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Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd.
The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11).
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Dear friends in Jesus, our Good Shepherd,
This Sunday we begin a new worship series called "Welcome Him." During the season of Advent, we are preparing to celebrate Jesus' first coming at Christmas. We also are preparing for Jesus' second coming at the end of time. On that day, we will be ready to Welcome Him. How? Week 1: Watch; Week 2: Repent; Week 3: Persevere; Week 4: Rejoice!
The Season of Advent: It’s Advent season, the perennial four-week season of the year that Christians set aside to prepare for the coming of the Lord. Advent is a Latin word that means “coming.” Coming implies waiting. Advent is an invitation to wait—quietly, patiently, expectantly, joyfully.
Advent waiting is something the people of God have been doing ever since God first promised a Savior from sin after the fall in Eden. God’s Old Testament people waited 4,000 years for that promise to be fulfilled. That was a long wait. The promise finally reached fulfillment with the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of God.
Before Jesus left this world and returned to his throne in heaven, he issued another promise: “I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (John 14:3). That was 2,000 years ago. We are still waiting. That’s what Advent is all about.
Our Theme for This Sunday: "Ready to Welcome Him: Watch!" Watch for the unexpected coming of Christ! Its unexpectedness, however, does not change its certainty or our prayer. Rather, the coming of Christ defines our present time because we know that he comes with unexpected judgment on the unbelieving world and unexpected grace for his people. We are filled with hope, with love, and with light. With anticipation in our hearts, we long for the fulfillment, “Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!”
See you this weekend!
And tomorrow (Saturday) we are decorating for Christmas. We'd love to have many people there to help! We'll be there from 9:00 am to noon. We'll have lunch as well. Come for the morning, an hour, or whatever time you have available. Thank you!
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Our Worship Series—“Welcome Him”
When Jesus comes, we will be ready to Welcome Him. How? Week 1: Watch; Week 2: Repent; Week 3: Persevere; Week 4: Rejoice!
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This Week
Saturday (tomorrow)
9:00am-Church Christmas Decorating - Lunch Provided
Sunday
9:00am-Education Hour: Sunday School for children, adult Bible Study, and BIC: Bible Foundation Class
10:30am-Worship with Holy Communion
11:30am-Book Fair
Monday
7:00pm-Elders Meeting
Wednesday
10:00am-Midweek Bible Study
6:30pm-Bell Choir Practice
6:45pm-Catechism Class
7:30pm-Choir Practice
Saturday
1:00pm-Christmas Painting Party
Next Sunday (Recommitment Sunday)
9:00am-Education Hour: Sunday School for children, adult Bible Study, and BIC: Bible Foundation Class
10:30am-Worship
11:30am-Book Fair
11:30am-Dress Rehearsal for Childrens Christmas Program
Join us! Invite others!
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Other Updates:
Northwestern Publishing House Book Fair
We are having a book fair this Sunday and next Sunday. The display is in the church entryway. NPH is our church body’s publisher that offers devotional, educational, and Scriptural books. There are many quality and trustworthy books to consider for yourself or a gift!
- Payment with cash or check (no credit cards)
- Our listed prices are 20% off regular pricing
- Free Shipping
- Our church body’s publisher—quality and trustworthy
- Great books for yourself to be in the Word in the new year
- Great gifts for others, just in time for Christmas
Advent Devotional Booklet
Prepare for the coming of Christ! To help us be in God’s Word each day, there are Advent devotional booklets available in the church entryway. We have a copy for each family. The booklet has Scripture, meditation, a devotion and prayer for each day of December until Christmas.
Invitations for Christmas Eve
Through generous gifts from “Above and Beyond” last month, we were able to double our mailing outreach efforts for Christmas. However… the greatest impact to people still comes through you! People are very willing to accept an invitation from someone they know and trust. Please consider how you can invite to Christmas worship the people that God has placed near you in life. We have enclosed mini invitations and a worksheet in every bulletin for this Sunday. There are also many more mini invitations available in the entryway.
Christmas Painting Party
Just a reminder! If you signed up for the Christmas Painting Party, it is here at Good Shepherd, next Saturday, December 7 at 1:00 pm.
Recommitment Sunday
Our Recommitment Sunday is December 8. Each year many of you make a commitment to your Lord that outlines your planned giving for the year. As good stewards we use the talents, inheritance, education and opportunities God gave us to build up some measure of wealth. God calls us to plan our offerings, as we plan our other expenses in life. “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). Every family should have received by mail the commitment instructions and forms. During worship on December 8, there will be the opportunity to offer your commitment to the Lord. Take the time this week to sit down and recount the blessings God has given you. Then as a joyful response, prayerfully decide how you can use these blessings to the Lord’s glory.
Church Christmas Party
You are cordially invited to our annual Church Christmas Party. This year Jack and Sheila Munich will be hosting the event on Saturday, December 14 at their home. This is an event planned for the adults. Please bring an appetizer to share and a Christmas ornament for a gift exchange.
Children’s Christmas Program
The children will be proclaiming the Christmas story with a program on Sunday, December 15. We will have a shortened service with the program immediately following. The children will practice on these remaining dates:
- Sunday, December 8, dress rehearsal after church
- Sunday, December 15, during Sunday School time (final dress rehearsal)
Voters Meeting
Our next Voters Meeting is after worship on Sunday, December 15. We will elect leadership positions and adopt the ministry plan financials for 2020. Please plan to attend to recap the blessings of 2019 and what we pray to accomplish in 2020.
Poinsettias
For added beauty in our church as we celebrate the birth of our Savior, we would like to place poinsettias in the sanctuary at Christmas. Would you like to purchase a poinsettia for this purpose? You may take the poinsettia home after worship on Christmas. There is a sign-up sheet in the church entryway.
Christmas Candy
On Christmas Eve we give goody bags to the children. Would you be willing to donate individually-wrapped candy for the bags? Please place candy donations on the counter in the kitchen. If you also have a few moments to help, we will stuff the bags after worship on December 22.
Online Sermons and Podcasts
If you would like to watch or share the sermons at Good Shepherd, you may find these online at https://www.gslcthewoodlands.org/sermons. You may also subscribe to our sermon podcasts on your mobile device by clicking HERE.
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From our church body:
WELS: Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod - www.wels.net
2019/11/19/in Together
Recently the Board for World Missions decided to pull our East Asia Team missionaries and families out of their focus country because of security concerns. The government of their focus country is now regularly detaining, interrogating, and deporting any Westerner or group suspected of religious activity. Many mission organizations, large and small, have already pulled their operations out of the country over the past few years.
The East Asia missionaries and their families are being relocated to a nearby country from which they hope to continue their work in the focus country through online teaching, through distance mentoring and coaching, and through regular monthly visits back into the focus country. Over the next few months, the team will be working hard to acquire new visas and adjust to the new reality in the relocation country.
The Board for World Missions and the East Asia Administrative Committee have been monitoring this situation for the last few years and had been preparing for this contingency for months. As a result, the team is not in a state of panic, and everyone is safely out of harm’s way. Most important, the team is humbly confident that the Lord works even through these difficult times to advance his kingdom’s work.
The leadership also continues to closely monitor the political situation in Hong Kong where Asia Lutheran Seminary is located.
Please keep this situation in your prayers. Pray that our heavenly Father would protect the brothers and sisters of the focus country and give them courage to continue to stand upon the gospel and share it. Pray that our missionaries and families would be encouraged in this time of upheaval. Pray that the Lord would continue to keep the professors, staff, and families of Asia Lutheran Seminary safe.
Serving in Christ,
WELS President Mark Schroeder
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Our CHURCH is a family of believers who gather to worship and serve the Lord, led by our Good Shepherd, Jesus. We focus on faith; We feel like family; We foster fellowship. It is our prayer that you will gather together with us!
Our LEARNING CENTER offers a Christ-centered, quality education in a safe and loving environment, serving children 18 months through transition.
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