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

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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 meets on Wednesdays at 6:30 PM.

GOOD SHEPHERD’S WEBSITE
www.GoodShepherdNovi.org

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