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DiGG (DELVING INTO GOD'S GRACE) CLASS SERIES
Have you ever felt a slight discomfort while saying the Apostles Creed - as though you were for the moment stepping out of the 21st century back into the fourth century? Or have you ever wondered if the Christian faith could be rephrased in thoughts appropriate to our Scientific Age, as the words of the Nicene Creed were phrased in thoughts appropriate to the Roman Empire?
Come and encounter the theology of the Scientist/Mystic Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, whose understanding of evolution allows faith to be informed by science, and science to be transformed by faith. See yourself as a participant in the grand procession from the Big Bang to Point Omega (what an earlier age called the Kingdom of God). In the first two sessions, the class was introduced to and explored Teilhard's ideas. This Sunday, May 12, the series will conclude with the class considering implications for how we live and what we appreciate today.
Dr. Ed Barrett, who first lectured on Teilhard more than fifty years ago, will preside. Come early (9:10 a.m.) so as not to miss the introduction, or disturb the thought of others. The sessions will end at 10:00 a.m. promptly, out of consideration for choir rehearsal.
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INTERSECTIONS CLASS
On Sunday, May 12, the group will reflect on time, as discussed in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 ("For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven..."). Please join us in Room 6 at 9:30 a.m. for the discussion, or come at 9:10 to chat and enjoy refreshments. The Intersections Class discusses a variety of topics that connect faith and life. Come share your perspectives and hear from others.
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WOMEN OF THE ELCA
The next WELCA meeting is on Tuesday, May 14 at 10:30 a.m
. A final vote on our revised Constitution and By Laws (that was introduced at our meeting in April) will be taken. Plans for a picnic sometime this summer also will be discussed. Bible Study begins at 11:00 a.m. This session, that concludes our study of John's Gospel, is presented by Jody Schuld and Sue Barrett.
FYI: All women who attend LCGS are welcome to attend WELCA meetings and/or Bible Study - there is no Sign-Up Sheet or Registration Form to fill out - just show up! Now is a good time to try WELCA out, as we're in the process of revitalizing our program activities and missions: new ideas and energies are encouraged. Contact Barbara Meyer (
885-5135/
[email protected]
) or Sandra Ostermeier (384-2444/[email protected]) for more information.
The Mission & Purpose of WELCA: As a community of women created in the image of God, called to discipleship in Jesus Christ, and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we commit ourselves to grow in faith, affirm our gifts, support one another in our callings, engage in ministry and action, and promote healing and wholeness - in the church, the society, and the world. Get involved!
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CONGRATULATIONS, BEN!
The Onnink family would like to celebrate Ben's milestones with our church family by hosting a special coffee hour this
Sunday, May 12.
Ben Lucas Onnink was born in Germany and baptized at Sembach Chapel, Sembach Airbase Germany in 1993.
He attended preschool and 1st and 2nd grades at Hope Lutheran School in Jacksonville, Arkansas. He started Boy Scouts at Christus Victor Lutheran Church in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, and moved to Pisgah Forest in 2006.
Ben was confirmed at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd. Ben's Boy Scout Eagle ceremony also took place at Good Shepherd, as did his swearing-in to the United States Air Force.
On May 10, Ben will be promoted to the rank of Captain in the United States Air Force.
On May 11, he will graduate from the University Of South Carolina Medical School with his Doctorate in Medicine.
He will report to Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, for his first active duty assignment in June 2019.
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CALL COMMITTEE MEETING: APRIL 28, 2019
Members of the Call Committee, Kate Reinke, Dave Carlson, Judy Caldwell, Roy Larson, David Gresham, and Caroline Smith, held their initial meeting for the purpose of organizing the group and reviewing ELCA documents for call committees.
Roy Larson will serve as chair of the committee.
David Gresham and Kate Reinke will serve as scribes.
Judy Caldwell will act as coordinating secretary.
Caroline Smith will be the chaplain.
Roy reviewed the process for developing and using the Ministry Site Profile (MSP). This detailed description of our church is being compiled by a task force, and will then be submitted to the church council for review. Finally, the MSP will be received by the Call Committee to be used in their training and ongoing work. The Committee will have their next meeting once the MSP is in their hands.
Pastor Graf will be consulted about an appropriate date for installation of the Call Committee (Note: This will take place on May 19 at both services.)
In further business, the Committee decided on guidelines for their meetings and procedures for approval and distribution of information.
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INTER-GENERATIONAL SUNDAY SCHOOL EVENT ON JUNE 9
June 9 is Pentecost and we will celebrate with an inter-generational worshiping-learning-singing-decorating-playing event! Stay tuned for specifics.
In the meantime, we need donations of ribbons: solid colors in red, orange, yellow, gold. Pieces need to be at least 5/8" wide and 12" long. Please bring your ribbon donations to the church office and label "for Jackie Jenkins." The Holy Spirit will appreciate it!
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HIKE ON MAY 22
Everyone is welcome to join this group to hike the Pink Beds area on
Wednesday, May 22. Meet at church at 9:30 a.m. to carpool there. The hike will include a waterfall, and will be about 2 miles long and mostly easy, with some elevation gain. The group will eat lunch out afterwards.
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HEARING LOSS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA
Learn about Cochlear Implants
The next program for the Brevard Chapter of the Hearing Loss Association of America will be a presentation by Taylor Sands from MED-EL. She will explain what a cochlear implant is and will discuss cochlear
implant technology, procedures, implant candidates, and equipment. Taylor is a Senior Consumer Engagement Manager for MED-EL in the Southeast and Northeast Regions. She is
a Speech-Language Pathologist and LSLS Certified Auditory-Verbal Educator.
The meeting will be on Saturday, May 11 at 1:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall at Good Shepherd. The room will open at 12:30 p.m. to sign in, browse the free literature available, grab a snack, and meet others. A
nyone interested in learning about hearing loss and hearing solutions is welcome.
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AAUW BOOK SALE DONATIONS
The yellow AAUW book box in the entry area by the coat rack will be removed after church on June 2.
If you have been intending to drop off books for the AAUW book sale, please do so by June 2. Thank you!
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BATTER UP!
The Fellowship Committee needs your help to determine how many people would be interested in attending the afternoon Asheville Tourists home game on Sunday, July 14. With a group rate and other applicable discounts, the estimated ticket price would be only $10 - $12 per person, and we would carpool from the church parking lot following the 10:30 service coffee hour. It will be a great afternoon of fun and fellowship for LCGS members and guests of all ages! Please use the signup sheet on the bulletin board to let us know if you are interested in attending.
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COMING SOON AT GOOD SHEPHERD . . .
Sunday, May 12
8:00 a.m. Worship Service (Sanctuary)
9:00 a.m. Coffee Hour (Fellowship Hall)
9:10 a.m. DiGG Class (Conference Room)
9:10 a.m. Intersections Class (Room 6)
9:10 a.m. Elementary Children's Sunday School Class (Rooms 3 & 4)
9:00 a.m. Nursery/Preschool Class (Room 1)
10:30 a.m. Worship Service (Sanctuary)
11:30 a.m. Coffee Hour (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.
Sylvia Fougeron has been in Mission Hospital since earlier this week.
Joann Black will have pacemaker surgery on May 10 at Mission Hospital.
Lourdes Swancara, daughter-in-law of Sheila and John Swancara, suffered a stroke earlier this week and will likely need rehab in order to make a full recovery.
Marci Kuhlman's father, Elmer Rehme,
passed away on May 5 in the Charleston area. Please pray for comfort for Elmer's family, friends, and caregiver's during this difficult time. Cards can be sent to
218 Country Road,
Brevard 28712.
Ann, friend of Kimberly Dunbar, underwent successful surgery for breast cancer and will begin radiation treatments next week.
Robert and Jane McKeown's friends' seven-month-old granddaughter/daughter, Nora Brennan, had successful heart surgery on May 6 and is recovering on a step-down unit.
Cher Anderson, daughter-in-law of Karen and Mike Anderson, had successful neck surgery on Friday, May 3, for an injury sustained in a car accident last year. She is home to recover, which is expected to take about six weeks.
Hampton Schulz, grandson of a friend of Jane and Robert McKeown, has been battling kidney cancer. He has had surgery to have the kidney removed and will begin what is hoped to be his last round of chemotherapy on May 13.
JoLeigh, friend of Barbara Hotaling, has been diagnosed with lung cancer. She will have surgery on May 10.
Heidi Bullock's neighbors, the McFarland family, suffered a house fire about a week ago. They will have to be out of their home for about six months so repairs can be made.
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SERVING THIS SUNDAY
Interim Pastor..............................................................................Rev. Dr. Richard Graf
Minister of Music
...................................................................................
David Gresham
Organist
....................................................................................................
Vance Reese
Outreach Ministry Coordinator............................................................Kimberly Dunbar
Children's Ministry Coordinator..............................................................Heather Merritt
Assisting Minister
.................................................................Jody Schuld / Lorel Durlak
Reader
...............................................................................Jody Schuld / Heidi Bullock
Ushers
.......Henry & Darrell Dixon / Frank McConnell, Paul Onnink, & Sophie Dunbar
Acolyte
.................................................................................Jody Schuld / Yuri Emaus
Greeters
................Susan & Mike Becker / Patricia & Hal Galloway, & Jack Gresham
Child Care during Sunday School................................................Margarette Kennerly
Elementary Sunday School Teacher...............................................Leigh Ann Stinson
Elementary Sunday School Doorpeople.......... Raegan Eggleston & Rodney Stinson
Child Care during Worship
.....................................................................Carolyn Smith
Altar Care...................................................................................................Barb Meyer
Communion Bread....................................................................................Kate Reinke
Tellers
........................................................................Debra Whiteaker & Lorel Durlak
Doorkeeper of the Day.........................................................................Mike Anderson
Coffee Hour..........................PJ & Bruce Larson / Ann Farash Onnink & Paul Onnink
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EL PASO MISSION: APRIL 28 - MAY 11, 2019
Here is a note from Ellen Dozier, who is currently in El Paso, TX, volunteering with Annunciation House to provide hospitality and other assistance to newly-arriving refugees from Central and South America. She will share her experiences with our congregation on May 19, during the Sunday School hour.
As I prepare for my last day in El Paso these are some of my thoughts - I have never been so tired or weary, yet filled. The word that keeps running through my mind is gratitude. Gratitude for being able to be here, to serve exhausted, fearful, hopeful travelers in the name of Jesus. Gratitude to countless volunteers from around the country and El Paso who give of themselves day after day in this ministry. Gratitude to you at Good Shepherd and others in Brevard who made it possible for me to be here and accompanied me along the way. Gratitude to God whose presence and grace has sustained me and made the impossible possible.
Que Dios les bendiga.
Ellen
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MAY NEWSLETTER FROM PASTOR KRISTIN
Here is a message from Pastor Kristin, who is now back in Senegal working with the Young Adults in Global Mission there.
Blessed Easter season greetings to you all,
I hope and pray that you still celebrating this festive Easter season of the strange and shocking resurrection of Jesus the Christ. This year, I was able to celebrate Easter Sunday with my family in the United States. It's always a holy surprise when I get to be with them for special holidays and events, though it also means I miss celebrating those holidays in Senegal.
I am now back in Senegal and walking with the current Young Adults in Global Mission through their last two months here in Senegal.
To catch you up on the goings on here and with YAGM Senegal, I've attached my May 2019 newsletter giving you a glimpse into some of the events we've participated in during recent months, as well as an article on "living into the discomfort."
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. You can also find updated photos as well as links to individual YAGM blogs at the YAGM Senegal blog.
Christ is Risen!! Nio farr (we are together).
Pastor Kristin Engstrom
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LIVING WATERS NEWSLETTER
Here is the
May newsletter from our friends at Living Waters Lutheran Church in Cherokee.
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COMMUNITY PRESENTATION AT FUMC
The Center for Trauma Resilient Communities, a program of Crossnore School & Children's Home, is partnering with Brevard First United Methodist Church by offering an introductory session in building resilience for businesses, non-profit organizations, churches, schools and healthcare personnel, foster families, and other interested individuals. The session is titled Trauma 101: It's Not What's Wrong with You, But What's Strong in You and will be held at FUMC on Thursday,
May 16
, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
The objective of the session is to learn about building resiliency in youth who have experienced trauma. The session will include a brief overview of adverse childhood experiences, trauma theory, and current research with some practical applications for building resilience. Meredith Martin, M.Div., MSW, LCSWA will be the presenter. Martin is the Director of Program Excellence at Crossnore and regularly trains Crossnore staff internally. She also works with the Center for Trauma Resilient Communities to train external organizations.
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TRANSYLVANIA CHORAL SOCIETY CONCERT
On
Sunday, May 19 at 4:00 p.m., TCS will present "With a Voice of Singing" at the Porter Center, under the direction of our own David Gresham. Tickets are $10 each and are available on
their website or at the door.
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BREVARD BELLES CONCERTS
This hand bell choir, led by our own Bob Currier, will play their spring concert at various locations in the area, including two in Brevard:
- Thursday, May 16 at 7:00 p.m. at College Walk
- Monday, May 20 at 7:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church.
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ELCA, NC Synod, & LWF News
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SYNOD STORYTELLERS
Here is a story from the NC Synod's series, Synod Storytellers, which illustrates how we are church together. The stories relate to the Synod's vision statement: God calls the NC Synod of the ELCA to cultivate and celebrate vital congregations; identify, equip, and nurture whole and healthy leaders; embrace and engage in collaboration; and proclaim the promise of the resurrection with a prophetic voice.
Prophetic Voice:
Remembering Pastor Miller
Lifting up the contributions of African-Americans and women, we remember the Rev. Earlean Miller who, in 1979, became the first African-American woman ordained a pastor in all of Lutheranism in North America, according to the ELCA. Her first call was Prince of Peace, Greensboro, in the NC Synod where she served from 1979-1984. She and the congregation of Prince of Peace have nurtured other women of color to ordained ministry in our synod: Pastor Beverly Wallace, Pastor Brenda Bynum, and Pastor CeCee Mills. Thanks be to God for Pastor Earlean Miller. We are blessed to be a part of history / herstory!
And, learn more about the gift African-descent Lutherans are to the church--with a history beginning as early as 1620. In the latest episode of the ELCA's "Three Sides" podcast host, Shanna Crawford speaks with Lutheran historian Dr. Richard Stewart, our own synod's Pastor Lucille (CeCee) Mills, and Pastor Albert Starr about the early years of African-descent Lutherans, what's happening in the church today, and what the future holds.
Click here for the podcast.
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WOMEN IN MINISTRY
The following is a reflection by Bishop Tim Smith of the NC Synod.
On the day this article is published, I and all the bishops from Region 9* will be in Puerto Rico along with our facilitator, Dr. Mindy Makant, deacon, of Lenoir-Rhyne University and the NC Synod, to discuss, affirm, and work out logistical possibilities based on a document formulated in a series of meetings by female bishop's staff members throughout Region 9. This document seeks to find a productive way forward more intentionally to address systemic challenges faced by women in ministry. Eighteen months ago at the NC Synod Bishop's Staff retreat I made the uncomfortable and not entirely popular observation that we were having trouble putting forth names of women for call committees looking for senior pastors of multi-staff congregations. Was it that "qualified" women weren't available? Was it that what congregations and I have defined as "qualified" is skewed by the patriarchal lens through which we and I view the world and the church, thereby undervaluing and overlooking historically "feminine" gifts? Was it because the female names we did put forward often made it to the second round but rarely were the ones called? All of the above?
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