The Real Story

Following Pentecost Sunday and Trinity Sunday, as Pastor Walther mentioned, we enter the second half of the church year.
The first half highlights the major events in the life of Christ, and has most of the holidays that we celebrate: Christmas,
Epiphany, Holy Week. The second half focuses on the teachings of Christ, and will include several of His parables and
discussions with the disciples.

A funny thing happens when you hear Jesus teachings, and when you read Scripture in general: namely, it often does not
sound right to our ears. The words and teachings dont fit our expectations. At various times we are bewildered,
confounded, and puzzled. It is clear that Gods thoughts are not ours. We have trouble fitting the teachings into our normal
lives. And that is because we often go about our understanding of the scriptures in just that way -- we try to fit them into
what we know and understand according to our worldly lives.

But the word of God does not work like that. It is not something additional to our ordinary lives that we can pick and choose
from whenever it makes sense, or appeals, to us. We certainly should be careful of ignoring it when we dont like what it
says. Because the truth is exactly the opposite -- Gods word is the foundation for reality. Any other foundation, even if it is
our own experience, is like sand. (Matt 7:24-27) Sooner or later, that sand will shift and well be left out in the rain. But the
word of God will stand forever. (Isa 40:8)

Jesus tells His disciples, If you abide in my word you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will
set you free. The word of God is where we are to abide, or dwell. And if we live in the word of God first, and only then
look out at the world from there, our perceptions will change. We will begin to see the world, as well as the thoughts and
actions of sinners, for what they are: dark and corrupt.

Gods story is the story. It is a lamp shining in the dark place of this fallen world we live in. (2 Pet 1:19) Listening to the
story the way that Jesus tells it is the focus of the second half of the church year. To be sure, it will poke and prod us in ways
we may not like, but even our experience shows us that the truth hurts at times. And the truth of God does more than hurt --
it kills. But we know that it does so in order to raise us to new life -- a life that is at war with the sinful flesh and worldly
understanding -- yet it is also a life that will last forever. Pastor Adle


Pastor Kollmann Ministry
Recognition

On Sunday, June 29, we will be celebrating Pastor
Alvin Kollmanns 60 years in the ministry during the
Bible Class Hour! Refreshments will be served. Pastor
Kollmann was the founding pastor of Good Shepherd
Church in 1959, a former Southern Illinois District
president, and long standing member of Good Shepherd
Church.
His dedication to preaching, teaching, and living out
the true Word of God helped build the foundation of
Good Shepherd Church, as well as influence the lives and
actions of many of its members.
Join us in thanking him for his commitment to Gods
ministry in reaching this important milestone.

Voters Assembly
Sunday, June 29th

Twice a year (June &
November) Good Shepherd
invites all members 18 years and
older to attend a voters
assembly. At the June 29
th

meeting we will approve the
spending guidelines for the 2014-
2015 fiscal year (copies have
been available in the Narthex this month) as well as
making decisions regarding the proposed Early Childhood
Center. The Voters Assembly is held in the sanctuary
following the 10:30 a.m. service.


LoveinAction
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
1300 Belt Line Road Collinsville Illinois 62234
618-344-3151 (Church) 618-344-3153 (School) 618-344-3378 (Fax)
Vol. 37 No. 7 July 2014
www.goodshepherdcollinsville.org
Early Childhood Center Update

The Master Plan Committee finalized the plans for the
Early Childhood Center at its last meeting, June 17. The
bids will be opened at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 25
th
.
The regular Voters Assembly on Sunday, June 29
th

(following the 10:30 a.m. service) will consider the bids
and the next steps forward in this project.

Youth Confirmation Retreat

On Friday and Saturday July 11-12 our new
confirmands and next years confirmands are invited to a
special confirmation retreat at Camp Wartburg. This
years retreat will focus on
Gods love that called us to
be His children in baptism.
That love continues to flow
to us as and through us as we
learn what it means to be a
disciple and as we live out
our faith in the world. The
retreat will be led by Youth
and Family Life Director
Tom Westphal, Pastor
Walther and Pastor Adle.

News from Metro East Lutheran
High School

Dr. Jay Krause, the new principal at MELHS, is
getting ready for the start of the new school year. He and
other new teachers will be installed on Saturday, August
9
th
at our 5:30 p.m. service. His wife, Kris, has also been
called to serve as Kindergarten teacher at Good Shepherd.

Cancer Companions

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
James 4:8

A cancer diagnosis can bring uncertainty and fear. What
if in the midst of your cancer you found hope,
understanding, peace, strength,
kindness? If you or someone you
love has ever been impacted by
cancer, Cancer Companions can
provide information about cancer
resources, individual support from
someone that understands and
Christian support groups. GSLC
hopes to have the Cancer
Companion program available for
members and the community by
September. Please pray that God would touch the hearts
of those willing to be volunteers trained to help cancer
patients in treatment, post treatment or their caregivers
and extended family. The eight hour training is scheduled
for Saturday, August 23. If you would like to know
more, call the church office, 618-344-3151.

Harvest Fest Facts:

1) An event combining the Church Picnic with the Fall
Festival to make one big event for the church, school, and
community.
2) Purpose: Fellowship, Unity/Partnership, & Outreach
3) For the Whole church, the Whole school, the
Whole community! Everyone is encouraged to get
involved!!
4) When? Sunday, October 5
th
, 3 p.m. - 6 p.m.

How can you get involved?
1) Come to a planning meeting. Next Meeting:
Wednesday, July 9th - 7 p.m. in the Conference room
2) Sign up to help on the day of the event. Contact
Beth Italiano - jmibmi1@gmail.com
3) Got Talent? Seeking performers for the talent
portion of the Harvest Fest. Contact Amy or Ruth via e-
mail arnyfriend@mindspring.com or
ruth.thompson@melhs.org to submit your information
by July 11, 2014.
4) Help support further fundraisers set-up to fund this
event. Pizza pick-up is July 12th.
5) Come to Good Shepherd Culver's Night. Enjoy
something to eat, see some friends from school and
church, while, supporting our Harvest Fest fundraising
effort! Collinsville Culver's - Wednesday, June 25th
from 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. A portion of the sales will be
donated to us!
Our fundraising this summer will benefit all of us this
October at the Harvest Fest (formally the Fall Festival/
Church Picnic).
6) Have another way you want to help? Contact Carrie
Kober for more information! ckrenning@hotmail.com or
618-346-1158

New Church Directory

The Board of Congregational Life has selected Color
Craft Studios to photograph GSLC member families and
produce our 2014 Church Directory. Portraits of GSLC
members will be taken at the church on Fridays and
Saturdays, August 15-16, August 22-23, and September
5-6. Please watch and listen for more information about
scheduling a photography session. Since the finished
photos will be viewed at a later date, your scheduled
appointment will last approximately 15 minutes. We
expect the process to flow efficiently and for
appointments to occur at their scheduled time. Each
family who is photographed will receive one free enlarged
family portrait and a directory containing member photos
and the GSLC membership roster. Thank you for helping
us make the new directory a great success.



Lutheran Womens
Missionary League

Your hands shaped me and made me. Job10:8

Although we dont have a meeting in July, you wont
want to miss our August Meeting (Thursday, August 7
@ 6:45 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall). Tom Westphal, our
Director of Youth Ministry, will be our guest speaker.
He will bring us up to date on the Youth Program at Good
Shepherd. Since we actively support the youth of our
church, this will be a topic of great interest to all of us.
Our ingathering for this meeting is hygiene and school
supplies for Unity Lutheran Grade School in East St.
Louis. Following is a list of items that are needed (as
well as those that they dont need):
Needed are Disinfectant Spray and Wipes, Paper
Towels, Sharpie Markers, Masking Tape, Scotch Tape, 1-
1/2 inch 3-ring binders & Tab dividers, Lined Notebook
paper, Glue Sticks, 24-count Crayola Crayons, Markers
and Colored Pencils, 3 x 5 Index Cards, and Copier
Paper.
Do Not Need Spiral Notebooks, Rulers, Pens,
Kleenex, Liquid Hand Soap and Bottles of Glue.

Mark your calendar for our next meeting, and invite a
friend or two to come along.and please remember our
Mite Mission Projects in your prayers.

# # # # # #

XVXRY PXRSON IS IMPORTANT!!!

Xvxn though my typxwritxr is an old modxl, it works
vxry wxll--xxcxpt for onx kxy. You would think that
with all thx othxr kxys functioning propxrly, onx kxy not
working would hardly bx noticxd; but just onx kxy out of
whack sxxms to ruin thx wholx xffort.
You may say to yoursxlfWxll Im only onx pxrson.
No onx will noticx if Im not thxrx, or if I dont do my
bxst. But it doxs makx a diffxrxncx bxcausx to bx
xffxctivx an organization nxxds activx participation by
xvxry onx to thx bxst of his or hxr ability.
So thx nxxt timx you think you arx not important,
rxmxmbxr my old typxwritxr.
You arx a KXY PXRSON!!!

We are Gods workmanship, created in Christ Jesus
to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us
to do. Ephesians 2:10
Congregational Life

Braille workers: July 3 @ 8:30 a.m.
No blood pressure screening in July
No Congregational Life meeting in July
SOS August 21
Grief Share will start a new session on September 11
from 6-7:30 p.m.

Lunch Bunch

On July 15 we will go to Ariston in Litchfield. We will
meet at 11:30 a.m. in the church parking lot. Please call
Mary Preuss (288-9525) or e-mail at
marypreuss@yahoo.com by July12 so we can save room
for you. Everyone is welcome to join in the fellowship as
we support each other in our faith.

Crossroads

Bobby's Frozen Custard. Meet us at Bobby's Frozen
Custard on IL 159 in Maryville on Thursday, July 17th at
7:00 p.m. We will meet under the south side pavilion.
Bring the whole family for some frozen custard on a
summer night.
Want to be added to our Facebook group or e-vite list?
Other questions? Contact Beth Italiano at 618-593-2946 -
bethitaliano@gmail.com or Carrie Kober at 618-346-
1158 - ckrenning@hotmail.com.

Good Shepherd
Lutheran School News

School Enrollment/Open Houses
We have open enrollment in every class and if you or
you know someone who wants a Quality Christian
Education please let us know. I ask that you keep GSLS
in your prayers as we seek enrollments for the up-coming
year. Please contact Mr. Mayhew if financial challenges
prevent your childs pre-registration or enrollment at this
time. The pre-registration fee for Kdg.-8
th
grade is
$220.00 and is non refundable. There is still time for
applying for scholarship at tads.com. Please contact Julie
Bedard, our director if you may be interested in a
Quality Christian Education for 3s or 4s Preschool as
well. Visit our website, gslcs.org for a variety of options
for our preschool families.
Open Houses for tours and sharing information about
Good Shepherd and a Christ- Centered Education to
families will be made available June 22, 29 and July
13,20,27 on Sundays from 1-3 pm. Share this with
families you may know.

Summer Day Camp
There is still space open for applications for summer
camp. The forms are available in the school office and
TRACKS. If you have any questions, please see to Susan
M. or contact the school office at 344-3153.

Box Tops and Labels
Summer Challenge
Thank You! In the last two years, we collected
12,510 box tops and labels in 2012 and 16, 086 in 2013.
Can You Help Us Collect Box Tops and Labels and
exceed 16,086? GSLS is having a Box Tops and Labels
Summer Challenge this year. The grade that collects the
most box tops and labels over the summer & turns them
in by August 29
th
will win a free dress day next
September. Look forward to receiving your collection bag
& more information soon!
Thank you to our coordinator, Robin Pinkel for endless
hours and dedication with this program! If you have any
questions, please contact, Robin at 334-5735.
We are also asking Congregational members without
children attending GSLS to save their box tops and labels
too and drop them by the church or school office anytime
of the year. Any help is truly appreciated!

Summer Day Camp
It's time for Good Shepherd Preschool Summer Fun! It
has already begun and we are in our 5
th
week with the
children and teachers having an enjoyable time learning
and growing together.
3 - 5 year olds are welcome to join us for 2 or more
days a week any week or weeks from the remaining time
of June 23 - August 15. Half day, full day and extended
day options available. Grandparents, do you have young
grandchildren visiting for the summer? Treat them to a
couple days of summer fun! Weekly themes, prices and
registration information are on the Good Shepherd
website: gslcs.org, under the Early Childhood tab. Or call
the Early Childhood Center any weekday from 3 - 5 p.m.
(344-3176) and ask for Julie. Tell your friends!

Charger Bucks - Scrip
Walk-up sales will continue on Sunday mornings
before and after Sunday School. This program is a great
way to help assist families with their tuition at GSLS and
MELHS.
Remember that you can place your order online. You
may access the link for shopwithscrip.com through our
schools website: www.gslcs.org.

Administrative Position
The Board of Christian Day School has hired Mrs.
Cheryl Schnicker to be the new Administrative Assistant
for Good Shepherd Lutheran School. She will begin
sometime in June. Please keep this transition in your
prayers!

2014-2015 Advertisement Booklet

Looking for a way to advertise your business? Good
Shepherd Lutheran School publishes an advertisement
booklet each year as a fundraiser for the athletic program.
These booklets are distributed to fans at all home games,
as well as the boys' basketball tournament.
Advertisement costs are as follows: $80 for a full page,
$40 for a half page, and $25 for a quarter page. If you are
interested in placing an advertisement, please contact the
school office or Mr. Grillot (618) 344-3153 ext.
214, (mgrillot@gslcs.org).




Official Acts

Funerals: Lydia Stroh, Betty Lou Jarrett

Souls: 1,618 Comm.: 1,376

Online Giving?

Good Shepherd members can give their tithes and
offerings by signing up for online giving at our website.
Just look for the Donate link at the bottom of the home
page.

You will be directed to a form that allows you to sign
up for one time or regular donations that will be
automatically and securely withdrawn from your bank
account.

We encourage our members to continue using their
offering evelopes but to mark them Gave Online.
Recognition of our offerings is still an important part of
our worship.

Saving Dollars and Souls



The Lutheran Church Extension Fund is a financial
ministry of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod that
allows you to save in regular savings and checking
accounts with competitive rates. Your invested dollars are
used to finance loans to churches and schools for building
projects and ministry.

There are more than 50,000 investors with an asset
portfolio of $1.8 billion. Last year LCEF distributed more
than $1.62 million in excess earnings to the districts and
to the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.

If you would like to know more about LCEF, please
visit www.lcef.org where you can learn more about these
important investment opporunities that not know grow
financial assets but also the kingdom of God.





D Day and Holy Communion



http://pastorwalther.blogspot.com

On the 70th anniversary of the D-Day invasion I want to remember one of our former members, Colonel Gus Enskat.

I first got to know Gus because he came to all my adult catechism classes and helped by taking care of the Bibles, pencils
and study guides. He sat quietly in the back of the room and listened to all the classes and then helped me put everything
away.

I knew Gus had been in the D-Day invasion. I also knew that he hit the beach as a sergeant but received a battlefield
commission to second lieutenant. One evening Gus told a story about D-Day that I will never forget, and one that I've been
telling every catechism class since.

We were studying Holy Communion, and I told the class that the Bible doesn't specify how often we should receive
communion. God's main concern is that we receive it often but always in a beneficial way. In Acts 20.7 it appears that the
disciples "came together to break bread" regularly on the first day of the week. This points us to a weekly celebration of
communion. But this description of the early church isn't necessarily a prescription for all Christians. Paul's concern about
celebrating it with the right understanding and for the right reasons (1 Corinthians 10 & 11) tells us that there could be good
reasons for waiting for communion if we need instructions or if we simply don't have our minds focused on it in the right
way. Communion is about the forgiveness of sins, life and salvation, and where there is the desire for that, there we will have
Communion the way God intended it.

I then said that there could be good reasons for celebrating communion even more than once a week. For example, if there
were some huge disaster such as an earthquake, tornado or terrorist attack. With many people suffering and dying, I could
definitely see us celebrating Communion often, perhaps daily. At that point Gus, who normally never said anything in class,
raised his hand. This was his reason for having communion often

Gus told about how he and his fellow soldiers ran for cover on the beach while they were being showered with machine-
gun fire. Many of them were killed in those first horrific minutes. Finding cover they began to reorganize and to fight back.
Gus said that the next 72 hours were a blur. He remembered eating very little or sleeping. But the one thing he remembered
the most was how much he and all the soldiers around him were praying praying for their lives. This was 72 hours of not
knowing whether or not you would be alive in the next fifteen minutes. Gus said there were chaplains with them. He couldn't
remember for sure, but he thought that during those 72 hours he was able to receive Holy Communion at least two times.

Gus was a living example of the good and proper use of Holy Communion. It is for our forgiveness, for our faith, for our
life and salvation. We should receive it as often as we can for those reasons.















Youth and Family Movie Night
Friday, June 27
th
7:00 p.m.

On Friday, June 27
th
, we will be showing the God is Not Dead movie in the Lower Level beginning at
7:00 p.m. This recent movie presents the story of Josh Weaton, who is challenged on the first day of his
college philosophy class to disavow the existence of God. Josh refuses and proceeds to offer important and
valid arguments for the existence of God. There is no cost to attend. Following the movie we will have a
discussion of the different ways we can be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for
the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear (1 Peter 3.15).