March 18, 2018
THOUGHTS ON STEWARDSHIP: Genesis 22:2 – “He said, ‘Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.’ ” It’s hard for us to even fathom a faith as strong as Abraham’s: he follows the Lord’s Word even when it seems impossibly hard. But he does so because he knows that the Lord only means to bless. What happened here to Abraham should be an encouragement for us: trust the Lord and keep His Word.
NEED A RIDE? If you are unable to drive to church, we have an option that is available. Please speak with Pastor who has the details. Thank you.
OUR SUNDAY SCHOOL meets at 9:15 a.m. in the Choir Room which is located on the 2nd level (the west side).
THE ADULT BIBLE CLASS meets in the basement at 9:15 a.m. As we celebrate the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation we continue studies on that time period. We are studying “A Man Named Martin”, a video-based study on the reformer Martin Luther.
TODAY is the deadline for items to be submitted for the APRIL NEWSLETTER. Janet Evans is our Editor for the church newsletter and any announcements you want to be published in the Newsletter should be submitted to her at goodshepherdblm@frontier.com or you may call her at (309) 838-1552.
OUR MIDWEEK LENTEN WORSHIP: The last of our Wednesday Lenten Worship Services is at 7:00 p.m. this week. The message, “The Gospel In Your Words”. The freewill Offering at the 5:30 p.m. dinner will help the ministry of Wittenberg Lutheran Center at Illinois State. Sign-up to bring food items is on the table in the narthex.
EASTER LILIES: If you would like to purchase an Easter Lily for the altar for Easter Sunday, there is signup sheet on the table in the narthex. Lilies are $10.00 each. You may pick them up after late service on Easter Sunday. Cash or checks made to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. On the memo line write “Easter Lily”. Contact Jackie Kwasny at (309) 662-4995 if you have any questions.
EASTER SUNDAY: Two weeks from today is Easter Sunday (April 1st). in our 7:00 a.m. worship service the beginning of our worship will begin in the lower parking lot as we dedicate our new Church Sign. For those unable to traverse the incline we have made arrangements for transportation up and down the hill. Please speak with Pastor if you need this assistance. Thank God for our Church family as we keep everyone involved.
OUR CHURCH DIRECTORY: It’s time once again to update everyone’s address, phone numbers, email, etc. Please check the reports on the table in the narthex and make any changes necessary to the listing. Thanks!
FROM THE OFFICE: It is time again to renew our Lutheran Witness subscriptions. If anyone is not currently receiving Lutheran Witness and would like to do so, please contact the church office. There are 11 monthly magazines for an annual fee of $15.96. Please renew by April 1st. Thank you.
PORTALS OF PRAYER: The April – June Portals of Payer are available on the book rack in the narthex. Pick up your free copy today.
CAMP CILCA: Brochures for Camp CILCA Summer 2018 are on the table in the narthex.
A SPECIAL THANK YOU to Pastor Lueck for the shut-in visits, the questions to Charlie regarding my condition and progress, the wonderful get well cards we received, the beautiful shawl Shirley Potter made for me during my recovery, the flowers and gifts from family and six grandchildren, the important documents and other things Craig and Penny have taken care of in my absence, and my loving husband who is with me every day helping me get through this critical time. Thanks to all of you and God bless you! Joann Nottingham
THE MOVIE: “TORTURED FOR CHRIST”: The congregation has another opportunity to attend a film like last summer’s Martin Luther movie. This one is entitled “Tortured For Christ” and is the story of Pastor Richard Wurmbrand from Romania and his story under Communist rule following World War II. (Pastor has read two books about both Pastor Wurrmbrand and his wife if you have any questions.) The showing is TOMORROW, March 19th at 7:30 p.m. at the AMC Starplex in Normal. Tickets can be purchased online at: www.torturedforchrist.com.
THE LUTHERAN HOUR: “And They Crucified Him” is the topic for next Sunday. The sermon text will be from Mark 14:24a. It takes a lot to overcome fear, a lot of words, in fact a lifetime of words. Let this Easter Day be a new beginning of trusting Jesus’ words of resurrection and life! Reverend Dr. Ken Klaus is the speaker. Hear his 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.
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.
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 cell phone# is (309) 532-2582. The Prayer Request box is on the table in the narthex for any written requests.