the Messenger

                                                      A PUBLICATION OF GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH

 


            

PASTORAL REFLECTIONS

 

A pastor friend of mine had a grueling interview with a big parish in the Midwest. It was the largest parish he had ever considered for call. The decision narrowed down to two candidates and my friend was chosen.  However, there was one person on the call committee who wasn’t convinced that he was up for the job. So on his first Sunday, the member marched right up to him and looked him in the eye: ‘Buddy, you better be ready to walk on water.’  There are churches that pride themselves on expecting their pastors to walk on water. It’s hidden in fine print of their profiles: ‘Applicant must be able to perform miracles with church youth group, Sunday School, worship attendance, stewardship campaign simultaneously with minimal volunteer support and an increasingly deficient budget.’ That’s as close to walking on water as you get. I think I must have been out with the flu when they taught

WOW101 (Walking on Water 101) at the Seminary.  There’s this text in Matthew 14 where Peter sees Jesus walking on water and asks if Jesus would call him –and he does. Peter gets out of the boat and approaches him. You know the rest of the story. He suddenly realizes he’s sinking. Jesus and Peter have a moment –a saving moment.  My friend had a rough time in that big parish in the Midwest – not because he wasn’t doing a good job. He was doing a fantastic job there and everyone liked him. Even the person who had pointed the finger at him and said, ‘Buddy, you better be ready to walk on water,’ was saying, ‘You know, you can walk on water!’ Things started going down hill from there. He started

believing that he could walk on water. Then there were health problems and marital issues and eventually he had to leave the parish. Like Peter crawling out of the boat, our biggest sin sometimes is to believe that we can walk on water.  Suffice it to mention, when it comes to being the Church, Christ is the one who reaches out with a hand to pull us into the boat. The learning I missed from WOW101was that none of us is expected to walk on water in our ministries –ordained or otherwise. The Christ of our faith meets us in the storms and turbulent waters of our journeys in faith with a reach of love that is un-surpassing. Still I’d rather be in the boat with you then try to crawl out to walk on water.

Together in Ministry,

Pastor Ron

 

 

 

ADULT CHOIR BEGINS NEW SEASON with first rehearsal set for Thursday night, September 4, 2008, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. 

Because we love hearing the full choir sing together, we are going to alternate scheduling the choir at the 8:00 and 11:15 a.m. services each week, rather than always dividing us up as we've been doing for many years now.  However, several of our choir members have a scheduling problem with this, so a small group (quartet, trio ??) will still be able to sing the same choral offering at the "no choir" service each Sunday.  If not, special music will be provided by non-choir members  who enjoy sharing their gifts on occasion.

 

We love having new members join us at the beginning of a new season.  We are also looking for new talent to add to the variety of our worship experience.   Please contact Janet Rippeon (301-662-7442, jdrippeon1@aol.com) if you have interest in the choir or special music.

Many thanks to all our musicians and artists who enhance our worship and praise, thanking the Lord always for all his bountiful gifts.

 

                                                                                                                               ―Janet Rippeon

 

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Vacation Bible School Rainforest Adventure

Thanks to everyone who made the 2008 Rainforest Adventure Vacation Bible School an enjoyable experience for all.  Thirty- three children, Age 3-Grade 6, attended VBS this year.  Thanks to all the children who attended and to the adults who brought them.

Special thanks to Lisa Caro for directing our VBS this year and to all who helped in many ways.  Teachers for this year were Mary Ann Nails and Janet Mnning, Ages3-5, and helpers Margot Manning and Delaney Tregoning;  Kaila Gartrell and Evie Timberlake, Grades 1&2; Lori Balser, Grades 3&4, and Jim Latham, Grades 5&6.  Craft coordinator was Lisa Long and helpers were Mandy Gilbart, Nancy Tregoning and Marilyn Ayres..  Music leaders included Gail Mathews, Connie Isoldi and Sharon Wiklinski.  Renate Owen was the snack coordinator in  charge of keeping everyone’s tummy happy!


Blessing of  The Backpacks

On Sunday August 24 at both worship services we will have our annual “Blessing of the Backpacks.”  All students returning to school, no matter what age, are invited to bring their backpacks for a special blessing.

Sunday School

Fall through Spring Sunday School will begin on September 7, 2008.  Classes for age 3 through adult will  be offered.  Watch for more information in the September Messenger as well as the Sunday Times and the E- Newsletter.

  

                                                                                                                           ―Lucretia Reaves

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WELCOME                                                  

           

 

                                   HELLO   and   GOODBYE

 

                                                                                   Thank you!

                                                                                                                                                                                      

 

This is a time when the Evangelism Committee finds itself saying both “hello”and “goodbye.” It is with joy that we welcome new folks into the group, people who bring fresh energies and talents, but we’d be sorely remiss if we were to forget the strong foundation laid by those to whom we are saying “goodbye.”  To the former we say WELCOME, to the latter we offer a sincere THANK YOU as well as a prayer that God would pour out His blessings upon their new endeavors.

           

Our Evangelism Committee, while in the process of regrouping and refocusing, is currently directing its efforts on how best to extend a warm, cordial welcome to visitors in our midst.  Ours is a caring congregation but how do we convey that to our guests?

 

A smile, a warm handshake, perhaps a friendly “Good morning!”  Such simple greetings can make a world of difference; they can make a person feel right at home even though he or she may never have set foot into our sanctuary before.  Whether a visitor is searching for a church home or just happens to be in the area – let’s all reach out to show visitors an enthusiastic Good Shepherd welcome!

 

(By the way, plans are in progress to acknowledge visitors with a letter as well as a personal visit.  It would be helpful if our members were to encourage visitors to either fill out a green pew card or to sign the guest register in the narthex.)

 

Thank you – and may God bless all of our efforts on His behalf!

 

                         ―Emily Miller

 

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YARD SALE RESULTS

 

 

 

Our annual yard sale is over, and we earned $1,165.70, plus there will be supplemental funds from Thrivent in the amount of $500. 

   

 Many thanks for all of your donations!  It is amazing how full the Community Room and Narthex can be every year!

 

A total of 22 volunteers sorted and priced all of the merchandise. Nicky, Diane and Marilyn worked long hours, (thanks so much, ladies!), both Thursday and Friday, along with others who donated time to help.  Our thanks go out to each of you.  For fear of missing someone, I'll not list names, but you each know how much your efforts are appreciated, not only by our church family, but will also be greatly appreciated by the folks at the Religious Coalition for Emergency Human Needs.

 

Our "Haul-away Angels", Atillio DeMarco, Mike and Broderick Miller and Bill Thelemann did a fantastic job of loading up vehicles and hauling leftover merchandise.  You guys were a special blessing!!!  And Anne Harter came in special to help pack up. Also, she mopped the Community Room floor so that by the time we left, one would never guess the amount of activity that had taken place over three days.  Thanks so much, Anne.

 

It is with great sadness, I must say, though, that this will probably be the last yard sale for a few years, unless some younger people step up to the plate.  Some of us are getting a bit tired.  New ideas of how to have funds to reach out to the community, and to the world, are welcome for 2009.  Anyone with a suggestion is most welcome to submit it, along with your willingness to pull it off, please contact Pat, Nicky or Diane.  Again, my sincere thanks to all who donated and/or helped in ANY way.

 

                                                                                  ―Blessings, Pat Schoonover - 301-473-8736.

 

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THE RELIGIOUS COALITION - As you are already aware, the proceeds from our annual yard sale, ($1175 + $500 from Thrivent), will be going to the Religious Coalition for Emergency Human Needs.  Pastor Brian Scott, Executive Director, shared with me that requests for emergency assistance have increased by 40% already this year.  Job losses, evictions, gas prices, lack of health insurance, and foreclosures all are contributing to these desperate situations.

 

While visiting his office, and touring their facility, I gathered some statistics to share with our church family.  Here are some:

Clients served in 2007 - 1,357; 2008 - 2,022 (and only 1/2 of 2008) - up 49.01 %

Bus Tickets    in 2007 - 70;      2008 - 110 - up 57.14%

Lodging (Families) - in 2007 - 18;  2008 - 28 - up 55.56%

Pharmacy Vouchers - 2007 298;  2008 - 479 - up 60.74%

Energy Assistance - in 2007 - 71;  2008 - 150 - up 105%

 

At the moment, Energy Assistance is a pressing issue.  After falling behind over the winter months, clients are facing having their power cut off.   It is the focus of The Religious Coalition to keep people from becoming homeless!

 

The Coalition operates seven (7) Food Banks around the county and all are in need of either food donations, or financial contributions.  PLEASE CONTINUE TO FILL UP THE BOX IN THE NARTHEX CABINET WITH NON-PERISHABLE FOOD ITEMS.  LET'S HELP OUR NEIGHBORS TO NOT GO TO BED HUNGRY!!! 

 

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!!!      THERE ARE MANY NEEDS FOR VOLUNTEERS TO FILL.  VISIT THE WEB SITE AT:   www.thereligiouscoalition.org  

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There are so many ways in which we can reach out to the hurting, hungry, and homeless. One way we at Good Shepherd can help is by donating generously to GIFT OF LOVE.    Through a program with Thrivent, called "Care in Congregations," we are entitled to the sum of $1600.  BUT, we must earn $1600 in order to qualify for that special, annual allotment from Thrivent.  Kindly place your financial gifts in the Gift of Love envelopes in the pew racks.  Some of those funds will help the Coalition, as well as other causes in our community.

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GOLFERS TAKE NOTE:    3rd Annual Golf Tournament to benefit the Religious Coalition, Wednesday, September 17.  Contact Paul Thorne at 301-662-4803 for information or to register to play.

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SOCIAL MINISTRY WORKERS NEEDED.  As indicated in last month's issue, there will be a need for new leadership for this team, beginning January 1, 2009.  I will continue to be a part of the team, and continue to work on our outreach programs, but it is time for new leadership.  Please prayerfully consider being a part of a very outreach-dedicated team.  To volunteer,

contact:  Pat Schoonover, 301-473-8736 or sewinglady@xecu.net

 

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