Update from Good Shepherd (November 23, 2023)

Greetings!

REGULAR SCHEDULE 
     Sunday School -- Sundays at 9:00 AM.
     Adult Bible Class -- Sundays at 9:00 AM.
     Divine Service -- Sundays at 10:00 AM.
     Bible Matters will resume on Wednesday, January 10.
     For a calendar of events and meetings, click here.

FALL EVENTS
          These events serve both to unite our own members better and to connect with people from our community. Look for ways that you can help out to make each event a success. Let’s make the most of the opportunity for each event.
          DEC 3 -- Church Decoration; Stuffing Stockings for Veterans (both after church)
          DEC 6,13,20 -- Mid-Week Advent
                    Dinners at 6:00 PM
                    Vespers at 7:00 PM
          DEC 24 -- Christmas Eve Candlelight Service (7:00 PM)
          DEC 25 -- Christmas Day Festival Service (10:00 AM)

A CHRISTIAN VIEW OF ANXIETY – THE VIDEO
          We hosted a virtual seminar on a Christian view of anxiety on November 5. Mr. William Woodington from Coon Rapids, MN visited us via Zoom to discuss his own struggles with anxiety and spoke about the comfort he found in God's word. While he still considers himself an anxious person, he knows and trusts the promises of God which help him cope with his anxiety. The video recording is here: (277) Whatever is True A Christian View of Anxiety Good Shepherd Novi Nov 6 2023 - YouTube

NEW VIDEO FOR GOOD SHEPHERD

          Here is a video to introduce people to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church of Novi. Share it as much as you can.
          Shout out to Kaitlyn Cole for her work on its production!

ADULT BIBLE CLASS

          We will begin a new series beginning on Sunday, November 26. Our topic will be The End Times. With all of the turmoil going on in the Middle East, many pastors are saying that the final prophecies of the Bible are being fulfilled. Some will speak of the conversion of all the Jews. Some will talk about a rapture in which Christians will be taken up into the heavens to be spared any tribulation. Others will speak about a 1,000-year reign of Christ in Jerusalem. Often, the order of events contradicts each other from various pastors. What are we to believe? 

          We will consider how the Scriptures describe the End Times so that we can face it with both comfort and confidence and so that we will not be distracted by false teachings and promises.  You can find a tentative schedule here.

         Classes are Sundays at 9:00 AM.

PRIVATE CONFESSION & ABSOLUTION
          Private confession and absolution will be available at church from 10:00 AM - Noon on Saturday, December 2. No appointment is necessary. Just stop in. If this rite is new to you (and it is for many who attend here), the pastor will walk you through the rite so that you understand and appreciate it more. Private confession and absolution is always available by appointment throughout the year.

CHURCH COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS (November)

>     We have made some headway on a new LED sign for the church.  There is a proposal to use our current sign base and frame, and there is a proposal to move the church sign so that it faces 9 Mile Road in both directions.  This would involve a new base and is quite a bit more expensive.  We are arranging a demonstration of what this sign would look like so our members have an opportunity to see it before we make such a large expense.  More information can be attained by speaking to people from Church Council.

>   We approved the proposed budget for the 2024 year.  We have made some increases to the evangelism budget and congregational mission offerings, as well as to a few other places.  We increased the stipend for guest preachers and for our organists/pianists which had remained at the same rate for a decade or more.  A copy of the budget can be received on request.

>   Election of Church Council officers resulted in the following: President: Dan L.; Financial Secretary: Terry B.; Elder: Dan S.; Properties Committee Chairman: Bob W.  The position for Evangelism Committee chair is vacant.  

>   Please note that we have little to no committee for Evangelism and Stewardship.  While members have been willing to help out leading up to a particular event, the planning of these events tends to be a bit scrambled, and some events get cancelled because they do not get planned well.  In order to excel in our efforts for outreach to our community and to strengthen the bonds of fellowship among us, we welcome and encourage members to join us for these planning meetings.  We meet roughly every other month, so the time commitment is minimal.

>    We will be looking into a method for people to give offerings through an app on their phones.  When we get this service set up, we will provide more information.

ATTENTION ACTIVE AND VETERAN MILITARY
          The WELS has a support group for military veterans. You are able to acquire materials and attain services through the Lutheran Military Support Group (lutheranmilitary.org). You can either submit your information to the pastor to enroll you, or you can go to wels.net/refer to add your name and information to their data base.

GOOD SHEPHERD ON YOUTUBE
          Services are uploaded to YouTube each week. Feel free to share the videos. Here is the service from Sunday, November 19: (303) Good Shepherd Novi, Divine Service, November 19, 2023 - YouTube

REGULAR OFFICE HOURS
          The pastor will try to maintain regular office hours are Monday – Thursday, 9:00 AM - Noon. To ensure the pastor’s availability, it is best to make an appointment. He is available by phone or text (248-719-5218). You may also email (welsnovi@aol.com), but the response may be slower. 

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
Advent Vespers -- Wednesdays in December (6, 13, 20)
     Supper at 6:00 PM
     Worship at 7:00 PM
Bible Matters will resume on Wednesday, January 10 at 6:30 PM.

GOOD SHEPHERD’S WEBSITE
www.GoodShepherdNovi.org

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