Immanuel United Church of Christ

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Happy Thanksgiving!

11/27/2024

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  Two words can wonderfully and powerfully change your life.  Two words can change your perspective and touch lives around you with love and joy.  What are those two words?-- Thank you!  Learning to thank God and others is one of the great keys to a happy life and a hallmark of a life of greatness. There is no better time of the year to make a change in your outlook on life or renew your focus on gratitude.  Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday to be with family and friends, to enjoy a great meal and spend quality time together, but it is also a time to renew a spirit of thankfulness.  Thanksgiving reminds us that one of the great secrets in life is living with an attitude of gratitude.    
  Early pilgrims faced a grueling winter their first year in America enduring a harsh New England winter and the loss of many family and friends, yet chose to continue to have a deep faith in God and an attitude of gratitude.  In the spring their new Native American friends showed them how to plant corn with a more plentiful harvest.  That first harvest they reached out with an attitude of thankfulness and invited these new friends to a wonderful feast of thanksgiving celebrating God’s goodness and provision.
  Living with an attitude of gratitude is more than a once-a-year thing, it is learning to focus on the things for which we have to be thankful each and every day and allowing that attitude of gratitude to touch the heart and lives of those around us.  We all have so much to be thankful for: gifts and talents, friends and family, seasons of the year and seasons of life…Take a moment to say two words that can rekindle your joy for living and brighten someone’s day--thank you!…And take a moment to say thank you to God. . . Whatever your circumstances know that God loves you and God is there to see you through. Take a moment each day to say thank you to God.  You will discover a deeper power and greater joy in your life!  Surrounded by the cold, dark walls of an ancient Roman prison, the Apostle Paul writes these surprising words of encouragement to people undergoing adversity and persecution: 
 
(Verse of the week)
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for us in Christ Jesus. (1Thessalonians 5.18)
 
Wishing you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving!
--Pastor TJ
 
 (Prayer of the week)
Gracious and loving God, thank you for the many blessings with which you have touched my life.  Thank you for the challenges of life that shape and strengthen me.  Give me faith to trust in your plan and your strength.    Mold me and make me that others may see your true reflection in me.  Most of all may I experience your great love anew every day.   May I be joyful in all things, and may I treat others with love that they may see the light of your love in me.    Amen.
 
(quote of the week)
Edward Winslow, one of 53 colonists who survived the first winter of in Plymouth and records events of the first autumn celebration in 1621 records it this way:  "our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a special manner rejoice together, after we had gathered the fruits of our labors; they four in one day killed as much fowl, as with a little help beside, served the Company almost a week, at which time amongst other Recreations, we exercised our Arms, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and amongst the rest their greatest king Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five Deer, which they brought to the Plantation and bestowed on our Governor, and upon the Captain and others. And although it be not always so plentiful, as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want, that we often wish you partakers of our plenty."—Edward Winslow
 
Listen to recent sermons by Dr. TJ Jenney at YouTube &
http://inspiresundaymessages.blogspot.com/
Check the latest leadership blog by Dr. TJ http://www.drtj.us

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Deep Longing

11/20/2024

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Most of us have a deep inner longing for God.  The trouble is we stay so busy in life that we are often not in touch with that yearning until we are forced into quiet solitude or loneliness or desperation by a crisis in life.  Then we feel the void that is there and the quiet tug of eternity on our heart.  But we can also quiet ourselves from the busyness of the world, of deadlines and demands-and simply listen for the still small voice of God.  Listen for a moment and feel the quiet whisper of God’s love in your heart; feel the steadfast strength of His grace encircling you.   Renew the hope in God’s love and grace and rekindle the song in your heart.
 
(Verse of the week)
As the deer pants for streams of water,
      so my soul pants for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God,
 for the living God.
      When can I go and meet with God?
My tears have been my food
      day and night,
    while others say to me all day long,
      “Where is your God?” . . .
Why are you downcast, O my soul?
      Why so disturbed within me?
    Put your hope in God,
      for I will yet praise him,
      my Savior and my God.
Deep calls to deep
      in the roar of your waterfalls;
    all your waves and breakers
      have swept over me.
By day the LORD directs his love,
     at night his song is with me-
 a prayer to the God of my life.
Why are you downcast, 
O my soul?
   Why so disturbed within me?
    Put your hope in God,
      for I will yet praise him,
         my Savior and my God.
 (Psalm 42.1-11 selections)
 
(Prayer of the week)
Loving Heavenly Father, help me slow down from the busyness of life and quiet myself in your presence and love.  Fill me with your strength and grant me grace to face life with hope and joy.   And strengthened by your love, may I touch others with care and compassion.  May others see your love and grace in all I do.  May I be a blessing to others, through your power and to your glory. Amen.
 
Open your heart to God’s amazing love!-Pastor TJ
 
(quote of the week)
It is not how long you live but how well you live---Ben Franklin
 
Listen to recent sermons by Dr. TJ Jenney at YouTube &
http://inspiresundaymessages.blogspot.com/
Check the latest leadership blog by Dr. TJ http://www.drtj.us

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Our Name

11/14/2024

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Don’t you love to hear your name spoken by someone who cares deeply about you or a special moment with a special announcement.  Perhaps it is mail call at summer camp or passing out presents for Christmas or your birthday, or just your name called for dinner.  The truth is there are lots of special times in our lives when we hear our name, our heart is warmed just by the sound of our name spoken by someone who loves and cares for us deeply.  There is good news for all of us–God, who created all that is, calls us by name.   God knows us, loves us, and calls us by name.  It is the call of love and grace and forgiveness.  It is the call of the One who formed and fashioned us.  It is the call of the One who has a plan and purpose for our lives.  Listen for a moment . . . and hear God’s call.  Hear your name spoken in love by God.  Come to God and know God’s love.  For God loves you and calls you by name like a loving and forgiving parent.  And God’s promise comes to us, come what may, like a quiet, comforting whisper, “I will be with you!”  Trust God.  God loves you and is calling your name . . .
 
(verse of the week)
Fear not for I have redeemed you,
I have summoned you by name; you are mine. . .
I will be with you.  (Isaiah 43.1,2)
 
(Prayer of the week)
Almighty and Loving God, thank you for your great love and the way you know us and call us by name.   Open my heart and mind to trust in your plan and purpose for my life and your power to see me through.  Renew within me a fresh appreciation and confident hope in your love and plan and purpose for my life.  And may my life, radiant with your love, touch others today.   Amen.
 
Open your heart to God's amazing love!
--Pastor TJ
 
(quote of the week)
Love is the abridgment of all theology—Francis de Sales
 
Listen to recent sermons by Dr. TJ Jenney at YouTube &
http://inspiresundaymessages.blogspot.com/
Check the latest leadership blog by Dr. TJ http://www.drtj.us

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Fall Colors

11/7/2024

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I love the colors of fall and recently spent some time walking along Lisa’s Faith and Fitness Trail, a beautiful trail around our church campus, just enjoying the beautiful fall colors.  I would like to invite you to take a moment and enjoy the beauty of creation during these later days of fall.  The colors are truly beautiful.  My favorite are the reds and yellows especially together.  But it’s all beautiful.  It’s as if God invited the sunset and the sunrise to color the trees.  But here’s the thing--Sooner or later, hopefully later, the colors will fade, and the leaves will fall, and we will have to wait until next year to enjoy them again.  So, take a moment and enjoy it with your family on a nice walk.  Some of the folks have put up some scarecrows just to make your walk more fun and enjoyable.  Here’s a positive word for your journey from the psalms--
 
This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it (Psalm 118:24)
 
So, don’t wait.  Put aside some of the busyness and enjoy the beautiful fall colors.  Take some quiet time to reflect on the beauty of creation and let it whisper to you the blessings of the Creator . . . and don’t forget to enjoy it in the company of those you love . . .
 
(Prayer)
Lord, thank you for the beauty of creation.  Help me to take some time and just enjoy it and reflect on your love and the love of others you have placed in my life.
 
(quote of the week)
The only enemy we have is the one whose story we have not heard-- Quaker saying
 
Listen to recent sermons by Dr. TJ Jenney at YouTube &
http://inspiresundaymessages.blogspot.com/
Check the latest leadership blog by Dr. TJ http://www.drtj.us

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    Pastor Dr. TJ Jenney
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1526 South 18th Street

Lafayette, IN 47905

Phone 765-474-6496

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Sunday School & Adult Ed 9:00am

Coffee & Conversation 9:45am

​Worship Service 10:00am  
 

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No matter who you are, or where you

are on life's journey, YOU are

welcome here!