July 30, 2021

Greetings Immanuel Family!

Grace and peace to you in Christ our Lord. I’ve got some tough news to share with everyone: Will Price, our alternative service worship leader who has been on staff since our inaugural service over ten years ago, is concluding his time at Immanuel. Will and Anja are some of the dearest people I know. They are both not only musically talented (both play multiple instruments), but they’re generous in spirit, deep in faith, and just fun to be around. Will has helped Immanuel out in so many ways beyond the 8:30 service—offering his IT expertise to help us with hardware and software, teaching Sunday School, or getting on ladders to hoist banners or affix projectors. Will not only led us into the throne room with his voice, guitar, band leadership, and music production skills, but he brought maturity, grace, and heart into all his interactions. I am a blessed and honored pastor to have served with him in ministry and we’re a blessed congregation. We will show our gratitude and share our goodbyes to Will and Anja for a beautiful decade at Immanuel on Sunday, August 22nd in worship and with a reception in Witherspoon afterwards.

This Sunday we begin a new series on the Psalms and we’ll look at Psalm 30–a thanksgiving psalm. This psalm has the famous verse about God turning “our mourning into dancing”. Weeping is personified as a guest that stays only a night, but hits the road before sunrise. But Joy—joy is a beloved member of the family of God. Joy is here to stay for the long-haul and the long-run. Joy comes in the morning. Day in, day out. A permanent fixture in the household of God. A life of gratitude and thanksgiving is crucial because it helps us discern the ways God is at work—even in the hard times. We may find ourselves ticked off at the delta variant and the pandemic. Saddened to say good-bye to loved ones. Discouraged about nagging health concerns. Or aching from relationship troubles, yet gratitude helps us see that God is at work, even in that. Our suffering is real—but it’s temporary, compared to, as Paul says, “the eternal weight of glory” that outlasts and overpowers our afflictions. God brings a reorientation to our disorientation. We can persevere, persist, and press through life’s pitfalls and dance our way up and through it all.

Joyfully,
Pastor John

COVID-19 Update – July 30, 2021

Our session-approved Covid guidelines remain in place at this time, but the Immanuel leadership is monitoring the newly updated CDC and Pima County COVID-19 guidelines. Recently, mask usage has been revised to recommend the wearing of masks in public indoor settings, even if one is vaccinated. We strongly encourage you to consider this newest information as well as health safety through vaccinations. If you need assistance in obtaining a vaccination, we are here to help.

There are a variety of health approaches and considerations in our church community. Please worship with us in the way that makes the most sense for you and your family. Whatever your decision, it will be honored and respected.

We will continue to regularly monitor COVID-19 developments both locally and nationally and will keep you posted if any changes in Immanuel’s protocol occur. Our prayers for good health are with you and all!

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