News

Church Member Survey– THIS MONTH

An important step in the call process relates to the church-wide member survey. The ministry description will be developed based on this information to aid us throughout the remaining call process. The survey should be completed by all current church members age 13 (confirmed) and older, and can be taken online or by paper. Please choose one method to complete as completing both is not necessary. The survey typically takes 8-10 minutes online or 15-20 minutes utilizing the paper format. A sample is available at the church if you’d like to see the types of questions included in the survey prior to the actual survey dates.

The online survey will be available April 10 – 20 at the following site: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/C3WTY66

Utilize the following password when prompted: (Contact church office for password)

If you’d like to complete the online survey but have limited or no access to the internet from home, we will have devices available in the church conference room before and after the services on the 10th and 17th so members can    complete the survey at those times. Paper surveys may be picked up at the church starting April 10. These surveys should be returned to the church office by April 20. Paper surveys will not be accepted after April 20 similar to the online survey. The paper surveys will be immediately shipped to the District office and entered into their system by  District office staff.

Survey instructions: Please pay careful attention to the questions. Certain questions on the survey will ask for 3, 4 or possibly 5 answers. Be sure to provide the right number of answers or your answers may be voided entirely by the District’s electronic system. Even if you are having trouble identifying the fifth item in a 5 part answer, pick one! If you have any questions, please contact a Call Committee member, and thank you for participating in this important part of the process!

Call Committee members: Greg G., Teri K., John N., Rob S., Jennifer S., Dave W

Announcements — April 3, 2016

† IN OUR PRAYERS  Stella Q., Sue V., recovering from surgery at St. Luke’s; Aaron P. at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis receiving treatment for cancer;  Kathy P., suffering health issues; Jack H., recovering at home; Paula B., April K., Sara P., Sara T., undergoing treatment for cancer.

† CHURCH MEMBER SURVERY  The online and paper survey will be available    April 10th – 20th.  Visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/C3WTY66 using passcode GSCS2016, or obtain a paper survey from the church office beginning April 10th and return it to the church office by April 20th.  Please pay careful     attention and answer the survey questions exactly as asked. Certain questions     on the survey may ask for 3, 4 or possibly 5 answers.

† GAME GATHERING  The Lutheran Youth Fellowship will be hosting another  Game Gathering event next Sunday, April 10, at 3:00 pm, in the Fellowship Hall.  This will be a fun afternoon of Bingo and prizes put on by the members of our    LYF.  Everyone is encouraged to come, bring a friend and enjoy some fun while supporting our youth for the National Gathering in July!  There will be some concession type food available during the time and there will be door prizes and Bingo prizes including gift cards to various restaurants and other locations.  The suggested donation for a pack of Bingo cards to play all the rounds is $10.00.  Hope to see everyone here!

† EASTER BREAKFAST  Thanks to all those who helped with the Easter breakfast, assisted during the services, and donated items for the Easter egg hunt last Sunday!  What a wonderful way to celebrate our risen Lord on Easter!

† THANK YOU  The LYF would like to thank the congregation for their donations to their group at the Easter breakfast.  It is wonderful to have such generous support from our congregation.

† LYF MEETING today at the church at 6:00 pm.  Please, make an effort to attend because there is much planning to do!

† EASTER LILIES  Thanks to all who helped make our church look so beautiful Easter Sunday by purchasing lilies to adorn the altar!

† JR CONFIRMATION RETREAT  There are four youth currently attending the Jr Confirmation Retreat at Camp Windermere.  Pray for safe travel as they return this afternoon.

† ATTENTION ALL GRADUATES  If you are graduating from high school, college, tech school, etc. we want to hear about it.  Please get a picture with a bio to the church office by April 22.  We want to publish your accomplishments and future plans in the May issue of the Shepherd’s Staff.  Parents, we may need your help with this, we don’t want to leave anyone out, but if we don’t have the information we can’t print it.  Thanks.

† LWML SPRING RALLY  The LWML Spring Rally will be held on Sunday, April 24, at St. Andrew’s Church in Stockton.  It is scheduled to begin at 3:00 pm with     registration starting at 2:30 pm.  The program will be Jason Glaskey with the Comfort Dogs.  All ladies (and men) are invited to attend these rallies.  They are a      wonderful afternoon of spiritual growth and spending time with fellow Lutherans.

† SUNDAY SCHOOL OFFERINGS  For the first couple of quarters in 2016, both the adult and the children’s Sunday School offerings will be going to Children’s Haven in Joplin.  Children’s Haven is an organization that provides a temporary home and nurturing care for local children ages 0 – 17 whose families are experiencing a   crisis.  Our goal is to raise $1,000.00 by the end of the second quarter.  If you would like to monitor our progress toward this goal, keep an eye on our bulletin board downstairs that will track our Sunday School offerings!

† 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.

 

Announcements — March 27, 2016

† IN OUR PRAYERS  Stella Q., at Mercy McCune Brooks recovering from surgery for a broken hip; Sue V., recovering from surgery at St. Luke’s; Aaron P., at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis receiving treatment for cancer;  Kathy P., suffering health issues; Jack H., recovering at home; Paula B., April K., Sara P., Sara T., undergoing treatment for cancer.

† EASTER BREAKFAST  Thanks to all those who helped bring items for the Easter Breakfast!  What a wonderful way to celebrate our risen Lord on Easter!

† SCRIPTURE STUDY  The Wednesday morning Scripture Study Group is back to its normal time of 10:30 am.

† LUTHERAN WORLD RELIEF  Thanks to all of you who took part in the LWML sponsored project for the Lutheran World Relief’s Baskets of Promise campaign.  Each week in Lent we collected items to form LWR Personal Care Kits that help impoverished people stay healthy in life’s most challenging situations.  The amount of donations brought in has greatly exceeded our expectations.  Thanks again for your help with this project!

† EASTER EGG HUNT  Once again the Board of Education (with a lot of help from our Lutheran Youth Fellowship) is sponsoring the annual Easter Egg Hunt.  The excitement begins right after the breakfast today, so get ready for some egg  hunting fun.

† LOVE OFFERING  At the Easter Breakfast the LWML will not be asking for a free will offering, but we will be taking up a love offering which will go to the Lutheran Youth Fellowship for the National Youth Gathering that the group will be attending in July of 2016.

† LYF MEETING next Sunday here at the church at 6:00 pm.

† EASTER LILIES  Thanks to all who helped make our church look so beautiful by purchasing lilies to adorn the altar!

† GAME GATHERING  The Lutheran Youth Fellowship will be hosting another Game Gathering event on Sunday, April 10, at 3:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall.  This will be a fun afternoon of Bingo and prizes put on by the members of our LYF.  Everyone is encouraged to come, bring a friend and enjoy some fun while supporting our youth for the National Gathering in July!  There will be some concession type food available during the time and there will be door prizes and Bingo prizes including gift cards to various restaurants and other locations.  The suggested donation for a pack of Bingo cards to play all the rounds is $10.00.  Hope to see everyone here!

† ATTENTION ALL GRADUATES  If you are graduating from high school, college, tech school, etc. we want to hear about it.  Please get a picture with a bio to the church office by April 22.  We want to publish your accomplishments and future plans in the May issue of the Shepherd’s Staff.  Parents, we may need your help with this, we don’t want to leave anyone out, but if we don’t have the information we can’t print it.  Thanks.

† THRIVENT CHOICE DOLLARS  Be sure to direct your 2015 Choice Dollars.  Eligible Thrivent Financial members have until March 31, 2016, to direct any remaining 2015 Choice Dollars.  After that date, 2015 Choice Dollars expire.  Through the Thrivent Choice Dollar Program, eligible members have the power to recommend where Thrivent distributes part of its charitable grant funds annually.  You can  direct your Choice Dollars online at thrivent.com/thriventchoice or by phone at (800)847-4826 and when prompted, say Thrivent Choice, Press 1 to direct Dollars or 2 to hear the terms and conditions.  A representative will work with you.  Or you can contact Thrivent Financial Associates: Austin Rice or Thom Mehl (417)232-4800 and they can help you.

† 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.

 

Announcements — March 20, 2016

† IN OUR PRAYERS  Stella Q., at Mercy McCune Brooks recovering from surgery for a broken hip; Sue V., recovering from surgery at St. Luke’s; Aaron P., at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis receiving treatment for cancer;  Kathy P., suffering health issues; Jack H., recovering at home; Paula B., April K., Sara P., Sara T., undergoing treatment for cancer.

† HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE 

Wednesday Morning Scripture Study returns to 10:30 am  Maundy Thursday Communion Service – 11:00 am, 7:00 pm

Good Friday Worship Service – 11:00 am, 7:00 pm

Holy Saturday Prayer Vigil – 12:00 pm. – 12:00 am

Easter Early Communion Service – 7:30 am

Easter Breakfast – 8:30 am

Easter Egg Hunt – 9:30 am

Easter Worship Service with Communion – 10:45 am

† EASTER BREAKFAST SIGN UP  The Easter breakfast sign up sheet is in the narthex on the round table.  Please take a moment to check it over and then put your name by what you are willing to bring.

† HOLY SATURDAY PRAYER VIGIL  There is a sign up sheet for our Saturday, March 26th, Prayer Vigil on the narthex round table.  Please consider signing up for a 15 minute slot.  Certainly you are welcome to come in for prayer at anytime and you can stay as long as you want, but we would like to have someone here in prayer through the entire 12 hour time period.

† LUTHERAN WORLD RELIEF  This Lent season, our congregation is taking part in Lutheran World Relief’s Baskets of Promise campaign.  Each week in Lent, we will collect items to form LWR Personal Care Kits that help impoverished people stay healthy in life’s most challenging situations.  This Sunday we are collecting  bars of soap.  Thanks to everyone who has participated in this project.  The amount of donations brought in has greatly exceeded our expectations.  If you have any questions please contact Lora W. or Brenda K.  Thanks for your help with this project!

† EASTER EGG HUNT  Once again the Board of Education (with a lot of help from our Lutheran Youth Fellowship) is sponsoring the annual Easter Egg Hunt.  The excitement begins right after the breakfast Easter Sunday, so bring your own basket and get ready for some fun.

† LOVE OFFERING  At the Easter Breakfast the LWML will not be asking for a free will offering, but we will be taking up a love offering which will go to the Lutheran Youth Fellowship for the National Youth Gathering that the group will be attending in July of 2016.

† EASTER LILIES  If you would like to purchase one or more lilies to help adorn our sanctuary on Easter, please use the sign up sheet in the narthex.  The cost is $8.00 each.  Please pay Diana Endicott.

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

† THRIVENT CHOICE DOLLARS  Be sure to direct your 2015 Choice Dollars.  Eligible Thrivent Financial members have until March 31, 2016, to direct any remaining 2015 Choice Dollars.  After that date, 2015 Choice Dollars expire.  Through the Thrivent Choice Dollar Program, eligible members have the power to recommend where Thrivent distributes part of its charitable grant funds annually.  You can  direct your Choice Dollars online at thrivent.com/thriventchoice or by phone at (800)847-4826 and when prompted, say Thrivent Choice, Press 1 to direct Dollars or 2 to hear the terms and conditions.  A representative will work with you. Or you can contact Thrivent Financial Associates: Austin Rice or Thom Mehl (417)232-4800 and they can help you.