Bulletin Notes

THOUGHTS ON STEWARDSHIP:  John 1:29 – “The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’ ”  The Israelites of old offered a lamb to God at Passover so that death might pass over them and do no harm. Over those long centuries of sacrifice, did they understand that this was actually God’s gift?  Did they understand that God would be the true Giver of the true Lamb?  Truly, we can never outgive God, for all that we have is His.

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.

THE ADULT BIBLE CLASS meets in the basement at 9:15 a.m. and will be studying “Did God Really Say . . .?” in conjunction with Sanctity of Life Sunday.

OUR SUNDAY SCHOOL meets at 9:15 a.m. in the Choir Room which is located on the 2^nd level (the west side).

TODAY is the deadline for items to be submitted for the FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER.   Any announcements you want to be published in the Newsletter should be submitted via email to: office@goodshepherdblm.org, mail, hand-delivered, or you may call (309) 662-8905.  Thank you!

NEXT SUNDAY, January 26^th, we will have Holy Communion in both worship services.  This is being done because Pastor will be gone on Sunday, February 2^nd, and there will be no Communion that morning.

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-February. The Seminary needs clothes for men, women, and children. They also accept shoes, coats, and kitchen supplies.  Please be sure all donated items are clean and in good repair.  Please bring your donations to the 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!

FELLOWSHIP HOSTS:  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.

FROM THE OFFICE:  The congregation received a letter from Reverend Michael Kearney.  It is on the table in the narthex.  Reverend Kearney is a former member of Good Shepherd and one of the many seminarians we have supported.  He is now a Chaplain in the Army and will be deployed to Afghanistan in the near future.  Please keep Reverend Kearney, his wife and their growing family in your prayers.

FROM THE OFFICE:  The church received a brochure on the Summer Offerings in 2020 at Camp CILCA.  Camp CILCA is the camp of our Central Illinois District and you may peruse the brochure located on the table in the narthex.

YOU ARE INVITED:  Celebrate 70 years of outdoor adventure at Camp CILCA’s 3^rd Annual Banquet on NEXT SUNDAY, January 26^th from 5-8:00 p.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Springfield.  The evening includes a live brass ensemble and dinner from Nelson’s Catering, guest speaker will be Reverand Jonathan Fisk, and a look at CILCA’s future.  Tickets are $40.00 and must be reserved by Thursday, January 23^rd by contacting the Camp Office at (217) 487-7497 or email to: camp@cilca.org.

THE LUTHERAN HOUR:  “Call It a Comback” is the topic for next Sunday.  The sermon text will be from Genesis 41.  (New Series)  In Christ, God is writing a comeback story for you.  But we don’t call it a comeback if it’s the same old you that’s been here for years.  You call it a comeback because life in Jesus means the death of the old you, and through faith in Jesus the real you can truly live.  The speaker will be Reverend 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 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.

THOUGHTS ON STEWARDSHIP:  Matthew 3:15 – “But Jesus answered him, ‘Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.’ ”  The reason God sent His Son into the world is to fulfill all righteousness for us, to do what we could not do.  So here Jesus plunges Himself into our sins and soaks them up in His Baptism, so that in our Baptism we might be cleansed and renewed.  The whole of Jesus’ life, everything He did and said, was one great offering to the Father in our stead to fulfill all righteousness for us.  All our offerings back to our Lord are in thanksgiving for this one great, true offering.

THE ADULT BIBLE CLASS meets in the basement at 9:15 a.m. and is studying a DVD-based Study entitled: “Joseph: Carpenter of Steel!”  Come learn about this important person in the Christmas Story.

OUR SUNDAY SCHOOL meets at 9:15 a.m. in the Choir Room which is located on the 2^nd level (the west side).

TODAY we welcome Chris Patterson to our congregation as he joins through Profession of Faith in our 10:30 worship service.  Chris works in Cyber Security for Palo Alto Networks.  He has two children, Chloe and Gavin.  He lives at 1400 Indigo Drive in Morton IL.  His phone# is (309) 825-2537 and email is: cpatterson1974@gmail.com.  Chris also enjoys golf and coaching softball.

FROM THE OFFICE:  We received a card from our adopted Seminary Student Aaron Wendorf and family—child #3 is to be born any day.  To read more about their lives, the card is posted on the bulletin board outside the church office.  TODAY will be our monthly Offering for Aaron.

TODAY:  Pastor and Mary Anne will be at Luther Oaks today at 2:00 p.m. as they conduct the weekly worship service.

THE FIRST GOOD SHEPHERD FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE MOVIES of the new decade will be shown THIS COMING FRIDAY, January 17^th at 6:30 p.m.  The movie is titled “OVERCOMER”.  Life changes overnight for coach John Harrison (Alex Kendrick) after he loses his basketball team and is challenged by the school’s principal , Olivia (Priscilla Shirer), to coach a new sport he doesn’t know or like.  As John questions his own worth, he dares to help the least likely runner take on the biggest race of the year.  Filled with a powerful mix of faith, humor and heart, this inspirational story will have you on the edge of your seat.   Join us for the first Friday Night at the Movies of the new decade.  It is a great movie, there will be plenty of food and good fellowship.

NEXT SUNDAY is the deadline for items to be submitted for the FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER.   Any announcements you want to be published in the Newsletter should be submitted via email to: office@goodshepherdblm.org, mail, hand-delivered, or you may call (309) 662-8905.  Thank you!

FROM THE OFFICE:  The church received a brochure on the Summer Offerings in 2020 at Camp CILCA.  Camp CILCA is the camp of our Central Illinois District and you may peruse the brochure located on the table in the narthex.

FROM THE OFFICE:  Georgia Boriack’s new address is:  Georgia Boriack – Resident, Sunrise Assisted Living, 4300 George Mason Blvd., Suite 103, Fairfax VA 22030.

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-February. The Seminary needs clothes for men, women, and children. They also accept shoes, coats, and kitchen supplies.  Please be sure all donated items are clean and in good repair.  Please bring your donations to the 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!

YOU ARE INVITED:  Celebrate 70 years of outdoor adventure at Camp CILCA’s 3^rd Annual Banquet on Sunday, January 26^th from 5-8:00 p.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Springfield.  The evening includes a live brass ensemble and dinner from Nelson’s Catering, guest speaker will be Reverand Jonathan Fisk, and a look at CILCA’s future.  Tickets are $40.00 and must be reserved by Thursday, January 23^rd by contacting the Camp Office at (217) 487-7497 or email to: camp@cilca.org.

THE LUTHERAN HOUR:  “Unforgettable” is the topic for next Sunday.  The sermon text will be from Genesis 40:1-23  (New Series)  We might forget names and faces, dates and places, but God remembers those who are His through faith in Christ.  To God, they are unforgettable.  As we remember Jesus in faith, even more so does God remember us.  The guest speaker will be Dr. Dean Nadasdy.  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.

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.

THOUGHTS ON STEWARDSHIP:  Luke 2:49 – “And he said to them, ‘Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?’ ”  What a privilege the Lord has given to us by calling us to come to His house! It is not a burden but rather an honor and a blessing for us to always be able to come to a place where we know God is present for us in His gifts of Word and Sacrament.  Likewise, the Lord has honored us by allowing us to support the work of His house with our tithes and offerings.

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.

THE ADULT BIBLE CLASS meets in the basement at 9:15 a.m. and is studying a DVD-based Study entitled: “Joseph: Carpenter of Steel!”  Come learn about this important person in the Christmas Story.

OUR SUNDAY SCHOOL meets at 9:15 a.m. in the Choir Room which is located on the 2^nd level (the west side).

TODAY:  If you purchased a Poinsettia, you may take it home TODAY.

THE LADIES MORNING BIBLE STUDY will meet twice a month starting this month.  We will meet on the 1^st and 3^rd Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m.   This month we meet on January 7^th and January 21^st.

OFFERING ENVELOPES:  The 2020 Offering Envelopes are now available for you to pick-up.  They are located in the narthex with your name on them.  If you are not sure of your name, please check with the church office.  Thank you.

FROM THE OFFICE:  We received a card from our adopted Seminary Student Aaron Wendorf and family—child #3 is to be born any day.  To read more about their lives, the card is posted on the bulletin board outside the church office.  Next Sunday, January 12^th, will be our monthly Offering for Aaron.

FROM THE OFFICE:  Georgia Boriack’s new address is:  Georgia Boriack – Resident, Sunrise Assisted Living, 4300 George Mason Blvd., Suite 103, Fairfax VA 22030.

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-February. The Seminary needs clothes for men, women, and children. They also accept shoes, coats, and kitchen supplies.  Please be sure all donated items are clean and in good repair.  Please bring your donations to the 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!

PORTALS OF PRAYER:  The January—March 2020 Portals of Prayer are available on the bookrack in the narthex.  Pick up your free copy today!

FELLOWSHIP HOSTS:  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.

THE LUTHERAN HOUR:  “People Are Treasure” is the topic for next Sunday.  The sermon text will be from Genesis 39  The speaker will be Reverend 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.

THOUGHTS ON STEWARDSHIP:  Matthew 1:21 – “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”  Jesus has done what our good works could never do.  He has saved us from our sins, paid our debt, and set us free.  How can we not give thanks to Him with lives of generosity and godliness?  What God’s Law could not do – truly motivate us to truly good works – Jesus’ love has done.

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.

THE ADULT BIBLE CLASS meets in the basement at 9:15 a.m. and is studying a DVD-based Study entitled: “Joseph: Carpenter of Steel!”  Come learn about this important person in the Christmas Story.

OUR SUNDAY SCHOOL meets at 9:15 a.m. in the Choir Room which is located on the 2^nd level (the west side).

TWO SPECIAL WORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES THIS WEEK:  Christmas Eve Worship with Holy Communion is Tuesday at 6:00 p.m.  Christmas Day Worship with Holy Communion is Wednesday morning at 9:00 a.m.

 OFFERING ENVELOPES:  The 2020 Offering Envelopes are now available for you to pick-up.  They are located in the narthex with your name on them.  If you are not sure of your name, please check with the church office.  Thank you.

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-February. The Seminary needs clothes for men, women, and children. They also accept shoes, coats, and kitchen supplies.  Please be sure all donated items are clean and in good repair.  Please bring your donations to the 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!

FROM THE OFFICE:  We received a card from our adopted Seminary Student Aaron Wendorf and family—child #3 is to be born any day.  To read more about their lives, the card is posted on the bulletin board outside the church office.

PORTALS OF PRAYER:  The January—March 2020 Portals of Prayer are available on the bookrack in the narthex.  Pick up your free copy today!

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.

WELCOMING NEW INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS:  You can make a big impact on the lives of International Students and they will make a big impact on your life.  We are looking for Christian individuals and families to welcome newly arriving International Students.  Most will be arriving between January 3^rd and 5^th.  New student orientation will begin on January 6^th.  You could help in any of the following ways: 1) Hosting a student in your home for a few days; 2) Providing transportation from the bus, plane or train; 3) Hosting a student for a meal or taking them to the store.    If you are interested and would like more information, please contact John and Linda Berger, serving with International Students, Inc., at 309.664.0377 or jwberger@ilstu.edu.  Training is required for 1^st time participants.  Training and resource information will be provided on several different dates (you only need attend one).

THE LUTHERAN HOUR:  “VDMA” is the topic for next Sunday.  The sermon text will be from Jeremiah 23:24.  From the days of the prophet Jeremiah to our own, some things haven’t changed all that much.  There’s still corruption, violence, injustice, tragedy, and suffering.  That’s the bad news.  However, the Word of the Lord endures forever.  So does God’s love for us in Jesus Christ.  The speaker will be Pastor John Nunes.  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.

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.

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.

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.

THE ADULT BIBLE CLASS meets in the basement at 9:15 a.m. and is studying a DVD-based Study entitled: “Joseph: Carpenter of Steel!”  Come learn about this important person in the Christmas Story.

OUR SUNDAY SCHOOL meets at 9:15 a.m. in the Choir Room which is located on the 2^nd level (the west side).

THIRD WEEK ADVENT SERVICES:  Our 3^rd and final Advent Worship will be this Wednesday, December 18^th at 7:00 p.m.  The theme this week: “Advent Calendars: ‘Living’”.  A cornucopia of appetite relievers will be available at 5:30 p.m. in the basement of the church.  The sign-up to bring food is in the narthex.  This week’s free-will Offering will help the ministry of “Lutherans For Life”.

OFFERING ENVELOPES:  The 2020 Offering Envelopes are now available for you to pick-up.  They are located in the narthex with your name on them.  If you are not sure of your name, please check with the church office.  Thank you.

THE ADVENT DEVOTIONS titled “Call His Name Jesus” are available on the table in the narthex.  Pick up your free copy today.

POINSETTIAS SIGN-UP:  There is a sign-up sheet on the table 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 THIS COMING WEDNESDAY, December 18^th.   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 or Luanne Huth at (309) 829-6897.

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-February. The Seminary needs clothes for men, women, and children. They also accept shoes, coats, and kitchen supplies.  Please be sure all donated items are clean and in good repair.  Please bring your donations to the 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!

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.

WELCOMING NEW INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS:  You can make a big impact on the lives of International Students and they will make a big impact on your life.  We are looking for Christian individuals and families to welcome newly arriving International Students.  Most will be arriving between January 3^rd and 5^th.  New student orientation will begin on January 6^th.  You could help in any of the following ways: 1) Hosting a student in your home for a few days; 2) Providing transportation from the bus, plane or train; 3) Hosting a student for a meal or taking them to the store.  If you are interested and would like more information, please contact John and Linda Berger, serving with International Students, Inc., at 309.664.0377 or jwberger@ilstu.edu.  Training is required for 1^st time participants.  Training and resource information will be provided on several different dates (you only need attend one).

THE LUTHERAN HOUR: “Here To Stay” is the topic for next Sunday.  The sermon text will be from Matthew 1:18-25.  So long as there is time, God won’t leave us alone—even if we say that’s what we want.  The message of Christmas is that God has come to be with us and He’s here to stay.  How do we know?  God has given us both direct and indirect signs that point us toward this truth.  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 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.

THOUGHTS ON STEWARDSHIP:  Matthew 3:1-2 – “In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ ”  John prepared the way for Jesus by preaching repentance. Then, when Jesus’ ministry was complete and He was raised from the dead, He sent out His disciples to preach “repentance and the forgiveness of sins.”  We never outgrow the need for repentance – examining our lives, turning away from our sins, and turning toward Jesus in faith to receive  His forgiveness and strength for a renewed life of godliness.

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.

THE ADULT BIBLE CLASS meets in the basement at 9:15 a.m.; is studying a DVD-based Study entitled: “Joseph: Carpenter of Steel!”  Come learn about this important person in the Christmas Story.

OUR SUNDAY SCHOOL meets at 9:15 a.m. in the Choir Room which is located on the 2^nd level (the west side).

MIDWEEK ADVENT SERVICES:  Our 2^nd Midweek Advent Service will commence at 7:00 p.m. this Wednesday, December 11th.  Our Scripture messages for Advent center around the theme: “Advent Calendars”.  This week you will hear: “Advent Calendars: ‘Theme’”  A meal of fellowship and frivolity will begin in the basement of the church at 5:30 p.m.  To sign-up to bring your delicious creations you may do so in the narthex.  The free-will Offering this week will go to our Seminary Student, Aaron Wendorff.  Today is also our door Offering for Aaron and his family.

 OFFERING ENVELOPES:  The 2020 Offering Envelopes are now available for you to pick-up.  They are located in the narthex with your name on them.  If you are not sure of your name, please check with the church office.  Thank you.

THE ADVENT DEVOTIONS titled “Call His Name Jesus” are available on the table in the narthex.  Pick up your free copy today.

POINSETTIAS SIGN-UP:  There is a sign-up sheet on the table 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 18^th.   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 today 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:  “Love Is Enough” is the topic for next Sunday.  The sermon text will be from Matthew 22:35-40.  Loved and Sent Series – God shows us a different kind of love.  It’s love for the world that is not of this world.  Love that is focused outward, love that gives without requiring anything in return.  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 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.