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THOUGHTS ON STEWARDSHIP:  Matthew. 5:17 – “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”  We cannot keep the Law of God perfectly.  We are sinners.  For us to be saved, Jesus had to fill up the Law in our place.  Now the threat of the Law is abolished, and the Law itself is upheld.  For in Christ now we desire to fulfill the Law and to live out a godly Christian life.  This is precisely because we are so full of thanksgiving toward God for His salvation in Christ.

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.

TODAY will be our monthly door Offering for our Seminary student Aaron Wendorff.

“BRINGING CHRIST TO THE NATIONS AND THE NATIONS TO THE CHURCH”:  That is the mission of Lutheran Hour Ministries and the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.  Visit the display in the narthex and take some booklets and any other material.  Discover LHM and find out more at:  lhm.org/lhmsunday.  Many helpful resources are available.

PLEASE READ THIS: Have you noticed that you have not seen someone in church for a while and thought about making contact but just have not got around to it?  Stop by the LHM display in the narthex today and pick-up a wooden nickel.  Take a pen or pencil and print TUIT on it.  You now have a round TUIT.  Make that contact now! 

NEXT SUNDAY is the deadline for items to be submitted for the MARCH 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!

GOOD SHEPHERD FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE MOVIES  for February will show “THE GRACE CARD” will be shown on Friday, February 21^st at 6:30pm.  After police officer Mac McDonald loses his son in an accident, years of bitterness and pain erode his love for his family and leave him angry with God… and everyone else.  Can Mac and his new patrol partner, Sgt. Sam Wright, somehow join forces to help one another when it’s impossible to look past their differences – especially the most obvious one?  Every day, we have the opportunity to rebuild relationships and heal wounds by extending and receiving God’s grace.  Offer THE GRACE CARD…and never underestimate the power of god’s love.  THE GRACE CARD stars Michael Joiner, Michael Higgenbottom and Academy Award winner Louis Gossett, Jr.  Join us for this great movie.  There will be plenty of good food and wonderful fellowship. See you there!

GOOD SHEPHERD IS CHANGING WORSHIP AND BIBLE CLASS/SUNDAY SCHOOL TIME on Sunday, March 1^st.  Worship will be at 9:00 a.m., with Holy Communion each week and Bible Class/Sunday School will be at 10:15 a.m.  Please keep this change in your prayers as we make this transition.

CAN YOU HELP: John and Paula Hardy have set the date for their annual trip to Ft Wayne, IN.  The date is Wednesday, February 19^th.  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:  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.

THE LUTHERAN HOUR:  “Happy Families Are All Alike” is the topic for next Sunday.  The sermon text will be from Genesis 50:15-26.  The 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:  Matthew 5:6 – “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” You only hunger and thirst for what you don’t have.  Jesus has come to fill us up with righteousness – His own righteousness.  He is the self-giving Lord whose sacrifice inspires us to be givers, too.

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 2^nd level (the west side).

THE ADULT BIBLE CLASS meets in the basement at 9:15 a.m.

NEXT SUNDAY:  We have three things happening next Sunday, November 10th:  1) Annual Voter’s Meeting.  This will take place in the church basement after the 10:30 Worship Service.  We are having a Potluck Meal with the congregation providing the chicken.  (If you want another meat bring it along.)  You may pick up the Slate of Candidates and Budget on the table in the narthex.  2) Stewardship Sunday.  If you did not get your Stewardship Envelope last Sunday, please pick it up today, then bring it back next Sunday.  3)  Door Offering for our Seminary Student.

FOOD COLLECTION:  We will be collecting food for Home Sweet Home Mission for the next three Sundays, November 3^rd, 10^th, and 17^th.  You may leave it in the box in the narthex.

GOOD SHEPHERD will be serving a meal at Wittenberg Lutheran Center for the International Students on Saturday, November 16^th, at 6:30 p.m.  Food sign-up is on the table in the narthex.

THANK YOU:  The LWML would like to thank everyone for their donations for the School Kits and Quilts.  We delivered 75 School Kits and 36 Quilts to Lutheran World Relief on Saturday, October 26, 2019.

FROM THE OFFICE:  The church now has a new email address.  Our new email address is: office@goodshepherdblm.org.

PORTALS OF PRAYER:  The October—December 2019 Portals of Prayer are available on the book rack 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.

THE LUTHERAN HOUR:  “For Such a Downer” is the topic for next Sunday.  The sermon text will be from Genesis 21.  Genesis Series – The cross of Jesus is not a downer, but it is an equalizer.  If you think you’re up on top and you’re pushing others aside, the cross of Jesus will bring you down.  And if you’re down and desperate for some company, you have a friend in the crucified Jesus.  Reverend Dr. Michael Zeigler 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.

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 16:8 – “For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light.”  The sons of this world know that they should use their wealth wisely to provide for their future.  Shouldn’t we “sons of light” know that the wealth God has allowed us to manage should be managed for God’s purposes in the roles He has given us in Church, home, and society?

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 2^nd level (the west side).

THE ADULT BIBLE CLASS meets in the basement at 9:15 a.m.

TODAY is the deadline for items to be submitted for the OCTOBER 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 or (309) 838-1552.  Thank you!

FROM THE OFFICE:  The church now has a new email address.  Our new email address is: office@goodshepherdblm.org.

PORTALS OF PRAYER:  The October—December 2019 Portals of Prayer are available on the book rack 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.

YOU ARE INVITED:  Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Eureka is hosting their 30^th Annual Hog Roast on Saturday, October 5^th with serving between 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.  Tickets are $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for children.  Pastor has two complimentary tickets if you would like to go.  The menu: roast pork, baked beans, potato salad, applesauce, dessert and drink. 

FROM THE OFFICE:  Christ wants you to know who He is and what He has done for us.  Concordia Publishing House is here to help you with that.  We are dedicated to helping Christ’s families read, study, teach, and learn about the miracles that God has shown us.  Our newest releases, such as the Portals of Prayer; Devotional Bible, Enduring Faith Sunday School Curriculum, The Mighty and The Mysterious, and The Growing in Faith Bible Storybook, in addition to thousands of other resources, allow for families of all ages and stages to share in Christ’s love.  CPH is overjoyed to be able to offer these resources for your family to grow with Christ for generations to come.  To see all we have to offer, please visit us at cph.org.

THE LUTHERAN HOUR:  “The Story We Needed” is the topic for next Sunday.  The sermon text will be from Genesis 5-9.  Genesis Series – Love, grief, and pain—that’s  what God felt when He did what had to be done, in the flood and on the cross.  Reverend Dr. Michael Zeigler 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 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 14:33 – “So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.”  None of what we have is ours – it all belongs to God.  That is the foundation of Christian stewardship. What we have been given is to be used for God’s purposes according to our callings in home, Church, and society.  As we learn to give generously in these callings, we renounce our ownership of our wealth. It’s not ours; it’s His.  God owns; we manage for the furtherance of 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 2^nd level (the west side).

THE ADULT BIBLE CLASS meets in the basement at 9:15 a.m.

TODAY we will have a door Offering for our new Seminary student.  Aaron Wendorff will be the student we support for the 2019-2020 school year.  Aaron is married and has two daughters.  He is from Minnesota and Nebraska.  He is in his fourth and final year at Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, Indiana.

TODAY:  Small Group Bible Study meets today at 5:00 p.m.  The class is studying “Lutheranism 101: Baptism”.  If you have not been a part of this class but would like to join please talk with Group Leader, Steve Parry or Pastor Lueck.

THIS WEEK:  Good Shepherd will be hosting the Bloomington North Circuit Pastor’s Conference this Tuesday, September 10^th, from 8:30 a.m. – 12;30 p.m.  Last week we hosted the Bloomington South Circuit.  Reverend Bruce Scarbeary of Trinity Lutheran in Roanoke will once again (like he did last week) present a recap of this summer’s LCMS Convention.  Any layperson interested is welcome to attend.

FROM THE OFFICE:  The church now has a new email address.  Our new email address is: office@goodshepherdblm.org.

THANK YOU: The LWML would like to thank everyone for the donations of school supplies.  We have enough to fill 75 school kits!  We now need boxes to ship the school kits and 25-30 quilts to the Lutheran World Relief warehouse.  Paper boxes are ideal but if you have anything similar in size, we would much appreciate the donation. Thank you!

GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE MOVIES is on September 20^th at 6:30 p.m.  From Cary Soloman and Church Konzelman, the writers/co-producers of “God’s Not Dead”, comes a film that speaks to one of the most polarizing topics of our time.  “Unplanned” brings us an eye-opening look inside the abortion industry through one woman’s inspiring true story of transformation.  All Abby Johnson ever wanted to do was help women.  She believed in a woman’s right to choose, and as one of the youngest Planned Parenthood Clinic Directors in the nation, she was involved in upwards of 22,000 abortions.  Until the day she saw something that changed everything, leading Abby Johnson to join her former enemies at “40 Days For Life”, and become one of the most ardent pro-life advocates in America.  Join us for a very good, intense and thought provoking movie.  There will be plenty of food and wonderful fellowship. 

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.

THE ANNUAL FUNDRAISING LIFE BANQUET FOR “LIVING ALTERNATIVES: PREGNANCY RESOURCE CENTER” is this coming Thursday, September 12^th at 6:30 p.m. at the DoubleTree Hotel in Bloomington.  Contact the Center at (309) 454-5433 to make your reservation.  The guest speaker is Mr. Jim Daly, president of Focus on the Family.

THE WHIPPOORWILL CHALLENGE GOLF SCRAMBLE to benefit Camp CILCA is set to tee off on Friday, September 27^th at 1:00 p.m.  The venue is Hickory Point Golf Course in Forsyth, IL.  Cost of $60.00 covers golf cart, and dinner.  Make checks payable to “CID Gold Fundraiser” and give to Pastor Lueck.  Entry deadline is Sunday, September 15^th.

THE LUTHERAN HOUR:  “The Dream Is Alive” is the topic for next Sunday.  The sermon text will be from Genesis 3.  Reverend Dr. Michael Zeigler 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 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 12:51 – “Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth?  No, I tell you, but rather division.”  Jesus has come to divide us out of the world, to carve out a people for Himself redeemed by His Blood and trusting His Word.  The world hates this Word, but for us it is life and salvation.  We seek to follow Jesus’ Word in all things because we know Him who gave us the Word.  We know He always seeks to bless us.

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 2^nd level (the west side).

THE ADULT BIBLE CLASS meets in the basement at 9:15 a.m.

TODAY is the deadline for items to be submitted for the SEPTEMBER 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 or (309) 838-1552.  Thank you!

PICTURE DIRECTORY PHOTOGRAPH DAY:  Tomorrow, August 19^th from 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Lifetouch will be here taking pictures of our New Members and those who want to update their picture from three years ago.  There are still a few slots available if you want this done.  Please talk with Becky Love who can get you signed up.

FROM THE OFFICE:  The church now has a new email address.  Our new email address is: office@goodshepherdblm.org.

THANK YOU: The LWML would like to thank everyone for the donations of school supplies.  We have enough to fill 75 school kits!  We now need boxes to ship the school kits and 25-30 quilts to the Lutheran World Relief warehouse.  Paper boxes are ideal but if you have anything similar in size, we would much appreciate the donation. Thank you!

SMALL GROUP BIBLE STUDY will begin on Sunday, September 8^th at 5:00 p.m.  The class is studying “Lutheranism 101: Worship”.  If you have not been a part of this class but would like to join please talk with Group Leader, Steve Parry or Pastor Lueck.

FROM THE OFFICE:  If your son or daughter is going away to college or they no longer live at home, please fill out an Information Sheet located on the table in the narthex.  As their church home, we like to stay in contact during these important years by sending them Pastor’s Sermon and the monthly Church Newsletter.  Please return the form to Sandy in the church office when completed.  We lift our young people up in prayer as their spiritual journey continues.

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.

THE CAMP CILCA CHICKEN FRY AND AUCTION will be held on Sunday, September 1, 2019.  Seminarian Ian Heinze will be preaching at the 10:30 a.m. worship service.  Dinner will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.  The Auction starts at 1:00 p.m.  Visit cilca.org/auction-items.html to see some of the great items up for bid.  Call (217) 487-7497 or email: camp@cilca.org to reserve your spot or to get more information.

THE CID – LLL RETREAT AT CAMP CILCA is on Saturday, September 7, 2019 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.    The speaker is Reverend Dr. Ken Schurb.  He will be discussing “St. Paul’s Missionary Journeys”.  The registration fee is $10.00 per person and may be paid at the Retreat.  You will need to register by Sunday, September 1^st by contacting Deloris Blessman, 24204 ECR 1850N; Topeka, IL 61567 or by email at: delorisblessman@yahoo.com.

THE LUTHERAN HOUR:  “Does He Know You” is the topic for next Sunday.  The sermon text will be from Luke 13:23-25.  August Archives – People often do what they do because they think the rules don’t apply to them.  The speaker will be Reverend Dr. Ken Klaus.  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 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 12:15 – “And He said to them, ‘Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.’ ”  Coveting is the opposite of being content with what God has given us.  And the cure for coveting is twofold – thankfulness to God and generosity toward God’s purposes.  So be on guard against all covetousness.  Acknowledge that your Father has given you all you need, and therefore be free and confident in directing the mammon of this world toward godly purposes.

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 2^nd level (the west side).

THE ADULT BIBLE CLASS meets in the basement at 9:15 a.m.

PASTOR’S SCHEDULE:  Pastor will be out of the office most of this week.  If you need him, please call him on his cell phone (309) 838-0306.  For non-emergencies you can speak with the ladies in the office during their hours of work (309) 662-8905.  Thank you.

SCHOOL KITS: The LWML will be making School Kits for the Lutheran World Relief again this year.  Each bag has (4) 70 sheet notebooks; (1) ruler with centimeters on one side; (1) pencil sharpener; (1) pair of blunt scissors; (5) #2 pencils; (5) ballpoint pens; (1) box 16 or 24 crayons; and (1) 2 1/2″ eraser.  Your help is much appreciated.  LWR will be sending them to places around the world that need our help.  Thank you!

THANK YOU:  It was a great pleasure to be with you in Services on Sunday, July 14^th.  Your encouragement and kind words were a blessing to me, and the generous door Offering you gave to support my studies are a big help as I continue at Concordia Seminary in the fall.  Please keep me and all seminarians and deaconesses preparing for church work at both of our seminaries, in your prayers.  The encouragement and support we receive from local churches means so much to us.  God bless, and I hope to be back with you very soon.  Seminarian Will Fredstrom      

FROM THE OFFICE:  We received a letter from Reverend Jacob Hercamp and family.  We supported them two years ago as part of our adopt-a-seminarian.  He is now a pastor in Missouri.  The letter is posted on the bulletin board outside the church office.

AUGUST FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT: The title of the movie is “Life With Dog”.  After losing his wife Alice (Marilu Henner) in a mysterious bike accident, Joe Bigler (Corbin Bernsen) is left alone without FAITH to help him grieve.  That and the circumstances of Alice’s accident leave more questions than answers, and Joe begins a fast descent into the dark abyss of uncertainty.  But his salvation arrives when a Dog wanders into his garden and won’t leave despite Joe’s many attempts to rid him.  Without so much as a single bark, “Dog,” as Joe has named him, shares His voice, a deep love and comfort that Joe has never experienced before. With Dog’s love comes the discovery of God’s love, and a Faith that not only helps Joe toward the road to recovery, but also the unsolved mystery surrounding his wife’s accident, and the ability to finally grieve her passing.   Join us Friday, August 16^th at 6:30 p.m. for another fine movie, great food and wonderful fellowship.  See you there!

FROM THE OFFICE:  If your son or daughter is going away to college or they no longer live at home, please fill out an Information Sheet located on the table in the narthex.  As their church home, we like to stay in contact during these important years by sending them Pastor’s Sermon and the monthly Church Newsletter.  Please return the form to Sandy in the church office when completed.  We lift our young people up in prayer as their spiritual journey continues.

CHURCH SERVICES AT THE STATE FAIR:  You don’t have to miss Church Services if you go to the State Fair on Sundays.  There will be a LC-MS Church Service at 9:00 a.m. upstairs in the Illinois Building each Sunday of the Fair.  Enter thru the south doors for easy access.

GOLF OUTING:  Christ Lutheran Church Shining Lights Preschool is having a Golf Outing on Friday, August 16^th at Ironwood.  The $100.00 cost includes green fee, cart, range galls and lunch.  Shotgun start at 1:00 p.m.  For more details and how to sign-up please speak with Pastor.

THE LUTHERAN HOUR:  “How To Pray” is the topic for next Sunday.  August Archives – Prayer flows from faith in Christ and the Holy Spirit helps us when we don’t know how to pray.  A classic message from former speaker, Dr. Oswald Hoffmann.  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 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.