Announcements

† IN OUR PRAYERS  Sandy L., in the hospital, in Springfield, suffering sever back and leg pain; Ruth H., Jack H., Letitia L., Carol L., Stephanie S. recovering at home; Raymond S., rehabbing after a fall; Paula B., April K., Sara P., Sara T., undergoing treatment for cancer.

† BACK TO TWO SERVICES  Starting Sunday, September 6, we will return to our regular two services.  Worship services will be at 8:15 and 10:45 am with Sunday School and Adult Bible Class at 9:30 am.

† LYF SWIM NIGHT  Today at 5:30 pm, there will be a LYF swim night hosted by the G.s.  Hot dogs and drinks will be provided and the  youth should bring a side to share.  Parents are invited because we will have a short meeting to discuss another fundraising option, upcoming activities for the rest of the year, and registration deadlines for the 2016 National Youth Gathering.

† SUNDAY SCHOOL/CHRISTIAN EDUCATION MEETING  There will be a short meeting today, right after the Sunday School hour, to discuss plans for rally day, which will be held August 30, and class divisions for the fall quarter.  All those helping with our Christian Education or interested in helping are encouraged to attend.

† THURSDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY   Starting this week, our Thursday Morning Bible Study will become Tuesday Morning Bible Study.  The group will now meet every Tuesday morning, starting with August 18, from 9:30 – 10:30 am.

† SUNDAY SCHOOL RALLY DAY has been set for Sunday, August 30. There will be a kick-off event and special activities during Sunday School.  Also, the children will be singing with the Shepherd’s Strings during the service that morning.  The theme for Rally Day is Noah’s Arc so join us for some fun water games and food at the carnival which will happen right after the Sunday School hour, around 11:30 am.

† MEAL DELIVERY  Our week to deliver meals for the Over-60 Center is this week, August 17-21.  If you can help with this worthwhile project, please contact Betty E.

† STEPHEN MINISTRY REPRESENTATIVES will be available today after the worship service in the conference room to answer questions and provide information for anyone wanting to know more about this incredible ministry.

† STEPHEN MINISTRY CLASSES will be starting in September.  Anyone    planning to participate in these classes is invited to a schedule planning meeting on Sunday, August 23, during the Sunday School hour.

† GSLC FALL PORK COOK OUT AND MUSIC FESTIVAL has been scheduled for Sunday, September 27, from 5:00 – 7:00 pm.  Please, save the date on your calendar.

† 60^TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY INVITATION  Many of us may remember Paul & Gladys D.  They will be celebrating their 60^th wedding anniversary with an open house today from 2-4 pm at Diamond Memorial Hall.

† AN INVITATION FROM PASTOR SCHUMACHER  At 2:00 pm today, the members of Grace Lutheran Church in Aurora will be having a special “Service of Thanksgiving and Praise.”  The occasion is to celebrate with  Pastor Schumacher the loving kindness and tender mercies our Lord has extended to him during his fifty years of ministry.

† IN OUR PRAYERS  Ruth H., Jack H., Letitia L., Carol L., Stephanie S. recovering at home; Raymond S., rehabbing after a fall; Paula B., April K., Sara P., Sara T., undergoing treatment for cancer.

† BACK TO TWO SERVICES  Starting Sunday, September 6, we will return to our regular two services.  Worship services will be at 8:15 and 10:45 am with Sunday School and Adult Bible Class at 9:30 am.

† VOTERS’ MEETING  There will be a voters’ meeting today at 7:00 pm.

† LYF SWIM NIGHT  On Sunday, August 16, at 5:30 pm there will be   a LYF swim night hosted by the Goldens.  Hot dogs and drinks will be provided and the youth should bring a side to share.  Parents are invited  because we will have a short meeting that evening to discuss another fundraising option, upcoming activities for the rest of the year, and registration deadlines for the 2016 National Youth Gathering.

† SUNDAY SCHOOL/CHRISTIAN EDUCATION MEETING  There will be a short meeting next Sunday, August 16, right after the Sunday School hour to discuss plans for rally day, which will be held August 30, and class divisions for the fall quarter.  All those helping with our Christian  Education or interested in helping are encouraged to attend.

† EVEREST VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL was a huge success.  Thanks to everyone who helped this year.  The kids had a wonderful week learning about God’s awesome power!  God has the power to provide, comfort, heal, forgive, and love us forever!  “HOLD ON!”

† THURSDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY will meet this Thursday,   August 13, at 9:30 am.  After this week, the group will be changing their meeting day to Tuesday; the time will be the same, 9:30 – 10:30 am.

† SUNDAY SCHOOL RALLY DAY has been set for Sunday, August 30. There will be a kick-off event and special activities during Sunday School.  Also, the children will be singing with the Shepherd’s Strings during the service that morning.  The theme for Rally Day is Noah’s Arc so join us for some fun water games and food at the carnival which will happen right after the Sunday School hour, around 11:30 am.

† MEAL DELIVERY  Monday, August 17, through Friday, August 21, is Good Shepherd’s week to deliver meals for the Over-60 Center.  If you can help with this worthwhile project, please contact Betty E.

† PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT INSTALLATION   Thank you to all those who have helped with the installation of the new playground!  It was wonderful to have so many people involved in putting it together.  A special thanks goes to Earl K, Bill C., and Bob S. who spent many extra hours in the heat (and rain) between Saturdays finishing up the holes, pouring concrete, etc.  What a special gift of their time and talents!

† AN INVITATION FROM PASTOR SCHUMACHER  On Sunday,  August 16, at 2 pm, the members of Grace Lutheran Church in Aurora will .be having a special “Service of Thanksgiving and Praise.”  The occasion is to celebrate with Pastor Schumacher the loving kindness and tender mercies our Lord has extended to him during his fifty years of ministry.

† IN OUR PRAYERS  Stephanie S, recovering from surgery; Ruth H., Jack H., Letitia L., Carol L., recovering at home; Raymond S., rehabbing after a fall; Paula B., April K., Sara P., Sara T., undergoing  treatment for cancer.

† THANK YOU  Many people have loaned furnishings for the house I am renting in Carthage.  Apparently many more offered to support my service in that way.  Such hospitality makes it easier for me to work away from my wife and family.  Whether your furniture is in my rental or not, thank you for welcoming me into your family of faith.  May the Holy Spirit enable you to practice generosity to future pastors, members and this community.   ~ Pastor Mackie

† EVEREST VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL was a huge success.  Thanks to everyone who helped this year.  The kids had a wonderful week learning about God’s awesome power!  God has the power to provide, comfort, heal, forgive, and love us forever!  “HOLD ON!”

† A HUGE THANK YOU for all the food donations, money, kitchen help and volunteer servers that helped make VBS suppers a success.  Without everyone’s generous support it would not have been possible to feed all in attendance! ~ Rosann Chapman

† THURSDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY will resume this Thursday, August 6 at 9:30 am.  This week’s snacks are being handled.  Looking    forward to getting started again!

† LWML  The regular meeting for August, scheduled for this Tuesday, has been cancelled.  The next regular meeting will be in September.

† STEPHEN MINISTRY NEWS  Earl Kirn has recently been trained as a Stephen Ministry leader.  He joins Janet Chambers who was previously trained as a leader.  They both are capable and willing to teach and train additional Stephen Ministers.  Tentatively, we are planning a class starting in the fall.  After the service today, several members of the recently created Stephen Minister Board will be available in the conference room to provide additional information and to answer questions about becoming a Stephen Minister.  We encourage anyone interested in this ministry to stop in and learn more about this distinctively Christian caregiving Ministry.  Feel free to ask questions at any time of any of our current Board members, Earl Kirn, Janet Chambers, Clarice O’Moore, Brenda Delmez, and Curt Spieker.

† VOTERS’ MEETING CHANGE  This quarter’s regular Voters’   Meeting has been rescheduled from Sunday, August 2, to Sunday, August 9, at 7:00 pm.

† PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT INSTALLATION   Thank you to all those who have helped with the installation of the new playground!  It was wonderful to have so many people involved in putting it together.  A special thanks goes to Earl K., Bill C., and Bob S. who spent many extra hours in the heat (and rain) between Saturdays finishing up the holes, pouring concrete, etc.  What a special gift of their time and talents!

† AN INVITATION FROM PASTOR SCHUMACHER  On Sunday,  August 16, at 2 pm, the members of Grace Lutheran Church in Aurora will be having a special “Service of Thanksgiving and Praise.”  The occasion is to celebrate with Pastor Schumacher the loving kindness and tender mercies our Lord has extended to him during his fifty years of ministry.

† IN OUR PRAYERS  Jack H., at Freeman Hospital with low kidney function; Raymond S., rehabbing after a fall; Ruth H., Letitia L., Carol L., recovering at home; Paula B., April K., Sara P., Sara T., undergoing treatment for cancer.

† INTENTIONAL INTERIM  Pastor Roger Mackie has accepted the call to be Good Shepherd’s Intentional Interim Pastor.  His installation service will be at 2:00 pm today, followed by a reception at 3:00 pm.

† GUEST PASTOR  It is wonderful to have Pastor Schumacher, retired pastor from Grace in Aurora, and his wife, Elaine, here again today.  Thank you, Pastor Schumacher, for handling the service.

† VBS BEGINS  Vacation Bible School starts this evening, from 6:00 – 8:00 pm, with a light dinner at 5:30 pm.  The offerings from VBS this year will go toward “Stuff the Bus”.  There is a list in the bulletin of the things that are needed, and of course, money is always appreciated.

† LUTHERAN YOUTH FELLOWSHIP REMINDER  The LYF will be handling the game station for VBS, which starts this evening and goes through July 30.  If you are not planning on being here for the 5:30 dinner, plan on coming around 6:15 pm.  Please be here as much as possible, because it takes several hands to keep the station running smoothly.

† THURSDAY BIBLE STUDY  The Thursday morning Bible Study group will take a break for the rest of July until Pastor Mackie arrives.

† STEPHEN MINISTRY NEWS  Earl Kirn has recently been trained as a Stephen Ministry leader.  He joins Janet Chambers who was previously trained as a leader.  They both are capable and willing to teach and train additional Stephen Ministers.  Tentatively, we are planning a class starting in the fall.  After the service on August 2, several members of the recently created Stephen Minister Board will be available in the conference room to provide additional information and to answer questions about becoming a Stephen Minister.  We encourage anyone interested in this ministry to stop in and learn more about this distinctively Christian caregiving Ministry.  Feel free to ask questions at any time of any of our current Board members, Earl K., Janet C., Clarice O., Brenda D., and Curt S.

VOTERS’ MEETING CHANGE  This quarter’s regular Voters’ Meeting has been rescheduled from Sunday, August 2, to Sunday, August 9, at 7:00 pm.

† PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT INSTALLATION  Thank you to all those who have helped with the installation of the new playground!  It was wonderful to have so many people involved in putting it together.  A special thanks goes to Earl Kirn, Bill C., and Bob S. who spent many extra hours in the heat (and rain) between Saturdays finishing up the holes, pouring concrete, etc.  What a special gift of their time and talents!

† DEVOTIONAL BOOKS  There are several books on the information desk in the narthex, please feel free to take anything you would like.

† SUMMER WORSHIP  For the summer months, we are having one   worship service on Sunday and it begins at 9:00 am.  Sunday School and   Bible class are at 10:30 am.

† ASSISTIVE LISTENING  If you are having a hard time hearing the service, assistive listening devices are available from the ushers.  They work like a transistor radio and you can control the volume.

† BLOOD PRESSURE CHECKS are available in the nurse’s office   after the service.  You will be given a small form that can be carried in your wallet which will include medical information and a log of your blood pressure readings.

† PRAYER BEARS are in the sanctuary pews and available to be signed out (notebook in narthex by nursery) and given to anyone that needs God’s love, comfort, and peace.