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Week of November 24, 2019
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THIS SUNDAY
This Sunday, we will celebrate Christ the King Sunday. Pastor Ellen Dozier will preach and she and Pastor Rich Handschin will preside. Russ Sena and Andrea Kuhlman will provide trumpet music during the 10:30 service.
Intersections, Confirmation, and children's classes will not meet on November 24. Classes will resume on December 1.
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PASTOR GRAF TO LEAVE LCGS
AT THE END OF FEBRUARY
2020
The Rev. Dr. Richard Graf announced to the Congregation Council at the November 18 meeting that he is resigning as LCGS Interim Pastor at the end of February 2020. If you have not received Pastor Graf's announcement in your email,
CLICK HERE to read the letter sent to the LCGS email list.
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CALL PROCESS UPDATE
The call committee is interviewing additional pastoral candidates as we seek to find our next pastor. Please continue to pray for God's guidance in our search. We thank each of you for your encouragement and prayers.
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JOIN THE TRASH TEAM
This is a special opportunity to join the elite Trash Team. One day every week a team member reports to the church to empty trash containers and deliver the collected trash to the curb. Time required is 30 to 45 minutes, depending on the amount of time spent talking with our personable church staff.
Months currently available are December, January, June and September. First to respond picks their month of service.
Expert training provided. Contact Fred Weed at 828-877-6154.
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DECORATE FOR CHRISTMAS
On
Wednesday, December 4,
at 10:00 a.m., all are welcome to help decorate Good Shepherd for the Advent and Christmas seasons. Many hands are needed to decorate the sanctuary as well as the fellowship hall and outside. Come one, come all! Thank you!
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POINSETTIAS & SANCTUARY FLOWERS
If you would like to sponsor a white poinsettia to help decorate the sanctuary for Christmas Eve, please sign up on the bulletin board or call the church office. The cost per plant is $4.00, which you can place in the offering plate or turn in to office staff. If you wish, you can take your poinsettias home any time after the Christmas Eve worship service. Thank you.
There are plenty of open dates to sponsor sanctuary flowers for Sundays in December. If you would like to do so, please sign up on the bulletin board.
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QUARTERLY MINISTRY ROUNDTABLE MEETING
LCGS's last Quarterly Ministry Roundtable Meeting for 2019 is scheduled for
Wednesday, December 18, at 10:00 a.m. All committee chairs and Council members are asked to attend. If you are unable to do so, please ask someone from your committee to be there in your place. Please contact Jody Schuld (
[email protected]) to let her know if you plan to attend or who your sub will be in your absence. Thank you!
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NOVEMBER COUNCIL MEETING HIGHLIGHTS
Expenses were higher than expected in October, but year-to-date both expenses and revenue remain under budget. A higher than normal balance in the checking account is due to advanced giving for 2020 which will be transferred to the reserve funds.
Work on the cinerarium and the front sign are underway and should be completed by the end of the month. Quotes are being obtained for repairs to the roof due to hail damage. Insurance will defray some of the costs.
New interior signage will be added to direct visitors and first aid kits will soon be available.
The congregational budget meeting is scheduled for January 26, 2020. Both monetary and volunteer pledges are still being accepted. If you've not already done so, please consider how you can participate in this congregation in 2020.
Next meeting will be Monday, December 16 at 4:00 p.m.
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CONGREGATIONAL MEETING HIGHLIGHTS
Bill Johnson spoke on the Ministry 2020 program as it relates to volunteering. Members were requested to fill out volunteer pledge cards to assist in planning for next year.
LCGS' amended constitution was voted on and approved by the congregation, and will be submitted to the NC Synod for final approval.
Outgoing council members Cherie Hennig, Michelle Peterson and Don Rumph were thanked for their service. The following individuals were elected by acclamation to serve a three-year term on church council beginning in 2020: Lorel Durlak, Bob Milligan and Sandy Ostermeier.
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NOVEMBER OUTREACH MINISTRY HIGHLIGHTS
Community Involvement
I continue to co-lead the journaling and discussion small group sessions at Sharing House that began over the summer. The group is currently scheduled to meet twice per month through the end of the year.
Reimagining Health Collaborative Team
The community suicide awareness training that we offered on October 24 went well, and 35 people attended. Robert McKeown and I met with the presenter of this training, Fe Avis, about next steps for our community in terms of ongoing suicide awareness and prevention. I am following up with others in the community who are interested in being part of such an effort.
RHC team members worked with Worship and Music Committee members on the Service of Hope and Assurance which took place on November 17, to which the community was invited.
RHC team members are participating in several online conference calls over the next two months so that we can apply for an additional $5,000 in funding through ELCA Disabilities Ministry. We are discussing how to reconfigure our initial request, which will be due at the end of the year.
Robert McKeown and I have registered for a two-day training in Asheville on trauma and resiliency skills that will take place in early December. The trainings will be paid for by the grant we received from ELCA Disabilities Ministry.
Kimberly Dunbar, Outreach Ministry Coordinator
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COMING SOON AT GOOD SHEPHERD . . .
Sunday, November 24
8:00 a.m. Worship Service (Sanctuary)
9:00 a.m. Coffee Hour (Fellowship Hall)
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.
After months in the hospital and at assisted living facilities,
Nora Johnson returned home earlier this week. We rejoice with Nora and
Lisa Rodke.
Wanda Waters, sister of Snookie Henson,
is having health issues.
Barbara Meyer's friend, Linda Uhler,
is in hospice.
Jan Hughes Lumpp, daughter of former members Braun and Grace Hughes, died suddenly last week.
Jan McCracken, niece of Ruth Unger, is battling cancer.
Martha Schroeder, sister-in-law of Ruth Unger, is battling Alzheimer's disease.
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SERVING THIS SUNDAY
Guest Preacher & Presider.................Pastor Ellen Dozier & Pastor Richard Handschin
Minister of Music
.....................................................................................
David Gresham
Organist
......................................................................................................Vance Reese
Outreach Ministry Coordinator..............................................................Kimberly Dunbar
Assisting Minister
.............................................................Ellen Dozier / Laurie Johnson
Readers......................................................................................Bob Schuld / Sue Sena
Ushers
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Jody & Bob Schuld, Bonnie Clark / Frank McConnell, Paul Onnink, & Sophie Dunbar
Acolytes
.....................................................................................Ellen Dozier / Joe Smith
Greeters
...............................Lauren & Fred Weed
/ Jean & Don Rumph, & Isa Emaus
Child Care during Worship
........................................................................................TBD
Altar Care & Communion Bread ...........................................................Suzanne Barrett
Tellers
.............................................................................Tom Reinke & Nancy Cummins
Doorkeeper of the Day
..................................................................................Tom Reinke
Coffee Hour...............................
Debbie & Paul Cooper / LCGS Fellowship Committee
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CROSSING THE RIVER WITH CHARLIE
Charlie is one of five Young Adults in Global Mission who are in Senegal this year under the leadership of Country Coordinator Pastor Kristin Engstrom, whose work Good Shepherd helps to financially support.
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Charlie is second to the right, in blue.
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In early November, YAGM Charlie (or Aida Ndiaye as she's known in Senegal) traveled from her home community of Foundiougne to visit her fellow YAGM Sarah (or Daba Ndour) in Fatick.
Travel along with Aida on her visit to Fatick in the video
here.
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INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE STUDENT
Wouldn't it be great to have an international exchange student in your home for three months?
Ask the Kennerly, Emaus, and Onnink families how they enjoyed this opportunity of international friendship and hospitality. You do not have to have a student in high school to be a host.
We are currently recruiting these "three" special families now for the academic school year starting August 2020.
Any interest or any questions....seek out Dr. Ann Farash or email her at
[email protected]
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BLUE RIDGE RINGERS CONCERTS
The Blue Ridge Ringers, which include some of Good Shepherd's members, will soon present their holiday concert, Christmas around the World, in our community. On Sunday, December 1, at 4:00 p.m., they will perform in Good Shepherd's sanctuary. On Tuesday, December 3, at noon, they will perform at Transylvania County Library's Rogow Room. The concerts are free.
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ELCA, NC Synod, & LWF News
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SEASON OF DOUBT
When serving as a parish pastor, I would sometimes be asked if it was possible to be a faithful Christian and also doubt. Could one be a disciple and also question?
Parishioners would be hesitant to ask for fear that they would face judgment - Divine and mine. Somehow, we've gotten it into our heads that doubt has no part of faith, that questions are disloyal, and that anguish and even anger are an offense to God.
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