ABCCM Donation for February: Diapers. Also, small (motel size) soap bars, shampoos and lotions. Thank you!

A Workshop on "Marriage and Divorce: Spiritual Possibilities" will start the first Wednesday, March 7, at 6 p.m.  Dr. Michael Hester, Director of Pastoral Counseling & Growth Center here in Asheville for 22 years, holds a PhD in Pastoral Counseling, and has been a pastor, pastoral counselor and professor of pastoral counseling at a seminary.  The workshop will be held from 6 to 7 pm on the four Wednesdays in March (7, 14, 21, and 28). For more info, please contact Pastor McFarland at pastormcfarland@elcsmail.org.

World Vision's 30 HOUR FAMINE--Every day, hunger kills as many as 11,000 kids under age 5.  World Vision combats hunger world-wide by supplying and equipping people to provide their own food.  For over six decades World Vision has served millions in nearly 100 countries.  The youth of Emmanuel Lutheran (ages 12 and up) will have the opportunity to go hungry to combat hunger on Friday and Saturday, March 2 - 3.  Pastor Mark and youth will participate in the 30 Hour Famine and will go without food for 30 hours to raise funds to support World Vision's efforts world-wide. $30 will feed and care for one child for a month.  Please consider sponsoring a youth in this worthwhile endeavour.

Starting Sunday, February 26, we will be exploring Jesus's last week on earth.  We will be reading and discussing Max Lucado's And The Angels Were Silent.  It's a powerful book outlining Jesus's final acts and teachings. How can we apply His final walk with our own walk in life? Come and uncover all that God has waiting for us. Deb DeBerry will be leading this class.

For the Lenten Mid-Week Wednesday Evening Services we will follow the theme of the Seven Deadly Sins in God's Saving Grace, starting on Wednesday, February 29.

For the Lenten Mid-Week Wednesday NOON Services we will follow the theme of Christ in the Strangest Places: Foreshadowed, Fulfilled, Forever. "Two tablets of stone, a few vessels of oil, simple markings, a small army, a remote field, a solemn oath-these are some of the strangest people, places and things through which God revealed Himself to His people in the Old Testament. The Old Testament is chock-full of passion themes, from the serpent being crushed in Genesis 3:15 to Isaiah's Fourth Servant Song. Yet this series looks at some of the lesser-known Old Testament passion themes and focuses on them by means of single words. Written by seminary professor Dr. Reed Lessing."

Golf Fellowship: On Thursday, March 29 at 3:30pm our Golf Fellowship will resume. We will meet at High Vista Golf Course in Mills River. For more info please contact Pastor McFarland at pastormcfarland@elcsmail.org.

BLOOM TO BLESS:  We want to thank the members of Emmanuel for their response to Bloom To Bless and the 170 responses we have received.  We are working at tabulating all of the responses.  Please be patient with us.  A Ministry leader will be in touch with you to confirm what you have chosen.  For those who have indicated a need for training, please set aside Saturday, February 25th at 10:00 AM for that to  happen.  We encourage those who have not yet made ministry choices to please complete your survey and get it back to us as soon as possible.  Thank you in Jesus' Name--Pastor Art Gillespie

Get ready for Oktoberfest - early! Polka Dancing Lessons are being sponsored by the Mountain Top Polka Band and Asheville Music and Art starting Tuesday, February 21, 7:15 p.m. at Edelweiss Event Center, 697-D Haywood Road. Only $5/lesson. Contact Hans or Lula at 258-0721 for more information.

THE ALTAR FLOWER CHART FOR 2012 IS UP! The sign-up chart is now up on the narthex bulletin board. Please take the time now to sign up for flowers for next year. Flowers are still $20.00 per arrangement and we ask that members please pay at time of sign-up so that the money will be in place when we order them. Please make check payable to Emmanuel Lutheran Church and put "Altar Flowers & date" in the memo section so that we may be sure your funds get credited to the right account. Thank you.

Sunday Afternoon Pick-up Basketball: On Sundays from 3:00-4:30 pm we invite members ages 15 and up to come out and play some Pick-Up Basketball in our gym. Next play date: Sunday, February 19. Kids under the age of 15 will need to have parental supervision.

Leisurites will meet on Tuesday, February 21 for lunch at 11:30 am at Ryan's at 1053 Patton Avenue.

The Schallhorn, Kaeding and Nordmeyer Bible Study Groups have resumed meeting on Mondays at 7:00 pm.

Bringing Hope to the High Country Youth Servant Event will be held from July 15-21 at Camp Linn Haven in Linville, NC.  This event is for youth ages 14 to college.  Participants will work with local Habitat chapters in general construction of new homes in the Blue Ridge Mountains, lead VBS for children from Crossnore School and minister with developmentally disabled adults.  The week will also include group camp activities at Camp Linn Haven and a day of hiking in the Linville Gorge. Cost is $120 to attend. A deposit of $60 and completed registration are due by March 1^st. Please contact Pastor Mark at pastorseaman@elcsmail.org if interested in attending.

Ash Wednesday Services:  On Wednesday, February 22 we will have services at 10:00 am, Noon, and 7:00 pm with the imposition of ashes.

Lenten Soup Suppers: As part of our fellowship time during the season of Lent, Emmanuel will be offering Soup & Sandwich Suppers on Wednesdays, at 5:30 pm (change) which will then be followed by our 7:00 pm Lenten services (note: during the month of March, the services will be at 7:15 pm). These will begin on Ash Wednesday, February 22 and run through Wednesday, March 28.

The Monday Night Bible Study on Revelation has resumed at 7:00 pm and will meet in the school conference room.

Did You Know?... that one of our teachers has been nominated for the Thanks to Teachers award by WLOS? Kindergarten teacher Megan Sanchez was recently featured on television in honor of being a nominee.  You can go to the WLOS website to view the posted announcement about Megan at http://www.wlos.com/shared/newsroom/features/thanks-teachers/videos/wlos_vid_17.shtml. From all of the weekly nominees, a teacher of the year winner will be judged and announced. Way to go,  Megan!

The Greene Bible Study group has resumed meeting on Mondays at 6:30 pm in the youth room.

We Need Volunteers to Help Feed our LABOR Volunteers-Please Sign-Up Today! Laborers for Christ and local labor volunteers Saturday Lunches-please sign-up on the sheet on the table in the narthex. Lunch Time will be at 12:00. Contact Sharon Norris for more info at 828-236-3957.

2012 Offering Envelopes: Due to crowded conditions resulting from construction, please pick up your envelopes as soon as possible. They are located in the narthex hallway by the sign-up bulletin board. Please pick them up even if you use Direct Deposit instead of envelopes. Thank you for saving the church the cost of postage!

ABCCM Crisis Ministry: The Crisis Ministry provides emergency assistance for individuals and families in crisis by supplying food, clothing, furniture, heating, utility and rent assistance. A table is located in the narthex for donations of canned foods towards this ministry. The ABCCM Donation focus for February: Diapers.

ALL BOYS 6th grade and up! ELCS is exploring starting a Boy Scout Troop. We need all interested adult volunteers and boys to contact Julie Strum at strumj@yahoo.com. Our resident Eagle Scout, Pastor Seaman, is excited to assist. The goal would be a Troop by early Spring.