Update August 4th, 2006

Dear Good Shepherd,

Good Morning. As you probably know Rowan Douglas Robert Kennedy was born last week on Thursday. That's why there was no Weekly Update for the last week of July. In fact, Rowan has yet to allow his parents to sleep more than two or three hours a night. Be careful this Sunday. If you say, "Oh I just wish I could take him home with me," your wish may well be granted...

Don't miss this week's weekly article, published Wednesday entitled God's Unchanging Nature and Our Uncertain Future.

There's alot of good news to report this week, including news about some upcoming baptisms and a recent meeting with bishop Adams so be sure to read the whole Update.

Here's the news:

UPDATE CONTENT

BAPTISMS

HEAT

WE HAVE DISTRIBUTED...

NETWORK NEWS

FUTURE CONTRIBUTIONS

MEETING WITH THE BISHOP

BIBLE STUDY SUMMER STATUS REPORT

SMALL GROUP TRAINING

THE WORLD, THE FLESH, AND THE DEVIL: New Series Preview

FAMILY AND FRIENDS SUNDAY REMINDER

VACATION

HAVE YOU…

NEWS:

BAPTISMS: It's summer and churches don't generally grow during the summer, but God has blessed Good Shepherd again with two new families. The first is the Franks family: Nick Franks and his four sons (I'm still getting confused with their names). The four sons will be baptized at Good Shepherd on the 13th of August. On that same day we will baptize the daughter of Ken Degroat. In all, we are welcoming 7 new members ,5 of whom will be baptized on Sunday morning August 13th. That's next Sunday.

So far this year we've welcomed 19 new parishioners, many of whom have invited Jesus into their hearts for the very first time this year. Thanks be to God.

HEAT: There won't be as much this Sunday! It's supposed to be somewhere in the 70's. We've been having great attendance all summer, let's keep it up. Remember last Sunday's sermon and don't get lazy :)

WE HAVE DISTRIBUTED...over half of the money earned during last month's barbeque to help those hurt by the flood. Thank you again for all of your generosity.

NETWORK NEWS: Don't miss the very important speech by bishop Robert Duncan, Moderator of the Anglican Communion Network (ACN). He gives us a very good indication of the way things are going in the Communion and the ACN's vision for the future. The Church of the Good Shepherd joined the Network in 2004

FUTURE CONTRIBUTIONS: If you would like to donate more money to your fellow parishioners and others impacted by the flood, simply mark your checks or envelopes (if cash) "flood relief" and place them in the offering plate or mail them in. These donations will be collected in a relief fund that will be used to assist parishioners first and then those beyond the parish. Remember Deuteronomy 15: "There should be no poor among you."

MEETING WITH THE BISHOP: This Thursday Chris Jones (treasurer), Tom Woolsey (Jr. warden) and I met with bishop Adams and a representative from the diocese of Central New York (Our Sr. warden, John King, is currently vacationing in Florida) . We are not currently at liberty to discuss the details of the meeting, but we can say that it was very positive and that we left Syracuse rejoicing and thanking God for his blessings and with a great sense of confidence and hope.

second notice: BIBLE STUDIES: Here is a list of all the bible studies and their summer status:

1. Tuesday Morning: Will meet until the end of July and then break for the month of August. We are currently studying the book of Hebrews.

2. First Light (Tuesday Evening): We will meet through the summer (except for the weeks following the birth of our son...sometime in August). We are currently studying the gospel of Matthew

3. Thursday Evening (was new beginners): this group has graduated the New Beginner program and is currently enjoying a well deserved break. They will be starting a new First Light Bible Study in the Fall.

4. Friday Morning Men's Breakfast and Bible Study: We will meet throughout the summer. We are currently studying the book of Exodus.

5. Women's Bible Study: They are on break until the fall.

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.

SMALL GROUP TRAINING: as I mentioned last week, we'll be starting training this August. Dates to be announced this Sunday (I mean it this time...sorry about last Sunday the baby came and I forgot)

ADULT EDUCATION SERIES: THE WORLD, THE FLESH, AND THE DEVIL: Facing Temptation in a Fallen World will continue this Sunday.

Last Sunday we started to answer these questions:

1. Is the devil real and how can we know?

2. What does the bible say about the devil?

3. What does the bible say the devil does?

4. How do we resist the devil?

We only got as far as point three last Sunday. This coming Sunday we will discuss way's to resist the devil. We will also talk about some of the more overt Satanic influences in our culture: wicca, new age spirituality, tarot, quija boards, astrology, etc... be sure to be there for this informative session and invite your friends

In the next section of this series we will be talking about the struggles Christians face in the world. 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.

VACATION: As you know I'll be starting a two week vacation this week so that I can spend time with my new baby. I will not be at the church during that time. I will, however, be here next Sunday (the 13th) for the baptisms mentioned above. I am trying to get Rabbi Ron (a Christian Jewish pastor) to preach on the 20th. If he cannot make it, then I will be there as well.

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

I have found David my servant; with my sacred oil I have anointed him. My hand will sustain him surely my arm will strengthen him. No enemy will subject him to tribute; no wicked man will press him. I will crush his foes before him and strike down his adversaries. My faithful love will be with him, and through my name his horn will be exalted. I will set his hand over the sea, his right hand over the rivers. He will call out to me, 'You are my Father, my God, the Rock my Savior.' I will also appoint him my firstborn, the most exalted of the kings of the earth. I will maintain my love to him forever, and my covenant with him will never fail. I will establish his line forever, his throne as long as the heavens endure. "If his sons forsake my law and do not follow my statutes, if they violate my decrees and fail to keep my commands, I will punish their sin with the rod, their iniquity with flogging; but I will not take my love from him, nor will I ever betray my faithfulness. I will not violate my covenant or alter what my lips have uttered. Once for all, I have sworn by my holiness—and I will not lie to David- that his line will continue forever and his throne endure before me like the sun; (Psalm 89:20-36)

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

Daily Schedule for the week of Sunday August 6th, 2006

Monday:
8:30 a.m. Morning Prayer

Tuesday
8:30 a.m. Morning Prayer
9:00 a.m. Tuesday Morning Bible Study
no bible study this week (Matt's on vacation)

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

SUNDAY AUGUST 13th, 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 BAPTISM

God bless you all

In Christ,

Matt+