Missouri District Vice-President, Reverend William Marler, will install Reverend Silas Mehl as sole pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran on February 19 at 2:00 pm. Please come and join us. There will be refreshments following the service.
Those familiar conversation hearts that show up every February can be more than just trite romantic or friendly sayings. Use them to remind you, or to teach a child, of the greatest love of all: God’s love for us, which empowers our love for others. For example:
Since Silas Mehl accepted the call you issued in the name of our Lord, many of you have expressed thanks to me for the job I have done as your intentional interim pastor. Approving and warm words are good ways to express thanks; I thank you for giving me such things. Please indulge me as I suggest additional ways to thank me, and more importantly, to thank God.
To thank God for sending his servants (like me) to this congregation, receive Silas Mehl as his servant. Do not despise his youth, but welcome his energy. Include him and his family into your community of faith. Treat any foibles they might have as features, not bugs. Pray for him and your service to our Savior together in this place.
To thank God for sending his servants (like me) to this congregation, instead of reacting with fear and anger when provoked, take the time and make the effort to respond with gentleness and respect. Give one another and your new pastor the benefit of the doubt. Help him to understand your history and needs and expectations. Instead of resisting change, cultivate spiritual growth that produces the fruits of the Spirit. Look for ways to forgive one another and spread the practice of forgiveness to your community.
To thank God for sending his servants (like me) to this congregation, consider the needs of others as more important than your own. Instead of seeking to dominate others, look for ways to serve others in love. Respond compassionately as Christ comes to you in your neighbor in need.
Before I go, I want to be sure to thank you for your hospitality. Thank you for helping me prepare a home away from home. Thank you for listening respectfully when I said something crazy or difficult to understand. Thank you for patiently correcting me when I just didn’t get it. Thank you for questioning me, expecting me to help you make sense of God’s revelation of himself through his Word. May our Good Shepherd watch over us in the one flock he gathers together even though his call to service sends us to different harvest fields.
— Pastor Roger L Mackie
† IN OUR PRAYERS Clarice O., recovering from a fall; Kes K., suffering from a serious illness; Stella Q., at Silver Creek, (3321 Texas Ave, Joplin, MO 64804), struggling with her loss of memory; Kathy P., suffering health issues; Mary C., Sara P., undergoing treatment for cancer.
† GUEST PASTOR It is wonderful to have Reverend Lowell Rossow, retired pastor from Immanuel Lutheran in Joplin, MO, and his wife, Cynthia, here today. Thank you, Reverend Rossow, for leading the services today.
† INSTALLATION SERVICE Missouri District Vice-President, Reverend William Marler, will install Reverend Silas Mehl as sole pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran on February 19 at 2:00 pm. Please come and join us. There will be refreshments following the service.
† SUNDAY SCHOOL CHILDREN The Sunday School children will be singing today at the beginning of the late service to share with the congregation the message of God’s love.
† THE LWML SOUTHWEST ZONE invites all young women to a “Cooking Like Grandma” class on Sunday, February 26, from 1:00 – 4:00 pm at Good Shepherd (this is a change in date, time & location from the newsletter). Leading the class will be Rose from Roswitha’s Schnitzelbank – a popular German restaurant. There is no charge for the class, but in order to have the right amount of food supplies on hand, we will need to have the number attending by Feb 17. Please notify Judy G. if you would like to attend.
† BIBLE INSTITUTE Immanuel Lutheran in Joplin has invited Good Shepherd to a two session Bible Institute, “A Man Named Martin, The Moment”. It will start today from 2:00 – 4:00 pm. The second session will be held on Sunday, February 26, from 2:00 – 4:00 pm.
† TUESDAY MORNING BIBLE CLASS is taking a break until Pastor Mehl gets settled in.
† “SOUPER” BOWL SUNDAY A great big THANK YOU to everyone who participated in this year’s Souper Bowl Sunday drive to help fill the shelves of Crosslines of Carthage!
† OFFERING STATEMENTS The 2016 offering statements are on the information table in the narthex. If you need your statement mailed, please contact the church office, 358-1325.
† OFFERING ENVELOPES 2017 offering envelopes are on the information table in the narthex. Please remember to discard your 2016 envelopes and use only the 2017 envelopes. If you do not see your name and want envelopes, please contact the church office. Likewise, if you prefer not to use them and see your name, simply write NO on the label.
† 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.