SHEPHERD S VOICE. Let s Get Going! Pastor John Butcher. Mark Your Calendar. Monthly Newsletter of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church-LCMS SEPTEMBER 2014

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1 Monthly Newsletter of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church-LCMS SEPTEMBER 2014 SHEPHERD S VOICE 9.7 Worship Rally Day Picnic 9.14 Worship 9.21 Worship 9/28 Worship Mark Your Calendar Monday evening worship at 6:00 p.m. each Monday Let s Get Going! Pastor John Butcher Lots of things start back up again in September - school, sports, confirmation class, college (even Seminary), and people look forward to the cooler weather. Harvest time is coming when farmers get into the fields to reap the crops they have sowed in the spring. There is one thing we need to get going on for sure this fall, and that's telling the truth of God's story to the world. Telling the Word is not just Pastor's job; it's every believer's work (Matthew 28: 18-20). Here at Good Shepherd we know the the Bible is God's Word, and not just a fancy, leather-covered book. The Bible is not just something we pass out on street corners. The Bible is God's Word accomplishing the work of salvation through Jesus, of whom the apostle John says "the word became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). Continued on page 2...

2 Pastor s Article Continued We know that God is telling His story through Spirit-inspired men. (2 Timothy 3:16). But this story is not for entertainment only. This story is about the truth. And truth is what God says it is, not what we say it is. Truth is what God says about Himself. I am the way, and the truth, and the life. John 14:6 Every culture has a thought of what is right and wrong. They have their own stories about how their god or gods created and ruled the world. But Scripture, God's only true Word, says that the grass will wither but that His Word will stand forever. (Isaiah 40:8) The majority votes on church lights in this church, and the majority rules. The majority votes on whether to have a new church access, new glass doors, a new handicap entrance, and the majority rules here too. The church votes on missions and how to spend the offerings collected on worship days. And so the majority rules like this in a democracy. Thank the Lord that we are not judged by the majority. We don't always make the right choices in life. We don't always do what is morally right. We certainly don't obey the Ten Commandments. For not living a perfect, holy life, we are condemned to death. For failing, we deserve a death sentence. (1 Corinthians 11:32) The good news worth telling others is that even though people around us may judge us... even though people around us may criticize us for not living perfect lives... even though people around us may not even like us... We are judged not by others, but only by God for the sake of Jesus Christ. Jesus, the Son of God, lived a perfect, obedient, holy life for us. He knew we couldn't handle the truth, let alone live the truth. So Jesus lived - and died - for us sinners. He suffered, died, and rose again to redeem, reclaim, and renew all creation and all His creatures. We are judged by God for the sake of Jesus Christ. The truth worth telling is that Jesus' suffering, death, and resurrection is working even now to redeem, reclaim, and renew all creation and all His creatures. As we start back into all these activities, let's remember to get the truth of God's Word into people's hands so that God can work in their hearts! God sent Jesus into the world to save sinners like you and me. Believing in the Word that tells us Jesus is "the way, and the truth, and the life" (John 14:6) is God's story. This is God's truth. God's authority. His way of speaking to the world. His Word. His Truth. This is what we need to get into people's hands. Let's get going! Verse of the month Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32 (NIV).

3 September 7 "Teeny, Tiny Crosses" Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour: Rev. Ken Klaus Jesus bore the weight of the cross and all of our sin. How big is the cross God calls you to carry? (Matthew 16:24-26) September 7 Thirteenth Sunday in Pentecost Message: The Problem in Paradise Text: Matthew 18:15-20 September 14 Fourteenth Sunday in Pentecost Message: Fool Me Once Text: Matthew 18: September 21 Fifteenth Sunday in Pentecost Message: Gracious Goodness Text: Matthew 20: 1-16 September 28 Sixteenth Sunday in Pentecost Message: Who Says? Text: Matthew 21:23-27 Monday worship is at 6:00 p.m. every Monday. September 14 "That's Just Who God Is" Lutheran Hour Speaker: Rev. Gregory Seltz The journeys of St. Paul teach us how God's message of grace has been translated so that all might believe. (Footsteps of St. Paul, part 1) (Acts 2:1-39) September 21 "Rome: The Gospel Comes to Law and Order People" Lutheran Hour Speaker: Rev. Gregory Seltz God used the Roman legal system to bring the Apostle Paul and the Gospel message to Rome. (Footsteps of St. Paul, part 2) (Acts 28:11-16, 28-31) September 28 "Athens: The Gospel Comes to the Center of Learning" Lutheran Hour Speaker: Rev. Gregory Seltz Jesus is Wisdom personified. He redeems us from sin and the world's futility. (Footsteps of St. Paul, part 3) (Acts 17) The church sponsored 2014 Trivia Night for the Ministerial Alliance Benevolence Fund is scheduled for Saturday, November 8, John Briggs has agreed to again be the emcee for the evening. We are looking for two more people to be involved in the planning for this affair. Planning should be easier this year since we have a format that we feel worked well with just a few changes. Is there anyone that will join us in being on the committee?? Please volunteer rather than being coerced!!! It really is a lot of fun!! TELLING LOVING CARING in Christ

4 SERVE WITH YOUR PRAYERS The sick and health concerns Men and women serving in the armed services and emergency personnel Serving the Lord Ushers 9/7 Matt Hoek Russell Stelzer 9/14 Gary Seider Aaron Seider 9/21 Dan Hoek Steve Maseman 9/28 Ed Bartels Gary Seider Readers 9/7 Dayna Graham 9/14 Russell Stelzer 9/21 Kody Walters 9/28 Ann Seider Skyler Ridgway motorcycle accident; in trauma center in Houston, TX hospital; grandson of Betty Warden; Ellen Newbrough lung cancer; Jacob Bailey motorcycle accident; hospital in St. Louis; son of Diane Bailey; grandson of Dick and Norma Keil; Doris Cochran breast cancer surgery; not in lymph nodes-taking chemo; mother of Donna Hoek; Kevin Grace back surgery; son of Dale and Arlene Grace; Wesley Stemme, recovering at home; father of Alane Gronefeld. LaVern Jennings in nursing home; mother of Neal Jennings; Kathy Errion breast cancer survivor; now cancer in optic nerve and lung mother of Dayna Graham s sister-in-law; Lauri Carroll recovering from liver transplant; cousin of Darrell Gronefeld; Harriet Rausch - failing health; mother of Mark Rausch; Dorothy Boehne aunt of Patti Haubein; Betsey Dailing leukemia; mother of Drew Bartels; Dorothy Rhea badly burned 80 years old great aunt of Jacki Stelzer; Jeanette Stelzer in care center in Washington, MO; mother of Russell Stelzer and Palmyra Dubbert; Michelle Smith daughter of Jane St. John; Carol Hoffman; Mark Ramsey son of Ed Ramsey; Karsen and Kaylyn Trentham son and daughter of Eric and Kim Trentham both have Friedreich s Ataxia. Zachary Warden Air Force; stationed in Bulgaria; grandson of Betty Warden; Gregg Allmon grandson of Edgar and Mary Orth; Ryan Ball grandson of Betty Ball; Caleb Bohlmeyer; Matthew Bolin grandson of Ed and Jean Morse; Ray Finlay husband of Suzanne (Hedberg) Finlay; Dylan Kempker son of LeeAnn Mahieu; Ethan Lee son of Steve and Nancy Lee; grandson of Dick and Norma Keil; Chris Macklin nephew of Ernestine Ramsey; Joe Martin nephew of Palmyra Dubbert and Russell Stelzer; Jeremy Mitchell; Diton J. Parker son of David and Emma Parker; grandson of Margaret Parker; Thomas Teem husband of Margaret Parker s granddaughter, Kaylyn; Andrew Butler husband of Margaret Parker s granddaughter, Sarah; Justin Thurston; Marcus and Mathew Younger. Nursery (worship services) 9/7 Alane Gronefeld 9/14 Jacki Stelzer 9/21 Amanda Tunink 9/28 Lori Gesling Acolytes 9/7 Kylee Walters Kody Walters 9/14 Logan Bird Madison Smith 9/21 Christina Gronefeld Gillian Smith 9/28 Abby Hoek Ella Smith Greeters Verda Adkisson Kathryn Dickey Altar Guild Dana Rakers Karen Butcher Kitchen Kathy Dickey Norma Keil

5 NEW ENTRY BUILDING PROJECT Date/Offering Amount Attendance July 27/28 65/4 Current Building Total August 3/4 71/5 Current Building Sunday School 7.01 Scholarship Total August 10/11 66/4 Current Building Sunday School 7.00 Scholarship Sr. Youth Total August 17/18 77/4 Current Building Scholarship Total We had a great workday to kick off our building project Saturday the 23 rd of August. 25 people were involved in the many things accomplished that day. In Summary to date- Removed the cornerstone wall back to the building and the remaining outside brick back to the existing entrance Removed the vinyl siding, original siding and soffit on the west walls Removed the planter next to the entry Excavated the area for the covered entry, approach and exit Started placement and tamping of the gravel fill below the concrete Despite the hot weather great progress has been made in a short period of time. In addition to helping on the building project, the Senior Youth painted the parking blocks in the lot. Thanks to them for that!! For the most part we are now in the mode of actually starting on the construction and not just demolition!! We have a concrete contractor lined up to pour the covered entry, approach, and exit and a building contractor to install the cover over the entry. August 24/25 85/5 Current Building Sunday School Senior Youth Total FINANCES At the July congregation meeting it was pointed out that our offerings have been running behind budget for most of this year. The budget amount needed each week is $2,608.23, in current and building receipts. The other categories are not included in the budget needs, as they are special designated donations. (VBS, Sunday School, etc.) Everyone was reminded that when we are away on vacation, the operating needs of the church still need to be met.

6 Scholarships awarded on August 10 to two College Students from Good Shepherd Following the worship service on Sunday, August 10, 2014, Gary Seider presented scholarships to Shelby Mechlin and Lauren Seider. Gary Seider Shelby Mechlin Shelby Mechlin received the Sydow Memorial Scholarship and the Hackamack Memorial Scholarship. Shelby is a 2013 graduate of Centralia High School and is the daughter of Sara Mechlin. She is beginning her second year at Central Methodist University in Fayette, MO. SYDOW MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP Harold and Virginia Sydow were charter members of Good Shepherd when it was started in They farmed for many years near Sturgeon. When Harold passed away in 1993 at the age of 75 the family designated the memorial money for a scholarship. After Virginia s death in 2006 at the age of 92 the family requested her memorial money be added to the Sydow Memorial Scholarship fund. HACKAMACK MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP Martha and Lawrence Hackamack moved to Centralia late in life to be near their daughter. When Martha passed away in 1980 at the age of 92, her daughter, Mrs. Millie Beane, a longtime Centralia Kindergarten teacher, requested her memorial money be used for a scholarship fund. Shelby Mechlin Lauren Seider Pastor Butcher Lauren Seider received the Tillinger Memorial Scholarship and the Orth Memorial Scholarship. She is a 2013 graduate of Centralia High School and is the daughter of Gary and Ann Seider. She is beginning her second year at Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas City, Missouri. DAWN TILLINGER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP Dawn Tillinger was the oldest child of Fred and Shirley Tillinger, who are former members of Good Shepherd. They currently reside in Moberly and are members at Zion Lutheran in Moberly. Dawn was a teacher in Texas when she was killed in an accident in 1987 at the age of 25. Her parents requested memorial funds be used as a scholarship. Dawn was blessed with the gift of art. The painting of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, which hangs by the front entrance of the church, was painted by Dawn Tillinger in OTTOMAR AND LORINA ORTH AND MARCUS ORTH MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP Ottomar and Lorina Orth were members of Good Shepherd and farmed north of Centralia. They had no children. When Ottomar passed away in 1997 the family designated the memorials for a scholarship fund. When Lorina passed away in 1999 her memorial money was added to the fund. In 2003, Edgar (Sonny) and Mary Orth's son, Marcus Orth, died in a grain bin accident at the age of 22. The family requested the memorial money for Marcus be added to the Orth Memorial Scholarship Fund. It is now called Ottomar and Lorina Orth and Marcus Orth Memorial Scholarship Fund.

7 Work has begun on replacing and relocating the front doors to the church. The first step, removal of the decorative wall holding the cornerstone, was done earlier in the week. CHURCH ENTRY RELOCATION A workday was scheduled for Saturday, August 23 beginning at 7 a.m. About 25 men, women and youth braved a hot, humid August day and answered the request for help. Several women cleaned and washed windows and provided a noon meal. It was an assembly line. As fast as the front line removed siding; someone in back was ready to take it and put it on the truck. Members of the Youth Group repainted parking blocks. By the end of the morning, the unwanted concrete had been removed; the siding removed from the west end of the church, and several dumptruck loads of debris hauled off. And then it was lunchtime In the air conditioned Fellowship Hall!!

8 GOOD SHEPHERD HOSTS CENTRALIA TEACHER S LUNCH Centralia Teachers gathered in Good Shepherd Fellowship Hall for lunch on August 12, We served approximately 170 people. The lunch is provided at the beginning of each school year by the Centralia Ministerial Alliance. The churches who have a large enough fellowship hall to host this event take turns, with all CMA churches providing food. Women s Guild members want to say a huge thank you to all who answered our call for help with the preparation, set-up, serving and cleanup of the dinner. We especially appreciate the crew who set up all the tables and chairs after church on Sunday, and the members of the Senior High Youth Group (and some Women s Guild husbands) who came to help serve the meal, clean up and put away all those table and chairs the day of the lunch.

9 SEPTEMBER 2014 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1 6:00 pm Worship 2 9:00 am Bible Study 3 3:00 Heritage Hall MS Bike Ride begins in GSLC parking lot 7 8:45 am SSchool/Bible Class 10:00 am Worship Rally Day/Church Picnic 8 6:00 pm Worship 9 9:00 am Bible Study 7:00 Christian Growth :00 pm Women s Guild :45 am SSchool/Bible Class 10:00 am Worship 15 6:00 pm Worship 16 9:00 am Bible Study 7:00 Worship Committee :45 am SSchool/Bible Class 10:00 am Worship 22 6:00 pm Worship 23 9:00 am Bible Study :45 am SSchool/Bible Class 10:00 am Worship 29 6:00 pm Worship 30 9:00 am Bible Study Birthdays 9.1 Ethan Tunink 9.3 Valerie Zoellers 9.4 Darrell Gronefeld 9.4 Kelsey Jaeger 9.8 Cole Andersen 9.16 Donna Hoek 9.18 Logan Bird 9.18 Gary Seider 9.19 Judy Mahieu 9.23 Amber Orth 9.23 Autumn Orth 9.26 Cody Jaeger 9.27 Diton Parker 9.27 Kayne Walters 9.28 Allie Frerking 9.29 Aaron Seider 9.30 Ernestine Ramsey (80) Anniversaries 9.3 Mark and Amanda Tunink 9.4 Dennis and Patti Haubein 9.4 Jon and Dana Rakers 9.5 Rick and Palmyra Dubbert 9.9 Mark and Wanda Rausch 9.26 Jeff and Jenny Bird 9.27 Martin and LeeAnn Mahieu

10 SENIOR YOUTH Our Senior Youth have been very busy this month. They have deposited the Traveling Toilet to around 30 surrounding family and friends making over $ They have also made $100 with their Youth for Hire fundraiser by washing windows and hanging curtains. Thank you to everyone who has donated to our Senior Youth trip to New Orleans in Several youth helped set up, serve and clean up for the Teacher s Lunch on August 12. On Saturday, August 23, nine Senior Youth braved the heat and helped with the church workday. They painted the parking blocks, helped move the playground equipment, moved flowers, and helped remove the siding on the NW side of the church. Later that evening, they met at the Hoek s home and enjoyed cool entertainment including swimming and playing games in the air conditioning! Armand and Barbara Fischer It made for a very long day, but everyone had a great time! I would like to thank everyone for all of their help that day! We are again challenging our church members to a softball game this year. Check your Sunday Bulletin for more details. Submitted by Donna Hoek Home of Gary and Carol Riedel Some of the recent recipients of the traveling toilets Ruby Riedel Are we delivering or picking up?

11 SUNDAY SCHOOL CORNER PreK through 7 th grade classes have been meeting as a group in the Fellowship Hall each Sunday morning during the summer. Our bible story lessons all centered around the theme of water including the crossing of the Red Sea, baptism of Lydia and Jesus washing the disciple feet. Sunday School students will move to their new classes starting September 7 th. The Rally Day picnic will be the same day following worship. Teachers for the upcoming year are: Submitted by Alane Gronefeld Sunday School Superintendent PreK/K Barbara Fischer & Janet Power 1 st / 2 nd Jacki Stelzer & Jenni Berck 3 rd / 4 th Vicki Chism 5 th / 6 th Karen Butcher 7 th / 8 th (Confirmation) Pastor Butcher High School Gary Seider Adult Classes Dennis Haubein & Curt Nadler See following pages aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi

12 DUTCH MILL FLOWERING BULBS FOR SALE BY WOMEN S GUILD Now is the time to order flowering bulbs that will bloom next spring. Tulips, Daffodils, Crocus, Hyacinths and Iris are just a few of the bulbs that are available. We will take orders through September 28.

13 To order bulbs: Pick up a flyer from the narthex table, complete and return to the table. Or Call Judy Maseman at the church office (afternoons) or cell Make arrangements to order. We will take orders until September 28. Enclose check for total amount of order payable to Lutheran Women s Guild

14 It's Not about the Box! By Pastor John Butcher When a time capsule was pulled out from behind our cornerstone at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church on West Gano Chance Road, church folk began to talk. Our church is undergoing a renovation project, adding a new glass-door church entrance on the west side and a cement drive-thru canopy, with an expansion of the narthex on the northwest corner. The project began with a congregation workday on Saturday, August 23, at 7 a.m. When the northwest wall was demolished, a heavy metal box traditionally called a "time capsule" was found. People, being naturally curious, began asking, "What's inside the box?""should we open it or not?" People can't stand not knowing what's in a sealed box, neither could Good Shepherd's Pastor. A quick Internet search shows church capsules being opened decades or centuries later by chisels and power tools. No easy task. Time capsules are usually heavy metal boxes (see photo) which hold memorabilia from a church or company. They are planted behind cornerstones on dedication days and then left there for future generations to open and learn more about the people who founded the church or company. So... knowing that time capsules are not usually opened by living members or employees of a business or congregation, this Pastor set out visiting Charter Members and anyone who could answer the question, "What's in the box?" Pastor began his search for answers with Susan Hulen, surviving spouse of "Shorty" Hulen, a visit to Stuart House with Ed and Joanne Bettenhausen, a visit to Ruby Riedel, and various calls to members, including ElLouise Kollmann, now living in Cape Girardeau. Susan didn't remember too much. She thought there might be a copy of the worship service in somebody's hands with information. She then directed me to her mother, Ione Alwin. Ione turned out to be in another city, Warrensburg, when the church was dedicated. She has fond memories of how the church was initially started by people gathering and talking in the back of her and her late husband, Lloyd s shoe store. "Nobody thought a Lutheran Church in Centralia would ever make it, Ione said. We built it "on a shoe string" budget. Ruby Riedel reminisced about the founding of the church. The original church of 57 members met first in the American Legion Hall, then later at the City Hall. In 1959, the members purchased the former Hodge home, one of the oldest houses in Centralia, and remodeled that two-story structure into a church. Finally, the present 5-acre plot on Gano Chance Road was purchased and dedicated in 1967, with the education wing added in 1975 and the Fellowship Hall in 1986.

15 Ruby remembers people setting up stone blocks and boards for seating for the Cornerstone Ceremony at 3:30 p.m. on October 23, They went to the church on Jefferson street in the morning, then in the afternoon gathered on the ready-made benches for the dedication of the cornerstone. ElLouise Kollmann had "fond memories" but no knowledge of the cornerstone service or the contents of the box. Others I visited with said they were either "too young" to remember anything or it was "too long ago." Joanne and Ed Bettenhausen, a building committee member, both now living in Stuart House, remembered various things about the people and the day, but were not sure about the contents of the box. I came away disappointed at the end of the week. I said to myself, "There's no story here." Nobody knows or remembers much about this box or even about this Cornerstone service. I thought about abandoning the story. But then Pastor and his wife received an unexpected home visit which brought a wonderful gift, a lovingly preserved file about what was in the box. But after reviewing the file, I was struck that the true gift I d received was greater than just historical documents. I had begun searching for answers to what is in the contents of this box and I came away with a message delivered by our Lord and Savior who knows all things and delights in giving gifts to His beloved children. I learned "it's not about the box" or the contents of the box; it's about God's people. I received excellent training at Concordia Seminary and one lesson I realized I had grasped by the mind, but not with the heart; I was taught simply to "love the people" whom the Lord gives you to shepherd. I now realized it's not about the building; it's not about the new church entrance, it's not about any of these things. And it's most certainly NOT about the box. What I learned is that God gives us the church, His Church, to show us His love and for us to reflect His love by loving one another and the people who have not yet entered into this loving relationship with God and His church. The people in God's Church are His people, His precious treasure, His children. He sent His Son, Jesus, to suffer and die and rise again for those treasured people. God builds His Church not on the physical cornerstone of Good Shepherd dated 1966, but on the only true Cornerstone worth writing about - Jesus Christ. In a copy of the worship service of the Ceremony of Cornerstone Laying was the sermon message from 1 Peter 2: 4-5. The title of the message, "Jesus Christ, The Sure Stone of Our Faith." Included in that worship service folder, in case you are still curious, and so you won't be disappointed after reading this article, is the contents of the time capsule. To tell you the truth, I could live without knowing what's in the box, and you could too. That's why I am putting it in a footnote 1. May this time capsule be a blessing to those who discover it in future generations to the glory of Jesus Christ, the "sure stone of our faith." What s In The Box? 1 In the sealed box, among other things, are the names of present church members; a historical sketch of the early years of the church; a list of the 46 charter members; Baptisms, Confirmations, Marriages, and Burials since Names of Sunday Schoool teachers; officers of the Church; Guild and Walther League; of Architect, Contractor and Sub-Contractors. Two copies of the Centralia Fireside Guard (July 14 and Sept. 15, 1966); two copies of the CHANCO NEWS. Various Lutheran publications, including one copy of The Lutheran Witness, Sept A copy of the Constitution of Good Shepherd Congregation; Sunday bulletins. And what I was hoping was in there: Luther's Small Catechism, a Bible, The Lutheran Hymnal, and a copy of the worship service folder. Additional items packed into the box includes publications of Lutheran newspapers and societies, Christianity Today, Sept. 30, 1966, the St. Louis Globe Democrat, Oct. 21, 1966, and The Centralia Fireside GUARD, Oct. 20, 1966.

16 Good Shepherd Lutheran Church 120 W. Gano Chance Rd. Centralia, MO Church Office (573) W. Gano Chance Road, Centralia, Missouri Staff Pastor John (573) Judy Maseman (573) Elders Dennis Haubein (573) Jon Rakers (573) Gary Seider (573) Verse of the month Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)