December 11, 2016

THOUGHTS ON STEWARDSHIP:  Isaiah 35:4:  “Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.””  The return of our Lord at the Last Day is a cause of joy and anticipation for us believers.  We know our Lord and His love, and we look forward to His Second Advent.  Indeed, how we live our lives here and now flows from our certain hope of resurrection and eternal life.

TODAY:  Two new adult confirmands are joining our Good Shepherd family this morning.  Bill Nelson, the brother of Emily Field.  Bill enjoys sports and baking.  Ashley Nero, engaged to Bryan Reichert.  Ashley’s interests include scrapbooking, zumba, playing with her pets, social work and the Cubs!  Please welcome them to our congregation.

MIDWEEK ADVENT WORSHIP:  The third of our three Advent Worship Services is this Wednesday, December 14^th at 7:00 p.m.  The theme for our Advent/Christmas messages is “Family Life”.  This week’s sermon is “A List!”.  A meal is served at 5:30 p.m. and you may sign-up in the narthex to bring food.  The free-will Offering will go to Bethesda Lutheran Communities.

SPECIAL WORSHIP AND BIBLE CLASS:  Please join us for worship and Bible Class next Sunday, December 18^th, as we have two special things planned for that day.  Both the 8:00 and 10:30 worship will be “A Service of Lessons and Carols” led by our Choir.  There will be no Holy Communion in either service.  Because of this, we will have Holy Communion in both worship services on Sunday, December 11^th.  Also that morning Karson Lueck will lead the Bible Class.  Karson will present part two of his topic, “The Church and Millenials”.  We encourage all adults and young people to be part of this timely and interesting study.

2017 OFFERING ENVELOPES:  Your 2017 Offering Envelopes are available on the cart that is located in the narthex.  We encourage everyone to pick up your envelopes!

IT’S TIME TO ORDER POINSETTIAS:  We have a sign-up sheet on the table in the narthex for poinsettias on the altar for Christmas. The cost is $8.00 each and you may sign up until Sunday, December 18th. The poinsettias will be available to be taken home after Epiphany which is on Sunday, January 8^th.  An envelope is also available 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.

THE LUTHERAN ANNUAL:  It’s time again to order your copy of “The Lutheran Annual”, this being the 500^th Anniversary of the Reformation.  The cost is $25.00.  If you are interested in obtaining a copy, please contact Janet in the church office or by phone (309) 662-8905 or email at: goodshepherdblm@frontier.com. Or even in person.

MARK YOU CALENDARS:  Please be sure to mark your calendars that Good Shepherd will just have one Worship Service at 9:00 a.m. on Christmas Day.  The Sunday School and Adult Bible Class will not meet that morning.

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.

YOU ARE INVITED:  Christ Lutheran Church in Normal invites you to take a free guided 20 minute walking tour and experience “The Journey” that Mary and Joseph took so many years ago.  This tour features indoor and outdoor scenes with live drama, animals and singing.  “Journeys begin inside every 10 minutes between 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. TODAY.  Free cookies and hot chocolate will be available.  Meals are also available for purchase between 4:30 – 7:00 p.m.  For more information please call the church at (309) 452-5609.

THE LUTHERAN HOUR:  “Peace On Earth, Peace That Lasts” is the topic for next Sunday.  The sermon text will be from Matthew 1:18-25.  What is the key to real and lasting peace on earth?  Jesus, God with us.  Reverend Dr. Gregory Seltz 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 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.

†  †  †  †  †  †

November 27, 2016

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: the blessing it is 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!

THE ADULT BIBLE CLASS, meeting in the basement at 9:15 a.m. continues a DVD based study: “Jesus – Legend or Lord?”  The class features LC-MS Author and Scholar Dr. Paul Maier discussing History and Archaeology and how it all fits with the Holy Scriptures.

TODAY IN SUNDAY SCHOOL students explored the story “God Forgives David.”  Just as God accepted and forgave King David and other great saints who committed grave sins, so He accepts and forgives us, all for the sake of Christ.  Parents could ask, “Who reminds you of your sins?  Who tells you about forgiveness?

TODAY:  You are invited to join the Evangelism/Stewardship Board as we decorate the church for the Advent/Christmas Season today after the 10:30 worship.  We will order pizza and be merry!

TODAY:  Advent Devotion Booklets are available on the table in the narthex.  Pick up your copy today.  Reflect on your own Christmas memories while you take an Advent journey with the Gospel writer Luke as he shares the story of the Savior’s birth.

MIDWEEK ADVENT WORSHIP:  The first of our three Advent Worship Services is this Wednesday, November 30th, at 7:00 p.m.  The theme for our Advent/Christmas messages is “Family Life”.  This week’s sermon is “Two Families”.  A meal is served at 5:30 p.m. and you may sign-up in the narthex to bring food.  The free-will Offering will go to Mr. Jeremy Hercamp, the seminary student at Concordia Theological Seminary who we support.

SPECIAL WORSHIP AND BIBLE CLASS:  Please join us for worship and Bible Class on Sunday, December 18^th, as we have two special things planned for that day.  Both the 8:00 and 10:30 worship will be “A Service of Lessons and Carols” led by our Choir.  There will be no Holy Communion in either service.  Because of this, we will have Holy Communion in both worship services on Sunday, December 11^th.  Also that morning Karson Lueck will lead the Bible Class.  Karson will present part two of his topic, “The Church and Millenials”.  We encourage all adults and young people to be part of this timely and interesting study.

THE LADIES MORNING BIBLE STUDY will be meeting at the home of Diane Benjamin on Tuesday, December 13^th at 9:30 a.m.

MARK YOU CALENDARS:  Please be sure to mark your calendars that Good Shepherd will just have one Worship Service at 9:00 a.m. on Christmas Day.  The Sunday School and Adult Bible Class will not meet that morning.

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.

YOU ARE INVITED:  Christ Lutheran Church in Normal invites you to take a free guided 20 minute walking tour and experience “The Journey” that Mary and Joseph took so many years ago.  This tour features indoor and outdoor scenes with live drama, animals and singing.  “Journeys begin inside every 10 minutes between 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 11^th.  Free cookies and hot chocolate will be available.  Meals are also available for purchase between 4:30 – 7:00 p.m.  For more information please call the church at (309) 452-5609.

THE LUTHERAN HOUR:  “Wait Until He Comes!” is the topic for next Sunday.  The sermon text will be from Isaiah 11:1-10.  A broken world waits, yearns, and hopes for restoration.  Jesus has already done everything to make that restoration a reality.  Reverend Dr. Gregory Seltz 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 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.

†  †  †  †  † †

November 20, 2016

THOUGHTS ON STEWARDSHIP:  Colossians 1:18:  “And He is the head of the body, the church.”  We are part of the Body of Christ; He is our Head.  Where He goes, we follow.  His thoughts direct our actions.  This is how the people of God learn how to give, and why they give: Because Jesus gives, indeed He gives all He has.

THE ADULT BIBLE CLASS, meeting in the basement at 9:15 a.m. continues a DVD based study: “Jesus – Legend or Lord?”  The class features LC-MS Author and Scholar Dr. Paul Maier discussing History and Archaeology and how it all fits with the Holy Scriptures.

TODAY IN SUNDAY SCHOOL students study the account “David Becomes King.”  Just as David reigned over Israel, so the God-man, Jesus, our David, reigns over the kingdom of grace, of which we are citizens.  Consider asking, “How was King David different from King Saul?  How does Jesus serve as our King?”

TODAY is the deadline for items to be submitted for the DECEMBER NEWSLETTER.  Mandy Kluender is our Editor for the church newsletter and any announcements you want to be published in the Newsletter should be submitted to her at mgkluender@hotmail.com or you may call her at (309) 838-9868.

THANKSGIVING EVE WORSHIP with Holy Communion will take place at 7:00 p.m. this Wednesday, November 23^rd.

“DECK THE HALLS”:  The Evangelism/Stewardship Board is hosting Christmas Decorating of the Church next Sunday, November 27^th, following the 10:30 worship service.  We will order pizza and enjoy fun and fellowship as we prepare for the birth of the Savior.

ADVENT SUPPER SIGN-UP:  Sign-ups are now available for the Advent Suppers that will be before our Advent Worship Services.  The dates will be November 30^th, December 7^th and December 14^th.  Each night we will have a free-will offering at the meal designated to help a person or mission we support.

MARK YOU CALENDARS:  Please be sure to mark your calendars that Good Shepherd will just have one Worship Service at 9:00 a.m. on Christmas Day.  The Sunday School and Adult Bible Class will not meet that morning.

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.

FUND-RAISER FOR WITTENBERG LUTHERAN CENTER:  Give the cook a break before Thanksgiving!  Plan to arrange your dietary calendar around this coming Tuesday NOVEMBER 22^nd and the delightful menu offered by Rosati’s Authentic Chicago Pizza in Normal!  A portion of all their proceeds for the entire day will be designated for the Campus Ministry and students at Wittenberg.  Whether you dine-in, carry-out, or have your food delivered, mention the name “Wittenberg Lutheran Center” when ordering and Wittenber will receive a percentage of your total bill.  They have a full menu of pizza, pasta, calzones, salads, and tasty deserts.  Rosati’s is located at 1720 Bradford Lane (off Raab Rd.), Suite A, in Normal.  For fast, friendly delivery or carry out, call 309-888-4949.  Thank you!

THE LUTHERAN HOUR:  “The Perfect Christmas” is the topic for next Sunday.  The sermon text will be from Galatians 4:4-5.  The first Christmas was anything but perfect.  Then again, if everything had been just as it should be, we wouldn’t have needed a Savior.  Reverend Dr. Gregory Seltz 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 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.

†  †  †  †  †  †

November 13, 2016

THOUGHTS ON STEWARDSHIP:  Luke 21:6:  “As for these things that you see, the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”  Everything in this world is headed for the graveyard – but some things are also destined to rise from the grave.  On that Day of Resurrection as we look back on our earthly life, what will we see?  What will have really mattered?  This is a good question to ask ourselves in this season of the Church Year that focuses on the Last Things.

THE ADULT BIBLE CLASS:  John Hardy, a member of our congregation, will lead the Adult Bible Class in the basement at 9:15 a.m.  John has been working with Laborers For Christ and he will share his experiences.

TODAY IN SUNDAY SCHOOL students study the story of “David and Jonathan”.  Just as David’s and Jonathan’s brotherly love for each other reflected the love of God within their hearts, so, too, our love for others is the reflection of God’s love given to us through Christ.  Parents could ask, “How did David and Jonathan demonstrate their love and care for each other?  How does God demonstrate His love and care for us?”

TODAY:  Thank you to Reverend David Ehlers from Our Redeemer Lutheran in Bloomington for being with us today.  We pray the Lord’s Blessings upon Pastor Ehlers and his work for the Lord.  Pastor, Toni, and Holden are visiting Karson at college this weekend and worshipping with him.

TODAY will be our monthly Door Offering for Seminary student Jeremy Hercamp.  Jeremy is a student at Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, IN.

TODAY IS GOOD SHEPHERD’S ANNUAL VOTER’S MEETING:  Following the 10:30 Worship Service there will be a Potluck Dinner followed by the Voter’s Meeting.  The church will provide the meat and drink for the Potluck Dinner.

COMMITMENT ENVELOPES:  If you did not pick up your 2016 Commitment Envelope you can find it on the table in the narthex.  Today the Stewardship/Evangelism Board will hand out the 2017 Commitment Cards.  Please fill out and bring them back for “Stewardship Sunday”, next Sunday, November 20^th.

GOOD SHEPHERD FRIDAY MOVIE NIGHT is this coming Friday, November 18^th, at 6:30 p.m.  We will be showing the movie, “COURAGEOUS, Honor Begins at Home”.  It is a powerful, entertaining and life-changing movie about law enforcement officers facing a challenge that none of them are truly prepared to tackle: “fatherhood”.  Join us for a good movie, good food and great fellowship.

NEXT SUNDAY is the deadline for items to be submitted for the DECEMBER NEWSLETTER.  Mandy Kluender is our Editor for the church newsletter and any announcements you want to be published in the Newsletter should be submitted to her at mgkluender@hotmail.com or you may call her at (309) 838-9868.

THANKSGIVING EVE WORSHIP with Holy Communion will take place at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 23^rd.

“DECK THE HALLS”:  The Evangelism/Stewardship Board is hosting Christmas Decorating of the Church on Sunday, November 27^th, following the 10:30 worship service.  We will order pizza and enjoy fun and fellowship as we prepare for the birth of the Savior.

ADVENT SUPPER SIGN-UP:  Sign-ups are now available for the Advent Suppers that will be before our Advent Worship Services.  The dates will be November 30^th, December 7^th and December 14^th.  Each night we will have a different free-will Offering at the meal to help a person or Mission we support.

MARK YOU CALENDARS:  Please be sure to mark your calendars that Good Shepherd will just have one Worship Service at 9:00 a.m. on Christmas Day.  The Sunday School and Adult Bible Class will not meet that morning.

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.

THE LUTHERAN HOUR:  “In Christ, Deliverance Is Sure” is the topic for next Sunday.  The sermon text will be from Colossians 1:13-20.  Jesus breaks through into our dark world to bring us light and hope from above.  Reverend Dr. Gregory Seltz 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 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.

†  †  †  †  †  †