Weekly Announcment 11/23
Last Updated November 20, 2025
Adult Bible Class will be at 9:15 a.m.in the fellowship hall.
High School Youth Bible Class meets on Sunday Mornings at 9:15 a.m. in the Youth Room on the School Lower Level. Youth who have graduated from 8th grade through Senior year in High School are invited to join us for Bible Study, Fellowship, and Snacks!
Sunday School – Join us this Sunday, from 9:15 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. for Sunday School!
- Parents & Babies (birth - 2 years old) will meet in the Nursery in the Church Lower Level.
- Preschool 3 year olds - Kindergarten will meet in Tracks
- 1st - 6th grade will meet & pickup in the school cafeteria
- 7th & 8th grade in the learning center.
Pastor Packer has a Fascinating Finds page and a Book List page. Please visit these links.
Congregational Assembly – The next voter’s assembly is November 23rd at 11:30 a.m. At this meeting we will elect new officers. All communicant members, age 18 and older, are able to participate.
Join us this Advent season at our Midweek Services as we explore the theme, Prepare the Way of the Lord: With Prayer, In Meditation, Through Suffering, inspired by Martin Luther’s insight into the recurring cycle of the Christian life. Luther taught that our faith is strengthened through prayer (especially as we prepare ourselves to study the Word), in reflective meditation (on the Word), and enduring suffering (as the devil tries to steal the Word from us) -steps that prepare your hearts for Christ’s coming.
Wednesdays: December 3, 10 &17 at 4:30 p.m. & 6:30 p.m. Advent Meal at 5:30 p.m
NEW Recurring Online Giving Platform - We are moving to a new online giving platform. We are letting you know now because we want everyone to be fully moved over by January 1, 2026. It is already up and running so you can switch anytime! This new one will allow you to pay with your bank account, credit card or even Apple Pay. This will allow us to use it for a variety of things and not just for Sunday giving. You can go to - https://pushpay.com/g/goodshepherdil *If you previously gave on a different platform please remember to cancel that one also.
NEW Website and App - As of 11/24/2025 the new website is live at it's old address https://www.goodshepherdcollinsville.org/
Our new app is available for download. Enter the keyword gscollinsville when you get in. Then be sure to click in the upper right hand corner on the profile and make your profile. Then you are all set.
If you have an iPhone use this link,
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/my-church-by-pushpay/id1289838678
If you have an Android use this link.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pushpay.mychurch&pcampaignid=web_share
Or search for My Church by Pushpay.
The Southern Illinois District is launching a new outreach initiative in 2025 called, "Come Home for Christmas." The coming months will have many of our family, friends, and neighbors longing to be home for the holidays. This presents us a wonderful opportunity to invite them to join us in worship for Christmas, where they will truly be at home with the Lord Jesus. Stay tuned for more ways you can be a part of this outreach initiative, because all of us have an opportunity to invite a friend, neighbor, or family member to come home to God’s house for Christmas!
For the month of November LWML will be collecting old, broken, custom Jewelry and single piece earrings for Monarch (Mission for awareness, raise funds and encourage others to end sex trafficking and child sexual exploitation. There will be a box in the connecting hallway.
Any questions please contact Pam Hoffman at 618-409-3163.
Dear women of GSLC: the LWML’s annual Christmas party has become a Christmas Brunch this year. We are trying to individually invite each one of you, but if we missed giving you an invitation, here are the details: The brunch will be on Saturday, Dec. 6, 9 am in the Fellowship Hall. Energize your Christmas spirit through fellowship, a lighthearted, thought-provoking skit, and singing favorite carols. This is a festive time to make new friends as you celebrate Jesus/birth. Hope to see YOU there! (RSVP by Dec.1 to gslc.lwml@gmail.com A-N bring brunch item; 0-Z bring 1 doz. Cookies)
Senior Christmas Dinner: Please Join Us on Friday, December 12 for a delicious meal, holiday devotion, entertainment and fellowship with friends at the annual Senior Adult Christmas Dinner! Doors open at 11 a.m. The meal will begin at 11:30 a.m. Make reservations at the church office (344-3151 or churchoffice@gslcs.org.) or by checking your name off or adding it to the SIGN UP in the narthex by Monday, December 8. Hope you can all join us!Volunteers Are Needed to help provide a special Christmas celebration for guests at the Senior Adult Christmas Dinner on Friday, December 12. Help will be appreciated with decorating and food preparation on Thursday, December 11 and serving and clean-up on December 12. If you are able to help, please text Pat Hoffmeier (618-305-9622). Thanks!
The handbell choir continues practices on Tuesday evenings from 6:45 - 8:00. Please join us for fellowship, fun and beautiful music. Contact Cheryl Urban at 618-407-0867 or cherylurban55@gmail.com.
Family Movie Night - Kick off Christmas break with a family movie night on Sunday, December 21st! Crossroads is hosting a viewing of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever in the Fellowship Hall. The movie starts at 6 pm with doors opening at 5:30. Bring a cozy blanket and your favorite movie snack to share! Crossroads will provide popcorn and drinks. Contact Rachel Forden, Wilhelmina Roney, or Allison Parrish for more information.
Parents of College Students: The Youth Ministry at Good Shepherd would like to still keep encouraging and supporting your college age kids. Please send Carrie Kober their address for mail throughout the year.
The Lutheran Witness Subscription – If you would like to subscribe to receive The Lutheran Witness in 2026, please contact the church office. The cost is $27.85 for the year.
Eve’s Restoration Ministries is a new organization working to open a Lutheran (LCMS) home in the Metro East for mothers who are seeking to reunite with their children in foster care. But we need your help to spread the love of Jesus to mothers in need! We are looking to expand our board of directors and network of volunteers. If you would be interested in getting more involved with our organization, please email us at evesrestorationhome@gmail.com or check out our website https://evesrestorationministries.org/.
Be a Friend to an International Student at SIU-E - Is your family willing to get together with an international student studying at SIU-E once a month for their first year in the U.S.? You would invite them to join your family in things you already do. Couples and singles of any age, with or without children have found this rewarding. Contact jodi.olyseen@gmail.com or search for International Hospitality Program SIU-E on facebook.
Issues, Etc.- THE FAITH ONCE FOR ALL DELIVERED TO THE SAINTS... Issues, Etc. is a radio talk show and podcast produced by Lutheran Public Radio in Collinsville, IL and hosted by LCMS Pastor Todd Wilken. Recent topics include: The Hymnal as Devotional Resource, Why Christians Should Build Cathedrals, Late First-Century Bishop Clement of Rome, The Third Use of God’s Law, and more. You can listen at your convenience at issuesetc.org, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomePod, TuneIn, the LPR mobile app and a podcast provider. You can also tune in live weekdays from 3-5 p.m. on KFUO, 850 AM in St. Louis.
LCMS Foundation - We can face competing priorities when we think about planning our estates someday. The big decision to make is whether an estate plan is merely a legal/financial activity or is it an activity of faith. An estate transfer can be a simple financial transaction, harsh and cold. Or the transference of gifts to family or ministry can be a faith guided, prayer covered, activity including specific plans to shower others with the grace of Jesus. Your LCMS Foundation Gift Planning Counselor can help you keep this focus. Contact Scott Radden @ 618-977-4049 or scott.radden@lfnd.org
A Beacon of Light (ABL) Pregnancy Help Center in Maryville, Illinois is seeking an Executive Director. The ideal candidate will have a Pro-Life heart and a genuine love and vision for a woman and family experiencing an unexpected pregnancy. The Executive Director will oversee the daily operations of the center, its programs, and staff in keeping with ABL’s mission and vision as established by the Board of Directors. Experience in management, medical, and/or non-profit fields as well as a bachelor’s degree are preferred but not required. The leader we seek will have excellent oral, written and interpersonal communication skills and the ability to be a team leader. Please send letter of interest, resume and references to resume@ablpregnancyresource.org.
Altar Flowers - Given by the Loemker Family in Honor of Thanksgiving
Attendance last weekend was 496. The offering was: General Fund $22,861, Specials $728, Total $23,589
Thanks to those who serve this week:
Usher Team:(5:30) D. Ulkus (8:00) M. Scaggs (10:30) J. Hartke
Altar Guild: (5:30) Italiano, Kober (8:00) Paul & Lynn Lauber (10:30) Denise Brune
Greeter: (8:00) Jeanne Lomax (10:30) Donna Kober