Pastor Kathee's motto is:

You are never too old to completely turn your life - and your husband, Eric's, life - Upside down when the Holy Spirit calls!With over 20 years working in manufacturing marketing in San Antonio, I felt the call to ministry in 2009. I graduated from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota in 2015 through the DL program with both online and residency classes. What an experience to have classes in St. Paul in January - was it ever cold! Ordained in 2015 in my home congregation, Zion Lutheran Church in San Antonio, we moved from Texas to Nebraska as I was called to serve Holy Cross Lutheran Chuch in Beatrice for nine years. Leaving our new home, church family and friends, I retired June 2024 and my husband, a retired Air Force Bandsman, moved back to Texas to be closer to family.

Pastor Kathee's Schedule

Office Hours will be Monday and Wednesday afternoons & every Sunday except the third Sunday of the month

August 2026 Newsletter

Dear people of Immanuel,

ARE YOU BEING RESHAPED? Worship at Immanuel continues through August 9th with
the series: Re-Shaped: We were made for this. With thanks to all who have made this
worship series come to life! It is certainly a change from the normal worship, especially
the creations made from play dough.

Perhaps the week I can most relate to is August 2 – “Everything Changes” and our fun
example is from the movie “Frozen”. That’s right, where Queen Elsa sings the song that
will now be playing in your head for the rest of the day, “Let it Go!” Letting go of the old
to expect the sprouting of the new! (John 12:20-26).

During these 4 weeks we hear, through song, poetry and scripture, about change and
transformation. God made us for change. Jesus calls us to change to serve his purpose of more
love in the world. So change and transformation have been on my mind. When visiting my
grandsons recently, the youngest, Robert, beautifully told me – by heart - the story of The
Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. It’s one that I read many times to his mother, my daughter,

and a favorite of mine. Robert recalled the story from hearing it at pre-school that day and many

times before: how the caterpillar ate so much that he had a stomachache (the last thing was a

slice of watermelon). So he ate one nice green leaf and felt much better. He then built a small
house around himself, called a cocoon. Then he nibbled a hole in the cocoon and got
out and was a beautiful butterfly.

Change is all around us! And the story-telling from 4-year old Robert was a wonderful
example. What change have you encountered recently in your life? By crisis, chance or
choice? Where is God calling you? Where is God guiding you?

Please continue to lift up Immanuel using the prayer below for God’s continued
guidance as together, you discern the future and calling a settled pastor! Look for the
opportunity to be storytellers and meaning-makers at the congregational event on
September 13th ! See details in the newsletter about An Afternoon to Remember!

O God, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the
ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out
with good courage, not knowing where we go, but only that your hand is leading us
and your love supporting us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen


You were made for change by our Creator God! Blessings on your journey,
Interim Pastor Kathee Forrest