News

All Saints

November 1st is All Saints day. That works out well when the first falls on a Sunday but it is an important enough holiday in the Church that we observe it on the Sunday following November 1st when that day is not a Sunday. Often the takeaway for Christians like you and me is that there are people in the past who lived good (though still sinful) lives and that we have something to learn from the good they did. Also, a particularly Lutheran perspective would be that all Christians are saints because they have been redeemed by Christ. This thinking follows the line that a saint is someone who is perfect and you and I are prefect because Jesus has redeemed us by His blood, therefore we are saints.

Another facet of this jewel that I would like to talk about with you briefly is the fact that all saints are different people and yet are one in Christ. This is a reality that is captured by the phrase in the Apostle’s Creed; ‘communion of saints’. This does not mean that we somehow benefit when the saints up in heaven take communion or something. It refers to the unity of the saints, the unity of all believers. Of course, there are more saints who are dead than are alive. We are clearly not united with past believers in life but we are still united with them in faith. This is something that happens any time we have faith which, I trust, is pretty much all the time for you. But this communion of saints is even more poignant during the sacrament of the altar.

The ‘Preface’, which is that paragraph I read right after the start of the Service of the Sacrament, ends with this sentence; “Therefore with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You and saying…”. That “all the company of heaven” part really encompasses a lot of people, including angels even. Though angels are not saints. When we take communion, it is not just a sign of unity with those who are taking communion with us it is sign of unity with those who have ever taken communion. It is a sign of unity with Christ Himself, and by extension all believers in Christ.

So, in a Law sense, we should make sure that we are right with not just the people communing at the rail with us but with all people, now and in the past, who have ever communed at any altar. (And by ‘right’ I mean you have forgiven them and do not hold a grudge against them or something.) From more of a gospel perspective, we get to be united with our believing friends and family who have passed away when we take communion. This happens every time we take communion, not just on All Saints day.

It is hard for me to imagine so large a group of people who are so united in any other way outside of the Church. There are large groups of people out there for sure. There are large countries and large movements encompassing large ideologies out there but they often fall apart because people are so different and are able to find an infinite number of things about which to disagree. That is one of the more surprising and wonderful parts of the ‘communion of saints’. All saints are saints because of what Christ has done for us. Though we are very different people who have lived in very different times and places, though we have different views and preferences, we are all saints. We are all united because Christ unites us. He makes us all saints.

~ Pastor Mehl

Announcements — November 4, 2018

† IN OUR PRAYERS  Kady E., Ed & Betty’s granddaughter, recovering from a car accident; LuVerne C., undergoing treatment for lymphoma; Carol L., at Webb City Health and Rehabilitation Center; Jack H., dealing with multiple health issues; Lee Ann C., recovering at home; Earl G., suffering from ALS; Kathy P., suffering health issues; Dave M., Sara P., Vonda R., undergoing treatment for cancer; Stephen Ministry and their care receivers.

† GSLC FRIENDS BIBLE STUDY will still be meeting in November at 6:30 pm, it was accidently left off of the Newsletter calendar.

† HOBO SUPPER TONIGHT AT 5:00 PM  The HOBO supper is back!  Wear your best HOBO costume and of course bring your HOBO stew fixins … already cooked, of course, to add to the pot.   We are having a pumpkin decoration contest for kids.  They need to bring their decorated pumpkin to the HOBO supper to be judged.  **We will not be decorating them that evening.  The Fellowship committee is your host.  There is a sign-up sheet on the round table in the narthex for desserts.  Contact Lora Wacker with any questions.

† THANK YOU  I suppose all positive relationships include an assumption   of good will.  But from time to time it sure is nice when that good will is expressed with words and actions.  Thank you for all your words and      actions this October.  I feel very blessed and my family feels very blessed to be a part of Good Shepherd.  Thank you again. ~ Pastor Mehl

† A BIG THANK YOU to all who so generously donated to our LWML and Breast Cancer 50/50 fundraiser!  We collected $181.00 …. In just 30 min, WOW!  Thank you so much for your support!

† CARTHAGE CRISIS CENTER  One of the community organizations that Good Shepherd Lutheran supports quarterly is the Carthage Crisis Center.  There are some flyers on the round table in the narthex about what they have going on during the upcoming holiday season.  They provide meals in our community for a large number of people and they are asking for some extra help this holiday season.  Please pick up the information if you would like to know how you can help.

† SURVEY RESULTS  A clear majority of the surveys preferred to have one service at 9:00 am followed by Sunday School at 10:30 am. The Elder’s  announced at the Voter’s meeting last Sunday, that we will continue with this schedule.  Thank you to everyone who took the time to complete a survey and provide comments.

† 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.

† 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.

 

Announcements — October 28, 2018

† IN OUR PRAYERS  Kady E., Ed & Betty’s granddaughter, recovering from a car accident; LuVerne C., undergoing treatment for lymphoma; Carol L., at Webb City Health and Rehabilitation Center; Jack  H., dealing with multiple health issues; Lee Ann C., recovering at home; Earl G., suffering from ALS; Kathy P., suffering health issues; Dave M., Sara P., Vonda R., undergoing treatment for cancer; Stephen Ministry and their care receivers.

† SUNDAY SCHOOL  The Sunday School children will be singing in church today at the end of the service.  They would like to share with the congregation a couple of songs they have been working on this quarter!

† CANCER PATIENT OR SURVIVOR GROUP  If you would be interested in getting a group together of people who are going through or have been through cancer, Karen P. would like to hear from you.  She will be in the Conference Room after church to poll people’s interest in a group like this.  Stop in and let her know if you would be interested.  Contact church office for contact information

† HOBO SUPPER NOVEMBER 4 AT 5:00 PM  The HOBO supper is back!  Wear your best HOBO costume and of course bring your HOBO stew fixins … already cooked, of course, to add to the pot.   We are having a pumpkin decoration contest for kids.  They need to bring their decorated pumpkin to the HOBO supper to be judged.  **We will not be decorating them that evening.  The Fellowship committee is your host.  There is a   sign-up sheet on the round table in the narthex for desserts.  Contact Lora W. with any questions.

† THANK YOU  We would like to thank the congregation for all the prayers and support during our parents’ illnesses.  It makes us really feel proud of this church and it’s people! ~ Doug & Peggy S.

† SURVEY RESULTS  The survey results are in and a clear majority of the congregation prefers to have one service at 9:00 am followed by Sunday School at 10:30 am. The Elder’s official decision will be presented at the  Voter’s meeting tonight at 7:00 pm. Thanks you to everyone who took the time to complete a survey and provide comments.

† Congregations of the Southwest Missouri Circuit  St. John’s, Monett, invites you to attend an authentic German meal on Saturday, November 3, 5:00 – 8:00 pm in our lower level (no stairs).  Enjoy German bratwurst, Bavarian sauerkraut, red cabbage with apples, German potato salad, rye bread, apple strudel (made that morning) and drinks.  $10 a plate.  This will kick off our congregation’s 100th anniversary year!

† SUNDAY SCHOOL/ADULT BIBLE CLASS OFFERING for September and October will be going to help Tim and Hope Mehl who are missionaries/teachers in Taiwan.

† 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.

† 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.