Celebrating May 2018

Birthdays

Anna Holland                   May  3

Lorene Backsmeier         May  5

Cory Fortney                   May  5

Lucas Piper                     May  8

Lindsay Orr                      May 11

Kerry Warren                   May 12

Benjamin Holland            May 16

Nicki Cloyd                      May 19

Terry Trost                       May 19

Pat McQuown                  May 21

Jack Gooding                  May 24

Doris Hoffmann               May 25

Mandy Kluender              May 26

Joyce Schneider             May 26

Keyyon Pleasant             May 27

Baptismal Birthdays

Carly Benjamin                May  1

Cathy Cloyd                     May  1

Marvin Lester                  May  1

Cooper Mosier                 May  3

Marlene Hitch                  May  5

Halle Sheley                    May  6

Daryle Schempp              May 15

Drew Kemp                      May 18

Ethan Bliese                    May 21

Lorene Backsmeier         May 22

Marvin Huth                     May 22

Steve Parry                     May 26

Lucas Piper                     May 29

Pastor’s Notes May 2018

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The ancient Greeks knew the power of the conscience to rob a person of peace, and they referred to this power as “the cranes of Ibycus.”  They told of Ibycus, a merchant of Corinth, who was attacked by two robbers, Timotheus and another, who beat him to death and took his possessions.  As he was dying, Ibycus saw some cranes flying overhead.  Since there were no human beings to witness the crime, Ibycus appealed to the cranes to avenge his death and bring the criminals to justice.

The next day, satisfied that they would escape detection, the robbers went to the stadium to witness the Corinthian games.  There they imagined that suspicious eyes surveyed their every action.  Because of their condemning consciences, it seemed as though everyone in the stadium saw that their hands were red with the blood of Ibycus.  Then a flock of cranes flew overhead, and when the one saw it, he called out in fear, “Look!  Look, Timotheus!  The cranes!  The cranes of Ibycus!”  This outburst led to the arrest and execution of the men.

How about you?  Do you ever see the cranes of Ibycus?  Does your conscience rob you of peace?  Do you feel so guilty that you are certain that everyone knows or will find out about your secret sins?  I would imagine that all of us have experienced the cranes of Ibycus at one time or another – maybe you are going through it right now.

Know this.  Everyone has missed the mark of righteousness that God has demanded.  But through His great love God presented His Son Jesus as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in His blood.  By the offering of His holy life, by the shedding of His blood on the cross, Jesus paid the penalty for our sins in order that our guilt might be taken away.  Since sin has been paid for in full, God no longer has reason to be angry with us because of sin.  Those who trust in the cross are declared righteous and are welcomed into the kingdom of heaven.  In Christ, our gnawing consciences are set free.  Despair gives way to joy.

To be assured of your forgiveness find the Lord in His Word and Sacraments, where His Word is taught in its truth and purity and the Sacraments are administered rightly.  Here our consciences are made absolutely clean.  I think I recognize that place – the Lord’s House.  See you in Church!

In Christ,

Pastor

Bulletin Announcements

April 29, 2018

THOUGHTS ON STEWARDSHIP:  John 15:2 – “Every branch of mine that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”  God is interested in the fruit that we bear in good works, and He even prunes us so that we may bring forth more fruit.  Trusting in our Lord’s work for us, being grafted by grace into His vine, we desire to be more like Him, to grow into His image.  That’s growth in fruit bearing…and it always comes with some pruning.

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.

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 will be led by Seminarian Brent Keller at 9:15 a.m. in the church basement.

TODAY, we welcome the Seminary Student, Brent Keller, who we have been supporting this school year.  He is here with his wife, Hannelore, and daughter, Annalise.  Mr. Keller just received his call this past week to Peace Lutheran Church in Alcester, South Dakota.  The Lord’s Blessings to the whole Keller family.

THE CONGREGATION IS INVITED to Holden Lueck’s National Signing Day Ceremony tomorrow, Monday, April 30th, at 6:00 p.m. in the cafeteria at Normal West High School.  Holden is continuing his academic and football career at Olivet Nazarene University.  Cake and refreshments will follow.

ASCENSION DAY WORSHIP with Holy Communion will be on Thursday, May 10th at 7:00 p.m.

ADULT INSTRUCTION CLASS will begin on May 14th, at 7:00 p.m.  The class will run on Mondays through the end of June (taking off on Memorial Day) and lasts about an hour each evening.  This class is designed for non-members who would like to learn more about the Lutheran Church and its teachings.  It is also a good refresher course for members.  If you know of someone you would like Pastor to invite please call him at (309) 838-0306 or e-mail him at: revbci@yahoo.com.

GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE MOVIES:  World-famous atheist Dr. Sol Harkens (Kevin Sorbo) delights in debating and defeating Christians, but is emotionally empty. Isolated from Katy (Sam Sorbo), the wife he divorced following the harrowing loss of their first son, and a lousy part-time dad to their two younger boys, his self-destruction culminates in a car crash that leaves him clinically dead for four minutes.  The four-word message from that experience challenges his convictions, sending him into a panicked tailspin.  Reluctantly leaning on his family’s forgiveness, love and faith, Sol struggles to find meaning and purpose in the words “LET THERE BE LIGHT”.  Join us Friday, May 18, 2018 at 6:30 p.m. for a great movie, good food and fine fellowship.

FROM THE OFFICE:  If you would like to send a card to our Custodian, Roman Lenart, following his knee replacement surgery, his address is:  305 Carl Dr., Bloomington IL 61704.

FROM THE OFFICE:  Please note that the address for Jack & Ruth Gooding has changed to: Evergreen Place, 801 Gregory, Apt. 210, Normal, IL 61761.

GROUP OUTING FOR BASEBALL GAME:  Good Shepherd is planning a group outing at a Normal CornBelters game on Sunday, June 10th. Game time is 6:05 p.m.  Tickets are $10.00 per person and will include a reserved box seat and a concession voucher that can be used for a hot dog, small drink and bag of chips.  Good Shepherd’s own Katey Parry will sing the national anthem and Pastor Lueck will throw out a first pitch.  For more information or to buy tickets, contact Randy Reinhardt at (309) 826-0448 or randyreinhardt1@gmail.com

PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDAR:  We have a big weekend planned this summer so please get these dates on your calendar.  Saturday, July 14th, we will host a Red Cross Blood Drive from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. with breakfast served.  Sunday, July 15th, we will have one worship service outside under a tent at 9:00 a.m. to celebrate and thank God for having paid half of the cost of our building.  Sunday School and Bible Class will convene inside at 10:15 a.m.

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

THE LUTHERAN HOUR:  “Love One Another as I Have Loved You”.  The sermon text will be from John 15:9-17.  Jesus calls His followers to be different as they deal with difficult people.  The speaker will be Reverend Dr. Dale A. Meyer.  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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Bulletin Announcements

April 22, 2018

THOUGHTS ON STEWARDSHIP:  John 10:14 – “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me.”  What does it mean to know the Lord?  It starts with being known by the Lord: He claims us as His own and calls us by name. Then, once we are His, we learn to know Him…and in knowing Him we learn to imitate Him. And that is how the Christian life of good works and generosity grows from the Lord’s grace.

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.

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. As we celebrate the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation we continue studies on that time period.  We are studying “A Man Named Martin”, a video-based study on the reformer Martin Luther.

TODAY is the deadline for items to be submitted for the MAY NEWSLETTER.  Janet Evans is our Editor for the church newsletter and any announcements you want to be published in the Newsletter should be submitted to her at goodshepherdblm@frontier.com or you may call her at (309) 838-1552.

NEXT SUNDAY: Next Sunday, April 29th, we are privileged to have with us the seminary student we have been supporting this school year.  Brent Keller will be here with his family to preach and conduct Bible Class.  Because of his presence we will have our May door offering next Sunday instead.  Keep Brent in your prayers as he receives his call this week.  Also, be reminded that this is  the 5th Sunday so Holy Communion will be celebrated in both worship services.

FROM THE OFFICE:  If you would like to send a card to our Custodian, Roman Lenart, following his knee replacement surgery, his address is:  305 Carl Dr., Bloomington IL 61704.

FROM THE OFFICE:  Please note that the address for Jack & Ruth Gooding has changed to: Evergreen Place, 801 Gregory, Apt. 210, Normal, IL 61761

FROM THE OFFICE:     The new Church Directory is available on the table in the narthex.  Please pick up your copy today.

FROM OUR BOARD OF TRUSTEES:  Because we no longer have the Soccer Club our lawn mowing budgeted for 2018 is $500.00 short of the bid the Board of Trustees have been working on.  If you would like to contribute to this, mark your contribution accordingly and thank you!

GROUP OUTING FOR BASEBALL GAME:  Good Shepherd is planning a group outing at a Normal CornBelters game on Sunday, June 10th. Game time is 6:05 p.m.  Tickets are $10.00 per person and will include a reserved box seat and a concession voucher that can be used for a hot dog, small drink and bag of chips.  Good Shepherd’s own Katey Parry will sing the national anthem and Pastor Lueck will throw out a first pitch.  For more information or to buy tickets, contact Randy Reinhardt at (309) 826-0448 or randyreinhardt1 @gmail.com

PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDAR:  We have a big weekend planned this summer so please get these dates on your calendar.  Saturday, July 14th, we will host a Red Cross Blood Drive from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. with breakfast served.  Sunday, July 15th, we will have one worship service outside under a tent at 9:00 a.m. to celebrate and thank God for having paid half of the cost of our building.  Sunday School and Bible Class will convene inside at 10:15 a.m.

PORTALS OF PRAYER:  The April – June 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 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: “The Answer to Unhappiness” What do you really want? What does your heart yearn for most? A blogger recently asked her readers the question: “If you could say in one word what you want more of in life, what would that be?” Can you guess the number one answer? It was happiness. (Acts 8:26-40)  The speaker is Rev. Michael Newman.  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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