Dear
Good Shepherd,
I am completely swamped so I have not had much time to even
think about what to write for a weekly article. Instead,
take some time to read the very good article posted and
linked below by Eileen Sommi published on the Christianity
Today website. The article deals with problem of pain in
the Christian life. I pray you will find it helpful. Also,
be sure to read the news section. Important things coming
up.
God
bless you all in Christ Jesus
Matt+
WEEKLY
ARTICLE:
Growing Pains
"I
pleaded with God to take away my chronic headaches. Sometimes
grace hurts."
By Eileen Sommi
from
Christianity
Today
I
've had headaches for as long as I can remember.
Decades now. They range from mildly annoying to downright
debilitating. Mostly, they inhabit the space right behind
my nose and eyeballs. It's a pressure system that pushes
against my face, constantly reminding me that something
is not right.
As
a kid, I would mention these headaches to my pediatrician
at each annual visit. He would tell me they were growing
pains and not to worry. If that were true, I concluded that
I would probably grow up to be the tallest woman with the
biggest head in the world. Each year he'd say the same thing,
and each year I'd leave his office dissatisfied, knowing
that I could expect more "growing pains" in my skull. Aside
from this annual complaint, I never talked about my headaches.
I assumed everyone was growing and, thus, experiencing some
sort of pain with which they had to contend. Who was I to
complain?
My
pain tolerance was high and I knew how to compensate for
the headaches and work around them. I believed if I acknowledged
them, I would make them real. At the point of naming them,
I would go to my room, turn off the lights, lay a wet towel
on my face, and be stuck alone with "the enemy" for the
rest of my life. So, I never named them, never talked about
them, and never sought any help. Even as an adult, I kept
relatively quiet about my headaches because I believe "life
is short" and the last thing I want is to spend my days
talking about my pain or to be known as the "woman with
the headaches." Besides, it's not like I have cancer, or
some real illness, like countless people out there
who really do deserve our sympathy and support. For Pete's
sake, I just have headaches!
And
yet, the pain refuses to be denied.
Read
the whole article by clicking here
.
UPDATE
CONTENT
NEWS
FAMILY
AND FRIENDS SUNDAY
CHRISTMAS
PAGEANT PRACTICE
NAMIBIA
TOYS: THE LAST SUNDAY
CHRISTMAS
FLOWERS
SUNDAY
SCHOOL
NEW
ADULT EDUCATION SERIES: HEROES OF THE BIBLE
BIBLE
STUDY FELLOWSHIP
NOT
QUITE “NEW” NEWS
SOUTHSIDE
ECUMENICAL COUNCIL THANKSGIVING SERVICE
EVANGELISM
WALKABOUT
SHARING
BIBLES
STEWARDSHIP
NEWS:
FAMILY
AND FRIENDS SUNDAY IS THIS SUNDAY: God
has blessed us with abundant growth this year, both spiritually
and numerically. He has done this largely through personal
evangelism. God has used you to bring lost people to faith
in Jesus Christ. The Lord calls all believers to share their
faith, to tell others what Christ has done in you and how
he has changed your life. This Sunday is a great opportunity
to do so. Invite a non-believing friend, or one who does
not attend to another Christian body, to church. It could
change their life.
There
will be a welcome luncheon after the 10:30am services so
that we can meet and greet all the guests and send them
home with a full stomach. Please bring something to share.
CHRISTMAS
PAGEANT PRACTICE: THIS SUNDAY
IS VERY IMPORTANT:
Please remember to stay after church this Sunday. Last Sunday
only a quarter of the people who said they wanted to be
in the play stayed for practice. Don't worry, not everyone
will meet every Sunday. We will be practicing in sections.
But to find out which section you are in and what Sunday's
you will have rehearsals, remember to stay this Sunday after
the 10:30am service ends. It will only take about 10 to
15 minutes and then we can go down and share lunch.
NAMIBIA
TOYS: Reminder: This Sunday is the last
Sunday to bring toys for the Namibia Toy Project.
This is a great opportunity to share our abundance with
children on the other side of the planet. Thank you to Colleen
Kenny-Kuk for sponsoring and organizing this opportunity
to give.
CHRISTMAS
FLOWERS: If
you wish to have memorial or thanksgiving flowers for Christmas
this year, you will find a form in this newsletter for the
Christmas flowers to be placed on the altar. Please fill
it out and return it to the church by December 17 th so
that your loved ones can be included. Please use full names
and not “Mr. or Mrs.” Sign your name to the form so that,
if there are any questions, we can contact you. This is
a good time to remember those who have passed away and to
let our living friends and family know how much we love
them
.
SUNDAY
SCHOOL: Last Sunday there were only about 4 children
out of about 20 at Sunday School. This was unusual and there
were some very good reasons for it. But it does provide
an opportunity to remind parents about the importance of
Sunday School and church in general in raising children.
The bible is very clear: “Train a child in the way he should
go and when he is old, he will not turn from it.” (Proverbs
22:6). Christian parents are called by God to raise believing
kids who know Jesus Christ, know his Word, and who are prepared
to live with and for him. If Jesus is not first in their
lives now, as kids, he won't be first when they leave your
home. When they “grow old,” as the Proverb says, chances
are they will turn from him. The most valuable thing you
can give to any child, is a living and eternal relationship
with Jesus Christ. Education, sports, etc…are all good and
important, but they all pale in significance when compared
with preparing your child for an eternal walk with Jesus
Christ. The Sunday School teachers spend a lot of time during
the week preparing lessons to help your kids know and love
Jesus Christ.
They do their jobs and use their gifts well. It is your
role as a parent to love your child enough to make sure
they are there to receive what God will give them. I know
that the fall is a very busy time, but for the sake of your
children, let Christ be first in your life and in theirs.
NEW
ADULT EDUCATION SERIES:
HEROES OF THE BIBLE: This
Week we'll conclude our discussion on Noah , the builder
of the Ark , the boat that survived the Great Flood and
draw some important life lessons out of his experience.
Then we will move on to take up the next great hero, Abraham,
who is called the father of the Faith.
BIBLE
FELLOWSHIP: If
you are a man and having trouble getting up at 6:30am for
the men's bible study and breakfast, there is another men's
bible study that meets every Saturday. This study is led
by Bill Lane and meets between 4 and 6 pm. If you are interested
can call Bill on his cell phone: 237-9232
NOT
QUITE "NEW" NEWS
SOUTH-SIDE
ECUMENICAL THANKSGIVING SERVICE: The
annual ecumenical Thanksgiving service will be held at Good
Shepherd this year. It will be on Tuesday evening of Thanksgiving
week. Mark your calendars now! More information will be
coming soon.
EVANGELISM
WALKABOUT: We
are starting to plan for our next evangelism walkabout.
For those who are new to Good Shepherd, here's how it works.
First a team of volunteers makes bread in the church oven.
Then another team places the bread in small paper bags along
with some information about the church, a bible verse (“I
am the bread of life”) and a brochure with the gospel message.
Then all the volunteers split up into as many delivery teams
as we can (at least two per team) and fan out through the
neighborhood knocking on doors and handing out the bags.
This makes it very easy to be an evangelist. All you have
to do is smile and give away free homemade bread. Last time
we delivered bread to about 400 homes. If you'd like to
volunteer for this project, there will be a sign-up sheet
downstairs. We are tentatively scheduling it for December
9th . Details
will be on the sign-up sheet.
STEWARDSHIP:
It's getting to be that time of the year again.
If you are a member of the parish we'll be sending our pledge
cards. At Good Shepherd, those in leadership do their best
to use your pledges and gifts in a godly, faithful and generous
way to support the poor, further the Gospel, and maintain
the gifts God has given us. This is the work of the Body
of Christ all believers are called to pitch in. I encourage
everyone to commit to the ten percent tithe in your pledge
this year. But don't take my word for it. Here's what the
prophet Malachi says:
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
"Which
of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?
Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you,
then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to
your children, how much more will your Father in heaven
give good gifts to those who ask him! (Matthew 7:9-11)
Don't forget to....BRING A FRIEND TO CHURCH!
Daily Schedule for the week of Sunday November 12th,
2006
(Bible Study/Christian Education Opportunities in
red)
Monday:
Pastor's day off
Tuesday
8:30 a.m. Morning Prayer
9:00 a.m. Tuesday Morning
Bible Study
6:30 p.m. First Light Bible
Study
8:00 p.m. Choir Practice
Wednesday
8:30 a.m. Morning Prayer
Thursday
8:30 a.m. Morning Prayer
5:30 p.m. Shepherd's Bowl
6:30 p.m. New Beginners Bible
Study
Friday
6:30 a.m. Men's Breakfast/Bible
Study
8:30 a.m. Morning Prayer
Pastor's sermon prep day
Saturday:
10:00 a.m. Women's Bible Study
Sunday November
19th, 2006: Praise and Worship the Lord!
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,
