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 started 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
& every Thursday, 1:00 pm - 2:15 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 starts 2/3.
Tuesdays, 9:30 - 11:00am​
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​​​​​​​MidTown Lutheran Parish Info.
Midtown Midweek Lenten Services at Noon
Exercise Classes at 11:00 to 11:45
Light Lunch after the services
Various Locations, See Below
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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.
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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!
New Art Exhibit
This exhibit will be available for viewing
February through April, 2026
during church office hours, T, W, Th, 9:00-2:00 & Sunday, 9:00 to Noon
Karen Van Howe, President - Emmanuel Lutheran Church
Envisioning Emmanuel's Future
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
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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
Ash Wednesday
February 18, 2026 at 6:30 pm
Emmanuel Lutheran Church Sanctuary
920 3rd Avenue
Come in from the parking lot
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Emmanuel’s Ash Wednesday Worship Service will be a Taize’-themed Service and will be at 6:30 pm in the Sanctuary. Ashes will be distributed and Communion served. Readings will be from Jan Richardson and a gospel from Matthew. ​​
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2026 Midtown Midweek Lenten Services at Noon
Conversations With Jesus
A light lunch will be served after each service.
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February 25th at Calvary Lutheran Church
Exercise Class led by our Faith Community Nurses
11:00 to 11:45 am, in Emmanuel's Library
Service to follow at Noon in Emmanuel's Chapel.
Paster Mike Thomas preaching
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March 4th at Salem Lutheran Church
Exercise Class led by our Faith Community Nurses
11:00 to 11:45 am, in the Fireside Room
Service to follow at Noon in Salem's Sanctuary
Pastor Chuck Olson preaching
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March 11th at Zion Lutheran Church
Exercise Class led by our Faith Community Nurses
11:00 to 11:45 am, in the Fellowship Hall
Service to follow at Noon in Zion's Sanctuary
Pastor Frank Langholf preaching
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March 18th at Emmanuel Lutheran Church
Exercise Class led by our Faith Community Nurses
11:00 to 11:45 am, in Emmanuel's Library
Service to follow at Noon in Emmanuel's Sanctuary
Pastor Leslie Aska preaching
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March 25th at First Lutheran Church
Exercise Class led by our Faith Community Nurses
11:00 to 11:45 am, in Friendship Hall
Service to follow at Noon in First Lutheran's Sanctuary
Pastor Bill Dahlberg preaching
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Yoga with Claudette
on Mondays and Thursdays
Join Claudette on Mondays, 5:00 to 6:15 pm and Thursdays, 1:00 to 2:15 pm in Emmanuel's dance studio. Claudette is an experienced leader and very kind. So, if you are a beginner or advanced, come experience yoga.
Drumming with Helen Bond
Helen Bond will be at Emmanuel for a drumming circle on Sundays, February 15th, March 1st, 15th, and 29th, All sessions are from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm.
Come Join Us!
Belly Dancing Session
Sessions will be restarting in the Spring
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
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Silent meditation practice
in the Benson Room at Emmanuel.
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Thursdays from 5:30 – 6:15pm
All are welcome.
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Enter by parking lot entrance.
Questions or text Sara 815-742-0581.
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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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 and meditation.
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Our next In-Between Service is Saturday, February 14th, 5:00 - 6:00 at Emmanuel.
Enter by the north parking lot entrance.​​​
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Breathe In-Between
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Serving the people who live, work,
worship, and play
in the neighborhoods of Midtown
MLP Newsletter
Check out our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Midtown-Lutheran-Parish-101030175425386
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February/March 2026 MLP Newsletter
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— Tuesdays at Noon-1:00 p.m.: (Room opens at 11:30 am)
March 24, 2026 - Rev. Thomas Jacoby. "That the World May Know" - How Art and Music Told the Story of Christ to the World
April 14, 2026—Ron Clewer, Director of Zion Development, "Affordable Housing."
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May 12, 2026 - Marika Mertz and Evan Paul - "Missions to Haiti".
RVC Lecture Series
Please Register early through RVC’s CLR (Center for Learning in Retirement) If places available, may pay $5 at the door. Call Tammy Lewis at 815-921-3933 or email T.Lewis@rockvalleycollege.edu
Thursday, February 19, 2026—1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m. Violet Johnicker speaking on Protest and Policy Change
Thursday, March 10, 2026—10:00-11:30 a.m. Dorothy Paige Turner speaking on Langston Hughes, Literary Icon.
Thursday, April 16, 2026—10:00-11:30 a.m. Ron Holm and Dorothy Paige Turner on Music in the Folk Tradition
Thursday, May 7, 2026—10:00-11:30 a.m. Pr. Michael Thomas on White Body Supremacy
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. Meet at Forest preserve entrances unless otherwise instructed.
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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Saturday, February 28, 10:00 a.m.
Sugar River Forest Preserve
10127 Forest Preserve Road
Meet at shelter on top of hill
Durand, IL 61024

Special Events at Emmanuel Lutheran Church:
For the following Emmanuel events, contact Holly Blair-Cascio 815-543-1191
*Special Art Exhibit: “Love is...” The art is available for viewing through April 2026 during church office hours.
T,W,Th, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. Sundays, 9:00 am to Noon.
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*Cardio-Drumming (Mondays— 4:00-5:00 p.m. To sign up, contact Holly 815-543-1191
Emmanuel Lutheran Church Pantry— Fridays 9:30-11:30 am (closed the Fridays after Thanksgiving and Christmas)
Emmanuel Lutheran Spiritual Journeys Book Study, Tuesdays, 9:30-11 am. by Zoom. We read together and discuss. On February 3, 2026, we started reading: "The Tears of Things: Prophetic Wisdom for an Age of Outrage", by Richard Rohr.
Join Zoom Meeting.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89838350099?pwd=O4Hu08ruXp2VHLOZLm9lsHyRKypPv9.1
Bible Studies:
Salem Lutheran: Tuesdays at 9:30 am in the Founders’ Room
Emmanuel: Wednesdays at noon. Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89356888344?pwd=dEw2NHVsS0JzYWdxUWdGVVk3OE5XZz09​
There is no Bible Study at Emmanuel during Lent
until after Easter. You are welcome at the 2026 Midtown Midweek Lenten Services at Noon. Exercises classes prior to the services and a light luncheon after each service.
Join Beth Campisi
for Cardio Drumming in 2026
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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.
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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.
The Church Council Members for 2026 are:
Karen Van Howe: Worship and Music
Kathlyn Wright: Outreach, Food Pantry
Rich Lundin, Treasurer, Financial
Susan Hurley-Whitacre, Arts @ Emmanuel
Marcia Terrill, at Large
Taj Guzzardo, Membership, Caring Connections
Sally Susan, at Large
Dan Goldberg, at Large
Kristie Heath-White, at Large
Dena Rasmussen
Kelli Luebke
​Officers will be elected at the regular February Council Meeting.
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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.
