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INTERSECTIONS CLASS
The Intersections Class discusses a variety of topics that connect faith and life during the Sunday School time (9:10 to 10:00 a.m.). The program part of the class runs from 9:30 to 10:00 a.m., but people are welcome to come early and stay late to chat and enjoy refreshments. Please come join us in Room 6 to share your perspectives and hear from others. Here is the remaining January schedule:
January 20
-
Crazy Christians: A Call to Follow Jesus
- a look at Michael B. Curry's book.
January 27 - Sabbath Rest
- a look at the book Sabbath as Resistance: Saying No to the Culture of Now by Walter Brueggemann and "Those That Cry Out for Rest and Relief" article from Women of the ELCA's Café.
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DiGG CLASS
The Delving into God's Grace class will restart regular meetings in February, with a series of discussions organized by Bill Moore, who entitles it "The One and the Many: Is this Christianity's biggest tension?" We will try to remember and identify a certain large set of tensions that Christians have felt, in the present and the past. Bill is proposing that there is a fundamental similarity among all these tensions between a preference for an individual person, group, or idea -- or else for some larger variety or structure. Some of these tensions may block God's grace; some may spread God's grace. On February 3, we will look at tensions within the self (such as being individually inspired or participating in a spiritual community); on February 10, we will look at tensions in the Church (such as differences among denominations); on February 17, we will discuss tensions in the world (such as Christianity's relation to other religions). Please join us!
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NEW MEMBERS CLASSES
Are you interested in exploring membership at Good Shepherd? Our next series of New Members classes will begin after the 10:30 a.m. worship service on
January 27 and run for the next three Sundays at that time. Contact volunteer coordinator, Jody Schuld (937-644-2029 or
[email protected]) or the church office (828-883-3680 or
[email protected]) for more information or to sign up.
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CONGREGATIONAL MEETING
This
Sunday, January 20
, at 12:00 p.m., please join us for our annual congregational meeting and to vote on the proposed 2019 budget. We will be holding a potluck luncheon. If you are able, please bring a side dish or dessert of your choosing to share. Please join us. Thank you!
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PASTOR'S PEN: WHAT IS A RECTOR AND DEAN?
The following is an article by Pastor Mary Hinkle Shore.
Thank you very much for your notes and kind words following my announcement earlier this week that I will be taking another position in February. Almost everyone who has spoken to me has been puzzled about the job title. What is a "Rector and Dean"?
We know the word, "Rector" to mean an Episcopal parish priest, but the title is also used by religiously-affiliated schools to speak of their chief executive officer. "Dean" is a word from the academic world that can describe the same sort of role in a school that is part of a larger school. Our ELCA seminary in the Southeast (Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary) is now part of Lenoir-Rhyne University. The position of Rector and Dean is newly created and reflects the high level of commitment on the part of LR to provide the seminary with the resources it needs to thrive and innovate at a time when seminary education is changing dramatically. My new call is to lead LTSS.
The word, "Dean," has led some to see this as a move "back to academia," but I do not think of it that way at all. In this work, I will combine my knowledge and experience in seminary education with my knowledge and experience in parish ministry - all to benefit students who will soon be proclaiming the gospel in congregations and other outposts of the reign of God. I do not imagine that I am retreating to the ivory tower or leaving the ministry. I am still the pastor you have known, and I couldn't do this new job as well without the blessing of having served among all of you over these last years. Thank you, again, for that privilege.
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LCGS COMMUNICATIONS
An ad hoc team has been tasked with initiating the development and implementation of an overall church communications strategy and plan. The first steps in the process are to determine what may be needed and evaluate our collective communications strengths and areas for improvement. To support this, the team needs a few volunteers to participate in a one-time facilitated exercise to kick things off. Keep in mind that this is not a long-term commitment; participation will be limited to a single meeting that will not exceed two hours in duration. If you are interested in participating by providing your input, please contact Donna Aiken-Colflesh at (828) 966-9645 or [email protected] no later than Wednesday, January 23.
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COFFEE HOUR
De Carlson has updated the coffee hour helpers list on the bulletin board. Please take a moment to look at it and see what dates you might be signed up for over the next couple of months. Please contact De with any questions (828-885-5206 or
[email protected]). Thank you!
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2018 END OF YEAR STATEMENTS
2018 End of Year Statements
are in your mail slots. Please take a moment to pick yours up in order to save postage on mailing. If you have any questions, please contact Jane Madsen at 828-489-7667 or
[email protected]
.
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MORE CONTAINERS NEEDED
The elementary class is working on labeling containers to put in classrooms at local schools to recycle dried out markers. They need more containers! Examples of potential containers: peanut, peanut butter, shortening, oatmeal, powdered Gatorade, round kleenex boxes for cars, etc...(any containers made of plastic or cardboard of comparable size). Please leave the containers in the children's Sunday school classroom. Don't forget to bring your own dried out markers to church for recycling in the box in the commons.
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PICK UP YOUR DISHES
Please see the back table in the Fellowship Hall for any dishes that you may have left behind. The items will remain on the table until
January 20, at which time, if they are not claimed, we will donate them. Thank you.
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COMING SOON AT GOOD SHEPHERD . . .
Sunday, January 20
8:00 a.m. Worship Service (Sanctuary)
9:00 a.m. Coffee Hour (Fellowship Hall)
9:10 a.m. Confirmation Class (Pastor's Office)
9:10 a.m. Intersections Class (Room 6)
9:10 a.m. Elementary Children's Sunday School Class (Rooms 3 & 4)
9:10 a.m. Nursery/Preschool Class (Room 1)
10:30 a.m. Worship Service
(Sanctuary)
12:00 p.m. Annual Budget Meeting & Luncheon
(Fellowship Hall)
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COMMUNITY CARE CORNER
The "Community Care Corner" feature in the weekly newsletter allows us to update you on people for whom we are praying or to submit a new prayer request. If you have an update on someone or a new prayer request to share in the Corner, please email or call the church office ([email protected] or 883-3680) by noon on Thursday.
Peggy Riddle, Donna and Tom Brim's good friend and their daughter Ashley's mother-in-law, has been diagnosed with a tumor at the base of her neck and will be undergoing radiation over the next three weeks.
Bob and Joann Poston, friends of Barbara Hotaling. Bob had kidney stone surgery on Friday, January 11.
Rivers Smith
has been in physical therapy for a shoulder injury he sustained a few weeks ago. He will likely need surgery if his shoulder continues to not improve.
Rita Black has been diagnosed with shingles and is resting at home.
Don Hansen, Dave Carlson's uncle, is in the hospital and undergoing testing.
Gale Misiora, Carol Barrett's sister-in-law, has been diagnosed with the return of stomach cancer.
One of Nora Johnson's caregivers is in need of a new home. Her trailer is in terrible condition and is not safe to live in.
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SERVING THIS SUNDAY
Ministers
.........................................................................
The People of Good Shepherd
Pastor.................................................................................................Mary Hinkle Shore
Minister of Music.....................................................................................David Gresham
Organist......................................................................................................Vance Reese
Coordinator of Outreach Ministries.......................................................Kimberly Dunbar
Children's Ministry Coordinator................................................................Heather Merritt
Assisting Minister................................................................Ellen Dozier / Carolyn Smith
Cantor....................................................................................................Karen Anderson
Reader...........................................................................Linea Warmke / Jack Gresham
Ushers...........
Henry Dixon & Darrell Dixon / Jane & Robert McKeown, Sophie Dunbar
Acolyte...................................................................................Ellen Dozier / Yuri Emaus
Greeters.........................Fred & Lauren Weed
/ Don and Jean Rumph, Jack Gresham
Child Care During Sunday School...........................................................Jackie Jenkins
Elementary Sunday School Teachers................................Bill Moore & Heather Merritt
Elementary Sunday School Door Person................................................................TBD
Child Care during Worship..........................................................................Lisa Busche
Altar Care.....................................................................................................Sue Barrett
Communion Bread.......................................................................................Sue Barrett
Tellers........................................................................Mike Anderson & Jane McKeown
Doorkeeper of the Day...........................................................................Mike Anderson
Coffee Hour.........................
Ruth Lentz /Congregational Meeting & Potluck Luncheon
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SUPER BOWL SUNDAY IS FEBRUARY 3
We're trying something new this year. Tying into the "foot"ball theme, we want to concentrate on helping keep feet (and people) warm by requesting donations of new socks. We will also collect new underwear and other new or gently used warm items (scarves, gloves, sweatshirts, sweatpants, sweaters, blankets, etc.) as well as
cash and checks. All donations will be divided between Sharing House (our local financial crisis assistance agency) and The Haven (our local homeless shelter). Place your non-monetary donations in the collection bin in the commons starting this Sunday, January 20. On February 3, you can "vote" for your Super Bowl champion team by turning in monetary donations. Please dress casually and wear your team colors on February 3. (Any team colors will do.)
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GREETINGS FROM SENEGAL
The following is an email and newsletter from Pastor Kristin Engstrom, the YAGM Coordinator in Senegal for the ELCA, whose work Good Shepherd helps to support.
Blessed Epiphany greetings sisters and brothers,
I hope and pray that you all had a joyful Christmas celebration and are now celebrating the in-breaking of God incarnate in Christ Jesus during this Epiphany season. Here in Senegal, we are in "winter," which means cooler (relatively) temperatures and no rain. This also means its event season - weddings, harvest festivals, and the annual Lutheran Church festival.
To catch you up on the goings on here in Senegal and with YAGM Senegal, attached to this e-mail is my most recent Newsletter chronicling the events of the past couple months and a glimpse of how your ELCA giving to World Hunger and ELCA Good Gifts also helps the YAGM program and joins us all together in a circle of ministry.
You can also access (and share with others!) the Newsletter online at the YAGM Senegal blog.
Each of the Senegal YAGM also send out bi-monthly Newsletters. If you would like to be added to their e-mail lists, please let me know. Some of the YAGM also have individual blogs, for which you can find links at the
YAGM Senegal blog
.
Grace and peace. Nio farr. (We are together.)
Pastor Kristin Engstrom
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DONATION UPDATE
The following financial donations were given in connection with Good Shepherd's Giving Tree in November and December:
Sharing House: $3,974.80
ELCA World Hunger: $1,250
The following donations were collected for Lutheran Disaster Relief in the fall and winter of 2018:
California fires: $1,410
Flooding in southeastern U.S.: $1,130
Thank you, everyone!
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VANCE REESE, ORGAN RECITAL
Brevard College will present music professor Dr. Vance Reese in a faculty organ recital on
Sunday, January 27 at 3:00 p.m. Vance will be playing the Jaeckel organ in the Scott Concert Hall of the Porter Center on the college campus. The recital is free of charge and open to the public, and lasts approximately one hour. The concert will be a musical representation of six decades of life, and will feature music of composers Ernst, Howells, Bach, Messiaen, Lewandowski, Franck, and Freund.
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STORIES OF FAITH IN ACTION
This is a story from the ELCA's 2018-2019 Stories of Faith in Action.
GLOBAL CHURCH: LUTHERAN WITNESS, GLOBAL REACH
The ELCA is a church of three expressions: the churchwide organization, synods and congregations. However, Rafael Malpica Padilla, executive director for ELCA Global Mission, maintains there is another relationship that binds us together-the ELCA's connection to the global Lutheran church through its membership in The Lutheran World Federation (LWF).
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Christine Mangale at an LWF conference.
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To help support the ELCA's outreach on global social issues, the church maintains an office at the United Nations in New York City, in partnership with the LWF. Called the Lutheran Office for World Community (LOWC), it is the voice of the ELCA and the LWF at the United Nations. Its work is funded through Mission Support. LOWC's director is Dennis Frado, a member of St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Manhattan, who is assisted by Christine Mangale, program director, who is from the Kenya Evangelical Lutheran Church in Africa. They often attend the U.N. General Assembly when it's in session from September to December and Security Council meetings. "Our main objective is to convey the social policy views of the ELCA and The Lutheran World Federation to the U.N.," Frado said. "On the other hand, we keep ELCA [congregations] informed about what the U.N. is doing on those issues. Beyond that, we bring to their attention emerging global issues."
LOWC works, in large part, on issues related to fundamental human rights, justice, respect for international law and better standards of living for all people. It has focused recently on global migration problems. Earlier this year, it sponsored a panel discussion on "Perspectives on Migrants: Lived Realities in Different Contexts," which featured three experts from countries dealing with migrant issues. LOWC monitors issues of concern to the ELCA, LWF and their partners. One of the most gratifying projects, Frado said, has been working with the U.N. Commission on the Status of Women, which is dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. Formed in 1973, the LOWC is rooted strongly in the ELCA's heart for humanity, working closely in regions where human rights have been violated.
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