Elder, Usher, and Acolyte Schedules January 2020

Elder and Usher Schedule

Date
8:00
Elder
10:30
Jan 5Gerald Semelka, Nick Hitch, Paul GerikeRandy ReinhardtBob Love, Brian Hoop
Jan 12Gene Fuller, Richard RossNathan KluenderBrian Dirks, Karson Lueck, Mike Huth
Jan 19Barry Hamlin, Jeff Piper, Lucas PiperBrian HoopGreg McNeely, Will McNeely
Jan 26Craig Culp, Steve ParryMike FieldBob Love, Randy Reinhardt, Theron Noth

Acolyte Schedule

Date
8:00
10:30
Jan 5Tanner HitchMatt Williamson
Jan 12Pastor/ElderJustin McNeely
Jan 19JT PiperPastor/Elder
Jan 26Chloe HitchJessica Isaac

Sermon Text 12.22.2019 — The Christmas Presence of God

December 22, 2019                                                                   Text:  Matthew 1:18-25

Dear Friends in Christ,

            In Adult Bible Class we are doing a study on Joseph – the stepfather of Jesus.  I challenged the class to find hymns/songs that speak of Joseph.  In our hymnal you won’t find him in any of our Christmas hymns.  He does have a verse on saints in LSB #517.  There are a few songs on the Internet and one member e-mailed a song entitled, “It Wasn’t His Child.”  It has this line, “It wasn’t his child it was God’s child.”

            We don’t sing hymns about Joseph and there are no postage stamps of him holding the Christ child.  But Matthew begins the Christmas story with a Joseph problem.  What is he going to do about a wife carrying another man’s child?  Joseph is just living life and boom, in an instant, things change.  Have you had a Joseph moment?  Are you living a Joseph moment?  We are going to need some help here . . .

“THE CHRISTMAS PRESENCE OF GOD”

            Joseph and Mary are betrothed to each other.  It is like an engagement but in their cultural times it is different from ours.  P.E. Kretzmann explains:  “As a rule some time elapsed before a betrothed virgin was formally given in marriage and taken to her husband’s house…During this time (living together) did not take place, though the marriage contract was legal and binding…(Mary’s) situation was not only delicate, but the most distressing and humiliating which could fall to the lot of a pure maiden.  Knowing herself to be innocent of even the slightest transgression in deed, and fully convinced of the fact that her condition was due only to the supernatural working of the Holy Ghost, she nevertheless could expect no one to believe her defense, should she attempt one.”

            Then there is Joseph “being a just man” he wanted to divorce her quietly.  Keep it out of the papers and the town gossip.  He wished no harm on Mary.

            His wife is pregnant and he’s not the father.  This is a tough moment in his life.  And get this:  God designs all of it.  This is the Christmas presence of God.  He is in the womb of Mary.  Who in the world is going to believe this?

            Such a sweet and tender story, unless you are the one living it.  We know the outcome and so did God – before it happened.  It is the presence of God for the hard moments.

            Are you having a hard moment?  Or, is it moments?  They are part of the tapestry of living in a sinful world.  In spite of our optimism we travel from one difficulty to another – or so it seems.  Anyone here not have life push you up against a wall and maybe bash your head a time or two?

            Jesus told us, “In the world you will have trouble.” (Jn. 16:33)  Paul and Barnabas assured us, “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.” (Acts 14:22b)  Troubles…hardships…who wants to dwell on those?

            George Orwell observed, “Men can be happy only when they do not assume that the object of life is happiness.”  If being happy all the time is your goal in this world you are due for a crash.  Everything is fleeting.

            Why?  Because of our sin.  You and I have a terrible inability to live as God designed us to live – in perfect harmony with Him.  There is no “utopia” out there even as man continues his search.  Joseph must have felt this, do you?

            Look at the Christmas presence of God for Joseph.  He comes to him in a dream and tells him to take Mary home as his wife and she will give birth to a son and God gives him the name – Jesus.  This is the big reveal party.  It’s a boy and I’ve got his name.  Talk about the Christmas presence of God.  This child is going to save people from their sins.  The Presence of God enters this fallen and self-destructing world in the person and work of God’s only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.  He was made sin for us so that we might become the righteousness of God.  Mary had this presence.  Joseph had this presence and did as the angel of the Lord commanded.  For legal purposes Jesus was Joseph’s son.  He would have other children and with the loving presence of God he would be a wonderful parent.  It all started here when it all looked so dark and dreary.

            When we have hard moments sometimes all we see are dark and dreary.  The future is cloudy.  What now Lord?  First, he forgives our sins and our doubts about His care.  He is there, even if we don’t always see Him.  To be forgiven gives us comfort as we hear the Word and partake of the Holy Sacrament.  The hard moments are only temporary.  You know as well as I do we don’t stay there forever.  An eternal home awaits where our eyes can see the presence of God.  Look the Lord.  I’m home!

            You may receive some wonderful gifts this Christmas – hey, look new underwear – but no matter how grand and glorious, even if it’s parked in the garage, nothing compares to the greatest present.  It is something with you every waking moment of your life – THE CHRISTMAS PRESENCE OF GOD.

                                                                                                            AMEN.

Bulletin Announcements December 22, 2019

THOUGHTS ON STEWARDSHIP:  Matthew 1:21 – “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”  Jesus has done what our good works could never do.  He has saved us from our sins, paid our debt, and set us free.  How can we not give thanks to Him with lives of generosity and godliness?  What God’s Law could not do – truly motivate us to truly good works – Jesus’ love has done.

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.

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

TWO SPECIAL WORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES THIS WEEK:  Christmas Eve Worship with Holy Communion is Tuesday at 6:00 p.m.  Christmas Day Worship with Holy Communion is Wednesday morning at 9:00 a.m.

 OFFERING ENVELOPES:  The 2020 Offering Envelopes are now available for you to pick-up.  They are located in the narthex with your name on them.  If you are not sure of your name, please check with the church office.  Thank you.

CAN YOU HELP: John and Paula Hardy are planning their annual trip to Ft Wayne, IN.  It will be sometime after the holidays, hopefully mid-February. 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:  We received a card from our adopted Seminary Student Aaron Wendorf and family—child #3 is to be born any day.  To read more about their lives, the card is posted on the bulletin board outside the church office.

PORTALS OF PRAYER:  The January—March 2020 Portals of Prayer are available on the bookrack 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.

WELCOMING NEW INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS:  You can make a big impact on the lives of International Students and they will make a big impact on your life.  We are looking for Christian individuals and families to welcome newly arriving International Students.  Most will be arriving between January 3rd and 5th.  New student orientation will begin on January 6th.  You could help in any of the following ways: 1) Hosting a student in your home for a few days; 2) Providing transportation from the bus, plane or train; 3) Hosting a student for a meal or taking them to the store.    If you are interested and would like more information, please contact John and Linda Berger, serving with International Students, Inc., at 309.664.0377 or jwberger@ilstu.edu.  Training is required for 1st time participants.  Training and resource information will be provided on several different dates (you only need attend one).

THE LUTHERAN HOUR:  “VDMA” is the topic for next Sunday.  The sermon text will be from Jeremiah 23:24.  From the days of the prophet Jeremiah to our own, some things haven’t changed all that much.  There’s still corruption, violence, injustice, tragedy, and suffering.  That’s the bad news.  However, the Word of the Lord endures forever.  So does God’s love for us in Jesus Christ.  The speaker will be Pastor John Nunes.  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 OFFICE:  The church now has a new email address.  Our new email address is: office@goodshepherdblm.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.

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.

Christmas Special Services 2019

We will have Christmas Eve worship with Holy Communion at 6pm, Tuesday December 24th.

We will also have Christmas Day worship with Holy Communion at 9am, Wednesday December 25th.

Merry Christmas!