“Greetings from all of us at Immanuel”
"Who is my neighbor?" This is the question the expert in the law asks of Jesus in today's passage. However, I find that Jesus, after telling the parable of the Good Samaritan, leads us to the question He should have asked, and that we should ask ourselves, "How am I to be a neighbor to others?" In this famous parable we see not only who our neighbors are, but how Christ calls us to meet the needs of our neighbors by putting their needs ahead of our own.
This morning we will see that it is the beautiful story of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that empowers us to love our neighbors as Christ loves each of us. May we be challenged today to ask God in prayer, not who our neighbors are, but what are the needs of our neighbors that He is calling us to meet?
The Approach to God
Pre-Service Music
*Songs Love the Lord -Brewster
How Great is Our God -Tomlin/Reeves/Cash
Prayer of Confession
Words of Assurance and Law of God
Kids
The Word of God
*Song Sanctuary -Thompson/ Scruggs
Scripture: Luke 10:25-37
Message “Neighbors First”
Pastor Matt
Prayer for Blessing
The Response to the Word
Celebrate the Lord’s Supper
Responsive Communion Thanksgiving
*Song He Reigns -Furler/ Taylor
*Benediction
Postlude
Offering
The ongoing ministry of the church relies on the generous giving of its members. At this time, we will not be passing the offering plates during the service. Please place your offering in the basket provided.
*Songs used by permission of CCLI #95502
ANNOUNCEMENTS
September Calling Team: Please call Mike J or Carrie B with any special concerns or requests.
September Mission of the Month: No Senior Without Christmas: This year, in order to meet increased demand, TRIAD will fill 400 boxes with household supplies, non-perishable food, and holiday cheer. The boxes are delivered to needy, older adults living in the tri-county region of Ingham, Eaton, and Clinton counties. Each box is delivered by uniformed public safety personnel, including law enforcement and fire personnel.
Flowers Provided By: Kandy H in celebration of Fred’s birthday on Monday, September 13. Fred may God always provide you the most precious things in life: Health, love, joy, peace, and prosperity. Happy Birthday!
Please Pray for Mark and June B as They Travel to Mayo for Mark's Checkup: Please pray for traveling mercies as well as a good report from Mark’s doctors. Psalm 121:7-8, “The Lord will keep you from all harm – He will watch over your life; The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore”. Amen.
The Burcham Life Group is Resuming In Person Bible Study After the Service Today: We will be discussing the book “Surprise the World: The Five Habits of Highly Missional People”, written by Michael Frost. This study parallels Pastor Matt's sermon messages. We will also be discussing fellowship and ministry opportunities for this fall. Come check us out, new members are always welcome!
CONNECT Kickoff: Join us this Wednesday, September 15, from 5:30-7:00 pm for a family dinner and kids activities. This will be our last summer CONNECT, and our kickoff to our Weekly Fall CONNECT program that begins on Wednesday, September 22! The theme for September through December will be Bible Superheroes!
Installation of New Consistory Members: Next Sunday, September 19, Harold S will be installed as ICRC’s new Elder, and Liz S will be installed as our new Deacon. Please be in prayer for them as they begin their new positions. We would also like to thank Marcia J who will be rotating off of the Elders, and Julie L from the Deacons, for all of their hard work and dedication to this church.
CWS CROP Hunger Walk: In 2021, we will continue to fight against the challenges of disease, disaster, displacement, and other concerns that leave people hungry. Hunger is one of the greatest injustices facing our world, but it doesn’t have to be this way. Ending hunger is possible, and we can help make it happen. Please be looking forward to joining ICRC’s CROP Hunger Walk on Sunday, October 10, after the service, to help raise funds that will take us one step closer to ending hunger once and for all! More information is to come, so please be watching for it in future bulletins.
New Sermon Series: “Cultivators”: (September 12 - October 17)
It is so easy for the church, and the Gospel message that we believe, to become another good or service that we consume. It also easy for us as Christians to become consumers of the Christian faith, but Christ desires for us to be much more than just consumers, and to do more than simply consume the Gospel. Christ calls us to be Cultivators of the Gospel in our lives and in our communities.
As followers of Christ in this world we have been called to participate in His mission by seeking to cultivate the good news of Jesus Christ in the places He sends us to throughout the week.
Using the book titled, “Surprise the World! 5 Habits of Highly Missional People”, written by Michael Frost, we will begin this new series titled, “Cultivators”, and we will be looking at the 5 habits of cultivators who seek to see their neighbors and communities transformed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Sunday, September 12 - Neighbors First
Luke 10:25-37
Sunday, September 19 - Habit #1: Blessed to be a Blessing.
Matthew 5:13-15
Sunday, September 26 - Habit #2: Feeding Others in Body and Soul.
Luke 19:1-10
Sunday, October 3 - Habit #3: Listen First.
Luke 5:16
Sunday, October 10 - Habit #4: Love and Learn.
Luke 10:25-28, 38-42
Sunday, October 17 - Habit #5: Live on Mission.
Luke 10:1-24
Your Leaders are so thankful for your fervent prayers:
Staff: Pastor Matt L, Joey S, Stacia W
Consistory: Carrie B, Sandy C, Eric C, Sue F, Rick H, Marcia J, Mike J, Julie L, and our ministry teams
Prayers for RCA Missionaries- Yakuv Gurung, Asia
Yakuv Gurung is called to train and raise local leaders and church planters to reach the Nepali-speaking people in Nepal and in the U.S. Yakuv works with RCA partner Jibit Asha International (JAI) and local planters in Nepal to make strategies to reach their communities. The goal is to plant 50 churches in the next five years in Nepal and to form a Reformed network of churches affiliated with the RCA in the U.S. Please pray for the church planters to reach unreached people, and that they will get the resources that they need for this ministry.
To hear more prayer requests from ICRC, please call 321-2495, extension 191, or if you have a personal prayer request, please contact Marcia J. You may also submit a prayer request on our website at www.icrclansing.org.
Friends with Health Concerns
Shelby A, Mark and June B, John B, Joe C
Howard C, Sandy F, John F, Carol G,
Kathy G, Roland H, and other Parkinson’s sufferers,
Lon H, Marcia N, and Sandi S
for continued healing.
Save the Dates
September 22- CONNECT, 5:30 pm.
September 23- Joy Vander Kolk’s Memorial Service, 11:00 am.
September 23- Prayer Team Meeting
September 28- Men’s Study, 7:00 pm.