Church guide

Don't forget - Vacation Bible School starts a week from today! We are again partnering with First Presbyterian of Ypsilanti and the theme is "Growing Friendships - the Jesus Way". VBS will take place Monday July 15 - Thursday July 18, between 5:30 - 8:00pm. For more details and to register your children, follow this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdGOouXotwJDsgKeZDE_q0KUlGtn6sv1ODpSLUdqcWP_wSGLQ/viewform?c=0&w=1&fbclid=IwAR33FzEM7Pb74DHC7g0CpGruTVvLISOoeU_Tpn6cpi_T1IQi4tC1hE3--F8

Please note the church office will be closed on Thursday July 4th, in observance of Independence Day. There will be no Food Pantry distribution that day.

Round up your children and join us for Vacation Bible School (VBS) in the evenings Monday July 15 – Thursday July 18. We are again partnering with First Presbyterian of Ypsilanti and the theme is "Growing Friendships - the Jesus Way". Sessions will be held in the evenings at First Presbyterian with dinner served first. Then the kids will enjoy stories, dancing, singing, and crafts. To register for VBS follow this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdGOouXotwJDsgKeZDE_q0KUlGtn6sv1ODpSLUdqcWP_wSGLQ/viewform?c=0&w=1

A reminder that we will be recognizing all of our volunteers on Sunday June 30th as part of the worship service. If you have not yet furnished the names of the person(s) you want to recognize, it's not too late to visit the bulletin board in the Gathering Area, write down the name(s) on a sticky note and add it to the 'volunteer tree'. We ask that you make a separate note for each name and/or activity, as you consider all who serve in so many ways.

All are welcome to come hear, see, learn and even taste pieces of Pastor Alex's recent trip to Tanzania on Sunday, June 23rd after the 9:30am service. The 45 minute presentation will be followed by a time to ask questions and engage in dialogue. Conversation will primarily highlight the relationship between the Southeast Michigan Synod, specifically Emmanuel Lutheran, and the Mbulu Diocese in Tanzania. There are exciting developments happening between Emmanuel and the global church. Come and find out more! Tanzanian treats will be available for your enjoyment.

We love processionals! Today our processional was written by our own Emmanuel Handbells for this specific day in the church year. It incorporates the hymn: Spirit of Gentleness and it portrays the excitement of Pentecost and the gentleness of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Enjoy! https://youtu.be/KF1rtPNFoO0

June is Volunteer Month at Emmanuel! You are invited to name one or more members who serve the congregation and the wider community by volunteering their time, talent and treasure. Please stop by the table in the Gathering Space to jot their name on a sticky note and place it on the outline of the tree on the bulletin board. We ask that you make a separate note for each name and/or activity during the month of June, as you consider all who serve in so many ways. We’ll recognize all volunteers on Sunday, June 30, as part of the worship service. A celebratory coffee hour will follow.

Pastor Alex's blog for June 2019... enjoy!

Let's not forget the reason for this long weekend.

A reminder that, starting this Sunday (May 26th), we will begin our summer worship schedule - one worship service at 9:30am. We plan to continue this worship schedule through September 1st.

Ypsilanti Community day last Saturday - many thanks to all the volunteers that helped to put in new flowers, perennials and native plants around the church and in the River Street boulevard. Here are some great photos taken by Monica Doerr.

Emmanuel Lutheran is participating in the Southeast Michigan Synod's "Rise Up!" campaign. Apart of this campaign are lay leadership labs, which cover a myriad of church-related themes and are hosted all around the synod free of charge. To find out more and to attend one of these leadership labs, you can find the schedule below. In addition to these labs, there are six other pieces to this campaign that help build up the body of Christ in this part of Michigan. Click on the link below to learn more! https://www.semisynod.com/events/rise-up

Emmanuel Lutheran is in the house at the 2019 Southeast Michigan Synod Assembly! Thanks to Jeff and Debbie Walters for serving as our delegates. It’s a party, for sure! #SEMIRiseUp19

Thank you from Pastor Alex as he prepares to leave for Tanzania on Thursday, May 23. As an extra, here's a picture of him nine years ago when he lived in the largest city in Tanzania, Dar es Salaam: I'd like to thank you all, the Emmanuel Lutheran community, for your support as I prepare for this safari, in Swahili means "journey", to Tanzania. If you remember from Sunday, May 5 when the risen Christ appeared to the disciples at the Sea of Galilee, the disciples had a full circle moment. The risen Christ met Peter, John, James and a few others in a familiar place. The disciples were back home but everything had changed, miracles had been witnessed. They'd even seen Lazarus raised from the dead. In so many ways for me, this trip is a full circle moment. Going back to beloved Tanzania, where I've personally known so much of God's redemptive action, I expect the same will be true as it was nine years ago when I first landed there. I will witness things that will bring wonder to my heart, shock to my soul, and energy in my life as a faithful disciple. When I return to Emmanuel on Sunday, June 9, we will celebrate the Day of Pentecost. On that particular day, we lift up God's universal grace for the whole world, and the Spirit will descend upon not only our church, but the whole Church. I will bring my recent witness from Tanzania to you as we celebrate our reunion together. As I depart, know that you go with me to the Mbulu Diocese in northern Tanzania. Asante sana. Thank you very much. See you in a couple of weeks!

Two schedule reminders: This coming Sunday (May 19th), during the 10:45am worship service, will be our last week of the school year for Sunday School. Emmanuel will begin its summer worship schedule on Sunday May 26th with one service at 9:30am; we will continue that worship schedule through September 1st.

Our part in the Ypsilanti Community Cleanup Day - all invited to help.

A little taste of our Easter morning worship. A very happy Easter to you from the Emmanuel Chancel Choir and Emmanuel Handbells.

This morning our Emmanuel Handbells played a processional to start the service. Enjoy!

Sunday April 22nd after 10:45 am, late service, around noon, everybody is invited to attend the special reception for Patty Gardner who has been Emmanuel's Church Secretary since 2001. We have relied and come to depend on Patty over the years, and she will be sorely missed. We want to wish her a wonderful life in her retirement.

Palm Sunday 2018 Choir and Handbells at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, ELCA in Ypsilanti

Service about ready to begin.

The Emmanuel Handbell group played a fun and awesome processional for the 1st Sunday in Lent. Directed by Rob Meyer-Kukan our handbell director.