Bulletin Announcements
August 6, 2017
THOUGHTS ON STEWARDSHIP: Matthew 14:17-18: “They said to Him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” {18} And He said, “Bring them here to Me.”” When the disciples held on to the five loaves and two fish – that’s exactly what they had. But when they handed them over to the Lord, the multitudes are fed. Apart from Jesus all we do and all we have is nothing – but in Jesus all we do and have is blessed to be used by the Lord for His gracious work.
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. In conjunction with the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation we are studying about that time period with “The Word Endures: Lessons From the Lives of Powerful Politicians”.
FROM THE OFFICE: After taking a break in July, Boards will be meeting in August. This coming Tuesday, August 8th, Evangelism/Stewardship meets at 6:00 p.m. followed by the Elders convening at 7:00 p.m.
QUILTING: We will start meeting again for Quilt Sewing in August. Due to the McLean County Fair being held the first week in August; we will meet this coming Thursday, August 10th from 1-4:00 p.m. Any questions please see or call Luanne Huth at (309) 829-6897.
FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT: “THE MUSIC MAN”, the joyful film of the 1,375-performance Broadway smash, remains an irresistible skyburst of Americana. Robert Preston recreates his Tony-winning Broadway triumph as con artist, Harold Hill, arriving in River City, Iowa, to form a boys band, much to the disapproval…and later delight of town librarian Marian Paroo (Academy Award winner Shirley Jones). Buddy Hackett, Hermione Gingold, Paul Ford and 7-year old Ron Howard co-star. Meredith Willson’s sassy, brassy score, is orchestrated to Oscar-winning effect by Ray Heindorf. Sheer Entertainment. Hollywood’s Show Magic at Its Best. Join us for a fun evening with a great movie, good food and fellowship on Friday, August 18 at 6:30 pm.
GOOD SHEPHERD’S ANNUAL CHURCH PICNIC is Sunday, August 27th at Tipton Trails Park in Bloomington. Start time at approximately 12:00 p.m. Please sign-up on the sheet in the narthex and on another sheet to let the Board know what you are bringing. Thank you.
GOOD SHEPHERD PARTNERING WITH THE AMERICAN RED CROSS is giving you a chance to “give the gift of life”. This Blood Drive will take place in the basement of the church on Saturday, September 2nd from 8:00 a.m. to Noon. The finest chefs that Good Shepherd has will be serving breakfast. Please join your church and community in this time of food, fellowship and phlebotomy.
LUTHERAN WORLD RELIEF SCHOOL KITS: It’s that time again for the LWML’s Project Lutheran World Relief School Kits. We need your help filling the School Kits with the following items for each School Bag: 4 Notebooks; 1 Ruler; 1 Pencil Sharpener; 1 Scissor; 5 Pencils; 5 Pens; 1 Box of Crayons; 1 Eraser; 1 Book Bag. If you have any questions, please see or contact Joann Hart (309) 310-9205. Thank you for your help!
DID YOU NOTICE SOMETHING NEW IN THE NORTH STAIRWELL? The Banner hanging in the north stairwell is a gift from the Don Gronert Family. His daughter Marsha made it while in college. It previously hung in the Gronert’s home entry.
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.
LUTHERAN HOUR MINISTRIES: Reminder: Don’t forget to stop by the Lutheran Hour Ministries Tent at the Illinois State Fair. This also is sponsored by the Central Illinois District Lutheran Laymen’s League. We give away Bibles, LHM Booklets on all topics, Children’s Bible Story Books; Coloring Books and free ice water. There is also a free craft to make. If you would like to volunteer, please call Deloris Blessman at (309) 361-1461 or email her at: delorisblessman@yahoo.com. The State Fair starts this coming Friday, August 11th – Sunday, August 20th.
THE LUTHERAN HOUR: “Looking For a Good Speaker” is the topic for next Sunday. The sermon text will be from Matthew 6:9. “Archives August” – What do the words “Our Father” teach us about our relationship with God and with each other? Guest speaker is Dr. Dale A. Meyer. Hear this Sunday’s 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.
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 August 2017
Elder and Usher Schedule
| August 6 | Craig Culp, Daryle Schempp, Gene Fuller, Richard Ross | Curt Kessler | Greg McNeely, Theron Noth |
| August 13 | Gerald Semelka, Steve Parry | Barry Hamlin | Brian Dirks, Bud Kessler, Curt Kessler |
| August 20 | Joshua Parry, Mike Field, Nathan Kluender, Paul Gerike | Randy Reinhardt | Greg McNeely, Mike Huth |
| August 27 | Jeff Piper, Lucas Piper | Nathan Kluender | Brian Dirks, Bud Kessler, Theron Noth |
Acolyte Schedule
| August 6 | Tanner Hitch | Pastor/Elder |
| August 13 | Pastor/Elder | Jessica Isaac |
| August 20 | Clayton Piper | Pastor/Elder |
| August 27 | Pastor/Elder | Will McNeely |
Stewardship Corner August 2017
Winston Churchill reportedly said that “we make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” According to Churchill then, our lives are defined less by what we have gotten, and more by what we give away.
Our Lord’s life is defined in this way. He gave completely of Himself for us. He became man for us. He taught the truth of God’s Word. He healed those with many and various diseases. He died the death that we deserve because of sin. He gave of Himself in order to save us from sin, death, and hell. And so, it is that by giving completely of Himself, He got for Himself us, making us citizens of His eternal kingdom by grace.
As it was for Jesus, so it is also for us. We get more from giving than we do from simply getting. For giving softens our hearts and frees us from the grip which the worries of this world and making a living has on us. For when we are singularly focused on making a living, we are singularly focused on what we get. That mindset begins to bleed into all areas of our lives—our relationships with friends and family, with neighbors and coworkers, and with the Lord. It shifts our focus from asking the question—How can I be a friend, family member, neighbor, and servant to others—to asking the question—what have they done for me lately. We become more selfish instead of selfless.
But when we give, we do not have less, we have more because when we give we join in the bond of friendship and family, the bond of service to those around us out of love for them. And love is the fulfillment of the Law. It is the nature of God Himself, for God is Love. Thus we are reflecting the divine nature. As Jesus said “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).
Celebrating August 2017
Birthdays
8/1 Georgia Boriack
8/3 Vicki Miller
8/5 Paul Gerike
8/5 Eric Schneider
8/8 Benjamin King, Jr
8/9 Jeanette Ross
8/10 Bryan Benjamin
8/11 Clayton Piper
8/11 Emilia Schempp
8/12 Brian Dirks
8/15 Jacqueline Kwasny
8/16 Kristina Warren
8/18 Becky Love
8/22 Kitti Miller
8/24 John Campbell
8/24 Michael Huth
Baptismal Birthdays
8/7 Deborah Huber
8/11 Andrew Benjamin
8/15 Phoenix Kleiboeker
8/19 Benjamin King, Jr
8/23 Stephanie Schempp
8/24 Paul Gerike
8/25 Eric Schneider
8/28 Jerzey Kleiboeker
Pastor’s Notes August 2017
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
One of the things we enjoy about summer is the chance to “get away.” What does that mean to you? Are you getting away from work? Are you getting away from home and the responsibilities that come with it? Are you getting away from the monotony that is your life?
When we “get away,” our routines change. Recently when I “got away” with the family at a baseball tournament for Holden, every day I was up at 6:00 a.m. Yes, you read that right, your Pastor who loves his pillow and his siesta was up early! But that is what happens when you “get away.” The minutes and the hours and the days change from the usual. I don’t like to sleep in when I “get away.” I like to be doing and going and enjoying. Some people, maybe you, are the complete opposite. You “get away” to sleep later, lounge around and enjoy an adult beverage on a beach somewhere. “Getting away,” means different things to different people.
Do you ever want to “get away” from your foolish actions? Do you want to run to a beach and hide because of words you said in haste? Would like to sleep in and not face the transgressions you displayed the day before? Where can we go in those instances? The cross of Jesus. There we “get away” from our actions, our sins, because they’ve been placed on Jesus, and He removed them as far as the east is from the west.
Furthermore, our natural inclination is to wonder what we must do to be right with God, and that’s totally frustrating and wearisome, for it has no end. Once again, the cross is the reminder that Jesus did everything necessary to make us right with God and we have perfect rest, at no price to us. In Christ, our rest is eternal.
One of the blessings as a Pastor in “getting away” is the chance to sit with my family in worship. I always enjoy visiting a sister church of the LCMS. Have a good time when you “get away” but don’t get away from your life of worship. We need the constant of God’s Word in our lives.
In Christ,
Pastor