This year’s Missouri District Jr. High Youth Retreat will be held at Camp Windermere, March 20 – 22. This retreat is a great opportunity for our confirmation class to grow in their relationships with one another and with their Savior. The confirmation students should have brought home some information about this retreat. Please let Pastor know whether or not your student will be able to attend.
Some Thoughts from Pastor
We are beginning a great ministry that will deepen and expand the person-to-person care giving capacity of our congregation. It is called Stephen Ministry.
Stephen Ministry is a way for our congregation to train and mobilize members to provide Christ-centered care and support to people experiencing many different kinds of life difficulties, including grief, divorce, cancer, unemployment, spiritual crisis, and other challenges.
Our first step is to send Earl Kirn to be trained as a Stephen leader at a one-week Leader’s Training Course April 12th to the 18th in St. Louis. He will return home with the knowledge and skills to begin and lead the ministry here, have the knowledge and skills to train members to serve as lay caregivers—called Stephen Ministers—in our congregation, match those Stephen Ministers with people in need of care, and provide ongoing support to our Stephen Ministry. Janet C. has already received this training through another congregation and Kurt S., Brenda D. and Clarice O. have been trained as Stephen Ministers also through other congregations.
Here are some things you can do as we begin this ministry together:
In the days and weeks to come, you will be hearing much more about Stephen Ministry. If you have any questions about any of the Stephen Ministry or how you could be involved, please see me, Earl or any of the Stephen Ministers.
As we begin this ministry, I know God will be at work through it. May St. Paul’s words in Ephesians 3:20 capture our excitement, our hopes, and our dreams for Stephen Ministry:
Glory be to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine.
I am looking forward to seeing what God can do through Stephen Ministry for our congregation.
–Pastor
Grief support for anyone grieving the loss of someone they love
We come together for devotion and prayer, the solace of God’s Word and learning through sharing. Together, we experience comfort and support. Meetings are on the third Thursday of each month and are led by Pastor and Earl Kirn. Our next gathering will be Thursday, Feb. 19, at 5:00 pm.
† IN OUR PRAYERS Jody G., Audrey M., Janice H.’s mother, in extended care; Ruth H., Carol L., recovering at home; Paula B., April K., undergoing treatment for cancer.
† SOUPER BOWL SUNDAY Today is the Super Bowl, or Souper Bowl as we’ve been calling it. Through the month of January we have collected canned soup, dried beans and rice to help fill the shelves at Crosslines of Carthage. So far, a total of 575 items have been donated. We will let you know the final total after the items brought today are tallied. Thanks to everyone who participated in this worth while support of our community.
† LWML BAKE SALE It’s time for the 3rd annual LWML Valentines Bake Sale. It will be held between services and after the late service on Sunday, February 8. All are welcome to donate a baked good for the table. Come prepared next Sunday for some delicious goodies!
† SPECIAL MUSIC MEETING today after the late service.
† LUTHERAN YOUTH FELLOWSHIP will not be going ice skating today. There will be a planning meeting next Sunday at 6:00 pm.
† USHER SCHEDULE The 2015 usher schedules are on the round table in the narthex. If you have agreed to be an usher this year, make sure to look for yours in the box. Thanks for your service to Good Shepherd.
† LADIES’ NIGHT OUT DINNER Mark your calendars! This year’s Ladies’ Night Out Dinner has been scheduled for Sunday, February 15, at 5:00 pm. Along with dinner, served by the men, there will be entertainment provided by the Garms Family, a traveling gospel singing group. There is more information in the February Newsletter. Please use the sign-up sheet in the narthex, or call the church office, 358-1325, if you plan to attend, so we will know how much food to prepare.
† LWML will meet this Tuesday, at 6:30 pm, in the Fellowship Hall.
† PLAYGROUND COMMITTEE MEETING We are excited to announce the formation of a committee to move forward on the new playground for our children. Our first meeting will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 4, at 6:30 pm, in the Sr. High Sunday School room.
† 2014 CONTRIBUTION STATEMENTS are ready for you to pick up. They are on the round table in the narthex.
† THRIVENT MEETING Our next Thrivent Chapter meeting will be Monday, February 2, at 6:30 pm, at Peace Lutheran Church. Everyone is welcome to attend.
† 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.
† 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.