Pastor's Page

Immanuel!

"They shall call His name 'Immanuel' (which means 'God with us')" (Matthew 1:23). With those words the angel told Joseph that the child his fiancé was carrying by the power of the Holy Spirit would fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14. The angel also said, "You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21).

Our congregation is named Immanuel and every time we speak that name we are making a confession that God is with us with His forgiving grace which has been poured out upon us because of Jesus our Savior. God's own Son took on human flesh to be born, live, die and rise from the dead for our forgiveness, life with God, and eternal salvation! The Lord is with us, pouring out these gifts and strengthening us in Him in worship and in the reading, study, and recall of His Word of life. Moses reminds us of the amazing truth, "It is no empty word for you, but your very life" (Deuteronomy 32:47). God's Word is a lamp for our feet and a light for our path (Psalm 119:105).

Immanuel - God is with us--is a bold confession in the face of every trial and trouble, every sickness or sorrow, every disaster--even death itself, that God is with us. Jesus promised all those who trust in Him, "I am with you always, to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20). We await Jesus' return when He will take all those who have trusted in Him as Savior and Lord to be with Him forever in heaven (1 Thessalonians 4:17).

Immanuel - God is with us--is the reality of our life together as a congregation. God is with us as we pray for each other, care for each other, and bear one another's burdens and share with each other's joys! It is our prayer that the information that is shared on this site will in some way encourage you and be a blessing to you. If we can be of assistance to you, please contact us and by God's blessing, by our words and deeds we will demonstrate the reality also for you that God is with you, even as His has promised in His Son!

The Lord be with you!

Pastor Mahnken