Emmanuel Lutheran Church

"Building Relationships in Christ"

1003  Hickory Hill Lane

Hermitage TN 37076

(615)  883-7533
 

 

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September Newsletter

 

Another Purpose We Have


 

as a Congregation is “MINISTRY”

We also exist to minister to people. Ministry is demonstrating God’s love to others by meeting their needs and healing their hurts in the name of Jesus. This ministry focuses on all kinds of needs: spiritual, emotional, relational, and physical. By Pastor Keith, August 10, 2008

Sharing Our Faith in Christ "Everyday Ministry"

 

Can we be more than we imagined? A "Miracle Work" for example?  Have you ever wondered how and why God's Miracles work? The world around us changes daily and we get wrapped up in the events of the day, as Pastor put it "we become victims of habituation" or we just don't want to get involved. We look at people and make judgments about them based on the way they look. As most of you know I work for the State and we use inmates from the State Prison located here in Nashville, I currently have two inmates I work with daily. One of them (we'll call him John) grew up in the slums with no father and surrounded by drug dealers; a mother who couldn't handle all of the kids in her charge. (He has bothers and sisters and his mother took in her unwed teenage daughter’s kids) By the way his bothers and sisters are all in prison for various offenses (his older brother is in for murder). John has a third grade education and can not read, he is thirty-nine years old (39) he has been in and out of prison since he was a teenager, and he is about to be released. Oh my goodness. What to do? What to do?

 

Before I accepted Jesus; I would have just fired John and gotten another one; and I would have continued this process until I found one that I judged to be acceptable to my standards.  "Boy ministering to people is hard isn't it?"

 

After I accepted Jesus; I went down to the Nashville Rescue Mission because I wanted to get involved with ministering to people. The area around the mission was full of all sorts of characters, the homeless, the drug addicts, the alcoholics you name it they were there.  Some were the "mentally ill" and the "handicapped"; I could see this was going to be a big challenge.

"Boy ministering to people is hard isn't it?"  

As I look back over my life and think to myself “there but for the Grace of God go I”; and my past is not unlike most the people I have spoken about. I now understand


 

why God kept me alive and out of prison. That is to help these people that are lost, those that made mistake in their lives; (I know I did and still do) like John the inmate that works for me.

"We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are."

I remember what Jesus said; "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice' for I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." Matthew 9:12-13

Through the Power of God and Holy Sprit, John has made the decision to change his whole life for himself and his family; (by the way he has three (3) kids of his own). I took him to the Nashville Rescue Mission and he spoke with Michael Davenport. There he decided to turn away from his past and begin his life anew with our Lord Jesus. Upon release from prison he will be enrolling in their eighteen (18) month program.

So everyday ministry (God's Miracles) with God leading can and does make a difference in people’s lives, it is also personally satisfying to think we might have made God smile. We can be that "Miracle Work" with God leading All things are possible

 

 

"The world around us changes daily but the Lord’s foundation is His own unchanging love for us. "We love him, because he first loved us" (1 John 4:19)

 

                                                                                                Thank you and may God bless you,

                                                                                                David Iwao

 

WHAT IS AN ELDER


 

 

During the last election, several people were nominated for the office of Elder. One reason

given for reluctance was “I don’t know what an Elder is supposed to do.  So allow me to enlighten

you.  According to the Emmanuel’s constitution Article 7 an Elder:

 

The Board of Elders will concern itself with spiritual health of the congregation and its

members. We are to do this by:

  1. Nurture and encourage spiritual growth of the members and the Pastor(s)

2.    Serve as advisors and assistants to the Pastor(s) in matters of worship and preaching,      congregational care, administration of the sacraments, and church discipline,

  1. Serve as congregational representatives monitoring and advocating for the spiritual and

      emotional well-being of the called workers of the congregational members.

  1. Elect its own Chairman and Secretary from its membership.
  2. Submit a written report to the Board of Directors on at least a quarterly basis and to the

      voting members on an annual basis.

 

According to the Bylaws we have adopted the Elders are:

  1. To care for and pray for the spiritual well-being of the Church.
  2. To strengthen relationships with members of the congregation.
  3. To perform delegated duties as requested by the Pastor.
  4. To insure a smooth worship service.
  5. To assist the Pastor(s) in all matters pertaining to the spiritual welfare of themselves,

      their families, and the congregation, both individually and corporately.

  1. To lead by example, both at home and at Church.

 

Our responsibilities are to:

  1. Maintain respect and order during the worship services according to the Scriptures and

      the Lutheran Confessions.

  1. Attend meetings of the Board of Elders as called by the Head Elder.
  2. Maintain communication with all the members to bring any spiritual or prayer needs

      before the church, either privately or in public worship.

  1. Review, and amend if necessary, on an annual basis, the salaries of paid worship staff,

      and the Pastor(s).

  1. Assist in the worship experience e.g. communion, baptisms, and any other needs that

      may arise during the worship service at Emmanuel.

  1. To be involved with the duties of calling a new Pastor as prescribed by the Board of

      Directors, should the need arise,

  1. Carry out the responsibilities of preparing the Church before, and securing the Church

      after, worship services.

 

We also assure that the Gospel is preached, the needy among us are addressed, and the errant

are rebuked and corrected.

We, the Elders, serve a King who served us. We give of our time because He gave His life.

We are simple, ordinary men. We are sinners like you who are in need of your prayers, your co-operation, and your respect.

Our Lord tells us in Mark, “Whoever among you would be great, must be your servant, and the greatest among you must be servant of all.”

 

That is the role of Elder, to serve. 

 

                                                                              ~ James Earls, Head Elder

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

Copyright © 2008 Emmanuel Lutheran Church - Hermitage
Last modified: 10/26/08