Emmanuel Lutheran Church

Check the on-line calendar for the dates and times of youth and family events.

TO CONTACT PASTOR LEWIS: You can call the office, email, or instant message:
Pastor Robert Lewis, Director of Youth and Family Ministry
Phone: 301-365-5733
Email: rllewis@elcbethesda.org
Skype - P.RobertL
Facebook - P.RobertL

We will meet in the church parking lot and then head over to Earth Treks for some safe and supervised rock climbing. Eden Yimam, one of our High School Sunday School teachers and an experienced climber, will be our belayer and host. The cost is $30 each, plus money to purchase snacks and drinks.

Youth will be collecting for the Souper Bowl of Caring after each service. We need youth volunteers to hold soup pots for the collection. See elsewhere in this issue for more information.

Come on out to taste some Chili, have some dessert, and enjoy great fellowship. We will also have some other food fare for those who prefer something besides chili. Tickets are $10 an adult and $5 for children 3- 12, with a $25 cap for families.

All youth and adults who are registered to attend the 2012 Youth Gathering should be at this meeting.

February 21, Tuesday, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. -- Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper

All youth are expected to help with our annual pancake supper. Ticket information is found elsewhere in this issue.

February 26, Sunday, 12:30 – 2:30 pm -- Sneakers and Squeakers Ice Skating

We will go ice skating at the Cabin John Ice Rink during their special “Family Skate” time for parents and children 12 and under.

There is a “Soup and Sammich” lunch in the Fellowship Hall that you can join before heading over to skate. Cost is $9 to $11 with rental skates depending on age.

We will meet in the Fellowship Hall for a quick lunch and Service project. SSL hours are available.

CHI RHO is an annual week-long servant-event trip to Neon, KY for High School Students in the Metro DC Synod Area. It is an opportunity for teens to serve as God‘s hands in the midst of a community in need. We will enjoy the fellowship of working toward a common goal while discovering that faith demands action beyond the confines of our immediate experience. CHI RHO is designed to benefit the youth and those we serve. For an application or more information contact Pastor Lewis.

Emmanuel began its 10 am worship service again in September, with a few changes. The 10 am worship is available for family members of Sunday School children and others. This is a “reflective” worship service where we have a dialogue about one of the scripture passages assigned for that day in the Common Lectionary, and what it may mean for our lives today.

This year, the Chapel Worship service no longer begins with the Sunday School opening; therefore, we are able to move right into a reflective, worship atmosphere. This service lasts about 45 minutes and allows time for dialogue and prayer. Come join us.

Sunday school is off to a great start with our new curriculum, new teachers and new start time, 9:45 am. Each lesson in the new curriculum stands alone, so if you miss a week, you will not have to know what happened the previous week to understand the lessons when you return.

Emmanuel has a tradition of passing on the word of God to the third graders in the form of a new Bible (we also present them to older elementary age students who have not yet received one). The Youth will hand these Bibles out to the children during our Reformation worship service on October 30, 2011.

If Pastor Lewis has not already contacted you about presenting a ible to your child, please contact him at the church office as soon as possible.

The Adult Forum is an opportunity to have a Christian discussion on the issues of the day. All are invited.

The Sunday Morning Adult Bible Study invites you to join them in the Parlor at 10:00 a.m. Ginger Boone and Carl Seils lead the group. Further information may be obtained by calling the church office at 301-365-5733.

Wednesday Morning Bible Encounter with Pastor Lookingbill 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Wednesday Evening study with Pastor Lookingbill examining the philosophy of Abraham Heschel.

Our first confirmation retreat for the year will be at the West River Retreat Center during the weekend of November 18-20, 2011. We plan on leaving the church around 4 p.m. on Friday and return on Sunday around 2:30 p.m.

The cost of the retreat is $65 a person. Forms are available in the church office, on the confirmation page of the church’s website or by contacting Pastor Lewis.

Chrysalis is the Synod-wide high school retreat at the 4H Retreat Center in Front Royal, VA. The cost of the retreat for Emmanuel youth is $70.

We plan on leaving the church around 4 p.m. on Friday and return on Sunday around 2:30 p.m. Forms are available in the church office, on the youth and family ministry page of the church website or by contacting Pastor Lewis. Forms are due no later than November 6, 2011.

The O.W.L.s will meet periodically - watch News Notes and the bulletin for details.

Sneakers and Squeakers

Emmanuel offers a children’s activity group known as “Sneakers and Squeakers.” Each month we will have a family friendly event geared toward children 6^th grade and below. See schedule here.

Youth and Family Ministry Team Needs You!

The Youth and Family Ministry Team (YFMT) is responsible for planning, developing, implementing and maintaining ministry programs and events for people of all ages. From the Fun Bunch events for our 60+ members to the Adventure Club for elementary age children; from Work Camp and Mission Trips to Family get-togethers such as Ice Skating and Bowling we do it all. And we are need of a few people to help with this important ministry at Emmanuel.

The YFMT meets about once a month to brainstorm about programs and events for our congregation. We are especially looking for parents of elementary age children and those who would like to help with adult programs such as the Dinner Club, Fun Bunch and other events. Please contact Pastor Lewis to let him know you want to be involved with this wonderful and important ministry.

There is a new Young Adults website at dcyoungadults.org. This is the synod's new site with blogs about life and faith, calendar of young adult events, and networking.

Do you use Twitter? If so, you can follow Pastor Robert Lewis on Twitter, his screen name is “ALCES.” Curious what alces means and why he uses that name? Twitter him and find out.

Youth & Family Ministries