Epiphany Devotion

Arise, Shine; for Your Light has Come!

Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; But the LORD will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.

Isaiah 60:1-3

The word “epiphany” means to shine upon. It refers to the coming of Jesus as the Light of the World shining upon all of mankind with the light of His grace and goodness as revealed in His gospel message (cf. John 9:5). During the Epiphany season we study, in particular, how Jesus manifested His divine glory during His earthly ministry focusing both upon His miracles—which reveal His divine power, and His messages—which reveal His divine grace. From those studies God would have us grow in our knowledge and wisdom, as well as our hope and confidence!

Isaiah, speaking prophetically, urges Old Testament Israel to arise in anticipation of the coming Savior and to reflect the glory of His light. Jesus was Israel’s light, even as He is our own. In Jesus’ person, as the God-Man, we see the glory of the LORD before us! We marvel with the disciples at Jesus’ power over nature. We stand amazed as we read in the Gospel accounts of the blind made to see, the dumb made to speak, the sick made well, and the dead raised to life!

Darkness, which represents in Scripture the sinful rebellion of mankind, covers our earth, while the deep darkness of impenitence and unbelief cover all people by nature. But Jesus—the LORD Himself—will arise, Isaiah says, and we know that his words are true, for Jesus came into this world as a new-born Child placed in Bethlehem’s manger. The angelic hosts announced His arrival with a heavenly concert bathed in light. His glory, laid aside for a time, was later seen on the Mount of Transfiguration and will ultimately be seen by all when He returns on the Day of Judgment.

Gentiles came in the person of wise men seeking the new-born King, and down through the ages men and women in authority have been led by the Spirit of God to acknowledge the power and primacy of Jesus Christ. It is time that we join them at the feet of our Savior, reflecting His light through love in our relationships with others. It is time that we rejoice in the light of His truth, and share it with both joy and confidence as our LORD Himself gives us opportunities. Yes, members of Immanuel—let us all arise and shine with Jesus!

— Pastor Paul D. Nolting

Christmas Eve Worship Service

on CCTV

Charter channel 13
HickoryTech channel 7

Friday, Jan. 1, 8:15 PM
Tuesday, Jan. 5, 7:00 AM
Friday, Jan. 8, 8:15 PM
Tuesday, Jan. 12, 7:00 AM

Online

Go to the Immanuel website: www.immanuelmankato.org Scroll down the home page to the “sermon” section and click on “online videos’ page” link.

Immanuel Meditations

Immanuel’s weekly radio program airs Sunday mornings at approximately 8:15 a.m. on KTOE, 1420 AM. KTOE now streams its broadcast online, so you may also listen to Immanuel meditations from outside the KTOE listening area by going to www.ktoe.com and clicking on the “listen live” logo on the left side of the home page.

Foreign Missions

East Africa Mission Safari

This fall, Immanuel member Russell Schmitt, together with Larry Hansen of the CLC Mission Board and Pastor Nathanael Mayhew made a visitation trip to our brothers and sisters in East Africa. The following is an informative summary of our work in East Africa.

The Maasai are a tribe in East Africa in which the men wear colorful robes and carry long sticks for herding cattle. The women, most of whom have shaved scalps, wear equally colorful robes with beads hanging from large holes in their ear lobes, and wide beaded necklaces about their necks.

Last November a group the Maasai was sitting under a tree. hat was going on? Was National Geographic filming them for a television special? No, a film crew was not present, but Jesus was, for He promised, “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20). A Bible study was taking place under that tree. Pastor Mayhew, the Church of the Lutheran Confession’s (CLC) part-time missionary in East Africa, presented his lesson, after which Larry Hansen (a former member of Immanuel and current member of the CLC Board of Missions) encouraged his listeners to seek first the Kingdom of God. Then I chose a youngster, named Daudi, to be David, while Larry Hansen served as Goliath. As the youngsters repeated the translated words I read, Daudi used a crocheted sling and stone and toppled Goliath. We were told the Maasai, who have Bibles translated in their own language, knew of David and Goliath.

Meetings like the one described are not isolated events. The geographic growth of our sister synods in East Africa is expansive. There are many congregations in and around Nairobi and Kenya. Eight hours to the southeast near Mombasa there are three more congregations. Eight hours to the west lies Etago with its five congregations and a school for 166 AIDS orphans (children orphaned by AIDS, they themselves do not have AIDS). Four hours beyond Etago lies Kampala, Uganda where university students are currently forming a church. Five hours south of Nairobi lies Arusha, Tanzania, and further southeast lie Moshi, Tanga, and Dar es Salaam. Over 6,000 souls are served in congregations in these areas. There are many eager souls in East Africa waiting and wanting to hear and learn the Word of God. Let us strive to fulfill our Savior command, “Go and make disciples of all nations...” (Matthew 28:19).

Due to the great distances between these congregations and the rough terrain which requires a four-wheel drive vehicle, visiting all the stations each year on our annual Mission Safari is not possible. An annual pastoral conference and regional seminars are conducted along with some individual congregational visits during the one month visit. Congregations in Mombasa, Kenya and in Tanga, Tanzania (both on the east coast) were not visited this year. The students at the university in Kampala, Uganda, however, were visited for the first time.

Schedules are important, but the apostle James reminds us: “You who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there...’’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow” (James 4:13 14.) Pastor Mayhew, Larry Hansen, and I spent more time than was scheduled in the Moshi/Himo area, hoping to learn more about some troubles that had arisen there. We left the area convinced that, in spite of Satan’s attempts to undermine the work going on there, the truth of God’s Word, as confessed by the CLC, is widespread in East Africa.

The geographical growth of our sister synods is directly due to the Holy Spirit’s presence. We encourage our brethren with the words of St. Paul: “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).

— Russell Schmitt

Foreign Missions

Destination: PERU

Last spring a Peruvian gentleman by the name of Dimas Vivanco visited our church offices and introduced himself to the church secretary and to me. He was impressed by the help his nephew, a member of our congregation, was receiving through the congregation. He wanted to learn more. He spent the spring and early summer studying Scripture with me and found himself in agreement with our doctrinal position. He expressed his desire to establish a Lutheran church in Lima and to introduce Lutheran teaching to a private grade school that he and his wife run. In April he attended the CLC Coordinating Council in Eau Claire, meeting with the Board of Missions and sharing with them his goals. In late June he attended the Youth Conference 2009 in Indiana in order to become better acquainted with more of our CLC members and in order to visit the Creation Museum near Cincinnati. Shortly, thereafter he returned to Lima.

The voters of our congregation have passed a resolution to invest up to $6,000 from our Undesignated Memorial Fund in support of this effort in Lima. Initial funds were used to purchase ten Bibles and twenty Luther’s Small Catechisms in Spanish/English. Further funds will be used in February to help one of our members, Daniel Pfeiffer, to travel to Lima and to pursue the study of Spanish at San Marco University in Lima. Daniel will stay as a guest with Dimas and his wife and will use his language skills during his spare time to instruct interested individuals and the school children in our Lutheran faith. Currently, the adult instruction manual used here at Immanuel is being translated into Spanish for use in Lima.

I will be flying to Lima in early January to meet Dimas’ family and also to be introduced to ten individuals whom Dimas has contacted and who are interested in learning of our Lutheran faith and helping establish a Lutheran congregation there. I will be flying out of Minneapolis on Tuesday, January 5 and returning Monday, January 11. The trip is being privately financed and private funds will be used to help upgrade Dimas’ computer equipment so that the instruction of his wife and son may proceed via the internet.

Please keep these efforts in your prayers. I ask for your prayers for safe travel and good health during the upcoming trip.

— Pastor Paul D. Nolting

Fellowship & Spiritual Growth

All of the women of Immanuel are invited to attend the Christian Women’s Retreat, scheduled for April 23-25, 2010 at the Days Inn Hotel and Conference Center in LaCrosse, WI. The retreat is sponsored by Immanuel congregation and intended to provide a weekend of spiritual growth, worship opportunities, and relaxation for the women of our extended CLC family.

This year’s theme is “Good News for Tired Souls” and is based upon Mark 6:31, in which Jesus urges His disciples to “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest!” The weekend is spent in both large-group and small-group sessions with plenty of time to relax and visit with friends—old and new! Topics range from in depth spiritual explorations of the thematic text to practical presentations on knitting, healthy recipes, stress relief, and family budgets.

The cost of the retreat depends upon your roommate arrangements with a room for two costing $150.00, while a room for three reduces the cost to $130.00, and a room for four costs $120.00. Single participants can be placed with other roommates upon request. Scholarships are available for those women facing difficulty covering the costs of the weekend. Mothers with small children are especially encouraged to contract Ruth Mueller (507-387-6788) for scholarship information.

Registration forms are available in the narthex and by the back door of the church. If you are uncertain about whether or not to go, visit with any of the many women who have gone in past years. It is truly a wonderful opportunity to grow in your faith and to establish new relationships with many remarkable Christian women! If you have any further questions, please, feel free to contact Pastor Nolting.

Winter Weather Announcements: Please be reminded that cancellation of Immanuel church services and events are announced on KTOE (1420 AM), KEYC TV, www.katoinfo.com

Immanuel Ambassadors’ Schedule of Events

The Immanuel Ambassadors is Immanuel’s youth group of high school age youth and older. The following events are currently scheduled. Details for each will appear in the bulletin.

Mark your calendars and join us!

Date: January 8
Event: Pizza Night — Following the ILHS basketball games, the Ambassadors (need not be an ILHS student or basketball player) will meet for pizza. Location details to be announced.

Whitewater Winter Camp

Date: January 22-24

Fee: $55.00
Includes transportation, lodging, meals, and admission costs to enroute attractions

• Depart from Immanuel, January 22 @ 7:30 a.m.
• Return January 24, approximately 3:00 p.m.
• Sign-up sheet is in the church narthex.
• Full information packets will be given to those who sign up.
• Contact Pastor Eichstadt with any questions!

Upcoming Event

Congregation Annual Meeting

Immanuel Lutheran Church’s Annual meeting is scheduled for January 18, 2009. In the time leading up to the meeting reports will be printed and made available to congregation members. These report “packets” provide a year-end review, but will also provide information that is necessary to conduct the business of the meeting as we embark in a new year of our Gospel ministry and Kingdom work.

At the annual meeting the congregational chairman for the next year will be elected, a congregational budget for 2010 will be discussed and adopted, an estimate for contributions to our synodical work will be set, and other business as well. This meeting, as well as all of our quarterly meetings, Council meetings, and Board meetings is important for in this way the business of our congregation is accomplished and we pray that the Lord will guide and bless our work for Him.

Voters—Mark your calendars and plan to attend the meeting. Pick up the information packets as they become available, read them, and come ready to discuss the affairs of our congregation and the work we are doing. Come, take an active role in the work God has given us to do!

Non-voters eligible to become voters—please consider voting membership as an opportunity God has given you to serve in His Gospel work. Request voting membership, and then faithfully and diligently use your talents and insights to assist in the leadership of this congregation.

Non-voters—Take an active interest in the work we are doing together. Read the information packets, pray about the matters at hand, convey your thoughts, concerns, and ideas to a voter, and pray for the Lord’s blessing on the meeting, its decisions, and outcome.

The work we have as a congregation is Lord’s work given to us—all of us—to do. Let January 18, 2010 be a day of high significance because on that day “the work of the Lord is being done in my congregation and what my brothers and sisters in Christ and I do in connection with the Lord is not in vain!” (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:58)

Books of the Bible

In GENESIS the world was made by God’s creative hand,
In EXODUS the Hebrews marched to gain the Promised Land.
LEVITICUS contains the Law, holy and just and good,
NUMBERS records the tribes enrolled, all sons of Abraham’s blood.
Moses in DEUTERONOMY recalls God’s deeds,
Brave JOSHUA into Canaan’s land the host of Israel leads.
In JUDGES their rebellion oft provokes the LORD to smite,
But RUTH records the faith of one well-pleasing in His sight.
In I & II SAMUEL of Jesse’s sons we read,
Ten tribes in I & II KINGS revolted from his seed.
In I & II CHRONICLES see Judah captive made,
But EZRA leads a remnant back by princely Cyrus’ aid.
The city walls of Zion, NEHEMIAH builds again,
While ESTHER saves her people from plots of wicked men.
In JOB we read how faith will live beneath affliction’s rod,
And David’s PSALMS are precious songs of every child of God.
The PROVERBS like a goodly string of choicest pearl appear,
ECCLESIASTES teaches man how vain are all things here.
The mystic SONG OF SOLOMON exalts sweet Sharon’s Rose,
While Christ the Savior and the King the rapt ISAIAH shows.
The warning JEREMIAH apostate Israel scorns,
His plaintive LAMENTATIONS then their awful downfall mourns.
EZEKIEL in wondrous words of dazzling mysteries,
While kingdoms and empires yet to come, DANIEL in vision sees.
Of Judgment and of mercy HOSEA loves to tell,
JOEL describes the blessed days when God with men shall dwell.
Among Tekoa's herdsmen AMOS received his call,
while OBADIAH prophesies of Edom’s final fall.
JONAH enshrines a wondrous type of Christ our Risen Lord.
MICAH pronounces Judah lost—lost but again restored,
NAHUM declares on Nineveh last Judgment shall be poured.
A view of the Chaldean's coming doom HABAKKUK'S visions give,
next ZEPHANIAH warns the Jews to turn, repent and live.
HAGGAI wrote to those who saw the temple built again,
and ZECHARIAH prophesied of Christ’s triumphant reign.
MALACHI was the last who touched the high prophetic chord,
it’s final note sublimely shows the COMING OF THE LORD.

MATTHEW, MARK, LUKE AND JOHN—the holy Gospels wrote—describing how the Savior died, His life, and all He taught.
ACTS prove how God, the apostles led with signs in every place,
St. Paul in ROMANS tells how man is saved by grace.
Paul in CORINTHIANS instructs, exhorts, reproves,
GALATIANS shows that faith alone the Father loves.
EPHESIANS AND PHILIPPIANS tell what Christians from love will do,
COLOSSIANS bid us live for God and for eternity true.
In THESSALONIANS we are told the Lord will come from heaven,
in TIMOTHY AND TITUS a bishop’s rule is given.
PHILEMON marks a Christian love which only Christians know.
HEBREWS reveals the Gospel prefigured by the Law.
JAMES teaches that without deeds, faith is vain and dead,
PETER points the narrow way in which the saints are led.
JOHN, in his three epistles on love delights to dwell,
ST. JUDE gives awful warnings of Judgment, wrath and Hell.
REVELATION prophesies of that tremendous day
when Christ and Christ alone will take all tears away.

—selected and adapted