Good Shepherd Lutheran Church & Preschool, Springfield, IL

Work Day

gssadmin — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 16:03:40 +0000

Workday on Saturday, October 17 at 8 am. We plan to do some general cleaning and painting inside and outside (weather permitting).

Fall Festival & Trunk or Treat

gssadmin — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 16:01:59 +0000

Fall Festival and Trunk or Treat will be held on Sunday, October 25 beginning at 4 pm. There is a sign-up sheet in the narthex for those who will be decorating their vehicles.
After trunk or treat we will have a potluck. We ask that you please bring a side dish to share. We will end the evening by decorating pumpkins! Invite family and friends to join us for this fun evening!

Men’s Breakfast Bible Study

gssadmin — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 15:59:18 +0000

Men’s Breakfast Bible Study returns to Good Shepherd on Thursday, October 15 at 6:30 am. What better way to start your day than with breakfast and studying God’s word.
Joel Oschwald will lead the group in Bible Study. If you plan on attending the first week, please let the church office know, so we have enough food prepared.
We hope to see many of the men on 10/15!

Progressive Dinner

gssadmin — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 15:57:39 +0000

Progressive Dinner will be held on Saturday, October 17 at 6 pm. This will be a unique progressive dinner and making it easy on everyone who attends! All the courses will be held in various rooms in the building. We will have appetizers in the large meeting room, main meal in the fellowship hall and dessert will be in the youth room.
We have a sign up in the narthex for those who are willing to be a host and for those who are attending.
We strongly encourage you to sign up so we know how much food to prepare. Invite family and friends to join us for this fun evening of food and fellowship!

Sunday School Rally Day-August 30

gssadmin — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 15:57:15 +0000

Everyone is invited to join us on Sunday, August 30 for our Sunday School Rally Day! After service everyone will gather in the preschool room and the education wing for donuts and fellowship.This will be a great time to spend with other members of the congregation!

Then during the Sunday School time, we will gather in the fellowship hall where we will decorate baptismal shells that will eventually become a banner! To finish the morning, Pastor Stuenkel will have a brief Bible study on Baptism!

We are encouraging families to be in attendance and have their children attend Sunday School each week. See you August 30!!

Church Picnic/Potluck

gssadmin — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 17:37:35 +0000

Everyone is welcome to join us on Sunday, July 19 at 11:45 am for our picnic/potluck.

Meat will be provided, but we ask that you bring a dish to share. We plan to be outside unless there is inclement weather then we will gather in the fellowship hall.

We will have games for adults and children, whether we meet inside or outside. We hope you will join us for good food and fellowship with other members of the congregation.

Pastor’s article

gssadmin — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 13:51:12 +0000

Dear Members of Good Shepherd

At the end of this month (July), the congregation will meet to call a pastor for our congregation. The call meeting is scheduled for Sunday, July 26. Please mark your calendars!

You should have received some information about the candidates who have nominated for our consideration. A short biography, some additional background information and other pertinent statistics have been provided by the district president. The call committee continues to meet with our circuit visitor so that everything will be ready and in good order for that meeting.

As the congregation deliberates the candidates during this process it will be well if you also took your thoughts to the Lord in prayer. the Lord God Almighty already knows who needs to be the next pastor at Good Shepherd. He has determined the right age experience, character, preaching and teaching abilities, and all that will be needed for the flock here for the years to come. Pray that His will be done.

When a pastor is called, you should know that at that point the man called will have two calls to consider, a call to a new congregation and also the call which he already has at his present church. That deliberation may be difficult and may take some time. We need to be patient.

During the early days of my ministry, I received calls to serve the Lord in congregations in new and often seemingly challenging places. Another pastor advised me to remember each congregation will be a challenge!

May the Lord bless His Kingdom here at Good Shepherd and throughout our beloved synod in all the days ahead.

In Christ

Rev. James Stuenkel

Pastor Stuenkel’s June article

gssadmin — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 15:20:45 +0000

Trinity Season
For the last six months we have been remembering and celebrating the Incarnation and the redeeming work and life of Jesus Christ. We focused on the work of John the Baptist preparing the way for the Son of God. We rejoiced at His birth on Christmas. Then we prepared for His suffering death through the season of Lent and once again rejoiced on Easter morning with “Christ is Risen…He is risen indeed! Alleluia!”
The past weeks we have seen the culmination of His glorious Ascension and the sending of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. Holy Trinity Sunday (May 31) finished the festival season the church year. And the point of all the festival days and special Sundays is that we should know and believe and trust God’s love for us in Christ Jesus, His only Son, that believing in Him we have forgiveness of sins and life everlasting.
Next up is the Trinity season, or non-festival time of the church year. In our readings we shall see Christ’s glory lived out in His life as John reminds us in the beginning of his gospel: “and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”[John 1: 14]
During the next couple of months, we focus also on the great truths, or doctrines, of our holy Christian faith. This is not always easy, for it is hard to understand the mysteries of God. So, we come often to hear the Word, gather at the Lord’s table, study in Bible class, pray, praise, and give thanks. Please don’t neglect worshiping together in these months because you will be missing out on the multitude of gifts our Lord is offering to you.
Finally:

Thank you to our Preschool Staff…Kristin and Leslie did a fantastic job finishing the year and graduation was a huge success!
VBS is approaching fast…you can still register and sign-up to help! VBS is set for June 14-18…we will go on a Tropical Trek and learn how Jesus came to seek and save!

In Christ,

Rev. James Stuenkel

VBS

gssadmin — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 15:14:49 +0000

There is still time to register your child to attend Vacation Bible School which is being held on June 14-18 from 6-8 pm each evening. We are going on a Tropical Trek where we will learn how Jesus came to seek and save.

We will have Bible stories, music, games, crafts and of course snack time! Classes are available for 3 years old through those going into 6th grade.

Attached is the link you can use to register your child.

https://vbsmate.com/events/GoodShepherdSherman/32073

Vacation Bible School

gssadmin — Thu, 14 May 2026 16:55:35 +0000

Vacation Bible School will be held June 14-18 from 6-8 pm each evening. We are going on a Tropical Trek where we will learn how Jesus came to seek and save!

Your child will join other children as we will have Bible stories, music, crafts, snacks and playtime. Classes are available for 3 years old through those entering 6th grade.

You may register your child by using the following link https://vbsmate.com/events/GoodShepherdSherman/32073