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THIS SUNDAY
On
August 25, Rev. Jackie Jenkins, right, will serve as guest preacher and presiding minister, as Pastor Graf will be out of town. Pastor Ellen Dozier (828-403-3988) will provide pastoral care in his absence, through Monday, September 2.
Next Sunday, September 1, Rev. Bill Johnson will be our guest preacher and presiding minister.
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WOMEN'S BIBLE STUDY ON SEPTEMBER 10
Genesis 1-2:4 God speaks a good creation into being.
Humans are created "in God's image."
Mark 12:13-17 Jesus said, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's
and give to God what belongs to God."
Psalm 24:1 The earth is the LORD's and all that is in it;
the world and those who live in it.
Join us to investigate and discuss the wonder and goodness of God's speech and what it means to be created in God's image. Come at
10:30 a.m. for fellowship and sharing. The Bible study will run from 11:00 a.m. to noon.
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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Three persons are needed to be part of the nominating committee which will come up with a slate of candidates for church council in 2020. Additionally, numerous positions are open on the mutual ministry and education committees. If you would be willing to serve in any of these capacities, please contact the church office. God's work - our hands. Thank you.
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HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE AUGUST LCGS COUNCIL MEETING
Income remains below budget for July as well as year-to-date. In good news, the MEF loan balance is now $0.
The position of Child and Youth Director remains open and suggestions are welcome. Also, many individuals are needed to fill open positions on various committees as well as the nominating team for 2020 council members. Please contact the church office if you have an interest in helping out.
The following grants were approved from the Mission Endowment Fund Committee: $5,000 to Neighbors in Ministry/Rise & Shine, $4,500 to El Centro, $550 to Transylvania County Department of Social Services, and $500 to National Lutheran Choir.
A three-year rolling plan for major facility maintenance was submitted along with project estimates. A quote has been received for cleaning and repairing the cinerarium.
A special council meeting will be held to discuss and approve revisions to the constitution and by-laws to bring them up to date and in line with Synod requirements.
The next regular meeting will be Monday, September 16, at 4:00 p.m.
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EXPANSION OF MEMBER CARE
Bear one another's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. - Galatians 6:2
The importance of relationships as the foundation for the work of the church is evident in Scripture. Supporting and caring for each other is not just one more task to do, but is meaningful work of our church community.
Many of us already care for others at Good Shepherd in a variety of ways. The expansion of the structure of member care won't replace those important interactions, but will help our congregation ensure that we don't overlook any needs.
Volunteers are needed to serve as visitors, home communion visitors, and transportation providers. Training for visitors will be offered on August 25 at 11:45 a.m. and September 11 at 10:30 a.m. If you would like to help,
please sign up on the bulletin board. Contact Jane McKeown or Kimberly Dunbar with any questions or concerns. Thank you!
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GODLY PLAY UPDATE
Thanks to a superb team effort by
Dave Kuhlman, Don Agnew, Larry Fogdall, Linda White, Paul Onnink, Heather Merritt, Matthew Busche and David Gresham, the shelves that will hold the Godly Play supplies have been assembled! Thank you, everyone!
The children's Sunday school room is in need of a small rug to use during the Godly Play stories. We are on the look out for about an 8x11 rug that has a calming effect (i.e. calm colors and simple design, if any). If you or anyone else you know is downsizing and has such a rug to give away, please contact Heather Merritt (
[email protected]). Thank you!
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GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER?
Yes, it's time to sign up for the next round of Guess Who's Coming to Dinner starting in September! We will continue our adult groups as in the past, with a choice of six or eight members per group who will meet monthly in September, October, November and December in each other's homes, or at a restaurant if preferred. Each group will have an assigned convener who will then make the initial contact and host the first get-together, be it brunch, lunch or dinner with the host couple responsible for the entree, bread and beverages, while the others in the group provide the appetizer, salad and dessert.
And something new...
Per a suggestion from Heather Merritt, we will also attempt this time to have a family group version for those families with children. Heather, or our new Children's Ministry Coordinator, will plan these gatherings based upon input from the interested families.
Sign-up sheets are available on the bulletin board for the various sign-up options. Groups will be announced in late August/early September! We will do our best to accommodate everyone's wishes, so please sign up ASAP for this wonderful opportunity to make new friends and to reconnect with existing friends!
The sign-up deadline is August 25.
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COMING SOON AT GOOD SHEPHERD . . .
Sunday, August 25
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)
11:45 a.m. Member Care Training (Conference Room)
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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.
Linda Moore's father, Jerry Lorick, had surgery last week for an aneurysm, and is recovering well. He also has a tumor in his kidney for which he will soon need additional surgery.
Marci Kuhlman had shoulder surgery last week at Pardee Hospital. She is doing well and recovering at home.
Nora Johnson had surgery to treat an infection on August 18, which was successful.
Holmes Desmelik, who has an inoperable brain tumor, wasn't feeling well this week, which kept him from attending school. He is following up with his doctors.
Iann Russell, son of Pastor Jack and Lisa Russell of Living Waters Lutheran Church in Cherokee, is experiencing continuing medical issues. Doctors are struggling to make a diagnosis, and Iann saw new doctors last week.
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SERVING THIS SUNDAY
Guest Preacher and Presiding Minister...........................................Rev. Jackie Jenkins
Minister of Music
....................................................................................
David Gresham
Organist
.....................................................................................................Vance Reese
Outreach Ministry Coordinator.............................................................Kimberly Dunbar
Assisting Minister
..................................................................Ellen Dozier / Lorel Durlak
Reader
..................................................................................Jody Schuld / Bob Milligan
Ushers
.............Debbie & Paul Cooper / Ken Aarsund, Hal Galloway & Parker Dickens
Acolyte
........................................................................Ellen Dozier / Raegan Eggleston
Greeters
............................Henry & Darrell Dixon / Gloria & Roy Larson, Victor Emaus
Child Care during Worship
.......................................................................Carolyn Smith
Altar Care............................................................................................Sheila Swancara
Communion Bread......................................................................................Kate Reinke
Tellers
.....................................................................Nancy Cummins & Marilyn Carlson
Doorkeeper of the Day
............................................................................................TBD
Coffee Hour (
8:00) ................................
...............Good Shepherd Fellowship Committee
Coffee Hour
(10:30).
...............................................
Good Shepherd Fellowship Committee
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COLLECTION FOR CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES
Thank you for the many donations you have given over the past few weeks to support our local Child Protective Services Unit. They are greatly appreciated.
If you can donate any of these needed items, please place them in the bin on the pew in the commons by August 25:
- socks (new, all children's sizes needed)
- underwear (new, all children's sizes needed)
- shampoo
- conditioner
- deodorant
- hairbrushes, combs and picks
- body wash or soap (if bars, individually wrapped, please)
- sanitary pads
- tampons
Why Are We in Partnership with CPS?
The Reimagining Health Collaborative (RHC) team at Good Shepherd has been focusing on mental health and building community partnerships since its inception two years ago. One of our areas of focus is trauma and resiliency, and being in partnership with CPS is one way that we can accompany those who have experienced trauma.
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OUT OF THE DARKNESS COMMUNITY WALK
On
Sunday, October 6, the Asheville chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention will host a community walk to bring awareness to the growing issue of suicide in our society and to raise funds to support research, educational programs and survivors of suicide loss. The walk will take place in Asheville's Carrier Park beginning at 1:00 p.m. Outreach Ministry Coordinator Kimberly Dunbar will participate in the walk. Please contact her if you'd like to attend (
[email protected] or 883-3680).
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SMALL GROUP AT SHARING HOUSE WILL CONTINUE
This month, I've led two sessions of a journaling and discussion small group at Sharing House which focused on compassion/self-compassion and courage. I began offering this group earlier in the summer in response to Sharing House's invitation to local organizations to offer small groups focused on health to their neighbors.
While I was anxious about offering this group and wasn't sure how it would be received, it has been a blessing for me. I have been touched by how each member has so personally shared their life experiences and has cared for others in the group. More than once, I have arrived at the group feeling tired and overwhelmed and have left feeling noticeably lighter. At yesterday's session, members expressed that this group has been meaningful to them and requested that we continue to meet in the fall. We will meet every other week beginning Tuesday, September 3.
This group is just one small example of outreach ministry taking place through Good Shepherd. Thank you for your continuing support of me, as Outreach Ministry Coordinator, as I reach out on behalf of the entire congregation to find ways that we can be present in our community and to accompany others in their journeys.
Kimberly Dunbar
Outreach Ministry Coordinator
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ELCA, NC Synod, & LWF News
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OUR COMMON WITNESS
In her August column for Living Lutheran, ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton says "We need to ask what it means to be Lutheran in the 21st century."
Read Bishop Eaton's article here. |
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PULL UP A CHAIR!
"The kingdom of God is a bunch of outcasts and oddballs gathered at a table," Rachel Held Evans wrote, "not because they are rich or worthy or good, but because they are hungry, and because there's always room for more." Held Evans, a 37-year-old best-selling Christian author, tragically died this spring after initially being hospitalized for the flu. The table seemed to be a theme throughout Held Evans' writing. She was always quick to note that we are not the ones to set the table or prepare the feast. It's already been given. We simply are invited to pull up a chair and dig in.
In a certain sense, that's a good way to sum up much of the ministry of Duke Lutherans, the Lutheran Campus Ministry at Duke University.
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