Bulletin Announcements
December 23, 2018
THOUGHTS ON STEWARDSHIP: Luke 1:45 – “And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” The Lord always fulfills what He promises. We can be certain of that, and He has proven it over and over again. This faith in the Lord’s own faithfulness is what gives us the courage to follow the Lord’s commands in the face of the world’s anger and resistance. The same faithfulness in God gave Mary the courage to carry on in her seemingly embarrassed circumstances.
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.
NEED A RIDE? If you are unable to drive to church, we have an option that is available. Please speak with Pastor who has the details. Thank you.
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.
THIS WEEK’S WORSHIP SCHEDULE: Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship with Holy Communion is tomorrow evening at 6:00 p.m. Christmas Day Worship with Holy Communion is Tuesday morning at 9:00 a.m.
PASTOR’S SCHEDULE: Pastor, Toni, Karson and Holden will be out of town after Christmas enjoying a few days away in Nashville, TN. Lord willing they will be back next Sunday!
NEXT SUNDAY, December 30th, is a 5th Sunday so we will celebrate Holy Communion in both worship services. Two weeks from today (January 6th) is Epiphany. We will have the Installation of 2019 Officers and Board Members and Holy Communion will also be in both worship services.
THE ADVENT DEVOTIONAL BOOKLETS, “The Coming King”, is available on the table in the narthex. Pick up your free copy today!
FROM THE OFFICE: The congregation received a Christmas letter from the Reverend Jacob Hercamp family. Jacob was the seminarian we supported last school year. It is posted outside the church office.
IF YOU ORDERED A POINSETTIA: You may take your poinsettia home following the 10:30 a.m. worship service on Sunday, January 6, 2019. 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-January. 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!
PORTALS OF PRAYER: The January – March 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 2018 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 is by the door by the north stairwell.
EARN A RETURN AND HELP OUR LCMS CHURCHES: The Central Illinois District Church Extension Fund (CID-CEF) provides resources to churches in our Central Illinois District that wish to grow God’s ministry through building or expansion. We are able to do this because of conscientious LCMS members like you who support our churches by investing in the CID-CEF – we need your continued support and investments! As an added blessing for your investment, we are now offering a 24-Month SPECIAL RATE of 2.35% (minimum investment $500) to you as well as our church organizations to support the LCMS ministry. Please contact Chris Anderson or Susan Short at the CID-CEF: phone: (217)793-1802, e-mail cef@cidlcms or visit our website www.cidlcms.org, (see link in lower left corner) for this special interest rate and other recent rate increases for our investment options. Thank you for investing in the future of our LC-MS!
THE LUTHERAN HOUR: “A Long Good-Bye” is the topic for next Sunday. The sermon text will be from Luke 2:27-32. As the year comes to a close, we likely have regrets and quilt. We can beat ourselves up over work left undone, but Jesus Christ has assured us that He is your hope. His grace is more than sufficient to take us into another year and give us peace. 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.
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.
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Sermon for Sunday, December 16, 2018: “Without A Doubt.”
December 16, 2018 Text: Luke 7:18-28
Dear Friends in Christ,
“Did you hear what she did? She left her husband and kids and flew to Aruba.” “I doubt that. She isn’t that kind of person.” “Did you see the device that has been invented that will cut our production time in half.” “I have to see this. But I doubt it’s true.” “I just heard on the News that President Trump didn’t send out a tweet today.” “Are you crazy? I have my doubts about the accuracy of that story.” We can be quite the doubters, can’t we? What was the latest this week – we didn’t really land on the moon! It never ends.
Do you ever have doubts about God? If you haven’t in your lifetime, let’s put you on a polygraph. We all have been gripped with fear and doubt somewhere in time on this benighted sphere. That puts you and I in select company this morning. Jesus calls John the Baptist “great” and he had doubts. After all, could he, the greatest of all prophets, ever claim to be . . .
“WITHOUT A DOUBT”
John had been quite sure about Jesus. He knew he was to prepare the way. He had proclaimed Jesus as the Christ. He even baptized Jesus in the Jordan River.
So now what? He is imprisoned in one of Herod’s fortresses. John’s future is not looking good and he knows it. I imagine prison can do that. He also has time to ponder and well that is leading to some doubts. He expected this Messiah to bring judgment and all he is doing are works of compassion and mercy. Why doesn’t this Messiah bring Herod down? John’s faulty expectations lead to confusion and doubt. Is Jesus the one who is to come, or should we be looking for another?
We also suffer from faulty expectations of Jesus and we don’t have to be sitting in a prison cell to conjure such thoughts. I follow Jesus and His Word so why does this sickness linger? How could I lose my job when my family is so in need? Why would he allow me to be at odds with family members? Did that person need to die because they were my support system? Why would a compassionate Savior allow such things? Maybe He is not who we thought he is? Jesus knows exactly who He is. It is our false expectations that we put on Him that lead to our doubts.
How did John resolve his doubts? By looking to Jesus. He sends two disciples to talk with Christ. Jesus explains that his actions speak for themselves: He is fulfilling the Scriptures as the Messiah. Now is the time of grace; judgment will come.
No doubt Jesus is the One sent from God as our Savior. John was right all along Jesus is the Prophet. Jesus was born of woman to become one with sinners. He became the least in the Kingdom while on the cross to redeem us from sin. He has made us the greatest in the Kingdom by faith.
Therefore, we can look to Jesus for assurance in our doubts. In our sickness, He heals us. In our job loss He provides new opportunities. In our family squabbles He can provide reconciliation. In death, He provides hope and reunion.
Did John finally come to terms with his questions and doubt? We can assume he did because of these reassurances that the Savior gave to him. These would be important because John would not leave that cell until his head came out on a platter. Without a doubt he believed that Christ was the Messiah, sent from God.
This text is a great study in human behavior because we put false expectations on each other all the time. We have doubts about a spouse or a parent or a child or a boss or a friend because they at times can let us down. “I thought I knew you.” “I never expected that from you.” When we suffer continued bad judgment or vices that never go away or perpetual lying or them not being there when we need them from others we then have doubts. “Is this the person I put my faith in?” Only to be squashed again. It hurts. It frustrates. What can I do?
On the other hand when we can count on a spouse or a parent or a child or a boss or a friend oh what joy to the world that brings. To trust in another. To have faith in another. To know you have their support. To know that they will be there for you. To have expectations that are met. You rejoice . . . without a doubt.
That is Christ Jesus for you and I. We know what we should expect from Him because he lays it out in inerrant, inspired words. The prophets write it – He fulfills it. He says it – He does it. His support is always there. It is unending. We are the blind who receive sight. We are the lame who walk. We are the lepers cleansed. We are the deaf who now hear. We will be the dead who are raised. We are the poor who have the good news preached to them.
Don’t you think that is a good place to end this morning? Yes . . . without a doubt.
Amen.
Bulletin Announcements
December 16, 2018
THOUGHTS ON STEWARDSHIP: Phil. 4:5b-6 – “The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Wouldn’t you like to be free from worry and anxiety? Isn’t it worry and anxiety that often keep us from living the generous life God has called us to? St. Paul contrasts anxiety with prayer, supplication, and thanksgiving in making our requests known to God. In other words, when you are tempted to anxiety and worry, pray to the Lord with a thankful heart and pour out your supplications before Him.
NEED A RIDE? If you are unable to drive to church, we have an option that is available. Please speak with Pastor who has the details. Thank you.
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.
MIDWEEK ADVENT WORSHIP: Enjoy a respite from your busy lives as we gather for Advent Worship on Wednesday, December 19th at 7:00 p.m. Our service theme: “Who Is Jesus?” The message this week: “Jesus Is The Son of Solomon”. A cornucopia of physical sustenance will be available in the church basement at 5:30 p.m. Sign-up to bring food items is on the table in the narthex. The free-will Offering will be given to Lutherans For Life.
THE ADVENT DEVOTIONAL BOOKLETS, “The Coming King”, is available on the table in the narthex. Pick up your free copy today!
IT’S TIME TO ORDER POINSETTIAS: There is a sign-up sheet on the table in the narthex to order your “Poinsettia” to be placed on the altar for Advent/Christmas. The cost is $8.00 each. You will need to sign-up by Wednesday, December 19th. You may take your poinsettia home following the 10:30 a.m. worship service on Sunday, January 6, 2019. There will be an envelope available with the sign-up sheet for you to place your check or money order in. Please make your check payable to: Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and indicate “Poinsettia” on the memo line. If you have any questions, please contact Jackie Kwasny at (309) 662-4995 or Luanne Huth (309) 829-6897. 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-January. 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!
PORTALS OF PRAYER: The January – March 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 2018 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 is by the door by the north stairwell.
EARN A RETURN AND HELP OUR LCMS CHURCHES: The Central Illinois District Church Extension Fund (CID-CEF) provides resources to churches in our Central Illinois District that wish to grow God’s ministry through building or expansion. We are able to do this because of conscientious LCMS members like you who support our churches by investing in the CID-CEF – we need your continued support and investments! As an added blessing for your investment, we are now offering a 24-Month SPECIAL RATE of 2.35% (minimum investment $500) to you as well as our church organizations to support the LCMS ministry. Please contact Chris Anderson or Susan Short at the CID-CEF: phone: (217)793-1802, e-mail cef@cidlcms or visit our website www.cidlcms.org, (see link in lower left corner) for this special interest rate and other recent rate increases for our investment options. Thank you for investing in the future of our LC-MS!
THE LUTHERAN HOUR: “The King’s Strength” is the topic for next Sunday. The sermon text will be from Luke 1:26-56. A true king’s strength is seen, not in vaults and arsenals, but in the loyalty of his people. We celebrate the birth of the King who won the victory, not by taxing His subjects and killing His enemies, but by serving, loving and dying for them. By His resurrection, He destroyed the power of sin and lends us strength to become His royal subjects. The speaker will be Reverend Dr. Michael Zeigler. 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.
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.
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Sermon for Sunday, December 9, 2018: Second Sunday in Advent. “When Strong Is Not Strong Enough.”
December 9, 2018 Text: Luke 3:7-18
Dear Friends in Christ,
A few years ago, there was a story about Bill Adamson, a delivery truck driver in Hamtramck, Michigan. Bill said: “I thought I could handle anything,” – until an unknown assailant stuck a .25 caliber gun in his chest and fired. “There was a burning sensation. I felt like somebody kicked me in the chest. As a matter of fact, I thought he’d shot me with a blank gun, so I figured I’d jam it in his nose . . . Then I thought, enough is enough. So I got up and walked two steps and my legs were like rubber bands and down I went.”
In our text for today, we see John the Baptist – whom Jesus later describes as the greatest preacher of all time – preaching against those who think they are strong but in reality are not strong enough. With the Law, John shows them their inherent weaknesses and utter inadequacy; and with the Gospel, he comforts them with the promise of the “Stronger One” – Jesus Christ – who will baptize them with the Holy Spirit. In short, John shows them . . .
“WHEN STRONG IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH”
Do you need the “Stronger One?” Do you ever struggle to be strong enough? Sure you do. On this side of heaven, we are with John. Our sinfulness is like Bill Adamson, we try to stand strong and down we go.
Have you tried to be strong in the face of death? Oh, we put on a good façade out in the public but behind closed doors the tears flow, the longing for our loved ones put a lump in our chest. Some days it can be hard to go on.
Have you tried to be strong when the health news is not what you want to hear? My eyes are getting weaker, my legs are giving out, my memory, oh my memory. You sit in silence wondering how it ever got this way. It takes great strength just to keep going.
Are you trying to be strong when all the news of our world comes crashing down on you? Marriage as the fabric that holds society together is being destroyed throughout our world. Children without committed parents. Senseless killings as evil put’s a face on. The bearing of false witness throughout social media. The screaming, the yelling, the downright nastiness and the vulgar language that is everywhere. Please help Lord, I am not strong enough. I need a hope. I need a future. I need a present.
The Law like it does in our text to the crowds puts us under a terrible burden. We can’t make ourselves strong enough. It can’t be done. It’s called human weakness for a reason. What we do is never enough. We need “The Stronger One.”
“As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ, John answered them all by saying, ‘I baptize you with water, but he who is the stronger one than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.’” (vs. 15, 16)
Yes, that is what we need – the Stronger One. Christ is stronger than enough. His baptism, His temptation, His work at Calvary all declares Jesus as the “Stronger One.”
Jesus is able. Jesus is capable. In Luke 11 Jesus identifies Satan as “strong” but himself as “stronger.” In Jesus’ death and resurrection, the “strong man” is conquered by the Stronger One.
Christ’s ministry is stronger than John’s. He will baptize “with the Holy Spirit and with fire,” easily understood as Law and Gospel. The fire for those who look to Him for salvation. The Spirit for those who look to Christ alone. Fire purifies us from the sin of our old Adam, and the Spirit raises to life the new man of faith.
When I was in my late 20’s and a pastor in Texas, Toni and I lived a few blocks from the garage where we took our cars. One of our cars had died and we needed to get it repaired. Sinful man that I am, I didn’t ask for help. I got this. After all, it was mostly downhill. After getting straight out of bed one morning, Toni put the car in neutral and I starting pushing. Oh, we made it there. Not quite so easy on the walk back. Every muscle it seemed like hurt. I had to sit down on the curb. I spent the morning in a tub of warm water. Strong wasn’t strong enough and I pray I learned my lesson.
You’ve had a similar experience, haven’t you? Trying to handle things yourself. I got this. Except you don’t. Human weakness. We need the Stronger One. We need the Savior. We need His love. We need His forgiveness. We need His grace. We need His mercy. We need His strength.
Follow Him . . . He’s got this . . . The Stronger One.
Amen.