Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

1300 Belt Line Road Collinsville Illinois 62234

618-344-3151 (Church) 618-344-3153 (School) 618-344-3378 (Fax) 
Pastors M. Walther and P. Hoft Vol. 24 No. 2 February 2001

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Who’s Guarding the Internet?

Since many homes are now equipped with the internet, it is becoming increasingly important for Christians to keep a close watch on the internet. The internet is an amazing tool that can be used for good or bad. One of the very unfortunate aspects of the internet is the incredible amount of pornography that is readily available. Add to this the fact that the pornography industry has a voracious hunger for new viewers. Pornographers represent some of the leading experts in internet technology because of their fanatic desire to spread their temptation to as many people as possible. Many pornographers deliberately use common domain names to intercept people browsing the web. You thought you were going to a political website. . . Suddenly you’re surprised to see hard core pornography appear on your screen. When you try to click it off, several more images keep appearing until finally you get it turned off. Sexual addiction is on the rise. Children are acting out sexual functions that they could only have seen from pornography. Molesters are making contact with unwitting children. Pornographers are using the web to invade your home. But there are some things you can do about it . . .

Young Women in Missions

Young Women in Missions invites any young woman in 6^th to 8^th grade to join us to tie quilts for Lutheran World Relief on February 4^th from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. A devotion and snacks are planned.

The Meyer Minute

We are grateful to have Dr. Dale Meyer preach occasionally at Good Shepherd. Dr. Meyer is the Speaker of the Lutheran Hour. He also hosts the weekly television program On Main Street that airs on KNLC channel 24 each Sunday at 1:30 p.m. A new venture for Dr. Meyer is The Meyer Minute. This is a short e-mail devotion that is sent a couple of times each week. If you would like to subscribe to this e-mail devotion, please send your e-mail address to daleameyer1@aol.com.

New Bible Studies Begin

Scholarship Applications

If you’re interested in applying for financial aid for school tuition, please stop by the School Office to pick up an application form. Good Shepherd will pay the processing fee. Applications need to be mailed by April 15. The Board of Stewardship and Missions carefully considers all applications and provides help to all who have legitimate financial need. Included with the applications is a brochure briefly describing how the scholarships are determined.

Rediscover the One You Love

You can do that on a Lutheran Marriage Encounter weekend! Marriage Encounter is 44 hours where married couples can get away from jobs, kids, chores, and phones-and focus on each other. If you’d like greater depth, growth, and enrichment in your relationship, you’ll like the difference a Marriage Encounter weekend can make! The next Lutheran Marriage Encounter weekend in St. Louis is March 9-11 at the Holiday Inn South County Center. Registration closes February 9 or at capacity, so a quick response is encouraged. For more information or to register, contact Tom & Kathy Von Behren, 636-343-9453, 2077 Saline Road, Fenton, Missouri 63026, or e-mail: vonbeh@attglobal.net.

Winter’s Last Hurrah!!

Plan to attend the Adult Fellowship Dinner to celebrate "Winter’s Last Hurrah"! It’ll be "snow" much fun to bid Frosty the Snowman a fond farewell! There will be a catered dinner, entertainment, "crazy" games, prizes and loads of fellowship and fun! Babysitting will be available, however, children should be fed before arriving at the party. The date is Sunday, February 25^th from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. The cost is $7.50 per person. Sign-up sheets will be available in the Narthex the first three weekends in February. Money will be collected at the time reservations are made.

Women's Day of Renewal

Please join us on May 19th, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. for a day of renewal with fellow Christian women from the community. Many topics concerning a Christian woman's daily walk will be discussed. Hear testimonials from women about how their faith in Jesus Christ has gotten them through some of life's stormiest moments. Lunch and babysitting is available. If you have questions or are interested in reserving your place for this enlightening event, please call Pat Schwieder 667-1209 (day), 667-0133 (evening).

Scriptures For February

The Bible Book of the Month will be Jeremiah. A reader’s guide is available in the Narthex.

Sunday Scripture Lessons continue for Epiphany

Serve The Lord With Gladness

Over the past several months the Board of Congregational Life has been working closely with the church ministry leaders to identify volunteer needs and to formalize position descriptions for these needs. The goal of this endeavor is to involve more of the church membership in ministry through a volunteer program. This program is designed to meet individual members' needs, serve the Lord, and help others in the congregation.

There are three phases of the program: First, to meet the short-term special needs of members; second, to meet the longer term needs of the church; and third, to keep all the information obtained from individual church members and from ministry leaders updated on a timely basis.

The position descriptions have been completed and compiled in a booklet. Each Position Description states the responsibilities of the job, the time commitment involved, suggested duration of the volunteer in the position, training provided (if any is needed) and the benefits to the volunteer. The booklet will be available in February for review by the membership. A copy of the booklet will be retained in the Narthex at all times. Additional copies will be available through the church office; however, since there are only a few, anyone "checking out" a booklet should plan to return it within 3 days.

During the weekend of January 27th, each church member attending worship services will be given a short survey to complete. You will be asked to indicate where you might be able to help others of our congregation with special short-term needs. These surveys will be given to our Health Ministry, and those who have an interest in helping will be contacted as needs arise.

In addition, during the months of February and March, an additional survey will be distributed to the membership through various means, listing the volunteer positions in all the church's ministries. (These positions are described in the volunteer ministry booklet referred to above.) Even if you are not sure of your availability now, please indicate on the survey those positions that you either have an interest in or a talent/skill for. The information obtained through this survey will be compiled in a computer data base and used to connect those who can help with those who have needs.

You are asked prayerfully to consider how you can serve Jesus Christ by helping others. Let's give back to God through Christian service, what He so lovingly gives to us each day.

Prepare Your Heart For Lent

All women of Good Shepherd are invited to join the Metro Central Zone LWML in a service of praise and thanksgiving, Celebrate! Pray! Praise! 'Because He First Loved Me,' written especially for the LWML by Pastor Gregory Synova, Ft. Wayne, Indiana. The service will be held at St. John Lutheran Church, 2001 St. Clair Ave., Granite City, Illinois on Sunday, February 11 at 2:00 p.m. This is an opportunity to be uplifted by God's word of love through Scripture and hymns, to fellowship with other Christian women, and to participate in a servant event (stitching and stuffing small fabric animals for Project Linus, a project at the International LWML Convention in July).

Official Acts

Baptisms (Children): Drake Scott Gnaegy 12/10; Kristina Lynn Robinson, 12/16; Peyton Alexandria Boudouris, 12/23; Hannah Mckenzie Ferguson, 12/23; Camryn Elise Beeman, 12/30; Noah Michael Scrum, 1/6.

Received Through Transfer: Arnold & Shirley Knippenberg from Resurrection, St. Louis, MO; Thomas, Janet, Andrew & Rebecca Rehkop from Holy Cross, Collinsville, IL; David "Larry" & Laurel Hawkins from St. Stephen, St. Louis, MO; Brian Kollmann from Jerusalem, Collinsville, IL; Rodney & Joanne Nathan from Hope, Highland, IL

Marriage: Jeremiah Lee Martin and Beth Ann Culver, 12/22.

Master Plan

The Master Plan Committee met January 17 to study the future needs of the school. At the present time we need some minor repairs on the front portables to use them a few more years. We are also studying the feasibility of a building program that would enable us to have permanent classrooms. The next Master Plan Meeting will be Tuesday, February 27^th at 7:30 p.m.

Pre-Registration Process

including new enrollments, before considering forms delivered March 1 or after. This means it is important that your child’s form is received during February. The pre-registration fee is now $160.00 but we will not have book or activity fees in August. Also, the pre-registration fee is not refundable. The forms will be going home on January 26^th.

Recycling

Thank you for participating in our recycling program. We have received $ 256.00 so far as members in this program. Your help is always appreciated.

Reminder, please do not put card board and plastic sleeves that go around a newspaper in the recycling bin. Thanks again for your help!

Sowing & Growing Together

Sowing and Growing Together is a wonderful program in which members can purchase gift certificates from various stores in our area. There is no extra cost. A ten dollar gift certificate to Schnucks is worth ten dollars in groceries. Yet approximately 5% of the value of the certificate is donated to our school. Up to half of the donation may be credited to tuition. Those who do not have students in the school may designate their tuition credits to any family.

Check with the School Office about how you can get involved.