Dear
Good Shepherd,
November 1 st of this week was All Saints Day. When we think
of saints, we generally think of the great saints of the
past, holy men and women who lived lives devoted to Christ
and did things by His grace and through his power that changed
the world. It is good and fitting to remember these saints
and follow the examples they have set.
The
New Testament, however, uses the word “saint” in a very
different way. The term “saint” in the scriptures refers
to all who have committed their lives to Jesus Christ. It
does have something to do with holiness and righteousness,
but not the holiness and righteousness of the saint. Saints
are not holy and righteous people, they are people considered
or “counted” holy and righteous in and through Jesus Christ.
What
is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing
greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake
I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I
may gain Christ and be found in him, not having
a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that
which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that
comes from God and is by faith. (Philippians 3:8-9)
Believers
are counted as righteous in God's sight on the basis of
the righteousness of Christ that is “credited” to them through
faith. The moment you came to faith and laid down your heart
and soul to Christ, you were clothed in the white robes
of Christ and became a saint, holy and righteous, in the
eyes of God.
Believers
are, of course, still sinners but our sins no longer count
against us. They have been nailed to the cross. Now we are
free to be faithful to God, not for fear of punishment but
out of love. And as we do, the righteousness with which
we are credited is, more and more, mirrored or reflected
in our lives.
WEEKLY
ARTICLE:
I,
the Lord your God, am a jealous God
by
the Rev. Matt Kennedy
Weekly
Article
November
1 st 2006
read
it here
.
UPDATE
CONTENT
"NEW"
NEWS
CHRISTMAS
EXTRAVAGANZA: ASSIGNING PARTS
FAMILY
AND FRIENDS SUNDAY
CHRISTMAS
FLOWERS
NEW
ADULT EDUCATION SERIES: HEROES OF THE BIBLE
BIBLE
STUDY FELLOWSHIP
EVANGELISM
WALKABOUT
SOUTHSIDE
ECUMENICAL COUNCIL THANKSGIVING SERVICE
NOT
QUITE “NEW” NEWS
SHARING
BIBLES
NEW
BEGINNERS NEWS
STEWARDSHIP
"NEW"
NEWS:
CHRISTMAS
EXTRAVAGANZA
ASSIGNING
PARTS:
WE NEED A HEROD, MARY, JOSEPH, GABRIEL and SOME ROMAN SOLDIERS,
ANGELS, SHEEP, SHEPHERDS, WISE MEN, …. As
we've been saying we're going to start Christmas pageant
practice earlier this year. During announcements last Sunday
Anne said that we would be having practice every Sunday
after church. Okay, she was exaggerating just a
little . Not everyone will be practicing every
Sunday. We'll split into different sections: music, shepherds,
Romans, etc… and these groups will rotate practices. The
shepherds and angels will practice one Sunday, the Roman
soldiers, Herod and the wise-men another. At the end of
the month of November, Sunday the 26 th , we'll have a great
big rehearsal that includes everyone.
BUT
THIS SUNDAY IS VERY IMPORTANT: Please remember
to stay after church this Sunday. We will start assigning
parts.
FAMILY
AND FRIENDS SUNDAY: The
Next family and friends Sunday is scheduled for
NEXT SUNDAY, Sunday November 12th. Last Family
and Friends Sunday we only had one guest. I know we can
do a lot better than that. Good Shepherd has experienced
tremendous growth this year…over 20 new members. That growth
has come from God by way of your personal evangelism: sharing
your faith in Jesus Christ and asking your friends and neighbors
to come to church. Evangelism is fundamental to the Christian
walk. God has blessed us with abundance. Let's not grow
complacent or proud. Instead, let's return to the Harvest
field ready to seek more lost people for Christ and through
Christ.
Along
with a guest, please plan to bring a covered dish for lunch.
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.
NEW
ADULT EDUCATION SERIES:
HEROES OF THE BIBLE:
In this series we will trace the lives of men and women
who through faith “conquered kingdoms, administered justice,
and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions,
quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of
the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who
became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women
received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were
tortured and refused to be released, so that they might
gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging,
while still others were chained and put in prison. They
were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death
by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins,
destitute, persecuted and mistreated—the world was not worthy
of them.” (Hebrews 11:33-38)
We'll
start with Noah, the builder of the Ark, the boat
that survived the Great Flood. From his experience and example
we will learn important lessons about God, the nature of
faith and the courage it takes to walk with God even when
that means walking apart from the world. Noah's story can
be found in Genesis 6:5-9:17 if you want to read ahead.
HEALING
THIS SUNDAY: There
will be healing prayers offered at the side altar during
communion for anyone suffering in mind, body or soul. God
can and does heal still today. Several have been healed
here at Good Shepherd
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
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.
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.
NOT
QUITE "NEW" NEWS
REMEMBER
TO BRING YOUR BIBLES:
I noticed a couple of weeks ago that some of our guests
were unable to follow along in a bible during the sermon
because all the bibles were taken. Unfortunately, we only
have so many in the pews. It would be a great show of hospitality
if members could bring their own bibles to church so that
guests and new believers can use the ones in the pews.
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
In
this [salvation] you greatly rejoice, though now for a little
while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.
These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than
gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be
proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor
when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen
him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now,
you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible
and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your
faith, the salvation of your souls. (1 st Peter 1:6-9)
Don't forget to....BRING A FRIEND TO CHURCH!
Daily Schedule for the week of Sunday November 5th,
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
5th, 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,
