Immanuel Lutheran Events

Hops & Hope

September 30, 2024

Join us each month as we read a book on faith, justice and what it means to find hope in Christ amid a messy and complex world. Each month we will read a book and will gather at a local brewery to discuss and explore how the words we read impact the lives we live.

September 2024

I Can Do No Other: The Church's New Here I Stand Movement by Anna Madisen

Monday, September 30th, 6:00pm at Immanuel

Hops and Hope is back, and we will have our first gathering on Monday, September 30th at 6pm here at Immanuel! Feel free to bring along treats and beverages (beer, wine or non-alcoholic) to share. All are welcome to join, whether you've read the book or not!

Also, if you are looking for an alternative to the reading, here is a video with the author that shares a bit about the book: Session 1: The Lazy-Faire Reading of "I Can Do No Other" with Rev. Dr. Anna Madsen

‌Author Anna M. Madsen's book is a fresh and challenging look at the legacy of Martin Luther and the new reformation that is calling people of faith to action today. This book is born out of the conviction that at least two gods are currently competing for our collective trust: nationalism (and its many sub-manifestations) and quietism. Both make a case for and a claim on our allegiance, each by way of different motivations of self and institutional protection. Madsen looks at today's modern context and asks: Where will the church stand in a day that is marked by globalization, polarization, racism, bigotry, and debates about justice for humanity and for the earth itself. While the Reformation church was built on the foundation of justification by grace, Madsen calls people of faith to a new reformation that will focus on standing for justice in the world. Madsen delves into who Jesus was, and how our claim that he died and was raised establishes our faith and impacts the way we live it out. She pays attention to Luther's theology and juxtaposes it with our present context. She explores recent examples of Nazi resistance, liberation theology, black and womanist theology, and feminist theology, each of which come at social justice in their unique ways, with a common conviction that justice work is central to the Christian life. She speaks of how our faith grounding and our faith history weave together and entwine themselves into our present moment, offering both warnings and encouragement. And last, a case is made that justice, anchored in justification, is our new Reformation moment, one not inconsistent with Luther's theology, but weighted differently to address the different weighty concerns of our day.

All are welcome to join, whether you finish the book or not.

Contact Deacon Savannah with questions!

Newspaper Prayers

September 29, 2024

Does the news shock you, scare you, worry you, anger you or overwhelm you? Do you feel powerless as you absorb waves of information? I can't promise to change that, but I can promise that you're not alone. Gather together in the atrium in between the services (10 am) on September 29th as you are invited to talk through current events (and the coverage of them) in a way that puts the emphasis on understanding and prayer, rather than anger and reaction.

SALT (Senior Adults Living Today)

September 26, 2024

We are all salt of the earth. Seniors definitely fit in this category because we can add flavor to our own lives while enriching the lives of our families. Plan to be a part of this vibrant senior group. Hope to see you whenever you can make an event geared especially to you. Each month we will sponsor an event that will rotate with Learn and Grow, Service and Social.

Unbreaking the News: Being a Thoughtful and Prayerful News Consumer

Thursday, September 26, 2024, 11:30 am

Do the news headlines cause you anxiety? Do they make sense? Are they trustworthy? To capture our attention, the headlines are designed to invoke emotions of fear and anxiety to capture readership. Sensationalism sells. For a thoughtful way to make sense of headlines, Pastor Dan Nelson will lead our discuss on how we read/listen to the news through the lens of our faith and spirituality on September 26th. REGISTER HERE