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This Friday at 8:00 PM we will be having an all-church movie night from the comfort of your own home!
So pop some corn and make your favorite snack and interact with other IBCers while you watch.
We will be watching the movie A Hidden Life, which TGC has reviewed here.
So here is how it will work: rent the movie via Amazon and join the Zoom link that was emailed out before we begin. Then feel free to comment in the chat box during the movie with your thoughts or questions and we can recap together as well when it’s finished!
Hope to see you all there!
Peace I leave with you;
my peace I give to you.
Not as the world gives do I give to you.
Let not your hearts be troubled,
neither let them be afraid.
John 14:27
Members and Attenders of Immanuel,
All schools in the state of Illinois closed down on Tuesday and will not re-open until at least March 30th. These missed days will not be made up because the closure is due to what they refer to as an “act of God.” We believers know that this unusual time is indeed from the hand of our sovereign Lord. And we trust that he has wise yet mysterious plans for this disruption to our daily lives. We will be doing much reflection on what those might be in the days, weeks, and months ahead.
For now, we wanted to communicate some important information with everyone.
Sunday Services – After much prayer, thinking, counsel, and deliberation, we have decided to suspend our regular Lord’s Day gathering starting this Sunday (3/22). This was not an easy decision. But the state of Illinois has now mandated the cancellation of events of more than 50 people. As a church of 88 members plus children, regular attenders, and visitors this does not allow us to all assemble together, nor does it seem wise at the moment. We want to preserve the unity of the body and promote the safety of our city, and so we are regretfully taking this extreme but temporary measure. We will re-evaluate this decision every week as the circumstances are constantly changing.
We also have decided not to do a ‘livestream’ of a service. We are not judging other churches that have chosen this option, but we feel like it would be wisest not to allow anyone to think that such an activity can replace what is meant to happen in the assembly of the saints. During this season we pray that you would remember fondly all the sweet times we’ve had together at The Meeting Place and long deeply for our future reunion there.
We will be giving you more guidance and resources for how to be spending your time on Sunday mornings (and all the other days).
Small Groups – Hopefully you already received communication from your Small Group Leaders that we have asked Small Groups not to meet physically together for the time being. Each group, however, is encouraged to communicate regularly, share updates, and even experiment with different ways of sharing insights from the Bible Reading Plan and staying in touch via technology. Your Small Group will be a great way to still be connected with other people in the community during this time.
Prayer Ministry – We are working on different ways to have online prayer meetings and organize prayer walks. We are mobilizing our Intercessory Prayer Team to ensure that everyone is covered in prayer. And please reach out to them at prayer with any items you need specific prayer for!
Children’s Ministry – Our Deacon of Children’s Ministry is working on getting curriculum and activities for you to use at home with your children. And the Elders will be sharing more resources for Family Worship.
Koinonia – Our Deacon of Koinonia is working on some creative and fun ideas for ways to still foster community life during this season. Stay tuned…
Member Support and Mercy Ministry – Our budget has funds built in to meet tangible needs inside and outside our church community. If you have or know of any financial needs during this time that the church can help meet OR if you would like to contribute extra money to this fund, please contact the Elders!
We will be communicating with you regularly as we go through this together. For now, we encourage you to keep up a regular schedule, keep reading the Bible Reading Plan and good books, keep memorizing and meditating on Psalm 1, pray… and (as was said in last Sunday’s sermon) do all this before and more than you watch the news and Netflix.
Your Pastors,
Nathan & Theo
Don’t forget to invite a friend to dinner and a movie tomorrow (10/12) at The Meeting Place. Fall themed food and fellowship starts at 5:00 PM. Then American Gospel will show afterwards.
This Sunday (10/13) the Marathon will make it harder to get to corporate worship, but not impossible. Where there’s a will, there’s a way! Plan ahead. And walk if you can.
Spots are filling up fast for Dinners for 8! Sign up here if you haven’t already.
Sign up to join a potluck in someone from church’s home. Go here.
This Sunday is the third Sunday of the month and that means Table Talk – fellowship and free lunch for everyone.
It’s also the last Sunday for Fall Futbol. Weather permitting, the kids will be showing off their new skills they’ve been learning the last four weeks out back behind The Meeting Place. And then later adults can join in for a church-wide soccer match! Dress appropriately if you want to play.
Our very own Paulo has volunteered to put on a free soccer clinic for the kids of IBC and their friends this fall and see what it might turn into next year!
For the next four Sundays (9/23, 9/30, 10/7, 10/14) after our worship service he will be teaching skills to the kids. Parents and other adults are welcome to come help out or fellowship on the sidelines.
Pack a lunch or grab some tacos and head over to Harrison Park by 1:00 PM. Please bring your own soccer ball if you have one.
It will culminate in a scrimmage held behind The Meeting Place after our next Table Talk on 10/21, which will hopefully turn into a church-wide game!
If you could reply to Paulo at soccer at uicarea dot com with how many kids you’ll be bringing and their ages as soon as possible that will help.
Volleyball is 4:00 PM this Sunday (7/9) at Arrigo Park! Come hang out and enjoy some ice cream and popsicles while you play a few friendly games.
Summer Volleyball in the park starts back up this Sunday. It will be every 2nd and 4th Sunday (unless it’s raining or under 50 degrees). It starts at 4:00 PM. This week it will be at the lot to the south of Arrigo Park just west of Racine. Invite friends and neighbors!
Just a reminder to make sure August 18-20 is on your calendar for the annual Immanuel Summer Retreat!
This year we will again be in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, but at a different site. It should be nice.
And our special guest speaker will be Paul Alexander, co-author of The Deliberate Church and a pastor in the Chicago suburbs
Lovely Ladies of Immanuel,
There will be a hot chocolate crawl this Saturday (2/11) at 10:00 AM. If you are interested or wanting to come let Madie know.
Hope to see you there!
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