News

Announcements — December 10, 2017

† IN OUR PRAYERS  Katherine R., suffering with Shingles; Virginia S., recovering from a broken arm; Jack H., back at home recovering; Marcella M., recovering from a fall; Earl G., suffering various serious health issues; Lee Ann C., back at home but continuing to undergo physical therapy; Nan B., undergoing rehab at home for her shoulder; Jody G., on hospice; Kathy P., suffering health issues; Sara P., undergoing treatment for cancer; Stephen Ministry and their care receivers.

† TUESDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY will be taking a break until the new year.  The class will resume on Tuesday, January 9, and will be studying the book of James.

† LWML CHRISTMAS PARTY  The LWML is sponsoring a Christmas Holiday-centered evening for all the ladies of the congregation this evening at 5:30 pm, in the Fellowship Hall of the church.  It will be a salad supper, so please bring a salad to share.  Drinks and dessert will be provided.  There will be a Christmas ornament exchange for those who would like to participate and secret sisters will be revealed.  Come and join us for an evening of Christmas fun and festivities!  If you have questions, you can contact Lora W.

† ANGEL TREE  Thank you to everyone who took an angel from the tree. Please remember the unwrapped items need to be under the tree with the ornament attached today.  The packages will be taken to the Salvation Army this Wednesday.  This project is being coordinated by our Sunday School in cooperation with the local Salvation Army.  Thanks for your support of this project.

† GOD’S PROMISE CAME TRUE  The Sunday School Christmas Program is scheduled for next Sunday, December 17, at 7:00 pm.  Along with working on the songs and speaking lines in Sunday School, there will be a rehearsal today after the late service.  A light lunch will be provided before we start rehearsal.  Please encourage your children to get excited about this special opportunity to tell the story of Jesus’ birth to our church family!

† DIRECTORY  The new church directory is almost complete!  If you would like an electronic copy of your photograph, please contact Karen M. or mumom52@hotmail.com.

† MIDWEEK ADVENT SERVICES  As in recent years, Good Shepherd will provide  midweek worship services at 11:00 am and 7:00 pm each Wednesday during Advent.  This year’s theme is “Savior of the Nations”.  Please join us!

† POINSETTIAS  If you would like to purchase a poinsettia(s) to help adorn the sanctuary at Christmas, please use the sign-up sheet on the table in the narthex.  The cost is $8.00 each.  See Diana E. with any questions and about payment.

† PORTALS OF PRAYER  The new Portals of Prayer for the winter are on the table by the nursery in the narthex.

† NURSERY/CRY ROOM  Should your child become distressed or distract others during the service, a furnished nursery/cry room is located in the narthex for your use.  Please ask one of the ushers if you need directions.

† 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.

† 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.

 

Children’s Christmas Program

God’s Promise Came True

The Christmas story is always beautiful, but when told through the voices and faces of our children, it becomes even more special. Be sure to attend this year’s program entitled,  God’s Promise Came True, presented on Sunday evening, December 17, at 7:00 pm.  Come follow the children through a nativity video tour explaining the story of the birth of Jesus and see how God fulfilled his promise of a Savior!  There will be refreshments following the program.

 

 

Christmas Party

The LWML is sponsoring a Christmas Holiday centered evening for all the ladies of the congregation, Sunday, December 10, at 5:30 pm, in the Fellowship Hall of the church.

You don’t have to be a member of LWML, or a participant in the Secret Sister Program, to take part in  this evening of fun with your fellow Good Shepherd Christian Sisters.

It will be a salad supper, so please bring a salad to share.  Drinks and dessert will be provided.  There will be a Christmas ornament exchange for those who would like to participate and secret sisters will be revealed.  Come and join us for an evening of Christmas fun and festivities!  If you have questions, you can contact Lora W.

 

Savior of the Nations

Christmas creep is such that we have been seeing Christmas things in stores for some time now. I was looking for something in Lowes back in early October and while I expected to see Halloween things I was a bit surprised to see the Christmas trees right behind them. At this point I’m not sure there is much use in telling you but, in case you didn’t know it, Christmas will be coming soon. In the Church we have our own way of preparing for Christmas and that is the season of Advent. Advent is a time to look forward to Christ coming to earth. It is a time to look backward and remember that God’s people of old waited for a long time and trusted in a lot of promises of a Savior before He was   actually born. And Advent is a time to look at ourselves right now and consider how our Savior’s return effects our lives in this moment.

This Advent and Christmas we will be looking at the miracle of Christ’s birth with the theme of “Savior of the Nations”. The first thing that comes to mind for many is the familiar Advent hymn Savior of the Nations, Come. We  will use this hymn (and others) this season as we consider how Our Lord was born to save not only you and me but all  people. The hymn beautifully focuses on the two natures of Christ and the full revelation of God in the person of Jesus.

Not by human flesh and blood,

By the Spirit of our God,

Was the Word of God made flesh—

Woman’s offspring, pure and fresh. (LSB 332)

The flesh and blood of the God-man brings our salvation. God has become one of us. He has been eternally joined to the stuff of Mary’s womb so that He might be present for us. And this not of man, but a gift of God, a work of the Spirit. The mystery of the incarnation causes all of us to ponder anew the sacrificial love of God. To be fully one of us, to share with us in all things, to know no sin, and yet to become sin for us, that is the stuff that causes all creation to fall at His feet and worship. There is no greater love of God than the work of Jesus Christ in rescuing falling creation.

Have a blessed Advent as we prepare for our Lord’s coming and a blessed Christmas as we celebrate the birth of the Savior of the Nations.

– Pastor Mehl