Welcome to Emmanuel!
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9:00 am Traditional Service in the Chapel
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10:30 am The ReFresh Worship Service is in the Sanctuary in person, on zoom,
and recorded on Facebook.
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If you would like to join us on zoom for the 10:30a.m. service,
please click the button below.
If you need to be added to the email list, you may sign up for the list(s) for the items you would like to receive, by clicking on the button ("sign up for E'-News") at the bottom of this page.
Spiritual Journeys
Tuesday mornings 9:30 - 11:00am
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​Spiritual Journeys will be starting a new book on Tuesday, February 3rd. "The Tears of Things by Richard Rohr.
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"How do we live compassionately in a time of violence and despair? What can we do with our private disappointments and the anger we feel in such an unjust world? In his most personal book yet, Richard Rohr turns to the writings of the Jewish prophets, revealing how some of the lesser-read books of the Bible offer us a crucial path forward today." (See Amazon for a full description.)
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We will be reading together and discussing it, so no need to read ahead.
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Please join us with this Zoom link on Tuesday mornings at 9:30 a.m. until
11 a.m.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89838350099pwd=O4Hu08ruXp2VHLOZLm9lsHyRKypPv9.1.​​​
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Upcoming at Emmanuel
Something for Everyone
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​​​​​​Join Beth Campisi every Monday
for Cardio Drumming
Cardio Drumming 4:00-5:00 pm
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​​​Yoga with Claudette Pirrello
every Monday, 5:00 pm - 6:15 pm
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Soul Garden Forest Preserve Walks
See article.
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​Women's Interfaith Potluck
See article.
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Belly Dancing Session
See article.
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Next Breathe is March 14th
5:00 - 6:00pm
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Breathe In-Between Gathering
5:00 - 6:00pm
Next Breathe In-Between is February 14th
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​​Spiritual Journeys Book Study
"The Tears of Things" by
Richard Rohr
Tuesdays, 9:30 - 11:00am​
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​​​​​​​MidTown Lutheran Parish Info.
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​​​​All are welcome @ Emmanuel!!!
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Soul Garden Hikes
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Come hike for an hour in Winnebago Counties Forest preserves. Text Holly if you want to join the hikes: 815-543-1191. Meet at the Forest preserve entrances unless otherwise instructed.
Wednesday, January 28th 10:00am
Severson DellsⓇ
8786 Montague Road, Rockford, IL
Wednesday, Feb 11th 10:00am
Blackhawk Springs Forest Preserve
5360 Mulford Road entrance
Cherry Valley, IL 61016
Saturday, February 28th 10:00am
Sugar River Forest Preserve
10127 Forest Preserve Road, Durand, IL 61024
Meet at shelter on top of hill
Link to Descriptions of all 44 Forest Preserves
​https://www.winnebagoforest.org/items
All hikes begin at 10:00 a.m. Dress for the weather!​​
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Silent meditation practice
in the Benson Room at Emmanuel.
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Thursdays from 5:30 – 6:00pm
All are welcome.
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Enter by parking lot entrance.
Questions or text Sara 815-742-0581.
New Art Opening
Friday, February 6th,
5:00 pm to 8:30 pm
The current art show, "Thresholds" will continue until January 27th, when the artists will start picking up their works.
Karen Van Howe, President - Emmanuel Lutheran Church
This is list of members of the Leadership Task Teams to research the ideas the Envisioning Groups proposed.
Congregation members can contact members of the teams with suggestions, ideas, concerns, or questions.
Teams will meet regularly and divide up responsibilities.
They can also recruit other people to help with the tasks.
The teams will communicate their findings with Council so that the Congregation can vote on proposals at the Annual Meeting on January 25, 2026
Task Leadership Teams
Getting the Word Out about Emmanuel
Holly Hansen—815-529-4526. hansenholly24@gmail.com
Brendan Noble—734-306-0214. bsn.noble@gmail.com
Christyn Rittenhouse—815-289-7110. midwestmermaid@gmail.com
Jim Roberts—779-537-0328. Jarob401@aol.com
Building Options
Holly Blair-Cascio—815-543-1191. hollyblair@mac.com
Kelli Luebke—815-543-7012. kawenger12@gmail.com
Ruth Ann Molyneaux—815-218-5149. ruthann716@icloud.com
Jack Ream—815-979-3055. jkream1946@gmail.com
Sallyann Roberts—815-566-2776. saranna13@aol.com
Finding Income/Funding Sources
Andrea Wallace Noble—815-519-4664. awallacenoble@gmail.com
Margaret Taj Guzzardo—779-770-3520. splash62@hotmail.com
Cathy Ritts—815-978-6955. cathyritts@gmail.com
Belly Dancing Session
Sessions will be restarting soon
6:30 - 7:30 pm - $10/class
Held at Emmanuel
Enter by the Parking Lot Entrance
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Belly dancing is incredibly empowering.
People of every size and ability level will
have fun while building confidence, strength & grace. In the classes you will learn the Egyptian roots of Belly dance and the modern tribal & fusion styles. Short combinations will be incorporated into drills that focus on muscle group isolations, core stabilization, strengthening and lengthening of muscles, sharp & fluid motions, musicality & dance etiquette. No previous dance experience required and great for all fitness levels.
Register with Emily Rice 773-456-1245
Breathe
Breathe is held every other month on the second Saturday September thru May from 5:00 - 6:00pm.
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At Breathe we gather for one hour to enter a sacred time -- the "thin place" between the worlds -- and Breathe. We listen to sacred readings and poetry from many traditions, we chant, and we sit in silence as we open ourselves to the Great Mystery.
Our next Breathe Meditation gathering
will be March 14th
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Breathe In-Between
The months when Breathe Mediation does not meet, we will gather with Christyn Rittenhouse for Breathe In- Between. A time to meet each other in quiet conversation.
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Our next In-Between Service is February 14th, 5:00 - 6:00 at Emmanuel.
Enter by the north parking lot entrance.​​​
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Serving the people who live, work,
worship, and play
in the neighborhoods of Midtown
Decemeber 2025 MLP Newsletter
Check out our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Midtown-Lutheran-Parish-101030175425386
Opportunities in Midtown Lutheran Parish—ALL ARE WELCOME!
Katie’s Cup is open Tuesday thru Friday 8 am - 2 pm
Katie’s Walking Club—Thursdays at 9:15 a.m., weather permitting
Katie’s Choice Book Club—Second Thursday of the month, 10 am.—11:15 am. Check with Katie’s Cup for book selection
Katie’s Cup Conversations— noon (11:30 room open):
January 13, 2025—Democratic Socialism—What is is?
February 10, 2025—Morgan Yordy, Teen Services Librarian from the Rockford Public Library, will discuss book banning.
RVC Lecture Series—Please Register through RVC’s CLR (Center for Learning in Retirement)
Call Tammy Lewis at 815-921-3933 or email T.Lewis@rockvalleycollege.edu
First Lutheran Naomi Circle meets the 1st Wednesday of the month at Katie’s Cup lower level, 11:30 am-2:00 pm, using “Gather” Magazine devotion. Buy a beverage or lunch, if you wish.
Soul Garden Hikes—Come hike for an hour in Winnebago Counties Forest preserves. Text Holly if you want to join the hikes: 815-543-1191. At Forest preserve entrances unless otherwise instructed.
Link to Descriptions of all 44 Forest Preserves
Reconciling in Christ (RIC)
In January of 2013, Emmanuel's members voted unanimously at the "Annual Meeting of the Congregation" to become an RIC member, adding this to our long-time philosophy of "radical hospitality". This designates this congregation as "open and accepting to all who come, regardless of socio-economic status, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or spiritual path", as states in Emmanuel's welcome statement. This January is the 13th Anniversary of being designated as an open and caring organization.
People who come as visitors and those who eventually stay feel the acceptance and love of Christ that Emmanuel has to give.
Bus Trip to Milwaukee and
The Black Holocaust Museum
Coach USA Van Galder Tour and Travel Bus Tour,
included will be a "step-on guide", Sherman Phoenix Market Place, Lunch at a Black-owned restaurant, plus other stops involving civil rights in Milwaukee, and a stop for dessert.
Date: February 9, 2026
Main Focus: The Black Holocaust Museum,
Milwaukee, WI
Cost: $180.00
Contact: Van Galder phone # 1-800-747-7407
Join Beth Campisi
for Cardio Drumming in 2025
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Every Monday 4:00 to 5:00 pm
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Cardio drumming combines cardio exercise and drumming to music to provide an easy but effective workout. Using an exercise ball, a bucket and drumsticks, cardio drumming is a fun, fast paced way to increase your heart rate, burn calories and improve your coordination. It even helps to improve brain function and you don't need to be a drummer to do it! Cardio drumming is fun, engaging and accessible to everyone. All fitness levels welcome!
Contact Holly Blair-Cascio if you would like to Cardio drum with us!
815-543-1191 hollyblair@mac.com
140th Anniversary of Emmanuel Lutheran Church
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Emmanuel celebrated its 140th anniversary on July 17, 2022 and the 100th anniversary of our second church building in November 2023. Emmanuel’s history and evolution began with the Swedish immigrants’ courage, boldness, and hard work, conserving some of their Swedish Lutheran traditions all while adapting, in a new context with a new language.
Emmanuel continues to evolve, enriching the Spiritual Life of the Community with the Arts including music, poetry, artwork, dance, communing with nature, retreats, and other expressions of our Spirituality. We meet you where you are on your journey.
The Church Council Members for 2025 are:
Karen Van Howe: President, Worship and Music
Holly Blair-Cascio: Vice President, Soul Garden
Kathlyn Wright: Secretary, Outreach, Food Pantry
Rich Lundin, Treasurer, Financial
Susan Hurley-Whitacre, Arts @ Emmanuel
Marcia Terrill, at Large
Taj Guzzardo, Care for Creation, Membership, Caring Connections
Sally Susan, at Large
Dan Goldberg, at Large
Kristie Heath-White, at Large
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SERVICE TIMES
Sunday
9:00am - Traditional Worship (Chapel)
10:30am - ReFresh Worship (Sanctuary)
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Breathe Meditation Service:
(Breathe is held four times a year)
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All are welcome to come as you are to our worship services!
Parking is available on Third Avenue or the parking lot north of the church.
