Announcements

† IN OUR PRAYERS  Cindy E., undergoing surgery this coming Friday; Jim B., undergoing treatment for pancreatic cancer; Stephen Ministry and their care receivers.

† WELCOME  Daniel Heitshusen, husband of Rachael (Eaton) Heitshusen, will be delivering today’s sermon.  He is finishing up his last year at the Seminary in St. Louis and looks forward to receiving a call to a congregation this spring.

† THANK YOU to everyone who has been so kind and generous to us this holiday season.  We have been blessed to receive gifts in the form of song, socks and several other types of gifts.  We feel blessed to be a part of Good Shepherd. Thank you from the Mehl family.

† 2024 OFFERING CONTRIBUTIONS  If you wish to receive a record of your GSLC charitable contributions for the 2024 tax year, please talk to Sandy D. or Denise G. or you can contact the church office, 358-1325.

† LWML MEETING  Kyle D. will be speaking about his time in Italy and his military church “The Refuge” at the January 7^th LWML meeting.  Topic will be “Ministry to the Military: Stand with the Full Armor of God”.  Everyone and all who are interested are welcome to come.

† ELECTED CHURCH OFFICERS  The elected church officers for 2025 will be installed Sunday, January 12.

† LWML  Greeting Cards will be available in the Narthex on a table.  There is a large variety of cards of different occasions.  The table will be up for the month  of January 2025.  Please feel free to choose cards that you can use.

† TREASURER NOTE  Our expenses for 2024 totaled $237,511, while our income totaled $232,906 leaving us a deficit of $4,605.

† CHURCH FOCUS QUESTIONNAIRE   With the January Newsletter was a questionnaire included about a focus for our congregation.  If you have completed it, you may put it in the blue wire basket in the narthex.  If you need a questionnaire to fill out, there are blank ones next to the wire basket.

† IN OUR PRAYERS  Jim B., undergoing treatment for pancreatic cancer; Stephen Ministry and their care receivers.

† 2024 OFFERING CONTRIBUTIONS  If you wish to receive a record of your GSLC charitable contributions for the 2024 tax year, please talk to Sandy D. or Denise G. or you can contact the church office, 358-1325.

† ELECTED CHURCH OFFICERS  The elected church officers for 2025 will be installed Sunday, January 12.

† LUTHERAN WITNESS  It’s about your faith, your church, your world.  If you would like to subscribe to or renew a subscription to The Lutheran Witness, please use the sign-up sheet on the round table in the narthex or give the church office a call, 358-1325. The annual cost is $20.65.  Please designate “Lutheran  Witness” if placing your payment in the offering plate.  The 2025 subscription year begins in April.

† PORTALS OF PRAYER  The new Portals of Prayer for the winter are on the table by the nursery in the narthex.

† TIME AND TALENT SURVEY  There are copies of the time and talent survey on the round table in the narthex.  There is a blue tray on the information table in the narthex for submitting the completed surveys.  If you have not done so   already, please take the time to fill it out.

† IN OUR PRAYERS  Jim B., undergoing treatment for pancreatic cancer; Stephen Ministry and their care receivers.

† SPECIAL SERVICES

– 7:00 pm  Tuesday, Christmas Eve Candlelight Service with Holy Communion.
– 9:00 am Wednesday, Christmas Day Worship Service with Holy Communion.

† OFFERING ENVELOPES  The 2025 offering envelopes are on the round table in the narthex.  Please remember to discard your 2024 envelopes and use only the 2025 envelopes beginning on Sunday, January 5.  If you do not see your name and want envelopes, please contact the church office.

† SURPRISE BIRTHDAY OPEN HOUSE  Betty Kester will be turning 95 and her family is having a SURPRISE get together for her on Saturday, January 4, from 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm in the downstairs fellowship hall.  They would like to invite anyone from Good Shepherd who would like to celebrate this milestone with her.  No presents please, but Betty really likes to receive cards.

† TREASURER NOTE  As we approach year end 2024, we need $6,140 in each of the remaining 2 weeks (a total of $12,280) to cover the years’ remaining  expenses.

† PORTALS OF PRAYER  The new Portals of Prayer for the winter are on the information table in the narthex.

† TIME AND TALENT SURVEY  There are copies of the time and talent survey on the round table in the narthex.  There is a blue tray on the information table in the narthex for submitting the completed surveys.  If you have not done so   already, please take the time to fill it out.

LFCS SEASON OF SHARING  Thanks to everyone who took an ornament from the tree in the narthex to sponsor a child connected to Lutheran Family and Children’s Services in Joplin for Christmas.  They were greatly appreciated

† IN OUR PRAYERS  Jim B., undergoing treatment for pancreatic cancer; Stephen Ministry and their care receivers.

† THREE WISE GUYS & THE GATHERING OF TALENTS  The children’s Christmas Program will be held this evening at 6:00 pm.  The children are excited to share the story of the Saviors birth with their congregation.  Please join us.

† SPECIAL SERVICES

– 7:00 pm  Tuesday, Christmas Eve Candlelight Service with Holy Communion.

– 9:00 am Wednesday, Christmas Day Worship Service with Holy Communion.

† OFFERING ENVELOPES  The 2025 offering envelopes are on the round table in the narthex.  Please remember to discard your 2024 envelopes and use only the 2025 envelopes beginning on Sunday, January 5.  If you do not see your name and want envelopes, please contact the church office.

† TREASURER NOTE  As we approach year end 2024, we need $6,200 in each of the remaining 3 weeks (a total of $18,600) to cover this year’s remaining expenses.

† PORTALS OF PRAYER  The new Portals of Prayer for the winter are on the table by the nursery in the narthex.

† TIME AND TALENT SURVEY  There are copies of the time and talent survey on the round table in the narthex.  There is a blue tray on the information table in the narthex for submitting the completed surveys.  If you have not done so already, please take the time to fill it out.

† LFCS SEASON OF SHARING  Thanks to everyone who took an ornament from the tree in the narthex to sponsor a child connected to Lutheran Family and Children’s Services in Joplin for Christmas.  They were greatly appreciated.

† MIDWEEK ADVENT SERVICES  The next Advent service will be Wednesday, December 18, at 11:00 am and 7:00 pm.