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175TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
On Sunday, October 26th, we will officially celebrate our momentous anniversary with a special worship service at 11:30am in the Sanctuary, followed by a formal dinner at Tuscany Falls banquet hall in Mokena at 1pm. Tickets will be on sale beginning August 1st. There will be no other services that weekend.
Tickets can be purchased using either an envelope located on the organ in the Narthex or on online.
Ticket prices are as follows:
Under 2 and over 90 FREE
2 - 11 year-olds $15.00 ea.
12 - 90 year-olds $45.00 ea.
Included is a baked chicken dinner, complete with soup, vegetable, dessert, and soft drinks, coffee, and tea. A cash bar will be available. The children's meal will be chicken nuggets and french fries.
There will also be an activity table setup for our kiddos.
We are sincerely hoping to worship and celebrate God’s Amazing Blessing to Immanuel with all of our families and extended families. This is a special opportunity to invite all of our family and friends who have previously been a part of our church family, so please share this invitation with them, as well.
Because we want to focus all our attention on this significant Anniversary, the Board of Fellowship has decided to forgo the annual Trunk or Treat/Oktoberfest this year, in hopes that everyone, young and old can join us for our 175th Anniversary Luncheon instead.
My Joyful Heart Christmas Wish Lists
MorningStar Mission has discontinued their Stars of Hope program in its current form. This Christmas season, the board of stewardship has decided to partner with Mokena-based organization My Joyful Heart, a faith-based charity helping local children in need. They work directly with schools to identify these children and have multiple programs that offer assistance throughout the year.
For Christmas, they put together short wish lists for children — beginning November 1st we will have a bulletin board with the wish list tags, as we did with the Stars of Hope tags. The wish lists are much shorter than the Stars of Hope; here are the guidelines from the My Joyful Heart website:
There is no set amount on what to spend per child, but the wishes are taken directly from their enrollment forms. There will be a few things requested for each child:
1. Slippers (or footwear if they indicated this was a need that wasn’t fulfilled this fall: Boots or Shoes). Slipper socks are just fine.
2. Warm Pajamas
3. A gift or two that they asked for. These needs vary widely by child, it could be additional clothes, it could be a game, doll, item for their room or something they have always wished for.
The unwrapped gifts will be due back no later than Sunday, November 23rd. Please bundle or bag together and attach the tag.
If you have questions, please contact Delynn Flannery at 708-217-7094 or Sarah Bechtel at 847-712-8649.
To learn more about My Joyful Heart, visit myjoyfulheart.org.
WOMEN OF THE WORD AND MEN OF THE WORD
Women of the Word will resume on Monday, August 25, 7pm in the library. They will meet on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month.
Men of the Word will not resume until October 6 at 7pm due to holidays and scheduling. They will meet the 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month after October 6.
ALTAR FLOWER PROCEDURES
2025 Altar Flower sign-ups are now available! Sign up in the Opportunities Book at the Welcome Center in the lobby.
We will be purchasing altar flowers from the Flower Cottage. Two vases are $40; one vase is $20. They will deliver the flowers to the church! You can sign up for the current month or the next month on the west wall in the Lobby or other months in the Opportunities Book. Please make checks payable to the Ruth Society and place in the Ruth Society mailbox D1 in the classroom across from the office. Orders are due one week in advance.
COMMUNION OFFERED on 1st, 3rd, & 5th Sundays (and preceding Saturdays).
We are now using a hybrid communion system. Pastor gives each communicant a wafer and the Elder carries a tray which is wine with grape juice in the center ring. Individual cups (wine or juice) with gluten free wafers are available at the table as you approach. If you have any questions, please feel free to talk to Pastor Aaron or one of the Elders.
NOW OFFERING GLUTEN FREE If anyone has health issues requiring gluten free communion wafers, please contact Pastor Schellhas.
PRAYER REQUESTS FOR THE WEEKLY CONNECTION CARD OR PRAYER CHAIN
Please call the church office at 708-479-5600 or email prayer requests to office@immanuelmokena.org.
PORTALS OF PRAYER AVAILABLE
The current Portals of Prayer are available in the lobby. Get yours today!