YouTube -- 4th Sunday after Epiphany (January 28, 2024)

Here is the Divine Service from Sunday, January 28, 2024.  The guest preacher is Rev. Michael Bater who is retired.  Pastor Bater, prior to his retirement, had served Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lansing, MI for over 30 years.  In his retirement, Pastor Bater also serves part time at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Morenci, Michigan.

Update from Good Shepherd (January 25, 2024)

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 meets on Wednesdays at 6:30 PM.
          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.

ADULT BIBLE CLASS – New Series
          Beginning Sunday, February 4, we will begin a new series for Adult Bible Class. Our topic will be “Families of the Bible.”
          The Lord lays out his plans for godly families. But sin leaves its mark on families, producing families that are strained, fractured, dysfunctional, and blended. We will consider various families who are mentioned in the Bible. First, we will see that there is nothing new under the sun. Then, we will see God’s blessings for families—strength, encouragement, and healing.
          Who will benefit from this series? Husbands and wives, parents and children, singles, divorced, and widowed … anyone who was born into a family, brought into a family, or has been ostracized from a family. I think that should cover all of us.
          The schedule for this class can be found here.
          Adult Bible Class beings promptly at 9:00 AM. All are welcome.

BIBLE MATTERS
        Bible Matters has resumed.  Classes are Wednesdays at 6:30 PM. We will take up the topic of End Times which we have been covering on Sunday mornings. This schedule, however, will be an abbreviated version of Sunday’s Adult Bible Class. It can be found here.

NEW MEMBERS FROM LOLA PARK LUTHERAN CHURCH (REDFORD)
       Lola Park Lutheran Church conducted its final service on Sunday, December 31. Now the members of Lola Park will be transferring to area WELS congregations. Good Shepherd is likely to receive a number of these people as members here. Strive to make them feel welcome, as it can be a traumatic experience to have one’s home church close.

EASTER FOR KIDS
          Good Shepherd’s 2024 Easter-for-Kids Event will be held on Saturday, March 23, 10am – Noon.
          At this event, kids will follow a path from Jesus’ crucifixion, to the guards who guarded his tomb, to the empty tomb on Easter morning. Along the way, there will be lessons, crafts, and special guests (centurion, angel) to tell them what they have seen. They will get a sticker for their “passport” at each station, with a reward at the end for filling their passport.
          There will be 5 stations – Sign-in, the crucifixion, the Centurian, the tomb, and the selfie-station. We will need some help making this event a success. Here are some of the ways that you can help.
          >>> Planning for the stations – we have a basic idea of what each station requires, but need some people to help put it together. This will include planning crafts, decorating, etc. Ideally would like to get someone to be in charge of each station.
          >>> Decorating -- We want to turn our room divider into a tomb, need a stone to roll, costumes, etc. We have some ideas to start but just need help making it happen.
          >>> Crafts – if you have good craft ideas for kids, we would love to hear them.
          >>> Giveaway – put together goodie bags for the kids at the end. Also need some kind of raffle game and prize. (Last year we did a guess the number of jelly beans in the jar.)
          >>> Volunteers day of the event – will need people to sign kids in, help with crafts, lead kids into the stations, and some “actors” to play roles. Would ideally like to get about 10 people.
          Another way to help will be to “like” and share our posts on social media when they come out. Please help us to make this event a success.

WELS INTERNATIONAL YOUTH RALLY
          This summer, about 2,000 WELS teens (from 8th grade graduation through 12th grade graduation) from all over the country will be gathering in Fort Collins, Colorado for a Youth Rally. The Rally will be held June 25-28. All who have attended have raved about what a good time this is. More information can be found at www.welsyouthrally.net. The cost is $410 for early bird registration, March 6 – April 30. Transportation costs are not included in the registration fee. Good Shepherd teens will likely connect with St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Livonia to ensure that we have our teens connected to a chaperon. If you are interested, please speak to Pastor Schroeder.

CHURCH COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS (January)

>    We have drafted a tentative schedule of events for 2024.  Some events will involve more planning than others in order to make them more appealing and beneficial to our guests—for example, our Easter for Kids event on March 23 which will be here sooner than it seems.  Look for opportunities to plan, prepare, and participate in upcoming events.  The 2024 schedule of events will be posted on the church bulletin board.

>    We will have our Annual Open Forum, followed by our Voters’ Meeting, on Sunday, February 11 after church.  A continental breakfast will be provided to keep people alert and energized.  We will be reviewing briefly the highlights of last year and propose plans for the remainder of 2024 and beyond.  We enco8urage all our members, as well as those who are coming to us from Lola Park, to engage in conversation about what we can do as a congregation.  We welcome questions, suggestions, and critiques so that we can make the most of the gifts God has given to us—especially the service of his people.

GOOD SHEPHERD ON YOUTUBE

          Services are uploaded to YouTube each week. Feel free to share the videos. Here is the service from Christmas Eve (January 21, 2024): Good Shepherd Novi, Divine Service, January 21, 2024 (youtube.com)

BAD WEATHER POLICY FOR SERVICES AT GOOD SHEPHERD
          We will always have services as scheduled at Good Shepherd. Since I live across the parking lot, I can get to the church no matter how bad the weather gets. Even if the service is just me and my family, we will be here. For everyone else, please use your God-given common sense to determine whether or not you will get on the road to attend any service when the weather is bad. We don't want anyone to risk his or her life to be here. But if you do venture out, the scheduled service will take place. It may be only a handful with a cappella singing and/or spoken liturgy, but we will be here.
          Bible Classes and meetings may be canceled due to weather. Check your email regarding announcements to see if any of those scheduled events are canceled. If there is no email about it, it is not canceled. But again, use common sense to determine if you can make it, and call the pastor to let him know if you will not be coming.

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

==============================

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 meets on Wednesdays at 6:30 PM.

GOOD SHEPHERD’S WEBSITE
www.GoodShepherdNovi.org

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

Today's Earworm -- Breakdown Dead Ahead by Boz Scaggs

I have no idea how earworms are implanted.  Did I hear this song earlier?  Is it some random tune that popped in my head which had not been there since some time in the 1980's?  I don't know.

This song is, in my opinion, the best song Boz Scaggs ever produced.  Here is Breakdown Dead Ahead.  Enjoy!

YouTube -- 3rd Sunday after Epiphany (January 21, 2024)

Here is the Divine Service from Sunday, January 21, 2024.

Adult Bible Class -- Families of the Bible

A new series begins in February!

The Lord knows all about families.  He lays out his plans for godly families.  But sin leaves its mark on families, producing families that are strained, fractured, dysfunctional, and blended.  The Lord knows this, too. 

We will consider various families who are mentioned in the Bible.  First, we will see that there is nothing new under the sun.  Then, we will see God’s blessings for families—strength, encouragement, and healing.

Who will benefit from this series?  Husbands and wives, parents and children, singles, divorced, and widowed … anyone who was born into a family, brought into a family, or has been ostracized from a family.  I think that should cover all of us.

Adult Bible Class beings promptly at 9:00 AM.  All are welcome.

February 4           Made for Each Other: The Story of the First Family (Adam & Eve)

February 11          Alone Against the World: Noah and His Family

February 18         Blessed Is the Family That Puts God First: Abraham, Sarah, & Isaac

February 25         Salt That Lost Its Saltiness: Lot and His Family

March 3                Rivalry and Reconciliation: Jacob and His Family

March 10              Train a Child: The Families of Hannah and Eli

March 17              Fallen, Yet Forgiven: David’s Sin and Its Consequence for His Family

March 24              Holding on While Letting Go: Mary’s Relationship with Her Son, Jesus

Sermon -- 3rd Sunday after Epiphany (January 21, 2024)

MARK 1:14-20

JESUS COMES WITH A STRANGE GRACE.

In the name + of Jesus.

     This is what the Lord says, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord” (Isaiah 55:8).  Page after page of the Scriptures shows us that God does not act like we think he should.  Day after day in life shows us that God does not act like we think he should. 

     The Bible tells us why.  Sin clouds our minds and our judgment.  We are convinced that we know what is right and good and just.  We would like to step into the role of God and correct the wrongs that we see.  We are convinced that we can do it better than God can because, somehow, we know better.  Even though we feel this way, we prove ourselves to be double-minded.  On the one hand, we complain that God does not strike down the wicked so that they will cause no more harm.  Well, God did just that when he sent the Flood in Noah’s day.  Through that flood, God destroyed the entire population of the world expect for those who were saved in the ark.  But then we complain, “Why did God treat people so brutally?  Where’s the compassion?”  So, which is it?  God should strike down the wicked or God should let the wicked go?  We tend to answer both ways.  Let us confess that we have limited knowledge and biased judgment and be content to accept what the Lord has told us: “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord” (Isaiah 55:8). 

     We see this again when Jesus began to call his disciples.  He does not do it the way it makes sense to us.  He comes with strange grace.  St. Mark wrote, “Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God” (Mark 1:14).  John was arrested in Galilee.  Wouldn’t it have been safer for Jesus to stay away for a while?  Jesus did not think so.  Jesus came to Galilee to call disciples to himself.  But that is strange, too.  If you wanted to be rich in knowledge and theology, then Jerusalem was the place to be.  If you wanted to get rich in agriculture or fishing, then Galilee was the place to be.  So, where is the obvious place Jesus should go to find people to follow him and to preach the word of God for him?  Jerusalem!  That’s where the rabbinic schools were.  That is where the priests were.  But no, Jesus went to Galilee.  Jesus comes with a strange grace.

     And it gets stranger.  Jesus did not recruit his disciples from the synagogues.  That would make sense.  Instead, “passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.  And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.’  And immediately they left their nets and followed him” (Mark 1:16-18).  He did the same with James and John.  Jesus did not seek the company of scholars and rabbis.  He found fishermen.  It would be like saying, “Our church needs a new pastor.  I know!  Let’s go down to the wharf to find one!”  That’s a rougher crowd than you would expect Jesus to recruit. 

     Jesus comes with a strange grace.  Just knowing the character of his disciples shows you that.  We do not know too much about Andrew; the Bible doesn’t give us much information on him.  But we do know a lot about his brother, Simon Peter.  Peter was a man of action, bold and brash.  He often said things and did things before thinking them through.  One examples comes in the Garden of Gethsemane when Peter took it upon himself to fight in defense of Jesus.  Judas Iscariot came with a band of soldiers to arrest Jesus.  One of the Gospel writers used the word “centurion” which is the commander of 100.  So, there was a large company of professionally trained soldiers.  What did Simon Peter do?  He took out his dagger and started to swing away to defend Jesus.  Brave?  Perhaps.  I think foolhardy would be the better term.  If Jesus had not rebuked Peter, he would have been a pincushion for Roman swords.

     As for James and John, they were given the nickname “sons of thunder.”  They were a bit rowdy, and their blood could run hot.  For example, when Jesus began to travel to Jerusalem, he intended to stay in a Samaritan village.  When the Samaritans refused to let Jesus stay in their village, James and John suggested calling down fire from heaven to destroy the place.  A bit of an overreaction, wouldn’t you say?  To liken this village to Sodom and Gomorrah?  These are some of the men Jesus called to be his disciples.  We might have concluded that they were not the right men for the job.  But Jesus comes with a strange grace.

     We tend to put these disciples on a pedestal because they became apostles of Jesus.  But the Bible shows us that Jesus called flawed men to follow him.  But that is all of us, isn’t it?  Our story will not be recorded in the best-selling, most-read book in the history of the world.  But we all have stories that we would just assume would never be told.  We don’t want to be reminded of our sin and shame.  Nevertheless, we are haunted by those stories.  Even if others never hear them, we know them because we lived them.  We have turned our backs on friends, used people, and let others take the blame for our sins.  Like the disciples Jesus called, we have shot off our mouths, acted without thinking, and prayed for the death of people who have disrespected us.  The Bible reminds us, “The soul who sins shall die” (Ezekiel 18:4).  The shame we feel is appropriate.  Our death is deserved, and our judgment has been earned.  Repent.

     But Jesus comes with a strange grace.  He knows our hearts and minds.  There are no secrets with him.  Yet, he does not turn away from us in disgust.  He calls us to himself.  He is eager to have us follow him, be with him, and converse with him.  That does not mean Jesus doesn’t care about our sins or that he overlooks them.  Instead, he comes to pay for them.  He takes up a debt that he did not incur and makes the payment he did not owe.

     Jesus comes with a strange grace.  He declared, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15).  To repent, in part, means to turn away from sins and flee from them.  But it also means to give up trying to make our own case with God—that our sins are not that bad, that we are better than most, that we have good qualities that should be rewarded, that God should relax his Commandments, that God should be soft in his judgment, and so on.  If we repent of everything about ourselves, then we must rely completely on Jesus to take away everything in us that is corrupt.  If we repent of everything about ourselves, then we must rely on Jesus to credit us with everything that would make us innocent. 

     Jesus comes with a strange grace, because Jesus comes to do exactly these things for us.  Rather than breathe out words of cursing and vengeance, Jesus suffered in silence for us.  Rather than strike back at others, Jesus endured the punches and being spit upon for us.  Rather than slaughter those who plotted his demise, Jesus endured the death that sinners deserve.  Jesus lived and died in pure innocence, loving even his most vicious enemies.  He bore the curse for everyone.  In doing so, Jesus has taken away your sins, the punishment you’ve earned, and the curse you deserve.  In turn, Jesus has washed you clean through holy baptism.  Your shame has been covered with his righteousness.  He bestows upon you the very innocence you need to dwell in the kingdom of God.  None of this is earned or deserved by us, but Jesus gives it freely. 

     “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15).  This gospel is this: God loves sinners and wants us to dwell with him forever.  The kingdom of God is a kingdom of grace.  This grace is strange and marvelous to us, but it is the very nature of God.  While it is strange, it need not be surprise.  Remember the word of the Lord: “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord” (Isaiah 55:8). 

     Jesus called Andrew and Simon, James and John to follow him, but it was more than that.  Jesus told them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men” (Mark 1:17).  Just as Jesus plucked up these men from the murky depths of sin and death, so they would snatch others up for the Lord.  Why these men?  For the same reason you get to do it.  You and I know what it is to be shown mercy.  You and I know what it is to live with secret shame, and we know what it is for the Lord to relieve our guilt and to cleanse us in the blood of Jesus.  We know what it is to have stories that we never want told, and we know what it is that our story now is that we are forgiven and beloved by God.  So, who better than you to proclaim this mercy to other sinners?  Who better than you to be merciful to those who are ashamed or afraid?  Who better than you to demonstrate the patience, kindness, and faithfulness of God?  It will seem like a strange grace to people who know that you don’t owe them anything.  And they will marvel that so much would be invested in them for their good.

     Jesus comes with a strange grace.  Does it seem like God knows what he is doing in calling you, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men” (Mark 1:17)?  Perhaps not, because you know your past, and you know what you still are—still weak, still flawed, still sinful.  For this reason, others might challenge what right you have to speak about sin and grace.  If you are only trying to promote yourself, their scorn is valid.  But we don’t preach ourselves.  We are not the good news.  We preach Jesus Christ who comes with strange grace.  He brings relief to the guilty and hope to the dying.

     Even if you feel that you are not up to speaking for Jesus, fear not.  Jesus said that he would make you become fishers of men.  As you follow Jesus, he trains you.  You not only hear his word, but you take it to heart.  Jesus works in your heart so that you learn to think, to speak, and to act like Jesus.  Then, it is Jesus who at work in you.  As you confess his word, Jesus plucks up people from the murky depths of sin and death.  It is Jesus who makes his call powerful and effective, even if it comes through the mouth of sinners. 

     This grace comes through the strangest of places—through the mouths of Andrew and Simon, through the testimony of James and John, and through the confession made by you.  And this grace comes the kingdom of our loving Savior.  How strange, and yet how wonderful, that Jesus died in innocence to save the guilty!  How strange, and yet how wonderful, that the saved are now called to save others.  The time has been fulfilled.  The kingdom of God is at hand.  Jesus has come.  Let us follow him for every good thing.

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

Update from Good Shepherd (January 18, 2024)

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 meets on Wednesdays at 6:30 PM.
          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.

ADULT BIBLE CLASS

          We are studying the Scriptures to see how they 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. The schedule is below. 
               Jan. 21 -- Dispensationalism (Rapture and Tribulation)
               Jan. 28 -- The Present Life in Light of Jesus’ Future Coming 

          Classes are Sundays at 9:00 AM.

BIBLE MATTERS
        Bible Matters has resumed.  Classes are Wednesdays at 6:30 PM. We will take up the topic of End Times which we have been covering on Sunday mornings. This schedule, however, will be an abbreviated version of Sunday’s Adult Bible Class. It can be found here.

NEW MEMBERS FROM LOLA PARK LUTHERAN CHURCH (REDFORD)
       Lola Park Lutheran Church conducted its final service on Sunday, December 31. Now the members of Lola Park will be transferring to area WELS congregations. Good Shepherd is likely to receive a number of these people as members here. Strive to make them feel welcome, as it can be a traumatic experience to have one’s home church close.

EASTER FOR KIDS PREP MEETING
          Easter for Kids will be on Saturday, March 23. While that is two months away, the preparations which need to be made for this event will need to get going in order to make this a memorable event for those who come to it. We will need people to help us produce three sets which our guests will “tour” as it relates the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection. We will also need people to tend each site on the tour to repeat the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection, helpers with crafts (both prep and assisting at the event) and help with publicity. We also welcome any ideas to improve this event.
          Our Easter for Kids prep meeting will be Sunday, January 21 after church. We welcome all members of Good Shepherd to participate.

TEEN EVENT AT ST. PAUL’S, LIVONIA
          THIS SATURDAY (January 20), St. Paul’s Lutheran Church (17810 Farmington Road) in Livonia will be hosting a teen event for high schoolers from 6:00- 9 :00 PM. Doors open at 5:30 PM. There will be games, snacks, a speaker, and breakout discussions. The topic will be: Staring a Spiritual Conversation. The event is free. This is a way to get to know the other WELS teens in our area, and it is also a preview of what the international Youth Rally will be like in Fort Collins, Colorado this summer. Although the official registration deadline has passed, St. Paul’s will not refuse teens who are eager to join in. For more information, contact Pastor Josh Krieger at (602) 370-8468.

WELS INTERNATIONAL YOUTH RALLY
          This summer, about 2,000 WELS teens (from 8th grade graduation through 12th grade graduation) from all over the country will be gathering in Fort Collins, Colorado for a Youth Rally. The Rally will be held June 25-28. All who have attended have raved about what a good time this is. More information can be found at www.welsyouthrally.net. The cost is $410 for early bird registration, March 6 – April 30. Transportation costs are not included in the registration fee. Good Shepherd teens will likely connect with St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Livonia to ensure that we have our teens connected to a chaperon. If you are interested, please speak to Pastor Schroeder.

CHURCH COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS (January)

>    We have drafted a tentative schedule of events for 2024.  Some events will involve more planning than others in order to make them more appealing and beneficial to our guests—for example, our Easter for Kids event on March 23 which will be here sooner than it seems.  Look for opportunities to plan, prepare, and participate in upcoming events.  The 2024 schedule of events will be posted on the church bulletin board.

>    We will have our Annual Open Forum, followed by our Voters’ Meeting, on Sunday, February 11 after church.  A continental breakfast will be provided to keep people alert and energized.  We will be reviewing briefly the highlights of last year and propose plans for the remainder of 2024 and beyond.  We enco8urage all our members, as well as those who are coming to us from Lola Park, to engage in conversation about what we can do as a congregation.  We welcome questions, suggestions, and critiques so that we can make the most of the gifts God has given to us—especially the service of his people.

GOOD SHEPHERD ON YOUTUBE

          Services are uploaded to YouTube each week. Feel free to share the videos. Here is the service from Christmas Eve (January 7, 2024): Good Shepherd Novi, Divine Service, January 7, 2023 (youtube.com)

BAD WEATHER POLICY FOR SERVICES AT GOOD SHEPHERD
          We will always have services as scheduled at Good Shepherd. Since I live across the parking lot, I can get to the church no matter how bad the weather gets. Even if the service is just me and my family, we will be here. For everyone else, please use your God-given common sense to determine whether or not you will get on the road to attend any service when the weather is bad. We don't want anyone to risk his or her life to be here. But if you do venture out, the scheduled service will take place. It may be only a handful with a cappella singing and/or spoken liturgy, but we will be here.
          Bible Classes and meetings may be canceled due to weather. Check your email regarding announcements to see if any of those scheduled events are canceled. If there is no email about it, it is not canceled. But again, use common sense to determine if you can make it, and call the pastor to let him know if you will not be coming.

DIVINE CALL RETURNED
          Pastor Schroeder returned the Divine Call from Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Wautoma, Wisconsin.  He will continue serve at Good Shepherd for the foreseeable future.  The letter read at Good Shepherd and sent to Peace in Wautoma can be found here.

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

==============================

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 meets on Wednesdays at 6:30 PM.

GOOD SHEPHERD’S WEBSITE
www.GoodShepherdNovi.org

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

Sermon -- 2nd Sunday after Epiphany (January 14, 2024)

2 THESSALONIANS 2:13-17

JESUS CALLS US TO FOLLOW HIM.

In the name + of Jesus.

      St. Paul gave thanks to God for the Christians who lived in Thessalonica.  In two brief letters to these Thessalonians—eight total chapters—St. Paul gave thanks to God five times for their faithfulness to the Lord.  If you know their history, you know why.

     When St. Paul first came to Thessalonica, he went to the synagogue as was his custom.  He proclaimed to the Jews the fulfillment of the Old Testament promises.  He showed from Scripture that Jesus of Nazareth is the long-promised Messiah.  That news was not always so eagerly received.  Even Nathanael in our Gospel reading could not believe that anything worthwhile could come out of Nazareth, much less the Savior of the world.  Some in Thessalonica received God’s word eagerly, glad that God had fulfilled his promises.  Others bitterly rejected the message.  They did not tell Paul, “We will agree to disagree.”  Instead, they turned to violence.  They gathered a mob and stirred up a riot.  As a result, the Christians hurried St. Paul and his co-workers out of town in the middle of the night so that they would not be killed.   

     Paul, Silas, and Timothy were safe, but the Christians in Thessalonica remained.  Their homes, families, friends, and businesses were in Thessalonica, but so was the persecution.  St. Paul ached for those new Christians.  He prayed fervently for them, but he had to wonder: Would they remain faithful to Jesus if they had to suffer for his name?  Would they follow Jesus if the way involved violence or mockery or loss of friends and business?  Did they resort back to life without Jesus, living as they did before St. Paul showed up?

     When he could stand it no longer, Paul sent Timothy back to see if there was still a church in Thessalonica.  Timothy returned with great news.  Despite the persecution, the people had continued to follow Jesus.  Then Paul wrote two letters in quick succession.  The first letter expressed joy that the Thessalonians remained faithful to Jesus.  The second letter encouraged them to continue following Jesus, even if there was a cost to do so. 

     Jesus calls us to follow him.  Rather than consider what we might suffer for the sake of Jesus, let us consider what we gain.  After all, if following Jesus means suffering, what we gain from him had better be worth it.  St. Paul reminded the Thessalonians what they gained by following Jesus.  He wrote, “God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth” (2 Thessalonians 2:13). 

     First, he notes, “God chose you.”  Their meeting with St. Paul was not coincidental.  Yes, it was Paul’s plan to go there and to preach, but the Thessalonians had not planned this.  The good news of Jesus was new to them.  The summons to follow Jesus was by God’s design.  Their faith in God’s promises was God’s working.  And so it is with you.  Perhaps you grew up in a Christian family and never knew any differently.  That is by God’s design, too.  God put you where he wanted you so that you would be set apart by the Holy Spirit and would know the truth.  Perhaps the summons to follow Jesus came later in life for you.  God arranged it that you would meet someone who told you about Jesus.  And God worked in you so that you would acknowledge that God’s word is true.

     Sometimes, the truth of God’s word gets rejected.  Those who rejected it in Thessalonica distorted the message to discourage others from even listening to it.  These were the charges lobbed against St. Paul and his co-workers: “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, …and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus” (Acts 17:6-7).  Kind of true, but not really.  Yes, we do pledge our allegiance to King Jesus who lives and reigns over heaven and earth, but we do not call for insurrection against our governing authorities. 

     Do not be surprised when people misrepresent the Christian faith.  People who hate Jesus will say anything to dishonor him and to scorn the people who follow him.  They make false assertions about the Christian faith.  Because they are made boldly, many believe they are true.  Because they are made repeatedly, many regard them as common knowledge.  One common complaint that people make is that they are against organized religion.  But what does that mean?  What is “organized religion” and what about it do they hate?  Challenge the assertion, and listen to their reply.  Maybe someone was lied to or conned.  Their anger would be valid, but it should be aimed at the liar, not Jesus.  Jesus does not lie or cheat anyone.  But many do not know why they hate the church.  It sounds wise just to repeat what others say.  Assertions often go unchallenged.  Many regard assertions as facts.  They are like the mob in Thessalonica who got stirred up, even if they did not know what there was to be angry about.  Just because assertions are popular does not mean they are true.  Jesus calls us to follow him so that we are not deceived. 

     When Philip told Nathanael about Jesus, Nathanael was skeptical.  He did not think a Savior would come from some nowhere village like Nazareth.  Philip did not engage in a debate.  He simply invited Nathanael, “Come and see” (John 1:46).  This is all you need to do, too.  If you feel that you are capable of debating someone about what is true and what is not, go for it.  But often, this ends up being more about winning the debate with “Gotcha” statements than it does proclaiming God’s promises.  Rather than debate, ask, “Do you know what Jesus taught?  Maybe you would like to know, then your mockery can at least be informed.”  Many who despise Jesus don’t even know what he has to say or give.  In order for anyone to turn from sin and follow Jesus, they must hear the words of Jesus.

     Jesus calls us to follow him so that we continue to hear and grow in his word.  St. Paul encouraged the Thessalonians to continue in it for the same reason.  They needed to follow Jesus so that they could stand firm as they suffered for the sake of his name.  St. Paul encouraged them, “Brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter” (2 Thessalonians 2:15). 

     To follow Jesus is to listen to him.  The apostles like Philip and Nathanael were called to follow Jesus.  They heard his teachings and observed his actions.  Since we cannot do that, but the apostles recorded the words and works of Jesus so that we can know them.  These are the traditions that St. Paul referred to.  Traditions are literally, “things handed down” to us.  We have Jesus’ words handed down to us—whether they are preached or we read them for ourselves.  To hear the words of Jesus—to mark, read, learn, and inwardly digest them—is to follow him and to gain all he offers and gives. 

     Jesus calls us to follow him.  So, what does he give us that makes it worth it?  St. Paul wrote, “Our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace” (2 Thessalonians 2:16).  Our Lord Jesus gives us eternal comfort.  That means the comfort he gives us is always consoling our consciences and granting peace to us.  I don’t know how long the persecution endured in Thessalonica.  I don’t know how intense it got.  I would imagine even a week of persecution would make life miserable—either suffering the hardships or enduring the stress of what might happen.  Who would not be tempted to abandon Jesus if there were a real cost to following him—loss of friends, reputation, or business?  If the persecution were particularly intense, they may have lost their lives.  But they never lost the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  They never lost God’s favor so that, whenever or however death came to them, they would be welcomed into the glories of the heavenly kingdom.  That comfort is eternal.  That hope remains secure.

     So it is for you, too.  You and I have not suffered intense persecution—ridicule, perhaps, but not confiscated homes or imprisonment.  Even if our troubles are not to the level of the Thessalonians, we still have our share of troubles.  Jesus calls us to follow him.  That means we are set apart not just from the curse but also the practice of sin.  It means we are set apart for good works and holy living.  If you continue in godly thoughts and godly living, the world will think you are strange.  You will be pressured to put away your faith, or at least to limit your faith to these four walls.  You will be told, “Keep your faith in your head.  You can believe what you want, just don’t talk about it.  Do not bring it out into the open.”  But if you follow Jesus—not just in church or in your head, but also “in every good work and word” (2 Thessalonians 2:17)—some may make your life miserable.

     Yes, the world can be a miserable place for God’s people.  But Jesus calls us to follow him to find eternal comfort in spite of any misery you may face—whether persecution, sickness, job loss, betrayal by friends, or your own death.  None of these cancels Jesus’ sufferings and death for you.  Nothing erases Jesus’ payment for your sins.  No matter what you suffer in this life, your eternal life is guaranteed by Jesus.  The world may condemn you; Jesus will not.  He has taken away your sins.  The world will judge you, but Jesus’ judgment is the only one that matters.  His judgment is eternal and final, and he has told you what it is: You have been cleansed by his blood and are innocent of all charges.  Everyone in the world is on their way to the grave.  You and I are too.  But Jesus has overcome death, and he will deliver us out of it.  If death should come through violence or virus, Jesus assures you of a resurrection with an incorruptible body and an endless life of glorious splendor.  This is the Christian hope. 

     Jesus calls you to follow him because he alone supplies eternal comfort and good hope.  Rather than call it hope, let’s call it expectation.  We expect to have eternal life.  We expect the resurrection of the body.  We expect endless peace and glory with Jesus.  We expect it because Jesus has promised it.  He has backed up every promise with his death and resurrection.  No matter what the world promises you, it cannot give you the blessings Jesus gives.  No matter how the world threatens you, it cannot take away the blessings Jesus gives.  Jesus calls us to follow him.  All who do will pass through a world of sorrow and follow Jesus into endless glory.

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

Update from Good Shepherd (January 11, 2024)

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 meets on Wednesdays at 6:30 PM.
          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.

ADULT BIBLE CLASS

          We are studying the Scriptures to see how they 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. The schedule is below. 
               Jan. 14 -- Millennialism (a 1,000 year reign of Jesus)
               Jan. 21 -- Dispensationalism (Rapture and Tribulation)
               Jan. 28 -- The Present Life in Light of Jesus’ Future Coming 

          Classes are Sundays at 9:00 AM.

BIBLE INFORMATION CLASS BEGINS JANUARY 15 

       A Bible Information Class is scheduled to begin on Monday, January 15.  It will run 7:00 – 8:30 PM and cover the core teachings of the Bible.  A schedule can be found here.  To register or for further information, email welsnovi@aol.com.

BIBLE MATTERS
        Bible Matters has resumed.  Classes are Wednesdays at 6:30 PM. We will take up the topic of End Times which we have been covering on Sunday mornings. This schedule, however, will be an abbreviated version of Sunday’s Adult Bible Class. It can be found here.

NEW MEMBERS FROM LOLA PARK LUTHERAN CHURCH (REDFORD)
       Lola Park Lutheran Church conducted its final service on Sunday, December 31. Now the members of Lola Park will be transferring to area WELS congregations. Good Shepherd is likely to receive a number of these people as members here. Strive to make them feel welcome, as it can be a traumatic experience to have one’s home church close.

EASTER FOR KIDS PREP MEETING
          Easter for Kids will be on Saturday, March 23. While that is two months away, the preparations which need to be made for this event will need to get going in order to make this a memorable event for those who come to it. We will need people to help us produce three sets which our guests will “tour” as it relates the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection. We will also need people to tend each site on the tour to repeat the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection, helpers with crafts (both prep and assisting at the event) and help with publicity. We also welcome any ideas to improve this event.
          Our Easter for Kids prep meeting will be Sunday, January 21 after church. We welcome all members of Good Shepherd to participate.

DIVINE CALL RETURNED
          Pastor Schroeder returned the Divine Call from Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Wautoma, Wisconsin.  He will continue serve at Good Shepherd for the foreseeable future.  The letter read at Good Shepherd and sent to Peace in Wautoma can be found here.

CHURCH COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS (December)

>    We will begin having a fund drive for the purchase of a new LED sign for the church.  Based on feedback from our congregation, we will pursue a two-sided sign that will face east and west, focused on traffic on 9 Mile Road.  Estimates are about $22,000 for such a sign.  We are planning for this fund raising campaign to run through June and then to assess when we might be able to install the sign.

>    We have drafted a tentative schedule of events for 2024.  Some events will involve more planning than others in order to make them more appealing and beneficial to our guests—for example, our Easter for Kids event on March 23 which will be here sooner than it seems.  Look for opportunities to plan, prepare, and participate in upcoming events.  The 2024 schedule of events will be posted on the church bulletin board.

GOOD SHEPHERD ON YOUTUBE

          Services are uploaded to YouTube each week. Feel free to share the videos. Here is the service from Christmas Eve (January 7, 2024): Good Shepherd Novi, Divine Service, January 7, 2023 (youtube.com)

BAD WEATHER POLICY FOR SERVICES AT GOOD SHEPHERD
          We will always have services as scheduled at Good Shepherd. Since I live across the parking lot, I can get to the church no matter how bad the weather gets. Even if the service is just me and my family, we will be here. For everyone else, please use your God-given common sense to determine whether or not you will get on the road to attend any service when the weather is bad. We don't want anyone to risk his or her life to be here. But if you do venture out, the scheduled service will take place. It may be only a handful with a cappella singing and/or spoken liturgy, but we will be here.
          Bible Classes and meetings may be canceled due to weather. Check your email regarding announcements to see if any of those scheduled events are canceled. If there is no email about it, it is not canceled. But again, use common sense to determine if you can make it, and call the pastor to let him know if you will not be coming.

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

==============================

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 meets on Wednesdays at 6:30 PM.

GOOD SHEPHERD’S WEBSITE
www.GoodShepherdNovi.org

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

YouTube -- Epiphany, transferred (January 7, 2024)

Here is the Divine Service from Sunday, January 7, 2024.

Sermon -- Epiphany, transferred (January 7, 2024)

NOTE: Some of the thoughts in this sermon were cleaned from Rev. David Petersen of Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church of Fort Wayne, Indiana.

MATTHEW 2:1-12

JESUS IS THE SAVIOR OF THE UNLIKED AND THE UNLIKELY.

In the name + of Jesus.

     If you’ve ever read the first nine chapters of 1 Chronicles, you’ve probably gutted through them for the sake of completing them, but also wondered, “Why on earth is this in the Bible?  Who cares?  I don’t even know who these people are!  It’s like reading a phone book!”  (Note for anyone under 25: Phone books listed the names, addresses, and phone numbers of people in your city.  Every house had a phone book.)  The genealogies mattered in the Old Testament because it proved their connection to the covenant.  To prove you were from Israel was to prove you were God’s chosen people.  The New Testament does not have such lists because the new covenant is not focused on one nation.

     If any of the names in 1 Chronicles resonates with you, it is because you remember something they did.  For the most part, though, you will only know name and nationality.  You know nothing else about those people.  Today’s gospel gives us the exact opposite of that.  We hear about the Magi and their connection to Jesus.  They had some words to say.  They had gifts to present.  They knelt before the baby Jesus, perhaps a year old by this time, probably younger.  And they had traveled some distance to see the Christ.  So, we know what they did, but we know very little else about them.  Tradition gives them names; the Bible does not.  Tradition gives them a homeland; the Bible does not. 

     The Bible says they were “wise men from the east” (Matthew 2:1).  It is assumed that they came from Persia.  The word “Magi” is a Babylonian word, so that’s reasonable.  And Persia is east of Jerusalem.  At the same time, the prophet Isaiah had foretold that “a multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come.  They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall bring good news, the praises of the Lord” (Isaiah 60:6).  Midian, Ephah, and Sheba are equivalent to Saudi Arabia and Yemen.  If the Magi came up from the south, they would have come up the east side of the Jordan River and crossed over at Jericho, which means they came from the east.  The etymology of the word “Magi” suggests Iran, but the prophet Isaiah hints at Yemen.  So, their names are unknown.  Their homeland is an educated guess.  Even their number is in question, other than the fact that Magi is plural.  Three gifts do not guarantee only three visitors.

     The Magi would have surprised the Jews because they were foreigners.  The Magi did not come with credentials or with a 1 Chronicles-type lineage.  We are not so surprised since we do not depend upon our nationality for God’s favor.  What surprises us about the Magi is their vocation.  It is not merely off-putting; it is offensive.  The word “Magi” means that they practiced magic arts and were astrologers.  They interpreted the constellations for divine revelation and spiritual guidance.  If we had been there, we would have sneered at them and thought to ourselves, “What makes you think you belong here?”  It would be like seeing psychics from Iran or members of Hamas showing up here for worship.  But Jesus is the Savior of the unliked and the unlikely.

      The same could be said of the shepherds.  The shepherds were the lowlifes of society.  We might compare them to people who have been released from prison and now need employment.  Even if they were good at their job, that does not mean people respected them.  And yet, who is it to whom the angels preached good news of great joy?  And who was it that “made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child” (Luke 2:17)?  The Lord did not summon the people who were deemed worthy or proper.  Jesus is the Savior of the unliked and the unlikely.  So, these are the ones whom we see with the Christ Child.

     Of course, the powerful and influential were involved too.  The Magi sought the king of the Jews, so they went where you would expect to find him—to the palace in Jerusalem.  But “when Herod the king heard (their reason for coming), he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him” (Matthew 2:3).  Herod knew about the Christ, but he had no desire for him.  Herod’s interest in the Christ was only political.  He summoned the priests and rabbis to find out where the Christ would be born.  Finally, someone opened a Bible and saw that the prophet Micah had foretold his birth would be in Bethlehem.  Now, how did the powerful and influential respond to this?  Herod plotted to kill the Christ.  The Bible scholars did bother to travel the six and a half miles to Bethlehem to check it out.  It was the Magi, the unlikeable foreigners and the unlikely magicians, who completed their long journey to see the Christ, the king of the Jews.

     We find the account of the Magi endearing because they represent us.  We were not a part of the Old Testament covenant.  We are the outsiders whom God has graciously brought in.  If you have been in God’s kingdom from birth and have known nothing different, then thank God.  Many people have not known this much grace.  But our life-long heritage can tempt us to think like the priests and the rabbis who were in Jerusalem.  We want to preserve our little kingdom and keep it safe from the unliked and the unlikely.  Perhaps that is the reason the priests and rabbis did not lead the charge to Bethlehem.  Jerusalem was safe.  It allowed them to enjoy their wealth, their influence, and their control.  To leave Jerusalem was to enter a messy, uncontrolled environment with risks and discomfort.

     If you remember about eight years ago, many people fled Syria because of the conflicts that were going on with ISIS.  Thousands ended up in Germany.  Many of those Muslim refugees reported having what is known as the “Jesus dream.”  In this dream, Jesus appears and tells them, “Go to a Christian church.”  Many Muslims dutifully obeyed.  A Lutheran pastor in Berlin ended up baptizing hundreds of Muslims into the Christian faith.  We are all filled with amazement and joy over the conversion of so many into the Christian faith.  But let me ask you, what if dozens (we won’t dream of hundreds) of Muslims showed up for church here?  How would you feel?  Would you sneer and think to yourself, “What makes you think you belong here?”  Would you want to refer them to a different church?  Would you want to preserve our little kingdom and try to keep things safe, clean, and controlled?  Are we any different than the priests and rabbis from Jerusalem?  Repent.

     Jesus is the Savior of the unliked and the unlikely.  The Magi were no saints.  They had practiced magic arts.  They worshipped the stars, seeking from them divine revelation and guidance.  And in fact, God used a star to bring them to something better.  When the Magi got to Jerusalem, they were given something much more reliable than the stars.  They heard the words of Scripture.  God’s love and God’s salvation are revealed there.  In the same way, those Muslims who were guided to the Christian church by a dream were not told to rely on their dreams any longer.  They were baptized into Christ and pointed to the Scripture as the only source of truth and light.  That is where the Lord speaks.  The stars do not hold secrets, and dreams are weird.  But the word of the Lord is firm and true.

     Jesus is the Savior of the unliked and the unlikely.  Therefore, the Magi were not chased away from the Christ.  Rather, they made a strong confession about him.  Besides traveling a great distance to come to him, they also expressed the reason for their visit: “We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him” (Matthew 2:2).  Worship is reserved only for God.  If they worshiped the Christ Child as God, they no longer had need for the stars or magic.  Forgiveness of sins and salvation cannot come from stars or tricks or even miracles.  They can only come from God who has come to earth as a human being.  This the Magi needed to see, to confess, and to worship. 

     Jesus is the Savior of the unliked and the unlikely.  The Magi presented their lavish gifts—gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  Their gifts were also acts of worship.  However, it was Jesus who would give up everything to deliver the Magi from all their sins.  Jesus has come for the unliked and the unlikely.  Like the Magi, there is nothing in us that God should like—not when we think that we are superior to other people, not when we despise others because their lives are so messed up, not when the fear of what we might lose means more than the mercy that others might gain.  Jesus has come to suffer everything so that we will not suffer for our sins.  Jesus has endured the agonies of divine wrath so that we would receive divine mercy.  He was condemned so that we would be pardoned.  How unlikely that the pure and innocent Lord would bear responsibility for the sins which he does not like!  But he did, and he did it gladly to secure our salvation.  He purifies hearts stained by loveless attitudes.  He provides cleansing for all who have made a mess of their lives.  He proclaims words of truth to any who have yearned for guidance for their lives.  Jesus is the Savior of the unliked and the unlikely, and he makes us his beloved.

     Since the Lord has poured out so much mercy upon us, it is good and right for us to have mercy upon others.  If we truly fear what we might lose, then we are clinging too tightly to things that will perish anyway.  But you cannot lose the mercy of God by extending it to others.  And you cannot lessen the value of salvation by giving it away.  Even if others reject God’s goodness, God is still good to you.  But let it never be suggested that Jesus has nothing to offer to someone whose life is messed up.  Let us never refuse to offer hope in Jesus’ name.  Yes, it might get a little messy because sinners have messy lives.  People who are broken often don’t have their lives in order.  Rather than focus on our comfort, let’s strive to provide comfort for the hurting, the lost, the lonely, and even the unlikeable.  Jesus comes for such people with healing and hope.

     The Magi “rejoiced exceedingly with great joy” (Matthew 2:10) that they got to see the Christ.  Whatever their past was, Jesus would wipe the record clean.  Whatever anyone would have thought of them, the Lord had made it clear that he loved them.  He made a place for them in his kingdom.  That place did not depend upon their names, their nationality, or their past.  It depended upon the Savior who forgives sins and purifies us from all unrighteousness.  If nobody remembers your name, if nobody remembers what you have done with your life, even if people do not like you, the Lord Jesus does.  He is the Savior of the unliked and the unlikely, and he desires you to be his forever.

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

Update from Good Shepherd (January 4, 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 meets on Wednesdays at 6:30 PM.
          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.

ADULT BIBLE CLASS

          We are studying the Scriptures to see how they 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. The schedule is below. 
               Jan. 07 -- The Judgment
               Jan. 14 -- Millennialism (a 1,000 year reign of Jesus)
               Jan. 21 -- Dispensationalism (Rapture and Tribulation)
               Jan. 28 -- The Present Life in Light of Jesus’ Future Coming 

          Classes are Sundays at 9:00 AM.

PRIVATE CONFESSION & ABSOLUTION

       Private Confession & Absolution will be available without an appointment on Saturday, January 6 from 10:00 AM – Noon.  Click here for an explanation of the theology and practice of Private Confession and Absolution.

BIBLE INFORMATION CLASS BEGINS JANUARY 15 

       A Bible Information Class is scheduled to begin on Monday, January 15.  It will run 7:00 – 8:30 PM and cover the core teachings of the Bible.  A schedule can be found here.  To register or for further information, email welsnovi@aol.com.

BIBLE MATTERS RESUMES JANUARY 10 AT 6:30 PM
        On Wednesday, January 10, we will resume Bible Matters. We will take up the topic of End Times which we have been covering on Sunday mornings. This schedule, however, will be an abbreviated version of Sunday’s Adult Bible Class. It can be found here.

NEW MEMBERS FROM LOLA PARK LUTHERAN CHURCH (REDFORD)
       Lola Park Lutheran Church conducted its final service on Sunday, December 31. Now the members of Lola Park will be transferring to area WELS congregations. Good Shepherd is likely to receive a number of these people as members here. Strive to make them feel welcome, as it can be a traumatic experience to have one’s home church close.

DIVINE CALL RETURNED
          Pastor Schroeder returned the Divine Call from Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Wautoma, Wisconsin.  He will continue serve at Good Shepherd for the foreseeable future.  The letter read at Good Shepherd and sent to Peace in Wautoma can be found here.

CHURCH COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS (December)

>    We will begin having a fund drive for the purchase of a new LED sign for the church.  Based on feedback from our congregation, we will pursue a two-sided sign that will face east and west, focused on traffic on 9 Mile Road.  Estimates are about $22,000 for such a sign.  We are planning for this fund raising campaign to run through June and then to assess when we might be able to install the sign.

>    We have drafted a tentative schedule of events for 2024.  Some events will involve more planning than others in order to make them more appealing and beneficial to our guests—for example, our Easter for Kids event on March 23 which will be here sooner than it seems.  Look for opportunities to plan, prepare, and participate in upcoming events.  The 2024 schedule of events will be posted on the church bulletin board.

GOOD SHEPHERD ON YOUTUBE

          Services are uploaded to YouTube each week. Feel free to share the videos. Here is the service from Christmas Eve (December 24): Good Shepherd Novi, Christmas Eve Service, December 24, 2023 (youtube.com)

BAD WEATHER POLICY FOR SERVICES AT GOOD SHEPHERD
          We will always have services as scheduled at Good Shepherd. Since I live across the parking lot, I can get to the church no matter how bad the weather gets. Even if the service is just me and my family, we will be here. For everyone else, please use your God-given common sense to determine whether or not you will get on the road to attend any service when the weather is bad. We don't want anyone to risk his or her life to be here. But if you do venture out, the scheduled service will take place. It may be only a handful with a cappella singing and/or spoken liturgy, but we will be here.
          Bible Classes and meetings may be canceled due to weather. Check your email regarding announcements to see if any of those scheduled events are canceled. If there is no email about it, it is not canceled. But again, use common sense to determine if you can make it, and call the pastor to let him know if you will not be coming.

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

==============================

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 meets on Wednesdays at 6:30 PM.

GOOD SHEPHERD’S WEBSITE
www.GoodShepherdNovi.org

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