YouTube -- 26th Sunday after Pentecost (November 17, 2024)

Here is the Divine Service from Sunday, November 17, 2024.

Thanksgiving Worship -- Wednesday, November 27, 7:00 PM

We will have our Thanksgiving service on Wednesday, November 27 at 7:00 PM.  All are welcome.

NOTE: The cumulative offerings for Thanksgiving and all mid-week Advent services have been designated for WELS Christian Aid and Relief and for Palabra de Vida’s Crossing Bridges program, up to $500 each. 

WELS Christian Aid and Relief provides financial aid to those who have endured hardships such as natural disasters.  Crossing Bridges is a tuition assistance program which aids the members of Palabra de Vida (WELS Hispanic mission in southwest Detroit) in receiving a Christian education from Peace Lutheran School in Livonia or at Hope ChristianAcademy in Westland.

Sermon -- 26th Sunday after Pentecost (November 17, 2024)

HEBREWS 9:24-28

THERE IS A FINAL JUDGMENT—ONCE AND FOR ALL.

In the name + of Jesus.

     The letter to the Hebrews was written to a group of Jewish Christians who were suffering for the faith.  While Christianity was illegal and enduring persecution, Judaism was not.  There was a great temptation to renounce the Christian faith and to revert back to Judaism.  It was safe, and it was familiar.  The letter to the Hebrews is an impassioned plea and encouragement to stand firm in the faith, even if one must suffer for it.  The author was assuring these suffering Christians that what they had with Jesus Christ was far superior to what they had left behind in Judaism.  Everything they had was looking forward to the promised Messiah.  Jesus, on the other hand, IS that promised Messiah.  Every ceremony that they had observed pointed to the promised Messiah.  Jesus is the fulfillment of all those ceremonies.  To forsake Jesus and the cross for the sake of safety would be to forsake eternal life in heaven for an easier life on earth. 

     One of the themes in the letter to the Hebrews is: “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.” (Hebrews 9:22).  Every blood sacrifice God had prescribed was a foreshadowing of a greater sacrifice—from the offering of Abel to every morning and evening sacrifice in the temple.  The highlight of every church year was the Day of Atonement.  On that day, and only on that day, the high priest was given access to the Holy of Holies, the presence of God.  There, he offered up the blood of a goat to atone for the sins of the people.  This ceremony was only a foreshadowing, so it had to be repeated year after year.  It did not pay for sin, but looked forward to the full and final payment for all sins of all time.

     Therefore, the writer to the Hebrews commented, “Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands…, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.  Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly….  But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself” (Hebrews 9:24-26). 

     Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins.  But all the shedding of blood up to the appearance of Jesus was only done to prefigure what Jesus would do.  The blood of goats and sheep and bulls cannot pay for sins.  Therefore, the Lord became a man so that his blood could be shed.  The Lord gave himself into death on behalf of all people.  This is the love that God has for you—that he was willing to take into himself all your guilt, that he was willing to suffer the curse and condemnation for your sins, that he would bear your punishment for you.  Jesus did this so that you would be spared from the wrath of a righteous God.  Jesus has received the judgment and borne the punishment—a final judgment, once and for all.

     On the Last Day, that final judgment will be proclaimed by Jesus upon all people who have ever lived.  We confess it every week: “He will come to judge the living and the dead” (Apostles’ Creed).  That can be viewed either as a threat or a promise.  The reason we have conflicting views of Judgment Day is because of what Jesus said about it.  He declared: “All who are in the tombs will … come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment” (John 5:28-29).  Where do you stand? You want to be among those who are good but you also know you have done what is evil.  The devil will goad you into believing either one of these.  He will assure you, “You are a good person.  How could God find fault with you?  Thank about all the people you’ve helped, how nice you are, how many friends you have!  You don’t have to fear God’s judgment.  If anyone deserves heaven, it is you!”  Or maybe you’ve heard the opposite from the devil.  “You get into heaven?!  Do you remember how you’ve lived?  Who you cheated?  The lies you told?  The lives you’ve wrecked and the harm you’ve caused?  Heaven is for good people, and that’s not you.  You should fear Judgment Day!”  The devil wants to issue a final judgment upon you.  And whether he tries to convince you that you are good or evil, he will want you to stand in that judgment focused on yourself and not on Jesus.

     But our confession is not a threat.  It is a promise.  The writer to the Hebrews assures you: “Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him” (Hebrews 9:28).  Jesus came to suffer a final judgment, once and for all.  He bore the sins of many, in fact, of the whole world.  There is no more need for additional sacrifices.  You do not need to bargain for a place in heaven.  You do not need to invent merits or virtues to convince the Lord of anything.  Jesus has credited you with his innocence.  Now Jesus dwells in heaven to intercede for you.  His holy, precious blood continues to cleanse you of all sin.  And if you have your doubts, then flee to the altar to receive the blood of Christ which continues to bestow forgiveness, new life, and salvation.

     This is one of the places where the Evangelical Lutheran Church and the Roman Catholic Church have parted company.  In the Roman Church, Jesus IS offered up again and again, in fact, daily.  The priest presents the body and blood of Jesus to God in order to appease him.  That makes the Roman mass a sacrifice, something we do for God.  But the writer to the Hebrews makes it clear that such a repeated sacrifice is unnecessary and unscriptural.  Jesus does not need to be offered up repeatedly.  The Bible says: Jesus “has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself” (Hebrews 9:26).  That is the verdict.  It does not need to be won for us again and again.  Jesus was offered up once for all.  Therefore, this is the final judgment, once and for all. 

     For that reason, Holy Communion is not what we do for God.  It is not a sacrifice.  It is not a reenactment.  It is not an act of obedience to prove the sincerity of our faith.  The Lord’s Supper is what God does for us and gives to us.  He tells us, “This is my body.  This is my blood.  For the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:26,28).  There is a final judgment for sins.  It was done at the cross, once for all.  Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.  But the innocent blood of God’s Son has been shed, once for all.  And the benefits are given to God’s people when we gather in Jesus’ name.  All that Jesus has won for us by his sacrificial blood and with his crucified and risen body Jesus gives to us in the sacrament of the altar.  He does this for your good, for your peace, and for your blessing.  “For you.  For the forgiveness of sins.”

     There is a final judgment.  Jesus will come again to judge the living and the dead.  This is nothing we need to fear.  He has already told us where we stand.  “There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).  So, when Jesus comes again on the Last Day, it will be just as the writer to the Hebrews has described it: “Christ … will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him” (Hebrews 9:28).  Jesus will come with your reward.  Jesus won the prize of the resurrection to eternal life and glory, but he will come and bring it to you.  Then, you will be forever free from death and mourning and crying and pain.  The more hardship you endure, the heavier the cross you bear, the harder you will pray for Jesus’ return.  That is a good thing.  And that is one reason Jesus has you bear a cross.  It teaches you to long for Jesus’ return.  Like the Hebrews who received this letter, you could forsake Jesus and make friends with the world for an easier life here.  But the cost would be to lose eternal life, glory, and peace.  Cling to Christ.  Pray for his return.  Only Jesus brings the salvation you long for, and Jesus will come again to deliver it to all who are waiting him. 

     We are considering the Last Day, but the writer to the Hebrews acknowledges what most of us, perhaps all of us, will face.  He wrote, “It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).  For most people, death comes long before the Last Day.  But even then, there is a final judgment, once and for all.

     When the day of your death comes, you will stand before the Lord to give an answer for your life.  “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil” (2 Corinthians 5:10).  Of course, when you die, no one will see or hear that judgment but you.  Since we cannot see what judgment people receive, we base our judgment on what people have confessed.  That is why Christian funerals are for those who have confessed the saving faith in Jesus.  I will preside over a funeral for any member of Good Shepherd or for someone I have served whose confession I have heard.  You may have a special fondness for a cousin whom I have never met.  That’s wonderful, but since I don’t even know that person, how could I testify that he or she was a devout Christian?  It doesn’t mean he or she is not.  If he or she is, it is appropriate that that person’s pastor conduct the funeral.  But if your loved one has no pastor, I urge you to have him or her make a connection with one before they hear their final judgment.  Once something is final, it cannot be reversed.

     Death is final, and after death comes judgment.  You will receive what is due for what you have done in the body, whether good or evil.  But thanks be to Jesus, you have been cleansed of all evil, and you have been credited with all good.  So, when you die, you will face the one who lived and died to save you.  He will summon you to the glory, the peace, and the rest of heaven.  That judgment will be final.  It will not change.  And it will be declared publicly on the Last Day.  It will be broadcast to all angels, demons, and all people that you are a redeemed child of God.  You will be presented to God the Father as the righteous because you will be clothed in the righteousness of Jesus. 

     And on that day, Jesus will forever “save those who are eagerly waiting for him” (Hebrews 9:28).  Right now, you bear the status of those who are saved.  But when Jesus comes again, he will deliver you forever from all the frustrations, sorrows, and pains that come from living in a sinful world.  Whatever regrets, struggles, or hardships you have will be gone.  It will be a life at peace, a mind at peace, and an endless peace.  This is why “we look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come” (Nicene Creed).  For, Jesus’ return is not a threat, but a promise.  And Jesus’ promises are always good things.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Update from Good Shepherd (November 14, 2024)

Greetings!

REGULAR SCHEDULE 

Divine Service is Sunday at 10:00 AM.
Sunday School is on Sundays at 9:00 AM.
Adult Bible Class is on Sundays at 9:00 AM.

CALENDAR: For a calendar of events and meetings, click here.

INTRODUCTION VIDEO FOR GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH

          Here is a video to introduce people to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church of Novi. Share it as much as you can.

THANKSGIVING WORSHIP
           We will have our Thanksgiving service on Wednesday, November 27 at 7:00 PM.

CHURCH COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS (November)

Ø    We are looking into updating the kitchen at the church.  Several ideas have been proposed for what will best suit our purposes.  If you have any ideas to enhancements to our kitchen, please speak to Bob Wozniak.  All suggestions will be received, but we may not be able to achieve all of them.

Ø    A proposal was made to renovate the kitchen in the parsonage.  This is a much larger project and would not happen until late in 2025.

Ø    Other projects which are needed for both the church property and parsonage were suggested and will likely be discussed at the November 17 Open Forum, although no specific dates for these projects have been set in stone yet.

Ø    We will be getting postcards printed to give out as invitations to our Christmas services.  In order to make these postcards worth the cost and effort, it will be up to our members to distribute them as invitations to friends and family.  You may also want to invite friends and family to a new Bible Information Class which will begin in January 2025.  Start date still TBD.

OPEN FORUM & VOTERS’ MEETING
          On Sunday, November 17 after church, we will have an open forum to present the proposed budget and highlight plans for the coming months and year. All members of Good Shepherd are welcome to attend, to ask questions, and to offer suggestions. Most importantly, the presentations at the open forum show how you can be a part of the activities we do as a congregation.
          The Voters’ Meeting will follow the open forum and formally adopt any motions based on feedback from the open forum.

EVERYONE OUTREACH – FOLLOW-UP
             Our one-day seminar, Everyone Outreach, was completed on Saturday, September 21. But to establish an outreach culture, we will need to keep our goals present and encourage one another to pursue them.  There will be follow-up meetings (TBA) where we can encourage efforts and discuss what has been accomplished so far.  The Church Council will be taking the lead as we will dedicate a good portion of our next meeting to how we will implement our plans. 

A NEW WEBSITE – MADEKNOWN.NET
          The made. known. website was introduced at the WELS Youth Rally earlier this summer. madeknown.net is dedicated to “walking with you in faith through identity, gender, and sexuality.” It does this through a growing library of written resources and connection to personal support.
          We pray madeknown.net can be a resource to you as you embrace Christ’s enduring message of grace and forgiveness for yourself and your loved ones.

GOOD SHEPHERD ON YOUTUBE

          Services are uploaded to YouTube each week. Feel free to share the videos. Here is the service from November 10, 2024: Good Shepherd Novi, Divine Service, November 10, 2024

REGULAR OFFICE HOURS

            The pastor will try to hold formal office hours Monday-Thursday, 9:00 AM – Noon. It should be noted that some meetings are scheduled for those times. It is best to call or text to confirm any meetings with the pastor (248-719-5218).

 

DO YOU LIKE US?

          Look for Good Shepherd on Facebook. Then “LIKE” us for updates and other postings. Be sure to share posts with friends.

SHARE THIS POST!
          We desire as many as possible to rejoice in the Gospel which we proclaim and confess. Share the information from our weekly email blast, links to our web page, and even to the pastor's blog to let others know that we have a space in our congregation for them!

In Christ,
Pastor Schroeder

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REGULAR SCHEDULE
DIVINE SERVICES are on Sundays at 10:00 AM.
Sunday School -- Sundays at 9:00 AM.
Adult Bible Class -- Sundays at 9:00 AM.
Bible Matters will resume in January 2025.

GOOD SHEPHERD’S WEBSITE
www.GoodShepherdNovi.org

PASTOR SCHROEDER’S BLOG
www.LutheranSubject.blogspot.com 

YouTube -- 25th Sunday after Pentecost (November 10, 2024)

Here is the Divine Service from Sunday, November 10, 2024.

Sermon -- 25th Sunday after Pentecost (November 10, 2024)

1 KINGS 17:8-16

THE LORD IS GENEROUS SO THAT WE CAN BE GENEROUS.

In the name + of Jesus.

     The readings today all focus on the generosity of God’s people with their offerings.  This is the kind of Sunday which leads people to say that all the church is interested in is money.  Of the sixty-some services that we have this year, I think this is the only one which has readings about offerings.  If all the church is interested in is money, it seems to me that we would pound on this message for more than 1.5% of the services this year.

     One message that gets lost is what our offerings are for.  Another is what motivates us to give offerings to begin with.  Another is the source from which we give our offerings.  Our Lord is generous in supplying all our needs day after day, year after year.  The Lord’s generosity exceeds our needs.  Our basic needs are food, clothing, and shelter.  We do not need to decorate our homes with seasonal items.  We do not need to have appliances or tableware that we use maybe once a month.  We do not need to have expensive toys, multiple TVs, or collections of our favorite trinkets.  But God has been generous to us so that we get to enjoy more than food, clothing, and shelter.  We also get to enjoy washing machines and dryers, indoor plumbing, video streaming, and vacations.  If someone insists, “All the church is interested in is money,” let him be honest enough to admit that his own interest is in the money which allows him to live so comfortably.  To accuse the Church is to hide one’s own greed.  Worse, it is to tell God that he has no right to what he has given you in the first place.  Repent.

     The Lord has been generous to us.  The source of our offerings is what God has generously given.  Offerings cannot be given unless the Lord has first given gifts to us.  And why does God give you your wealth?  Why is the Lord so generous?  So that we can be generous with his gifts. 

     If you look through the pages of Scripture, you will see that giving generously is a hallmark of God’s people.  Consider the Psalms, “The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives” (Psalm 37:21).  Proverbs teaches us, “A person who spreads blessings will be enriched.  One who gives a refreshing drink will be refreshed.  People curse the person who hoards grain, but a blessing rests on the head of one who sells it” (Proverbs 11:25-26).  And St. James wrote in his epistle, “Religion that is pure and undefiled in the sight of God the Father is this: to take care of orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world” (James 1:27).  The Lord is generous so that we can be generous and use our wealth to benefit those who need it. 

     The Lord provided for the needs of his prophet and for a widow during a long period of famine.  The Lord had cared for Elijah in Israel, but eventually the brook which sustained him dried up.  So, the Lord sent him north, out of the country.  The Lord had told Elijah, “Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you” (1 Kings 17:9).  This widow was in dire straits.  She had just enough flour and oil left for one last meal.  She was gathering a few sticks to cook up some biscuits for her son and herself.  After that, they would be left to starve until death came.

     When Elijah met her, his request was very bold.  “‘Bring me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.’  And as she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, “‘Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand’” (1 Kings 17:10-11).  This widow had barely enough for her son and herself, and now Elijah requested, “Feed me first”?!  It seemed like an utterly selfish request.  The widow expressed reluctance, but not refusal.  The Lord, however, promised amazing generosity to this widow if she would trust God’s prophet.  Elijah told her: “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the Lord sends rain upon the earth’” (1 Kings 17:14).  The Lord was generous to the widow so that she could be generous to God’s prophet. 

     And the Lord continued to be generous to the widow.  Just as he had promised, “She and he and her household ate for many days.  The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by Elijah” (1 Kings 17:15-16).  The Lord is generous so that we can be generous and use our wealth, however meager, to benefit those in need.

     The Church has always been devoted to helping those in need.  In the days of the apostles, alms were given to provide for widows.  In the case of the Corinthians, they were taking up a collection for the saints in Jerusalem who were suffering through a famine.  In a time and place where there was no welfare, no social security, and no government programs, widows and orphans were helpless.  The Lord had special concern for them.

     The heavenly Father had compassion for those children who had no fathers.  The heavenly bridegroom had compassion for those women who had lost their husbands.  Through fathers and husbands, the Lord brings provision and protection to wives and children.  God could provide through miraculous means, but he uses people to do this noble work—just as he uses the farmer, the baker, the butcher, and the grocer to supply the food we eat.  But when fathers and husbands die, God calls upon his Church to care for its own members to preserve and support them.  In this way, God’s people reflect God’s goodness.  This is still the case today.

     For the most part, people today count on community programs to help those in need, but most of these grew out of the church’s work.  When Christians saw babies and children left to die of exposure, they established orphanages, saying, “We will love and care for them.”  When Christians saw people who were sick and dying, they established hospitals, saying, “We will love and care for them.”  When Christians saw the elderly who needed more care than their children could give, they established nursing homes, saying, “We will love and care for them.”  Many of these efforts have become businesses.  We can debate whether that is better or worse.  Nevertheless, God’s people are still called to be generous, demonstrating love to those in need, whether we work through a charity, take a church collection, or give privately to individuals.  It is not a love of mere words, but of action.  The Lord is generous to us so that we can be generous to others.

     So, why do we do it?  Why sacrifice wealth that could be used to further enhance our own homes or standard of living?  It is because our Lord has been so generous to us.  His generosity is shown not merely by providing our daily bread.  It is made known especially through Jesus Christ.  Jesus personifies generosity in supplying all that we need for eternal life.  He did not do it because he owed it to us.  Rather, it is we who owe obedience to the Lord’s commands and gratitude for his gifts.  But we have given neither.  We have loved ourselves more than God, and our love for our wealth proves it.  It rankles us when the sermon is about money.  We can put up with being rebuked and corrected for many things, knowing our behavior can be better.  But hearing what God says about the love of money always gets us agitated.  It is uncomfortable to hear God tell us that we owe him the firstfruits of our wealth.  It shows that we do not love God with our whole heart, not when we withhold from him what is his.  And we do not love our neighbor as ourselves.  We are generous to ourselves, but not to our neighbor in need. 

     But Jesus has not cast us off for our selfishness, coldness, and greed.  Instead, he is generous with his mercy and grace.  In mercy, Jesus has not treated us as our sins deserve.  He does not reduce us to living in squalor.  But even if our Lord withdraws blessings from us and finds ways to take our money from us, he acts in mercy.  If your money is taken from you, then you cannot love or trust it as you do.  Jesus is also generous with his grace.  He gives us blessings that we do not deserve.  This is especially true in regard to our salvation.

     Our Lord has been generous to us, pouring out his salvation upon us.  Jesus, in turn, had God’s wrath poured out upon him.  Jesus had generously provided healing to the sick, relief to the guilt-stricken, and hope to the humble.  But in turn, Jesus took up our greed, our guilt, and our ingratitude.  He gave himself into death and damnation to deliver us from them.  Now he richly and daily forgives all sins to you and to all who believe in him.  He is the full payment for our debts, and he continually covers over all our sin.  The Lord has been generous to us.

     The Lord has redirected our attention and devotion so that we can be generous.  Our attention has been redirected to the kingdom that will come rather than on establishing a kingdom for ourselves in this world.  Our devotion is to serve our Lord and to love our neighbor in his need.  And since we live in a broken world that knows diseases and disasters, we find many opportunities to be generous in mercy to those who are suffering.  The Lord is generous so that we can be generous.

     It should be noted that the Lord has not laid upon you the obligation to fix everyone’s problems.  When Jesus spoke about Elijah and the widow of Zarephath, he noted, “There were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah…  Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow of Zarephath, in Sidon” (Luke 4:25-26).  Elijah did not provide miraculous aid to every widow in Israel or in Sidon.  Jesus did not restore every dead husband to his grieving wife, not even his own guardian, Joseph, to the Virgin Mary.  So also, you do not need to cure every burden.  You can’t.  You have the freedom to show mercy where you see the need.  And you do not need to feel guilty when you can’t.  God is generous in this way—that he moves his people to provide all kinds of relief to all kinds of people.  God has scattered his people throughout the world to show love in their particular place and time.  God has also given people their particular interests so that some have a passion for natural disaster relief, others donate to the American Heart Association, others work in soup kitchens, and so on. 

     God’s people can afford to be generous because the Lord has been so generous to us.  He has delivered us from a dying world, and he leaves us in this dying world so that we can bring hope to the dying and help to the hurting.  The Lord is generous to us so that we can be generous to others.  In this way, God’s people reflect the goodness of God.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Update from Good Shepherd (November 7, 2024)

Greetings!

REGULAR SCHEDULE 

Divine Service is Sunday at 10:00 AM.
Sunday School is on Sundays at 9:00 AM.
Adult Bible Class is on Sundays at 9:00 AM.

CALENDAR: For a calendar of events and meetings, click here.

EVERYONE OUTREACH – FOLLOW-UP
             Our one-day seminar, Everyone Outreach, was completed on Saturday, September 21. But to establish an outreach culture, we will need to keep our goals present and encourage one another to pursue them.  There will be follow-up meetings (TBA) where we can encourage efforts and discuss what has been accomplished so far.  The Church Council will be taking the lead as we will dedicate a good portion of our next meeting to how we will implement our plans. 

FRIENDSGIVING – a “Come to the Table” event
          On Sunday, November 10 at 5 PM today, we will be welcoming people from our community, our friends, and our family to join us for a sumptuous meal and vibrant conversation. This will expose people to our congregation in the hopes that we can serve them with more than a nice supper.
          To ensure that our guests feel welcomed, our members should make it a point to spread out to all the tables so that all guests are greeted and engaged in conversation. Ask about them, their families, their jobs, their interests, etc… Share your own interests and background. If possible, get a phone number and follow up with a call or a text. Maybe even plan to feast with them again later.

HURRICANE RELIEF

            Several areas of our country have been hammered hard by hurricanes in the past few weeks, specifically Hurricanes Helene (Tennessee and Carolinas) and Milton (Florida).  The destruction and devastation have been immense.  Offerings for hurricane relief and for many other kinds of relief can be made to the WELS Christian Aid and Relief at wels.net/CARgift.

INTRODUCTION VIDEO FOR GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH

          Here is a video to introduce people to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church of Novi. Share it as much as you can.

CHURCH COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS (October)
          > A request was made for some kind of pictorial directory which will be helpful for having new and old members become more familiar with each other. A few young people have expressed interest in spearheading this effort. Stay tuned for details as they become available.
          > The preliminary budget for 2025 was presented to the Church Council for suggestions and revisions. This budget will be presented at our Open Forum on Sunday, November 17 after church. Further questions, suggestions, and revisions are welcome.

OPEN FORUM & VOTERS’ MEETING
          On Sunday, November 17 after church, we will have an open forum to present the proposed budget and highlight plans for the coming months and year. All members of Good Shepherd are welcome to attend, to ask questions, and to offer suggestions. Most importantly, the presentations at the open forum show how you can be a part of the activities we do as a congregation.
          The Voters’ Meeting will follow the open forum and formally adopt any motions based on feedback from the open forum.

GOOD SHEPHERD ON YOUTUBE
          Services are uploaded to YouTube each week. Feel free to share the videos. Here is the service from November 3, 2024: Good Shepherd Novi, Divine Service, November 3, 2024

WELS NATIONAL TEEN BIBLE STUDY

            WELS offers a National Teen Bible Study as an online opportunity for teens across the country to digitally connect with each other around the Word. The next one is scheduled for Sunday, November 10, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. (Eastern Time Zone).
            The online Bible study is not intended to replace local ministry efforts but complement existing ministries like the WELS International Youth Rally and area WELS Youth Nights. The goals are:
                        · To encourage greater spiritual growth during critical teen years.
                        · To encourage greater relational connections with other WELS teens locally and across the country.
            Teens will be able to sign up using their phones to register for an upcoming one-hour Bible study that will be zoomed quarterly. Bible study topics will be relevant and led by various WELS pastors. Teens will be able to interact with one another through breakout rooms.
            This quarter’s Bible study will focus on the testing of Abraham’s faith in Genesis chapter 22. At a time in life when many questions, doubts, and fears can easily overwhelm you, it’s important to stay connected to God and to fellow believers! Join us for another national online teen Bible study to learn how you can better “pass the tests” and walk by faith! 

            You can register now at: https://wels.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZItcuCsqToiHdbgXc9vcZAIYpBdHm7iSjvP#/registration

REGULAR OFFICE HOURS
            The pastor will try to hold formal office hours Monday-Thursday, 9:00 AM – Noon. It should be noted that some meetings are scheduled for those times. It is best to call or text to confirm any meetings with the pastor (248-719-5218).

 

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          Look for Good Shepherd on Facebook. Then “LIKE” us for updates and other postings. Be sure to share posts with friends.

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In Christ,
Pastor Schroeder

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REGULAR SCHEDULE
DIVINE SERVICES are on Sundays at 10:00 AM.
Sunday School -- Sundays at 9:00 AM.
Adult Bible Class -- Sundays at 9:00 AM.
Bible Matters will resume in January 2025.

GOOD SHEPHERD’S WEBSITE
www.GoodShepherdNovi.org

PASTOR SCHROEDER’S BLOG
www.LutheranSubject.blogspot.com