News & Notes - January 18, 2009

Good Shepherd
News & Notes
January 18, 2009

THE SEASON OF EPIPHANY: Epiphany is one of the oldest seasons in the Christian Church Year, second only to the Easter season. This season of lights emphasizes Jesus’ manifestation (or epiphany, from the Greek epiphaneia) as God and man. The earliest Christians called the feast of the Epiphany the Theophany (“revelation of God”). When the Gentile Magi come to worship Jesus, they show that everyone now has access to God. Now all people, Jew and Gentile, can come to God’s temple to worship, because Jesus is the new temple: God in the flesh. (From the Treasury of Daily Prayer, The Christian Year, pg. 9)

WELCOME TO GOOD SHEPHERD: Good Shepherd welcomes you in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We invite you to stay for fellowship, coffee and goodies, and Sunday School and Bible Study following the 8 am service. Large-print worship folders are available from the ushers. Ushers will also help with hearing assist devices for your audio needs. The cry room is located at the northwest corner of the sanctuary for your convenience. If you have other questions or needs, please stop at the information center. May God richly bless our time together and please come again.

BIBLE STUDIES TODAY:

I CORINTHIANS: Meet in the fellowship hall to continue the study of I Corinthians with chapter 13 today. Chapter 13 is sometimes referred to as the “love” chapter. Love is mentioned 9 times in the 13 verses of chapter 13. The words of St. Paul just before this chapter are, “And now I will show you the most excellent way.” Join us in the fellowship hall with Pastor Poppe leading the study.

A SUMMARY OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE: Pastor Berndt will lead this study in room 109 (at the northwest corner of the main level) beginning today at 9:30 am. This class is an exploration of the basics of the Lutheran faith as taken from God’s Word. If you would like to review the basics or would like to find out more about what the Lutheran Church believes, teaches and confesses, this is the class for you. Completion of this series of 11 classes can lead to adult confirmation and communicant membership at Good Shepherd.

FLOWER CHART: The flower chart for 2009 has been placed on the bulletin board in the fellowship hall. If you would like to offer flowers for the altar in 2009, please sign your name and telephone number on the chart beside the correct date. You may call Joyce Thompson at 423-1521 to make arrangements. Please note that flowers are not placed on the altar during Lent. The Advent wreath is on the altar from Advent through Epiphany, January 6th.

BIBLES, CATECHISMS AVAILABLE: If you would like to purchase a Concordia Self-Study Bible or a copy of Luther’s Small Catechism, these are available in the church office for the prices listed below:
Luther’s Small Catechism $12.00
Concordia Self-Study Bibles
Regular Hardback $35.30
Thumb-Indexed $42.80
Please make checks payable to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.

LIFELIGHT BIBLE STUDY: The LifeLight Bible Study : Gospel of John resumed on Wednesday, January 14th at 7:30 pm for the evening session and will resume on Thursday, January 22nd at 1 pm for the daytime session. New participants are welcome. Let the office know so that we can order additional student books if needed.

LUTHERAN WITNESS: It is time to renew or register for new subscriptions to the Lutheran Witness for the June 2009 - May 2010 year. The cost of a subscription through the congregation is $10.50. There is a sign-up sheet at the information center today. You must sign up today to be included for this special price. You may place the subscription amount in an envelope and label it “Lutheran Witness” and place it in the offering plate or bring it to the church office. This special price is only available once a year through the congregation and would be $22.00 at any other time through Concordia Publishing House.

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS: Matt and Kate (Good Shepherd’s DCE students from Concordia University) will be teaching a class just for high school students after the first of the year! God’s Word is filled with fusion. The Old Testament bears many hints of events to come in the New Testament, yet we often miss the connection. The Gospel message of the Savior is seen time and time again in the Old Testament. Through this class, we will connect - fuse - those events as we look at the theme of “Suffering Servants”. Class will begin on January 18th. Questions? Contact Matt or Kate at matthew.harwell@cune.org or kate.luckemeyer@cune.org.

A NOTE FROM MARK: Dear Members of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church,

Thanks so much for all the support over the Christmas and New Year break. I enjoyed assisting at Good Shepherd over my break and preaching on the second Sunday of Christmas.

I only have seven weeks left in the current 10 week term at Ft. Wayne, and then I will be that much closer to Call Day, which is April 21st. This academic year sure seems to be going by really fast. I guess that’s because it’s my last year and there is so much to do.

It will be nice to get back to classes again and finish my course work so that I can graduate in May. It will be a busy month with all the papers due and the Symposia coming up the second week after we start classes. I will be looking forward to seeing Pastor Poppe during that week.

I really appreciate all the support again this year, especially for the grant to help with tuition and the money you raised at the dinner to support the Seminary students. I am really fortunate to have such a wonderful congregation.

I hope everyone had a great Christmas and I wish everyone all the blessings as we enter into a New Year. I will continue to keep you in my prayers.

May the Lord grant you His richest blessings through His Son, Jesus Christ.

In Christ Crucified,
Mark Duer

ATTENTION HY VEE SHOPPERS: HyVee has joined the SCRIP program with denominations available of $25, $50 z7 $100. Other grocery stores participating are Super Saver, Russ’, Ideal, Sun Mart, and Walmart. If you need a gift certificate for any occasion, come and see the SCRIP committee in the library between services on Sundays.


GOOD SHEPHERD
LUTHERAN SCHOOL
Offering a Classical Lutheran Education

Academic Excellence Low Student/Teacher Ratio
High Expectations Christ Centered
Latin Instruction Grades K - 8


Good Shepherd
School & Preschool
are now enrolling.
Call 423-7677


COMING EVENTS:
Kindergarten Round-up - Tues., Feb. 17th at 8 am
School Information Night - Tues., Feb. 17th at 7 pm in the fellowship hall.
Good Shepherd School Auction - March 6, 2009
Plant Sale - April 24-25, 2009
Watch for details.

STEWARDSHIP MOMENT: Good care of our bodies is a mark of a faithful steward. St. Paul reminds us that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. What an incentive to use our bodies in ways that please the Holy Spirit who lives within us.

REAL REFORMATION RADIO: Do any of these topics interest you? Interpreting Parables, Men & Church, The Baptism of Jesus, Educating Children in the Inner-City, The Book “The Shack” and more. Issues, Etc. is produced by Lutheran Public Radio and hosted by LCMS Pastor Todd Wilken. You can listen to what you want when you want at www.issuesetc.org.

PRE-LENT PREACHING SEMINAR: Come to Good Shepherd on Friday, Jan. 30th for a Pre-Lenten opportunity to be taught from God’s Word on the topic, “Dead, Buried, and Risen in Christ” led by Pastor Brent Kuhlman. Both clergy and laity are invited. Activities begin with refreshments at 9:30 am.

“LIFE QUOTES” FROM LUTHERANS FOR LIFE: “America needs no words from me to see how your decision in Roe v. Wade has deformed a great nation. The so-called right to abortion has pitted mothers against their children and women against men. It has sown violence and discord at the heart of the most intimate of human relationships. It has aggravated the derogation of the father’s role in an increasingly fatherless society. It has portrayed the greatest of gifts - a child - as a competitor, an intrusion, and an inconvenience. It has nominally accorded mothers unfettered dominion over the independent lives of their physically dependent sons and daughters.” Mother Teresa

THE SHEPHERD’S FLOCK THIS WEEK:
Attendance Gifts for Our Savior
Wed., Jan. 7 139 $ 12,009
Sun., Jan. 11 423
Growing in the Gospel $ 1,845

Totals for the Week 562 $ 13,854
Needed Weekly * $ 12,474
Difference + $ 1,380
Cumulative Difference - $30,698

“20 Not 40" This Week $ 265
“20 Not 40" Year-to-Date $10, 182
“20 Not 40" Goal $48,000

* This amount has been adjusted to reflect more accurately the current budget.

LINCOLN LUTHERAN CHOIR: Lincoln Lutheran Choir invites singers to join us for our spring concert season. The choir’s performance this season will be in the setting of Evening Prayer with a service on April 18th in Seward and April 19th in Lincoln. Rehearsals begin on January 25th with a retreat at American Lutheran Church, 4200 Vine St. All interested singers should contact Josh Norris, director at 613-3115 or via e-mail at norris@bigred.unl.edu.

CALENDAR FOR THE WEEK OF JANUARY 18:

MON 7:00 PM A A MEETING
7:00 PM LUTHERAN WOMEN IN MISSION

TUES 6:00 AM MENS’ BIBLE STUDY

WED 5:30 PM MIDWEEK CLASSES/SHINE ON KIDS CHOIR/MIDWEEK BIBLE STUDY
6:30 PM WORSHIP
7:30 PM ADULT CHOIR/LIFELIGHT BIBLE STUDY: JOHN
8:30PM MENS’ CHOIR

THURS 1:00 PM LIFELIGHT BIBLE STUDY: JOHN

FRI 8:00 AM VOLUNTEERS FOR CHRIST

SUN 8:00 AM WORSHIP
9:20 AM SUNDAY SCHOOL/A SUMMARY OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE/I CORINTHIANS BIBLE STUDY
10:30 AM WORSHIP/COMMUNION

MON FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER ARTICLES DUE

ASSISTING WITH THE SERVICES:
Elder: Bob McClellan
Organist: Cathy Nitzel
Acolytes: 8 am: Spencer Dorn
10:30 am: Daniel Cahoon
Greeters: 8 am: Jon & Amy Heithold & family
10:30 am: Joel & Valerie Dorfmeyer & family
Coffeemakers: Roger & Opal Christensen
Information Center: Mary Spitsnogle
Ushers: 8 am: Norm & Tammi Pfeiffer, Gary Ahrens, Luverne Myers
10:30 am: Cory Roth, Willis Legband, Gary Wilhelm, Nathan Keller
Communion Bread: Suzanne Kohmetscher
Communion Set-up: Sondra Rathjen
Communion Clean-up: Martha Weishahn
Meals on Wheels Today: The Burow Family
Meals on Wheels Friday: Steve & Jan Stover

VISITING THEOLOGIAN WEEKEND: Pacific Hills, Omaha invites you to its fifth annual Theologian Weekend on Feb. 20-22. This year’s featured speaker will be Dr. Charles Arand, professor of systematic theology at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis. Dr. Arand’s topic will be “Luther’s Two Kinds of Righteousness - For the Pulpit and Pew”. Registration begins on Saturday at 8:45 am. The cost for the presentation will be $15 per person or $10 for students, payable at the door. Lunch will be included on Saturday. Dr. Arand will preach on Sunday and lead the Bible study. Lunch will be offered on Sunday. Those interested in attending should reserve a space by Feb. 18th by e-mailing revhawk@cox.net.

POCKET EDITION OF BOOK OF CONCORD: A pocket edition of the Book of Concord is now available from Concordia Publishing House. It contains the complete text of the various Lutheran confessional documents, the reading plan, Bible text reference index, the subject index, and also the Catalog of Testimonies and Saxon Visitation articles. The print is a readable size and it fits in a jacket pocket. What it does not include is all the notes, annotations, woodcuts, etc. Single copies are $14.99 or if you order ten copies or more, they are $10.99. Order from CPH at 1-800-325-3040.

PRAYERS FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD: “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.” Colossians 4: 2
* Viola Kroft, mother of Sara Schroeder, undergoing chemo treatment for Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.
* Megan Eckardt, undergoing chemo (to check on her condition and/or send a message go to www.caringbridge.org/visit/meganeckardt. Updates are also on the bulletin board under the flower chart in the fellowship hall.)
* Mae Broekemeier, grandmother of Cari Brundage and great-grandmother of Hailey and Elijah, students at Good Shepherd, suffering from cancer.
* Verneda Gerdes, recovering from shoulder surgery.
* Bill Palmer, for pain relief, and God’s peace. Pray also for Alberta for peace.
* Dee Dee Denner, recovering at the Ambassador.
* Lynn Poppe, brother of Pastor Poppe, recovering from back surgery.
* Jack Mason, recovering from a hip replacement.
* Lenora Lueders, recovering at home.
* Tish Loomis, recovering from knee surgery.
* Pat Bergen, sister-in-law or Lynn & Roxane Bergen, being treated for cancer.
* Leisa Gracia, sister of Lorie Knapp, recovering from surgery to remove a brain tumor. Pray also for the family including children ages 5, 7, and 5 months.
* Damaris Poppe, sister-in-law of Pastor Poppe, hospitalized at Clarkson, recovering from surgery.
* Jack Carskaddon, in rehab at the Ambassador.
* Tim Graybill, brother-in-law of Tim & Genie Watters, for wisdom in diagnosis and treatment.

FOR THOSE IN LONG-TERM TREATMENT: Linda (friend of Be Magdanz), Josalyn Davis (MS), Dorrence Hobbs, Cathy Neben, Gene Denner, Rita McAllister, Ashley Witte (MS), Sheryl Chisum, Anne Nelson, Vera & Richard Schwarz, and Elijah Ruegge.

FOR PEACE AND COMFORT: “The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with peace.” Psalm 29: 11
* the family of Jodi Haniszewski, friend of Karen Kammann, who was take to her eternal home recently.
* the family of Judy Russert, mother of Rev. Luke Russert, who was taken to her eternal home recently.

IN THANKSGIVING: “Let us give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for men.”
* for the birth of a daughter, Grace Amber, to Matt & Jennifer Fencl.
* for successful treatment for Richard Lebrecht, brother-in-law of Ken & Jan Knaus.

FOR OUR SHUT-IN MEMBERS:
* Marilee Miller * Marylou Smith * Kelly Wall
* Lenora Lueders * Milton Launer * Paul Muggy
* Cal Tvrz * Jerry & Bonnie Gass * Bill Palmer

FOR THOSE IN THE MILITARY: “Look to the Lord for strength, seek His face always.”
* Melissa & Bret Gash * Michael Swyers * B. J. Rohde
* Kelli Kitchens * Andrew Wolcott * Brock Ernst
* Brent Flachsbart * Brad Merriman * Kevin Huneke
* Jennifer Schwarz * Robert Humphrey * Lane Jackson

BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS TO:
Jan. 18 Rachel Erickson
Jan. 19 Nathan Keller, Eric Klutz
Jan. 20 Landan Fittje, Reece Naber, Alberta Palmer, Julie Wright
Jan. 21 Char Large
Jan. 22 Chad Johnson
Jan, 23 Trevor Fleck, Casey Rezny
Jan. 24 Benjamin Magdanz, Dawn Renter
ANNIVERSARY BLESSINGS TO:
Jan. 22 Luverne & Lavonne Myers
Gary & Vicki Rockel

CAMP LUTHER RETREATS: Camp Luther will be hosting the following events soon. If you would like to register for either one, go to the website at www.campluther.org or call (402) 352-5655.

Feb. 6-7 Men’s Woodcutting Retreat- men will participate in Bible study and fellowship, work on some service projects for the camp and end the day on Saturday with a steak cookout. Bring bedding, towel and washcloth, and personal care items. Buildings are heated with indoor bathrooms.

Feb. 6-8 Women’s Scrapbooking Retreat

NEBRASKA WALK FOR LIFE: Come and support the sanctity of human life with your participation in the Nebraska Walk for Life on Saturday, January 31, 2009 beginning at 10 am at the west side of the State Capitol Bldg. Participants will walk eight block through the downtown area and arrive at the UNL Student Union to hear keynote speaker, Michael Clancy. Michael was a freelance photographer in Nashville when a routine assignment resulted in the well-known photo of a child in the womb interacting with the doctor performing surgery. Come and see Michael’s PowerPoint presentation. The day’s events will conclude about 1 pm.

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