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This Week at Emmanuel
September 6-12, 2020

Almighty God, you have so linked our lives one with another that all we do affects, for good or ill, all other lives: So guide us in the work we do, that we may do it not for self alone, but for the common good; and, as we seek a proper return for our own labor, make us mindful of the rightful aspirations of other workers, and arouse our concern for those who are out of work; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

— Collect for Labor Day, the Book of Common Prayer, p. 261

The office will be closed Labor Day Monday September 7th

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2990474775

Every Thursday 5pm

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We are excited to announce that we are now offering the Forward Day by Day email for free! We invite you to join us for daily prayer and reflection.

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The Jubilee Center is in need of lunch items for their brown bag lunch program. Currently, they give out 100 lunches a day to members. You can help by either donating to Shelter Care writing Jubilee lunch in the memo line, or donate through Emmanuel. You may also drop off the following items: bread, lunchmeat, cookies, chips, and bottled water at the Center.

Your donations of money or food are gratefully appreciated

It is difficult to believe we are already in the month of September. I am so happy to see so many familiar faces in worship of Sundays but I miss everyone who is not able to join us. The last time we were able to be together to worship, sing, and celebrate the Eucharist was March 15, the beginning of Lent. Many of us still feel like we are living a Lenten life, of sacrifice, and to mark this, I have left the small crucifix veiled over the gates to the chapel. It will be unveiled when we are all able to be together once more.

The conversation about the book "White Fragility" continues Wednesday September 16th at 7pm. We will meet in the Nicholas Center.
The discussion guide is attached for our questions and comments, simply click on the link below

White Fragility

Mental health care is essential.

As many of you have heard, Mercyhealth filed an application with the state of Illinois to close its inpatient behavioral health unit at the Javon Bea Hospital on Rockton Avenue.

Many of you wrote letters expressing your concern and disappointment about this issue and submitted them to the state, and for that we are grateful.
The Rockford Register Star on Aug. 18 reported that Mercyhealth had in fact already closed the unit ahead of the state’s approval, which is something we’d been hearing for a few weeks. We’re writing to share a few updates and action steps as the situation continues to unfold.

A public hearing is scheduled for 2 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 3, at the Rockford Public Library’s Nordlof Center, 118 N. Main St., Rockford. There are several ways to participate:

You can speak and/or submit comments in person. Individuals will have a 3-minute time limit to speak and are not required to register in advance. Speakers will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis. The hearing room will be limited to 20 people at any given time. Attendees must wear masks, socially distance and exit the hearing room after speaking to allow others access.
You can speak at and/or listen to the hearing virtually via WebEx, but you must register in advance at this link.
You can listen in by phone by calling 415-655-0002 and entering the access code 133 096 8493.
You can submit written comments to DPH.HFSRB.PublicHearings@illinois.gov. The review board staff actually encourages all comments to be submitted in written form for the record; a court reporter also will be at the hearing to record verbal comments.

All details for the public hearing are available on the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board website. The review board staff has assured us they will do their best to accommodate everyone who wants to speak, both in person and virtually.

Please know that our NAMI Northern Illinois Board of Directors is working hard to gather data and comments to submit to the board about the local need for mental health services. We’re asking you as NAMI members to join us at the hearing and provide a strong showing of local support for individuals with mental illness and their families.

As part of our efforts to gather local data, we want to hear if you or a family member have been transferred outside of Rockford for inpatient mental health services. That will help us provide some context to this board on the experiences of and the local need from our NAMI family.

Please contact us at 815-963-2470 or naminorthernillinois@gmail.com to provide information, to join us at the hearing, or for more information.

Share Your Feedback

The FTC has issued this statement regarding a gift card scam targeting
houses of worship
https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2019/07/worshipers-targeted-gift-card-scam

Several parishioners have been solicited, Diane will never ask anyone via email to purchase gift cards.

This Week at Emmanuel September 6-12, 2020

This Week at Emmanuel
September 6-12, 2020