News

Announcements — November 5, 2017

† IN OUR PRAYERS  The G. family, at the death of Susan’s mother; Jack H., back at home recovering; Janice H., recovering from knee surgery, Marcella M., at Wildwood Nursing Facility 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.

† GSLC CELEBRATES 30 YEARS  This fall marks the 30th year of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.  To celebrate this milestone, the Fellowship Committee is hosting a pot-luck lunch today, after the 10:45 am service.  The Fellowship Committee will be providing the dessert, cake & ice cream.  Hoping to have everyone together for a wonderful celebration of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church!

† SUNDAY SCHOOL CHILDREN The Sunday School students will sing in church today at the beginning of the 10:45 am service to help celebrate the 30th anniversary of Good Shepherd.

† NEW CHURCH DIRECTORY  It is time for a new GSLC photo directory.  Pictures for the new directory are in the process.  Pictures are being taken today from  9:30 am – 1:00 pm, please take time to go downstairs and have your directory picture taken.  We would like to get as many people as possible pictured in our new directory and also get updated information.

† MSSU CHAMBER SINGERS  The Carthage Musical Devotees will be hosting the MSSU Chamber Singers on Sunday, November 19, at 3:00 pm here at Good Shepherd.  Admission is free and there will be refreshments afterwards.

† ANGEL TREE  There is a tree set up in the Narthex full of ornaments.  The angels list suggested items for kids in need in our area.  If you would like to participate, please take an ornament from the tree, purchase one or more of the items, and then place the unwrapped items back under the tree with the ornament attached.  The items must be returned and placed under the tree by Sunday, December 10.  This project is being coordinated by our Sunday School in cooperation with the local Salvation Army.  Please consider taking an angel to help meet the needs of others in our community.  Thanks for your support of this project.

† THANKSGIVING EVE WORSHIP  Join us on Wednesday, November 22, at 7:00 pm, for a special Thanksgiving Eve Service with Holy Communion.

† JANITORIAL STAFF  GSLC is seeking a person to fill the upstairs cleaning position.  If you are interested in this position, please contact the church office, 358-1325.

† THE SUNDAY SCHOOL CHRISTMAS PROGRAM is scheduled for Sunday, December 17, at 7:00 pm.  We will be working on the songs and speaking lines in the Sunday School opening during November.  We would really appreciate it if we could have as many students here at Sunday School as much as possible because it will make things run smoother in December for rehearsals.  Please encourage your children to get excited about this special opportunity to tell the story of Jesus’ birth to our church family!

† 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.

 

Remember November 1st

Reformation Day is October 31. It is October 31 because that is the day before November 1. November 1 is All Saints’ Day. The Reformation is really an entire movement that spanned many years and manifested itself in many different ways. With things like this it is not always easy to pin down a start date. October 31 was chosen because that is the day that Luther nailed the 95 Theses to the church door at Wittenberg.

Now why would he do a thing like that? At that time, the church door was like a bulletin board so plenty of people nailed things to it (think yard sale, lost pet, babysitting fliers, etc.). A lot of people went to church there at that time and since there were not denominations as we have them today, everyone went to the same church. If you wanted people to see your flyer, then you would have to post it in a place people would see it. The church door fit that bill. So, Luther posts his 95 topics for discussion to the church door and since it becomes very hard to take this public act back once you have done it, this is the accepted start of the Reformation.

October 31 was chosen because it would have provided one of the largest audiences of the year for flyers posted to the church door. Again, because All Saints’ Day was the following morning. This means that the importance of All Saints’ Day to the church of Luther’s day is the reason that the Reformation began on the day that it did. Many modern Christians might raise an eyebrow at this because All Saints’ Day is not nearly as prominent as, say, Christmas or Easter. Why not? Why do we not think All Saints’ Day is a bigger deal? Good question.

First of all, it must be said that Roman Catholics have a different view of “Saints” than nearly all other Christians. Yet, when most people think of Saints they think of them in Roman Catholic terms. We call to mind people who have done especially good things in their lives and are now worthy of having their likeness affixed to a candle available for purchase from Spanish speaking grocery merchants and Catholic gift shops. This view of saints deliberately sets them apart as a thing that only the very pious may become and therefore, very few. Most of us do not think of ourselves as worthy of being put on the outside of a candle.

If we turn our eye to God’s Word what do we find? Paul in the beginning of his letter to the Romans says, “To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints”. It seems that Paul is calling all the Christians in Rome Saints. Either that or Romans was written to only a select few people there. This would also be the case with many of Paul’s other letters i.e. 1 & 2 Corinthians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians.

So how are we to understand what is and is not a saint? Let’s take Paul’s view and view all Christians as Saints. That would include you and me. But especially on All Saints’ Day we remember those Saints who no longer struggle with sin, those who have died and are now with their Lord. So for us, All Saints’ Day can, and perhaps should, be a special day for us as we remember our family and friends who believed as we do that Jesus is Lord and have passed away. For them, however, life is much easier and much better. So much so that we look forward to joining them. Happy All Saints’ Day this November 1.  ~ Pastor Mehl

Announcements — October 29, 2017

† IN OUR PRAYERS  Jack H., at Freemen suffering health issues; Janice H., recovering from knee surgery, Marcella M., at Wildwood Nursing Facility 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.

† GSLC CELEBRATES 30 YEARS  This fall marks the 30th year of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.  To celebrate this milestone, the Fellowship Committee is planning a pot-luck lunch for Sunday, November 5, after the 10:45 am service.  The Fellowship Committee will be providing the dessert, cake & ice cream. Everyone is asked to bring a dish or two to share, a German theme has been suggested, but of course, all dishes are welcome.  Hoping to have everyone together for a wonderful celebration of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church!

† SUNDAY SCHOOL CHILDREN The Sunday School students plan to sing in church on Sunday, November 5, at the beginning of the 10:45 am service to help celebrate the 30th anniversary of Good Shepherd.

† HELP NEEDED  The altar guild is in need of some more help.  If you would be able to help with communion setup and cleanup for the month of November, please contact Janet C. or the church office, 358-1325.

† NEW CHURCH DIRECTORY  It is time for a new GSLC photo directory.  Pictures for the new directory are in the process.  Even if you didn’t get a chance to sign up on today’s schedule, please take time to go downstairs and have your directory picture taken, they will be able to squeeze you in.  We would like to get as many people as possible pictured in our new directory and also get updated information.

† JANITORIAL STAFF  GSLC is seeking a person to fill the upstairs cleaning position.  If you are interested in this position, please contact the church office, 358-1325.

† REFORMATION 500  In celebration of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, our circuit will be holding a special Reformation service tonight at 7:00 pm at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Lockwood.  This service is open to all of the people in our circuit (and frankly, anyone at all who wants to come).  Many of the pastors of our circuit will be involved in the service and there are plans to involve all of the different congregation’s choirs that wish to participate as well.  This service will  be a splendid opportunity for us to celebrate the Reformation with the fellow  Lutherans in our circuit.

† LWML FALL RALLY  Have you ever been to an LWML Rally?  Do you even know what an LWML Rally really is?  Come find out as our own LWML hosts the Fall   Rally here at Good Shepherd on Saturday, Nov. 4.  All women (and men) are     invited.  Registration with coffee and rolls begins at 9:30 am and the Rally starts at 10:00 am.  There will be a portrayal of Katie Luther, a lesson on addiction and a delicious lunch will be provided.  We hope you will come and enjoy this wonderful day of fellowship.

† 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 difficulty hearing the service, assistive listening devices are available from the ushers.  They work like a transistor radio and you can control the volume.

 

Christian Education News

The Fall quarter is off to a great start, it is wonderful to see our Sunday School classes growing!

Since GSLC is celebrating it’s 30th anniversary on Sunday, November 5, our Sunday School classes would like to add to the festivities. The Sunday School students plan to sing in church that Sunday at the beginning of the 10:45 am service. We will be working on songs for this during opening the next several Sundays to get prepared. We will also begin working on music for this year’s Sunday School Christmas program. This service is scheduled for Sunday, December 17, at 7:00 pm. We would really appreciate it if we could have as many students here at Sunday School as much as possible.

Offerings for the Fall/Winter quarters from Sunday School and Adult Bible class will be used to help families in need in our area. We will be working with the Carthage Salvation Army to designate these families. Also keep an eye out for an angel tree sometime in November. The angels hanging on the tree will list items needed for individuals for Christmas.

We are looking forward to seeing everyone in Sunday School as we study God’s word together. If you would be interested in teaching a Sunday School class or would like to be on our substitute list, please contact Denise G.

*FYI: There will be a Sunday School planning meeting on Sunday, October 8, right after the late service in the Fellowship Hall. Anyone involved in or wanting to get involved in Sunday School is encouraged to attend