Tag: Gospel

Poster of so many faces of people looking towards upward

What Do Lutherans Believe?

 

Have you ever wondered what Lutherans really believe? Or, what does it mean to be “Lutheran?”

What is a Confessional Lutheran? What are the Lutheran Confessions anyway?

What is the Reformation and why is it so important to Lutherans?

How is the Lutheran Church different from American Evangelicalism, the Roman Catholic Church, or Orthodox Church bodies? What is The Lutheran Church Missouri-Synod?

Whether you are new to exploring the Christian faith in the Lutheran tradition or are already a Lutheran, it is good to step back and ask the basic questions. Fortunately, there are answers. You can find a lot of good resources about what Lutherans believe at lcms.org, on the beliefs page, in the Frequently Asked Questions about the Bible, Doctrine, and Lutheran Confessions. You can even get a good primer on the history of the Reformation at LutheranReformation.org.

Once you’ve done all that, there may still be some things you ponder on and question. This is where Pastor Will Weedon comes in. He is formerly the Director of Worship and Chaplain of the International Center of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. Pastor Weedon gave Matt Whitman of  YouTube channel The Ten Minute Bible Hour a wonderful and informative introduction to the Lutheran Church at Saint Paul Lutheran Church and School in Hamel, IL where Pr. Weedon serves as Assistant Pastor and Catechist. Pr. Weedon sat for a detailed theological Question & Answer session with Matt, and probably answered some of your questions too. Whether you are new to Lutheran beliefs or have been a life-long Lutheran, you may learn something. Watch and listen:

Part 1:  An Outsider Visits a Lutheran Church

Part 2:  An Outsider Talks With a Lutheran Theologian (What do Lutherans Believe?)

Part 3:  Is Lutheranism the True Catholic Church? (and other stuff with a Lutheran Theologian)

If you want to hear more of Pastor Weedon teaching about Jesus, check out his daily podcast The Word of the Lord Endures Forever on Lutheran Public Radio or at thewordendures.org.

Matt Whitman shared thoughts about his visit with Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth during The Coffee Hour on KFUO Radio. Check it out.

Matt demonstrated the best way to learn about Lutherans is to visit a Lutheran church. So, if you are in the greater Greenville-Spartanburg area of South Carolina, please stop by Immanuel Lutheran Church and School in Five Forks, a part of Simpsonville, SC, and visit us. You can get directions here, or just type 2820 Woodruff Road, Simpsonville, SC into your GPS. Be sure to subscribe to Immanuel’s YouTube Channel and Pod With Us Podcast to listen to the latest sermons.

Trust in the words of our Lord Jesus Christ when He says:

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8)

Peace be with you.

 

A cross with the words ministry plan in the background.

Ministry Plan, Again

 

September brings with it the end of Summer and the beginning of a new school year and resumption of many other things that occupy our church and family calendars most of the year. This Fall at Immanuel, September also signals the beginning of a new chapter of congregational life as we consider a plan for our ministries into the future.

The Ministry Plan is a document I have been working on this Summer that is the product of the first two Steps of our planning process and will be used to guide our decision-making in the future. The Ministry Plan is where our conversations, meetings, prayers and ideas find a tangible result: a list of prioritized goals for Immanuel Lutheran Church & School.

The Immanuel Church Council will get a first look at the Plan at its September meeting. I will have a presentation on it at the September 29 Voters’ Assembly. But here’s a preview:

Our discussions over much of the last year have produced many ideas for evaluating, enhancing and adding to our ministries. These ideas have been grouped into six general themes called
Ministry Targets . The six Ministry Targets are these:

  1. We receive from God to empower our service to others
  2. We equip disciples of Christ to serve others
  3. We care for each other as a family
  4. We welcome the community to our campus
  5. We serve children and young families with God’s love and forgiveness
  6. We enhance and strengthen our ministries

Into these six categories our ideas have been organized, and out of these six categories have come both Staffing Needs (the people resources needed to carry out the Ministry Plan) and Campus Needs (the facilities needed to carry out the Ministry Plan ).

That’s a preview. For more, I invite you to attend the September 29 Voters’ Assembly. And as we get ever closer to taking the next step into our future as a congregation and school, I thank you again for your prayers and faithful presence and stewardship. Please continue to lend your time, talents and treasures to shaping the future of Immanuel Lutheran Church & School!

Pastor VanOsdol

Blog Note: New to Immanuel? Catch up on the entire VisionPath and Ministry Planning process to date, in chronological order, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.

A picture of the miraculous mission logo.

Register Now! VBS 2019 is Miraculous Mission


Vacation Bible School 2019 Miraculous Mission: Jesus Saves The World takes off in Five Forks on Sunday, June 9th and returns from orbit on Thursday, June 13th. Dinner is at 5:30pm and VBS is 6pm to 8pm each day. Your kids (age 3 through 5th grade) will have fun learning about Jesus through games, crafts, songs, and more!

Register now! https://vbsmate.com/events/ImmanuelLutheranSC/17911

See promo video on Immanuel’s VBS page.

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Holy Week and Easter Schedule

Members & Friends of Immanuel:

The Lord be with you.

On Maundy Thursday, the Church begins the journey through the Three Holy Days of Christ’s Passover from death to life and captivity to freedom.

Thursday, April 18                  
Maundy Thursday

7:00 PM                                                  

Holy Communion and Stripping of the Altar

You are invited to observe Maundy Thursday with us in a Service that begins at 7:00 PM. The Maundy Thursday Service consists of the Liturgy of Reconciliation, the Service of the Word, the Service of the Sacrament and the Stripping of the Altar. The Service ends with the Altar and Chancel adornments being removed, while Psalm 22 is chanted, in preparation for Good Friday.

Friday, April 19                        
Good Friday

7:00 PM                                                   

Tenebrae: The Service of Darkness

The Church continues the journey with a Good Friday Service that begins at 7:00 PM. The Good Friday liturgy of Tenebrae (Darkness) features psalms, hymns, and a reading from the Old Testament’s book of Lamentations. This Service of reflection, intercession and quiet meditation ends in darkness as we watch and pray with Our Lord.

Saturday, April 20                   
Holy Saturday

8:00 PM                                                   

The Great Vigil of Easter

Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Greenville

Saturday evening at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd (1601 N. Pleasantburg) is the first of the Easter celebrations. The Great Vigil of Easter has ancient roots and features candlelight, Old Testament Readings rehearsing God’s great salvation acts, Baptismal remembrance and the first hearing of the Easter Gospel. This is a joint Service offered by the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod congregations in Greenville (Good Shepherd), Simpsonville (Immanuel), Spartanburg (Lamb of God) and Anderson (Abiding Savior). The Easter Vigil begins at 8:00 PM.

Directions to LCGS Greenville

Sunday, April 21                      
Easter – The Resurrection of Our Lord

7:15 AM                                                  

Sunrise Service with Holy Communion

Easter at Immanuel begins with a Sunrise Service at 7:15 AM. This Service will begin outside the front doors of the church and feature a procession into the Sanctuary. The Lord’s Supper will be celebrated.

8:45 AM                                                  

Breakfast

Easter Breakfast will be served from 8:45-10:00 AM. (There will be no Sunday School or Adult Bible Class.)

9:30 AM                                                  

Easter Egg Hunt

For the children, there will be an Easter Egg Hunt at 9:30 AM.

10:30 AM                                                

Festival Service with Holy Communion

The Resurrection of Our Lord will again be celebrated in a Festival Service (with Holy Communion) at 10:30 AM on Sunday.

Directions to Immanuel in Five Forks

Watch, pray and, celebrate this holiest time of the year with our Lord and with your Immanuel family. A blessed Holy Week to you.

Pastor VanOsdol

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The Gospel In 7 Words-continued


“But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.†(1 Peter 3:15)

Lenten Journey

The Church’s annual 40-day Lenten journey to our Lord’s Cross and Empty Tomb continues. We continue our sermon series “The Gospel in 7 Words” for the next 3 weeks, culminating in “The Gospel in Your Words.” Join us!

Death & Life
Wednesday, March 7
Midweek Lent 4

Isolation & Community
Wednesday, March 14
Midweek Lent 5

The Gospel in Your Words
Wednesday, March 21
Midweek Lent 6

Learn more about The Gospel in 7 Words series.