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For the full version of The Voice, click here.Family Promise Update In Romans 12:13 Paul tells us, “Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” There is no misunderstanding the message here. This is what we are called to do! We at Good Shepherd have been given the wonderful opportunity to practice hospitality right here, in our own church home, and with each other. Ralph and I are very excited about finally getting started with the Family Promise project. We sense a great deal of enthusiasm and positive energy from so many of you. We already have between 50 to 60 people who have indicated they want to participate in some way.
On February 28th, we will kick things off with a chapel talk at both services and a bulletin board showing the various areas of volunteer help needed, as well as what items will be needed prior to our first host week in May. You will have the opportunity to sign up to help and/or donate some of the items listed. Initially, we need to gather the bedding and other domestic items to furnish the four bedrooms, as well as some children’s activity supplies and maybe a few kitchen/dining room items. The network supplies the blow up beds and pillows that travel around from church to church.
Good Shepherd is indeed fortunate to have so many willing and capable people to step up and assume coordinator roles to make our Family Promise project a success. Bob Webb – transportation and set up; Faith Moyer and Pat Umbrecht - supplies; Barbara Strobel –food service; Charlotte Biselis – laundry; Jean Read and Felice Kerr – activities, will be your go-to people in their respective areas. They will be calling you throughout the year and asking for your help. One week of hosting requires about 50 volunteers. We are in this together and together we will make it work!
Please make note of the four weeks in 2010 that Good Shepherd will be hosting. Of course you are not expected to help with all four of the weeks or for more than one time during the seven days of each week. We are hoping to have enough volunteers to spread the work around and no one to feel over burdened. While our guests each week will undoubtedly be the recipients of our efforts, we will probably get much more back than we give. Ask any teen who has gone to work camp, or the folks who staff the LCS pantries or take a meal to EDR, they know what I mean. This is a win-win situation. Ralph and I want to thank all of you for your support and prayers as we go forward together.
Good Shepherd will be hosting the following weeks in 2010. May 9-16 [includes Mother’s Day]; August 1-8; October 24-31 [includes Halloween weekend but not actual trick or treat night]; December 19-26 [includes Christmas] This was done by a lottery and we feel that we won!!!
-Lee Klesius Lenten Event – a cross-generational Lenten experience
Sunday, March 21st, 2010 from 4:30pm – 6:30pm
Come join us for a fun and meaningful evening of crafting, worship, and fellowship! We will be creating a cross quilt for the church sanctuary making simple Lenten crafts participating in a special Lenten worship enjoying dinner and fellowship
Supper for this event will be a traditional potluck so please bring a casserole, salad, or dessert to share. Drinks and bread will be provided.
Donations of $5 per individual or $10 a family would be appreciated to cover the cost of supplies.
This is a great opportunity to get to know more members of the congregation – families, friends, and people of ALL ages are invited to attend.
We hope to see you there! Small Group Ministry
A new ministry has begun at Good Shepherd with the trial implementation of Small Groups. During Lent, several Small Groups are meeting once a week in members’ homes for study, fellowship, and prayer. The groups are focusing on the theme “Where have you seen Jesus?” You are invited to experience fellowship and spiritual growth with other members of Good Shepherd in a Small Group.
Please see the map and signup sheets on the bulletin board in the narthex hallway for additional details.
Lenten Wednesday Vespers Music Schedule
February 17 (Ash Wednesday) Good Shepherd Senior Choir February 24 Sally Ernsberger March 3 Good Shepherd Youth Choir March 10 Good Shepherd Instrumental Ensemble March 17 Steve Hallsted March 24 Kaye Tyson Social Ministry
The Social Ministry Committee decided at the monthly meeting to send one half of the disaster relief fund in our budget ($215) to Lutheran World Relief – Haiti Fund. We have sent in $747 to the ELCA Hunger Fund for the months of October, November and December, 2009. And we just turned into the ELCA Hunger Fund $132 for the month of January. We will collect again on February 28. Extra boxes will be available on one of the tables at the back of the sanctuary. Do you remember the suggested amount to save each day??? A quarter and a dime. Yes, 35 cents and that will add up to $10 a month for the ELCA Hunger Fund. Just think how many people will benefit from our donations around the world. “O God, Gracious Giver, remind us that our worship of you must include care of our neighbors. Please grant that through our sharing we will gain unity with each other. Amen.” March Youth News
The youth group would like to extend a thank you to the congregation for their help and support with the Olympics Dinner. Fun was had by all! Here are some upcoming events in the month of March:
UDel Campus Ministry Dinner Tuesday, March 2 Youth members will meet at the church at 4:45 to travel to the University of Delaware Campus Ministries dinner, followed by a worship service. This is a great opportunity to see one of the ways college students keep their faith alive!
Youth Theater Night Friday, March 12 Youth will go see the Spring Musical at Garnet Valley High School.
Youth Group & Dinner Sunday, March 14 5pm – 7pm Come to youth group and enjoy a delicious home-cooked meal, along with fellowship and games!
“Friday Night Thing” Friday, March 19 High school youth will have an opportunity to grow in faith out on the town.
Lenten Craft Night Sunday, March 21 Youth are invited to come participate in the cross-generational Lenten event. Come make a quilted cross square, attend a worship service, and enjoy a great dinner! See details below…
Youth Group Sunday, March 28 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm Come dye Easter eggs with the youth group!
HVAC Capital Campaign Update
As of February 15, 2010, we have received a total of $56,798.17. Thank you everyone who has contributed. The contributions are greatly appreciated. Though this is a great start, we are about 50% away from reaching the project amount of $110,000 for the equipment plus the contingencies. That is not including the desire for the 10% benevolence to support others with heating and air conditioning challenges.
The current status of the project is that the testing for asbestos in the insulation that surrounds the piping has been completed. The test results show that there is no asbestos in the insulation. We will pass this information on to Modern Controls to schedule the installation.
Thank you all again for your generosity in a time of financial question for many of us. Your willingness to reach deep in your pockets is heartfelt.
Council Update
After the Congregational Meeting on January 24th, the new Church Council met to elect officers for the coming year. Selected were John Crum – President, Sharon Oslin – Vice President, Malcolm Styer – Treasurer and Rick Bogda – Secretary and approved Betty Trelenberg as the financial secretary.
The new council got off to a not so auspicious start when our February meeting was delayed due to our series of snowstorms. However, we did reschedule and met on Thursday, February 18th and highlights of our meeting follow.
Pastor Bob led an inspirational Bible discussion about how God calls us in many different ways to become leaders to do great things and then equips with His special gifts to help us meet the challenges we will face. He then gave the Pastors’ Report highlighting the many activities Pastor Kathy and he were involved in during the past month.
Malcolm Styer gave the financial update. Council then appointed Jolene Perry to fill the vacant Council position. We were informed that Ann Bogda is in training to become the new financial secretary replacing Betty Trelenberg who will be retiring after many years of faithful service. We also received a thank you from the ELCA for our Good Gifts contribution of $1490 for the God’s Global Barnyard effort to provide farm animals to developing countries.
Several committee and group reports were discussed including the HVAC Project, the Columbarium Committee and Small Group. The youth have been active with 6 attending the Synod’s Road Trip in Ocean City, MD as well as preparations for the Youth Dinner. Council also approved a request from the Columbarium Committee to fund the preparation for the final presentation including visual graphics to be presented to the congregation. It should be remembered that this project will be self funded and depend on the interest shown by the congregation. We also authorized David Bowlsbey to purchase a piano for the choir room.
We closed with Council member committee assignments and miscellaneous calendar items.
Please feel free to contact any Council member with any questions or concerns. Thank you. Respectfully submitted on behalf of Council, Rick Bogda Celebrate Holy Week at Good Shepherd!
Holy Week or Passion Week is the centerpiece of the liturgical church year. In our worship we will journey together through the events of the final days of Jesus’ life leading up to the resurrection. Here are some highlights of Holy Week at Good Shepherd:
Palm Sunday, March 28th Festival Worship at 8 a.m. & 11 a.m. We will begin our worship in Swears Fellowship Hall for the procession with palms to the sanctuary. We will celebrate Holy Communion at the altar, where 4th grade students will receive the sacrament for the first time. This service moves us from shouts of “Hosanna!” to the cry of Jesus from the cross.
Maundy Thursday, April 1st Potluck supper at 6:30 p.m., worship at 7:30 p.m. Once again, the Worship and Music Committee will host a pot-luck supper in Swears Fellowship Hall. At the conclusion of the meal, we will begin our worship while still enjoying table fellowship. Again this year, we will offer foot washing for those who choose to participate. Just as Jesus washed his friends’ feet and gave them the commandment to “Love one another,” we will wash feet. If you desire to participate in the foot washing, please plan ahead and wear appropriate footwear. There will be stations set up around the hall, and worshipers will be invited to wash the feet of the person ahead of them, and then be seated to have their own feet washed. This is a very powerful and humbling experience, and all are welcome to participate. Following the foot washing, we will process to the sanctuary, where we will gather around the Lord’s Table for Holy Communion. At the conclusion of the meal, we will strip the altar, symbolizing the humiliation of Jesus at the hands of his captors.
Good Friday, April 2nd The church building will be open from 7 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. for individual reflection and prayer on The Way of the Cross. All are welcome to journey through the events of the day, as Jesus is led from the place of judgment to Golgotha for his crucifixion. The stations will feature artwork created by members of Good Shepherd.
New this year will be a worship service including Stations of the Cross at noon.
Good Friday worship begins at 7:30 p.m. We will hear the entire Passion story from John’s Gospel, with musical reflections. We will pray the ancient Bidding Prayer, asking for God’s blessing and presence in our lives and in our world, and hear the solemn reproaches from the cross. The evening concludes with a procession of the cross, as we reflect on the central symbol of our Christian faith.
The Great Vigil of Easter, Saturday April 3rd Worship at 7:30 p.m. The Easter Vigil is a wonderful bridge from the solemn reflection of Good Friday to the jubilant celebration of Easter morning. We gather outside to light the new fire, and we hear Old Testament stories of God at work in the history of Israel. We are renewed in baptismal waters, and we hear the great Easter Proclamation, that Jesus Christ has overcome the powers of death.
The Resurrection of Our Lord, Easter Day, April 4th Festival Worship at 8 a.m. & 11 a.m., Breakfast at 9:15 a.m., Easter Egg Hunt at 10 a.m. “Christ is Risen! A—eluia!” That is the cry of Easter morning. Our worship will welcome the return of the “A- word”, celebrate the gift of baptism, and together share in the triumphant meal of Holy Communion. All are welcome. Bring a friend!
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