January 14, 2018

THOUGHTS ON STEWARDSHIP:  1 Corinthians 6:19-20 – “You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”  God owns everything, including our very selves.  We were made to serve Him and glorify Him and will never truly be happy or find our fulfillment until we learn that lesson.  Jesus has redeemed us and brought us back into the Kingdom of the Father – and that has set us free to serve Him in joy, generosity, liberty, and faith.

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 2^nd level (the west side).

ADULT BIBLE CLASS:  In conjunction with Sanctity of Human Life Sunday, the Adult Bible Class will be studying, “Hope For Life”.  The class meets at 9:15 a.m. in the church basement.

TODAY is our door Offering for Seminarian Brent Keller.  Mr. Keller is a 4^th year seminary student at Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, IN.

THE FUNERAL SERVICE for Bud Barnett will be this coming Saturday, January 20^th at 10:30 a.m. at the church.

NEXT SUNDAY is the deadline for items to be submitted for the FEBRUARY 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) 838-9868.

THE BOARD OF ELDERS would like to remind the congregation of our winter weather protocol if worship needs to be cancelled.  We will send an e-mail to members and let WJBC Radio and TV Stations WEEK and WMBD know.  If we do not have your e-mail and you would like to be included please call the church office (309) 662-8905 or sign-up at: http://www.goodshepherdblm.org/about-us/contact-us/.

GOOD SHEPHERD’S FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE MOVIES begins again this coming Friday, January 19^th at 6:30 p.m.  We will be showing the movie, “THE CASE FOR CHRIST”.  Working to disprove the growing Christian faith of his wife, an investigative journalist chases down the biggest story of all time…with unexpected, life-altering results!  “THE CASE FOR CHRIST” is based on the true-life story of Lee Strobel, author of the best-selling book, “THE CASE FOR CHRIST”.  What will your verdict be?  Join us for a great movie, fine fellowship and good food!

WE NEED YOUR IDEAS for our new church sign.  Sheets are available on the table in the narthex.  We will take submissions until Sunday, February 11, 2018.  You may drop them in the box in the narthex.  Thank you!

PORTALS OF PRRAYER:  The January – Martch 2018 are available on the book rack in the narthex.  Please pick up your free copy today.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR:  Wittenberg Lutheran Center’s Speakers Forum is scheduled for Saturday, February 10^th from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in Schroeder Hall, Room 130 on the Illinois State University Campus.  This is a FREE event with lunch served.  Speaking will be Tim Goeglein an LCMS Laymen who worked in the Bush White House.  His topic will be “Faith In The Halls Of Power”.  The other speaker is family psychologist John Rosemond who will discuss “50 Years Of Parenting Babble (With No End In Sight”).

FELLOWSHIP HOSTS:  In order to get more people involved in our Coffee/Donut Fellowship for 2018 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 is by the door by the north stairwell.

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED to Camp CILCA’S first Annual Banquet on Sunday, January 28, 2018 from 5-8:00 p.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall, 2645 Old Jacksonville Rd., Springfield, IL.  Tickets are $40.00 each, and must be purchased before January 20^th.  Purchase tickets by calling the Camp Office at (217) 487-7497, or by email at: camp@cilca.org.

THE LUTHERAN HOUR:  “Meeting Millennials Where They’re At” is the topic for next Sunday.  The sermon text will be from Mark 1:14-20.  Robots can’s produce disciples.  How can we mentor those who don’t know Jesus, or don’t know Him well enough?  Reverend Dr. Dale Meyer 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.

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January 7, 2018 – The Baptism of Our Lord 

Installation of Officers

THOUGHTS ON STEWARDSHIP:  Mark 1:7 – And John preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.”   John is right: Jesus is immensely greater than any of us, yet behold how He came to serve!  That is the upside down, outlandish grace of God: the innocent Jesus takes our sinner’s place.  This is the greatest act of giving the world has ever known or will know:  The Father gives His Son to die in the place of sinners.

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 2^nd level (the west side).

THE ADULT BIBLE CLASS meets in the basement at 9:15 a.m. As we celebrate the 500^th 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.

POINSETTIA PICK UP:  You may pick up your poinsettias TODAY after the 8:00 a.m. or 10:30 a.m. services.  There are plastic covers in the narthex on top of the coat racks at the north end which you may use to protect them.  Thank you for your participation in decorating our Church for the Christmas season.

NEXT SUNDAY, January 24^th, will be our monthly door Offering for our Seminary student.

2018 OFFERING ENVELOPES:  Please pick up your 2018 Offering Envelopes today.  They are located on the table in the narthex.

WE NEED YOUR IDEAS for our new church sign.  Sheets are available on the table in the narthex.  We will take submissions until Sunday, February 11, 2018.  You may drop them in the box in the narthex.  Thank you!

TODAY:  John and Paula Hardy are planning their annual trip to Ft Wayne, IN this coming  Friday, January 12th. Please bring your items to church TODAY, January 7^th.  The Seminary needs clean usable clothes for men, women, and children. They also accept shoes, coats, and kitchen supplies.    There is a closet located in the hall upstairs where items are collected, and packed for our trip.  If you need help finding it just contact John (309) 310-7917.  Thank you!

PORTALS OF PRRAYER:  The January – Martch 2018 are available on the book rack in the narthex.  Please pick up your free copy today.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR:  Please mark your calendar for 2018 – Saturday, February 10^th.  Wittenberg Lutheran is hosting a Speaker’s Forum with the theme, “Cultural and Governmental Influence On God’s Design For the Family”.  The speakers are Tim Goeglein an LCMS Laymen who worked in the Bush White House and now is employed by “Focus On The Family”; and John Rosemond a family psychologist whose syndicated newspaper column appears in The Pantagraph on Saturdays.

FELLOWSHIP HOSTS:  In order to get more people involved in our Coffee/Donut Fellowship for 2018 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 is by the door by the north stairwell.

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED to Camp CILCA’S first Annual Banquet on Sunday, January 28, 2018 from 5-8:00 p.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall, 2645 Old Jacksonville Rd., Springfield, IL.  Tickets are $40.00 each, and must be purchased before January 20^th.  Purchase tickets by calling the Camp Office at (217) 487-7497, or by email at: camp@cilca.org.

THE LUTHERAN HOUR:  “How Well Does Jesus Know Me?” is the topic for next Sunday.  The sermon text will be from John 1:48-51.  It’s nice to have someone know and understand you.  Today the Lutheran Hours asks, “How do you feel about Jesus knowing you?”  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.

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December 31, 2017

THOUGHTS ON STEWARDSHIP:  Luke 2:39 “And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord. . .”  The Law of God is good. Of course, it always shows us our sins: but that is good, too!  We need to be driven back to the forgiveness of Christ.  But the Law also shows us the truly blessed way to live – as Mary and Joseph found their joy in a godly life, so should we see the Law as a guide for Christian living, as the roadmap for saying thank you to the Lord for all His grace and mercy to us.

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 2^nd level (the west side).

THE ADULT BIBLE CLASS meets in the basement at 9:15 a.m. As we celebrate the 500^th 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.

DINNER FOLLOWING NEW YEAR’S EVE WORSHIP SERVICE:  We will be going to dinner at the Ozark House this evening following the 7:00 New Year’s Eve Worship Service.  Anyone interested going to dinner please see or contact Linda Lange (309) 339-9930.  Thank you.

NEXT SUNDAY, January 7^th, we will have the Installation of Church  Officers at both worship services.

2018 OFFERING ENVELOPES:  Please pick up your 2018 Offering Envelopes today.  They are located on the table in the narthex.

WE NEED YOUR IDEAS for our new church sign.  Sheets are available on the table in the narthex.  We will take submissions until Sunday, February 11, 2018.  You may drop them in the box in the narthex.  Thank you!

CAN YOU HELP:  John and Paula Hardy are planning their annual trip to Ft Wayne, IN on Friday, January 12th. Please bring your items to church by Sunday, January 7^th.  The Seminary needs clean usable clothes for men, women, and children. They also accept shoes, coats, and kitchen supplies.    There is a closet located in the hall upstairs where items are collected, and packed for our trip.  If you need help finding it just contact John (309) 310-7917.  Thank you!

MARK YOUR CALENDAR:  Please mark your calendar for 2018 – Saturday, February 10^th.  Wittenberg Lutheran is hosting a Speaker’s Forum with the theme, “Cultural and Governmental Influence On God’s Design For the Family”.  The speakers are Tim Goeglein an LCMS Laymen who worked in the Bush White House and now is employed by “Focus On The Family”; and John Rosemond a family psychologist whose syndicated newspaper column appears in The Pantagraph on Saturdays.

FELLOWSHIP HOSTS:  In order to get more people involved in our Coffee/Donut Fellowship for 2018 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 is by the door by the north stairwell.

THE LUTHERAN HOUR:  “Breaking News!” is the topic for next Sunday.  The sermon text will be from Isaiah 60:1-6.  Epiphany calls us to believe that the Light has come into the world.  A New Year’s message about confidence, if you’ll believe it!  Reverend Dr. Dale A. Meyer 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.

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.

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December 24, 2017

CHRISTMAS EVE CANDLELIGHT WORSHIP:  Tonight will be our Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship with Holy Communion.  The Service begins at 6:00 p.m.  We continue with our theme of: “The Word Becomes Flesh”.  Tonight’s message: “We Have Seen His Glory”.

CHRISTMAS DAY WORSHIP:  Tomorrow morning will be our Christmas Day Worship Service with Holy Communion beginning at 9:00 a.m.  The message: “The Word Dwelt Among Us”.

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.

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.

THE ADULT BIBLE CLASS AND SUNDAY SCHOOL will be from 10:15 – 11:00 a.m. this morning.  The adults meet in the basement and the Sunday School in our Choir Room on the upper level.

PASTOR’S SCHEDULE:  Pastor, Toni, Karson and Holden will be in Wisconsin on Tuesday and Wednesday surviving another family Christmas.  Pastor will be in the office on Thursday.  A Blessed Christmas!

DINNER FOLLOWING NEW YEAR’S EVE WORSHIP SERVICE:  We will be going to dinner at the Ozark House on New Year’s Eve following the 7:00 Worship Service.  Anyone interested going to dinner please see or contact Linda Lange (309) 339-9930.  Thank you.

2018 OFFERING ENVELOPES:  Please pick up your 2018 Offering Envelopes today.  They are located on the table in the narthex.

WE NEED YOUR IDEAS for our new church sign.  Sheets are available on the table in the narthex.  We will take submissions until Sunday, February 11, 2018.  You may drop them in the box in the narthex.  Thank you!

FELLOWSHIP HOSTS:  In order to get more people involved in our Coffee/Donut Fellowship for 2018 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 is by the door by the north stairwell.

CAN YOU HELP:  John and Paula Hardy are planning their annual trip to Ft Wayne, IN on Friday, January 12th.  Please bring your items to church by Sunday, January 7^th.  The Seminary needs clean usable clothes for men, women, and children. They also accept shoes, coats, and kitchen supplies.    There is a closet located in the hall upstairs where items are collected, and packed for our trip.  If you need help finding it just contact John (309) 310-7917.  Thank you!

THE LUTHERAN HOUR:  “Children Of Promise” is the topic for next Sunday.  The sermon text will be from Galatians 4:4-7.  Our identity as God’s children encourages us to live in His grace,  to embrace the freedom Jesus won and to resist the ways of the world that strive to keep us captive. Reverend Dr. Anthony Cook is the speaker.  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.

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.

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December 17, 2017

TODAY in our 10:30 worship we publicly acknowledge the Baptism of Hope Grace Kirchner.  Hope was baptized by Pastor Lueck at Children’s Hospital in Peoria, IL on October 30, 2017.  Hope’s sponsor is Holden LUECK.

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 2^nd level (the west side).

THE ADULT BIBLE CLASS meets in the basement at 9:15 a.m. As we celebrate the 500^th 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.

MIDWEEK ADVENT WORSHIP:  The third our three Advent Services is this Wednesday, December 20^th at 7:00 p.m.  This year’s theme is: “The Word Becomes Flesh”, based on John 1:1-18.  This week’s message is: “Chosen Children” Meals are served at 5:30 p.m. in the basement.  The food sign-up is in the narthex and this week’s free-will Offering will go to our Seminary Student.

2018 OFFERING ENVELOPES:  Please pick up your 2018 Offering Envelopes today.  They are located on the table in the narthex.

POINSETTIAS FOR THE ALTAR:   We have a sign-up sheet on the table in the narthex for poinsettias on the altar for Christmas.  They are $8.00 each and you may sign up until Wednesday, December 20th.  They will be available to be taken home after Epiphany on Sunday, January 7^th.  There will be an envelope with the sign-up sheet for your check or cash.  Please make checks payable to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and list “Poinsettia” on memo line.  If you have any questions, please contact Jackie Kwasny at (309) 662-4995 or Luanne Huth at (309) 829-6897.

THIS WEEK:  The Ladies Morning Bible Study will have their Christmas Gathering this coming Tuesday, December 19^th at 9:30 a.m.  We are meeting at the Club House, south of the church.

WE NEED YOUR IDEAS for our new church sign.  Sheets are available on the table in the narthex.  We will take submissions until Sunday, February 11, 2018.  You may drop them in the box in the narthex.  Thank you!

FELLOWSHIP HOSTS:  In order to get more people involved in our Coffee/Donut Fellowship for 2018 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 is by the door by the north stairwell.

FROM THE OFFICE:  We received a Christmas letter from Pastor Jacob Hercamp and family.  Jacob was the Seminary Student we supported last year.  It is on the bulletin board outside the church office.

CHRISTMAS EVE MORNING:  The Elders at their November meeting made a worship change for Christmas Eve morning.  We will have one Worship Service at 9:00 a.m. with Sunday School and Adult Bible Class from 10:15 – 11:00 a.m.  The Christmas Eve Candlelight Evening Worship will be at 6:00 p.m.

CAN YOU HELP: John and Paula Hardy are planning their annual trip to Ft Wayne, IN.  It will be sometime after the holidays, hopefully mid-January. The Seminary needs clean usable clothes for men, women, and children. They also accept shoes, coats, and kitchen supplies.  Please bring them to church.  There is a closet located in the hall upstairs where items are collected, and packed for our trip.  If you need help finding it just contact John (309) 310-7917.  Thank you!

THE LUTHERAN HOUR:  “The Greatest Story Ever Told” is the topic for next Sunday.  The sermon text will be from Luke 1:30-32a. What is your favorite story?  This Christmas Day, the speaker talks about God’s greatest story.  Reverend Dr. Ken Klaus is the speaker.  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. 

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.

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