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Holy Week Schedule

Thursday, April 1 at 7:00 p.m. – Maundy Thursday Worship w/Holy Communion (Theme – Politics)
Friday, April 2 at Noon – Tre Ore Service – Brief service of readings, homily and hymn.
Friday, April 2 at 7:00 p.m. – Good Friday Tenebrae Worship w/Holy Communion – Service of Darkness – (Theme – Lord In Control)
Sunday, April 4 at 7:00 a.m – Easter Worship w/Holy Communion (Mask Optional) – (Theme – Overcoming Fear)
Adult Bible Class and Sunday School  from 8:30 a.m – 9:30 a.m.
Sunday, April 4 at 10:00 a.m – Easter Worship w/Holy Communion (Please Wear A Mask) – (Theme – Overcoming Fear) 

Stain Glass Windows Committee Report 4-13-2020

The Good Shepherd Church Stain Glass Committee was commissioned January 2019. The members of the committee are Diane Benjamin, Teresa Casselman, Carin Henson, Marv Huth, Ron Kwasny, Herb Renken, and Renee Pinson. The committee’s purpose was to look into the possibility of getting stain glass windows installed in the upper four windows in the sanctuary.  The committee was not given a set timeline for this project because of all of the unknowns regarding what all is involved in this endeavor. 

The committee made contact with numerous companies that design, build and install stain glass windows and received bids from several of these companies.  The prices ranges from $20,000 to $58,000 for traditional stain glass windows.  During these interactions the committee learned that the best way to install stain glass windows is to install them as inserts inside of the existing exterior windows.  This protects the stain glass from the elements and guarantees they last longer.

The committee notified the church trustees of the plans to install stain glass windows in the upper four windows of the sanctuary and suggested they have the current windows checked for any possible maintenance that may be needed to the exterior windows prior to the stain glass window inserts being installed.  We were informed that the wooden window frames had deteriorated and the trustees were getting bids to replace the exterior windows in the sanctuary. Crawford & Brinkman Door and Window Company out of Peoria was hired to do the exterior window replacement.

Based on samples of their workmanship, staff size and price the committee decided to work with a stain glass studio in Jacksonville, Illinois.  Jacksonville Stained Glass is a full service stained glass studio.  Their bid to do the work is $31,500.

The committee decided that the stain glass scenes in the four windows should depict events from the life of Christ. The four scenes will be the birth of Christ, the baptism of Christ, the Last Supper, and the resurrection of Christ.

The final stain glass window designs for the four windows are posted on the church website.  These are just the artist’s mockups.  Details such as faces and hands on the actual stain glass will be much sharper than they are in these mock ups. The non-essential business shutdown due to the virus will have an impact on the time line for getting this work completed.  Hopefully the new exterior windows will be installed sometime this summer/fall and the stain glass windows can be installed by Christmas.

Click here to see the designs.

Bulletin Announcements March 22, 2020

THOUGHTS ON STEWARDSHIP:  Ps. 142:5 – “I cry to you, O LORD; I say, ‘You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.’ ”  The Lord is our portion, our refuge, our everything. His mercy preserves us through all our days in the land of the living.  This confidence frees us from the fear that so often leads to sins of greed and coveting. We have the Lord, we have a Father, and He is in control.  We can follow His Word in confidence.

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.

TODAY is the deadline for items to be submitted for the APRIL 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.  Thank you!

FOOD COLLECTION:  We will collect food for the Home Sweet Home Mission until Easter Sunday, April 12th.  The newly decorated box is in the narthex.  We will continue our food collection for Thanksgiving/Christmas later in the year, but this gives us an opportunity to help out when donations are not as prevalent.

PORTALS OF PRAYER:  The April–June 2020 Portals of Payer are available on the bookrack in the narthex.  Pick up your free copy today.

THE LENTEN DEVOTIONS BOOKLETS Titled: “DELIVER US: JESUS SETS US FREE” is available on the table in the narthex.  Pick up your copy today.

MY DEVOTIONS:  The March—May 2020, My Devotions, the Daily Readings for Young Christians are available on the table in the narthex.  Pick up your free copy today.

LUTHERAN WITNESS:  It’s time to renew your subscription to the “Lutheran Witness”.  If you are currently receiving the Lutheran Witness and wish to continue; or if you do not wish to continue; please notify the church office.  Also, if you are not currently receiving the Lutheran Witness and would like to subscribe, please notify the church office.  We must notify Lutheran Witness Circulation prior to Monday, April 20, 2020.  The cost to receive the magazine for one year is $15.96.  Please make your check payable to: Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and include it with your contribution. Please indicate on the memo line: “Lutheran Witness”. Thank you.

FELLOWSHIP HOSTS:  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.

CAN YOU HELP:  Good Shepherd is once again privileged to minster to International Students at Illinois State University.  We will provide a meal for them and their guests at Wittenberg Lutheran Center on Saturday, April 18th, at 6:00 p.m.  If you can provide food and/or help serve we have a sign-up sheet on the table in the narthex.  Thank you.

THE LUTHERAN HOUR:  “Labors Of Love” is the topic for next Sunday.  The sermon text will be from Exodus 10.    The speaker will be Reverend Ryan Tinetti.  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.

Bulletin Announcements February 9, 2020

THOUGHTS ON STEWARDSHIP:  Matthew. 5:17 – “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”  We cannot keep the Law of God perfectly.  We are sinners.  For us to be saved, Jesus had to fill up the Law in our place.  Now the threat of the Law is abolished, and the Law itself is upheld.  For in Christ now we desire to fulfill the Law and to live out a godly Christian life.  This is precisely because we are so full of thanksgiving toward God for His salvation in Christ.

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.

THE ADULT BIBLE CLASS meets in the basement at 9:15 a.m. and is studying a DVD-based Study entitled: “Joseph: Carpenter of Steel!”  Come learn about this important person in the Christmas Story.

TODAY will be our monthly door Offering for our Seminary student Aaron Wendorff.

“BRINGING CHRIST TO THE NATIONS AND THE NATIONS TO THE CHURCH”:  That is the mission of Lutheran Hour Ministries and the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.  Visit the display in the narthex and take some booklets and any other material.  Discover LHM and find out more at:  lhm.org/lhmsunday.  Many helpful resources are available.

PLEASE READ THIS: Have you noticed that you have not seen someone in church for a while and thought about making contact but just have not got around to it?  Stop by the LHM display in the narthex today and pick-up a wooden nickel.  Take a pen or pencil and print TUIT on it.  You now have a round TUIT.  Make that contact now! 

NEXT SUNDAY is the deadline for items to be submitted for the MARCH 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.  Thank you!

GOOD SHEPHERD FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE MOVIES  for February will show “THE GRACE CARD” will be shown on Friday, February 21st at 6:30pm.  After police officer Mac McDonald loses his son in an accident, years of bitterness and pain erode his love for his family and leave him angry with God… and everyone else.  Can Mac and his new patrol partner, Sgt. Sam Wright, somehow join forces to help one another when it’s impossible to look past their differences – especially the most obvious one?  Every day, we have the opportunity to rebuild relationships and heal wounds by extending and receiving God’s grace.  Offer THE GRACE CARD…and never underestimate the power of god’s love.  THE GRACE CARD stars Michael Joiner, Michael Higgenbottom and Academy Award winner Louis Gossett, Jr.  Join us for this great movie.  There will be plenty of good food and wonderful fellowship. See you there!

GOOD SHEPHERD IS CHANGING WORSHIP AND BIBLE CLASS/SUNDAY SCHOOL TIME on Sunday, March 1st.  Worship will be at 9:00 a.m., with Holy Communion each week and Bible Class/Sunday School will be at 10:15 a.m.  Please keep this change in your prayers as we make this transition.

CAN YOU HELP: John and Paula Hardy have set the date for their annual trip to Ft Wayne, IN.  The date is Wednesday, February 19th.  The Seminary needs clothes for men, women, and children. They also accept shoes, coats, and kitchen supplies.  Please be sure all donated items are clean and in good repair.  Please bring your donations to the church.  There is a closet located in the hall upstairs where items are collected, and packed for our trip.  If you need help finding it just contact John (309) 310-7917.  Thank you!

FROM THE OFFICE:  The church received a brochure on the Summer Offerings in 2020 at Camp CILCA.  Camp CILCA is the camp of our Central Illinois District and you may peruse the brochure located on the table in the narthex.

THE LUTHERAN HOUR:  “Happy Families Are All Alike” is the topic for next Sunday.  The sermon text will be from Genesis 50:15-26.  The speaker will be Dr. Dean Nadasdy.  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.

Bulletin Announcements November 3, 2019

THOUGHTS ON STEWARDSHIP:  Matthew 5:6 – “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” You only hunger and thirst for what you don’t have.  Jesus has come to fill us up with righteousness – His own righteousness.  He is the self-giving Lord whose sacrifice inspires us to be givers, too.

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:  We have three things happening next Sunday, November 10th:  1) Annual Voter’s Meeting.  This will take place in the church basement after the 10:30 Worship Service.  We are having a Potluck Meal with the congregation providing the chicken.  (If you want another meat bring it along.)  You may pick up the Slate of Candidates and Budget on the table in the narthex.  2) Stewardship Sunday.  If you did not get your Stewardship Envelope last Sunday, please pick it up today, then bring it back next Sunday.  3)  Door Offering for our Seminary Student.

FOOD COLLECTION:  We will be collecting food for Home Sweet Home Mission for the next three Sundays, November 3rd, 10th, and 17th.  You may leave it in the box in the narthex.

GOOD SHEPHERD will be serving a meal at Wittenberg Lutheran Center for the International Students on Saturday, November 16th, at 6:30 p.m.  Food sign-up is on the table in the narthex.

THANK YOU:  The LWML would like to thank everyone for their donations for the School Kits and Quilts.  We delivered 75 School Kits and 36 Quilts to Lutheran World Relief on Saturday, October 26, 2019.

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.

THE LUTHERAN HOUR:  “For Such a Downer” is the topic for next Sunday.  The sermon text will be from Genesis 21.  Genesis Series – The cross of Jesus is not a downer, but it is an equalizer.  If you think you’re up on top and you’re pushing others aside, the cross of Jesus will bring you down.  And if you’re down and desperate for some company, you have a friend in the crucified Jesus.  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.