A Treasure Greater Than Heaven and Earth!

Last week, we started this journey through the catechisms’ (Large and Small) thoughts on baptism.  And we remembered that baptism might seem like a human act – but is really God’s action.

Today, we forge ahead with more.  After hearing such wonderful news about God’s action in baptism, about the benefits we receive, including forgiveness and the promise of everlasting life, our next thought might be that of skepticism.  So the Small Catechism leads us to ask, “How can water do such great things?”  The answer: “It is not the water that does these things, but God’s Word with the water and our trust in this Word.  Water by itself is only water, but with the Word of God it is a life-giving water which by grace gives the new birth through the Holy Spirit.”

In the Large Catechism, Luther says even more on this topic: “Yes, my friend! Who does not know that water is water, … But how dare you tamper thus with God’s ordinance and rip out his most precious jewel? … for the real significance of the water lies in God’s Word, … and this treasure greater and nobler than heaven and earth.”

Wow.  Luther gets pretty passionate about this.  And rightly so, I suppose.  Our faith compels us to have this high regard for God’s action in baptism – to push back against the skepticism that God’s Words and actions cannot be real because it only seems to be this moment where some baby gets her head wet!

May we continue to regard our baptisms with this fierce faith, to trust that the water and God’s Word really do come together to give us a treasure greater than both heaven and earth!

************

Thank You For Taking Part in our Giving Blitz!!
We’re still tallying the results.  But with the matching money, we have made AT LEAST an $8,000 milestone.  That means more than $1000 gift to each of these projects: 

Local
1) Community Dinner; 2) Giving Tree Project; 3) Someplace Safe; 4) Hilltop Regional Kitchen
National/Global Projects
1) Lutheran Disaster Response (Hurricane Response; Haiti Crisis; US Wildfires); 2) Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service

If you missed the blitz, we can put this campaign into overtime for a couple days!  Checks can be made to Immanuel with “Giving Blitz” and delivered to the church office.  Thanks again!

Dinner Club Meets October 19 at Larry’s Family Pizza
Join the Dinner Club October 19 at 5:30pm at Larry’s Family Pizza.  All are welcome to share in fellowship together.

Child, Infant and Pregnancy Loss Remembrance Service October 15
Join us on Friday, October 15 at 7pm for a Child, Infant and Pregnancy Loss Remembrance Service. The service will live streamed on Immanuel’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/immanuelwadena).  All are welcome. No matter if your loss was last week, last year, or many years ago, known to many or some-thing you have held in your heart, you’ve never been able to have children, you lost pregnancies or an infant or your child died when they were older, you are invited to join us in remembering the hope and acknowledging the loss.

Pastoral Care Next Week
Pastor Megan will return from quarantine on Thursday, October 21.  And Pastor Nate will be out of town Monday and Tuesday for medical appointments with his daughter on Monday and Tuesday (10/18-19).  Pastor Tom Kolden has agreed to provide pastoral care coverage for emergencies in the early part of the week.  Please be in touch with Elana in the church office or Pastor Nate via cell phone (218-640-5913) if you need care and Pastor Tom will be put in touch with you.  Thank you for your patience and understanding during these challenging days.

Trunk or Treat October 31
The Congregational Life Committee is hosting a Trunk or Treat event in Immanuel’s parking lot on October 31 from 4-6pm.  Everyone is welcome to come and get some candy, sloppy joes, and enjoy s’mores by the fire.  If you would like to help or have your trunk be part of the fun, talk to Steph Drange.

Our Worship Schedule Each Week:

Sunday:
**8:30am – worship in person, or online
**9:30am – worship on KWAD (920AM or 101.7FM)
**10am – worship in person
Wednesday (Fellowship Hall)
**5:30pm – Light meal
**6:00pm – Praise Worship
**6:30pm – Education & Service Projects

**7:00pm – Choir

In our Prayers This Week
Matthew, Kylie, James, Isla, and Lily Quincer
Craig Reece
Justin Carlstrom
John & Tamara Bratton Family
Will & Christina Bratton Family

Military Prayers
Members of Immanuel:
Max Labarre
James Kloss

Friends of Immanuel:
Victor Barbado (Darlene Hennagir’s son-in-law)
Sean Evans (Greg & Alicia Johnson’s nephew)
Joe Holweger (Charles & Gladys Chase’s grandson)
John Kloss (David Kloss’ son)
Erik Naley (Wayne & Carol Aspengren’s nephew)

If you or someone you know would like to be included in our weekly prayers, please email (church@wadenaimmanuel.org) or call (631-2738) the church office.  Or fill out this form: https://www.wadenaimmanuel.org/prayerrequest Names will stay on our prayer list for 4 weeks.  Military prayers will remain on the list for six months, unless a request to remove comes sooner.

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