Acts & Facts Newsletter 1300 N Vine Street Abilene, Kansas 67410 785-263-3342 www.ecabilene.org wifi password: ectower1 Volume 25 Issue 2 ❖ February 2021 Because changes are happening so quickly due to the coronavirus threat, it is important to look for communications from the Church via our Facebook page and mass emails. When this document was printed we were in hopes that all published events were a go, however if you have questions if an event is still a go, please call the church office. Our Vision . to Reach the lost to Disciple Believers and Equip all for ministry Our Mission To see the transformation of people and the building of families because of the love, grace, worship, and truth of Jesus Christ Our Core Values: Love Grace Worship Truth from Pastor Gordon Hello Emmanuel Family! The new year is fully underway as we move into February and there is much for which to be thankful. The challenges of 2020 are behind us, but there are challenges that have carried over from last year as well as new chal- lenges ahead. Our nation’s inauguration of President Biden and Vice President Harris has taken place. That should serve as a reminder of our Biblical mandate to pray for those who govern us. I think we would all agree that we want our nation to be a place of peace and unity. Our ability to model peace and unity as a Church Family can help those in our community get a glimpse of what that looks like. I hope you will pray in 2021 regularly for unity in our Church Family at Emmanuel! This month we begin a new series called “Sanitation Transformation”. It’s a series that’s been on my heart for many months as I’ve observed our culture in the news and on social media. I’ll be teaching on the early church and some of the things that fostered the sharing of the Gospel and some of the things that fostered unity in the early church that still apply to us today. Have we grown calloused towards things like gossip and complaining be- cause they’ve permeated the culture around us? We’ll take a hard look at these two topics along with Biblical con- flict resolution. February offers several opportunities to connect with God and each other. Here are just a few and there are others in the remaining pages of this edition of Acts and Facts: Family Life Cabin Fever Movie Day Sat., Feb. 6 at 2pm We’ll show “I Still Believe” which is a family friendly movie that shares the story of the writer of the song by the same name. I won’t spoil it for you, but I suggest bringing a lot of Kleenex with you. Snacks will be served. Youth Bake Auction and Banquet Sun., Feb. 14th at 6pm Sign up today to be part of this great event. Make it a Valentine’s Day date and wrack up the brownie points with your love…by winning some brownies! Same fun, same benefit to our students, just a different time of day. Men’s Gathering with Guest Rob Schmutz Fri. and Sat., Feb. 19 and 20 Friday will be from 6pm-9pm and Saturday will be from 8am to 11:30am. Friday dinner and Saturday breakfast are included. A Free Will offering will be tak- en. Sign up today at the sign up board. Bring a friend from outside of Emmanuel!! Escape Room Fridays and Saturdays, Feb. 19 and 20 then 26 and 27 The Missions Team will be hosting this fundraiser on these dates. Fridays from 5pm-8pm and Saturdays from 8am-8pm. Suggested donation is $10 per per- son. Form a team, bring your family, grab people off the street and enjoy a chal- lenge that will help fund our Missions Scholarship fund which helps send people on Missions Trips. I look forward to growing in Christ with you in February!! Pastor Gordon Emmanuel’s Preschool Registration Emmanuel’s Preschool is open for enrollment for the 2021-2022 school year! Emmanuel’s Preschool is a school for students aged 3-5 years focused on the spiritual as well as the academic development of its students. Applications will be available February 1st in the office. A $25.00 deposit is needed to hold your spot. VBS Mark your calendar because the date for Vacation Bible School this year will be July 19-23 in the evenings. More info coming soon! If you are interested in planning, please see Rachel Bishop. Kids Camp Dates: Emmanuel Kids will be heading to camp this year at King Solomon Camp. These are for kids going into these grades. Dates are 5th-6th Grade: June 21st-24th 3rd-4th Grade: July 7th-9th 1st-2nd Grade: July 12th-13th Operation Christmas Child: This month we are collecting accessories for our end of year pack- ing party. This can be bracelets, necklaces, watches, hair accessories, sunglasses, etc. Please bring them by the church office. New Lights and Lighting Team. As you may have seen, we’ve done a much-needed update to our lighting system in the worship center. We thank a generous donor and the church board for making this happen. Our biggest problem NOW… we need a team to run those lights. Are you artistic? Do you like color? We are currently assembling a team of volunteers to be our lighting team. Please consider this great new option to serve. The New Year… a great time to start something NEW. Have you been considering using a musical or technical gift, or learning to increase a potential gift, but haven’t. Use the News Years Resolution mindset to start something new!! Talk to Pastor Marc about getting involved!! Easter Choir. Please consider joining the Easter Choir. Because we were unable to use the choir at Easter in 2020, we will use the same music. If you still have it, bring it to the kickoff. Rehears- als will take place on Wednesdays from 7:45-8:30pm. All rehearsals will be held in Room 205 (except for 4/3 Dress Rehearsal): Feb. 17 KICKOFF 7:45 - 8:30 p.m. Feb. 24 REHEARSAL 7:45 - 8:30 p.m. Mar. 3 REHEARSAL 7:45 - 8:30 p.m. Mar. 10 REHEARSAL 7:45 - 8:30 p.m. Mar. 17 NO WELL/NO REHEARSAL-SPRING BREAK Mar. 24 REHEARSAL 7:45 - 8:30 p.m. Mar. 31 REHEARSAL 7:45 - 8:30 p.m. Apr. 3 DRESS REHEARSAL 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Apr. 4 Easter Sunday 8:00 a.m. Warmup/Soundcheck 8:45 a.m. First Service 10:00 a.m. Breakfast provided 11:00 a.m. Second Service QUESTIONS? Call/text Amy McClure (316) 640-3817 DID YOU KNOW— DID YOU KNOW— Service Project at Salina Rescue Emmanuel Church Mission-1716 Summers Rd on the Missions Team invites you First Monday of every month CAN YOU to see if you can find the (February 1), meet at the Mission at 5:45PM. Contact ESCAPE?!! "van keys, the mission Brad Steffen at 785-452-5012 for more information. locations and ESCAPE the NOTE: Masks are required. room and be on your way Please check the list of items needed at the Salina with the team" in our Missions Themed Escape Rescue Mission. The list is posted on the bulletin board Room. Join us Friday, February 19 (5 to 8pm) and in the east hallway. This list is updated each month. Saturday, February 20 (8am to 8pm) or Friday, February Won’t you see if you can help in any way? 26 (5 to 8pm) and Saturday, February 27 (8am to 8pm) for your chance to ESCAPE! Room 204. Sign up is online only. To sign up you will need to use the QR Community Meal code at the end of this article. Each session has room Trinity Lutheran Church- for up to 8 people, so if you have a group be sure you 320 N Cedar, Abilene are all signing up at one time in order to ensure you are Please consider helping with in the same group! (HINT!! LADIES... the Men's preparation of the meal, or Gathering during the first weekend would be a great serving the meal. Contact Rick Hall at 316.655.2538 time to have some quality time doing something fun for more info. Please consider being a servant to together!) Suggested donation of $10 per our community! person at the door with all proceeds going NOTE: This is a “carry-out” meal every Monday to Family Missions. Child care is available evening. by calling the church office at 263-3342 Emmanuel will serve on Mon., February 1. AHEAD of time for children under 5-years of age ONLY . Emmanuel’s Family Life Ministries invites you and your family to join us on Sat., February 6 at 2 pm February is the month for in the Worship Center for a viewing of the movie Emmanuel to donate food and funds for the operation of the “I Still Believe” The true-life story of Abilene Area Food & Clothing Christian music star Jeremy Camp Center. and his journey of love and loss that looks to prove there is always hope. The churches of Dickinson County are the Popcorn & drinks provided. “backbone” of our Christian Ministry to the needy by giving them gifts of food. The following is a list of our immediate needs in the pantry: cake & muffin mixes, frosting, oil, flour, sugar, canned Concerts of Prayer will be led by our Prayer Ministry fruit, canned vegetables, soup, condiments, meat Team at 6:00 pm in room 205 on the following dates.