News
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A message from Pr. Dave
Dear Friends in Christ:
So much of what we do as a congregation epitomizes our synod's motto: "Walking Together for the Sake of Mission in God's world.
The word we use for "walking together" with our sisters and brothers in Malawi is "companionship." Companionship is not us doing for them; it is our being together, visiting each other, praying for each other, and sharing with each other. Our synod sent a group of us out to the churches of Malawi to build up our companion relationship. Diane Kaufmann, our companionship coordinator, Amy Odgren, assistant to the bishop, my daughter Emily, and I visited congregations in Malawi. We worshiped, talked, and shared. Look to your ZIP (Zomba Immanuel Partnership) Committee for ways that we will live out our companionship with Sadzi congregation in 2012. Pastors in Malawi have very little formal theological education and at their request Pastor Amy Odgren and I taught a gathering of 70 pastors, evangelists and parish workers the Lutheran basics and the Gospels of Mark and John, the prophetic book of Amos, and the Book of Revelation. Their eagerness to learn from us was inspiring. At the end of two weeks they expressed a wish to have us stay two more weeks because, "We haven't learned everything about the Gospel of John yet."
Here at Immanuel we know "we haven't learned everything yet," as well! Our Sunday School classes are full, our confirmation classes lively. 35 people meet weekly in Holy, Happy, and Healthy, our men meet for study every other week, our Ruth circle meets for study and fellowship monthly, and 11 people attend Lay School classes on Friday evening and one Saturday morning every month. Pastor Greg Kaufmann, an Immanuel member, teaches Bible, and I continue to teach worship.
Back home in Eau Claire, I began the first year of my two-year term as president of JONAH (Joining our Neighbors Advancing Hope). In JONAH I have met and worked with some amazing people from a variety of local faith communities and organizations. In JONAH we ask how we can listen, work with, and walk with our neighbors in this community who are often poor and marginalized. How can we together move our world towards justice and fairness? In 2012 look to JONAH for ways that you can walk with your neighbors who are working toward a criminal justice system that offers treatment instead of incarceration to offenders who are addicted or mentally ill. Together in the 11 x 15 project we can begin to live out Jesus' mission to "to bring good news to the poor . . . [to] proclaim release to the captives . . . to let the oppressed go free (Luke 4:18)."
In May I was invited to give the keynote address at a national gathering of the Lutheran Service Agency Disability Network in Milwaukee. Members of the One in Christ group from Immanuel came with me to present a workshop. I spoke about the inclusion of children with disabilities in a congregational setting. I explained that when we all acknowledge that we are broken, our brokeness ties us to one another and to Christ. This means that we are open to welcome all sorts of people with brokeness, not so that we can fix them with charity, but so that we can walk together, supporting one another. Look to One in Christ for ways in which we can walk together with people with disabilities.
This year we enjoyed walking with our intern pastor, Mamy Ranaivoson, and getting to know his family. Mamy brought us many gifts and experiences. As we shaped Mamy's pastoral identity and helped him build his skills, he also shaped us, showing us new aspects of our faith. So many people have told me how much they enjoyed having an intern at Immanuel. Mamy left us with a fledgling ministry to send "2 or 3" members to visit, commune, and pray with those not able to attend our worship. Look for ways to participate in the "2 or 3" ministry in 2012.
In what other ways will we be walking together in 2012? In the coming year we will need to walk together in facing the continued challenge of growing our budget to keep pace with the growth of our ministry. Growing congregations are always outgrowing their budgets. We will need to help each other understand that growing giving and proportional giving are important in the lives of growing Christians. Look for more talk about our call to be good stewards of what God gives us.
During this past year and with this annual meeting we continue our walk together in shaping our family ministry for the coming years and recruiting and supporting a family minister or shared ministry team.
In Malawi I was constantly impressed by the joy that people expressed in worship. I want to look for new ways that release that same joy in the midst of our worship-new songs, new services. I know that Immanuel knows how to joyfully celebrate. I was blown away by the wonderful celebration of the 25th anniversary of my ministry here. I am grateful for all of you that make this a faithful and loving place.
In 2012, we will look to God who "by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20)" as we walk and work together to love and serve all God's children.
In Christ,
Pastor Dave
News from our Synod
Just Add Water
Living Water Lutheran Church is walking hand in hand with God, creating a new Christian community in our synod.
Living Water's Story
The journey started with a handful of people who believed God was calling them to create a new group of believers in Cameron, Wisconsin. Early on, they identified their purpose: to serve others in the name of Jesus Christ.
Living Water was launched in the spring of 2009 as a mission congregation within the ELCA. Since that time, they have poured themselves into the task of moving outside the church walls, sharing the good news of Jesus in real and life-giving ways. Clothing and compassion have been packaged and shipped to U.S. soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. Backpacks have been filled with supplies and placed on the shoulders of area children in need. Free counseling is given to families in crisis. Missionairies are supported in Africa and Asia. Free clothing and a semi-load of food is distributed every month to struggling families. Every Sunday the Living Water mission team challenges the group for new ways to extend the generosity they have experienced in Jesus Christ.
"Perhaps," they say, "the biggest change has been in us. We've discovered with surprise and joy, the more we give away the love of God, the more God blesses us."
Since 2009, they have outgrown three worship locations. By March 2012, the goal is to purchase four acres of land on the edge of Cameron. By spring 2013, they hope to break ground for a 6,000 square foot multi-use facility that will serve as a center for mission and gathering space for the Cameron community.
Note from Dan
This past fall has gone by very fast but it has been a lot of fun. In September I started team teaching Confirmation with Pastor Dave and didn't anticipate having this much fun. The Family Ministry continues to grow and change which offers some unique and exciting challenges. Our Family Fun Nights have transitioned into Family Fun events for two reasons. The first reason is that not all of them are taking place at night and the second reason is we have changed our purpose for these events. The Family Fun events have transitioned in to social events for our Immanuel families to get together, decompress from the week and let our children run around and be kids. The faith component has been removed from the Family Fun Events and placed into our new family ministry event called Building Bridges Ministry. We have extended an invitation to families of all ages to come to this event, which happens once a month on Wednesday nights. I am truly excited about this ministry because it is intentional about teaching our families about the Bible and equipping them to continue faithful conversations at home. One of my favorite parts of this ministry is when our families put together their faith boxes, which hold their family altars that are kept at home and follow them to our Building Bridges nights. These altars help our families to intentionally create a sacred space at home. I am looking forward to our annual Luther Park Retreats for our families and Sr. High youth coming up in February. The attendance for both retreats is up from last year and along with the number of elementary children attending Luther Park Bible camps is growing each summer; it is an exciting time for camp ministry at Immanuel. This is an exciting time for the Family Ministry at Immanuel and I feel so blessed to be a part of it.
Thanks
Dan Strehlau
Homeless Youth in Your Neighborhood
Homeless Youth in Your Neighborhood
A message from Lutheran Social Services (LSS) of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan
Homelessness does not discriminate against age, race, gender, or the social standing of youth or their family. Common reasons for teenage homelessness include abuse (physical, sexual, or verbal), pregnancy, and/or chemical dependency. A number of youth are what are sometimes referred to as, "throw-away kids" - young people whose parents moved to a different town or state and left the youth behind. In some cases the youth is homeless because of a misunderstanding between the parent and child. Homeless youth struggle with numerous issues because of their age and lack of safe housing, including:
• They're too young to obtain rental housing on their own; they simply do not have ad equate income or savings to pay a security deposit.
• Without job experience or personal identification with a current address, they struggle to gain or improve their employment.
• They've had little or no access to health care, mental health, legal support or social
services .
• Very often, their education is interrupted or it's difficult for them to concentrate.
Some fast facts on homelessness and runaways in Wisconsin & Upper Michigan:
• Each year, nearly 30,000 Wisconsin teenagers are reported as runaways.
• 40% of Wisconsin runaway programs are managed by LSS, such as the Runaway & Youth Services (RAYS) program.
• In 2011, LSS Voices for Youth programs across six counties in Upper Michigan provided services or housed close to 200 homeless young adults in transitional living homes, tran- sitional apartments and emergency hotel stays.
• LSS Positive Avenues, a daytime drop-in center in Eau Claire, Wisconsin serves over 200 clients annually with the help of volunteers who put in nearly 1,700 hours of service a year. Clients range in age from 18 to 82 years of age.
• LSS Off the Square Club, a daytime drop-in center in Madison, Wisconsin serves over 133 clients annually with the help of volunteers who put in nearly 2,400 hours of service a year.
• Wellspring, a daytime drop-in center in Green Bay, Wisconsin serves more than 150 women who visit us 2,300 times each year. Women range in age from 19 to 89 years of age.
• The LSS Welcome Home program has been placing homeless families and individuals in apartments in Marquette and Alger, Michigan counties for 14 years.
Lutheran Social Services (LSS) offers programs for homeless youth and adults throughout Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. For more information on how you can make a difference visit www.lsswis.org
News from Malawi
Malawi Update
2011 has been another year with lots of things at Sadzi. Proceedings of fund raising activities at Sadzi Congregation, We have also seen ZIP meetings at Kachipama Congregation. Meetings aimed @ strengthening the companionship. Nomination of the new ZIP information Committee in Zomba Parish. It's also a year of Dean Msuku's induction as the Dean of Zomba Deanery. The year has also taken away a member of Sadzi completely
In early 2011 we saw the rapid raising of funds in order to furnish Sadzi Church with wooden chairs. Sadzi also managed to buy the Speakers for special ceremonies.
Early this year we also welcome Pastor Chimwaye, Assistant Dean of Zomba in a special way at Sadzi .
In June 2011 Dean Msuku also visited his deanery in a very special way. And that Sunday's Cermony was conducted by Mrs Dean Nsuku. It was really the massage of hope.
We still have fresh memories of the Companionship meeting held at Kachipama on 2nd July 2011. It was indeed an important meeting where Pastor Dave led the Immanuel delegation. I remember it was a 'full house' attended by Visitor from Immanuel. Pastor David and Pastor Chimwaye, represented the leadership of the Companion. At the same time, they represented all men in the companionship. While Pastor Ammy and Diane represented the women. Emily represented the youth. The meeting was indeed the step ahead for the existence of the companionship.
The Information team was nominated with members like Hosh Libanga, Gift Tawakali, Allan Nyirongo of Sadzi Finley Mikundi, Sukali, of Mbidi .These were nominated in order to make sure that members of the Zip are alway supplied with information from all.
The Visit was spiced up by the Sunday Ceremony conducted by Pastor Dave in English and translated to Chichewa by Pastor Chimwaye.
August 13, 2011, was a Deanery invent, where the Bishop encouraged members of Zomba Deanery, by providing various items including bicycles, ambulance bicycles, motor cycles, to Pastors, Evangelists, Parish workers to promote the work of Our Lord Jesus Christ. It was indeed a big day in Zomba.
On 14th August 2011, we had an induction ceremony for Dean Msuku as Dean of Zomba Deanery. The function was spiced by gifts given to Our Dean and Our Lord Bishop as a symbol of warmly welcoming them.
On 23rd August, 2011 we received a Computer set from Immanuel Lutheran Church for Zomba Parish. Representatives fro USA for the Women's Assembly brought the Machine.
The computer has improved the communication system of Zomba Parish. The Assistant Dean, The Deanery Accounts and Administrative Assistant, The Deanery Women's Coordinator and the Parish Worker, among others are to be using this computer.
We had a confirmation Sunday on 28th August 2011. 10 young members were confirmed this day upon completion of confirmation class.
The year didn't just end but also brought tears to Zomba when we lost a Member, Mr Mahipo. ''May His Saul Rest In Peace''
WE ARE WISHING ALL OF YOU A MARY CHRISTMAS AND A PROSPEROUS 2012
Hoshiwa Libanga
Dear Friends in Christ
The tradition of a sabbatical is rooted in the Old Testament idea that for land to remain capable of producing good crops it needs to lie fallow, to rest, one year out of seven. And this was surely rooted in the idea that God rested from God's work of creation on the seventh day.
"When you enter the land that I am giving you, the land shall observe a sabbath for the LORD. Six years you shall sow your field, and six years you shall prune your vineyard, and gather in their yield; but in the seventh year there shall be a sabbath of complete rest for the land, a sabbath for the LORD: you shall not sow your field or prune your vineyard (Leviticus 25:3-5).
Sabbaticals, typically occurring after six years of ministry allow pastors "to take an extended period of time for renewal, spiritual growth, skill development, research, exploration, enrichment, study, and/or travel (2012 Synod Salary Standards)." I think of a sabbatical as allowing body, mind, and spirit time to be restored for productive work ahead. My last sabbatical, eight years ago, allowed me an extended time of study and reflection out of which came a new personal direction-my need to return to school and earn my doctorate. In the process I learned a great deal about how the climate for churches has changed in the last 30 years and what is needed to lead churches through that change.
This year I have split my sabbatical into two pieces, January and June-July to make it easier for the congregation to plan for my absence. In January, Pastor John Yungerberg and Pastor Harold Oelschlager will be preaching and leading worship. Both will continue with visitation, our Family, Faith, Formation Ministry team will cover confirmation and other youth and family tasks. I have a huge stack of books I want to begin, I want to work on publishing my Overshoe manuscript, paint the kitchen, do some writing and attend a few learning events. I will be back at Immanuel in February looking 15 years younger. Thank you for this opportunity.
Peace,
Pr Dave
News from our Companion Synod Coordinator
"Tsalani Bwino"
by Diane Kaufmann, companion synod coordinator
In the Chichewa language this phrase is a farewell term that translates as "Stay well." And that is my hope, prayer, and expectation for our companion relationships as I end my tenure as companion synod coordinator. This is my last Network News article. On December 1, Pastor Ramie Bakken takes over this position with a new title, assistant to the bishop for global relationships.
I began this journey unofficially in 2001 and officially at the synod assembly in 2004. So it has been a large part of my "50's" decade. I was not one who grew up always wanting to go to Africa (Malawi) or Brazil. But having been to both countries numerous times, I have learned much, especially about how important cultural issues are! Without an exposure to other cultures, we tend to assume that the culture we grew up and live in is predominant and authoritative. Not so much when you have your eyes opened by exposure to other cultures!
I have seen changes in our relationships. The hardest part has been learning and then trying to educate others that old models will not grow and develop these companionships. You have often heard my drumbeat of "accompaniment" language and a desire to make the new model of accompaniment a part of the DNA of the Northwest Synod of Wisconsin. "Walking Together" has been a shorthand way of describing this way of living into accompaniment. We are making progress; this is a journey of generations I believe and one we must be intentional about.
Favorite memories: in both of our companion relationships, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Malawi and Sinodo Centro Campanha Sul, Brazil, it has been delightful to see stereotypes stripped away as travelers from here and to here have visited face-to-face and had the opportunity to see the realities of everyday life and church life. We find that we have many similarities even in the midst of our differences. I pray that face-to-face remains a priority so that we can see Jesus in each other in a personal way.
Thank you (zikomo kwambiri, obrigada) for your prayers for me during my time as companion coordinator and for our companion synods. Please continue those prayers for Pastor Bakken and our companions!
Tsalani bwino.
New Ministry Opportunity
Building Bridges Ministry - Here at Immanuel we are blessed with a large population of ACTIVE young families. We are also aware that the needs of our Youth and Family Ministry are changing. We are excited to introduce a new opportunity for the YOUTH AND FAMILIES of our congregation through a ministry called BUILDING BRIDGES. I was blessed to see this ministry in action at Mount Calvary Lutheran church in Excelsior MN this past October. Building Bridges is a "hands on" ministry developed to equip families to practice faith together - building bridges between the church and home so what is practiced at church can begin to be part of our everyday lives. The Building Bridges Ministry provides an arena for practice. ONCE A MONTH OUR YOUTH AND FAMILIES will meet on a Wednesday night. We will bring together SHYN, Confirmation and our network of young families to experience a fellowship and faith building experience. There will be a potluck meal so bring a dish to pass. The dates for Building Bridges are 1/11/12, 2/8/12, 3/14/12 and 4/25/2012, these nights will start at 6:00pm and end at 8:00pm. This time includes supper, fellowship and faith building activities. Families with very young children are welcome to leave when they need to. If you have any questions you can talk to Dan, Alyssa, Julia or Pastor Dave.
Dan Strehlau
Christmas Message from Pr. Dave
Dear Friends in Christ:
The season of Advent is a season of waiting and hope--a time of yes, but not yet. We count the weeks with candles. The colors on the altar are a deep blue reminding us of the early dawn when the sun is still over the horizon, but the lightening sky tells us that the sun will soon rise. The Prayers of the Day for Advent call upon God to "stir up your power and come." We are waiting for the day of God's rule that has dawned on world in Jesus Christ to come in the full brilliance of day. We wait for the world to be made new, to shine with the brightness of justice and mercy--for hunger, inequity, pain, suffering and death to be banished. The readings for Advent are full of turmoil amongst the nations and signs in the heaven, the "birth pangs," the pain of God's new world about to be born. We who wait are filled with impatience for God's "something better" to come. Christmas, the birth of Jesus, is the down payment on that hope--the promise yet to be fulfilled, yet sure to come in fullness. The powers that be, Herod and his ilk, recognize that in Jesus the end of the old world of domination, violence and power over others is coming to an end and they try to put an end to Jesus. They will try again on the cross, but the resurrection will show that "goodness is stronger than evil, love is stronger than hate, light is stronger than darkness, life is stronger than death (ELW 721)" that God will come and the world will be transformed. In the meantime we live in patience and hope, on the brink of day, between light and darkness, between life and death.
Peace,
Pr Dave
Celebrating 25 years
Dear Friends in Christ:
October 6 I completed my 25th year serving as Immanuel's pastor. When my family and I moved here Oakwood Mall was brand new, the current Immanuel building was five years old, our children, Nathan and Emily where, 3 ½ and 6. Now Joyce and I have been members of Immanuel longer than 91% of the people here.
When pastors are getting to know each other among the first questions they ask are, "How long you've been a pastor and how long have you been in that parish?" When I answer 25 years, I often receive quizzical looks (it's a long time to stay with one congregation). I find this a great opportunity to talk about Immanuel! I say something like, "Immanuel is a terrific parish and I love serving there. One of the exciting things about Immanuel is that there are always new challenges because what we do together as a congregation is constantly changing. Were that not the case I think I would have been looking for new ministry challenges long ago."
We have worshiped, learned, and served together. We have shared the joys of baptisms, confirmations, and weddings, together borne the struggles of injuries and illnesses, and grieved together at losses. In that time we also began a preschool, experimented with an excellent Montessori Sunday School model, pioneered a companion relationship with the Zomba parish in Malawi that has grown to include 45 plus congregations in our synod. In that relationship we have sent and received visitors, provided a mobile health clinic, church building, and parsonage. We were the first congregation in our area to have a parish nurse and defined our own concept of parish nurse ministry. We have used new worship services brought to us or created by our members. We have grown the way we minister together with our youth and families through eight youth directors. Together we began a Trust Fund that encourages innovative projects in our congregation, in our community, in our synod and with our global partners. Among the projects in our community that the Trust Fund has supported have been mental health projects for children, drop-in centers for homeless citizens, and support for the free clinic. In our synod, some of the many projects we have supported are: sending a portable church to the Texas-Gulf Synod following hurricane Katrina, providing matching funds for smaller congregations to bring women to visit from Malawi, helped support the Pastor's Academy in Malawi, and partially underwritten the cost of learning video for the whole ELCA. When I felt I needed to grow in my understanding of what the church needed to be in a new age, the congregation supported me when I undertook six years to study for a doctorate in congregational leadership and mission. Members of the congregation joined in my research into what makes our congregation a welcoming place for families with children with disabilities and how we can grow that welcome. Through our participation with other faith communities in JONAH, we have begun to take seriously our call to our community and the world to be the place of justice and equity that God calls us to be. In all this I am most encouraged when I see how we as a congregation have moved from thinking of church as an organization to which we belong to thinking of church as a community of mutual caring that is open to welcome and serve our neighbors.
As the church has grown and changed, I have grown and changed. We have shaped each other and allowed God's Spirit to shape us, through shared insights into God's word and will, through the water that makes us the body of Christ, through the meal that strengthens us, and through our prayer and care for each other. I could echo the words that Paul wrote to the Philippians: "I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because you hold me in your heart, for all of you share in God's grace with me."
Peace,
Pr. Dave
Create-a-World Preschool news
Create-A-World Preschool got spruced up over the summer. Stop by and see our new cabinets put in by Kitchen Solvers. If you are looking to get some work done in your kitchen ask Katy about a special deal for Immanuel members. Our room is brighter thanks to a cheerful hue painted by Kim Sturz and Jim McCrady. All teachers are returning and are excited to "dive in" to a year long ocean theme that will take the kids from A to Z. Classes are full with 15 in the MWF morning and 13 in the TTh morning. Our board meetings are the third Tuesday of every month at 6 PM and we would love to have more church members on the board. The first day of school is September 6th and we just can't wait!
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