the Messenger

                                                      A PUBLICATION OF GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH

 

 

 


PASTORAL REFLECTIONS

I was browsing through the Seminary bookstore recently and came upon a new book by Dan Kimball entitled They Love Jesus but Hate the Church: Insights into an Emergent Generation. Wow! That caught my eye! Kimball apparently made the rounds at coffee houses with young adults (the Emergent Generation or “EC’rs) talking about Jesus, Christianity and church in general. He actually did a word association type of questioning with them: “What do you think of when you hear the name ‘Jesus?’ and “What do you think when you hear the word ‘Christian?’ The conclusion became the title of the book – they’re crazy about Jesus but dislike the church. Among the reasons for this are these three that stood out for me:

1. The church is organized religion with a political agenda.

2. The church is judgmental and negative

 3. The church arrogantly claims all other religions are wrong.

As I skimmed through the book, I found myself getting a little defensive about “the church” even as I concurred with them I’m crazy about Jesus. But I love “the church” - even when I fight with it or disagree with it.  And as I think about our Good Shepherd community, I would disagree that we hold to any of the above three reasons for “hating the church.”  I’ve never believed this congregation has a political agenda or is judgmental and negative or arrogantly claims other religions wrong. As a matter of fact, I’ve seen us as open, tolerant, able to disagree amicably, friendly, positive, and far from arrogant about our faith. And I believe there are a great many more like us out there.

Writer Tim Ferrill (“the back page,” HOMILETICS, volume 20) thinks the EC movement has forgotten there are about 300,000 churches in this country –which suggests that there are a lot of people who love the church and love Jesus. Maybe the EC’rs mean they hate the “institution.” And history shows there are likely many reasons to hate the institution. Pick a time in history –the Crusades, pre-Reformation Roman Catholicism, etc.

I am reminded the word “church” means “the gathered,” not primarily “institution.” Jesus’ passion was to gather, teach, bless, forgive, and love communities. And he sought to forge those gathered to do the same.  True, he also made some pretty tough demands if God’s presence was going to be uncovered among them – love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, be servants, feed the hungry, visit the sick and imprisoned, etc. But communities following after Jesus are always going to struggle with his teachings. Some of them go against our way of living.  Still, I love the church struggling to fulfill Jesus’ mission on earth. And I believe a living Christ still loves the church with all its warts and bruises.

Pastor Ron


 

 MODIFIED WORSHIP SCHEDULE  

 

The Church Council has approved, at the recommendation of the S.W.E.A.T  Task Force, the establishment of the following worship schedule beginning September 7, 2008:

     8:00 a.m. - Traditional Worship Service

     9:00 a.m. - Sunday School

     10:00 a.m. - Contemporary Sing and Rejoice Service

     11:15 a.m. - Traditional Worship Service

 

Many thanks to the following people who served on the S.W.E.A.T team:   Carol Eaton, Chair; Julie Howell, Julie Schirf,  Sara Irani, Lucretia Reaves, John Hane, Sharon Wiklinski, and Staff members Loretta Covert, Michele Kimmel, Janet Rippeon, Pastor Gary Bilbie, and Pastor Ron Reaves.  Copies of the report used by S.W.E.A.T showing statistics from the congregational survey are available in the Narthex

 

 

EDUCATION NOTES


Correction

The following names of Sunday School Teachers were inadvertently left out of the Education article in the May issue of the Messenger.  Thanks and a "toot of the horn"  for Danny Tregoning, Gail Mathews, Vicki Poole, Gerard DelGrippo, and Karen Hunter for all their work with Education this past year.


Fall Sunday School


Although it may seem like September is far off, it won't be long until we will be preparing for Fall-Spring Sunday School again.  Watch the Messenger, The Sunday Times, and the E-Newsletter for information.

―Lucretia Reaves

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A MESSAGE FROM THE SOCIAL MINISTRY LEADER 

 

 

Dear Good Shepherd Family,

 

Thanks to everyone who has supported our Social Ministry Projects over the last 15-18 years―not really sure how many.  Your generosity when we present a need has been heartwarming to our team.  I feel I have gained your respect and my credibility during these years, because when I stand up and inform the family of a need, there is immediate response.  With the various projects over the years, we believe we have touched every continent on the globe.

  

Special thanks to all my team members.  As you know, no one person is responsible for the success of a project.  It is a team effort and you are part of the team. As the chair of Social Ministry, I have thought of myself as just the engineer who keeps the train on the track. In reality, our successes are due to all of you who have given of your time and or dollars.

 

Special thanks to Erin Kline, who has chaired the Fair Trade Fair each year; Diane DeMarco for the many publicity announcements, posters, and to her and Atillio for preparing and helping to serve the Soup Kitchen; Nicky Cojocari for all kinds of help whenever she is available, especially making soup and coffee for customers of the Fair Trade Fair; Sharon Wiklinski, who began with us when she agreed to  serve as our liaison from Council and has stayed on with us; Sandi Wilkinson for help as her job permits.  We are a very close team and enjoy working together.  Many others of you, too numerous to list, have helped as well.  

 

As of December 31, 2008, I am stepping down as the Chair of Social Ministry.  I will still be on the team as that is where my heart is.  I invite any of our church family to step up and help, or to accept a leadership role.  God's richest blessings on all of our church family. 

                                                                                                                              ―Pat Schoonover

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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        SENIORS CELEBRATE CINCO DE MAYO

 

Sorry many of you missed our lunch bunch Mexican buffet on May 21st.  Our thanks to Barbara Adams, May coordinator, for attempting to teach us some Spanish by using at each place setting small  placards that we were to translate from Spanish. She also explained why Cinco de Mayo is celebrated more in this country than in Mexico. We enjoyed enchiladas by Lucille Darner, flans made by Norma Day, a Mexican salad, and many more homemade dishes; all gastronomical delights. 

 

During the summer months please be thinking of program ideas for the upcoming season.  Norma and Tom Day have volunteered to coordinate our next program on September 17th.  It is hoped more of you will join us and bring a guest to share and enjoy these monthly potluck events.   Just in case you don’t want to admit that you are a senior, please know that anyone will be welcomed despite age difference.  Our lunch get-togethers will continue to be held on the third Wednesday of the month and we ask for volunteer coordinators to use the sign-up sheet in the narthex  If you can contribute to the programs or have suggestions for a program, please note it on the sign-up sheet.  Our brief social times together are so invaluable in learning to know each other, enrich our lives and the health of Good Shepherd.  Someone with a special skill, a traveler, or a pro-

fessional and experienced member may be able to add significant enjoyment to the lives of those of us who are no longer employed or actively engaged in worldly adventures.  

           

Chuck Lounsbury will lend us a hand in getting the tables ready.  The program coordinator would arrive a bit early to make sure the tables look nice (decorate if you care to), greet and welcome the folks as they arrive, and assist getting the food on the tables.  We always have lots of help in getting things done.

    

Ted Quast came to our Cinco de Mayo luncheon with a crockpot full of delicious “Spinach Souffle” and agreed to share his recipe with us. (I copied this from a napkin so I won’t take responsibility for any mistakes.)  We think it’s a winner:

 

2        8 oz. pkgs. frozen chopped spinach (defrosted and well drained)

3        eggs (beaten)

2        cups cottage cheese

1        tsp. salt

¼   cup flour

½   stick of butter (cut up).  Smear sides of crockpot with this.

2        8 oz. pkgs of American cheese (cut into chunks)

                       

Mix together in crockpot and cook on low for five hours.

 

                                                                                               ―Carolyn Fishack

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Just for YOUth

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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