Good Shepherd News
Celebration for Teachers Martha Streuter and Barb Rattelmuller
We will be honoring these two great teachers for their years of service at Good Shepherd this Sunday (May 26) at 11:45 a.m. in the school gym. A light lunch will be served. Questions? Call Jennifer Martin at 345-0495.
Voter's Assembly Extends Call To Mr. Tom Westphal
Please keep Tom in your prayers as he considers this call to serve as our Director of Youth and Family Ministry. Tom is a recent graduate of Concordia University, River Forest.
"Making the Case" Apologetics Conference at Good Shepherd
June 14-15
Please consider registering for this important conference that will address issues such as post-moderinsm, feminism, Islam and more. Check out the speakers, topics and registration information here. There will be a live broadcast of the Issues, Etc. program from Good Shepherd Friday, June 14th, from 3:00-5:00 p.m.
Tornado Relief Efforts
You can help with relief efforts by bringing any of the items listed in this memo from Metro East Lutheran High School. You may drop them off by May 29th so that they can be transported to Oklahoma.
Should the FCC Lower the Decency Standards in Prime Time?
More #@?%&; and nudity on TV? Please take a look at this proposal and comments by the Illinois Family Institute. Use the link provided to send feedback to the appropriate decision makers.
Interested in Writing for the Church?
Do you have some writing skills? Check out the "Faith and Writing Workshop" at Concordia Seminary this summer.
Moving Ahead Toward New Early Childhood Center
On Sunday, May 5, 2013 the Voter's Assembly approved two proposals moving us closer to a new Early Childhood Center. The congregation will begin a special fund drive for this fall. We will also begin construction drawings on both phases of the project. Depending on the outcome of the fund drive we will make a decision whether or not to build both phases.
Click here for the Powerpoint Presentation which describes the Early Childhood Center project.
Update from Jamie Diliberto - Peru
Jamie, member of Good Shepherd, serves with her husband Anthony as a mission coordinator in Peru. Their March 2013 newsletter highlights some of the work that they are doing with children and adults. Please remember them in your prayers and with financial support.
Ten GSLC Members Join Rally for Marriage in Springfield
Good Shepherd members were among the 4,000 people who travelled to the Capitol last Wednesday for the Rally for Marriage. The Illinois legislature is considering a same-sex marriage bill designed to erase any distinction between the marriage of a man and a woman and that of same-sex couples. Same-sex couples already have legal rights through the 2011 Civil Unions law. Everyone is encouraged to contact their legislators to voice their concerns. The Illlinois Family Institute website provides an easy way to make contact. Southern Illinois District President Timothy Scharr has issued the following letter:
To All Illinois Citizens,
On Feb. 14 the Illinois State Senate passed the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act legalizing same-sex marriage in Illinois. This bill is now being considered in the House. We as members of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod congregations (LCMS) feel compelled to express our Synod’s stance on same-sex marriage and the negative consequences that this bill will have on society.
Homosexual behavior is prohibited in the Old and New Testaments (Lev. 18:22, 24; 20:13; 1 Cor. 6: 9-20; 1 Tim. 1:10) as contrary to the Creator’s design (Rom. 1: 26-27). The LCMS affirms that homosexuality is “intrinsically sinful” and that on the basis of Scripture, marriage is the lifelong union of one man and one woman (Gen. 2: 2-24; Matt. 19: 5-6). It also urges its members “to give a public witness from Scripture against the social acceptance and legal recognition of homosexual marriage” (2004 Res. 3-05A). At the same time, the Synod firmly believes that “the redeeming love of Christ, which rescues humanity from sin, death, and the power of Satan, is offered to all through repentance and faith in Christ, regardless of the nature of their sinfulness”.
Some supporters of the bill rationalize their vote because of an amendment added that prevents churches from having to perform same-sex marriages. This does nothing to protect individual families, schools, hospitals, and other organizations from the negative repercussions associated with it. Examples of these serious repercussions can be found in the “What same-sex marriage has done to Massachusetts” booklet comprised by the Illinois Family Institute (IFI). A downloadable version of this booklet can be found at www.massresistance.org. One example in the booklet states that because same-sex marriage is “legal,” federal judges have ruled that the schools now have a duty to portray homosexual relationships as normal to children, despite what parents think or believe.
We urge everyone to please contact their State House Representative and ask them to vote ‘No’ for the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act.
Rev. Timothy J. Scharr and Concerned LCMS members
Belleville, IL
Mormonism Seminar
There continues to be interest in the Comparing Mormonism to Christianity seminar which was presented here at Good Shepherd a few years ago. Click here for more information and to access the audio for the seminar.
