Our Father who art in heaven ...


Dear Friends in Christ,
After a one-week detour via Luther’s Morning Prayer, we now enter in to the Lord’s Prayer from the Small Catechism.  This week, our focus is on the introduction: “Our Father who art in heaven.”

What does this mean?  “Here God encourages us to believe that he is truly our Father and we are his children.  We therefore are to pray to him with complete confidence just as children speak to their loving father.”

Usually, the pastor leading worship doesn’t just jump into the Lord’s Prayer without warning.  We usually have some clue to the congregation that we’re about to pray this famous prayer that Jesus taught us.  “Lord, remember us in your kingdom, and teach us to pray,” we say.  Or, “Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, we pray as Jesus taught.”  I feel like one of the reasons we do this is because we want everyone to say those beautiful words, “Our Father.”  And Luther’s explanation tells us why.  When we utter those words, we are convinced in our hearts of faith that we are praying not just to some lofty and powerful God – but our Heavenly Father.  We are further convinced that this God – who has commanded us to pray and promised to listen – is immediately drawn to us and our prayer as we begin to speak to Him.

I know these are challenging times, my friends.  But remember that you can bring your worries to God any time, place yourself, your worries, as well as the burdens of the whole of God’s people into the arms of our loving Father. 

Grace and peace, my friends.  May God strengthen you for the journey.
Pastor Nate
(219-640-5913)


Create Your Own Zoom Discipleship Group!!
If you are craving a little fellowship and study with others, you are invited to create your own group for study, prayer, or fellowship.  The staff of Immanuel is willing to help with technology and content.  In other words, you decide the topic, the guest list and the time and duration of your experience – then reach out to us and we’ll help with the rest!

Geraniums!!
Social Distancing or not, we’re still adorning our grounds with red Geraniums this summer!!  Would you like to donate some plants in memory or honor of a loved one?  We’ll be reading the names of all those honored and remembered during our radio broadcast on Memorial Weekend (May 24).  Send us a Facebook message, drop us an email (church@wadenaimmanuel.org), or stop in to the church and sign up in person.  Cost is $5/plant.

Join our NEW ILC Wadena Remind Group
To help our communication, we’re launching a new Remind group for adults called, “ILC Congregation.”  It will be a way to efficiently deliver timely news about the congregation, including information about Zoom meetings specifically for adults.  Join by texting @76gk3e to 81010 or click on this link to join instantly: http://www.remind.com/join/76gk3e

Comfort Meals … and then some
Do you, or someone you know, need food and encouragement right now?  We have comfort meals in our freezer that are ready to be enjoyed.  We even have some other frozen foods (including loaves of bread) that need to be enjoyed!  Stop by and grab frozen soups & breads – don’t be shy!  Or, if you would like to hear about some of our other food available, reach out to Pastor Nate via phone or text (218-640-5913).  We can arrange delivery, too.

We’re Changing our YouTube Schedule
To make things more flexible for our viewers, we’re shifting the release time of our YouTube videos.  The radio broadcast will be available on YouTube at 6am, children’s time at 7am, and the sermon at 7:30am.  We hope this gives our YouTube audience more flexibility on when to engage with us on Sundays!  You can find all the links (along with the link to our Facebook page) here: https://www.wadenaimmanuel.org/covid19.

Holy Home Communion
In the absence of public worship gatherings, you are encouraged to celebrate communion in your homes.  A document on our website gives further detail about how to prepare your family table for communion: www.wadenaimmanuel.org

Stay Connected Through Our Radio Broadcast
We will continue to offer our radio broadcast on KWAD 920AM.  We will broadcast a radio show using music, preaching, and prayer at 9:30am each Sunday.  If you would like to sponsor a broadcast in memory or honor of a loved one ($105 for a full sponsorship, $52.50 for half), contact the church office for details (631-2738)

Need a Hymnal?
If you would like to check out a hymnal or other worship materials to help you better engage with the radio broadcast, stop by the church and sign stuff out.  There’s a table right outside the sanctuary.  If you need these items delivered to you, call the church office (631-2738)

Listen to Our Weekly Sermon Podcast
We will continue to offer a podcast of Sunday sermons.  You can find “Sermons from Immanuel Wadena” on your favorite podcasting app.  Or visit https://www.wadenaimmanuel.org/podcast.  New episodes will be available Monday at 9am during our break from public worship

Do You Sew?
Immanuel has a small team of folks willing to sew gowns and masks for the hospital – as well as folks sewing masks for personal use, too.  If you would like to be part of that team, contact Jil Fiemeyer (ilcjilfiemeyer@gmail.com)

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