To stay informed remember to read the council minutes posted on the bulletin board in the hallway.

DISCIPLESHIP

COMMITTEE

Snow Tubing Snow Snake in Harrison is the destination. We had over 30

people who signed up on the “interest” sheet. That gives us enough for a group rate which is $16 per person for 2 hours. We are looking at Saturday February 18 from 10-12noon. Please sign the NEW sheet in the narthex by February 5th if you plan to go. Again, if we do not have 30 people signed up then the regular rate of $26 per person kicks in. PINEWOOD DERBY Last year the committee

sponsored a Pinewood Derby

It turned out to be a great

success. The committee has

set March 11th as a possible

date to do a Derby this year.

If you would like to make

your own car and join the

fast lane please take a

moment to sign your name

on the sheet located in the

narthex. The committee also

hopes to invite a couple of

WELS congregations in the

area.

BE AN EVANGELIST!

If you have a personal

FACEBOOK page and have

not yet “LIKED” Good

Shepherd’s page, do so soon!

The Daily Devotion

Moments and activities are

posted on a regular basis.

This is a wonderful

opportunity for you to click

that “SHARE” button and

you are helping to spread the

Good News and what Good

Shepherd has to offer.

Feb 5—Love Seen in Rules

Feb 12—Love Seen in

Forgiveness

Feb 19—Love Seen in

Planting Seeds

Feb 26—Love Seen in Glory

COLLEGE CARE

The College Care Committee

will hopefully be sending out

boxes to our college students

next month.

If would like to help by

donating

some items

we would

greatly

appreciate

your

generous giving.

We will be setting up a

display of sample items

soon!

Last year

Pastor Eich

conducted an

11:00am

service with

communion and then a light

luncheon was served

afterwards.

Would you like this offered

on Ash Wednesday, March

1? If so, please help with the

planning and sign the sheet

located in the narthex area.

We will let you know if there

is enough interest!

Special thanks to Keith Kolb

who is handling the plowing

of our parking lot during

these winter months!

We also had an awesome

team work in taking down

and packing away all the

Christmas decorations.

Thank you to all the

members who made this

happen!!! Well done!!

Reformation 500

Our year long celebration of the 500th anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation has begun. The focus of this anniversary celebration is of course not the man, Martin Luther. Although highly gifted and God’s servant, the real glory goes to God alone for returning the truth of Scripture to His church. We are privileged to share in that blessing through our Lutheran confession. On January 29th, and every 5th Sunday, we will have a special “hymn sing” of Luther’s hymns. Many of these hymns

we still use today. Others will not be quite so familiar. But the stories behind the hymns and the message the hymns proclaim will certainly be a blessing to all of us. “Where in the Church is Martin Luther?” will be a fun activity for the kids. Occasionally throughout the year a lego styled Martin Luther will be set around the church. The child who finds him will get one to help remember this special year. There are enough for each child to get one. Our Lenten Theme “Standing at the Cross” will focus on portions of Luther’s Lenten sermons as we contemplate the ways in which we stand firm in

the faith as followers of Christ during this holy season. Vacation Bible School will be a study of the special nature of God’s grace as given to us through our Lutheran history and teaching. More details and special decorations will be coming out over the next months. Guest speakers from outside our church are in the process of being scheduled, if possible. Topics will focus on our Lutheran heritage. Plans are in the works for an area wide joint Reformation Service this coming October. The service may be held in Saginaw or here at Good Shepherd. We are also considering a “Reformation Day” potluck as well.

The Parish Newsletter of

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

January– February 2017

New banners will be placed along the driveway to our church to announce this special year to the community. These banners are the official posters of our synod, helping to tie our congregation to the other WELS congregation throughout the United States. The history display case will be decked out in Luther and Lutheran items. From copies of Luther’s works that are 200 years old, to newer histories there will be a variety of items on display. Also, check out the education wing hallway for a pictorial time line of Reformation history. The Word at Work is a little booklet of Scripture readings, historical sketches and brief devotions which presets events in the life of Martin Luther and the Reformation—words and events that direct our attention to the hard-working Word of God. As Luther himself once declared, he did not bring about the vents of the Reformation. The Word did everyting. As always, the success of these ventures depends on your participation. Make plans to attend. Invite your friends. These events will be

a great way to introduce them to the message of God’s free grace in Jesus Christ. And most of all thank God for the privilege and grace of being a Lutheran. The New Year’s Eve teen lock-in is history. Judging by the laughing, smiling faces and sleepless night, it was a HIT! At times the chaperones wish there was video taping going so submissions could be made to “Funniest Home Videos”!

Thanks to Tim and Tracey Schultz and Pastor and Sue Eich for chaperoning the event. Games like “Outdoor Candy Cane Search”, “Dunk the Chicken”, a glow in the dark balloon launch at mid-night and team cup stacking made for fun activities. Movies were shown on a giant screen with hi-fi sound making movie theaters jealous.

And special thanks to the 11 teens who came. It wouldn’t of been any fun without you! 2017 CHURCH OFFICERS

Chairman

Steve Sanchez

Secretary

Dave Harry

Treasurer

Dean Poppy

Financial Secretary

Jeremy Haller

Elder

Eric Bienz

Aaron Munderloh

Discipleship

Jeff Bonacci

Dave Biehl

Aaron Schulz

Tim Schultz

Property

Kevin Beeson

Rex Batchelder

Mike Peterman

Thank you to these men who

have generously volunteered

to serve not only Good

Shepherd but the Lord’s

ministry as well!! Please pray

for our church leaders.

LACE LOAN BALANCE: $599,422.62

Financial Statistics for 2016

YTD Budgetary Finances Thru Dec. 31st 2016

Member Budgetary Support Received:

(General, Loose, New Beginnings, Reimbursements, Etc.) $ 278,923.13 ECC Budgetary Support Received:

(Tuition, Registration, Supply Fees, Gifts) $ 28,693.75 TOTAL Member + ECC Support Received: $ 307,616.88 TOTAL Member + ECC Support Expected at this time: $ 342,780.00 Budgetary shortfall: $-( 35,163.12) YTD thru 12/31/2016 Actual Expense 2016: $ 306,662.77 Actual Income thru 12/31/2016: $ 307,616.88

Income in excess of Expense: $ 954.11

YTD Savings Account Income/Expense Summary (Non-Budgetary)

Fund Bal. 1-1-16 Income Expense Bal. 10-31-16

Church Projects: $ 94,172.02 $11,958.50 $33,342.50 $ 72,788.02 YES Fund: $ 16,363.30 $ - 0 - $ 6,170.00 $ 10,193.30 Scholarship: $ 43,914.21 $ 1,406.00 $ 1,630.00 $ 43,690.21 Reserve: $ 5,064.69 $10,072.22 $ 10,000.00 $ 5,136.91 Savings Account Balance: $ 131,808.44

SECRET SISTERS of 2017! Thanks for your

participation. The contacts that you make

with your “Secret Sister” are little

reminders that “I’m praying for you.”