VISION 2020 PROGRESS Connecting People With Christ: Worshipping, Learning, Serving Messenger - Immanuel Lutheran Church
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NOVEMBER 2019
Messenger
Connecting People With Christ: Worshipping, Learning, Serving
Immanuel Lutheran Church • 1700 Monticello Park Drive, Valparaiso, IN 46383 • ImmanuelValpo.org
VISION 2020 PROGRESS
Since the August visit of Pastor Billy Brath of Lutheran Church Extension Fund, our leaders have been busy
reading all of the input, praying about it, and developing targets that we believe will propel Immanuel toward
accomplishing our mission of Connecting People with Christ: Worshiping, Learning, and Serving. Targets are
aspirational statements that guide us toward accomplishing our mission. Here are the statements we have so far:
All people of Immanuel are being transformed by Christ and conformed to His image.
Everyone at Immanuel feels connected with others in Christ.
All young families in Valpo experience the love of Jesus.
We care for the poor in Jesus’ name.
We constantly improve our ministries.
We are in the process of developing goals and tasks
for each of these targets, as well as identifying facility
and staffing needs that arise. Pastor Bongard will lead
several sessions during education hour on Sundays
beginning October 27, to provide more details, answer
questions, and continue to refine the plan with a view
toward formally presenting the Vision 2020 plan at the
January Voters Assembly. We have received a
$15,000 matching grant from the Center for
Congregations to help pay for the planning process,
architectural renderings, and potential capital
campaign costs. Please pray for God’s continuing
guidance as we plan for Connecting People with
Christ!
LEWANDOWSKI NOMINATED FOR AWARD
Northwest Indiana Influential Women Association
(NWIIWA) is the leading group in our region for the
professional development of women and their careers. They
focus on providing opportunities for professional growth
through networking, leadership support, and education in a
variety of industries. Recently they gathered to celebrate
the achievements of NWI’s female leaders at an awards
banquet.
Twenty women received accolades in 10 different industry
categories; one Influential Woman and one Up-And-
Coming Woman. This year Mrs. Tera Lewandowski,
Preschool Director, was nominated in the category of
Education and received an up-and-coming award.
Tera was surrounded by James Lewandowski (Husband),
Charlene Lewandowski (mother-in-law), and co-workers
Cathy Wagner, Julie Podell, Julie Rose, Laura Steele,
Pastor Stephen Bongard and Principal Josh Bachman.
"It was an honor to be nominated in the up-and-coming category for education. While I didn’t win, it was a blessing to
be surrounded by friends and other amazing women," beamed Tera Lewandowski.
FIELDS WINS EXEMPLARY MUSIKGARTEN AWARD
Immanuel Valpo Musikgarten was recently recognized among hundreds of Musikgarten
programs around the United States and Canada as an exemplary program. The award
was given in recognition for long-established commitment to the Musikgarten philosophy
and for offering four or more levels of classes using the Musikgarten Movement and
Music series. Led by licensed teacher Heidi Fields, Musikgarten offers a multiyear
curriculum that helps infants, toddlers, and young children develop a deep love of music
and the ability to express it.
Musikgarten classes are conducted in Immanuel’s newly renovated nursery. “I am very
grateful for Immanuel’s support and for the opportunity to share my love of music with
young families,”
Heidi said. Heidi has been teaching Musikgarten for almost ten years. She began the
ministry at Immanuel six years ago with three students. Over the years, the ministry has
grown. Currently she is serving twenty-five young families enrolled in classes for
infants, toddlers, and “Big Kids” (three year olds). She teaches preschool and
kindergarten classes, too.
Offering a music program specifically designed for families with babies, toddlers, and preschoolers gives Immanuel
an avenue for outreach to the wider Valparaiso community, since there are few comparable programs in the area. These
classes serve as an initial introduction to Immanuel’s preschool, school, and congregation.
“I value the opportunity to meet and serve people outside of the church and I have a heart for new parents,” Heidi
said. Classes are offered in six-week quarters, and visitors are welcome to schedule a free preview class before
enrolling. Visit www.immanuelvalpomusikgarten.org for more information.
IMMANUEL FIELD TRIPS
In some school systems, tighter budgets, standardized tests, and
heavier workloads have resulted in fewer field trips or the removal
of them altogether. Immanuel continues to emphasize curriculum
enriching field trips. “Students can learn quite a lot outside the
classroom. Field trips contribute to the development of knowledge
about the subject we have been studying,” explains Sara
Cunningham, our fourth-grade teacher. This year the fourth-grade
class has gone to Pioneer Land in LaPorte and taken a canoe trip
on the Kankakee River in the Grand Kankakee Marsh. Future
scheduled field trips for this school year are to the Porter County
Museum and a day in Indianapolis at the War Memorial, Indiana
History Museum and the State House. We also just received news
that we have been selected to receive a Mobile Trip from the Indy
500 Educational Program this March! This event brings an Indy
race car, driver, princesses, and more to Valparaiso!!
Kindergarten attends several field trips during the year. Their first
trip of the year is to County Line Orchard. The field trip
emphasizes hands-on learning from their curriculum. Sydney
Castle, the kindergarten teacher, noted, “It’s always fun to see the
excitement of the kiddos when they get to learn outside of the
classroom.”
"learning is enriched and
reinforced with sensory and
intellectual projects."
Preschool attended an art class lead by an artist at Chesterton Art
Gallery. The art project reinforced its curriculum on shapes by
creating shape monsters on a canvas. Tera Lewandowski feels,
“field trips like the Chesterton Art Gallery become a multi-media
experience; therefore, learning is enriched and reinforced with
sensory and intellectual projects.”
"We find fields trips expose students to different processes that
may be difficult to understand in the classroom. We educate the
whole child and leaving campus is a great way to meet students at
their level. When children associate the trip with the curriculum
reading it becomes powerful," expressed Principal Josh Bachman.
IMMANUEL'S GOT TALENT Immanuel Lutheran Church and School will be hosting a fundraising gala on November 15th, 2019, at Old Town Banquet Hall. Under the theme, "Immanuel's Got Talent," the 21 and older event will feature live entertainment, dinner and fun for all. Money raised will go to support Immanuel's mission to connect people with Christ. Specific ministries of Immanuel that will benefit from the event include Immanuel's Hispanic Ministry and their need for a 15-passenger van, the Immanuel Preschool and School scholarship funds, and Immanuel staff development. Many area businesses are donating goods and services to support our cause and we am asking you to join them. Please call Andrew Fields, at 219-462-8207 or email at afields@immanuelvalpo.org, to arrange donation or sponsorship details. Tickets will be available for $25 in the school or church offices and at the scrip table. Consider joining us for this enjoyable event. We promise a fun evening with friends and amazing entertainment from Immanuel's finest.
[re]CONNECT IN A SMALL GROUP Small groups are a valuable means of helping people at Immanuel grow. They go by different names—small groups, ChristCare... The basic idea is the same: a small gathering of people interested in spiritual growth. Small groups foster close relationships and integral community throughout Immanuel. "The relationships formed within small groups create a strong fabric within Immanuel and provide a comfortable introduction for nonbelievers and nonpracticing to the Christian faith" explains Pastor Steve Driver. Most of us tend to fear relationship-forming, especially when it involves sharing our faith with someone. That is a natural and understandable fear. Inviting someone, instead, to a small group meeting provides a way to involve a believer directly in a community of believers—watching them live out their faith, listening to them pray, hearing them share God’s work in their life, and learning more about the Bible. The nonbeliever is more likely to ask questions, get answers, and form relationships with the believers. Small groups are a powerful mission tool, allowing for a greater spread of the gospel among nonbelievers in the community. The structure of a small group is essentially a community of believing friends. Friends should help one another, especially Christian friends. Small groups provide a way for Christians to live out their faith actively instead of more passive approaches. If Sunday morning is for worship, then tuse the rest of the week to connect in a small group. Whether it’s discussing the Sunday sermon, talking about a spiritual battle, or simply praying for one another, small groups create a context for Christians to live out their faith in real life. Prayer cannot be overrated, but it is often under practiced. Join a small group or invite a friend to join you!
JOYCE SCHLEICHER Joyce is the personification of a “people person.” To her, this place is all about the people. Joyce explains, “the people here are great; the volunteers, staff, and people we serve.” After 15 years of volunteering at the Immanuel Food Pantry, Joyce knows a thing or two about helping people. Joyce said, “I love volunteering here. I treat everyone like we are sitting down and having a cup of coffee together at my house.” She heard about the Immanuel Food Pantry in 2004 and has been here ever since. Joyce volunteers by helping speak with and pray for our food pantry guests. “Over the last 15 years, I have seen kids come in to do homework because they don’t have heat, and people sleeping in their car. One moment I will never forget was when a regular food pantry guest came. She had been an alcoholic. We went into the church together. I listened, and we prayed. I am proud to say she has been sober for three years now!” Joyce expressed.“I feel proud and happy being here.” Joyce is among many dedicated volunteers who come weekly to help every Tuesday or Thursday at the Food Pantry. “I see what I do matters and how what I do is linked to connecting people with Christ. In the end, compassion is everything.” After fifteen long years, Joyce has decided to retire her post at the Food Pantry. We were blessed to have you volunteer with us. The volunteers and guests will miss you dearly. Immanuel Food Pantry feeds almost 3,500 people a year and is always in need of volunteers; if you are available between 1-3 on Tuesday or Thursday, contact Kate Schultheis, kschultheis@immanuelvalpo.org, or Lisa Swayne, lswayne@yahoo.com.
WORSHIP
SATURDAY: 5 PM
SUNDAY: 8 AM & 10:45 AM
SUNDAY SCHOOL
SUNDAY 9:30-10:30 AM
SEPT-MAY
SCHOOL CHAPEL
THURSDAY 8 AM
SEPT-MAY
IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH
1700 MONTICELLO PARK DR.
VALPARAISO, IN 46383
219•462•8207
IMMANUELVALPO.ORG
PERMIT #144
VALPARAISO, IN VALPARAISO, IN 46383
PAID
U.S. POSTAGE 1700 MONTICELLO PARK DRIVE
NON-PROFIT ORG
IMMANUEL
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