Month: October 2019

Bulletin Announcements October 27, 2019

THOUGHTS ON STEWARDSHIP:  Rev. 14:6 – “Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal Gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth.”  During the Reformation this text was used to refer to Luther’s ministry and the Lutheran message: we have an eternal Gospel to proclaim.  Christ has freed us from our sins without any works on our part.  We are saved by grace alone.  And, ironically enough, Luther said this should make him the “apostle of works” because once we are freed by grace, we are truly free to serve God in works that flow from thankfulness and praise.

FAITH IN ACTION OF BLOOMINGTON/NORMAL:   One ride, one visit, one Senior at a time.  Need a ride?  Want to volunteer?  Need more information?  Call (309) 827-7780; or email: office@bnfia.org or contact Barry Hamlin at (309) 750-9424.

OUR SUNDAY SCHOOL meets at 9:15 a.m. in the Choir Room which is located on the 2nd level (the west side).

THE ADULT BIBLE CLASS meets in the basement at 9:15 a.m.

NEXT SUNDAY, November 3rd, will be our All Saints’ Sunday Worship.  We will remember those in our congregation who have attained life eternal through the merits of Christ this past year.

DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME ENDS NEXT WEEKEND:  Remember to turn your clocks back one hour before you go to bed Saturday evening.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 10TH, will be Stewardship Sunday.  TODAY please pick-up your pledge card as you leave the sanctuary and bring it back on the 10th.  Also, if you put your name on your pledge envelope from last year, you may pick that up on the table in the narthex.

ANNUAL VOTER’S MEETING:  Get this on your calendar for next month.  Our Annual Voter’s Meeting will take place on Sunday, November 10th, after the 10:30 worship service.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY:  God’s blessings and a prayer of thanksgiving for Dennis & Barb Wager who celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary this past Friday, October 25th.

FROM THE OFFICE:  The church now has a new email address.  Our new email address is: office@goodshepherdblm.org.

PORTALS OF PRAYER:  The October—December 2019 Portals of Prayer are available on the book rack in the narthex.  Pick up your free copy today.

FELLOWSHIP HOSTS:  In order to get more people involved in our Coffee/Donut Fellowship for 2019 we have two separate sign-ups: Donut Pick-up and Coffee Set-up.  We would like to encourage you to sign-up for one or the other.  You may also sign-up for both if you wish.  The sign-up sheet is by the door by the north stairwell.

YOU ARE INVITED to Christ Lutheran Church, 311 Hershey in Normal to their 2019 Craft & Bake Sale this coming Saturday, November 2nd from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  Morning coffee and sweets and lunch will be served.  Join us for food, fun, fellowship and fantastic finds!

THE LUTHERAN HOUR:  “Stranger Danger” is the topic for next Sunday.  The sermon text will be from Genesis 18.  Genesis Series – The different ways we relate to strangers reveals the contradiction of being human.  Reverend Dr. Michael Zeigler is the speaker.  Hear his message on The Lutheran Hour on WGN (720) at 6:00 a.m.; WJWR (104.7 FM) and WJWR (90.3 FM) both on Sunday at 3:00 p.m.  Also, if you can receive Lincoln, IL radio station WLLM (1370 AM) the program is broadcast two times on Sunday at 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.  Tune in!  You can also listen to The Lutheran Hour on your personal computer at RealAudio, www.lhm.org.

FROM THE CHURCH OFFICE:  If you miss church, please be reminded that copies of the previous week’s sermon are available on the table in the narthex.  Also, the sermon will be available on our web site at www.goodshepherdblm.org.  Thank you.

INFORMATION REQUESTED:  Please notify the church office if someone in the congregation or any family or friends are ill or hospitalized.

PRAYER CIRCLE:  If you have a prayer request please submit them by email to Mary Anne Kirchner at makirchner@yahoo.com or you may phone a Prayer Request to Mary Anne; her cell phone# is (309) 532-2582.  The Prayer Request box is on the table in the narthex for any written requests.

Elder, Usher, and Acolyte Schedules for November 2019

Elder and Usher Schedule

Date
8:00
Elder
10:30
Nov 3Nick Hitch, Nathan KluenderMike FieldBrian Dirks, Karson Lueck
Nov 10Gerald Semelka, Steve ParryPaul GerikeBob Love, Brian Hoop, Theron Noth
Nov 17Barry Hamlin, Gene Fuller, Richard RossCraig CulpGreg McNeely, Will McNeely
Nov 24Jeff Piper, Lucas PiperRandy ReinhardtBrian Dirks, Karson Lueck, Mike Huth
Nov 27
Thanksgiving Eve		7 PMRandy ReinhardtMike Field, Paul Gerike, Steve Parry

Acolyte Schedule

Date
8:00
10:30
Nov 3Tanner HitchPastor/Elder
Nov 10Pastor/ElderJessica Isaac
Nov 17Luke PiperPastor/Elder
Nov 24Pastor/ElderJustin McNeely
Nov 27
Thanksgiving Eve		7 PMJessica Isaac

Bulletin Announcements October 20, 2019

THOUGHTS ON STEWARDSHIP:  Genesis 32:26b – “But Jacob said, ‘I will not let you go unless you bless me.’ ”  The great Lutheran musician J.S. Bach composed a beautiful motet using this verse.  It is the cry of true faith, much the same as Peter’s words “Lord to whom shall we go?  You have the words of eternal life.”  True faith clings to the Lord no matter the struggle, no matter the “hard sayings” that the Lord speaks.  True faith knows that God means to bless us always.

FAITH IN ACTION OF BLOOMINGTON/NORMAL:   One ride, one visit, one Senior at a time.  Need a ride?  Want to volunteer?  Need more information?  Call (309) 827-7780; or email: office@bnfia.org or contact Barry Hamlin at (309) 750-9424.

OUR SUNDAY SCHOOL meets at 9:15 a.m. in the Choir Room which is located on the 2nd level (the west side).

THE ADULT BIBLE CLASS meets in the basement at 9:15 a.m.

TODAY is the deadline for items to be submitted for the NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER.   Any announcements you want to be published in the Newsletter should be submitted via email to: office@goodshepherdblm.org, mail, hand-delivered, or you may call (309) 662-8905 or (309) 838-1552.  Thank you!

NEXT SUNDAY, October 27th, is Reformation Sunday.  Holy Communion will be celebrated in both worship services.

ANNUAL VOTER’S MEETING:  Get this on your calendar for next month.  Our Annual Voter’s Meeting will take place on Sunday, November 10th, after the 10:30 worship service.

FROM THE OFFICE:  The church now has a new email address.  Our new email address is: office@goodshepherdblm.org.

PORTALS OF PRAYER:  The October—December 2019 Portals of Prayer are available on the book rack in the narthex.  Pick up your free copy today.

FELLOWSHIP HOSTS:  In order to get more people involved in our Coffee/Donut Fellowship for 2019 we have two separate sign-ups: Donut Pick-up and Coffee Set-up.  We would like to encourage you to sign-up for one or the other.  You may also sign-up for both if you wish.  The sign-up sheet is by the door by the north stairwell.

YOU ARE INVITED to Christ Lutheran Church, 311 Hershey in Normal to their 2019 Craft & Bake Sale on Saturday, November 2nd from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  Morning coffee and sweets and lunch will be served.  Join us for food, fun, fellowship and fantastic finds!

THE LUTHERAN HOUR:  “Walk With Me” is the topic for next Sunday.  The sermon text will be from Genesis 17.  Genesis Series – The signs along a hiking trail help to keep us on the right path.  For the Christian, Baptism is a sign like that, to remind us of who we are and where we’re going.  Reverend Dr. Michael Zeigler is the speaker.  Hear his message on The Lutheran Hour on WGN (720) at 6:00 a.m.; WJWR (104.7 FM) and WJWR (90.3 FM) both on Sunday at 3:00 p.m.  Also, if you can receive Lincoln, IL radio station WLLM (1370 AM) the program is broadcast two times on Sunday at 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.  Tune in!  You can also listen to The Lutheran Hour on your personal computer at RealAudio, www.lhm.org.

FROM THE CHURCH OFFICE:  If you miss church, please be reminded that copies of the previous week’s sermon are available on the table in the narthex.  Also, the sermon will be available on our web site at www.goodshepherdblm.org.  Thank you.

INFORMATION REQUESTED:  Please notify the church office if someone in the congregation or any family or friends are ill or hospitalized.

PRAYER CIRCLE:  If you have a prayer request please submit them by email to Mary Anne Kirchner at makirchner@yahoo.com or you may phone a Prayer Request to Mary Anne; her cell phone# is (309) 532-2582.  The Prayer Request box is on the table in the narthex for any written requests.

Sermon Text 10.20.2019 — Is the Wrestler Friend or Foe?

October 20, 2019                                                                         Text:  Genesis 32:22-30

Dear Friends in Christ,

            Let’s get ready to rumble!  In this corner we have Jacob (though by the end of this match he will have a new name), son of Isaac, brother of Esau, ancestor of Christ, father of Joseph.  In the other corner is the Supreme Being, Creator of the World, goes by the one-word moniker “God.”

            This match is a little different than most wrestling matches you might catch on TV.  Usually there is a bad guy and a good guy.  One adored, one spit at.  Good versus evil.  As this match begins things are not quite so clear.  Let’s clear away the fuzziness and answer the question . . .

“IS THE WRESTLER FRIEND OR FOE?”

            We know the location of the match – along the ford of the Jabbok, which is a stream.  Jacob is facing a confrontation with his brother Esau and he doesn’t know if he is friend or foe.  Jacob tries his own solution, which is going to be presenting gifts in the form of many animals to Esau.  You know, buy him off, then he won’t be a foe, right?

            Well, right before this happened God had promised Jacob to be with him and bless him.  But instead of trusting God, Jacob goes looking for his own way to appease his brother.  I’m thinking bad move, what about you?

            It’s easy looking outside in, isn’t it?  Why doesn’t Jacob just put his faith in His Creator?  What about us when we are on the inside looking out.  If we sense confrontation, we gird for battle.  Our Lord has promised to take care of us, but we don’t always trust Him.  We think we have to fight our own battle and when we do we are actually wrestling against God.  We have a hard time figuring out who is our friend and who is our foe.  I’m a baptized child of God, but is He really on my side?

            Is Jacob’s mystery attacker – friend or foe?  He has got to be a foe because he just put Jacob’s hip socket out of joint.  Hold it, stop the timer.  Look at this would you; the attacker asks injured Jacob to let him go.  No longer relying on his own craftiness, Jacob by faith realizes his attacker is a friend not a foe.  He then asks the attacker for a blessing and his wrestling nemesis God blesses him.

            So is God our friend or foe?  Being sinful, we sometimes see him as our enemy.  How could he allow me to be in this financial mess?  My wife doesn’t love me and God doesn’t love me.  How could a loving Savior let me lose my job?  I’ve been praying every day and where is the man upstairs, doesn’t He promise to answer? 

            God’s Word encourages diligence in prayer.  God’s Word teaches us that God is our friend and is there to help us in difficult times.  God’s Word teaches us that God sent Jesus to die to deliver us from our foes – sin, death, and the devil.

            Because of Jesus we have prevailed.  Jacob being humbled makes all the difference.  God changes his name to Israel.  God affirms the promise of the Messiah.  Jacob’s sins of self-reliance and lying and cheating are forgiven.  Jacob will no longer fear meeting Esau and Jacob has complete trust in God to be with him.

            God grants us deliverance when He humbles us.  You’ve been there, haven’t you?  So low, wrestling with God in your mind, wrestling with the devil in your heart, all you can do is surrender to the Lord’s will.  We have a new name – no longer children of wrath but children of God.  Our struggles with sin and doubt and uncertainty in the dark nights of our lives are forgiven in the Messiah – Jesus Christ and His Cross.

            The Lord comes to us not to engage in a wrestling match, but to give us grace and mercy in Baptism, in the Word, in the Lord’s Supper.  With faith strengthened and sin forgiven we are able to walk into each new day knowing God is our friend, not our foe.  Someday we will stand in that heavenly circle and the Lord will raise our hand as the eternal victor.

            Let’s stop wrestling with God.  You know who is going to win.  He is the ultimate wrestler who has got your back.  He fights for you, as your friend, and nothing can stand against him.  He has pinned Satan and sin and death so get out of the ring because He has done it all for you.

                                                                                    Amen.