| Update
September 23rd, 2005
Dear
Good Shepherd,
One
difference between modern people and ancient people is the
emphasis we moderns put on feelings. Feelings of love or compassion
or loyalty are seen as indicators of character. If you feel
love for people, you are a loving person. If you feel loyalty
toward a group or a nation, you are a loyal person. If you
feel compassion toward the sick or poor, you are a compassionate
person. To the ancients however, actions, not feelings, revealed
a person's character. A loving person was known as a loving
person through acts of love. Loyalty was indicated
by loyal acts, not just loyal feelings. I wonder if we modern
human beings have become too focused on our feelings about
things and people and not concerned enough about whether our
actions bear those feelings out?
If
I tell Anne how much I love her and, indeed, really feel
that love in my heart, but then spend all day with my
head in a book or on the computer or all my time at work,
then chances are that at some point she'll begin to doubt
the truth of my words. Good feelings and eloquent words are
great, but they have absolutely no value if they are not borne
out in action.
Think
about the following words Jesus' spoke to his disciples, “If
you love me you will obey what I command.” (John 14:15) Jesus
wants us to love him with all of our heart, but if that love
is not borne out in our lives and actions, then what use is
it? If you never crack your bible or spend time in prayer
or if you only worship on Sunday's when there isn't anything
else better to do what does that reveal about the love in
your heart for God? Is it real? Is it true?
The
kind of love and faith that most pleases God is the kind that
is born in the heart (Romans 10:10) and expressed through
the lips (Romans 10:9) and made manifest in deeds (John 14:15).
May
we all love Jesus Christ, not only in our hearts and words,
but also in our deeds.
God
bless, here's the news:
Update
Contents:
SUNDAY
SCHOOL
REMEMBER
THE GOALS
OFFICE
CHANGES
WOMEN'S
BIBLE STUDY
BIBLE
STUDIES
SHEPHERD'S
BOWL
105th
ANNUAL HARVEST DINNER
BEGINNERS
BIBLE STUDY
ADULT
EDUCATION “GOD'S WORD TO YOUR FAMILY”
YOM
KIPPUR
BUFFALO
BILLS
NEWS
SUNDAY
SCHOOL: Another year of Sunday school began last
Sunday and I heard from many quarters that the opening day
was a rousing success. Thank you to all the volunteers, helpers,
and teachers who are giving their time and talent this year.
God bless you all and may God work through you to pass on
a true love and knowledge of Jesus Christ to the youth and
children of Good Shepherd. If you want your child involved
or if you are in High School or Jr. High and are wondering
why everyone gets so excited about Jesus, it's never too late
to join in and find out. Classes start at 9:15am every Sunday
morning.
REMEMBER
THE THREE GOALS THIS YEAR: 1 Personal Discipline:
Develop a personal discipline of daily prayer and bible reading.
2. Evangelism: Share your faith with at least 3 lost friends,
neighbors and/or co-workers and invite them to church 3. Prayer:
Pray in your bible study group for the growth and the church
and the spread of the gospel.
Our
over all mission is to be disciples and make disciples on
the South Side of Binghamton but each year we'll set specific
goals that will help us meet those general ones.
OFFICE
CHANGES: I'm writing from
within the confines of a very small closet, which has become
my new office space. We've decided to remove my desk altogether
and move my computer and desk chair into what was once my
office closet--which has been transformed into a mini-control
center complete with a phone, high-speed internet, and bookshelf,
file cabinet and stereo, all within arms reach. All this has
been done in order to transform my former office into a counseling
room with a nice rug, coffee table and four chairs. This should
make it much, much easier to meet with people, no more squeezing
into a small room (my office) occupied by a very large desk.
The library was nice as a counseling room, but it was also
a high traffic area. This way people will be able to come
in and meet without having to feel as if they are on display.
Come on up and take a look this Sunday if you like. It's not
totally done yet, but you'll get the picture.
WOMEN'S
BIBLE STUDY: The Women's Bible Study moves back to
the normal meeting time of 10:00am this Saturday. All women
are welcome to join in for a wonderful time of study, discussion,
and prayer.
RUMMAGE
SALE REMINDER:
The Rummage Sale is scheduled for Saturday October 1 st .
BIBLE
STUDIES: All of the study groups (except for the
Thursday evening group) have resumed for the fall. For an
updated description of the various studies, see the following
webpage: http://www.binghamtongoodshepherd.com/biblebtudies.shtml
Third
Notice
SHEPHERD'S BOWL: 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 19 th . It seems that all of the leadership roles
have been filled! Thank you to everyone who
volunteered for this so early. Now all we need is some Indians
for all of these chiefs. If you are interested in lending
a hand, please sign up on the sheet in the parish hall.
BEGINNERS
BIBLE STUDY: Last week we began studying Daniel and
covered the first three chapters. This week, we'll continue,
looking more closely at chapters 4-7 and answering the following
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?
If
you've not yet caught up on your reading this is a great opportunity
to do so. Just read Daniel and come to class ready to talk
about what you read.
For
homework I assigned the first six chapters of Ezekiel. But
we won't get to discuss them for another week or two, so if
you're straggling behind, you've got a long breather to catch
up.
And
besides, 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”
Last
Sunday we discussed the huge differences between the men and
women relate and communicate. We began to discuss the different
needs men and women bring to marriage. This Sunday we'll finish
our discussion of needs and begin to look at strategies for
growing together in a marriage (given male and female differences)
instead of growing apart.
If
you're just starting out in marriage or struggling in your
marriage or know someone struggling, this is the class for
you, this Sunday at 9:15am.
YOM
KIPPUR: The Jewish Day of Atonement is coming up
on Wednesday October the 12th. Rabbi Ron Goldberg, a Messianic
Jewish Rabbi (A Messianic Jew is a Jewish person who believes
in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior), has asked to lead a Yom
Kippur service that night for other Jewish believers in the
area at Good Shepherd. And he'd like to extend an invitation
to the people of Good Shepherd to join them. This is a wonderful
opportunity to worship our Lord Jesus Christ along with our
elder brothers and sisters in the faith (which is how Paul
describes the relationship between Jewish and Gentile Christians.
We Gentiles are to consider and respect Jewish believers as
elder siblings in Christ) . I'll be sending out more information
about this in the coming weeks.
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 27th
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:
"If
you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask
the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with
you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept
him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know
him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not
leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the
world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because
I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that
I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever
has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me.
He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will
love him and show myself to him." (John
14:15-21)
Don't
forget to....BRING A FRIEND TO CHURCH!
Daily Schedule for the week of Sunday September 25th, 2005
Monday:
8:30 a.m. Morning Prayer
Tuesday
8:30 a.m. Morning Prayer
9:00 a.m. Tuesday Morning Bible Study (2 nd and 3rd John)
7:00 p.m. The Bible for Beginners (Daniel 4-7)
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 (still on hold)
Friday
6:30
a.m. Men's Breakfast/Bible Study (Romans 5)
8:30
a.m. Morning Prayer
my
sermon writing day
Saturday:
10:00
a.m. Women's Bible Study
Sunday
October 2nd: Proper 22 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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