THOUGHTS ON STEWARDSHIP: Matthew 21:3 – “If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’and he will send them at once.” Just a colt and her foal. How significant could they be? Could they really be used by the Lord for some great, heavenly purpose? This is one facet of stewardship we often forget: it is a blessing to us to be of service in the Lord’s kingdom. What honor the Lord bestows upon us by using our gifts for His goals.
FAITH IN ACTION OF BLOOMINGTON/NORMAL: One ride, one visit, one Senior at a time. Need a ride? Want to volunteer? Need more information? Call (309) 827-7780; or email: office@bnfia.org or contact Barry Hamlin at (309) 750-9424.
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.
TODAY following the 10:30 Worship Service we will decorate the church for Advent/Christmas. We will enjoy lunch, deck the church and be jolly!
MIDWEEK ADVENT SERVICES: Our Midweek Advent Services begin this Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. The theme is: “Advent Calendars” and this week’s message: “Advent Calendars: Time”. The fellowship begins with a meal in the church basement at 5:30 p.m. You may sign-up for food in the narthex. Each week there will be a free-will Offering and this week it goes to Wittenberg Lutheran Center at Illinois State University.
THE ADVENT DEVOTIONS titled “Call His Name Jesus” are available on the table in the narthex. Pick up your free copy today.
THE “SHARING TREE” is up and ready. Please consider helping The Baby Fold’s foster children. Choose an item from the tree and return to Church by this coming Wednesday, December 4th (Midweek Advent Service). If you are buying clothing please include a Gift Receipt. Any questions can be directed to Toni Lueck or Paula Hardy. Thank you.
POINSETTIAS SIGN-UP: There is a sign-up sheet in the narthex for poinsettias that will be on the altar for Christmas. The cost is $10.00 each and you will need to sign-up by Wednesday, December 18th. There is an envelope on the table in the narthex for your check or cash. Please make your check payable to: Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and write Poinsettia on the memo line. If you have any questions, please contact Jackie Kwasny at (309) 662-4995 ot Luanne Huth at (309) 829-6897.
FELLOWSHIP HOSTS: In order to get more people involved in our Coffee/Donut Fellowship for 2019 we have two separate sign-ups: Donut Pick-up and Coffee Set-up. We would like to encourage you to sign-up for one or the other. You may also sign-up for both if you wish. The sign-up sheet is by the door by the north stairwell.
YOU ARE INVITED to “Journey To The Manger” at Christ Lutheran Church, 311 N. Hershey Rd. in Normal next Sunday, December 8th from 5-7:00 p.m. Free “Tours” include: Live drama and animals; singing and music; indoor and outdoor scenes and hot chocolate and cookies. Meals are available for purchases from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. If you have any questions please call the church at (309) 452-5609.
THE LUTHERAN HOUR: “God’s Yes” is the topic for next Sunday. The sermon text will be from Romans 8:18-39. (Loved and Sent Series.) If we say that God’s purpose is simply to take our souls to heaven when we die, we might miss God’s bigger ‘yes’ . . .God’s ‘yes’ to putting bodies and souls back together again in the resurrection, God’s ‘yes’ to creation as He intended it to be. The speaker will be, Dr. Michael Zeigler. 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 OFFICE: The church now has a new email address. Our new email address is: office@goodshepherdblm.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.
INFORMATION REQUESTED: Please notify the church office if someone in the congregation or any family or friends are ill or hospitalized.
PRAYER CIRCLE: 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.