News

Last Updated February 20, 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.

Altar Flowers - We have openings on March 30th and April 6th & 27th. The cost for flowers is $40/vase. Please sign up on the flower chart in the narthex or contact the church office.

Reintroducing Crossroads: A Community Group at Good Shepherd
We are excited to announce the re-launching of Crossroads, a group at Good Shepherd designed to bring families and individuals of all ages together in fellowship, faith, and service.
Mission Statement: Crossroads exists to provide Good Shepherd families and individuals of all ages the opportunity to come together to connect in fellowship and faith through activities and service.
Our first gathering will be a POTLUCK on Sunday, March 16 in the fellowship hallfollowing the late service. A food sign-up sheet is located in the narthex. For more information, contact Rachel Forden at 314-956-5348 or Allison Parrish at 618-792-1839. 

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.

LCMS Youth Gathering:As the youth continues to raise money for the upcoming Youth Gathering, you can be part of our support system.  Pick up one of our "Take Stock in Our Youth" Forms from the Narthex, make a donation, and become part of our "Stock Holders Meeting" after we return from our trip.  This special meeting will be a chance for you to see what our group all did and experienced at the gathering.   Thank you for your continued support!
Upcoming events:
Sunday, February 23:  Junior High Youth – Bake-Off Competition 5pm-7pm – Fellowship Hall
Wednesday, March 5th – Serve Ash Wednesday Supper (Jr. & Sr.)
Saturday, March 8th – Top Golf  (Sr. High)
Sunday, March 16th – Lunch after Late Church (Jr. & Sr.)
Sunday, March 23rd – Bowling, Laser Tag, Arcade at Edison’s (Junior High) 

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.

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

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. Mark your calendars today! Consider volunteering to help make it a great week for the kids. 

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

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.

GSLS Open House for Prospective Students Good Shepherd will host an open house on Sunday, February 23rd, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. All are invited to visit our dynamic school, tour our campus, meet our faculty, and get answers to questions about everything from academics and extracurriculars to tuition and financial aid. For more information, call the school office at 618-344-3153.

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. 

Issues, Etc.- EXPERT GUESTS, EXPANSIVE TOPICS, EXTOLLING CHRIST… Issues, Etc. is a radio talk show and podcast produced by Lutheran Public Radio in Collinsville, IL and hosted by LCMS Pastor Todd Wilken.  This week’s topics include: Critical Theory; The Foundation, Focus & Shape of the Christian Life; Communion with Christ; The Gift of Marriage 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 distributions from our estates someday, even as we consider gifts that will support ministry. In supporting ministries, there is always the need of “today” versus the needs of the “future”. Which should you choose? Saints of the Lord may come up with differing plans about these priorities. Your LCMS Foundation Gift Planning Counselor may be able to help you clearly see how you can do both. Contact Scott Radden, Gift Planning Counselor, at (618) 977-4049 or Scott.Radden@LFND.org.

Lutheran’s For Life Quote: Transfiguration of Our Lord – God our Father can draw water from rock (Exodus 17:6), reward the unworthy (Matthew 20:9), and make the last first (Matthew 20:16). Surely He will overhaul our hopeless circumstances and lost causes, even when human pains and mistakes have brought them about (1 Corinthians 10:1-5). Indeed, we not only witness it but participate in it as well (Exodus 17:5). Keeper of our souls, work faith in us and those we serve to await great transformation at Your hand. Amen.

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

Altar Flowers – Given by Paige Beyer to the Glory of God.

Attendance last weekend was 399. The offering was: General Fund $13,980 Specials $4,136, Total $18,116

Thanks to those who serve this week:

Usher Team:(5:30) D. Ulkus  (8:00) M. Kober (10:30) M. Schneider
Altar Guild: (5:30) Eddie Antonovich & Terri Bradtke  (8:00) Wally & Martha Streuter (10:30) Kathy Seggerman
Greeter: (8:00) Jeanne Lomax (10:30) Ken & Donna Bunton

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 

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For Jamie Rezabek, nephew of Amy and Ed Beyer, on her recent cancer diagnosis (February 11, 2025)

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 Stan Wehling, Hannah Gruban's Grandpa, asleep in Jesus  (January 16, 2025)

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

For Tom Calza, brother of Jeanne Fischer, asleep in Jesus (January 9, 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.