Bulletin Announcements – May 10, 2015

† Bulletin Announcements †

May 10, 2015

THOUGHTS ON STEWARDSHIP:  1 John 5:3:  “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments.  And His commandments are not burdensome.”  God’s commandments are not burdensome, but that’s only true for Christians precisely because we know that we are not saved by our keeping of the Law.  We are saved by grace.  Therefore we are set free by grace to walk in newness of life, to grow in faithfulness, and rejoice in the Law of the Lord: for the love of God is that we keep His commandments.

THE ADULT BIBLE CLASS, led by Pastor Lueck, is studying “Luther’s Small Catechism”.  The class meets in the basement at 9:15 a.m.

TODAY IN SUNDAY SCHOOL:  Our Sunday School students will study the story of “Lydia” today.  Just as God worked His miracle beside the river, clothing Lydia with Christ in Baptism, so God works His miracles in pulpits and fonts around the world today, destroying the work of Satan, ripping believers from the jaws of death, washing away sins in water tinged with Jesus’ blood, and clothing believers with His righteousness.  Parents could ask, “How did God use water to save Lydia and us?  Who does God use to reveal His Word to us today?”

TODAY is our monthly door Offering for Seminarian Chris Suggitt, (please see his note on the church bulletin board announcing his dual Parish call), and for Reverend Michael Kearney.

THIS WEEK:  We have Ascension Worship with Holy Communion this Thursday, May 14th at 7:00 p.m.  The Ascension message: “Raising Our Focus”.

NEXT SUNDAY is the deadline for items to be submitted for the JUNE NEWSLETTER.  Mandy Kluender is our Editor for the church newsletter and any announcements you want to be published in the Newsletter should be submitted to her at mgkluender@hotmail.com or you may call her at (309) 838-9868.

ATTENTION:  The 20th Church Anniversary Committee needs photos from 2005-2015 to be used in a power point presentation during our Anniversary week-end.  Please let us know if you have any photos to share such as from Sunday School, Bible Class, Church Meetings, worship services, picnics, etc.  Please contact Marvin Huth at (309) 829-6897 if you have any photos to share or questions.  Thank you!      The 20th Church Anniversary Committee

FELLOWSHIP HOSTS:  The sign-up for help with coffee/doughnuts is posted on the wall by the north stairwell.  We need an individual/family to sign-up each week to pick up the donuts and make the coffee.  If no one is signed up by Friday of each week, the order will be cancelled.  We thank everybody who continues to help with this part of our church fellowship.

JOB OPENING:  Shining lights Preschool at Christ Lutheran Church, 311 N. Hershey Rd., Normal, IL has an opening for the Director position.  Qualifications for the director include: (1: An associate’s degree in early childhood education with experience and licenser or certification in Early Childhood Education and Director-qualified according to the Department of Children and Family Services.  (2: Leadership experience in administration and staff guiding.  (3: Significant experience in preschool/elementary age ministry.  (4: Be able to show/share God’s love in the preschool environment.  If you are interested and would like an application, please see Rosemary in the church office or call (309) 452-5609, ext. 2. Please return your application by Friday May 29, 2015.

THE LUTHERAN HOUR:  “Without a Fight or a Prayer” is the topic for next Sunday.  The sermon text will be from John 17:11-19.  Jesus prays for us because He knows we are vulnerable and need protection from a world that seeks to steal us away from God.  The speaker will be Reverend Gregory Seltz.  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 home # is (309) 661-6522; her cell phone# is (309) 532-2582.  The Prayer Request box is on the table in the narthex for any written requests.

Happy Mother’s Day

 

 

“Love Connection” John 15:1-8, 5-03-2015

 

May 3, 2015 Text: John 15:1-8

Dear Friends in Christ,

I have been blessed to visit Napa Valley in California a couple of times. When you go there you see row after row of grapevines. They are there to produce wine. In order to be useful, the vines have to be pruned. Without attentive and careful care, the vines will become wild and unruly. Wild vines will grow too many grapes to sustain nourishment and they will wither and die.
Pruning isn’t always pleasant for the vine. It can bleed sap. But the pruning produces a vine that will produce healthier and better fruit. Grapes from this sort of vine can then be used to make world-class wines to be enjoyed everywhere.
Vines need a connection. This connection allows productive growth. Today in our text Jesus says He is “the true vine.” It is a connection we all need. With apologies to Chuck Woolery, Christ is our . . .
“LOVE CONNECTION”
Our text begins, “(Jesus said:) ‘I am the true vine and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch of mine that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does not bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word I have spoken to you.” (vs. 1-3)
The sinful world is a wild and uncultivated vineyard. Wild branches produce sour fruit or no fruit at all. The wild branches surround us. We have those who think they can do whatever they want, whenever they want and there are no consequences. They scream, “My lifestyle is not affecting you.” Well, yes it is. The actions of all human activity are intertwined. We are all growing from the same tree. The Lord created us all. We are all connected and that is the challenge. That inter-connection with the world can lead us down paths we don’t want to go. I like this quote from Russian author Anton Chekhov who said, “Any idiot can face a crisis – it’s this day-to-day living that wears you out.” How true! There are days we feel we are being overrun by the wild branches. We need and long for our love connection.
God provides it through Christ. “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (vs. 4-5)
Did you hear the love connection? “I am the vine; you are the branches.” This is our “connectedness,” a unity that now exists when we are living our lives as a part of Christ rather than apart from Him. As branches when we are connected to the true vine – Jesus Christ – we have the forgiveness of sins, and life and salvation. When we live as wild branches, when we let our connection to the world start to take over our Christian life, the vine reminds us we are connected to Him. He absolves our worldly, wild living as we come to Him in repentance.
The question then is: how do we remain connected? How do we abide in Him? Is it just wishful thinking and hoping for the best? When we are connected to Christ by faith, he provides us with the proper nutrition by Word and Sacrament. Look at verse 7, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you.” The Word of God is part of our love connection. It is as Jesus says, “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.” (Jn. 5:24) All the comfort, hope, and eternal joy are granted us by Christ – and all of it ours for the taking from His Word.
We need the nourishment God provides in frequent attendance at worship and Holy Communion. Here is provided on a weekly basis what we need to do battle against the wild branches. We are fertilized so that we can grow and flourish and bear fruit to those around us. And for those separating themselves from the true vine we pray and reach out to them.
This love connection was also showered upon us through the waters of Holy Baptism as it will be/was today for Cooper Mosier. God by grace washes away all our sins. We are crucified with Christ through baptism and we rise again with Him to newness of life.
It is in this new, forgiven life we bear much fruit. The world needs our love and kindness and gentleness and peace and patience and self-control and our faithfulness. Through our love connection to Christ we never stop growing. Through regular study of God’s Word and continual reception of the Sacrament of the Altar these fruits of the Spirit are grafted into our hearts. When growing as branches, we have the power of Christ’s resurrection victory pulsating through our veins. We thrive on the power of Christ.
Really, now, isn’t good to have this love connection?
Amen.

Bulletin Announcements – May 3, 2015

†   Bulletin Announcements   †

May 3, 2015

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.

THE ADULT BIBLE CLASS, led by Pastor Lueck, is studying “Luther’s Small Catechism”.  The class meets in the basement at 9:15 a.m.

TODAY IN SUNDAY SCHOOL:  The story of “Paul and Timothy” serves as the focus of Sunday School today.  Just as many in Paul’s day thought, we think we must do something to be saved.  Yet the answer is always Jesus, Jesus, only Jesus, whose resurrection from the dead sealed our salvation and absolved the world.  Questions for discussion include “How are you like Timothy?” and “How are we saved from our sin?”

TODAY:  The Holy Baptism of Cooper Rex Mosier takes place in our 10:30 worship service.  Cooper is the son of Randy and Beth Mosier.  The witnesses for Cooper’s baptism will be Jake and Barbie Langhoff.

THANK YOU to everyone who contributed to the “Walk For Life” for Pastor and his family.  Over $50,000.00 was raised for the Crisis Pregnancy Center.

ATTENTION:  The 20th Church Anniversary Committee needs photos from 2005-2015 to be used in a power point presentation during our Anniversary week-end.  Please let us know if you have any photos to share such as from Sunday School, Bible Class, Church Meetings, worship services, picnics, etc.  Please contact Marvin Huth at (309) 829-6897 if you have any photos to share or questions.  Thank you!      The 20th Church Anniversary Committee

FELLOWSHIP HOSTS:  The sign-up for help with coffee/doughnuts is posted on the wall by the north stairwell.  We need an individual/family to sign-up each week to pick up the donuts and make the coffee.  If no one is signed up by Friday of each week, the order will be cancelled.  We thank everybody who continues to help with this part of our church fellowship.

YOU ARE INVITED:  The members of Good Shepherd are invited to our sister congregation, Trinity Lutheran Church, this afternoon as they install their new Pastor.  Reverend Billy Newell will become their new Assistant Pastor in the 2:30 p.m. worship service.

THE LUTHERAN HOUR:  “Relentless Compassion” is the topic for next Sunday.  The sermon text will be from Acts 10:34-38.  God’s love excludes no one.  The speaker will be Reverend Gregory Seltz.  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 home # is (309) 661-6522; 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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Stewardship Corner May 2015

We pray in the Lord’s Prayer for daily bread. The Small Catechism teaches that “Daily bread includes everything that has to do with the support and needs of the body, such as food, drink, clothing, shoes, house, home, land, animals, money, goods, a devout husband or wife, devout children, devout workers, devout and faithful rulers, good government, good weather, peace, health, self-control, good reputation, good friends, faithful neighbors, and the like.” This is a pretty comprehensive list of what God provides for our daily bread. But all of this, eventually, and finally, will be taken away from us—not because God is punishing us, but because this is not the goal of life. There is more to life than these things. In fact, we will truly live when all these things are taken away, and we no longer need to pray for daily bread.

For God our Father in heaven is calling us home to Himself. We are just sojourners here. We are on a journey in the wilderness of this world toward our true home, the land of promise, in heaven. Everything that we have in this world and this life will be left behind.

But as much as we long for heaven, as much as we eagerly await that time when our Lord will take us from this vale of tears to Himself in heaven, we still struggle with letting go of what we have in this world. We still suffer the temptation to hold on to this life and this world and the things of this life and this world. But this is not our true home. And as good as this life is, and it is often by God’s grace very good, the life to come in His kingdom far exceeds it.

And giving, stewardship, is a practice that teaches us to look to, long for, and trust in the eternal realities rather than the earthly. It teaches us to loosen our hold and let go of those things that keep us earthly minded, so that we may look what our Father in heaven has in store for us for all eternity. It teaches us to concentrate on what God has done, is doing, and will do for us instead of the constant work-a-day world and noise that we have here. It teaches us to long for that better country, the heavenly one. For God is not ashamed to be called our God. And He has prepared for us a city, His city, not made with hands.

Thus we give generously to the church, to our family, to those in society. We release our grasp on what would keep our focus on the here and now, so that we would be free to receive and rejoice in what our future shall be in heaven. We invest where moth and rust will not destroy. We put our treasures so that our hearts will follow them (Matt 6:21; Luke 12:34). For we are only of any earthly good, when we are truly heavenly minded. Make this your practice for your own good eternally and your neighbors’ good temporally.

Elder, Usher, and Acolyte schedules for May 2015

Elder and Usher Schedule

Date
8:00
Elder
10:30
May 3Daryle Schempp, Jeff Piper, John Hardy, Matthew HollandMike FieldHolden Lueck,
Theron Noth
May 10Gerald Semelka, Mike FieldNathan KluenderBrian Dirks, Bud Kessler, Curt Kessler
May 14Ascension 7PMJohn HardyGene Fuller, Karson Lueck, Richard Ross
May 17Joshua Parry, Matthew Holland, Paul Gerike, Steve ParryBarry HamlinMike Huth,
Ryan Kleibboeker
May 24Charles Nottingham,
Nathan Kluender		Craig CulpGreg McNeely, Marvin Huth, Nick Henson
May 31Daryle Schempp, Gerald Semelka, Jeff Piper, John HardyCurt KesslerBud Kessler, Holden Lueck, Theron Noth

Acolyte Schedule

Date
8:00 AM
10:30 AM
May 3Katey ParryPastor/Elder
May 10Pastor/ElderWill Dowell
May 17J.T. PiperPastor/Elder
May 24Anna HollandJustin McNeely
May 31J.T. PiperWilliam McNeely