wu4.4.08

I'm stepping in this morning to do the update, hoping, thereby, to give Matt some space to do some other very important work. As I sit here and write, Rowan is carefully and methodically dismantling the drawer with all the stamps in it in the office (I'll put it all back, I promise), Gwendolyn is rolling over and over and over, and I am becoming increasingly anxious about the upcoming Iron Shepherd Event this Saturday. "What have I got myself into?" I've been asking myself all morning. Hopefully a jolly good time, and not the most embarrassing moment of my life to this point.

There's plenty of announcements this weeks, so please read, mark and inwardly digest. See you Sunday!

IRON SHEPHERD: This Saturday (that's tomorrow) Matt and I will face off in the Good Shepherd kitchen stadium. The contest will be live fed by video from the kitchen to the parish hall where you will be able to watch us before you enjoy a POTLUCK dinner. Hopefully everyone will get at least a taste of what we cook but in order to feed everyone we're asking every one to bring a dish to pass.

This will be a great event to invite friends too who are unchurched. It will just be a time for fellowship and hanging out and sometimes that makes it easier to get people to come than on Sunday morning. AND it is a fundraiser for missionaries Bob and Joyce Carlson or to other well known ministries.

BAPTISM: We're going to be baptizing Gwendolyn this Sunday. Please join us in welcoming her into the visible Body of Christ.

SPECIAL SUNDAY SCHOOL: If at all possible bring your kids and their friends to Sunday School (ages 6 to 13) to hear Bob and Joyce Carlson (missionaries in Africa) do a special class about their work and what it means to be a missionary and spread the Gospel. 9:15am . This is a great opportunity so I hope to see All Your Kids and Their Friends.

SPECIAL WORSHIP OPPORTUNITY: THIS Sunday evening St. Andrew's Anglican Church in Vestal will host a visiting Anglican pastor, Fr. Elias (I can't spell his last name) from Tanzania . His talk begins at 7:00pm at Memorial Park Baptist Church, 1013 Front Street in Vestal , right across the street from the dollar store. There will be light refreshments afterwards.

GOOD SHEPHERD SUNDAY: Sunday April 13 we will be celebrating Good Shepherd Sunday. The children will be led in a special presentation by Carmen and rather than regular Sunday School there will be (it is my understanding as of the writing of this) a special presentation and some kind of special food. Mark it on your calendars and we'll see you there!

BABY BOTTLE COLLECTION REMINDER: We've basically collected all the baby bottles for the Life Choices center but if you didn't get yours in, there's still time. Bring it This Sunday!

VOLUNTEERS STILL NEEDED (updated again): One of our Shepherd's Bowl teams has recently lost two volunteers, a man and a woman. The team is now left with only one female server in the evening. We desperately need at least two volunteers to step in and at least one of them must be male. It is dangerous for a woman or women to serve the meals by themselves. The commitment would be for one Thursday evening a month. If you are interested please call the office or the rectory.

We are also now short of two cleaning teams. There used to be 4 teams of volunteers to help clean the church, one team on duty each week. We are now down to 2 teams. This is not good.

We again find that we are in dire need of a Sexton. If you are able to help us out just 12 times a year, it would be most appreciated. This week you will find that the church has not been cleaned because there is no one to do it. The remaining three teams will have to rotate on a three week basis if no one volunteers. Some of the teams are just plain tired out, have physical disabilities or would like a break - not additional duties. We all enjoy using the church for Sunday services, Bible studies, socials, etc. Would someone (or two) please step up to the challenge? If you can help out, please see Bob Finch and he will be sure that you are well informed about the cleaning routine.

WEDNESDAY NOON EUCHARIST: I'm considering carrying this on for more of the year, However, I'd really like to know if there is an interest, or if everyone is just too busy. If you'd like to make a weekly Eucharist part of your regular life, Please Please let me know ( revakennedy@hotmail.com , or 773-4810 ). As in Lent , it would be my goal to keep the service to exactly half an hour but then be available if people wanted to hang out longer

SERMON & PODCASTING INFORMATION: All recent sermons may be downloaded at the Good Shepherd podcast site

SERMON INFORMATION: If you would like to study ahead for this Sunday's sermon, be sure to read Luke 24:13-35

YOUTH INFORMATION FROM MICAH: One important thing to note is the elementary age movie night this Saturday. I will be calling parents with information.
Youth group will be proceeding as normal this Sunday afternoon and evening. Jr. High parents, please remember what we talked about in the meeting after church last week.

Sr. High, last week we did something kind of different. I want to continue talking in the same vein this week. Please remember to invite friends. Call me if you have trouble getting to church and need a ride or something.

ADULT EDUCATION SERIES: DOCTRINE AND DIVISIONS IN THE CHURCH We'll be continuing our series this coming Sunday, summing up the early centuries of persecution and theological struggle and then moving forward into the period of imperial recognition and the eventual adoption of the Christian faith. We'll talk about how state and Church interact and how the political situation sometimes exacerbated the divisions within the Church.

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

The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil. (Ecclesiastes 12:11-14)

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

Daily Schedule for the week of Sunday April 6th, 2008

Monday:
pastor's day off

Tuesday
8:30 a.m. Morning Prayer
9:00 a.m. Tuesday Morning Bible Study

Anne+