Update July 14th, 2006

Dear Good Shepherd,

Good Afternoon.

I really intended to get this out sooner than now for a whole host of reasons, the first being I haven't started writing my sermon yet and, as I glance at the clock I realize it is already 3:30pm on Friday. I've studied all week for it, but the writing is always the most excruciating part. You never know when or whether God will give you something to say, so you just plunge in and start writing. Eventually, he comes along and helps, but sometimes he likes to make you sweat first. I have a feeling this is going to be one of those times.

We've had a very busy week at Good Shepherd. They say summer is easier in the church, but this summer has been as busy as Easter. But there does seem to be a lightening of the load on the horizon. The New Beginniners bible study has graduated to the First Light level, which means they get to take the rest of the summer off (more about that below). The Tuesday Morning Bible study will be taking August off in light of the coming child and lots of people heading out on vacation. Moreover, the child, when he arrives, will also mean the beginning of the rest of my vacation...sort of. I mean I'll have time off, but it won't necessarily be vacation I guess. Oh well, I really do love my job and if you have a job you love, busyness isn't all that bad...but anyway, when I go on vacation, probably in August, you'll probably see things slow down even more.

But just for a month...so don't get too relaxed :)

Actually, this is a great time, if indeed things are slowing down for you, to reestablish (if they have become disestablished) your personal prayer and bible reading habits. Setting aside time now, during the summer, to spend alone with God dailyand sticking to it and, in fact, letting it become a habitual need, an essential part of your day, will make it that much more likely that you will insist to yourself that you must carve out time for it when the chaos begins in the fall. It is not a dramatic thing to do and can, sometimes, even be boring. But the daily habit, the regular, devoted plodding through the scriptures, speaking to God and letting God speak to you, confessing your sins and repenting of them, thanking God, praising him, and asking for his help, over time results in a dramatic change.

It is a wonderful thing to compare Good Shepherd three years ago with regard to studying and understanding the bible, prayer, worship, and spiritual life to Good Shepherd today. This body has become rooted in the Word and it shows. The church has dramatically changed and matured. But it was not an overnight change. It was something that happened step by plodding step as you came to bible study even when you were tired, served at the Shepherd's Bowl even when no one showed up, sat in the pews on steamy Sunday mornings when you really wanted to crawl back in bed. These small acts of discipline and commitment opened the door for the Holy Spirit to work and transform the church to the growing and vibrant place that it is today.

What has happened to the church as a whole will happen to you personally if you make the commitment to seek God every day in prayer and in his Word. Look around at your brothers and sisters who have made this sort of commitment and you can see it...the change in their lives and hearts. It takes commitment, discipline, and the willingness to make time when you think you don't have it. But if you give yourself daily, you'll find God giving himself daily too, building you up and making you new every day.

UPDATE CONTENT

CHICKEN BBQ FOR FLOOD VICTIMS

SPEAKING OF FLOOD RELIEF

PARISH MEETINGS

BIBLE STUDIES

BIBLE STUDY NEWS

SMALL GROUP TRAINING

MUSIC

ANNOUNCEMENT: New Series

PREGNANCY, NEW BABY, and TIME OFF

HAVE YOU…

NEWS:

CHICKEN BBQ FOR FLOOD RELIEF: TOMORROW: Saturday the 15th of July, Good Shepherd will hold a Chicken BBQ and donate all proceeds to flood relief. If you would like to help please contact Lee Bronson. Otherwise, be sure to support this effort by telling as many people as possible.

SPEAKING OF FLOOD RELIEF: Keep those supplies coming. Clothes, chairs, boots and bleach, are the major items needed. Thank you for your generosity so far, but don't stop now. There is still alot to be done.

PARISH MEETING: The second and last of two parish meetings to discuss the aftermath of the 75th General Convention and Good Shepherd's response will take place this Sunday between services. If you were unable to make the first one held Wednesday, please be sure to come for this last one. These are very important meetings in the life of the parish.

BIBLE STUDIES: As I mentioned above the New Beginners Bible Study has graduated and taken a break for the summer. The Tuesday morning study will break in August. I believe one or two others may take the month off as well. I'll keep you informed. If you are part of one of the bible studies that will be taking a month off and you don't want to take a month off, you are more than welcome to attend one of the others.

BIBLE STUDY NEWS: The Men's Breakfast and Bible Study (which will be meeting all summer long0 has finished 1st Corinthians and is moving on to Exodus. We started into Exodus 1 this morning. If you are looking to join this bible study, jumping in now would be perfect.

SMALL GROUP TRAINING: as I mentioned last week, we'll be starting training this August.

second notice: MUSIC: A great big thank you to Chris Vail, Justin Almeida, Joyce Carlson and Micah Towery for stepping up and help and providing wonderful music for us this summer. You've all done a  spectacular job.

ANNOUNCEMENT: NEW ADULT EDUCATION SERIES: THE WORLD, THE FLESH, AND THE DEVIL: Facing Temptation in a Fallen World will start NEXT SUNDAY.

second notice: PREGNANCY, NEW BABY, and TIME OFF: When our new baby comes, I'll be taking the rest of my vacation time. We think this should be around the end of July, but only God knows for sure. When it happens, you guys will be the first to know. For at least two weeks, maybe more, afterwards, there will be an operational pause on almost all church activities accept for Sunday morning and maybe one or two bible studies. I need a vacation!

THERE WILL BE A FAMILY AND FRIENDS SUNDAY IN SEPTEMBER: Start praying about which non-believing family member or friend you will invite.

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

24 " 'My servant David will be king over them, and they will all have one shepherd. They will follow my laws and be careful to keep my decrees. 25 They will live in the land I gave to my servant Jacob, the land where your fathers lived. They and their children and their children's children will live there forever, and David my servant will be their prince forever. 26 I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant. I will establish them and increase their numbers, and I will put my sanctuary among them forever. 27 My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people. 28 Then the nations will know that I the LORD make Israel holy, when my sanctuary is among them forever.' " (Ezekiel 37:24-28)

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

Daily Schedule for the week of Sunday July 16th, 2006

Monday:
8:30 a.m. Morning Prayer

Tuesday
8:30 a.m. Morning Prayer
9:00 a.m. Tuesday Morning Bible Study
6:30 p.m. First Light Bible Study: Q and A

7:00 p.m. First Light Bible Study: Discussion (Matthew 14)

Wednesday
8:30 a.m. Morning Prayer

Thursday
8:30 a.m. Morning Prayer
5:30 p.m. Shepherd's Bowl

Friday
6:30 a.m. Men's Breakfast/Bible Study
8:30 a.m. Morning Prayer

Saturday:
10:00 a.m. Women's Bible Study

SUNDAY JULY 23rd, 2006
8:00am Holy Communion II and Sermon
9:15-10:15 a.m. Christian Education for all ages
10:30 am Holy Communion II, Music and Sermon

God bless you all

In Christ,

Matt+