Ministries

Be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Romans 12:2 (NRSV)

As a community in redevelopment ministry over the last 5 years, we are guided by our Transformation Renewal Promise , Purpose Statement, and Guiding Principles. This mindset is now part of the entire congregation, as we are committed to outreach to the greater community, growing in faith, meaningful worship, and caring for one another. Recognizing that Transformation Renewal ministry is not so much a program to complete as it is way of being the body of Christ in the world, the congregation now has an ILC-CLI Team tasked with stewarding innovative ministry in and through Immanuel. Working with a new coach, we move into the future focused on:

• Developing a culture of welcome with an emphasis on Reconciling in Christ and Racial Equity
• Actively inviting, welcoming, and including guests in the congregation
• Living into our Purpose Statement & Guiding Principles

Care

Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.”

1 John 4:7 (NRSV)

Called to love in truth and action, we walk with each other in life’s celebrations and hurts in order to point to the hope we have in Christ.

Let us know if you would like to…

• Bring communion to people at home
• Support people through calls, notes, or visits
• Crochet or knit prayer shawls

Outreach

God has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

Micah 6:8 (NRSV)

Following Christ into the world, we serve alongside our neighbors to strive for justice, end poverty, and strengthen families.

Let us know if you’d like to…

• Support the work of Outsiders Inn sheltering neigbhors experiencing homelessness by volunteering for a shift, preparing a meal, or donating. Outsiders Inn | Resource Advocacy for Vancouver WA
• Support Winter Hospitality Overflow (WHO) by volunteering, preparing a meal, or donating. WHO – Winter Hospitality Overflow, Vancouver WA | Devoted to helping those in need during winter’s coldest months. (whoprogram.org)
• Make quilts to distribute world-wide through Lutheran World Relief https://lwr.org
• Support the Satellite Overflow Shelter (SOS) by signing up below:

Satellite Overflow Shelter (SOS)

… for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.”

Matthew 25:35

The SOS provides continuous 7-night shelter for up to 15 people from 7pm-7am at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church: Sun, Mon, Tues; Immanuel Lutheran Church: Wed, Thurs, Fri; and River City Church Saturday nights. This shelter is staffed by Outsiders Inn through a grant from Clark County and in partnership with Council for the Homeless who register people. While staffing will be taken care of, we really need volunteers to support the shelter guests through providing meals, dishing up meals, and donating some items.

To signup to volunteer for one of the following opportunities, please go to volunteersignup.org/837TH :

• Meal Volunteer prepares and drops off meals to the kitchen at 5:45pm.
• Evening Kitchen Volunteer works 5:30-8:30pm to serve a meal, cleanup the kitchen, and interact with guests.
• Evening Shower Volunteer works 6-9pm to oversee showers, organize supplies, and support the staff.
• Morning Volunteer works 6-8:30am to serve breakfast & clean up afterward while the staff assists guests.

To donate to the shelter, please contact the office at office@immanuelvancouver.org . Needed supplies include:

• Food: Regular & Decaf Coffee**, Creamer**, Sugar*, Cocoa mix (with sugar ok), Peanut Butter or Sunbutter (for those with peanut allergies), Jam, Pancake Mix*, Butter*, “Cold” Cereal*, Oatmeal packets, Granola & Protein Bars, Crackers, Cheese sticks, Mayonnaise, Ketchup. (Cheese/Lunch Meat/Fruit/Bread Prearranged), Gogurt, Applesauce pouches or Fruit Cups (for kids and lunches) 
• Paper Products: Toilet Paper*, Paper Towels, Kleenex 
• Hygiene Supplies: Liquid Dish Soap*, Liquid or Gel Hand & Body Soaps* (please no bar soap; it clogs the shower drain), Men’s Razors, Shaving Cream, Shampoo & Conditioner (large bottles)
• PPE: Clorox wipes*, 409, Disposable Rubber Gloves, Masks. 
• Miscellaneous: Batteries (AAA, AA), Blue Tape, Sharpies*, Kids’ Coloring Books & Crayons.

HomeShare

 ‘…Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me.’

Matthew 25:37b-40

From HomeShare’s website:  Homesharing is simple: A home provider offers accommodation to a renter in exchange for an agreed level of support in the form of financial exchange, assistance with household tasks, or simple companionship. Home sharing is about building relationships, while also living in affordable housing. Home seekers and home providers mutually agree to live together. Come to one of our monthly meetings to learn more or get help at tech-time to get your space listed or create a renter profile. We meet the third Thursday of every month at Cascade Park Library branch (next door to Firstenburg at 600 NE 136th Ave, Vancouver, WA) from 2-3:30pm – ask the library staff to direct you to the correct meeting room –  drop-ins are welcome.

Spiritual Growth

Hear, O Israel:  The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.  You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.  Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart.  Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise.  Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

Deuteronomy 6:4-9

The Holy Spirit grows our faith when we invest our time, talents, and resources in practices that connect us with God and God’s people more deeply.  

Grow with us through…

• Book Study (Mondays 12:30pm Hybrid @ ILC/Online)
• Yoga (Tuesdays 5pm @ ILC)
• Bible Study (2nd & 4th Tuesdays 9am at Glenwood Place)
• Joint Bible Study (Thursdays 6pm)
• Small Group Gatherings
• Children’s Sunday School ( 2nd & 4th Preschool & Elementary School Kids Sundays 11am)
• Confirmation ( 1st Sundays Study Class 11am & 2nd Sundays Group 2-5pm)
• Kids Night In & Parents Night Out (Saturday night 5:30-8:30pm as scheduled)

You can contact our Church Office for more information on general church events and programs currently offered.

For questions about our current Youth & Family events and programs you can reach out to our Youth & Family Coordinator who can give you all of the needed details about our current and upcoming events.

Worship & Music

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come into God’s presence with singing.”

Psalm 100:1-2

Communal worship provides an opportunity to connect with God and a supportive community. Here we gather to:

• hear the Word of God in Scripture that both comforts and challenges,
• receive the Word of God in Christ through Holy Communion,
• and be sent to serve as the Living Word of God in the world.

At Immanuel you are welcome to come as you are: dress how you’d like, sit or stand as you choose, raise your hands in praise or kneel in prayer as you feel moved. Our worship style is casual, even though our service follows the four-part liturgical order of gathering, word, meal, and sending. The music is a blend of traditional and contemporary selections.  During the worship service people are invited to greet one another with the words “the peace of Christ be with you.”

Holy Communion is offered every Sunday. Like baptism, we believe that Holy Communion is a means of grace from God meant for all people. We practice open communion where all people of all ages are invited to participate, regardless of their background, traditions or beliefs. Following each Sunday service all are encouraged to participate in a fellowship time.

Let a leader know if you’d like to…

• Set up or Cleanup the communion table
• Read scripture in worship
• Serve as an Usher
• Greet people coming into church
• Sing for the service

Worship is available in person & online