Because Lutherans know that God is everywhere. Emanuel's "God's Explorers", our 2024 Vacation Bible Experience 3rd - 8th graders, have spent four days exploring four Central Texas caves to learn about God's hidden wonder's. They dove deep into Cave Without a Name (God's power guides and protects.), Longhorn Cavern State Park (God provides.), Inner Space Cavern (God lights up our life.), and Natural Bridge Caverns (God's presence is clear.). By observing the wonders of creation, we can know that God is real and amazing. Thank you to our chaperones, drivers, guides, and church supporters for a summer adventure to remember for a lifetime. We are better together.

Please join us Sundays at 10:30 a.m.

In-person, online on YouTube, and on radio KWED AM 1580.

“Jesus: the Bread of Life” is a wonderful five-week sermon series beginning Sunday, July 28, 2024. Five different voices from across our congregation will dive into the sixth chapter of the Gospel of John. These "bread" texts appear every year our worship services read the Gospel of Mark.  

This pause in the rhythm of Mark's story gives us space and place to hear, read, and learn something new from very familiar stories. Jesus feeds thousands of people with five loaves and two fish. What we have, what we bring to Jesus’ table, seems like it is not nearly enough to meet all the needs we see around us. But it is not the adequacy of our supplies or our skills that finally makes the difference: it is the power of Jesus working in the littlest and least to transform this world into the world God desires, a world where all the hungry are satisfied

Please join us in giving thanks for each distinctly powerful voice that will be leading us!

... AND briefcases, lunch boxes, dance bags, duffle bags, totes, etc.

Everyone is invited to bring their gear, whatever represents your vocation, for a special Sunday blessing on August 18. We will take a special moment to pray for our students, teachers, and school staff, as well as lifting up prayers for all the vocations to which God calls us.

Thursday, July 25 at 11:30am

in the Fellowship Hall

Can you believe the Senior Social Club's THIRD anniversary is just around the corner? This annual celebration luncheon will be on Thursday, July 25 at 11:30 in the Fellowship Hall. There will be a spaghetti meal with all the trimmings, including Kristen's famous sauce and introducing the Hauserman's garlic bread. Everyone is encouraged to bring a friend or family member with them. Desserts are welcome. RSVP to Donna by Monday, July 22. 

LWR SCHOOL KIT AND

PERSONAL CARE KIT COLLECTION

Check the back-to-school sales for bargains in July/August to fill the Lutheran World Relief School Kits and Personal Care Kits to support our siblings across the globe. Supplies can be donated at the Mountain Street and Travis Street entrances. Monetary donations are also welcome. Make checks payable to Emanuel’s Lutheran Church with a note for LWR Kit Supplies.

Updated needs:

Meet Barbara Vinson with NAMI

Thursday, July 25 at 9:15am

Emanuel’s 2024 Summer Workshop includes opportunities to connect with our Partners in Service, organizations serving the people of Seguin and the surrounding area. On Thursday, July 25 we welcome Barbara Vinson, Affiliate Leader for NAMI Guadalupe County at 9:15am in the Women’s Ministry Room for coffee and conversation. NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) is committed to providing education, advocacy, and support to families and individuals affected by mental illness. For many years NAMI has had an office on the 3rd floor right here at Emanuel’s! Court Street Coffee, an avid NAMI supporter, is donating coffee and snacks this morning. Please make time to meet Barbara and learn more about the needs of people and families with mental illness in our area, how those needs are being met, and ways Emanuel’s can be a welcoming presence in our community.

“INNOVATING WELCOME”

SUMMER WORKSHOP

Hospitality is a huge piece of our ministry pie here at Emanuel's. How we welcome visitors or returning faces to worship, those seeking assistance from our church, or those encountering our church outreach ministries within the community is vital to our ongoing wellbeing. 

The Congregational Care Team, Education Team, along with Pastor Marcus and Donna Simmons, invite you to a multi-part, multi-week study that will take place on Sundays and Thursdays, June 13 to August 22.

We hope you will come for a part or all of this congregation-wide study! 

BOOK STUDY will be on select Thursdays at 8am in the Family Life Center. We will read Leading Faithful Innovation: Following God into a Hopeful Future by Dwight Zscheile, Michael Binder, and Tessa Pinkstaff. (Available on Amazon in digital, audio, and print.) 

INNOVATING WELCOME DISCUSSION will be on select Sundays at 9am in the Family Life center. We will engage scripture, seek to unpack three major themes of our hospitality: "The Act of Hospitality," "The Space of Hospitality," and "The Follow-up & Invitation," and build a new hospitality plan for Emanuel’s.

INNOVATING WELCOME EXPERIENCE will be on a select Thursday and Friday in July. Our plan is to tour Haven for Hope in San Antonio and Community First! Village in Austin, one on each respective day, and then have lunch together to debrief our experience, discuss what was seen and learned, and discern what could be brought "home" for our work in Seguin. The tour times are tentatively set for 9am and 10:30am, but dates will be finalized in June.

INNOVATING WELCOME CONVERSATIONS are held monthly in the Women's Ministry Room where we meet with one of our current Partners in Ministry. Come say "Hello!" and learn how organizations are caring for our neighbors in Seguin and the surrounding area.

Emanuel's Safety Team meets every 3rd Sunday. Safety and Security are top priorities for our campus, especially as we consider how many visitors, church members, and ministry groups meet weekly. If you are interested in participating in Emanuel’s safety and security plan please join us in the Family Life Center today, July 21 after worship. 

ORGAN REPAIRS BEGIN JULY 22!

We have reached more than $14,000 in gifts toward the repair of the organ and have initiated the work with Curtis Bobsin, Bobsin Organ Builders. Starting Monday, July 22, and for two weeks, the organ will go through a maintenance and repair process. Pipes will be cleaned and restored. Mechanisms will be removed and repaired, and the deteriorated leatherwork completely replaced. The work won't hinder our Sunday morning worship services but will happen daily. 

We still have a ways to go to meet our $34,000 goal, and the Church Council invites you to prayerfully consider making a gift, of any amount, toward the goal. We are extremely excited to get this very needed work underway. Make sure to write "Organ Repairs" on the memo line of your online, check, or offering envelope gift. The repairs will extend the life of our organ for many decades.

Read more about our organ and the needed repairs here.

FORWARD IN FAITH: A HISTORY OF TEXAS LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY

Forward In Faith: A History of Texas Lutheran University written by our own Steve Anderson has recently been published. Emanuel's has played an important role in TLU's development since the institution moved from Brenham to Seguin in 1912, and countless Texas Lutheran employees and alumni have provided leadership to the congregation through the years. Several instances of that mutually supportive relationship are chronicled in the book.

Forward in Faith is available for check out in the Emanuel's office. It also can be purchased at the TLU Bookstore, located in the Alumni Student Center on campus; at Pecantown Books and Brews, 212 S. Camp St. in downtown Seguin; and on Amazon.com. The cost is $20 plus tax. All net proceeds from the book's sales benefit TLU's Endowed Scholarship Fund.  

CHILDREN & YOUTH EDUCATION

CHILDREN'S CHURCH for our PK to 5th grade learners meets every Sunday. During worship Vicar Jordana leads students to the Children's Church classroom just down the hall from the sanctuary, as we begin the "Gathering Hymn" and then guides them back as we "Share the Peace." We hope you will make this a part of your family's weekly worship rhythm!

THE COMPASS COOPERATIVE Summer programing has begun! We will be joining our 6-12th grade friends from Emanuel’s St. Andrew’s, Spirit of Joy, and Friedens Church for an array of activities. Learn more about this amazing collaboration here.

On first Sundays each month we will head over to Spirit of Joy for Family Movie Night. Looking forward to “Serve and Swim!” These will be a fun Saturdays for Compass aged youth to participate in a service project in the community in the morning, followed by lunch and a pool swim in the afternoon! Check out the entire summer calendar in the link. 

SUNDAY ADULT CLASSES

THE HERITAGE CLASS meets at 9:15 am Sunday mornings on the 3rd floor in room 307. Participants explore the deeper meaning found in the Bible and seek to unlock its wisdom through fellowship and robust group discussion. The aim is to make the Bible relevant and applicable to daily life. 

THE JOY CLASS: Bible stories and songs for adults with intellectual disabilities. This Summer the class will meet on June 16 and July 14 at 9:15am in the Women's Ministry Room.

"INNOVATING WELCOME" Summer Workshop Discussion meets at 9am on June 16, 23; July 14, 21; and August 11, 18 in the Family Life Center. We will engage scripture, seek to unpack three major themes of our hospitality: "The Act of Hospitality," "The Space of Hospitality," and "The Follow-up & Invitation," and build a new hospitality plan for Emanuel’s.

Online giving is safe, simple, and quick to do through our giving link. One time or recurring donations can be indicated. You can still mail in your offering to the Church by sending a check to: Emanuel's Lutheran Church, 206 N. Travis Street. Seguin, Texas 78155

Year to Date Giving comparison:

Jan 1 - July 16, 2024

 Church Offering Receipts: $ 227,319.07

Budgeted Church Offering Receipts: $ 225,349.44

Operating Expenses: $ 272,204.46 *

* These figures do not include Forward In Faith remodel expenses or In-Kind Gifts

Jan 1- July 16, 2023

Church Offering Receipts: $ 230,818.64

Budgeted Church Offering Receipts: $ 217,204.28

Operating Expenses: $  230,942.68 *

* These figures do not include Forward In Faith remodel expenses or In-Kind Gifts

Emanuel's regular office hours are Monday - Thursday from 8-5. However, if the office is understaffed, you may find the answering machine catching your call or a "Gone Fishing" sign on the door. Please know that we will get back with you as soon as possible. We encourage you to call before stopping by. Everyone is also accessible via email.

We are looking for volunteers to join the Office Angels. This dedicated crew answers phones, monitors the door, and assists with small tasks. Our busy season seems far away, but the planning starts now. Having extra hands and smiling faces around is a huge help! If you are interested, then please contact Sherry.