From the Pastor:

 

A CHRISTMAS GIFT JUST FOR YOU

 

"For to you is born this day...a Savior" Luke 2:11.

 

The important words in that announcement which the angel made to the Bethlehem shepherds are the three words "for to you". Three short words--only eight letters of the alphabet. But important they are. For our sake, He, Jesus, took on our flesh and blood from His mother, so that His birth might become our birth, so that He might be one with us, so that we might be one with Him. This then is the proper way to observe Christmas: that Christ might be formed in us. You see, it's not enough that we merely hear the story of His birth but then keep our hearts closed. We must not just listen to a story. No! It is important that by faith we receive the gift.

 

What if the shepherds had said: "Who are we that the whole host of heaven should sing for us? This must be an apparition. We must be dreaming." Imagine: the greatest cantata ever sung and only for two or three shepherds were there to hear it. Who would believe their story? Why should they even believe? But the Holy Spirit working through the words of the angel cause those shepherds to believe. This is pure wonder. God begins with an angel and ends up with believing shepherds. Why does He do such a preposterous thing? Could not God have saved the world in some other way? Instead of sending an angel to the shepherds could He not have simply called in the devil and said, Let My people go!" Instead, what God did sounds like foolishness.

 

God is amazing. Surely He Who in the beginning said, "Let there be light...Let there be firmament...Let dry land appear, could have said to the devil, "Give Me back My people." Instead He sends a baby who doesn't even merit a cradle or a diaper, and Who has no one to wait on Him except His mother, and yet He is called "Lord" and "Savior".

 

If l had gone to Bethlehem I would have said: "This makes no sense." I wouldn't even have permitted myself to be found in that stable. Nevertheless, the shepherds said, "let us go to Bethlehem and see about this which the Lord has told us." That's some faith!

 

And there they found the Gift.

 

Heavenly Father, by the power of the Holy Spirit working through the Word, work faith in our hearts so that the life of Christ and His mind might be formed within us.

 

(Directions to Bethlehem: go to Luke 2 to be found in the New Testament of the Bible located right after the Gospel of Mark and right before the Gospel of John.)

 

A MERRY AND BLESSED CHRISTMAS TO YOU AND YOURS,  

 

Pastor David M. Albertin

Welcome to

New Tracy, IN

8705 S 100 E

 SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE @ 9:00 AM

May 2026 be a year full of love, joy and peace for you and your family! 

  

 1875 - 2025

 

Immanuel Ev. Lutheran Church continues to celebrate it's 150 plus years of God's blessings!

 

Former members & friends come for worship any Sunday, introduce yourself and stay for coffee & donuts - we'd love to meet you!

 

Pastor Albertin, who has faithfully served us for almost 20 years, will be stepping aside as the sole pastor of Immanuel on January 1, 2026. Please pray for our congregation as we look for a new shepherd to lead us in the future.