Mercy and Assistance

Spiritual Care

Members at Emmanuel receive on-going spiritual care through the ministry of the congregation. Many members use Portals of Prayer quarterly for their daily devotions. (Copies are available for free at the back of the sanctuary.) The following entries describe features of our spiritual care.

Altar Prayers

Pastor Ed prays for every member household on a regular basis. Additionally, pastor asks the congregation to pray for households at our Sunday morning worship services.

ELFS

Emmanuel Lutheran Faithful Servants support numerous service projects throughout the year such as gathering food for the local food bank, materials for Southwood School, and organizing support for children's events. ELFS gather monthly to coordinate these efforts. They typically meet in Sutorius Hall the third Saturday of the month. All adult members of Emmanuel are welcome to participate in these congregational and community service projects.

Caring Cards

Blanche Wemlinger, a long time member of Emmanuel, sends birthday and anniversary cards to our members along with notes of encouragement. She likewise sends cards to the sick or hospitalized when she knows of their condition. In 2017 the Wemlinger family invited the congregation to celebrate Blanche's birthday with them. Persons thankful for Blanche filled Sutorius Hall and the church services that day.

Small Groups

Emmanuel's members gather in Bible Study groups and service groups to pray for one another, study God's Word together, and to serve the Lord, one another, and the community. These gatherings are usually informal, lighthearted, and friendly. (Though when its time to serve, we know how to focus!) You can learn more about Emmanuel's groups under "Congregational Life and Activities" at About Our Church.

Hospital Visits

When a member of Emmanuel goes into the hospital, whether for an emergency or for major surgery, family members or friends will commonly contact the church. Pastor Ed regularly visits people in the hospital so that he can share God's comforting Word with them and lead them in prayer. Family or friends from Emmanuel may also visit to share their encouragement. This is part of caring for one another in the challenging circumstances of life.

Shut-In Visits

Some older or disabled members of Emmanuel can no longer comfortably attend our services. When this happens, we try to bring the benefits of church life to these "shut-in" members. Pastor Ed or Pastor Stolzenburg visit shut-ins about once per month. (Visits may be delayed during the busy seasons such as Christmas and Lent.) Pastor Stolzenburg regularly makes devotional phone calls, too. Other members of Emmanuel also visit our shut-in members to help them catch up on what's happening at Emmanuel and to encourage them in our shared life and faith.

Pastoral Counseling

Pastor Ed regularly meets with members seeking biblical counsel regarding personal or family matters. He may also meet with non-members as time permits. A counseling meeting typically lasts no more than an hour and may include a brief service of confession and absolution for those seeking assurance of God's forgiveness. Pastor also requires four sessions of marriage counseling before leading a marriage service. During the counseling, pastor explains biblical teachings about marriage and family life.

Principles

Biblical Teaching on Mercy

“If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’ without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?” (James 2:15–16).

Biblical Teaching on Work

“For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living” (2 Thessalonians 3:7–13).