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Acolytes/Altar Guild Assistants |
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Worship
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An acolyte is an assistant to the pastor in the public services. The acolyte duties are to light and to extinguish the altar candles, present the offerings at the altar, assist at communion, and assist at baptisms. They also will occasionally lead processionals with the processional cross. Altar Guild Assistants help the Altar Guild in preparing for the Lord’s Supper. Acolytes and Altar Guild Assistants are assigned from the 7th and 8th grade Youth Confirmation classes. The pastors train them for their duties. Contact Pastor Schneider for more information. |
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Christian Education
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Adult Bible Classes help to equip members for ministry through education. Classes are usually held during the 9:30 a.m. Sunday service. Current topics of study include Boundaries with Kids, Job: Compassion in Calamity, and Vocation: God Serves Through Us. For more information on participating in or teaching a class, contact Principal Don Rohde. |
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Adult Confirmation Instruction |
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Christian Education
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Confirmation is the church rite that indicates that a child of God has been prepared to attend the Lord’s Supper. Adult Confirmation Instruction is offered 2-3 times per year on Sunday mornings. Dates and times are announced ahead of time. Confirmation is an informative course covering the basics of Christianity, its teachings and application to daily life. Participants are encouraged to ask all the questions they wish as they study the Christian faith through the Scriptures. This class is usually concluded in conjunction with the PLACE spiritual gifts workshop. Adults are received as confirmands on a Sunday morning at the same time we welcome other new members. Contact Pastor Schneider or Principal Don Rohde for more information. |
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Worship
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Altar Guild ministers provide service through the preparation of the altar. This involves set up and clean up for the sacraments of Communion and Baptism, cleaning the tiled area of the sanctuary, ordering flowers weekly, and decorating the altar during festivals (i.e. Thanksgiving). Altar Guild ministers should be Immanuel members who are available to serve before and after services, four times a year (usually two weeks every quarter). Contact Pat Hurlbut for more information. |
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Association of Retired Men (ARM) |
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Group Ministries
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The Association of Retired Men is an all-men’s group that meets for Bible study, prayer, and fellowship every Thursday from 9:15 to 10:30 a.m. in the school library. ARM also sponsors college students considering religious occupations, such as Lutheran pastors and teachers. Contact Robert Schweiger for more information. |
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Administration
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The Auction Committee helps Immanuel Lutheran Church to accomplish its mission of Equipping the Saints for Ministry by providing service opportunities for those who have the gifts of hospitality and administration. It also provides an avenue for those with the gifts of arts and crafts to donate an in-kind gift to support Immanuel’s ministry and provides 3rd source funding to provide equipment and programs for Immanuel Lutheran Church, School and ChildCare. The Auction Committee plans and executes the annual auction, held in February or March. Meetings begin in the fall of the year. Current chairs of the Auction Committee are Bob and Sally Denkert. |
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Youth Ministries
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The purpose of the Beginnings Nursery Roll is to welcome parents and children into the church family using the “Beginnings” program materials, which include timely mailings that will help parents direct their infants’ earliest religious training (ages 0-3). The program also aims to connect each baptized infant with a prayer partner from the congregation. Initially, a roll representative presents the family with a packet that includes a baby’s milestones calendar, a pamphlet on baptism, a lullaby audiocassette, a baby book, and a pewter medallion (provided by Thrivent). After three years of mailings, representatives encourage children to continue their spiritual growth by joining Immanuel’s Sunday School program. Roll representatives should be Immanuel members who are reliable and responsible, and have secretarial skills such as legible handwriting and organization, as well as the spiritual gift of hospitality. Mailings are usually compiled and sent out monthly and for each baptism. Contact Karen Leissring for more information. |
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Serving Ministries
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The mission of the church bookstore is to serve the congregation of Immanuel, especially those members who can’t always get to a Christian bookstore. The bookstore’s aim is to offer low-cost Christian messages of hope, concern, encouragement, and joy, along with Scriptural references to members and guests. To do this, the bookstore stocks Bibles, catechisms, Scriptural cards, jewelry, books, bookmarks, napkins, and small gift items at the lowest price available. Ministers serve in the bookstore because they care and because God calls each Christian to establish caring relationships and give service to all who enter Immanuel’s doors. Contact Helen Ohm for more information. |
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Booster Club (Day School) |
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Youth Ministries
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The Immanuel Lutheran School Booster Club provides spiritual, financial, and inspirational support to the coaches and athletes so that they may build and thrive in body, mind, and soul through their participation in Immanuel Pride Athletics. Booster Club helps keep student athletic fees to a minimum, purchases equipment and uniforms, improves playing fields, and more. This is made possible through proceeds from concession stand sales and volleyball/basketball tournament and summer camp fundraisers. All parents of students in 5th through 8th grades are welcome to participate by attending games and tournaments, and helping with fundraisers. The Booster Club is governed by a board. Current board members include Laurie Paunovich, President; Karyn Pahule, Vice President; Melissa Schwartz, Secretary; Debbie Obst, Treasurer; and Kent Kaelberer, Athletic Director. Meetings are held once a month during the school year from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the school library or the Fellowship Hall. Contact Karen Pahule for more information. |
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Youth Ministries
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The Boy Scouts of America - Troop 61 emphasizes self-confidence, leadership, and service to others. The objective is to develop character, citizenship, and personal fitness through outdoor programs, positive adult role models, and setting and achieving goals. Scouts learn useful lifetime skills on their progression up through the Boy Scout ranks to Eagle. Activities include weekend camping, canoeing, an annual one-week summer camp, and a long-term high-adventure camp every few years. Immanuel’s scouting program is available to boys 11 and older in the Immanuel congregation and the community. Troop 61 meets on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month at Immanuel from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Contact Bill Schultz for more information. |
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Group Ministries
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The Immanuel Lutheran Cancer Support Group is open to all those affected by a cancer diagnosis. Group members share experiences and provide spiritual support for cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, and family members. Support is given through monthly group sessions, direct assistance to caregivers and families (i.e. transportation, meals, babysitting), access to information and support materials, group prayer for individuals and families, Scripture study, and testimonials of faith. Members meet the first Tuesday of each month in classrooms D and E (in the Fellowship Hall) from 7 to 8 p.m. Contact Norman Wold for more information. |
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Care-giving Ministries
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The Care and Share Fund is a fund available to aid those who need temporary emergency assistance for food, clothes, gas, lodging, rent assistance, utility payment assistance, etc. It is funded by Immanuel’s receipts through Pick n’ Save. Members can fill out a form so that every purchase provides credit to Immanuel, for which Immanuel receives a quarterly check. Our number, to be recorded on the form, is 355280. The disbursement of funds is done through the pastors discreetly. Contact Pastor Schneider for more information. |
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Youth Ministries
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Our Lord said, "Let the little children come unto me." He welcomed young children and delighted in their unconditional love, admiration, and faith. Immanuel Lutheran Child Care, in following with the Great Commission of making disciples of all, was established to carry on the ministry our Lord began. Through a Christ-centered, child-oriented environment, families are assisted and children are equipped to witness by their words and actions as they continue to grow in faith and knowledge of God and His creation. |
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Group Ministries
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ChristCare is a small-group ministry that centers around four precepts: Prayer and Worship, Missional Service, Community Building and Care, and Biblical Equipping. Groups usually meet twice a month in private homes or at church for 1.5 to 3 hours (depending on group). While there are no prerequisites for belonging to a ChristCare group, a forty-hour training program is required for group leaders. Leaders attend monthly SEA group meetings in addition to their small group gatherings. ChristCare is a great way to connect with other Christians and encourage one another in Christian living. Contact ChristCare Equipper Reed Felton for more information. |
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Youth Ministries
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The purpose of ChristCare fits well with the mission of Immanuel Lutheran School: to equip the children for spiritual growth and Christ-centered, practical ministry in today’s world. Teachers have taken group leader training to facilitate the program within the school setting. Twice per month, during chapel time (8:10-8:50 a.m.), classes participate in a ChristCare experience. Classes are divided into small groups, with individuals from the class trained as facilitators. The small groups participate in the same four growth areas (Community Building and Care, Missional Service, Biblical Equipping, and Prayer and Worship) as the congregational ChristCare Program. Contact Principal Don Rohde for more information. |
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Worship
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All members of Immanuel are welcome to join in decorating the church sanctuary for holidays. The number of hours needed to do this is minimal. Thanksgiving requires approximately 1 hour for set-up and 1 hour for take-down. Christmas takes approximately 4-6 hours for set-up and 2 hours for take-down. Easter entails approximately 1 hour for set-up and 1 hour for take-down. Flowers for Easter and Christmas necessitate additional care. Anyone desiring to help with this beautifying work is encouraged to contact Paul Gnan. |
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Administration
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The Committee of Elders provides supervision and support for pastors in matters of spiritual authority, discipline, and public exercise of the Word and Sacraments. The Committee oversees elders and usher teams to make sure worship services are conducted in a proper manner. The Committee meets as needed at various locations for about 1-2 hours. To become an elder, a person must be a male member of Immanuel Lutheran Church. Contact Head Elder Barry M. Weber. |
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Music Ministries
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The Contemporary Choir is involved in the 10:45 4th Sunday service currently. There are ideally 14 to 16 singers, which sing with the band. The choir sings an "anthem" besides leading the congregational songs. Persons as young as high school age are welcome to join - auditions are not required. Participation requires adequate singing ability, singing in parts (SATB), and a worshipful heart. The choir rehearses 2 or 3 Monday nights before the service, meeting in the chapel from 8:05 to 9:05 p.m., after the Monday night service concludes. The band rehearses with the choir on the last Monday before the service. Contact Jay Isaacson for more information. |
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Music Ministries
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Musicians who play guitar, bass, drums, and percussion are used for contemporary services. Musicians need to have a worshipful heart, competence on their instrument, and desire a standard of excellence. Rhythmic accuracy is critical to support the proper tempos needed for various song styles plus the comfort level of the vocalists. This is of the utmost importance for drummers and bass players. Musicians who are non-members or members of other churches are also included from time to time. Winds, brass, and other strings are sometimes used at various times of the year. Contact Jay Isaacson for more information. |
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Music Ministries
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The Praise Band is involved in the 10:45 2nd Sunday service currently. Each vocalist/song leader holds his/her own microphone, and most are able to sing solo. There are only 5 or 6 voices in this group due to technical limitations, plus a desire to have a different sound than the choir. Praise Band singers sing harmony in a soprano/alto/tenor format, with written music or improvised parts. This group occasionally sings an "anthem" or "special music." Keyboard, guitar, bass, and drums round out the band. The Praise Band has also provided music for various events including the Christmas Caroling at Brookfield Square and the recent LifeWalk lunch. Director Jay Isaacson selects these singers on an as-needed basis, welcoming others when needed. Qualifications include a sincere desire to help the congregation sing, a worshipful heart, and decent vocal aptitude. Rehearsals are the first Mondays of the month at 6:30 in the Youth Room, or more as needed. Contact Jay Isaacson for more information. |
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Immanuel Engagement 
