Christmas 2014 Adopt a Family

 This year we have adopted a family of 4 for Christmas. We have placed their requests on the tree in the narthex. Choose an item or items to purchase and return these purchases, unwrapped, by Sunday, November 30th. We have put a box next to the tree for those who would like to make a monetary donation. Please make checks payable to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and put “Adopt a Family” in the memo line. Katie Kleiboeker and Toni Lueck will purchase items with these funds. Please take this opportunity to share your blessings with a family in need.

(Sun, 11-09-14, 10:30am) — “Checking Your Oil” — Matthew 25: 1-13


November 9, 2014 Text: Matthew 25:1-13

Dear Friends in Christ,

When it comes to preparation, how well do you do? Do you usually have things in order are you running around at the last minute? Did you know what you were going to wear to church today last night or was it a snap decision this morning because you were in a green mood? I had to prepare to deliver this message: read and study the text, check the commentaries, pray to the Holy Spirit for guidance and wisdom, then sit down and do it. If you have schoolwork or a project at work you prepare. If you don’t, well you know the consequences of that decision. Think of these two-word phrases that can scare most of us: “pop quiz”, “surprise inspection”, “unvited guests”.
Another area of life where most of us prepare is when we take a trip. This tends to change as we age. In college my friends and I took my car to Daytona Beach, Florida and I don’t even remember checking the oil. I would not dream of doing that today. I get the oil changed in our cars regularly. It is good maintenance. It is good preparation. It is just plain smart. Today, in our text, we have ten virgins. Five have oil for their lamps. Five do not. Who is prepared and who is not?
“CHECKING YOUR OIL”
In Jesus’ day, the couple’s parents would have arranged this marriage. Part of the joy and anticipation of the festivities would include the bridegroom coming to meet his bride. The bridegroom could come any time day or night. The bride was to be ready. The bridesmaids would help to keep her awake.
In the parable, we have half being wise and half being foolish. The Greek root of foolish is the English word moron. A moron is someone who lacks good judgment. The virgins are outwardly alike. In spite of this five of them did not have any oil. Oil symbolizes spirit and life. In other words, the foolish ones fell away from the faith. The flame of the lamp and its light is faith and its good works. The oil is grace through the Word. The lamp is our outward Christianity. The foolish virgins have the outward signs but inwardly are strangers to Christ. We need to be going back constantly for that oil. Checking your oil.
How does our faith look to the world? Is my lamp burning? Have I prepared? Have I checked the oil? Am I leaking oil as I get distracted by career, family, hobbies, anger, lust, greed. Not to mention worry and doubt. Do the distractions of this world cause us to run ourselves into the ground? Cause our light to flicker? Does our lamp become a burden?
God in his unconditional love goes to great lengths to protect our faith. Faith can die. Jesus talks about priorities and commitments. His desire, His plan, is to keep our lamps filled with oil so we can rejoice when he, the Bridegroom, arrives. Jesus is our Savior. He suffered and died for us. He gives us lamps. He lights our lamps. He fills our lamps with oil. He keeps our lamps full of oil.
How does He do this? Our lamps are filled with Christ through His Word. We need the oil that Holy Scripture can bring. In worship, oil is poured into our lamps so that we are prepared for whatever may come our way. At the font Christ filled you by washing you clean and warding off the attacks of Satan. At this Holy Table, where Christ enters your body and soul to forgive your sin, strengthen your faith in this difficult, fallen world, and where He promises you a place at the greater feast to come.
And when He comes, no matter when that will be, your lamps, your faith, your lives will be filled with Christ – the “one thing needful.”
Putting oil in our lamp is best accomplished as more than a once-a-week chore like filling the gas tank. It is more than a weekend hobby. It is an existence. We are prepared. Christ has prepared us. Jesus keeps us prepared. God keeps our lamps full of oil and our lights burning so that we can see the way to go. When are eyes are on Christ, his promise to us fills our lamps with oil.
Amen.

Bulletin Announcements Nov 9, 2014

THOUGHTS ON STEWARDSHIP:  Matthew 25:4: “….but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.”  Why did they take flasks of oil with them?  Because they listened to the Bridegroom’s words and believed them.  Our actions always start with and flow from our beliefs.  What do your actions in the realm of stewardship say about what you believe?

TODAY is our 2nd Sunday door offering for Reverend Michael Kearney and Seminarian Chris Suggitt.  We received a letter from Chris and his family and it is posted on the bulletin board outside the church office.

2014 COMMITMENT CARD:  Your 2014 Commitment Card is available for pick-up in the narthex.  Next Sunday, November 16th, the new Commitment Cards will be handed out and Stewardship Sunday will be on November 23rd.

 FOOD COLLECTION:  Our Food Collection for Home Sweet Home Mission will continue through this coming Saturday, November 15th.  On that day we will deliver the food and serve a meal at the Mission.

 NEXT SUNDAY is the deadline for items to be submitted for the DECEMBER NEWSLETTER.  Mandy Kluender is our Editor for the church newsletter and any announcements you want to be published in the Newsletter should be submitted to her at mgkluender@hotmail.com.

 ANNUAL VOTER’S MEETING:  Good Shepherd’s Annual Voter’s Meeting is next week on Sunday, November 16th, following the 10:30 Worship Service.  We will have a potluck meal.  The church is providing the meat and drink.  Please bring a side dish or dessert.  The 2015 Budget proposal and the list of candidates for church offices are located in the narthex.

 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS:  If you would like a copy of your 2014 Financial Statement please see Joyce Schneider.

 ENERGY NEEDS ENVELOPES are still available on the table in the narthex.

FELLOWSHIP HOSTS:  The sign-up for help with coffee/doughnuts is posted on the wall by the north stairwell.  We need an individual/family to sign-up each week to pick up the donuts and make the coffee.  If no one is signed up by Friday of each week, the order will be cancelled.  We thank everybody who continues to help with this part of our church fellowship.

 CAN YOU HELP:  Greetings to all of you, my dear Church family.  I wish to thank each and every one of you for ALL you have done for my family and me: meals, prayers, other help.  I am overwhelmed by the love shown to me by so many people.  This has been the hardest challenge so far for us and we pray that our Lord will heal and restore me to my family.  Stage IV and secondary cancer is no joke and when I have to sleep, I am left with no choice – go in and lie down or fall down!  Which leads me to my point.  I have had to learn to ask for some help.  So here is my humble request: would any of you have some easy slow cooker recipes you would be willing to share with me?  I am collecting some recipes but would sure love to have some of yours. If anyone has slow cooked a roast or a ham or chicken in one, please let me know how for how long you’ve cooked it.  Please email any recipes or instructions to me at: dogdiva2@comcast.net.  Thank you again for everything! Love in Christ, Laura Kessler.

THE LUTHERAN HOUR:  “S.O.S. …Call Upon Jesus” is the topic for next Sunday.  The sermon text will be from 1 Thessalonians 5:9-11.  God’s SOS brings real lasting hope and rescue, an SOS that shows us our Savior.  The speaker will be Reverend Gregory Seltz.  Hear this Sunday’s 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.