| Update
September 16th, 2005
Dear
Good Shepherd,
“QUALITY
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION FOR ALL AGES is
primary to Good Shepherd's mission. Through the study of scripture
and the biblically based doctrines of the faith, believers
become more firmly rooted in the Truth of Christianity and
brought into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ."
That
is a quote from the Good Shepherd website's “education
page.” And it is true. Faith involves your body, heart,
soul, and mind . You must truly know Jesus
before you can truly love him. Think about a married couple.
Before a man and woman can commit to love, honor, and serve
one another, they must go through a process of learning. Neither
partner can marry someone he or she doesn't truly know.
In
fact, difficulties often arise in a marriage because one partner
has failed to take the time to truly know and understand the
other. When a husband assumes he knows his wife but fails
to listen and get to know her needs and desires, her thoughts
and her personality, he inevitably fails to please her. Or
when a woman fails to take the time to truly know and love
the man she marries, immediately setting about to change him
into someone he's not, she ultimately breaks her vow to honor
him
In
the same way, in order to truly love Christ, we must truly
know Christ. It is very easy, especially in today's cultural/religious
environment, to project our own ideas, wishes and desires
onto Jesus and in our minds fashion our own personal “god”
who bears little or no resemblance to the God revealed in
the bible. Knowing God takes not only an open heart, but also
an open mind quick to learn and eager to understand the nature
of God as he has revealed himself in the scriptures and in
the doctrines of the Church.
All
of our Christian Education classes on a Sunday morning from
early elementary all the way up to adult are intended to help
you and your children get to know, truly know, God. If you
want to remain in Christ and if you want your children to
remain in Christ, take advantage of this opportunity every
Sunday morning to get to know and love him.
God
bless and here's the news…
Update
Contents:
KATRINA
HOME
WORK
DAY
WOMEN'S
BIBLE STUDY
SUNDAY
SCHOOL
BIBLE
STUDIES
SHEPHERD'S
BOWL
105
th ANNUAL HARVEST DINNER
BEGINNERS
BIBLE STUDY
ADULT
EDUCATION “GOD'S WORD TO YOUR FAMILY”
BREAD
AND EVANGELISM
BUFFALO
BILLS
NEWS
KATRINA
HOME: Last week Bob White mentioned a website for
those interested in housing a family displaced by Hurricane
Katrina. After researching the site I can assure you that
it is part of a legitimate charitable organization. I encourage
you to consider the possibility of opening your home to a
needy family. Doing so would serve as an exemplary witness
to the gospel and the love and mercy of Christ. Here's the
website: http://www.katrinahome.com
WORK
DAY: There is a church-wide work/maintenance day
scheduled for Saturday September 17 th (that's tomorrow if
you're reading this on Friday) beginning at 9:00am. We'll
be cleaning, washing, and fixing various things around the
church and there is a lot to be done. There is in fact enough
work for everyone regardless of skill level. Please set aside
the day on your calendar and serve God with your hands. There
will be sign-up sheets downstairs this Sunday.
WOMEN'S
BIBLE STUDY: Due to the work-day scheduled for this
Saturday, the Women's Bible Study will be meeting earlier
than usual for this week only, at 8:00am. All women of any
age are invited and welcome to join at any time. The group
is currently finishing Deuteronomy and will be moving on to
the book of Acts within the next month. There is always a
nicely baked treat of some sort along with coffee and tea.
If you don't have a bible, there are plenty at the church,
so come join in.
SUNDAY
SCHOOL: As mentioned in the first paragraph of the
Update, Christian Education is an important part of knowing
and loving Christ and Good Shepherd is committed to giving
you the opportunity to know as much as possible about our
Lord and his word. Sunday school classes for elementary through
high-school students begin this Sunday, September 18th at
9:15 am. Adult Sunday School has been going all summer and
will continue throughout the year (see below).
BIBLE
STUDIES: All of the study groups have resumed for
the fall. For an updated description of the various studies,
see the following webpage: http://www.binghamtongoodshepherd.com/biblebtudies.shtml
SHEPHERD'S
BOWL: This is the second notice, but we are indeed
in need of volunteers. There are currently four teams that
rotate on a weekly basis, each team serving about once a month.
Over the last year, as the number of hungry people has grown,
the number of volunteers has remained the same. We need more.
If you are interested in joining a team and serving the hungry
of the south side one night a month please contact the church
office at 723-8032 or by email.
THE
105th ANNUAL HARVEST DINNER: Is coming up on Wednesday
October 19th . It seems that in the last week, many of the
leadership positions have been filled. Thank you
to everyone who volunteered for this so early. The following
leadership roles remain open: 1. Harvest dinner chair-person
2. Clean-up chair-person. If you'd like to volunteer please
contact the church office at the number listed above. If you
don't call us we'll call you ;)
BEGINNERS
BIBLE STUDY: Last week we studied six different psalms
representing six of the different types of psalms you find
in the Bible. This week, we'll turn to the book of Daniel
For
homework I asked everyone to read the entire book, consisting
of twelve chapters. For at least the first two chapters answer
briefly the following three questions:
1.
What does this passage tell me about God?
2.
What does this passage tell me about humanity?
3.
What is God telling me in this passage?
When
we meet on Tuesday, we'll discuss the book and any questions
you might have.
The
beginners bible study is open to anyone who would like to
learn how to read and understand the bible.
Hope
to see you there.
ADULT
EDUCATION: “God's
Word to Your Family”
This
Sunday we'll finish our discussion on the biblical passages
that deal with male-female relationships and move on to discuss
the question I asked in the beginning of this section, if
God created marriage for unity, companionship, and procreation,
why did he make us so different? How exactly are we different
and what possible purpose might those differences serve?
If
you missed the last class, I've already sent the study notes
and biblical references out by email, please let me know if
you'd like a hard copy.
BREAD
AND EVANGELISM (correction):
Last Sunday I announced that this walk would take place on
November 19 th . But when I actually looked at my calendar,
I saw that November 19 th is the date of the diocesan convention.
So, we'll have to move the bread and evangelism date up one
weekend to Saturday, November 12 th . 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 that details 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 240 homes.
This time we hope to double that. If you'd like to volunteer
for this project, there will be a sign-up sheet downstairs.
We need all the help we can get.
BUFFALO
BILLS: Don
Dean has volunteered to lead a group from Good Shepherd to
a Bills game this fall. HE has already purchased 15 tickets
for the November 27 th Buffalo Bills v. Carolina Panthers
game in Buffalo. If you'd like to go along you can buy a ticket
from Don for $50.00. Sounds like a great deal. First come
first serve.
GOOD
NEWS FOR THE WEEK:
…and
Nebuchadnezzar said to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach
and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the
image of gold I have set up? Now when you hear the sound of
the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of
music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image
I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will
be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god
will be able to rescue you from my hand?"
Shadrach,
Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar,
we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.
If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve
is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your
hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know,
O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image
of gold you have set up." (Daniel 3:14-18)
Don't forget
to....BRING A FRIEND TO CHURCH!
Daily Schedule for the week of Sunday September 18th, 2005
Monday:
8:30 a.m. Morning Prayer
Tuesday
8:30 a.m. Morning Prayer
9:00 a.m. Tuesday Morning Bible Study (Jude and 3 rd John)
7:00 p.m. The Bible for Beginners (Daniel)
Wednesday
8:30 a.m. Morning Prayer
Anne's in the office all day; my study day
Thursday
8:30 a.m. Morning Prayer
5:30 p.m. Shepherd's Bowl
7:30 p.m. Thursday Evening Bible Study.
Friday
6:30
a.m. Men's Breakfast/Bible Study (Romans 4)
8:30
a.m. Morning Prayer
my
sermon writing day
Saturday:
10:00
a.m. Women's Bible Study
Sunday
September 25th: Proper 21 year A
8:00am Holy Communion II and Sermon
9:15
Christian Education for All ages
10:30 am Holy Communion II, Music and Sermon
God bless you all!
In Christ
Matt+
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