☼   DAILY BULLETIN   ☼ 

Friday   --  May 21, 2010

Lord, we thank You for the blessings You have poured out upon this school for the last 50 years

and especially for this year, upon its students and faculty and staff.  Amen.

WHAT A WAY TO END OUR 50TH YEAR!
Last Thursday we saw once again what ILC is all about. Last Thursday [Ascension Day] we joyfully watched the baptism of one of our students and the confirmation of three others.  In the first instance, we have a student who came to faith in Jesus Christ while she was here at Immanuel.  In the second, we have students who learned to know Jesus well enough that they could publicly proclaim their faith and their agreement with our teachings.
I say that this is what ILC is all about.  It is about saving people from sin and damnation by proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Whether these are people come to faith right here at Immanuel or whether they come to faith because Immanuel’s students go out and preached the Gospel to them, in either case we are all about Jesus.
ILC is about learning the teachings of Jesus Christ.  On the one hand, students come to ILC and learn these teachings in our classrooms.  On the other hand, the graduates from our high school, college, and seminary go forth and help others to learn these teachings.
This is exactly what Jesus was telling the disciples to do, when He said:  “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”   (Matt. 28:18,19)
2000 years after Jesus spoke these words, we continue to do what He says.  We make disciples by baptizing and by teaching.  The Gospel in word and sacrament is the power given to us by Christ . . . the power to change servants of Satan into disciples of Christ.  Furthermore, the Word of God is capable of instructing the heart and mind and convincing the believer concerning many doctrines, doctrines which have to do with what we believe and doctrines which relate to how we live.  “... His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,” (2 Pet. 1:3)
I already told Melissa about my unbelief.  If you asked me a year ago if I believed that Melissa would ever be confirmed, I might have said, “I doubt it.”  However, God had other things in mind and He proved me wrong, much to my shame and my joy.  The Word which we teach at Immanuel is the power of God unto salvation.
When Yan Yi first came here, there were those who wondered if she would be able to stay here.  She spoke very little English.  Could she even understand the Gospel, when we told her?  But God had other things in mind.
Thanks in large part to Prof.  Sullivan’s patient, daily tutoring of Yan Yi, she grew in her knowledge of English.  Then, as we taught her the Word of God, she understood more and more.  God worked through that Word, until she confessed her faith and later asked to be baptized.  
Go . . . make disciples . . . baptize . . . teach.  That’s what we do at ILC.  We have been doing it for 50 years.  It is not often that we get students who know nothing about Jesus.  But when we do, the Word will work in their hearts and, we pray, will create faith.  Usually, our students already know about Jesus.  Some of you are the children of former ILC students, who went forth and baptized and taught you.  For you the Word we teach serves to sustain your faith and increase your knowledge.  That’s what ILC is all about.
What an amazing and wonderful way to end this year, with a baptism and a confirmation.  And then, to top it off, we have a graduation, where we can say, “You have been baptized and confirmed and have received the instruction that we have to offer. ‘Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’”
-Prof. John Pfeiffer (Evening Chapel 5/17/10)

UNEXCUSED TARDY/ABSENCE: The following have been reported as unexcused for absence or tardiness in a class from the previous school day. To get excused, you must see Prof. Schierenbeck or bring a written excuse to the office before 4:00 p.m. today, or you may be serving detention next week.

THURSDAY: Kaitlyn Sippert (A/1st Period History Final)

Free Bowling during the summer.  Check www.kidsbowlfree.com for participating bowling alleys nationwide.

TRAVELING VBS: This summer the TVBS program hopes to help congregations in Washington, Texas, Georgia, Colorado, South Dakota,  and Wisconsin conduct VBS by both distributing fliers and teaching the children about their Savior. We need your help. Please consider supporting TVBS by registering for this summers' trips. Go to www.clctvbs.org to sign up. We also would welcome financial contributions so please consider whether you are able to support the effort this summer with a donation. If you have any questions, please see Prof. Ross Roehl or Karen Johannes. There is also a poster up in the Commons that has this summer's trips listed. Thanks for considering this method of assisting in the Kingdom work this summer.