WELCOME TO ALL OUR VISITORS: We are glad you could join us for worship today. If you are a first-time visitor, please sign our guestbook and pick up a Church Handbook. If you desire more information about Good Shepherd, please note it on the pew sheet. May the Lord bless you this day and in Christ’s name we invite you to return.
WE BELIEVE CHILDREN BELONG IN WORSHIP: However, if you or your child needs a break, we have a staffed Nursery at all our services. Please see an Usher who can direct you to it.
THE ADULT BIBLE CLASS, led by Pastor Lueck, is studying “Luther’s Small Catechism”. The class meets in the basement at 9:15 a.m.
TODAY IN SUNDAY SCHOOL: The birth of Jesus serves as the focus of the Sunday School lesson for today. The Son of God became what we are, human, to make us what He is, a Child of the heavenly Father. Consider discussing, “Why is it important that Jesus became a human like you and I? Why is it important that Jesus was both God and man?”
THOUGHTS ON STEWARDSHIP: 2 Samuel 7:4: “But that same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan. . .” Nathan thought David’s idea was great, so he blessed it with the Lord’s name. But later that night, the Word of the Lord set him straight. The Word of the Lord must be the basis for what we think, say, and do in God’s Kingdom: not our own desires or whims.
WORSHIP SCHEDULE: With this being the week of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day we thought it a good idea to have worship. Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship with Holy Communion will commence at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 24th. The day of our dear Savior’s birth, the worship service will begin at 9:00 a.m. with Holy Communion celebrated. O Come, All Ye Faithful!
THE EPIPHANY OF OUR LORD: Two weeks from today (January 4, 2015) we will celebrate the Epiphany of Our Lord. On that date we will have the Installation of Officers, those duly elected to serve in 2015, in both worship services. Come be installed, we promise it is painless!
IN OUR PRAYERS: Dave Orr continues his rehabilitation in Chicago. His liver transplant has been pushed back to the end of January if he recovers and is ready. If you would like to send a card to Dave and Pat here is the address: Dave & Pat Orr, c/o Lindsey Orr, 940 N Damen #2F, Chicago IL 60622. We continue our prayers for all of them.
PORTALS OF PRAYER: The January – March 2015 Portals of Prayer are available on the book rack in the narthex. Please pick up your free copy today. Large print also available.
THE LWML would like to thank everyone in the church who either purchased supplies or helped put together the quilts and health kits this year. We sent 37 quilts and 65 health kits. Thanks again!
FROM THE OFFICE: Good Shepherd has received a recent correspondence from both the Suggitt Family (at the Seminary in Ft. Wayne) and the Hilbert Family (LBT Missionaries). These have been posted on the bulletin board outside the church office.
FELLOWSHIP HOSTS: The sign-up for help with coffee/doughnuts is posted on the wall by the north stairwell. We need an individual/family to sign-up each week to pick up the donuts and make the coffee. If no one is signed up by Friday of each week, the order will be cancelled. We thank everybody who continues to help with this part of our church fellowship.
ANNUAL TRIP TO FORT WAYNE, IN: John & Paula Hardy will be making their annual trip to Fort Wayne, IN. Please bring to the church any slightly used adult and/or children’s clothing and any household items such as small appliances, kitchen items, etc. and place in the box located in the narthex. The trip date has yet to be finalized but will take place in either January or February. Please see or call (309) 310-7917 John or Paula if you have any questions. Thank you.
THE LUTHERAN HOUR: “Monsters In Our Tomorrows” is the topic for next Sunday. The sermon text will be from Romans 8:37-39. Unknown monsters lurk in the shadows of the New Year but Christ will carry us through. The speaker will be Reverend Ken Klaus. Hear this Sunday’s message on the Lutheran Hour on WGN (720) at 6:00 a.m.; WJWR (104.7 FM) and WJWR (90.3 FM) both on Sunday at 3:00 p.m. Also, if you can receive Lincoln, IL radio station WLLM (1370 AM) the program is broadcast two times on Sunday at 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Tune in! You can also listen to The Lutheran Hour on your personal computer at RealAudio, www.lhm.org.
INFORMATION REQUESTED: Please notify the church office if someone in the congregation or any family or friends are ill or hospitalized.
FROM THE CHURCH OFFICE: If you miss church, please be reminded that copies of the previous week’s sermon are available on the table in the narthex. Also, the sermon will be available on our web site at www.goodshepherdblm.org. Thank you.
+ GOOD SHEPHERD SCHEDULE AND FUTURE DATES +
Today: Dec. 21 8:00 a.m. Worship with Holy Communion
9:15 a.m. Adult Bible Study and Sunday School
10:30 a.m. Worship, non-Communion
5:00 p.m. Small Group Bible Study Christmas Party @ the Lueck’s
Tues: Dec. 23 LWML – No Meeting
Wed: Dec. 24 6:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Worship Service w/HC (Office Closed)
Thurs: Dec. 25 9:00 a.m. Christmas Day Worship Service w/HC (Office Closed)
Sun: Dec. 28 8:00 a.m. Worship, non-Communion
9:15 a.m. Adult Bible Study and Sunday School
10:30 a.m. Worship with Holy Communion
Wed: Dec. 31 7:00 p.m. New Year’s Eve Worship Service w/HC
Thurs: Jan. 1 Happy New Year! (Office Closed)
Fri: Jan. 2 7-8:00 p.m. Prayer Time
Sun: Jan. 4 8:00 a.m. Worship with Holy Communion Epiphany of Our Lord
9:15 a.m. Adult Bible Study and Sunday School
10:30 a.m. Worship, non-Communion
Installation of Officers; both worship services
Tues: Jan. 6 7:00 p.m. 20th Church Anniversary Committee Meeting
+ + + + + + + + + + + +
+ ASSISTING TODAY +
Preacher:……………………………………………………………..Reverend Chad D. Lueck
Elder:………………………………………………………………………………….Paul Gerike
Ushers:…………………….8:00 a.m., Steve Davis, Mike Field, John Hardy, Joshua Parry
10:30 a.m., Holden Lueck, Bryan Reichert
Organist:…………………………………………………………………….Mary Anne Kirchner
Soloist:……………………………………………………………………………….Curt Kessler
Acolytes:………………………………………8:00 a.m., J.T. Piper; 10:30 a.m., Pastor/Elder
Nursery Staff:……………………………….8:00 a.m., Toni Lueck; 10:30 a.m., Ruth Gerike
Fellowship Hosts:……………………………………………………….John & Angelina Isaac
THE CHURCH OFFICE HOURS
The Office Hours for Janet and Sandy are as follows: Janet: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and others times by request/appointment. Sandy’s hours are Mondays, 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.; Thursdays, 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.; and Fridays, 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
VISITORS
We are happy to have you worship with us. Please sign the Guest Register on the table in the back of the church. Also, please list your name and other information on the Friendship Form in the WELCOME binder, found on each row. If you have a young child we have available “Busy Bags” on the table in the church entryway for them to use during worship. We hope you enjoyed your visit and welcome you to return.
FOR OUR GUESTS AND VISITORS:
By way of explanation, here at Good Shepherd, our Offerings are not collected during the worship service. Instead, upon entering or leaving, we place them in the Offering boxes found hanging on the last pews in the Sanctuary.
CONVENIENCE ENVELOPES:
Did you accidentally leave your offering envelope at home? Do you need a back up? If so, these envelopes are for you. Located in the pews and on the table in the narthex, these envelopes are here for the convenience of all our members. We hope you will feel free to use them whenever a need arises. Thank you.
PRAYER CHAIN: If you have a prayer request please submit them by email to Mary Anne Kirchner at makirchner@yahoo.com or you may phone a Prayer Request to Mary Anne; her home # is (309) 661-6522; her cell phone# is (309) 532-2582. The Prayer Request box is on the table in the narthex for any written requests.
Finding GOOD SHEPHERD ONLINE
Good Shepherd Home Page:…………………………………………………………….www.goodshepherdblm.org
Good Shepherd e-mail:……………………………………………………………goodshepherdblm@frontier.com
Good Shepherd Facebook Page:……………………………………………………..www.facebook.com/gslcblmil
Pastor Chad Lueck:…………………………………………………………………………..….revbci@yahoo.com