Vol. 54, No. 12 December 2020
FROM THE PASTOR’S DESK: lonely and sometimes even painful. How many of us can tell stories this year of waiting for the outcome of a COVID test or waiting to see a loved one again who has been hospitalized or waiting to hug our family members again after long periods apart? We are familiar with waiting - deep waiting: the waiting of a pregnant woman as her body rounds and she prepares to bring a new life into this world; the waiting of a child watching their parent’s last, labored breaths. We know waiting. And the season of Advent invites us to
transform that waiting into a spiritual practice, Welcome to Advent! The season of waiting. to learn something in the midst of waiting, and “Hold on,” you say. “More waiting? Isn’t that to be blessed along the way. the last thing we need this year?” We’ve been In her book, “Seven Spiritual Gifts of waiting for restrictions to ease. Waiting to see Waiting,” spiritual director Holly Whitcomb loved ones again. Waiting for the ability to hug talks about the ways that waiting itself can or shake hands or even fist bump again. connect us to our God. She writes, “Waiting Waiting for the call process to be complete. presents an enormous challenge. We are Waiting to come back to in-person worship. impatient, I-can-fix-it kinds of people. . . But Waiting for election season to pass. Waiting for not all situations can be fixed. We assume that a vaccine. And so many more things, besides. everything in life can be made better by taking There’s been a lot of waiting already, and now action, but sometimes it just isn’t so.” For we enter into a season dedicated to waiting. Whitcomb, waiting isn’t passive acceptance of Why? the status quo nor simply waiting for God to In Advent, we wait (patiently or impatiently) speak or to act or to arrive. There is value and for the arrival (advent) of Christ. Our scriptures good and intention in the process of waiting and songs remind us to wait for Christ to come itself. She talks about patience, the loss of again in the glorious fullness of time even as control, living in the present, compassion, they remind us of how Jesus first came to us in gratitude, humility, and trust in God as the humble straw of a manger bed. And yet, different gifts that waiting offers. She says that this year, in the midst of a pandemic that sometimes, waiting is the better choice, a seems endless, we are tired of waiting. The “wise teacher” that offers us a great deal when waiting and watching have been long and we chose to learn.
Vol. 54, No. 12 Page 2 December 2020 None of that makes waiting any easier. But Pastor Chapman is the newly-called pastor it might ease the burden of waiting if we can at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. She see within it an opportunity for insight, officially started her work among us on revelation, or growth. What if we reframed our November 16th, and is eagerly looking forward Advent waiting as a learning of patience, or a to meeting more folks from the congregation coming to terms with the fact that we’re not in over the coming weeks and months. Please feel as much control of our lives and our world as free to contact her to introduce yourself or we’d like to be? What if our Advent waiting, or with any urgent pastoral care needs. A date for even our pandemic waiting, became a chance her installation will be set in the near future. to live in the present, to treasure the here and now and the people we can share our lives with in the meantime? Maybe our waiting can help us practice compassion for others or offer gratitude to others. Perhaps, this Advent, as we put aside hopes for big family Christmas gatherings and our traditional Christmas eve services, we might see others’ needs as more important HOLDEN EVENING PRAYER IN ADVENT than our own and the health of the community as being of greater priority than our wants and Join us Wednesday evenings in Advent for wishes. Holden Evening Prayer. Take a little time out of Above all, this season of pandemic and of your busy week for worship and reflection as Advent challenge us to trust in God. We trust in we anxiously await and prepare for the birth of the God who, in the words of Isaiah 53, leads Christ. The services will be posted weekly on us through the waters, protects us from the our YouTube channel on December 2, 9, 16, flames, and calls us by name. We trust in the and 23. You can find the link to the services at God who accompanied the Israelites on their https://www.gslc-cu.org/events/online- journey in the wilderness, waited with Paul and together/ Silas in prison, fed Elijah during his fearful waiting and moved within Mary during her joyful waiting. We trust in the God who is already at work in our lives, wherever they’re taking us (or keeping us) and in our situations, whatever they may be. We trust, knowing that we are trusting in the God of Love who came to us as a babe in Bethlehem, who arrives in our lives in unexpected ways every day, and who will come CHRISTMAS EVE DRIVE-IN COMMUNION again as God promised. We trust, believing that SERVICE – 4:00PM even if our waiting is reluctant, forced, or We will have a drive-in communion service spiritually unfruitful, it will still end in blessing. in our back parking lot on Christmas Eve, Peace be with you, my Christ-siblings. Peace Thursday, December 24. Please join us to share in your waiting, and peace in your growing. the Holy meal as we celebrate the birth of our Pastor Lynette Chapman Savior.
Vol. 54, No. 12 Page 3 December 2020 CHRISTMAS EVE WORSHIP SERVICE A VIRTUAL NATIVITY WALK AVAILABLE STARTING DECEMBER 6 A very special Christmas worship service AT 5PM while we’re staying safe at home this year. Available online December 24 and full of music, We can’t meet in person this year to a special message for children, the Christmas celebrate our 15th annual Nativity Walk, but we Story, and more, to help us celebrate the true can still enjoy and share this event virtually! reason for the holiday. We thank our members, their friends and families, our fellow Lutheran congregations; CHRISTMAS OFFERINGS Grace, St. Matthew, and St. Andrew’s for sharing their nativities, and the musicians who Please keep Restoration Urban Ministries shared their talents vocally and instrumentally. and empty tomb, inc. in thought and prayer Visit https://www.gslc-cu.org/nativity this Advent season. They are vital to our community and the GSLC Christmas offerings CHRISTMAS AT LSSI FUNDRAISER will be given to both of them. COVID-19 has thrown challenges at everything we are used to doing, and this is no different with LSSI. While we are used to choosing a child’s gift tag off the Giving Tree each year in the Narthex, and carefully choosing the items the child would like, COVID has made this a challenge. LSSI is asking that our congregation support 50 children again this year and consider donating $60 per child, but any donation amount will help us reach our goal. Your donation will provide Christmas presents and DRIVE-THRU LIVE NATIVITY essential items through gift cards. The SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6 fundraiser will run through, December 22nd. 3-5PM AT GSLC
th Please contribute at: This 15 year’s Nativity Walk will be https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/good- different from year's past and will be a unique shepherd-lutheran-church experience. Tune in on your FM radio to hear a If donating by check, please make check live broadcast of the story of our Savior's birth payable to Good Shepherd and include LSSI & Christmas music while you enjoy the drive- XMAS in the memo line. thru Live Nativity scene. This year's Live If you have any questions, please contact Nativity scene will include the Holy Family, Nicki Kyle [email protected] or Shepherds, and Wise Men (socially distanced, Patty Hart [email protected] of course) and a stable of animals (yes, the Thank you for supporting LSSI. camel will be there!) Tune in your radio to 87.9FM.
Vol. 54, No. 12 Page 4 December 2020 From the Deacon’s Desk ducking Herod and being some of the first to meet the Savior of the world! How about the Shepherds in Luke’s Gospel? Countless nights they wandered the hillsides and valleys counting sheep and counting stars. Each crevice, and boulder, every worn path, and each star in the sky was like family to them. They knew the land like the back of their hand, and just when they thought they had seen it all, angels appeared before them and the scriptures say they were terrified. The geography of the land may have shaped them, but so did the message from God that took them away from those familiar fields. You show me the path of life. In your presence The journey of Mary and Joseph walking there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are with no end in sight and just wanting to find pleasures forevermore. - Psalm 16:11 some comfort before all the pain of childbirth that was to come. Maybe you have felt helpless Most years the holiday season would be like this before where, in desperation, you marked by travel to visit family and friends. It were just content to take whatever wouldn’t be hard for each of us to conjure up a accommodations you could get. Did they know fun, or perhaps tragic, memory from some that their intimate family moment was going to holiday adventure that didn’t go quite as be interrupted by Shepherd strangers and far planned. I can remember one Thanksgiving eve away foreigners? These journeys with God when we were stuck 2 miles outside of allowed all of them to be among the first to Bloomington because the ice on the interstate greet the Christ child. had caused a semi-truck to slide and block all Nikki Rosato is an artist living in Washington lanes of traffic. We could have sat in the car D.C. who loves seeing how the highways of our upset and frustrated, but instead we shared lives intersect with our identity. Nikki carefully sodas with cars around us, made snowmen on cuts out the various roads and interstates from the side of the interstate, and went sledding paper maps and then transforms them into down the side of the embankment for a few portraits and heads of human beings. In an hours. I am slowly learning that our journey’s interview with Nikki she shared these thoughts; help shape us into the people we are becoming. “As we move through life, the places we inhabit Which makes me wonder about the and the people that we meet alter and shape us Wisemen in Matthew’s Gospel and the people into the person that we are in the present day. I they became after their journey. Had they ever am interested in the idea that a place I visited travelled that far before? Had they ever as a child has affected the outcome of the ventured to countries that didn’t speak their person that I am today.” language, making it more difficult to find what they were looking for? When the star stopped Has our encounter with Jesus affected the above their destination the scriptures say they outcome of the person we are today? If so, were overwhelmed with joy. Imagine how how? Maybe we can’t visit our children or changed they were from that experience of
Vol. 54, No. 12 Page 5 December 2020 grandchildren this year for Christmas, but we still have a chance to reflect on the people we have become because of our journeys. When the path forward looks unclear, when travel may be limited, or family distant, it can all feel so depressing. This is when we need to go inward. LOOKING FOR IDEAS ON HOW TO GIVE MORE RELATIONALLY THIS CHRISTMAS?
Here are some Advent Conspiracy gift ideas to help get you started.
Spend Time Together
Create together. Do a puzzle, paint a picture, bake cookies, build a fort, write a song, make jewelry, garden, take photos. Be present. Make it a habit to have one Celebrating Christmas is an act of looking technology-free night. Turn off the back, remembering where God has been, and distractions and spend quality time trusting that the Holy Spirit is moving us together. forward. Ask Jason for a devotional for you and a We have time now to take stock of all the friend. Get together over ZOOM and talk places in our journey where Jesus has met us. about what you’re learning from God. Think of those places where you were terrified Go for a walk or hike and admire along the road because God had something to creation. say to you. Ponder those places where you Read the Advent Conspiracy book with a arrived somewhere monumental and were friend and swap ideas for new Christmas overwhelmed with joy at God’s provision. No traditions. matter where our paths take us or don’t take Purchase with a Purpose us, Immanuel, God is with us on the journey.
Always remember that God had the furthest Check out Ten Thousand Villages distance to travel to become fully human so downtown and purchase Fair Trade that we could be fully human. certified goods.
Shop local. Buy from local boutiques and God’s grace and peace to you this Advent and artisans. Get to know the local business Christmas season, owners in your city. Jason Fisher Find companies that give back. (some Youth & Family Guy examples: PuraVida, Love Your Melon,
Out of Print, Sseko, Good Spread, Cuddle+Kind, Sackcloth and Ashes, Diff Eyeware, Hiptipico, fashionABLE, Conscious Step, FEED, Two Blind
Vol. 54, No. 12 Page 6 December 2020 Brothers, WeWood, Land of A Thousand Celebrate Memories Hills Coffee, House of Light Goods, Bombas, Headbands of Hope, SoapBox, Put together a family night basket. Wrap Roma, Alex and Ani, C3 Wine Co, Red up some popcorn, candy, gift cards, and Letter Christians, Hand in Hand Soaps, board games. Noonday Collection, Issara Leather, Try something new. Cooking classes, Yellow Leaf Hammocks, Tegu Wooden music lessons, rock climbing, painting. Blocks) Make a list of local restaurants, parks, If you’re shopping online, use an and activities you want to explore. See AmazonSmile account. A portion of your how many you can experience in the purchase will go towards different next year. charity organizations. Hire a photographer to take family photos for one of your friends or make a Make it Personal scrapbook or photo album for your grandparents. Pray for everyone on your Christmas list Over the next year, write 52 notes and before purchasing anything. Remember share them with someone special next what a gift they are in your life. Christmas.
Find presents that celebrate the hobbies and passions of someone else. Remember it’s not about the number of gifts you give, it’s about honoring your relationships and giving thanks to God
for others. THANKS BE TO GOD Serve Someone To my Good Shepherd family, I want to express my heartfelt thanks for all the prayers, Partner with a Christian non-profit cards, and calls during the challenges of the last organization and change a life. (ex: couple of months. Your prayers lifted me up. World Vision, Living Water International, God is good. Your continued prayers for International Justice Mission, Hope strength as I go through treatment are International) appreciated. As Pastor Roth’s message Make a helping-hands coupon book. indicated HOPE is of the essence in these Give your family vouchers to babysit, challenging times for all of us. God bless you help with yardwork, do the dishes, fold Good Shepherd. laundry, clean the kitchen, walk the dog. Nancy McCowen Care for the widows in your church. Take them lunch and get to know their With love and gratitude we want to thank story. all of Good Shepherd for the prayers, cards and remembrance when Wayne recently passed. Volunteer at church as a family or small You have been our church family since 1963. group. The world right now is topsy-turvey but having all of you helps so much. The Hecht family, Jeretta, Bruce, and Laura.
Vol. 54, No. 12 Page 7 December 2020 in, and socially distance in the Fellowship Hall. Please contact Carol Manley with any questions or concerns by calling 840-1334 or emailing [email protected]. A link to the 80+ COOKIE TIN SignUp Genius will be sent in the Shout Out ASSEMBLY & RUTH next week. CIRCLE TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15 WELCA CHRISTMAS TEA 9:30AM SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12
CALLING ALL BAKERS OF COOKIES & BAR. . . All women of Good Shepherd are invited to DONATIONS NEEDED BY TUESDAY, DECEMBER share in a virtual Christmas fellowship event on 15, 9:30PM. Saturday, December 12, from 1:30 to 2:30 pm. You are asked to help carry on the Good This is in lieu of our usual Christmas brunch. Shepherd tradition of baking your favorite Grab your favorite cup of tea, coffee, or other cookies and bars for members and friends who beverage and join us over ZOOM as we are octogenarians to feel your love at welcome Pastor Lynette, share prayers and Christmastime. stories, and listen to Christmas carols. Your caring donation of three-dozen (or You can also invite other women in your more!) baked treats will be combined with family or friends to join in the event. The link those from other generous bakers to make up for the tea will be sent out in December along an assortment placed in Christmas tins (lined with information about registering. This will with parchment) for delivery. Unfortunately we help us as we plan breakout room activities. will be unable to accept any no-bake recipe Mark your calendar now and we hope to see cookies this year, all donations will have to you on Dec. 12!! have been baked. Filling tins will take place in our ventilated GSLC kitchen on disinfected counters. Those who fill tins will form two small lines & will be wearing masks & protective gloves.
People to deliver tins are needed too! You are asked to wear a mask when completing WELCA BIBLE STUDIES deliveries. Those who will receive a cookie tin will be phoned first. Christmas Cookie Tins will Lesson from December Gather Magazine be left at the main desk of group living centers or on the front porch/step of homes. Anna Circle Following this special cookie event, all Wednesday, December 2, 4:30PM women are invited to relax & enjoy a Via ZOOM: devotional called “Advent Rituals for Uncertain https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83867902395?pwd Times” which is printed in the December =bC9zcU1yaGxETS84NkZXaXZUNld4Zz09 “Gather” magazine, pages 20-25. Women of The ELCA and Ruth Circle sponsor this tradition. Ruth Circle & Rachel Circle Out of caring concern for each other, Tuesday, December 15, 9:30AM participants will be asked to wear masks, sign Bible Study and Packing cookies for the 80+
Vol. 54, No. 12 Page 8 December 2020 WELCA BOOK CLUB THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10 SOMI: IN THE ABSENCE 9:30AM OF THINGS DECEMBER 1, 7:00PM
We will be discussing As The livestream link will be Bright as Heaven by accessible here: Susan Meissner. krannertcenter.com/events/somi-absence- things on the day of the event. This novel is set In A short film written and performed by Somi Philadelphia during the with Mariona Lloreta as director. Vocalist- Spanish flu pandemic of composer and writer Somi Kakoma forges new 1918. ground with an experimental short film that This is a compelling blends spoken word, art song, and movement story of a mother and with deconstructed concert recordings from her daughters who find Somi’s new live album Holy Room—Live at Alte themselves in a harsh world not of their Oper with Frankfurt Radio Big Band. COVID-19 making. We will be meeting in the GSLC Choir hit the United States while Somi was on the Room, socially distant and wearing masks. road, so instead of returning to her residence
in New York City, she decided to head to her
hometown of Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, to shelter in place with her mother, Betsy Kakoma, where she found herself reflecting on the deep sense of personal vacancy she was feeling in the absence of live performance. Commissioners from Krannert Center, Baryshnikov Arts Center (New York), and
ArtsEmerson (Boston) have joined forces to support the creation of ‘In the absence of This month we things’. Partially narrated by Betsy Kakoma, want to recognize this meditative film registers what Somi calls Rachael Wilding for “the emotional vibration and undemocratic her tireless work with fragility of cultural space and the living stage.” our prayer shawl This presentation will be followed by a ministry. We have conversation with Somi; the director of the honestly lost count of film, Mariona Lloreta; and Obie Award-winning all the prayer shawls Artistic Director of New York City’s National and hats she has crocheted since this ministry Black Theatre (NBT) Jonathan McCrory began. Thank you Rachel for keeping our head, discussing the meaning of the film, the creative hearts, and souls warmed with all the love of process, and the role of Black artists during and Christ Jesus that you pour into each beautiful beyond COVID-19. Presented in partnership work of art. with NBT and Salon Africana. By the way, Somi was notified yesterday that she has been nominated for a Grammy!
Vol. 54, No. 12 Page 9 December 2020 1: Pay attention. Alongside considering the Practice: The Seventh Story wider world, pay attention to your soul, your
According to Brian McLaren and Gareth neighborhood, your local and regional stories, Higgins, six narratives have been driving forces and find others who do the same. Nurture your in human history: personal well-being and that of your community, otherwise you will neither thrive in The first was the story of patriarchal a challenging world, nor be useful to the domination service of the common good. Oppression provoked the emergence of 2: Don’t pay attention. Don’t fund the six a revolution story stories of separation, selfishness, and Others simply withdrew, believing in the scapegoating: withhold your attention and the righteousness of their own group, called money you steward from any media outlet or to an isolation story public figure that uses fear to build an In the purification story, all the troubles audience. of a powerful group were blamed on a minority 3: Seek mentors who will help you discern a Some people retreated into trying to personal sense of calling to the common good. possess as much as they could: living by Your gift is connected to your wound, and the an accumulation story world’s great need. Serving from the place Some people began to define where these three intersect is the best way to themselves by what they had suffered, heal yourself, and offer healing to others.
developing a victimization story 4: Tell the truth. In a world of competing
information sources, seek wisdom above However, Brian and his friend Gareth propaganda. Enlarge your frame: see the whole Higgins recommend a “Seventh Story.” In The world as your home. Learn the difference Seventh Story, human beings are not the between headlines and trendlines. protagonists. Love is. We are not rulers of “our” domain, but partners in the evolution of 5: Learn spiritual practices that heal and goodness. As René Girard wrote, “What Jesus offer resilience: clearings, accountability, invites us to imitate is his own desire, the shadow work. spirit that directs him toward the goal on 6: Open yourself to seeing things through which his intention is fixed: to resemble [Love] “the eyes of the other.” Seek a friendship with as much as possible.” someone with whom you disagree politically. The Seventh Story invites us to be Look for things to praise in others, even when participants in a great play about the evolution they vote differently. Learn about building of the story of love. To be friends, not enemies, equitable community in which everyone has a no matter what anybody else are doing. Not us fair stake. Don’t contribute to polarization. versus them. . . . Many of us are so immersed in the six stories of separation, selfishness, and 7: Join or help start a circle of friends scapegoating that some decisive action is committed to the Seventh Story. Don’t journey required. . . . We invite you to the following alone. Encourage others to do the same. commitments:
Vol. 54, No. 12 Page 10 December 2020
CHRISTMAS PROGRAM 2020 FILMING A NATIVITY SCENE
We are having a digital Children's Christmas
program as part of our online worship service Children’s Bulletins will now be mailed Sunday December 20th. If your family would home each week along with our weekly Taking like to have some fun filming parts of the Faith Home Devotions. This way, families don’t Christmas story simply check out the script need to download and print the bulletins from below and follow these instructions. our website or Facebook page. If there are 1. Film your child (landscape – not portrait) other faith resources you would like mailed to reading one of the reading parts and/or your home simply reach out to Jason. acting out any of the stage directions.
They may do more than one thing and be as silly and creative as they would like! 2. They may create their own costumes or props or may borrow some from the church. Again be creative and have fun with it. 3. If you have animals at home, please feel free to include them in the manger SPARK LECTIONARY LESSONS scenes and shepherd scenes. (chickens, TH K – 5 GRADE goats, bunnies, dogs, cats, etc . . .)
Each week Jason will continue to mail out 4. Upload the video(s) by Sunday, lessons to your family that correspond to one December 13, 2020 to this Google Drive: of the lessons we heard in worship and that fit https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/16f with one of the stories in our Spark Story eq15LeNzyl2UoeX2IeC5vfNFrIOGmp?usp=shari ng Bibles. Don’t have a Spark Story Bible for your child? Contact Jason and he will drop one off to Reading Luke 2:1 – 5 you free of charge. Would you like digital And it came to pass in those days, that copies of these lessons instead? Just call Jason there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, and let him know which email address you that all the world should be taxed. And all went prefer. to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Pandemic Postcards are also included each Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the week to remind your family to write down city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of something you learned or that challenged you. David, which is called Bethlehem, because he Once the postcard is filled out, simply mail it was of the house and lineage of David, to be back into the church! taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
Vol. 54, No. 12 Page 11 December 2020 [Mary and Joseph knock on the door of the [Shepherds walk toward manger.] inn. The innkeeper says there’s no room and Reading Matthew 2:1 – 2 shows points to the shed out back.] Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Reading Luke 2:6 - 7 Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, And so it was, that, while they were there, there came wise men from the east to the days were accomplished that Mary should Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born King be delivered. And she brought forth her of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling east, and have come to worship him. clothes, and laid him in a manger, because Reading Matthew 2:9 - 11 there was no room for them in the inn. And lo, the star, which they saw in the east, [Mary lays the baby in the manger and she went before them, till it came and stood over and Joseph look on proudly. Possible animals in where the young child was. When they saw the the background. Chickens? Goats? Other pets?] star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they came into the house, they saw Reading Luke 2:8 – 14 the young child with Mary his mother, and fell And there were in the same country down, and worshipped him; and when they shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch had opened their treasures, they presented over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of unto him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them; and they were [Wise men walk toward manger with gifts in sore afraid. their hands] And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, Reading Matthew 2:12 behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, And being warned in a dream not to return which shall be to all people. For unto you is to Herod, they departed to their own country born this day in the city of David a Savior, by another way. which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; You shall find the babe wrapped in Reading Luke 2:17 – 20 swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger. And when the shepherds had seen it, they And suddenly there was with the angel a made known abroad the saying which was told multitude of the heavenly host praising God them concerning this child. And all they that and saying: heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all [One angel says “Glory to God in the these things, and pondered them in her heart. highest” and others say “Peace on earth” and And the shepherds returned, glorifying and others say “Goodwill to all”] praising God for all the things that they had Reading Luke 2:15 – 16 heard and seen, as it was told unto them. And it came to pass, as the angels were READERS AND CAST: gone away from them into heaven, the Readers Shepherds shepherds said to one another, Let us now go Mary Angels even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which Joseph Magi is come to pass, which the Lord has made Inn keeper Animals known unto us. And they made haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
Vol. 54, No. 12 Page 12 December 2020 for these nights to help us either Dec 12th or CHRISTMAS CARDS 19th. Shifts are 4-6 pm or 6-8 pm. 7-10 people are needed to be in the live We are looking for Nativity outside (all costumes and props families willing to fill supplied). We are thinking that the live nativity out and provide some volunteers would help either 6-7 or 7. . . unless simple, loving, colorful there are people who really want to do both Christmas cards signed hours. Additional volunteer help is needed to by your family to then set out and pick up the luminaries, direct traffic be delivered with the etc. Christmas Cookie Tins Feel free to contact Jason with any that go to our members questions or to sign up for a night. & friends who are 80 years old and older. It looks like we would need about 30 cards filled out and brought to the church office. If each family were to fill out two Christmas cards we would be well on our way. Completed Christmas cards can be dropped off in the plastic container outside the church office any HOUSEHOLD GETAWAY time before December 15th. SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY LUTHERAN OUTDOOR MINISTRY CAMP
Bring your household away for a couple of nights and enjoy the peaceful surroundings of prairie and forest. Our Freedom Tree Village at Lutheran Outdoor Ministry Center in Oregon, Illinois features new games and puzzles from a giant "Jenga" to board games like Scrabble and Clue. Your household will enjoy time away
warming up at the fireplace (Freedom Tree LUMINARIES OF HOPE Village only) or hiking the trails to discover Cunningham Children’s Home will be God's creation. lighting up their campus with 777 Luminaries of We have also added special options like a Hope - one for each youth and family they have candlelit night hike (featuring cocoa and served this year. Luminaries will be lit from 6 – cookies), popcorn over fire and new activities. 8 p.m. on December 5th, 12th and 19th and in LOMC has added a limited-time discount conjunction with a live Nativity. Donors and and in addition, through scholarship funds community members are encouraged to (supplied by congregations like Immanuel purchase a luminary in honor or memory of Lutheran in Lincoln, IL), the next 11 households someone, and then to visit Cunningham’s that sign up, receive an additional $50 grant. campus on December 5th, 12th and 19th to Freedom Tree Village: $449 (regularly $550) drive through and enjoy this special event. Retreat Cabins: $249 We are looking for volunteers, particularly middle school and high school youth groups
Vol. 54, No. 12 Page 13 December 2020
STEWARDSHIP 2020: BUILDING A CULTURE OF GENEROSITY
Our 2020 stewardship appeal “Building a Culture of Generosity” has been a tremendous
ADVENT REMINDERS success. So far 81 individuals and families have pledged their intent to share their gifts with What could a popular Mafia style violent Good Shepherd. We met our goal, and our online video game sensation have to do with challenge gift donors will now be able to share Jesus? 6th-12th Grade students will find out their $8,000 gift. This special gift, combined each week during Advent as Jason mails little with all the congregational gifts, will make it ornament reminders of how God came to be possible for God to continue to expand our AMONG US in Jesus Christ! ministries. What God has shown us is that we Advent Week 1 – God Voted can walk together, continue to innovate, and Advent Week 2 – We Vented step up the ways in which we share God’s love. Advent Week 3 – Jesus Thank you to everyone for participating in the Advent Week 4 – Report! 2020 stewardship appeal. Christmas Eve – Emergency Meeting! Through a synod initiative, the Stewardship Committee was fortunate to work with GSB Fundraising, a group of consultants committed to helping churches and other non-profits.
Their guidance was instrumental in helping us VIRTUAL TRIVIA NIGHT: CHRISTMAS learn the joy of giving and putting together a EDITION ON DECEMBER 3 successful stewardship appeal. As part of the stewardship planning This fun, virtual event presented by LSSI's process, the consultants asked us to always Associate Board will help provide Christmas keep in mind, “where have we seen God at gifts for children in our foster care program. work?” as the focus to our appeal. We see it in And it’s a safe way to "get together" with every volunteer who cheerfully helps plan, friends or family by assembling a team of lead, record a reading or sing a song for our people ready to test their Christmas video and drive-in services. Every smiling face knowledge! Members of the winning team will at our drive-in services and Zoom meetings, receive an LSSI swag bag. those who tend our food pantry and make Participate individually or with someone in deliveries, those who sell pumpkins, those who your household, or organize your own team. If tend our church property. Those who sew you aren’t part of a team, we can assign you to masks, make prayer shawls and world relief one. health kits, those who take time to watch our Cost is $10 per person or $20 for multiple video services, and all those who pray. What people sharing a device. You also can purchase wonderful ways God has been at work through $1 raffle tickets for a chance to win a $25 us at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church! Amazon gift card. Click here to register. Don’t miss the fun!
Vol. 54, No. 12 Page 14 December 2020 “We love Lutherans. I work for FEMA and we know when a disaster strikes, the Lutherans will show up and stay until the work is done.” I’m proud to be a part of the church that Some 50 households attended the Intent gets the work done, locally and globally – a Sunday drive-in service on All Saints Day. church that understands that “loving your
We have enjoyed a number of stories of neighbor” includes the person across the generosity throughout October and we sanctuary, the person across the street, across continue to hear from congregation members the state, across the country, and across the who want to share their story. This story is world. And I’m glad that I have the opportunity to contribute to this ministry of generosity.” from Kara Greer and we hope you find it inspirational. Your generosity this year is important to
“I have to admit that most of the time when keep our congregation healthy and to help our I fill out my pledge card, I don’t immediately church continue to impact our community and think about generosity. Generally, I’m thinking the world in significant ways. pragmatically. As a pastor’s kid, I know that If you have not yet returned your intent pastors and church staff work hard and deserve card, you still can! You can mail your intent to be paid for their work. I know that the card to the church or you can email the church church building needs to be heated and lit and office. An intent card is available for printing on maintained so that we can continue to enjoy the church website at the worship, education, and fellowship spaces https://www.gslc- that it provides. cu.org/about/committees/resources- Of course, that’s not the whole story. One committee/ reason I continue to be involved in our church, We want you to be a part of Stewardship and continue to donate my time and resources, 2020 Building a Culture of Generosity! Please is because I know how generous our church is. remember that intents are not binding, but are We provide love and support for our members used for us to proclaim our faith. The decision through shared worship, fellowship on how much to give should not be made opportunities, youth trips, cookies for shut-ins, without seeking first in prayer what God would and funeral luncheons. We minister to our have us do and listening for the voice of God in community by partnering with Empty Tomb on the prayer conversation. Giving to the church is food deliveries and furniture deliveries. We not a financial transaction. Instead, giving to minister to our world by building homes and the church is a spiritual exercise undertaken relationships in El Salvador. My contributions, only after conversation with God. and yours, help make this happen. On behalf of the entire 2020 Stewardship I also love the fact that we pass gifts along Committee, thanks for your generosity! to the Central Southern Illinois Synod and to the Stewardship Committee: Co-Chairs Arleen ELCA, knowing that they can continue the work Krabbe and Tori Corkery; Mary Corkery, Gail on a larger scale. Former presiding bishop of Block, Jodi Davis, Marilyn Dudley, Jim Hack, Tim the ELCA, Mark Hanson, once told the story of O’Connell, Michelle Rome, Dana VanDeveer- meeting a woman in the Phoenix airport who Jones, Ash Waller, Pastor Knight Wells, Amy asked him what church he was a bishop in. Chamley (Council President).
When he replied, “I’m a Lutheran,” she said
Vol. 54, No. 12 Page 15 December 2020 $300 DEDUCTION AVAILABLE
You may not know that there is a special tax advantage this year to encourage giving of at least $300 to charity. The CARES Act passed by Congress last March will allow those who do not itemize on their taxes to deduct up to $300 Pastor Emeritus Edward D. Schneider Pastor Lynette Chapman for gifts made to charitable organizations like Deacon Jason Fisher Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. The Parish Admin. Asst. Traci Shepherd deduction is only for gifts of cash made in Parish Worker Marilyn Dudley calendar year 2020. Treasurer Jim Hack To qualify for the CARES Act deduction, gifts Organist Linda Pein should be received at the church by December Pianist Cadis Lee Choir Director Julia Hartman 31, 2020. Many of you have already given more Custodian Dennis Lage than $300 and for that we are grateful. The Parish Nurses Sandy Reifsteck pandemic has taught us that there is Elizabeth Kakoma tremendous need right now – in our Celeste Coverdill congregation, in the community, and around Office Hours the world. Every gift and every giver Mon – Fri: 8 am – 4 pm strengthens our shared ministries to nurture Traci is working from home most days, however a faith, care for our community, and share God’s staff member is in the office Good News throughout the world. Thank you Tues., Wed. & Thurs. afternoons from for giving. Noon-3:00pm.
OUR BUILDING REMAINS CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
th Deadline for Scroll is the 15 of
every month.
Bulletin / Announcement / Shout Out Deadline is Wednesday at noon each week