News

Last Updated February 4, 2025   

Adult Bible Class will be at 9:15 a.m.in the fellowship hall.

High 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!

Portals of Prayer for January-March are available in the narthex tract rack.

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 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.

Souper Bowl Offering – On Saturday, February 8 & Sunday, February 9 we will have a large soup bowl in the narthex to collect a special offering to
benefit the Collinsville Food Pantry which oversees the community food pantry and also helps families with utility payments and other emergencies.
Checks should be made payable to the Collinsville Food Pantry. Thank you!

2025 Flower Chart - The flower chart for 2025 is on the bulletin board. the cost is $40.00/vase. Please sign up at your convenience.

The next First Communion class will start next Sunday, February 16th, after the second service. If you have any questions please call the church office at 618-344-3151.

The Winter Saturday morning Bible Study is continuing. Please join our study of “Be Still & Know: A Study of Rest and Refuge” by author Deb Burma, published by CPH. This study provides individual 5-day study, and the Saturday weekly study/fellowship with a short video. Study began on January 4 with the Introduction and passing out the Bible Study Books. If you were unable to attend previously please contact Terri Blasingame to check about getting a book. [The books have been donated – there is no cost.] Location: Conference Room/Library or Fellowship Hall: Time: 8:30 am to 9:45 am. Saturday March 8:     Bible Study Conclusion

Metro-East Lutheran High School is seeking qualified candidates to join our rapidly growing school.  For the 25/26 school year we are accepting resumes for an English position as well as a Spanish position.  Interested candidates should send a letter of interest and resume to Dr. Jay Krause, Principal, at jay.krause@melhs.org."  For more information on these positions you can also contact him at school at 618-656-0043.

Looking for 2 or 3 nurses willing to take blood pressure following the 8am service once a quarter.  Please contact Lynn Cook, lynnac@charter.net or 618-789-4749.

Women in Mission (LWML) will meet in the Fellowship Hall on Thursday, February 6. Come at 6:30 p.m. for refreshments and to sign, label and stamp Valentines for our shut-ins. We have Valentines and stamps for one card per shut-in. If you can bring a stamped Valentine also, our shut-ins will each get two! At 7:00 p.m. one of our Pastor’s will lead a Bible Study. Hope to see you there for a busy evening of serving, fellowship and refreshment for body and soul.

LCMS Youth Gathering: Please continue to support our efforts in raising money to go to the LCMS Youth Gathering.  Our goal is $60,000 and we have raised $25,000 so far.  Please consider donating to our “Take Stock in Our Youth” campaign.  With every donation a spot will be saved at our “share-holders” meeting after the Gathering.  You will be treated to a presentation about what the youth learned and experienced.  Send donations to the church office marked “Youth Gathering Donation”. 
Other fundraisers:
Super Subs – Order now – to be picked up Feb. 8 or 9 
Parent’s Night Out - #2 -  February 15:  6:30pm - 9pm
Upcoming Events:
Sunday, February 16:  Senior High Hang Out at the Kobers  6pm-9pm
Sunday, February 23:  Junior High Youth – Bake-Off Competition 5pm-7pm – Fellowship Hall

Update Membership Information: Does our Church database have YOUR family membership record correct? Here is your chance to update YOUR record for our annual Guide Book & Directory (if you haven’t already done so). It is time for us to update our database with any changes, additions, or deletions that may have occurred in YOUR family over the past year. Have you changed your phone number? Have you moved? Are you preparing to move soon? Are all of your children still at home and are they all included in your membership record? Or are none of your children still at home but they are still included in your family record? Do you want your record published? If you have not already informed the Church Office about changes to your record, please let us know now so that the information in the 2025 Guide Book & Directory is correct. You can call or email the church office with your changes at 618-344-3151 or churchoffice@gslcs.com, Thank you for your help! -Bd. Of Congregational Life

Advertising in 2025 Guide Book & Directory: We are in the process of updating the annual Guide Book & Directory for our church. This book will contain everything pertinent to our church: the various ministries, organizations, committees, activities, functions and events plus a complete directory of all members. This book is being provided and direct-mailed to each family at no cost to our church, and it is again being subsidized by local businesses that advertise. If you own or manage a business and would like to find out about advertising in our book, please call or email the Church Office, 618-344-3151/ churchoffice@gslcs.com .

The next session of Table of Friendship begins in April and goes through June 2025. Table of Friendship is designed to provide GSLC members social time together to become better acquainted with each other. Five or six people( couples or individuals) are grouped together for three months. During that time they will take turns planning/hosting a dinner, brunch or lunch with the others in their group. The hosting person(s) decides whether to hold their event in their home, at a restaurant, at a park, etc. If the meal is in a home, it could be a potluck with the host providing the main dish and the others providing the side dishes. The focus of the group is fellowship and meeting people in a smaller setting. Please contract Jan Van Beek with any questions or interest 217-851-7417 or janetlvb@yahoo.com.

Save the Date - VBS 2025: G'day, mates! Get ready to embark on an Epic Australian Adventure at this year's Vacation Bible School! The dates are June 23 - June 27. Join us for a week of fun, faith, and discovery as we dive into the beauty of Australia's unique wildlife, landscapes, and God's Word. Stay tuned for information on early registration and ways to volunteer. Mark your calendars today! 

Sunday School Substitutes – We are needing substitutes for Sunday School. Please contact the church office if you are interested in helping.

Mosaic’s Baby Bottle Campaign – the Baby Bottles are in the narthex and should be returned by February 16th with your donation.

Our church members, Joyce and Emmanuel Ben, welcomed their first child, Mitota, on March 6 last year, and he was transferred to Cardinal Glennon Hospital just hours later, with significant health issues.  He was finally released to go home in later November. Joyce and Emmanuel are grateful for the love and support that has been shown to them, and would like to celebrate their joy as he approaches his first birthday.  Please join the family on Sunday March 2 in the church fellowship hall, beginning at 2:00 p.m. To be sure there is enough cake for all attendees, we ask that you RSVP by February 24, indicating how many family members will be joining us:  Kathy Splaingard - Klsplain@gmail.com, or 618-972-9939, or Lynn Lauber - lflauber56@gmail.com, or 618-974-9567.

Teacher Openings: Good Shepherd Lutheran School is accepting applications for Christian teacher positions in grades K-8. We are planning for the 2025-26 school year and will be looking for teachers. Good Shepherd is a special, unique Christian school having strong commitment to the quality education and Christian training of the lambs of our Good Shepherd. Teachers shall have, at minimum, a bachelor’s degree in education. Applicants should have good communication, organizational skills, leadership qualities, and a love for children. A more complete job description is available in the school office. Please contact Mr. Mayhew at 618-344-3153 or gsls1@hotmail.com, if you are interested or know of anyone who may be an excellent candidate.

Physical Education Teacher: We're excited to announce an opening for a PE Teacher (Grades K-8) at our school! We're seeking an energetic leader who thrives on teamwork and is passionate about inspiring students to embrace physical activity. If you have a knack for fostering a love of movement and are interested in coaching volleyball or other sports, we want to hear from you! Please contact Mr. Mayhew at gsls1@hotmail.com or 618-344-3153 to learn more about this exciting opportunity.

Teacher Aides Needed: Good Shepherd Lutheran School is receiving resumes for teacher aide positions. The part-time positions will work with the Early Childhood and Day School teachers for the 2025-26 school year. Seeking a dedicated person who loves children, who can follow instructions, work cooperatively with others and be a self-starter. Please contact Mrs. Nobbe or Mr. Mayhew at 344-3153 or rnobbe@gslcs.org or gsls1@hotmail.com 

Christian Fiction Book Club: Ladies, please join us, the Good Shepherd Christian Fiction Book Club, at Panera in Collinsville on the third Monday of every month. 

When you have a baby, please let the Life Team know.  We have a gift for you and we would like to bring you meals. Please call or text Pam Meister at 618 799 9348.

Issues, Etc.- EASTERN ORTHODOXY SERIES… How is Confessional Lutheranism similar and different to Eastern Orthodoxy?  Issues, Etc., a radio talk show and podcast produced by Lutheran Public Radio in Collinsville, IL, is doing a series on Eastern Orthodoxy with LCMS Pastor Joshua Schooping.  Pastor Schooping is a former Eastern Orthodox priest.  You can listen to this series on-demand at issuesetc.org/easternorthodoxy.

LCMS Foundation - We can face competing priorities when we think about distributions from our estates someday, even as we consider gifts that will support ministry. The thought might arise, “If I support ministry with my estate, I’ll be taking away from my family inheritance.” Take a step further back and begin asking yourself why the Lord gave you these financial assets to manage in the first place. Pray fervently. Have conversations with fellow believers. Strive to discern God’s will. Your LCMS Foundation Gift Planning Counselor can be one of these supportive people. Contact Scott Radden, Gift Planning Counselor, at (618) 977-4049 or Scott.Radden@LFND.org.

Lutheran’s For Life Quote: The whole creation groans (Romans 8:22) because of sin’s brokenness. Every life involves suffering, especially as last days draw near and bodies begin to fail. Still such circumstances have significance—our Lord describes them as the labor of childbirth. Jesus redeems our weaknesses to bear witness of a better life by His power that sustains us in our pain (Romans 8:18). Injuries, infections, and impairments only affect us as far as He permits (Matthew 8:26), and elderly and terminal lives matter eternally! Almighty Maker, comfort us with community in You even as our flesh crumbles. Amen.

We have many on-going Volunteer Opportunities. Check out our Volunteer page to see how you can get involved!

Altar Flowers –

Attendance last weekend was 570 with 460 communing. The offering was: General Fund $18,650 Specials $16,342, Total $34,992

Thanks to those who serve this week:

Usher Team:(5:30) D. Ulkus  (8:00) C. Engeling (10:30) J. Hartke
Altar Guild: (5:30) Steve & Marla Hendry (8:00 ) Kathy Bohnet & Marie Wudtke (10:30) Amy & Rose Beyer
Greeter: (8:00) Steve & Carol Hyatt (10:30) Donna Kober

Download Good Shepherd’s App so that you have easy access to announcements, videos, online giving, and much more. Also, you can join our Good Shepherd Facebook Group to see additional announcements from the church and individual members.

Prayer List 

Click here to add someone to the Prayer List

 

For Marcia Cox, who is having surgery for a bone infection (February 3, 2025)

For Don Metzler, hospitalized at St. Luke's (January 30, 2025)

For the family of Wayne Bantel, Asleep in Jesus (January 26, 2025)

For the family of Barbara Tourville, Asleep in Jesus (January 12, 2025)

For Bill Curtis, who is having lung issues (January 15, 2025)

For Jeanne Fischer, whose brother, Tom Calza passed away (January 9, 2025)

For Stan Wehling, Hannah Gruban's Grandpa, recovering from hip surgery (January 5, 2025)

For the Joe Werre family whose mother passed away (December 22, 2024)

Gary Whitehead has gone out of remission and has recently been recently rediagnosed with Marginal Zone Lymphoma (December 8, 2024)

Note:  All prayer requests are kept on the list for one month unless you make a request for long term prayers. It is helpful to resubmit prayer requests with updates.