Vote on Possible Delay of Synod’s Convention from 2022 to 2023

Based on Pastoral recommendation, the Voters moved, seconded, voted in favor of moving the Synod’s Convention to 2023, instead of its current scheduled, 2022.

H. Other

Pastor thanked the Altar Guild for their efforts during the Advent and Christmas seasons.

VI. ADJOURN WITH PRAYER Led by Pastor Mahnken

—-Minutes submitted by Craig Bogatzke, Secretary

“Everyone should be eager to advance the teaching and study of the Word for his own salvation and the glory of God.” Martin Luther

exposed or were ill and were isolating), Zoom

meetings, Disinfecting Worship area, New phone

system, Balcony staircase painted—also the area

around windows above the altar, Carillon speakes

restored April 9, Offerings more than met our

needs, I received the diagnosis of Prostate Cancer

on March 20, My surgery was on Airl 17—I was out

3 Sundays, My Prostate surgery led to an incisional

hernia developing during the summer—surgery to

correct that was on November 6—out one Sunday,

My 9-month post-surgery check-up with my urolo-

gist was on December 30 and the blood test shows

all clear—next appointment will be Apir 9. We did

have our Sunday School Christmas Service but no

soup supper.

Covid-19 has brought with it a famine of the

Word of God. With no Sunday School for many

months and no VBS during 2020, many children

went without the Word. They were not without sin-

ful, worldly influences during that time, in fact, they

were bombarded as they spent more time at home

with almost constant influence of ungodly media.

They did not have to be without the Word as par-

ents are given to be the primary teachers of the

faith, but does that happen?

Some would say worship online because of

Covid has been a good thing. Indeed, it has made

it possible for more people to be reached with the

Gospel, but you can’t be the church online. The

church is the gathering of God’s people around the

Word and Sacrament, a gathering which then cares

for one another with face-to-face, in-person interac-

tion. It’s too easy to tune out or turn off a TV or oth-

er device. Too easy to change channel or flip

through other postings. You can also in church, but

in church the Holy Spirit can also grab your atten-

tion back at any time.

The church in the U.S. faces some challenging

times in the years ahead, critical times. The make-

up of the majority both houses of congress and a

president promising and promoting much that is

contrary to Biblical Christianity presents us with a

time in which we must live and speak wisely and

courageously. We meed to dig deeper into the

Word of God—together. God calls us to take our

stand with His truth—saving truth. With Timothy

God calls us to be patiently enduring evil, correct-

ing our oppoents with gentleness. God may per-

haps grant them repentance leading to a know-

ledge of the truth, and they may come to their sens-

es and escape from the snare of the devil, after be-

ing captured by him to do his will. (2 Tim. 2:24-26).

God has chosen us to live in this time to be His

witnesses with loving care for all. We seek His

grace, His will and direction, and His strength—

made perfect in our weakness, and live coura-

geously to the glory of His saving name and the

welfare of our neighbor!

We began 2020 with 611 baptized members and

507 communicant members. We have received 2 chil-

dren by Holy Baptism, received one member by Reaf-

firmation of Faith, received 10 baptized and 7 commu-

nicant members by transfer, two baptized members

were received as communicant members by Jr. Confir-

mation and three by Adult Confirmation. We have had

thirteen member funerals in 2020: Edgar Meseck,

Elfie Riessen, Kay Reese, Arlen Gierstorf, Arlis Schultz,

Bob Christiansen, Randy Umland, Ruth Jackson,

Clarence Friedrichsen, Artis Christiansen,

Lyle Schultz, Melvin Petersen, and Bill Aldag and 1 non

-member Dale Reese. Two confirmed members and

two additional baptized members were released to

join a non-LCMS Lutheran congregation. One con-

firmed member and three children were released to

join a non-Lutheran congregation. We began 2020 with

611 baptized members, and we now have 604; We be-

gan with 507 confirmed members and now have 501.

2020 is a year that for most of nine months was

shaped by a virus, the corona virus and the disease

Covid-19. Because of Covid in 2020 there was no VBS,

no in-person worship from March 22-May 24, No Sun-

day School from March 22-September 13, No Sunday

a.m. Bible Class from March 22-June 28, No Wednes-

day a.m. Bible Breakfast from March 18-present, No

Easter Breakfast (indeed, no in-person Easter worship

for the first time in the history of this congregation), No

Garage Sale (a plant sale was held), No Harvest Din-

ner, No Advent suppers, We went from no funeral

lunch to offering a lunch, then back to no lunch, No vis-

its at care centers except for hospice situations; some

outside visits at Eventide in summer, Very few in-

person meetings, Youth & Family Activities stopped,

Both office secretaries were out isolating for 2 weeks

in September & 1 Secretary during October, Pew Sis-

ters stopped meeting.

Things that did happen in 2020: Pastor Kaiser start-

ed serving with us, a Spam Cook-off by the Pew Sis-

ters, Mission Board had its Soup Supper on January 29,

Feb. 16 we had our Soup & Pie Cookoff/Bakeoff, Small

group of young couples were meeting, until March 15,

Initially, digital recordings of services on Saturday to

post online on Sunday—then streaming of services—

then in September also streaming of Bible Class (has

allowed some to watch—either live or the recording),

March 29 was the first confirmed case of Covid in

Crawford County, Members without streaming ability

are watching Main Street Living worship, something

other, or nothing, May 31 we had Confirmation (a

month later than usual), We had one member and one

non-member wedding at Immanuel, Preschool started

as usual in late summer, Confirmation classes resumed

on Wednesday, September 2 (our 6th grade class

started a bit later as several class members had been

VOLUME 35 ISSUE 6 T H E I M M A N U E L M E S S E N G E R PAGE 6

Pastor Mahnken’s Report Voters’ Meeting--January 10, 2021

VOLUME 35 ISSUE 6 T H E I M M A N U E L M E S S E N G E R PAGE 7

VOLUME 35 ISSUE 6 T H E I M M A N U E L M E S S E N G E R PAGE 8

Our LCMS President, Pastor Matthew Harrison, also offers the following counsel:

How should I talk about the vaccine with others who disagree with my view of it?

In a sensitive issue of this nature, we remember the words of St. James: “Let every person be quick to hear,

slow to speak, slow to anger” (James 1:19). Listen carefully and openly to the points of others. Consider

them. Share your positions patiently and objectively. Reflect upon your own penchant for error. Forgive oth-

ers where they sin against you and ask for forgiveness where you wrong them.

In this contentious issue, we must respect the consciences of fellow believers who share our same commit-

ment to Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions, as well as our life together as a Synod. As St. Paul urges us

regarding matters of conscience, “let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor” (1 Cor. 10:24),

and “let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or

hindrance in the way of a brother” (Rom. 14:13). At a time of cultural upheaval, I would encourage you not to

allow disagreement even over undoubtedly important matters such as this to take precedence over the faith

that unites us in Christ. In all things, we should heed the call to “maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of

peace” (Eph. 4:3).

Sun

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 Preschool

2 Groundhog Day Preschool

3 p.m. Preschool Confirmation

4 Preschool 1:30 LWML

5 6 3 p.m. Worship w/HC—Masks Required 6 p.m. Worship w/HC

7 Super Bowl 9 a.m. Worship w/HC 10:05 SS & BC’s 11:15 “Tactics” Bible Study

8 Preschool

9 Preschool Pastors’ Confer-ence at St. Mat-thew, Mapleton

10 p.m. Preschool Confirmation

11 No Preschool 9 a.m. Quilting

12 13 3 p.m. Worship w/HC—Masks Required 6 p.m. Worship w/HC

14 Valentine’s Day Transfiguration

9 a.m. Worship 10:05 SS & BC’s Schleswig Sharks Mtg.

15 No Preschool

16 Preschool Messenger Deadline for March issue

17 Ash Wednes-day

p.m. Preschool 1 p.m. Volun-teers to OGT Confirmation Classes 6 p.m. Worship with HC

18 Preschool 7 p.m. ABC Book Group at Cheeta’s

19 20 3 p.m. Worship w/HC ~ Masks Required 6 p.m. Worship w/HC

21 First Sunday in Lent

9 a.m. Worship w/HC 10:05 SS & BC’s 11:15 “Tactics” Bible Study Elders’ Mtg. 6 p.m. Teacher Appreciation Dinner

22 Preschool

23 Preschool

24 8:45 a.m. News-letter Assem-blage p.m. Preschool Confirmation Classes 6 p.m. Lenten Worship (no meals)

25 Preschool 9 a.m. Quilting

26 27 3 p.m. Worship w/HC ~ Masks Required 6 p.m. Worship w/HC

28 9 a.m. Worship 10:15 SS & BC’s 11:15 “Tactics” Bible Study

Immanuel Lutheran Church, Schleswig, Iowa FEBRUARY 2021

Preschool: Mon, Tue, Thurs.-8 a.m.-3 p.m.; Wed. 11:45 a.m.– 3 p.m.

Confirmation: Wednesday. 3:30-5:15 p.m.

Pastor: Merle F. Mahnken Office Ph.: 712-676-2235

Home Ph.: 712-676-2242

Cell Ph.: 712-269-6364

Assisting Pastor: Kurt Kaiser

Cell Ph.: 712-269-8452

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Office E-mail:

immansch@iowatelecom.net

or: markey@iowatelecom.net

Website: www.immanuelschleswig.com

“Like” us on Facebook

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Worship Opportunities:

Saturday Worship every week at

3 p.m. (masks required) & 6 p.m.

Sunday Worship at 9 a.m.

Communion—Every Saturday

& 1st & 3rd Sundays

Sunday School & Bible Class: 10:05 a.m.

Services are live-streamed & recorded for

viewing on Facebook and You Tube.)

Office: Marlene Hight and Valerie Teut

Preschool: Leslie Gustafson

Organist: Marlene Hight

Janitor: Jolene Whiteing

Snow Removal and Lawn Care:

Ryan Jepsen; 712-790-1603

Loren and Janice Jepsen

Non Profit U.S. Postage

PAID Schleswig, Iowa

Permit No. 19

Change Service Requested

TO EVERYONE IN THE HOME OF:

OUR MISSION STATEMENT:

“Together in Christ, we grow through the

Word and Sacraments, serving

our Lord and sharing His saving

grace with all people.”

IMMANUEL EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH

501 Glad St. PO Box 27 Schleswig, Iowa 51461

2021