Bulletin Announcements
November 11, 2018
THOUGHTS ON STEWARDSHIP: Mark 12:44 – “For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.” From Old Testament times right through to today the Lord has urged us to give to His work in the Church in proportion to how He has blessed us. He has also called us to sacrificial giving; that is, giving that actually costs us something. That’s the shape of true Christian generosity.
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.
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.
TODAY is our 2nd Sunday door Offering for our Seminary Student.
AN IMPORTANT DAY in the life of the Church is TODAY. We have a Voter’s Meeting following the 10:30 Worship Service. We will be ratifying the 2019 Budget and electing Officers and Boards. At this meeting we will also be discussing possible repairs to our roof and the inside of the Sanctuary (you have noticed the hole, right?) Nominations for Synodical Offices will also take place. Please look for a List of Candidates and the 2019 proposed Budget on the table in the narthex. Before we fill ourselves with church business, we will break bread together in a church potluck.
OUR FOOD COLLECTION FOR HOME SWEET HOME MISSION will continue through TODAY. The Food Collection Box is located in the narthex for Home Sweet Home Mission. This coming Saturday, November 17th, from 2-6:00 p.m., we will prepare and serve a meal there and deliver the food. If you are interested in helping, please speak with Pastor or Becky Love. Thank you!
STEWARDSHIP SUNDAY will be next Sunday, November 18th. TODAY we will hand out the 2019 Commitment Cards. Also today you can also pick up your 2018 Commitment Envelope (if you put your name on it) on the table in the narthex
TODAY: “SCREEN-WISE KIDS” is a new booklet for kids (and older) located on the table in the narthex. It’s no secret kids love to play on computers; tablets; and cell phones….and anything with a picture on it. In “Screen-Wise Kids”, they’re reminded that while this is fun, even educational, it’s easy to overdo. To help youngsters expand their horizons, grownups can set screen time schedules, review what they watch, and remind kids there’s a big, beautiful world out there—just waiting for them to explore.
TODAY: New on the table in the narthex: “Who Is Jesus?”; and “Why Did Jesus Die?” Pick up your copy today!
NEXT SUNDAY is the deadline for items to be submitted for the DECEMBER 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!
OUR THANKSGIVING EVE WORSHIP SERVICE WITH HOLY COMMUNION will be on Wednesday, November 21st at 7:00 p.m. The message is: “Is Your Face Hiding?”
THE SEASON IS FAST APPROACHING: We will once again be sponsoring children of the Baby Fold for Christmas. Ornaments will be placed on the Christmas tree when the list becomes available. If you would prefer to donate a monetary gift, please give it to Toni Lueck or Paula Hardy. If you write a check, please indicate on the memo line: “Baby Fold”. Blessings on your generosity.
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: “Once And For All” is the topic for next Sunday. The sermon text will be from Hebrews 10:11-19. Reverend Dr. Anthony Cook shares God’s message of forgiveness—“In Jesus, our Great High Priest, we have found the perfect and permanent solution to our separation and sins.” 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 # (309) 532-2582. The Prayer Request box is on the table in the narthex for any written requests.
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Sermon Text for Sunday, October 28, 2018
Oct. 28, 2018 – Reformation/All Saints Text: Romans 5:1-2
Dear Friends in Christ,
It was October 1975 and a nine-year old boy was looking forward to a football game between the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers. With it being a Sunday he went with his family to church. It was time for the children’s sermon and he didn’t want to go as he thought he was getting a little too old for this. His parents wanted him to take his little sister up. This did not make the young man happy. But he went. Once up front he decided to stand against a beam in the church. The Pastor asked if he would sit down. The boy refused. He tried again, “Please have a seat.” The boy said he would stand. Children’s sermon went on. Church and Bible Class were over. The family headed home. The boy thought nothing of his actions until his parents let him know he should have sat down when the Pastor asked him to. He would have to suffer the consequences. There was no joy in the little berg that day as the young man could not watch the Bears game. He always wondered was it such a big deal he stood when he should have been sitting?
Did Martin Luther ever ponder that question? Did Jesus? What about you? We just stood for “Stand Up, Stand Up, for Jesus.” I then said to all of you, “Please have a seat.” What if one or two of you decided you didn’t want to sit? Would it matter? Today we are celebrating Reformation and All Saints in one glorious Sunday. When we think of those who have gone before us, what strengthens us for our journey ahead? This is what strengthens me and I pray it strengthens you. What did they do when the world told them . . .
“PLEASE HAVE A SEAT”
The world would be happy if as Christians we just sat down and kept our mouths shut. Or if we just kept to ourselves. Or if we didn’t believe everything in the Bible. There are people out there trying to sit us down on marriage, abortion, what gives salvation, and who is Jesus. Well, it isn’t going to happen because that is not who the Lord wants us to be.
Who are we? Paul reminds us in our text, “Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.”
We are first and foremost justified by faith through Jesus Christ. We do not stand before God through our performance. Judaism has 613 commandments to keep. Buddhism has its eight-fold path. Islam has its five pillars. These are lists of actions to take to be right with God. Keep them and you will get approval from the deity. Recent research continues to show this is how a majority of Americans see things. Be good or do enough good things and heaven is yours.
This was the struggle of Martin Luther. Could he do enough good things? He found his outside actions didn’t change who he was on the inside. Inwardly he was still greedy, lustful, and selfish. He had no peace or assurance of salvation that he was good enough for God.
This is also our problem. God’s standard for our performance is holiness. God doesn’t grade on a curve. We are either fully holy or we are not. We cannot stand on our works before God. Please have a seat – sinful human being.
Luther and the saints before us were able to stand because of “grace in which we stand.” The princes and pope and church leaders were asking Luther, “Please have a seat.” He answered in some form or fashion, “I don’t believe I will. God has done everything to rescue me. He has done it all through Jesus Christ.” Jesus stood before Pilate. He stood up under the weight of the cross. He stood on Golgotha’s hill for the world to ponder. The centurion who stood by proclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God.” He stood as He ascended to heaven to prepare a place for you and me. I know, I know you are thinking, “But now he sits at least that is how we confess it in the Creed.” This is because he has accomplished our salvation. Nothing more needs to be done. “Please have a seat O Savior.” “I think I will at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.” The work of redemption is complete. May the work of the Holy Spirit keep us standing in this one, true faith.
Christianity is not a doing religion. It is a done reality. We look forward to the hope. For our loved ones who died in the faith, they are living this hope. They didn’t cower in the corner when the pressure of life got too hard. They didn’t sit down with nothing to look forward to. They stood for the faith in their worship life, and prayer life and the faith they passed on to us. O how we miss them but we stand strong in the faith they possessed and we look forward to standing with them in heaven some day.
I’m not here to excuse the nine-year old boy who wouldn’t sit. He should have been a little more obedient toward his Pastor. Those moments that the Lord allowed to happen in his life were preparing him to stand before you today…in this church…in this pulpit…strengthened in his faith by those who have gone before him. I pray this day that we can all stand together. I know we are not all in the same place when it comes to telling the world, “I don’t believe I will have a seat.” Some of you will stand to the end. Some will stand strong depending on the issue. Some of you want to sit to keep the peace or not cause waves. As Lutheran Christians, loved and saved by our Lord, I don’t see this as an option. Listen to these words of the last verse of our hymn
Stand up, stand up for Jesus; The strife will not be long.
This day the din of battle, the next the victor’s song.
The soldiers overcoming, Their crown of life shall see
And with the King of Glory Shall reign eternally.
Amen.