A Message from Our Pastor:
January 1998

Greetings to you in this season of the Epiphany, the season of light and mission. God was good to us at Emanuel in 1997, showering us with manifold blessings. God has blessed us with Pastor Eaddy and his family and a renewed sense of confidence in Emanuel's future.

The Lord has provided us with a mild winter, giving the carpenters and painters space to finish. Thank God the windows are almost complete. We pray that they will be able to complete this huge project before snow and ice make it impossible. We thank God at this time especially for Martha Thomas and Ethel Simmons as they have served so faithfully and will continue to serve. We thank God for Sharon Williams' willingness to serve as first vice president.

Thanks to all our members and friends who have been so generous in their giving. It was an act of faith for us to tackle this $32,000 venture, but it was essential if we were going to be able to renovate the sanctuary in the near future. How good it felt to worship in the sanctuary on Christmas Eve without drafts blowing from broken windows. How good the painted and repaired windows look when the gleam in the sunshine. We also needed to take out a small loan from Core States Bank to be able to pay the restoration company when they complete the project. All will go well if members continue to send their gifts and pledges.

Bethel House has also progressed beautifully by God's grace. The plumbing and heating that were the last of issues have been repaired. We do, however, need to pay this important bill. Mission partners in the suburbs and our own members and loyal friends continue to write generous checks for Bethel House. Now only cosmetic changes need to be done before Lutheran Children and Family Services will be able to move in. The Youth Build school that uses our building has offered to do much of this on a volunteer basis. What once seemed to be an impossible project has now come about due to volunteer labor. Thanks to Donaldson Jones and many others for their faithfulness.

In the beginning of January, Emanuel began to worship services and a Christian Education Hour for children and adults. The first service starts at 8:30 a.m., the Education Hour starts at 9:45 a.m. and the second worship service starts at 11:00 a.m. Of course there is our weekly Wednesday Night Bible Service which starts at 7:30 p.m.

We have many projects and programs planned for 1998, especially the formation of support groups for women and men and other programs that will help us in our journeys.

May the love and peace of God be with you always!