News

Announcements — February 19, 2017

† IN OUR PRAYERS  The K. Family, at the death of Kes; 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.

† FUNERAL SERVICE  The funeral service for Kes Kester will be held at Good Shepherd tomorrow at 2:30 pm.  There will be a visitation before  the service at 1:30 pm.

† GUEST PASTOR  It is wonderful to have Reverend Gary Asmus, retired pastor from Joplin, MO, and his wife, Lorraine, here today.  Thank you, Reverend Asmus, 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 this afternoon at 2:00 pm.  Please come and join us. There will be refreshments following the service.

† BIBLE INSTITUTE  Immanuel Lutheran in Joplin has invited Good Shepherd to a two session Bible Institute, “A Man Named Martin, The Moment”.  The second session will be held on Sunday, February 26, from 2:00 – 4:00 pm.

† SINGLE SENIOR LADIES  A new group of single, senior ladies is forming at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.  Come join them for some fellowship, fun and snacks next Sunday, February 26, from 1:00 – 5:00 pm in the church conference room.  Bring a snack to share with about 15 people.  For questions or more information, please contact Ann Luce at 358-4122.

† MORNING MEN’S BIBLE STUDY  Good Shepherd would like to start a morning men’s bible study that would meet one morning a week around 6:30 am (before work) at a breakfast location in Joplin.  If you would be interested in participating  in this bible study please contact the church office, 358-1325, or Greg Golden, 850-6550.

† LENT starts Wednesday, March 1, with our Ash Wednesday services.  We will once again have weekday services each Wednesday at 11:00 am and 7:00 pm throughout Lent. Be sure and utilize these services as part of your Lenten observance.

† SAVE THE DATE  The Annual Ladies Night Out Dinner, with a St. Patrick’s Day theme, is set for Sunday, March 19 at 5:00 pm.  Make plans to join us for this fun evening.  Watch for more information in the March Newsletter.

† 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!

† 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.

† 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.

 

Pastor Mehl’s 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.

 

God’s Conversation Hearts

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:

  • TRUE LOVE: What love is truer than giving up one’s only Son so people might have everlasting life? (John 3:16).
    • MINE: Jesus knows us intimately, as a shepherd knows his sheep. No one can snatch us from him (John 10:27-29).
    • FOREVER: God loves us with an “everlasting love” (Jeremiah 31:3).
    • LOVE ME: The greatest commandment is to love God with our whole being (Luke 10:27).
    • TRUST ME: “Let not your hearts be troubled.” We can count on Jesus, now and for eternal life (John 14:1-3).
    • SWEET TALK: God’s words are sweeter than honey (Psalm 119:103).
    • BE GOOD: We show our love for Christ by keeping his commands (John 14:15).
    • CALL ME: God longs to be in fellowship with us. We can talk to him anytime in prayer (Jeremiah 33:3).
    • FRIENDS: The greatest love involves laying down your life for your friends (John 15:13) — precisely what Jesus did.
    • #1: “We love because [God] first loved us” (1 John 4:19).

 

Thank you

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