Get to Know Immanuel
The people of Immanuel Lutheran are the people of God in Christ - worshiping, growing, and going in the name of Jesus. We're a church family of individuals, families, students, and children who wish to "serve our community and campus with the pure Word of God, deepening the faith of the saved, and bringing the lost to faith in Jesus Christ." (Our Mission) We welcome everyone to come grow in God's Word with us.
We're one ministry with two buildings: Immanuel Lutheran Church on Grant Street and Immanuel Lutheran Student.Center on Clay Street, near the WIU campus. All our office hours are at our Student Center, open from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm Monday through Friday.
We're a member congregation of The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. Check out the LCMS website for more information on our denomination as well as links to the mission, beliefs, and resources of our church.
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Worship
Coming together for Services in God's house is the most important thing we do as a congregation. We believe worship is primarily God serving us through the Good News About Jesus, and from that flows our response of adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and prayer.
Our congregation worships in a liturgical style, utilizing various forms of the liturgy with traditional hymns as well as new songs, chancel dramas, and presentations. Lutheran Worship is our primary hymnal. Lay Lectors assist by communicating the living Word of God. Our Adult and Youth Choirs enhance worship in song. Children's sermons invite young Christians to be active in understanding the theme of our worship through Bible stories and object lessons. During the 8:30 AM Service, a nursery/cry room is available for parents and young children.
Special Services are held throughout the Church year. During Advent, Wednesday Midweek Services are held at 7:00 PM at the Church, and in Lent our Wednesday Services are held at the Student Center. Christmas, Holy Week, Ascension, and Thanksgiving, too, draw us to worship the Triune God for His grace and mercy, responding in repentance and joy.
All are welcome in our worship services. Come join us soon!
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Sunday School
Sunday School classes are held every week at the student center from 9:40-10:35 for kids age three through High School. Our Life in Christ serves as our curriculum, presenting the truth of God's salvation in Jesus through Bible stories, and reinforcing the Gospel in music, crafts, and service. All children are welcome to attend our Sunday School, and there is no cost. Come have fun with us, and learn of Jesus! If you wish to know more about our Sunday School, or wish to enroll, our Superintendent will be happy to help you. Visitors, guests, and friends are always welcome. Call (833-5483) or email us and we'll get you and your children into the Word!
Bible Classes are held each Sunday for adults. We believe that spiritual growth and the health of a congregation depend largely upon our time in the Word of God, individually and corporately. Pastor's Class meets in the student center each Sunday from 9:50-10:35. There is, of course, coffee. It seems that we Lutherans can't do some things without it! All are welcome. The setting is informal and the focus is always upon Christ's Word for us today.
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Youth
Our church family is working to deepen our ministry to youth and their families! Jr. and Sr. High Youth Groups, called "Crossroads" and "Lutheran Youth Fellowship" respectively - are growing. Outings, service projects, and discussion and prayer gatherings build them up.Most of all, fellowship and love from the Word of God bless them eternally. Some of our Sr. High Youth participated in "Chosen"- the LCMS National Youth Gathering in Orlando this summer. 35,000 youth came together for the largest single Christian Youth Gathering in the nation.
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Vacation Bible School
Immanuel will hold Vacation Bible School on June 18-22, 2007, from 9am to noon. All kids age 3 through grade 6 are invited!
To register, send an email message to secretary@immanuelmacomb.com, or call the church office at 833-5483.
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Choir
Our Adult Choir utilizes a variety of styles, and sings in Worship Services at least monthly. Lisa Turke is the director. Open to singers in high school and above.
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Campus Ministry
We recognize that we have a calling to minister to and with college students of Western Illinois University and Spoon River College. This aspect of our ministry is a tremendous blessing. Lutheran Student Fellowship is our campus ministry organization, and weekly Bible Study (Wednesday 7:30 PM) and Sunday Worship (11:00 AM at the Student Center) are the central gatherings for our students.
Of course, Christian love and witness are spreading through our campus whenever Christian students and staff are living out their faith in Jesus in the world. Servant Trips, Retreats, and social events keep our campus ministry busy. A Servant Trip to New York City takes place each school year. It is a great opportunity to share the love of Christ and to see the need for compassionate service that's also right next door.. Go to the Lutheran Student Fellowship website and learn more.
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Women's Guild/LWML
Immanuel's Lutheran Women's Missionary League (LWML) is an official organization of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. Our focus is sharing the Word of Jesus Christ through the support of local, state, national and international mission organizations. These include Lutheran World Relief, Dakota Boys Ranch, Angel Tree Prison Ministry, Lutheran Bible Translators, and Adopt-a-Seminarian Program.
In September and October our local LWML collects clothing, soap, health kits, school kits and sewing kits. These items are packed and transported to a Lutheran World Relief pick-up site for distribution oversees. In December we assist with Angel Tree Prison Ministry. LWML coordinates the collection of Christmas presents for area children. In March, LWML hosts a Chili Supper/Silent Auction/Street Fair for the congregation and friends. Monies raised at the silent auction and through freewill donations are distributed to mission projects. Members also contribute mites/offerings at our monthly meetings. These funds help fund district and national projects.
Our local group meets monthly on the second Tuesday at 7:00 p.m., January - May and September - December. Information on our monthly meetings and agendas is contained on the announcements and calendar page. Further information may be obtained by contacting Immanuel Lutheran Church and Student Center.
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Compassion Committee
All members of our church family serve as the congregational "compassion committee" for the purpose of sharing God's love and help in small and large ways. Praying for one another, sending messages of support, and providing meals or other help, are just some of the ways that the compassion committee seeks to reach our membership and community with the love of Jesus. If there is some way we could assist you, please let us know by email or phone (833-5483).
If you're a member or student of Immanuel and would like to volunteer to help in a compassionate way, contact us and we'll share our survey with you. Let us put into practice the response of God's redeemed people of which Paul wrote: "[Christ] died for all, that those who live should not longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again." 2 Corinthians 5:15
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A Little History
Immanuel Lutheran Church began in 1956 for the purpose of knowing Christ and making Him known, and soon constructed its present Sanctuary on Grant Street. Under the direction of the Central Illinois District of the LCMS, The Lutheran Student Center was built in 1968, an outgrowth of the Gamma Delta campus ministry at WIU. Both ministries served independently until 1981, when they came together as Macomb Lutheran Ministry, a united LCMS ministry to the entire Macomb area. In 2001, our name was changed slightly in order to bring both buildings under the congregational name, "Immanuel Lutheran (LCMS)." Our campus ministry remains a positive and helpful partnership with the congregations and members of the Central Illinois District, which owns the Student Center building. Together, we seek to grow up and out in Christ.
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