Good
Morning. Well, this is the first official update in about
three weeks. I've enjoyed my vacation, but I'm eager to
get back to work. I'm looking forward to an exciting fall.
I believe God has some wonderful and challenging things
in store for us this year.
I
pray that we will keep our eyes on Jesus, our minds rooted
in his Word, our hearts filled with his Spirit and our doors
open, ready to welcome guests and to reach out to those
who do not yet know the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Here's
the news:
UPDATE
CONTENT
INGATHERING
ATTENDANCE
AND GROWTH
SUNDAY
SCHOOL CHANGES
HOME
GROUPS
BIBLE
STUDIES UPDATE
THE
WORLD, THE FLESH, AND THE DEVIL
MISSIONS
FAIR
FAMILY
AND FRIENDS SUNDAY REMINDER
NEWS:
INGATHERING
SUNDAY:
If you are new to Good Shepherd, "ingathering"
used to be the Sunday when everyone returned from vacation
and started going to church again after the summer. But
now that we are worshipping all year round it is more geared
toward setting our mission goals for the year.
This
coming Ingathering Sunday there will be a missions fair.
For more information about the Missions Fair, be sure to
read the information below.
ATTENDANCE
AND GROWTH: This is probably the best summer, attendance
wise, that Good Shepherd has experienced in the last 10
years. There was only one Sunday that we fell below 70.
Many others were 80 or above. And this is with some of our
regular families on vacation. Moreover, we actually gained
8 new members over the summer, four of whom were baptized
two weeks ago. In total that makes about 20 new members
(many of whom are also new believers) for the year. That
tells me that we are going into the fall with a great deal
of momentum. Thanks be to God.
SUNDAY
SCHOOL CHANGES: Rick Warren, in the Purpose
Driven Church , says that God sends “waves” of growth
and blessing to churches. One way we have been blessed this
year is through the large wave of youth and kids. We are
expanding our Sunday School program and exploring (and praying
about) ways to do youth ministry here on a limited budget.
For the time being we are splitting the Senior and Junior
high school into two classes. One group will meet in the
choir loft between services and one will continue to meet
in the library.
To
help us deal with the influx several new teachers have stepped
forward to be trained or to start right away. Tom
and Susan Woolsey will be leading the Junior High
group, Katie Almeida will be training as
a Catechist, and Julie Liddle has volunteered
to help keep the education rooms, schedules, and attendance
rolls organized. Thanks be to God that there are so many
kids here. They are truly a blessing. And thanks be to God
for raising up people to serve.
HOME
GROUPS: To help integrate new members, new attendees
and new believers, into the congregation, we will start
our home-group program later in the fall. If you are wondering
about home groups, what they are and why they matter, please
read the article linked here
(or, if you are reading this on Sunday morning, that is
reprinted in the bulletin). Originally, we had hoped to
have these groups starting in September but with my vacation
and some other difficulties, we have had to push the start
date back. There will be more information coming soon.
BIBLE
STUDIES UPDATE:
1.
Tuesday Morning:
Will meet again the first Tuesday after Ingathering Sunday
2.
First Light (Tuesday Evening) :
Is currently meeting on Tuesday nights. All who have graduated
out of the New Beginner's course are welcome and invited
to join. The study starts at 6:30 pm
3.
Thursday Evening (was new beginners) :
A new New Beginner's Bible Study course will begin the first
Thursday after Ingathering Sunday. The study starts at 6:30pm
right after the Shepherd's Bowl.
4.
Friday Morning Men's Breakfast and Bible Study: This
bible study has met throughout the summer and will continue
to meet every week at 6:30am. We are currently studying
the book of Exodus.
5.
Women's Bible Study:
This group will meet again beginning the first Saturday
after Ingathering Sunday at 10:00am.
Information
about the meeting times for all of these studies can be
found on the homepage . All the
bible studies are always open to anyone who wants to join
in. Please come and invite your friends.
ADULT
EDUCATION SERIES:
THE WORLD, THE FLESH, AND THE DEVIL: Facing
Temptation in a Fallen World
will continue this Sunday.
We
are currently discussing the world and what it means for
Christians to be “salt” and “light.” How do Christians participate
in and contribute to government, culture, entertainment,
education, the workplace, and family life in a way that
preserves and enhances God's good creation while not getting
caught up in what is fallen? We'll continue to answer and
discuss this question this coming Sunday.
For
this section, I will be using a book by the founder of Prison
Fellowship, Charles Colson entitled:
How Now Shall We Live? It's a fantastic book. If you
can afford it, do please buy it and start reading now in
preparation for that section of the class.
MISSIONS
FAIR: What
is a missions fair you ask? Well, if you are a believer
in Jesus Christ, God has given you certain spiritual
and natural gifts. You are responsible for using those gifts
to help build and extend the kingdom of God through the
mission and ministry of Good Shepherd.
There
are many organizations, programs, projects, and service
opportunities at Good Shepherd but you may not be aware
of them. A missions fair is to let you know about them and
how you can participate.
On
Ingathering Sunday between services there will be over 15
booths or displays from that will tell you about the various
ministry opportunities and provide a way for you to sign
up or volunteer to participate. As in most churches, about
30% of the people do 100% of the work at Good Shepherd.
I think we can do alot better. This is the first step to
spreading out the ministry load so that everyone is helping
build-up the Body in his or her own God-ordained way.
Here
is just a brief list of just some of the ministries at Good
Shepherd that will be represented at the missions fair.
WORSHIP
MEMBERS:
Readers:
Readers
are called to read from God's Word during the service. If
you have a good reading vocabulary and strong voice, this
could be your way to serve.
Choir/music:
If you love to sing or have been gifted with the ability
to play a musical instrument, use that gift to glorify the
Giver.
Acolytes:
Acolytes are those called to serve, assist, and worship
at the altar during the service. They are leaders of worship
who process in and out bearing the cross or the lit candles
ahead of the pastors. We are always in need of new acolytes
so please sign up if you would like to take part.
Altar
Guild: The
altar guild cares for everything on the altar from the chalice
and paten to the linens and vestments. They also prepare
the altar for Sunday services, making sure wine and bread
are placed in the right places.
Eucharistic
Ministers (LEM's): LEM's
process in with the clergy and assist in the distribution
of Communion. It is a special calling that requires a deep
sense of reverence and love for the Eucharist. If you sense
God leading you in this direction, please let me know so
that we can test that call.
EDUCATION:
Home
Groups: As
mentioned above, the home-groups will be starting sometime
this fall. The purpose of these is not only to deepen your
faith in Jesus Christ, but also to build fellowship and
relationships. All members of Good Shepherd are encouraged
to commit either to a bible study or to one of the home-groups.
Sunday
School:
This year we have a lot of new kids so we also need help.
We already have a core group of teachers for the fall, but
we will likely need some for the summer. And helpers are
needed year round. Also, since we have so many new kids,
we are asking parents to fill out a very brief information
form with contact information and any health concerns.
Bible
Studies:
There are five active bible studies that meet weekly at
Good Shepherd. You are invited to join any of them. For
beginners, the New Beginner's Bible Study curriculum has
proven very helpful. If you are already somewhat familiar
with the bible, the other studies may be well suited. There
will be a list of all the bible studies and a place for
you to sign up underneath each one.
Nursery:
The nursery remains open throughout Sunday morning from
8:00am to noon. We are always in need of helpers. There
will be a sign-p sheet next to the display.
PROPERTY:
IMPROVEMENT & MAINTENANCE
Sextant/Property
maintenance:
There are a lot of men at Good Shepherd. This is great.
There is a lot of work to be done. We are setting up a work
crew sign up sheet. When you sign up to be part of the work
crew, it means that if there is a project or job that needs
to be done, the Junior Warden can call on you to help out.
We hope to gather a large pool of volunteer workers so that
we don't have to keep asking the same people to help.
COMMUNITY
OUTREACH
Shepherd's
Bowl:
There are currently four volunteer Shepherd's Bowl teams
that rotate by week. If we gather enough volunteers we may
have more. If you would like to volunteer for the Shepherd's
Bowl, there will be a display and a sign up sheet. Let us
know if you would like to cook/clean, or serve. This is
a great way to help the poor and hungry in our neighborhood
and reach out to them with the love of Christ.
Ushers/Greeters:
Being
an usher or greeter is another way of reaching out to the
community. In fact, as a greeter, you would be the first
person most guests will see when they come to Good Shepherd.
If you are outgoing and eager to meet new people, this may
be your calling.
PARISH
ORGANIZATIONS
Stewardship:
I need help. I am horrible at raising money to pay the church
bills. We are hoping to put together a stewardship team
to assist me, the vestry, and the treasurer in this very
important ministry. God has so ordained his Church that
is survives materially on the tithes and offerings of his
people. Help us survive.
Episcopal
Church Women: The
ECW is one of the historic organizations at Good Shepherd.
The mission is to serve the parish by organizing fund-raisers,
preparing refreshments for baptismal, marriage, and funeral
receptions held at the church, and, generally, to enjoy
one another's company. They meet once a month on a Tuesday
morning and share lunch afterwards.
Intercessors:
after
a year-long hiatus, we are restarting this prayer team.
Every week I will put out a list of prayer needs for the
parish and parish leadership. Intercessors commit to pray
for those needs daily. If you are gifted in prayer and devoted
to prayer for the parish, this is a powerful ministry through
which God has blessed and grown the parish.
Communications/Newsletters:
If
you are a writer, know the internet, good with computers,
office equipment or just generally have good clerical skills,
we need your help. We hope to reestablish the newsletter
this year. But to do so we need an editor, dedicated writers,
and people willing to fold and mail it. Also we need help
folding Sunday bulletins, updating the website and making
copies. If you would like to volunteer your services, there
will be a sign-up sheet in the parish hall.
These
are some of the ministries and programs that will be featured
at this years missions fair. The fair will be held between
services on September 10 th (Ingathering Sunday)
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
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty
power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take
your stand against the devil's schemes. 12 For our struggle
is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers,
against the authorities, against the powers of this dark
world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly
realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that
when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your
ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your
waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15
and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes
from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take
up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all
the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of
salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word
of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with
all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be
alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. (Ephesians
6:10-18)
Don't
forget to....BRING A FRIEND TO CHURCH!
Daily Schedule for the week of Sunday September
3rd, 2006
Monday:
8:30 a.m. Morning Prayer
Tuesday
8:30 a.m. Morning Prayer
6:30 p.m. First Light Bible Study
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:
Enjoy
the day
INGATHERING
SUNDAY
8:00am Holy Communion II and Sermon
9:15-10:15 a.m.
MISSIONS FAIR
10:30 am Holy Communion II, Music and Sermon
God bless you all
In
Christ,
