Seven Mission Goals for 2007

1. An active youth ministry in place by the end of the year

2. Hosting a quarterly Friends and Family Sunday (where we invite non-believing family and friends to church)

3. 100% parish participation in the Franklin Graham festival (i.e. everyone gets trained and brings a non-believing friend to the festival itself)

4. The vestry is seeking100% participation in Bible Study.

5 At least 30 new believers by this time next year.

6. An active discipling program by the end of the year with at least 4 leaders in discipling relationships.

7. gathering at least 100 people for worship every Sunday.

Dear Good Shepherd,

 

Good morning. There are several important items in this morning's Update that I hope you read carefully.

 

I have a request.

The Standing Committee of the Diocese of Central New York along with Bishop Adams will meet this Saturday afternoon to discuss an important proposal that your vestry and I prepared and delivered last week. If they do not finish the discussion on Saturday, they will meet again within the next two weeks to finish their deliberations. The proposal, if accepted, would mean that Good Shepherd would continue worshipping and serving God right here on the corner of Livingston and Conklin Avenue . Our parting with the Episcopal Church would be charitable and marked by the peace of Christ.

 

While praying this morning before bible study I felt a strong sense, I think it was from the Lord, that each member of Good Shepherd should, individually, set aside Saturday as a day of fasting and prayer for God to mercifully and graciously move Bishop Adams and move the hearts of those on the Standing Committee to accept the proposal we have offered.

I use the words “mercy” and “grace” purposefully. Though we, as a matter of conscience, cannot follow the path taken by the Episcopal Church, we too are unworthy servants. We must, I think, move forward with a humble sense of our own failings and sins, a deep sense of gratitude for all the blessings we have received from the Lord over the course of Good Shepherd's long history, and an immense love for Christ, and an unwavering desire to follow his Word. It is with this attitude that I believe the Holy Spirit is calling uspray for God's gracious hand to move and soften hearts on our behalf.

 

When God brought the people of Judah back from exile in Babylon , there were some living nearby who did not want them to rebuild the Temple of the Lord. They appealed to the emperor, Darius, to issue a decree that would halt the work. Instead, God moved Darius to order the surrounding governors and nobles to provide all the material that the returning Jews needed to complete the reconstruction of the Temple . Afterwards, the people celebrated Passover and offered praise and glory to God. Ezra writes:

 

For seven days they celebrated with joy the Feast of Unleavened Bread, because the Lord had filled them with joy by changing the attitude of [King Darius], so that he assisted them in the work of the House of God.” (Ezra 6:22)

 

God changed Darius' attitude. God worked in Darius' heart for the sake of his people. Darius was not a believer in the Lord and yet God moved him. God can and does work in hearts. This, I think, gives us clear direction for our own prayers.

A new Standing Committee will be elected before the meeting tomorrow. So I cannot pass on the names of the committee members. But I can and do ask you to pray that God's Holy Spirit will move the heart of Bishop Adams, move the heart of Holly Eden (the president of the Standing Committee) and all those who will be elected to the Committee tomorrow to accept our proposal so that we can continue to worship the Lord here, feed the poor, and proclaim his gospel to the lost.

 

We have so very much for which to be thankful. Whatever God's will in this matter, there is abundant reason to be grateful for all the ways in which the Lord has poured out his blessings on us as a parish and on each of us individually. Most of all we are thankful that God the Father sent his Son Jesus Christ to willingly die on our behalf, to take away our sins, and reconcile us to himself. This is grace beyond measure. And, you can be sure, that no matter the outcome of this present circumstance, that Gift, the Gift of Jesus Christ, will be always be infinitely more than enough to nourish and satisfy and bring us peace in all times and situations.

 

UPDATE CONTENTS
CHRISTMAS PAGEANT AND WORSHIP
SERMON PODCASTING UPDATE
ACOLYTE PRACTICE
VESTRY MEETING
SERMON PREP
STEWARDSHIP UPDATE
WALKABOUT EVANGELISM
ECUMENICAL THANKSGIVING SERVICE
FLOWER FUND
APOLOGY TO VETERANS

CHRISTMAS FLEA MARKET AND BAKE SALE
BIBLE STUDY (NOT MEETING THANKSGIVING WEEK)
YOUTH INFORMATION FROM MICAH

JEANETTE RICKER
HERESIES AND CULTS (ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL SERIES)
CHILDREN'S CHAPEL

NEWS

CHRISTMAS PAGEANT and WORSHIP: The first Christmas Pageant practice of the year will be held this Sunday. It will not be for everyone in the pageant, just for certain groups. Last year we practiced in shifts so that not everyone would be required to come to every practice. We don’t want burnouts.

Here is Anne's note explaining the practice schedule:

The Christmas Pageant is beginning to take excellent shape. All the speaking parts, at this moment, are filled, but I am still looking for two adult (preferably male-sorry ladies) acolytes as well as two prop people (you would be taking the manger on and off the altar and moving Herod's chair and out of position). If I don't hear from you volunteering, you'll be hearing from me.

This week Mary and Joseph will be practicing briefly after church, if everyone else can stay 15 minutes to rehearse music, that would make me very happy. Here is the proposed schedule of practices. 

11/18 Mary and Joseph

11/25 Principles (speaking parts)/music practice in the library for Sheep, Shepherds and Angels

12/2 Sheep, Shepherds, angels/ music practice in the library for Principles

12/9 Principles/music practice in the library for Sheep, Shepherds and Angles

12/16 Whole Cast, walk through with lines AND music

12/23 Dress Rehearsal

Some information for those who may have missed last week’s update: Last year we combined the traditional midnight mass with the family service and moved the Christmas Eve service to an earlier time in order to unite the congregation in worship as much as possible on Christmas eve. This year we’ll be doing the same. The Christmas Eve Service will be at 5:00pm, carols starting at 4:30pm. In place of the readings for the first part of the service, there will be a pageant. If you were unable to make last year’s pageant, you really missed out. It was fantastic. This year we are expanding it yet again, adding more speaking parts and more music. After the pageant we’ll go directly to a very brief sermon and invitation and then, directly, to the offertory and Communion. It is a high mass, just like the Traditional service. In all from the beginning of the pageant at 5:00pm, it will probably take about an hour and 10 minutes. That was the time last year. I tell you that now so you can plan your time on Christmas Eve.

SERMON PODCASTING UPDATE: Don’t forget about the new podcast site. We’ve already had a very good number of hits and downloads. I hope to load Anne’s sermon from last Sunday very soon but there is one problem. Anne seems to have lost the digital recorder. We haven’t been able to find it all week. We’ll keep looking. Hopefully by this Sunday we’ll have it again. The podcast site is linked from the Good Shepherd website.

ACOLYTE PRACTICE: The next Acolyte practice will be the Sunday after Thanksgiving.

VESTRY: If we hear from the diocesan Standing Committee we will probably need to call a special meeting. If we do not, our meeting will be moved from the third Wednesday of the month, which is Thanksgiving week, to the fourth Wednesday.

SERMON PREP: I intended to preach last Sunday until I got that horrible cold and could not think. Anne, graciously stepped in for me. This Sunday I’ll be back and we’ll continue our brief two part look at Zacchaeus the chief tax collector and Jesus in Luke 19:1-10. The first sermon in this two part series is already online in both text and audio, so you might want to review it. This Sunday we’ll be delving into the second part of the passage. Jesus invited himself into Zacchaeus’ home and in response Zacchaeus gave back, fourfold, what he had taken unjustly in revenue. What do these actions tell us about the power of Christ’s presence and word? What sort of fruit does salvation bear in the lives of those who come to see who Christ is?

STEWARDSHIP UPDATE: You should have received your pledge cards in the mail by now. If you have not please let us know so that we can get one out to you. We do ask that you prayerfully consider pledging more this year than last. It may be that if our proposal to the diocese is accepted we will need more income than last year to maintain our ministries and outreach. You will be updated on this possibility soon. The biblical principle is to return to God through your local assembly 10% of what God has given you. I encourage you to take that step and trust in God’s word and providence. I explain the purpose and power of the tithe in the sermon linked here:

http://www.binghamtongoodshepherd.com/sermon10.29.06_000.shtml

If you are not yet ready to tithe, do consider pledging some amount in lieu of a tithe. The ministry of Good Shepherd to those on the South side is very important. We have fed a lot of people this year and, by God’s grace, we have gained a significant number of new members…a number of them already believers, though some have just this year come to faith.

We hope to start receiving pledge cards on the Sunday after Thanksgiving.

WALKABOUT EVANGELISM: This coming January (not sure about the date yet) we’ll be scheduling an evangelism walkabout day. For those who are new to Good Shepherd, about twice a year we bake a few hundred small loaves of bread and pass them out door to door to those who live in the neighborhood. We put the bread in bags along with a tract that gives the message of salvation and some information about the church. God has blessed us with a lot of growth this year, over twenty new members and consistent guests. But of those, only two are converts. The rest are already believers in Jesus Christ. It is a wonderful thing to gain experienced and mature believers as we have. But Christ came to seek and save the lost. And he has commissioned us as his vehicles for that mission. The walkabout is one at least way that we share the gospel, personally, to those on the South-side. I hope you will volunteer to join this effort. I’ll pass on more information as the time draws near.

ECUMENICAL THANKSGIVING SERVICE: Will be at High Street Methodist Church this year which is just around the block from Good Shepherd on Vestal Ave. If you drive on Livingston from the Church to Vestal Ave, you’ll take a left and you will see High Street on your right. The service will be on Tuesday evening at 7:00pm. There will be Catholics, Anglicans, Methodists, Presbyterians, Messianic Jews and Baptists and BRIEF reflections from each of the pastors involved including Anne and me. And then there will be food.

APOLOGY: I need to apologize to you and, especially, to those of you who have served or are serving in the armed forces. There ought to have been some sort of recognition during last Sunday’s worship. In past year's we've asked veterans and present soldiers to stand to receive the honor and thanks that you deserve for your sacrifice on our behalf. That is what ought to have happened last Sunday as well. I apologize that it did not. There was no other reason than my own forgetfulness.

Here is a prayer for veterans that you might add to your daily time with the Lord today:

Heavenly Father, we thank you for the selfless service of those who gave their lives to protect our nation, preserve our freedoms, and restore peace in the face of brutal aggressors. Grant relief to those who continue to experience emotional or physical agony from their days of combat. Give us a sense of responsibility for their welfare. Comfort those who mourn for loved ones who died while performing their duty to our country. Enlist all who are in our military forces into your church militant, that they may pledge eternal loyalty to Christ, our King, and know his peace. Amen

BIBLE STUDY: There will be no bible studies for Thanksgiving week. Do study your bible and pray every day, but spend the evenings and mornings with your family.

YOUTH INFORMATION FROM MICAH: Junior High youth group will be going to the Binghamton Senators hockey game Saturday, Nov. 17th. We will meet at the box office at 6:30. Call me by Friday, the 16th to tell me whether or not you (and any friends) are coming. I will buy the tickets all at once.
Senior High youth group will have a regular Sunday night meeting from 6-8.

be sure to check the website for information

Good Shepherd Youth Group Calendar
NOVEMBER
Saturday, November 17 – Jr. High BSens Hockey Game, 6:30, meet at BC Veterans Memorial Arena (Jeremy)
Sunday, November 18 – Sr. High Meeting, 6-8 (Jason)
Saturday, November 24 – Jr. High Meeting, 6-8 (Matt)
Sunday, November 25 – Sr. High Meeting, 6-8 (IFE)

JEANETTE RICKER:  Jeanette who is a 50 year member of Good Shepherd is now residing at Marjorie Doyle Rockwell Center  near her son, David, who lives in the Albany area.   After breaking her neck (12/06) and suffering from dementia it was necessary for her to leave Good Shepherd- Fairview Home.  David reports that the Center is very nice and that Jeanette is happy.  Please keep Jeanette in your thoughts and prayers.   ( The compete letter is on the bulletin board downstairs.)

ADULT EDUCATION SERIES: HERESIES AND CULTS: This week we cover some of the darker aspects of paganism including Satanism; what it is and what it is not. This Sunday will mark the end of our sub-series on neo-paganism. The next ancient heresy we cover will be “Pelagianism” so you might want to google it or do some research to prepare.

CHILDREN'S CHAPEL: A note to parents. As soon as the music starts for the Gospel procession, all kids from the ages of 3 to 8 may be excused for children's chapel downstairs. We'll train the acolytes and create a new system for getting to chapel in a more organized manner, but for now, this seems to be the best way to do it.

HAVE YOU…. shared your faith with a friend? The vestry has challenged all of us to share our faith in Jesus Christ with at least one non-believer each month.

Good News for the Week

16  From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18  All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19  that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20  Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21  For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2nd Corinthians 5:3-16-21)


Don't forget to....BRING A FRIEND TO CHURCH

Daily Schedule for the week of Sunday November 17th, 2007

Monday:
pastor's day off

Tuesday
8:30 a.m. Morning Prayer
No Bible studies

Wednesday
No morning prayer

Thursday
THANKSGIVING

Friday
No morning prayer or bible study

Saturday:
No Bible Study
4:30 p.m. Hebrew Class
6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. Jr. High Youth Group Meets (Matt)

Sunday November 25th, 2007 SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP (SEASON OF PENTECOST)
8:00am Worship, Holy Communion and Sermon
9:15-10:15 a.m. CHRISTIAN EDUCATION FOR ALL AGES
10:30am Worship, Holy Communion, Music, Sermon
6:00pm - 8:00pm Sr. High Meeting (Ife)
PLEDGE CARDS COLLECTED

God bless you all
In Christ,

Matt+

 

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