VOTE

Next Sunday, February 5, Immanuel will hold our regularly scheduled Congregational Assembly. The agenda will contain three business items:

•          A vote on unbudgeted money to buy new copiers and printers for the church and school.
•          A vote to adopt the proposed Facility Master Plan - which would fulfill one of our 5 Critical Targets from our Strategic Plan.
•          Discussion and a vote on how and when to proceed with Phase 1 of the building project.
•          Please continue reading these announcements for a discussion of each area.

The meeting will take place in the Church starting at 6pm. You may also join the meeting on February 5 through Google Meet at the link.    meet.google.com/uzx-omdo-ygv

COPIERS & PRINTERS

We are hopeful that the first agenda item for the night can be dealt with rather quickly. Your leaders and board are asking you to approve a $25,991 expenditure over and above our budgeted amount for the remainder of this year to purchase new copiers and printers. Why? Doing so will save us tens of thousands of dollars over the next 5 years. We would like to get out of our aging, expensive service contract as soon as possible.

Copier motion background information

MASTER PLAN

The second item on the agenda will be a vote on the proposed Facility Master Plan. In 2021, Immanuel's members adopted a Strategic Plan with five Critical Targets, one of which stated, "Trusting God’s perfect timing, Immanuel Lutheran Church and School uses a phased approach to provide a functional church and school facilities on the “Home Depot” land, addressing needs of our current facilities with the long-term plan in mind."

You will be asked to adopt the long-term, phased plan that was presented to you back in late October. We believe it meets the long term needs of Immanuel, its current ministries, and its future ministries. Will there be minor alterations to aspects of the picture along the way? Certainly. But this Facility Master Plan would guide our facility planning for the decades to come.

We have heard generally positive feedback on the overall plan over the last three months. We have expressly stated that one of the two requests we did not meet was having a traditional fellowship hall and kitchen as part of the main building. Instead, we intentionally moved those functions to a different, nearby building - the Event Center. We believe that we can do all the same ministries of a fellowship hall in the Event Center, but will also be able to take on more ministries that simply would not happen under the roof of the main building: wedding receptions, family reunions, district gatherings, community events, etc. The separation would provide improved security when the school arrives on campus. And the cost per square foot is lower with the separation. The one stated drawback would be the need to briefly walk outside to go between the spaces. The Facility Master Plan vote would be the place to discuss this.

View the plan - and imagine yourself serving each other and serving the community - by clicking below or by viewing the floorplan in the church narthex.  Picture of Facility Master Plan Layout

The third and final item at the Congregational Assembly is a vote on Phase 1. We will only proceed to this vote if the Facility Master Plan passes the congregation. The financial pieces have not yet lined up where we can offer to the option of committing to and starting ALL of Phase 1 as of February 5. Do we believe that Immanuel will have the ability to complete Phase 1 within 2 years and have a reasonable means to pay for it?  Yes. That is where we need your lead. The Board of Directors is bringing this to you with no formal recommendation of one specific path forward. Rather, they will lay out our financial options and discuss alternative timelines to start construction. Decisions on buildings are a responsibility specifically reserved for our Congregational Assemblies at Immanuel. Over the next week, please take intentional time to pray about your upcoming decision. Then, take a moment to read more about our options for our potential new home for ministry.  Visit the Building Website.

STEPHEN MINISTRY.

Fifth Sundays are Stephen Ministry Sundays! The fellowship time before and after worship this Sunday will be hosted by our Stephen Ministry team. Talk with one of our Stephen Ministers or Leaders about how you can become a part of this important caring ministry here at Immanuel. Our Stephen Ministry team will host a new training opportunity starting on February 7th. Please click the button below to show interest or ask for more information.  Don't forget to wear orange to worship to show your support!  Express interest in becoming a Stephen Minister.

Joining Jesus on His Mission:  The Five Mission practices

The 5 Practices are effective at positioning us to enjoy people and to seek, recognize, and respond to what Jesus is doing redemptively in their lives. (pg. 133)

• Seeking the Kingdom
• Hearing from Jesus
• Talking with People
• Doing Good
• Ministering through Prayer

EPH4:  The meal for this coming EPH4 on February 1st will be Rocky's pizza, chips, and bars.  Bible studies start at 6pm - 7pm.  See you there!

UPCOMING EVENTS

Jan 29         High School tubing at Power's Bluff

Feb 5          Congregational Assembly - Vote on Facility Master Plan

Feb 18         Ruby's Pantry distribution

Apr 21-23    Missional Lifestyle weekend

Apr 29         Dinner Theater trip to see Grumpy Old Men

Aug 23        Brewer game group outing