WORSHIP SCHEDULE:
Sunday Worship Service: 10:00 a.m.
Wednesday Advent Service: 6 p.m.
Christmas Eve Service: 7 p.m.
Christmas Day Service: 10 a.m.
We are online Sunday starting at 9:55 a.m. on Facebook Live at www.facebook.com/ImmanuelLutheranBaileysHarbor/. All are welcome!
You do NOT need to be a member of Facebook *or* Immanuel to watch!
At or near the top of our Facebook page, look for a box with a small red “LIVE” button in the top left. Click it, and you’ll be watching us.
This video is a one-way event. No one will be able to hear or see you; they only see comments you may type.
Once the worship service is completed, it is available on our Facebook page for anyone who missed the live event; look in the Video section at the top of our page.
Again, just go to our Facebook page and look for and click the red LIVE button at or after 9:55 a.m. Sunday: www.facebook.com/ImmanuelLutheranBaileysHarbor/
See you Sundays!
November 2023 Volume 1, Issue 71
A note from Pastor Gary…
“The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some
evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of
ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of
the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of
the full stature of Christ.”
Ephesians 4:11-13
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
It is hard to believe that another church year is coming to a close. As I look back and reflect on
this past year, we have had quite a year. Both joys and sorrows. We have welcomed many
new faces to the family of Immanuel Lutheran Church this past year. And yes, we have said
“goodbyes” to many as well. Maybe not so much as “goodbye”, but “until we see you again.”
On November 5 we will be celebrating All Saint’s Sunday. It is a day that we remember all those
that Jesus has called home this past year. And we have had many that were called home from
this congregation. For many, they will shed tears. That includes me. But it is also a day for us
to be happy and joyful. I know that it may seem hard to be happy and joyful, but as children of
God we know that it is not the end, but it is the beginning of their eternity with our Lord and
Savior. Where there is no more pain or suffering.
Let us use that day to remember those that have been called home as a day to remember the
impact that those individuals have had on our life. How they used the gifts that God had given
them to equip the saints, us, for the work of ministry. For the ministry of Jesus Christ here at
Immanuel did not end the day they were called home, but they have given us the skills and
knowledge to continue Jesus’ work.
As we remember them and their impact on our lives, we give them thanks. Sometimes we
wonder if those that God has called home really know how much they meant to us. Many times
we have regrets that we did not tell them how much they meant to us or how thankful we were to
have them in our lives. We need to let others know how much they mean to us on a daily basis
so that we don’t have those regrets.
So with that, I want to thank each of you for your partnership in Christ’s ministry here at
Immanuel and in our community. I am so blessed to have you in my life and look forward to
working together building up the body of Christ with the gifts God has given us.
Remember we are saints. God has claimed us as His children. We have been marked by the
cross of Christ and sealed by the Holy Spirit.
God’s Peace & Love,
Pastor Gary
A huge THANK YOU to everyone who helped with the Brat Fry and Bake Sale Fundraiser.
All the baked items were wonderful and we had a large crowd. It is great to see the
fellowship of the congregation working together and meeting new people. We received
enough donations to pay for the brats and buns, thank you. We cleared around $2580.
Thank you to everyone that worked, baked, and donated!
Bible School and Confirmation Class Notes
This past month we were getting back to routine. The children are now broken into 3 classes with the increased number of
children. This is GREAT! We welcome two more families to Bible School, adding 4 more children. In addition to the other
new families and the previous families returning, we have 19 children on Wednesday evenings.
Our transportation bus from Gibraltar started back up again in October. This is very helpful with getting the children to
church. Thank you to all who donated to help offset the cost of this bus.
On Oct 18th, we discussed First Communion with our older bible school children and the younger children learned what and
why we participated in Operation Christmas Child.
October 25th, we were on our field trip buying items for Operation Christmas Child. This was an exciting evening for the
children and adults, as we picked out our favorite items to pack in the boxes.
We have had an increased number of volunteers this year and for that, we are very thankful.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Pastor Gary & Jolynn
Wednesdays ~ 6 pm
Nov 29, Dec 6, 13, & 20
Christmas Worship
Christmas Eve ~ 10 am Advent Service
~ 7:00 pm Candlelight Service
Christmas Day ~ 10:00 am Worship
Immanuel Lutheran Church Council Briefs
from October 18, 2023
Devotion/prayer: Pastor Gary
Pastoral Reports: In addition to all we can see Pastor Gary doing at church, he makes multiple home visits
(21+), hospital visits (3), phone calls (87+), and office visits (7+).
Finance: Reports were presented that the committee is still working on revisions to the format as well as
the fact that a budget is not yet ready for review by the council in preparation for the annual meeting. An
additional session will be scheduled before then to discuss.
Property & Maintenance: (1) Bob prepared a budget for 2024 but suggested some revisions to the
expense items to be moved from other areas. The finance committee has made a number of these
changes in QuickBooks, but the changes will not be reflected in the reports until the reports are rolled over
to the new calendar year (2) The church responded to the proposal from our neighbor who wanted to
acquire 12’ along our south property line of the church. There was no further response from the neighbor
after receiving the message that the council’s decision was not to pursue this offer.
Stewardship/Memorial/Scholarship: (1) Pat Hickey proposed a “Helen Fund” named in honor of Helen
Mueller. Helen was formerly a bus driver for the Gibraltar school district and called at the schools to pick
up students in support of the church’s youth education program for many years. An annual $2,500 fund
would support the cost for busing our youth to church after their Wednesday classes. (2) Many deferred
maintenance issues have been addressed these past two years, sometimes stressing the budget. Pat
Hickey proposed a “Building/Maintenance Fund” for future projects so we can balance our activities with
the availability of funds, making our maintenance work intentional with an eye to keeping our maintenance
current across all areas.
Worship/Music: It was reported that there is strong interest in keeping a service time of 10 AM year
around.
Christian Ed: (1) Women’s Bible study resumes Thursday, October 19th
The schedule for the rest of the
year will be adjusted due to rescheduling in the past month. (2) Men’s group continues the 3rd Saturday
of the month. (3) Thursday night “mixed” study will be studying places in the Holy Land. (4) The youth will
do an “Uncle Mike’s Kringle” fundraiser in October.
Outreach: (1) The Annual Brat Fry was Saturday October 7th. The team was pleased with the results and
the interactions between and among the workers and the customers. (2) Judy Edwards would like to make
bags for the coloring leaflets, books, crayons, and small toys to be passed out by the ushers for the small
children who attend the church service. (3) Noisy Offerings for the balance of the year: September/October
- Operation Christmas Child, November – Door Tran, December – Secret Santa (utility bills).
Unfinished business: (1) Videos from last year’s LCMC Gathering are scheduled for the evenings of
September 19 & 26, and October 3. Attendance was minimal; a decision on the 2023 videos will need to be
made as to whether we want to set up dates to meet and watch or just supply the links to the members.
(2) We have four members of the congregation who have accepted nominations to serve on council next
year: Susie Bauldry, Jane Pluff, Al Scharrig, and Charles Tishler. (3) Pastor Gary will be on vacation (out of
the country) in January.
Next council meeting: November 8; the Annual Meeting will be November 12 following the Sunday
service.
Thrivent Choice can have a
tremendous impact on
organizations like ours. If you
have an account with Thrivent
please consider directing Choice
Dollars to Immanuel Lutheran.
Please call them at
1-800-847-4836 and have them
designate our church.
You can make a profound impact.
Thank you!
Be a Bell-Ringer this season
for the Salvation Army!
The Thanksgiving and Christmas
seasons will be upon us soon! With
them comes the sound of The
Salvation Army ringing bell! Let’s
help our neighbors in need by
volunteering to ring! Door County
families needing emergency assistance
and shoes for children returning to
school benefit from the proceeds from
local bell-ringing, and your help is
needed! Volunteer to ring at one of
many locations in Door County. It’s
fun and rewarding! Ringing starts
Friday, November 17th and runs
through Saturday December 23th.
Early ringers are especially needed.
Sign up to ring by contacting Nancy
Kexel-Calabresa by text or call at 920-
883-7886 or email nakc1@icloud.com
for questions and to sign up.
~ Reminder ~
We are collecting nonperishable food for
Feed My People
the 2nd Sunday
of the month
You may donate anytime by placing
items in the box in the narthex.
Thank you for donating!
C
OFFICE HOURS
Monday 9 a.m. to Noon
Wednesday 9 a.m. to Noon
Thursday 9 a.m. to Noon
& by appointment
Snow Cancellation Information
If winter weather should cause a need to cancel worship or other church programs and events, here are some things to remember:
• On Sunday mornings a decision will be made by 7:30 am
• Information will be posted on our website www.Immanuel-
lutheran.org and our Face Book page Immanuel Lutheran Baileys Harbor
• TV channels 2, 5, 11 and 26 will be notified as well as Radio stations WDOR, WBDK
• Wednesday Bible School and Confirmation classes will follow the school’s decisions – no school or early dismissal means there will be No Bible School or Confirmation classes.
• If you would like to be notified by phone about cancellations, please contact the church office.
We make every effort to get the word out early and quickly.
Also, we generally operate on the side of caution not wanting to put people at risk unnecessarily.