The Image

3214 Golf Road Eau Claire, WI 54701 715-832-7832 immanuelec.org Pastor Jamie Brieske

Ordinary Time A time for growth

After Pentecost we begin the long season of Ordinary Time or Time after Pentecost in the church year. This season does not have much for major festivals and it stretches nearly half the year. The color for Ordinary Time is green. Green represents growth. During this time we often focus on the teachings of Jesus. We tune in to Jesus’ call to discipleship as found in Mat-thew’s gospel. We remember that it is our daily walk with Jesus that shapes our faith. We journey in our faith one step at a time. Ordinary Time is a powerful metaphor for our lives. Most of our days are spent in daily patterns and habits of work, school, housework, volunteer-ing, and tending to our close relationships. These everyday tasks ground our living. But even in their ordinariness, they provide a profound oppor-tunity for our spiritual growth. The green symbol of growth reminds us of the gardens, flowers, trees, and nature-rich experiences we find in the summer. A dear member of our congregation once showed me her beauti-ful flower beds, marveling at their beauty and intricacy. She introduced each flower to me like a member of her family, explaining what made them unique and how she cared for them. She would say, ‘How can you not see God in these flowers!? It’s simply a miracle!’ The miracles of growth can be found all around us this time of year. We see it in wonderful, fresh vegetables and fruits available at the farmer’s market. We stand in awe of the rushing rivers and streams. We are amazed that our kids and grandkids have outgrown their summer clothes from last year. Summer can be a time when we have a bit more freedom to experience the ordinary pleasures of life like porch-sitting, fishing, and just playing out in the yard. The simple pleasures are great reminders of the miracles found in daily life. Our spiritual growth in Ordinary Time is grounded is presence. We have the opportunity to breathe and be present. To take in the beauty around us. To go for long walks and have long talks. Being present to others around us and being present to God’s Spirit is how we grow. Let’s not look too far ahead to next weekend, or to the next season. Just being, may seem a little ordinary- but it is where we hear the still small voice of God. It is where we sense the peace that passes understanding and the joy that is unshakeable. Yes, I am praying for lots of ordinary time for you, dear church. ~Pastor Jamie Brieske

Daylily Dig Greg & Diane Kaufmann’s

5207 70th St. Chippewa Falls

Friday, July 14th noon-5PM

Saturday, July 15th 8AM-5PM

Proceeds for the Immanuel trip to Malawi, tentatively

in 2019.

Thank you to Jackie Johnson! We would like to extend a big thank you to Jackie Johnson for her years of work as Sacristan and Funeral Luncheon Coordi-nator. As sacristan, Jackie has tirelessly served the church by coordinating and training the assisting ministers, putting up the banners and paraments each season, setting the altar for Holy Communion and train-ing the altar care volun-teers. We are grateful for her work and dedication to the church.

Blessing the Ordinary by Jan Richardson Let these words lay themselves like a blessing upon your head, and your shoulders, as if, like hands, they could pass on to you what you most need for this day, as if they could anoint you not merely for the path ahead but for this ordinary moment that opens itself to you- opens itself like another hand that unfurls itself, that reaches out to gather these words in the bowl of its palm. you may think this blessing lives within these words, but I tell you it lives in the opening and in the reaching; it lives in the ache where this blessing begins; it lives in the hollow made by the place where the hands of this blessing meet.

Happy July, Immanuel! I can’t believe how fast the Summer is flying by -- perhaps it feels like it’s go-ing quickly because I’ve been enjoying my time here so much! I am so grateful for the warm welcome I have received from everyone at Immanuel. I have al-ready had so many wonderful learning experiences -- like preaching my first sermon ever! -- and I have even more fun things to look forward to, such as the Youth Trip to Colorado this month! I am so excited about our Bluegrass Sundays and Hymn Sermon Series for the next month. I don’t remember a time in my life when I didn’t enjoy music or singing; in fact “Amazing Grace” was probably the first song I ever sang as a solo in church. Bluegrass has always been one of my favorite styles of musical expression. One of my all-time favorite soundtracks is from the film “O Broth-er Where Art Thou” -- I think I almost played the CD to death when I was a kid! I grew up singing “In the Highways,” “I’ll Fly Away,” and of course “Down to the River to Pray.” For me music has always been an outlet, comfort, and a place to search for meaning. As I’ve gotten older I’ve been able to appreciate the way certain songs or rhythms, whether they’re old Gospel standards or new Pop songs, can encourage truly deep and emotional moments or bring me back to poign-ant memories. Music transcends all time and place to center people together in love and congregation, in moments of joy, sorrow, toil, and even trepida-tion. Preparing for the Hymn Series has once again reminded me of the power of music and how the Holy Spirit works through all mediums. I know the Holy Spirit works through the songs and voices of the people of Immanuel -- but I’m especially excited for this month! Hannah Olson, Student Pastoral Intern

July Worship Join us on Sunday mornings at 9:30am as we sing some of our favorite blue-grass/gospel hymns! Learn the stories of our favorite hymns and songs of faith including Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory, and Lift Every Voice and Sing. Come to WoW (Worship on Wednesdays) at 6:30pm and be ready to relax outside! Bring your lawn chair for this short and fun prayer service. Opportu-nities for yoga and Bible study available after worship. Check the church cal-endar or website. Hope to see you there! Last Summer WoW is Aug. 2. WoW will resume after Labor Day. THANK YOU QUILTERS! A big thank you goes out to the Immanuel quilters who created our beautiful multicolored banners hanging in the sanctuary. We appreciate your gift! Kids at Camp! We are so excited that 19 of our Immanuel youth are attending Luther Park Bible Camp this summer. Please pray that our youth would grow in faith and love during this time of holy play. God’s Work, Our Hands Team Sunday, September 10th 2017 Are you interested in being on a team to help plan and coordinate a day of ser-vice for God’s Work, Our Hands? Contact Pastor Jamie! We will meet a couple of times over the summer. pastor@immanuelec.org

Summer is here! Lots of exciting things are happening in & outside the walls of Immanuel this summer

July 6: Summer Stretch Middle School Ministry has our 4th & final session

July 9: The following kids head to Luther Park: Emma Calkins, Amber Calkins, Ella Glynn & Konnor Glynn. Our mission trip team will also be blessed & sent during worship!

July 9 – 17: Mission Trip Team gone, serving in Colorado

July 23: Keep in your prayers these Luther Park campers this week: Molly LoRusso, Maddy Rosenberger, Cal-vin & Campbell Dean, CJ & Harrison Haas, Alexis & Elijah Drier, Kyelie Engedal, & Mercedez Isham

July 30: Our last group of Immanuel kids goes to Luther Park this week! Pray for: Alizah & Rayna Felling, Ai-dan Tarpenning & Nathan Hagstrom. Also, our Mission Trip Team will give a post-trip presentation during worship

Aug. 3: Summer Stretch day at Valley Fair!

Aug. 7-11: Vacation Bible School! We will again host counselors from Luther Park and learn The Jesus Way.

Aug. 13: Our VBS Campers will be invited to Sing Praise in worship! Also, this will be our 2nd Annual Coon Fork Family day with SUP (Stand Up Paddle Board) Yoga by Sandy LaValley!

Our first year was a huge success!

Camp Create will be starting it’s second year this fall. What is Camp Create? It’s a day camp ministry program for 2 year olds. We start-ed the year with 1 class that was not quite full (“full” is 10 kids) and ended with a class so full we had a waiting list & added another sec-tion! In year 2, we’ve decided to have 2 class options – a 2 day/week class and a 1 day/week class. The Monday/Wednesday class is full, but there are a few spots left in the Tuesday class. If you or anyone you know has a 2-year-old who’d like to join the fun, talk to Alyssa to find out more. Information & registra-tions are available on our website.

Our mission trip is almost here!

At the end of May, our trip was met with a very unexpected change that led us to needing to plan an entirely new mission trip. The team came together & made it happen! We will be heading to Woodland Park, CO. We will still be serving Habitat for Humanity, and the sponsor program will re-main unchanged. This last minute change of plans did lead to some increased expenses (renting a van being the biggest, also additional lodging fees), so we are having a couple final fundraisers! Ongoing is our Change for Fuel – a gas can in the narthex where you can drop loose change (or large bills!) to be put towards gas. Our other final fundraiser will be serving fellow-ship snacks on July 9, the day we leave for the trip. Thank you for your monetary & prayerful sup-port of our mission trip!

August 7-11 Immanuel will be partnering with Spirit Lutheran in hosting counse-lors from Luther Park. The coun-selors will be the leaders for those entering grades 1 – 6, and volun-teers from Immanuel will lead the younger kids. The theme this year is: The Jesus Way. This promises to be a fun, faith filled week! Reg-istration forms are available in the Narthex and on the Immanuel website. Volunteer information (housing, providing meals, etc) will be available soon!

About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America: The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with more than 3.7 million mem-bers in more than 9,300 congregations across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.

A Birthday Celebration!

Hello Immanuel Family! Come help my family, celebrate my Grandpa Dale Peterson’s 90th birthday at their home in Chippewa Falls (14464 10th Ave. on Satur-day, August 12th from 1-5 pm with some fun conversation, finger food and of course birth-day cake. Hope to see you there! Peace, Zachary Peterson

We are continuing the fishing season for funds to pay for the resealing of the parking lot and for the new ceiling tiles. The end of the season will be the end of August. Please help us fill our nets and baskets, the envelopes are on the poster in the narthex or on the ushers table.

2018 ELCA Youth Gathering: ‘This Changes Everything’ The ELCA Youth Gathering will be happen-ing in Houston June 27-July 1, 2018. The Gathering theme, “This Changes Everything,” is centered in Ephesians 2:8, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.” Together, youth and adults will discuss grace and how this gift changes lives and perspectives. The primary focus of the Gathering is faith formation of young people. Through days spent together in interactive learning, Bible study, worship, service and fellowship, young people grow in faith-challenged and inspired to live their faith in daily life. As young people desire and struggle to find someone to become, somewhere to belong and something to do the Gathering seeks to be a ministry that helps define some of that or at least open pathways of discovery. Ulti-mately, the vision is for youth to understand the fierce love that God has for them, just as they are, and that by grace, through faith, they have been saved. When a young person-or anyone-claims this reality, it changes eve-rything. Immanuel Youth entering 8th thru 12th grades are able to attend the Gathering in 2018. We are so excited that this will be the next Immanuel Youth Trip! “This Changes Everything!”

Immanuel to host 5th Annual Mexican Consulate Visit Immanuel, in collaboration with JONAH (Joining Our Neighbors, Advancing Hope), will be hosting the Mexican Consulate mobile visit for the 5th time on Saturday, August 5th, from 9:00 AM-3:00 PM. This annual visit by the the Mexican Consulate of St. Paul is an opportunity for our Hispanic neighbors to receive the services and support of the Consulate. The Consulates are the only source for such crucial documents as consular identification cards, passports, and visas. Other services on hand will supply information on topics such as workplace safety, healthcare, and immigration. Last year the mobile consu-late welcomed nearly 200 men, women, and children of all ages to Immanuel, which is one of the 11 faith community members of JONAH. If you would be available to help on Saturday, August 5 with re-freshments, snacks, set-up, childcare, clean-up, or just being a welcoming presence, or would like more information please con-tact Ray Koch-rk9561@charter.net.

Bold Generosity Intentional - Inspired - Impactful On Saturday, May 21, 2016, at our annual synod assembly, our voting members passed a resolution that will jumpstart a three-year, 1.2 million dollar capital campaign. Together, we will collaborate with others from around the Northwest Synod of Wisconsin to support six important ministries that will im-pact this synod and companion ministries abroad. 1) Connect: Technology Grants 2) Equip: Walking Together Ministry 3) Learn: Leadership Development 4) Support: Financial Health of Seminary Graduates 5) Partner: Malawi 6) Share: 10% To learn more about this Northwest Synod of Wisconsin Cam-paign, visit the website: nwswi.org

Leaving behind more than homework

For many students across west central Wisconsin, this week is the last week of school. With the final bell quickly approaching the ex-citement and anticipation of summer is infectious. For most stu-dents, summer break is a time for "kids to be kids" spending time playing at the park, swimming in the pool and taking bike rides down the street. But with fewer resources available in the summer months, many of our youth leave behind much more than teachers, friends and homework. Access to school meals that help keep them healthy and ready to learn during the year may be lost in the summer months. But what happens for these students when sum-mer comes? What happens when the final bell rings?

Ways Feed My People works to reach students in the summer months:

• Our partner food pantries and meal site programs contin-ue to offer nutrition to families.

• Summer Weekend Kids' Meal program is offered by part-nering with organizations in our community who serve youth in the summer to distribute the meal bags.

• NEW this year! We are piloting a Mobile Meal and Produce Distribution at Longfellow Elementary School to reach stu-dents and families. We are optimistic about the potential this has to reach more children and families with the food they need for a healthy summer. Your support can make sure your hungry neighbors-especially children-have a place to turn during the long sum-mer months.

Always Being Make New: The Campaign fro the ELCA completes third year with $113 Million raised We have much to celebrate as we com-plete the third year of Always Being Made New: The Campaign for the ELCA. Through the generosity of ELCA mem-bers and congregations, we reached $113 million—57 percent—of our $198 million five-year goal, allowing us to strengthen and expand ministries across this church and around the world. Thank you for being part of this exciting progress! Through several fea-tured priorities, The Campaign for the ELCA seeks to: increase this church’s capacity to

support congregational renewal and planting new congregations;

form and support new lay, ordained and global leaders for mission;

encourage and form lay youth and young adult leaders;

support the ELCA’s disability minis-try;

bolster our commitment to walk with global companion churches in shared witness; and

expand our efforts to address pov-erty and hunger.

This year, as we commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, we are reaffirming our commitment to restoring and reconciling communities in Jesus’ name throughout the world through the campaign’s Global Church priority, including Missionaries and Young Adults in Global Mission, Inter-national Women Leaders and Global Ministries. Through these programs, we are building up Christ’s church by send-ing missionaries and volunteers, train-ing leaders, planting new churches and growing existing ones. Please join us by supporting this work and sharing the impact of these programs. For information on The Campaign for the ELCA, including the 2016 Campaign Report and ideas to lift up the Global Church priority, visit ELCA. org/campaign. You can also contact the campaign team at 800-638-3522 or campaignforELCA@elca.org. Reprinted from Seeds for the Parish

Birthday’s 01 Helen Hagen Samuel Pickett 03 Donna Armstrong Melissa Tarpenning 04 Suzi Sturz 07 Jim Ulberg Pat Rozeske Kyelie Engedal 10 Hailey Rassbach 11 Beth Jones 13 Karen McCrady Joseph Hedges 14 Kenzie Kavanagh 15 Emilee Larson Barrett Haus 16 Tammy Leibham 17 Jerine Kjentvet Lukas Olson 18 Falynn Hedges 19 Vic Lothe Lalao Rakotomahenina Jayme Malnory 20 Alyssa Hegde 21 Jim McCrady 22 Vonnie Bearson Bonnie Weber Lorrie Feeney Jack Barquist 23 Dan Hoy Hannah Zimmerman 25 Mitch Knutson 26 Marvin Pospishil 27 Elaine Schultz 28 Jerry Hagen James Olson 29 Alexis Drier George Franko 30 Bob Larson Graeme Fehr Andrew Johnson Anniversaries 07 Jason & Emily Duba 11 Emily & Tom Prissel 14 Darryl & Debby Petersen 17 Dale & Dona Peterson 19 Dave & Donna Lehmkuhl 21 Joel & Pam Woletz 25 Brian & Colleen Manning 27 Jerry & Carol Hanson Paul & Becky Ivey 30 Bob & Linda Lodahl

Serving During Worship Assisting Minister 02 Nate Schlieve 09 Dee Schlieve 16 Dee Schlieve 23 Dave Langhus 30 Jason Duba Lector 02 Bob Wilcox 09 Alyssa Engedal 16 Keith Martin 23 Marc Likkel 30 Zan Degen Ushers 02 Dee & Don Schlieve 09 Loren & Emilie Anderson 16 Steve Mikelson & Ray Koch 23 Dave Langhus & Bob Wilcox 30 Dave & Donna Lehmkuhl Greeters 02 The Drier Family 09 The Duba Family 16 Mary Bader & Kitty Rahl 23 Becky Ihle & Doris Prindle 30 Barb & Thom Hokanson Bread & Wine The Tarpenning Family Altar Care Toni Wahlstrand Offering Count Sue Luthy Worship Service Coordinators Assisting Ministers Altar Care Coordinators Needed Lectors Becky Wilcox—715-835-9784 Ushers—Greeters Barb Hokanson—715-835-1524 Bread & Wine Melissa Tarpenning—715-878-1190 If you are interested in serving, contact the Coordinator listed or contact the office.

Pastoral Care Update: If you are in the hospital or sick at home and would like a visit from Pastor Brieske, please call the church office during office hours or the pastor’s cell phone after office hours to request a visit. We do not receive updates from the hospital about our members due to privacy concerns. Please leave information about the hospital and room num-ber and your condition. If you text the pastor about a friend or loved one, please include whether or not you have spoken with the person or an immediate family member. It is always helpful to have as much in-formation as possible. The pastor will make every attempt to see you in the hospital or at home if you re-quest a visit. If you would like a regular Eucha-ristic Minister to bring monthly communion, please contact our Care Ministries Coordinator, Janet Carlson. Consider adding Pastor Brieske’s cell phone number to your contacts or carry her card in your wallet in case of emergencies: 715-563-3145. You can also find this information on the website if you lose it. Contacts: Janet Carlson Ministry Care Coordinator office@immanuelec.org Alyssa Engedal - Family Ministry familyministry@immaneulec.org Hannah Olson Student Pastoral Intern hannah.olson@ptsem.edu Tammie Deleveaux - Choir Director tammiedelveaux@gmail.com Create-A-World Preschool Katy LoRusso—Director Northwest Synod of Wisconsin nwswi.org

July 2017 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

2

9:30 AM Worship 10:30 AM Fellowship

3

Office Closed

4

Happy 4th of July!

5

No WoW or WoW activity

6

Middle School Summer Stretch

7 8

9

9:30 AM Worship/Baptism Mission Team Send-off 10:30 AM Fellowship

10

11 12

Noon—Material Witness quilting

6:30 PM WoW 7:00 PM WoW Bible Study

13

14

Noon– 5PM Day Lily Dig at Kaufmann’s

15

8:00 AM Men’s Group

8AM– 5PM Day Lily Dig at Kaufmann’s

16

9:30 AM Worship/Healing 10:30 AM Fellowship Finance Committee

17

Mission Team Home

18

6:00 Trust Fund 7:00 Congrega-tional Council Mtg.

19

10:15 AM Sr. Bible Study Noon—Material Witness quilting

6:30 PM WoW 7:00 PM Adult Yoga

20 21 22

23

9:30 AM Worship 10:30 AM Fellowship

24 25 26

Noon—Material Witness quilting

6:30 PM WoW 7:00 PM Yoga for Families

27 28 29

8:00 AM Men’s Group

30

9:30 AM Worship Mission Team Presentation 10:30 AM Fellowship

31 1 2 6:30 PM Last WoW 7:00 PM Bible Study

3

Summer Stretch to Valley Fair

4

Mexican Consulate set-up

5

Mexican Consulate set-up