Bulletin Announcements

March 24, 2019

THOUGHTS ON STEWARDSHIP:  Luke 13:3 – “No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”  The season of Lent is all about repentance – turning back to the Lord, away from our sins, in faith. We know that it is only in the Lord that we can find salvation.  So we do well in this season of repentance to examine ourselves, asking questions like, “What is trying to keep me away from Jesus?”  “What is a temptation I face?”  “What is a sin I need to repent of and leave behind?”  Then we turn to the Lord for the strength to leave these sins behind, and we pray for the courage to follow Him in faith and faithful living.

FAITH IN ACTION OF BLOOMINGTON/NORMAL:   One ride, one visit, one Senior at a time.  Need a ride?  Want to volunteer?  Need more information?  Call (309) 827-7780; or email: office@bnfia.org or contact Barry Hamlin at (309) 750-9424.

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

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

MIDWEEK LENTEN WORSHIP:  The 6½ week journey to Calvary will continue this Wednesday, March 27th at 7:00 p.m.  With the Book of Exodus we will “Strike the Rock!” in our Lenten message.  The Evangelism/Stewardship Board will use their God-given talents to tickle and enthrall your taste buds with a meal that begins at 5:30 p.m.  Your free-will Offering that evening will support the mission work of our Central Illinois District.  

TODAY is the deadline for items to be submitted for the APRIL NEWSLETTER.   Any announcements you want to be published in the Newsletter should be submitted via email to goodshepherdblm@frontier.com, via mail, hand-delivered, or you may call (309) 662-8905 or (309) 838-1552.  Thank you!

PORTALS OF PRAYER: The April – June 2019 Portals of Prayer are available on the book rack in the narthex.  Pick up your free copy today.  Large pint also available.

“WALK FOR LIFE”:  Pastor and Toni make their annual trek in the Living Alternatives – Pregnancy Resource Center’s Annual “Walk For Life”.  The walk will be held at Christ Church, PCA in Normal on Saturday, April 13th, beginning at 9:00 a.m.  If you would like to walk, please see Pastor who has the forms. Also, please speak with Pastor if you would like to support the Lueck’s.  Thank you.

FROM THE OFFICE:  It’s time for the Annual Renewal of Lutheran Witness.  Emails are going out to those who currently have a subscription.  If anyone who is not currently receiving the Lutheran Witness is interested, please contact either Janet or Sandy in the office before the end of March and we will gladly add your name to the list.  The cost is only $15.96 for the entire year; July 2019 through June 2020.  (The June/July issue is combined so there are 11 issues.)

THE LENTEN DEVOTIONAL BOOKLETS, “People Of The Passion” are available on the table 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.

PASSOVER SEDER:  You are invited to a “Passover Seeder” at Wittenberg Lutheran Center, 201 S Main St., Normal on Saturday, April 6, 2019 from 2-4:30 p.m.  Passover is the observance commemorating the freedom and exodus of the Israelites from Egypt.  A time of family gatherings and lavish meal called “seders”, the story of Passover is re-told.  With its special foods, songs, and customs, the Seder Meal is an important tradition of the Passover.  Through the re-telling of the Passover account, Y’shua (Jesus) communicates His saving grace.  Please R.S.V.P. with how many adults and how many children under the age of 12 who will be attending by Monday, April 1st.  You may call (309) 452-5971 or email at: wittenbergLCMS@gmail.com.  A free-wil Offering will be taken to aid the ministries of Lutherans in Africa.

THE LUTHERAN HOUR:  “Life Worth Living” is the topic for next Sunday.  The sermon text will be from John 12:12-36.  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.

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.

Sermon Text Mar 17, 2019 — Where To Go

March 17, 2019                                                                                 Text:  Luke 13:31-35

Dear Friends in Christ,

            Have you ever had someone tell you “where to go?”  I don’t mean the directions you get from the local gas station or the GPS that keeps telling you to turn around so it can recompute your route.  I mean someone telling you “where to go” as in a not so friendly manner.  Maybe it was a co-worker telling you “where to go” when you felt they weren’t doing their part of a project.  Could it be a son or daughter who didn’t appreciate your advice and they told you “where to go.”  How about a spouse who didn’t like your tone of voice and they suggested “where to go” which ended up being the couch or the basement for the night.

            Don’t take this the wrong way but I am going to tell you “where to go” this morning.  I pray I do it in a Law/Gospel way and if this makes you feel any better, I am using the words of Jesus in our text to get the point across.   Lord and Savior please tell us this morning . . .

“WHERE TO GO”

            Our text seems to begin with some care and concern.  Can it be?  Pharisees?  “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” (v. 1)  They are telling Jesus “where to go” and it is not Jerusalem.  Let’s not be duped this morning.  The Pharisees weren’t concerned about Jesus’ welfare as much as they were tired of Jesus’ being there.  Jesus was gathering a large following on their turf…and they didn’t like it, so they are going to tell Him where to go.

            It is just like the world to not want Jesus around.  Herod even wants to end His life.  Amazing how someone so perfect can stir such hatred.  But we see it around us.  Jesus please leave the school and the marketplace and the courts and the government and we, the worldly wise will tell you and your followers “where to go.”  Where do they want us?  In our homes, with our mouths shut.  Or gathered in our churches with a social gospel.  They don’t want God’s Word or to hear what Jesus the Savior has to say.

            Jesus is going to speak in spite of this as He does in our text.  “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course.” (v. 2)  Let’s not degrade the Savior into some wimp who is just all about acceptance.  He calls out Herod for who he is – deceitful, sly, tricky, a psychopath.  Herod will be one of the engineers telling Jesus where to go.

            The thing is Jesus knows where He is going.  In our text He must be on His way because He still has miraculous work to do.  But He will return.  He must die in Jerusalem.  Jesus knows where He has to go to get us to where we need to go.  The Pharisees took Jesus’ talk of a “third day” seriously because you may remember they posted a guard at Jesus’ tomb until the 3rd day.

            Where to go?  Where to go?  Everyone is always looking where to go for answers.  They are right here.  In our sin, the devil would like to escort us down the path of “where to go.”  That is someone we don’t want to follow…it might get a little hot.  Jesus instead would like to have us go to quiet waters and golden streets.  He made it possible when He returned to Jerusalem.  He knew He was in a long line of prophets that had been killed and would be killed in Jerusalem.   His death and resurrection would open up for us the “New Jerusalem.” 

            Out of the billions of people on this planet Jesus gathered you and me together as a hen gathers her brood.  We are His.  And somehow, regardless of what’s going on in your life this morning – somehow, if you’re really thinking about it – His gathering you under His wings has to make a difference as you live in world that doesn’t want Jesus.

            As those saved by the cross do we just stand there admiring it as a work of art?  No.  We depart because the Lord wants to tell us “where to go.”  “Go and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”  (Mt. 28:19)  “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” (Mark 16:15)  Christianity is not a stagnant faith.  It is a moving faith.  A faith on the move in our actions and words.  The next time you want to tell someone “where to go” point him or her to the cross or to the Bible or to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. 

            See, I told you it would not be so bad.  Where to go?  You know and I know now let’s tell the unbelieving world “where to go”.   Then when we get there let’s look for them on the path laid down by Jesus our Savior.

                                                                                                            Amen.