Celebrating July 2018

Birthdays

Rylynn Doddek                Jul  2

Gracie Mosier                  Jul  3

Joann Nottingham           Jul  4

Inba Joseph                    Jul  8

Bob Love                         Jul 10

Nick Henson                    Jul 14

Joann Hart                       Jul 22

Katey Parry                     Jul 24

Andy Benjamin               Jul 25

Stephanie Schempp        Jul 25

David McEleney              Jul 27

Mary Hall                         Jul 29

Baptismal Birthdays

Isabella Kessler               Jul  8

Richard Ross                   Jul 11

Keyyon Pleasant             Jul 12

Kathy Hitch                      Jul 13

Summer Sheley               Jul 13

Jennifer Cloyd                 Jul 16

Ruth Gerike                     Jul 20

Anna Holland                   Jul 21

Rylynn Doddek                Jul 23

Finley Mosier                   Jul 24

Eugene Fuller                  Jul 28

Erin Dirks                         Jul 31

Stewardship Corner July 2018

“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery” (Gal. 5:1).

We celebrate this month because of the freedoms and liberties our country has afforded us.  We are right to do this.  We should be thankful for these liberties: the freedom to gather together to worship and to live out what we believe in our daily lives.

But freedom and liberty in our age has devolved.  It has become a freedom from duty instead of a freedom for it.  Indeed, freedom and liberty in our age has turned into licentiousness: a license to do what we want, when we want.

This license is a submission, again, to a yoke of slavery.  For freedom as license to do what we desire when we desire it means we are slaves to our desires, slaves to our passions.

Christ died to set us free from our sinful desires.  In Holy Baptism, our Old Adam is drowned and put to death along with all sin and evil desires so that a new man may arise and live before God in righteousness and purity.

In Christ, we are a new creation.  We are set free from the passions of the flesh so that we are free to do our duty and bear fruits of the Spirit.

Our duty is what God calls us to do as members of a family, society, and the church.

God calls us to believe in His Word and gladly hear and learn it.  He calls us to pray for all people.  He calls us to live in faith toward Him and in fervent love for our neighbor.  He calls us to put the gifts He gives to us in His service.  God calls parents to provide for their children and raise them in the fear and admonition of the Lord. And God calls children to honor their parents and provide and care for them when they are no longer able to do so themselves.

God calls the government to punish those who do evil and to reward those who do good.  He calls citizens to pay their taxes and honor the governing officials as God’s servants.  He calls pastors to preach and teach the Gospel as well as repentance for the forgiveness of sins.  And He calls hearers to support those who teach them with every good thing.

Christ died to set us free from the works of our selfish flesh, giving us the freedom and liberty to do our duty. Stand firm, then, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

Pastor’s Notes July 2018

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

It is always a blessing to be able to celebrate milestones.  It reminds us how our Lord has been good to us and how His grace and mercy and love pervade our lives.  We celebrate birthdays and anniversaries and baptisms and retirements and graduations.

This month we are giving thanks to God for half of our church building paid for.  Is this something to celebrate knowing that we still have $1 million left on our mortgage?  I believe it is.  For those of you who have been around since we built what were your thoughts when you saw a $1.8 million building with cost overruns of $200,000?  Did you freak out at $2 million?  Did you quietly ponder the enormity of it with the size of our congregation?  Did you have faith in our Lord and His gracious hand to provide?  A combination of all of these?

If you have been an adult for any length of time you know debt.  College debt.  Mortgage debt.  Car loans.  Credit cards.  You know I don’t like debt.  Unfortunately to live in the world it is almost unavoidable.  On the other hand I know the blessings the Lord provides.  A vehicle to get around in.  A home with a hot shower (most of the time!).  A future for our boys because of college.  We could look at this upcoming year two ways:  2 kids in college –yikes! Or we can see how the Lord has provided for one and how He will lead us with two.  We just studied this recently in a family gathering and we can move forward with trust in our gracious Lord.

That is what Good Shepherd did in 2000.  We moved forward with trust in our gracious Lord.  It hasn’t always been easy or without some minor challenges but I hope we all see the bigger picture here.  It takes time and patience to pay down debt.  This is the beauty of Jesus.  He is patient with us.  He could have demanded something from us, but He didn’t.  He took all of our debt of lack of trust and other sins and paid for it with his bloodied body on the cross.  He then promises an eternal future with no more payments of any kind.  The eternal home is ours – debt free and for eternity!

I’ve said this in a sermon before, but what I want on my headstone is this:  “He never paid a finance charge.”  Not just financially but theologically as well.  The Lord paid it all for me.  He paid it all for us.

What about the $1 million left?  We can look forward to that celebration.  The Lord knows – oh, He knows.  His plans are greater than ours.  Trust that.

In Christ,

Pastor

Bulletin Announcements

July 1, 2018

TODAY:  We are blessed today to have two members joining our Good Shepherd family.  Lizzie Grace Richards is joining through Baptism/Adult Confirmation in our 8:00 a.m. worship.  Lizzie graduated from Normal Community and will be attending Heartland Community College in the fall.  She lives at 3112 Eagle Creek Drive in Bloomington.  Her phone# is (309) 445-1444 and her email is: lizzie.richards1@yahoo.com.  Michael T. Renken is joining through Adult Confirmation in our 10:30 a.m. worship.  Michael is single and the son of Herb Renken.  Michael lives at 16 Sherman Ct. in Atlanta.  His phone is (217) 671-1527.  Please take a moment to welcome them to our congregation.

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:  Today Mr. Karson Lueck will be conducting the class on the topic of: “The Bible In America”.

THOUGHTS ON STEWARDSHIP:  2 Corinthians 8:3 – “For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own free will.”  St. Paul lifts up an example of faithful Christian generosity in the Epistle lesson today.  Read those words again this week and ponder them.  How is the Lord calling you to increase your generosity toward His work?

GOOD SHEPHERD’S RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE:  On Saturday, July 14th, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. is Good Shepherd’s Red Cross Blood Drive.  You may sign-up on the table in the narthex or online at: redcrossblood.org.  Put in our zip code (61704), find our drive and get your arm ready to give the gift of life.  We are serving breakfast that morning as well.  Also, posters and place cards are available if you can put them up at your place of business or work.  It would be appreciated.  Thank you!

TO GOD BE THE GLORY GREAT THINGS HE HAS DONE!  On Sunday, July 15th, we are having one worship service with Holy Communion at 9:00 a.m. on the north lawn under a tent as we give thanks to our gracious Lord for blessing us with having half our mortgage paid off.  We are having a congregational breakfast before the service from 7:45 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.  Adult Bible Class and Sunday School will follow the worship service and will be held back inside.  To God Be the Glory Great Things He Has Done!

GOOD SHEPHERD’S GROUP OUTING:  The Group Outing for the Normal Cornbelters Baseball Game has been rescheduled for Sunday, July 29th.  Details are available on the table in the narthex.  Please contact Randy Reinhardt at (309) 826-0448 or randyreinhardt1@gmail.com if you did not previously buy tickets and would like to go.

THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES is in need of a new member.  If you are interested please speak with Mo Dale (309)830-6552 or Bob Love (309) 846-6417.  Thank you!

MARK YOUR CALENDAR:  The date for our Annual Church Picnic has been set!  It will be held on Sunday, August 19th.  More information to follow.

PORTALS OF PRAYER:   The July – September 2018 Portals of Prayer are available on the book rack located in the narthex.

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:  “Sufficiency” is the topic for next Sunday.  The sermon text will be from 2 Corinthians 12:9.  In a world of pain and violence, people ask, “Why doesn’t God do something?”  Pastor Ken Klaus answers, “He Has.” 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 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# is (309) 532-2582.  The Prayer Request box is on the table in the narthex for any written requests.

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Elder, Usher, and Acolyte Schedules July 2018

Elder and Usher Schedule

Date
8:00
Elder
10:30
July 1Gerald Semelka, Joshua Parry, Nathan KluenderMike FieldHolden Lueck, Mike Huth
July 8Mike Field, Nick HitchBarry HamlinBob Love, Brian Dirks, Theron Noth
July 15 @ 9AMDaryle Schempp, Paul Gerike, Steve ParryCraig Culp
July 22Gene Fuller, Richard RossPaul GerikeBrian Dirks, Mike Huth, Theron Noth
July 29Craig Culp, Jeff Piper, Lucas PiperRandy ReinhardtBob Love, Bud Kessler, Curt Kessler

Acolyte Schedule

Date
8:00 AM
10:30 AM
July 1JT PiperPastor/Elder
July 8Pastor/ElderWill McNeely
July 15One Service @ 9AMMatt Williamson
July 22Pastor/ElderJessica Isaac
July 29Tanner HitchJustin McNeely

Sermon Text for Sunday, June 24, 2018

June 24, 2018 – Nativity of St. John the Baptist                                        Luke 1:57-80

 

Dear Friends in Christ,

 

Do you ever find it hard to hear good news?  Some of you may be saying, “Never, I always enjoy hearing good news.”  As your Pastor, I beg to differ.  In ministry I see this all the time.  We all live in our little cocoons.  What I mean is that we are most concerned with what is immediate to us.  I may have a day where I talk with let’s say three individuals or families and the focus is almost always on their problems.  The spouse has cancer.  Divorce proceedings are going forward.  Your child has gotten in trouble again.  The job you need is not coming.  How are you going to pay for two kids in college?  The care of the elderly parents is not going away.  I may share some good news about the church or your life or my life but you don’t hear it.  The anxieties of life crowd so closely and speak so loudly that any messenger of joy is easily drowned out in the mind.

For this reason, it is good to give God thanks when he sends someone, anyone to prepare us for hearing good news.  God knows that we are not always ready to listen, and so He comes to prepare our hearts and minds even before He speaks.

This morning in celebrating the Nativity of St. John the Baptist we give thanks for . . .

“GOD’S GRACIOUS VISITATION”

Most of us know a little bit about John because two of the four Sundays in Advent speak of him.  Wilderness dweller.  Animal skin wearer.  Sitting down to locusts and wild honey.  Baptized by Jesus.  Imprisoned by Herod.  His head ended up a party favor on a platter.  John can be remembered for all these things but today the Church calls attention to his birth.  Why?

At John’s birth, we see how God would like him to be remembered.  “You, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways.” (v. 76)  John was sent ahead of Jesus to prepare the people for God’s gracious visitation.

His birth caused quite a stir.  His father Zechariah gives a grand overview of God’s work of salvation and then he speaks of John’s birth.  He tied the two events together into a much larger story.  Do you think he was passing out cigars as he told the people about his son just born?

We could remember John the Baptist for his travelogue in the wilderness or his many ways to fix bugs and bee nectar but then we miss who God sent him to be.  He came to announce to the people that the Savior of the world was coming.  John awakens people to their sin.  Those who listen end up entering the River Jordan and come out standing on the other side.  Wet with the waters of repentance, they wait.  Then, and only then, are they ready to see Jesus.

When you come to Jesus as a lost and forsaken sinner, only then will you see who he truly is:  your Savior.  Jesus is “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” (Jn. 1:29)  He dies on the cross to forgive your sin and rises from the dead to bring eternal life to you.

The world is so blind to the working of God.  John had to be sent.  God is so gracious to people that He gives them chance after chance to repent of their wrongdoing and come to a knowledge of the truth so that all mankind might experience His work of salvation.  We give thanks this day that John was the instrument the Lord used for this purpose before the coming of the Son of God.

God’s ministry through John is not over.  Someone is still standing on the edge of where Jesus is present, letting you know of God’s gracious invitation.

The child brought to the saving waters of baptism at two weeks old.  The parents are messengers, preparing him or her for God’s gracious visitation.  The parents have chosen sponsors who will be messengers throughout this child’s life.  Around the font we see the circle of God’s people sent to prepare one child for God’s gracious visitation.

Consider our congregation this day hearing God’s Word, singing his praises, praying for one another, strengthened by the sacrament.  We are awakened to God’s gracious visitation as we leave here in the cocoon of our situations knowing that they will not overwhelm us.  We have forgiveness.  We have mercy.  We have God-given strength to face the days ahead.  Isn’t it nice to know you have the support and prayers of this body of Christ?  Thanks be to God!

In many ways God has prepared us for his gracious visitation.  Zechariah’s song becomes our own, a faithful way for us still today to offer praise.  “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for has visited and redeemed his people.” (v. 68)

Amen.