Operation Christmas Child

Once again, Good Shepherd Church will be collecting shoeboxes filled with Christmas presents to be delivered to needy children throughout the world. Children who have suffered because of war, natural disaster, poverty, illness or neglect can receive a shoe box filled with gifts such as toys, school supplies, hygiene items, hard candy and gum.

Operation Christmas Child is a unique project of Christian relief organized through Samaritan’s Purse. Individuals and families are encouraged to participate in this project that can bring joy and hope to thousands of children.

If you are interested in participating, please look for the literature concerning Operation Christmas Child in the Narthex. We will need to have the shoe boxes in the church by November 16th, specifying if the contents are for a boy or girl, the age category (2-4, 5-9 or 10-14) along with $7.00 to help with shipping and other expenses.

Donations towards these expenses only (if you do not want to put a box together) would be much appreciated!

Operation Christmas Child – Gift Ideas

Something to Love: Teddy bear, doll, soft toy, etc.

Something for School: Pencil case, pens, pencils, coloring pencils, crayons, sharpeners, erasers, chalk, writing pads, solar calculators, picture books, etc.

Something to Wear: T-shirts, shorts, underwear, cap, beanie, sandals, thongs, etc.

Something to Play with: Tennis ball, small cars, dolls, skipping rope, marbles, musical instrument, yo-yo, slinky, finger puppets, etc. (No battery operated items)

Something for Personal Hygiene: Soap (in a plastic bag) and washcloth, toothbrush, hairbrush, comb, hair-clips, scrunchies, etc. (No toothpaste)

Something special: Carry bag, sunglasses, bangles, necklaces, craft kit, stickers, note or photo of yourself, etc.

Do Not Include

• Items that may leak or melt (toothpaste, shampoo, bubbles, playdough, batteries)
• Food or candy of any kind (including medicine and vitamins)
• Any used or damaged items (including toys and clothing)
• Any breakable items (including glass, porcelain, and mirrors)
• Any items that can scare or harm a child (including knives, war-related toys, toy guns)
• Any gambling related items (including play money, playing cards, dominoes)
• Anything of a religious, radical, or political nature

Sunday, July 5, 2009 Announcements

Bishop Mark Hollingsworth of the Episcopal Diocese of Ohio is biking across the country following the General Convention to raise funds for Episcopal Relief and Development.  I am sending some funds to his effort. If anyone else wants to join me please make checks payable to ERD bishops’ bike ride no later than July 19th and drop them off at Good Shepherd.

Life line screening will be here on July 21^st. There is more information on the table out in the narthex and also on a flyer that is accompanying the July 2009 newsletter. Life Line will be performing several different tests on pre-registered candidates for stroke screening.

 This year’s parish picnic is Sunday, August 9^th  after the 10:00AM Sunday liturgy.  It’s a potluck after mass on the grass.

We need people to sign up for hosting coffee hour and volunteer in the shoe shed.

Stretchy book covers and school supplies are being collected for a July event called “Stuff the Bus” on July 31^st. You can find these book covers at Office Depot and Walgreens. However, we will accept any other school supplies that you can afford to give.

July ‘09 Newsletter

July 2009 Newsletter

Sunday, June 28 Announcements

We are suspending the Friday 10am liturgy and 11am bible study for July and August and will resume in the fall.

 We will be having Life Line Screening here on: Tuesday, July 21^st Life Line Screening will be offering tests to help individuals determine their risk of potentially having heart disease and stroke.  You do need to pre-register for this event.  More information on this beneficial health service will be in the newsletter.

 Our 2^nd Annual Red Cross blood drive is Tuesday, August 11th from 2pm to 6pm.  Sign up for a time in the narthex. You are still able to donate if you gave blood before June 10^th.

 Just a reminder that we need your assistance in helping out with the 10am fellowship hour. There is a signup sheet on the table in the Narthex. If you haven’t experienced this yet, talk to someone who has. They would be more than happy to let you know how it works.

 Good Shepherd is collecting stretchable book covers for the Stuff the Bus event at the end of July. You can purchase these book covers at Walgreens and Office Depot

June ‘09 Newsletter

June Newsletter

Sunday, May 31st Announcements

Our 1^st quarterly church hall meeting is today, from 11:30am to 1pm. Childcare will be available.  The agenda includes discussion and input on the Bishop’s committee’s goals for this year and there will be conversation on the changes possible in our worship schedule for the summer and fall. 

There are May dates for home visits available in the narthex.

 The Rotary golf outing is coming up Thursday, June 11, 2009.  I will be golfing so if you would like to join me let me know.

 We really need some help with weed whackers and garden help. Please sign up in the narthex.

 Our second annual Red Cross blood drive is Tuesday, August 11^th from 2pm to 6pm.  Sign up for a time in the narthex on the sheet provided.  You can give blood up until June 10^th and still be able to give blood at our drive.

 Monday June 1^st we will start a once a month liturgy at Oak Park Place, off of Cottage Grove Road, at 10am. It is where Alpha Devenish lives.

 Monday, June 8th we will be holding our 2^nd , once a month service, at Haake’s Tender Care at 10am where Harriet Davison lives and plays the piano.  Come join us.

May ‘09 Newsletter

May 2009 Newsletter

Church Hall Meeting

The church hall meeting has been rescheduled to Sunday, May 31, 2009 at 11:30am.

6 Epiphany -Year B I do will it Feb. 15, 2009

Mark 1:40-45
40 A leper* came to him begging him, and kneeling* he said to him, ‘If you choose, you can make me clean.’ 41Moved with pity,* Jesus* stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, ‘I do choose. Be made clean!’ 42Immediately the leprosy* left him, and he was made clean. 43After sternly warning him he sent him away at once, 44saying to him, ‘See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.’ 45But he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the word, so that Jesus* could no longer go into a town openly, but stayed out in the country; and people came to him from every quarter.Why is it that we are more than ready to believe that we could win the lottery or we can take a pill and be skinny or watch a DVD and be rich but when it comes to God if it’s to easy we are skeptical. It appears from our old testament reading that humans have been this way for a long time.
The line from the Gospel pierced my heart today. The leper says if you choose you can make me clean. Moved with pity, Jesus reaches out and touches the man and says, “I do choose, be made clean”
I was thinking this week about the little things that we never even think about and how each of us plants seeds in each other. On Friday my daughter Ann came home and when she was telling about her day at supper said that Mrs. Johnson had given her a high five for doing so well on her packet. Annie’s toothless smile beaming from ear to ear jumping up and down as she told us. If Mrs. Johnson had given Ann a check for $1000 it wouldn’t have even come close to that high five. It meant the world to Ann. How many hearts do you think Mrs. Johnson touches every day without her even noticing? It was in 1st grade that I was held back because my teacher told me that I tried hard I just wasn’t as smart as every body else. Ann doesn’t think she is smart she knows she is smart, it took me almost 40 years to figure the same thing out. Now that’s impact. How many opportunities a day do we have to be uplifting, to be and extension of Christ love? It is in the little things and not just the big. Some are called to go to the Sudan and feed the hungry but most of us can impact the world no less by the gentle touches in others lives that are available to us every day.
I was reminded of the story of the man sitting on the beach where thousands of starfish had washed up on the beach and he sat throwing one at time back in the ocean, someone walked up to him and said you can’t possibly make a difference for all these starfish and he said no but I just did for that one.
Is the world impacted any less if we do seemingly insignificant intentional acts of kindness and love that extend the love of God into the torn and battered parts of peoples’ hearts, into the forming parts of a child’s heart? Does God smile on us more if we go to Africa and feed the hungry than if we fed the hungry here or feed someone’s spirit?
The love of God is easy, being held by Christ is easy, and seeking the Holy Spirit is easy. It’s living that can be hard.
Go then and give 7 high fives, go then and save 70 cents and give it to the food pantry, go then and collect in a couple Sundays 2 huge boxes of soup so hungry people can feel warm in their stomachs and their hearts. Go them and win the race because Jesus does choose for us to be made clean and he works through incredibly powerful relationships, he works through Mrs. Johnson, and your can of soup and your phone call or hug. God says to us today in the name of Jesus Christ be healed and then go into the world carrying His light and being his love.
In the name of God

3 Epiphany -Year B A Dare, a Test, and an Opportunity Jan. 25, 2009

Mark 1:14-20
14Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, 15and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.” 16As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea-for they were fishermen. 17And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” 18And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.
People, who know me, know that I love reading labels and I love catchy slogans. Well I was in the bathroom closet after my shower and another great slogan caught my eye, this one on my wife’s antiperspirant. The slogan said, “Dare to wear Black.” In this age of vocation shortages in all the major church denominations’. I have often said the reason men and women aren’t going into ordained ministry is because we never tell them how cool our job is.
I also began to think of our task as a church family for 2009. We had another budget meeting this last Wednesday. Coming away from the meeting I was filled with an overwhelming feeling of doubt. I have prayed hard since then and the message in my heart, which I believe is God’s answer to my prayer, is Dare to imagine, Dare to dream, Dare to rest in trusting in God to show us the way.
The Test – I believe that life is full of tests, and this is a test. How bad do we want to be a vibrant expression of God’s love? How hard are we willing to work to find ways to be more efficient in our use of God’s gifts to us? Walls are there to keep the people out who don’t want it badly enough.
The Opportunity – A young Israelite Rabbi came up to a bunch of middle class working people and dared them to dream of a different way of doing business. He gave them a test and an opportunity. They all passed the test, not with their great knowledge but with their great faith. How has that changed from Jesus’ time to ours?
If ever their was a time when the church had a relevant message, if ever there was a time when our families needed to support each other in a Holy way of life, if ever there was a chance to teach our children what is really important or possible it is now. At 5:45 this morning I dropped my parents at the Airport for their trip to Hawaii and I for the 1st time in my life, had a small taste of How God feels when God longs for something for us. I have been planning this trip and celebration of my parents love for each other and for all who touch their lives for over a year and I have sweated and longed and anticipated and waited for today for a long time and I won’t be completely at ease until they’re home with us again. That, I think, is what God feels like when he knits us in the womb with all the possibility, not completely being at ease for us until we are home with Him again.
As he holds us and walks with us on this part of the journey God says, Dare to dream, Don’t fear the test, I will give you the answer just keep asking the question, and use the opportunities I give you to spread my Love. That’s the job and I can’t think of anyone I would rather be on the road with other than you. May to God go the glory. In the name of God.

Baptism of the Lord -Year B Through the Door and on the team Jan. 11, 2009

Mark 1:4-11
4John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. 8I Have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
9In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. 11And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”
con•ver•sion
Pronunciation:
\kən-ˈvər-zhən, -shən\
Function:
noun
Etymology:
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin conversion-, conversio, from convertere
Date:
14th century
1: the act of converting : the process of being converted2: an experience associated with the definite and decisive adoption of a religion3 a: the operation of finding a converse in logic or mathematics b: reduction of a mathematical expression by clearing of fractions4: a successful attempt for a point or points especially after a touchdown or for a first down <a 2-point conversion> <a third-down conversion
We celebrate today the Baptism of the Lord. Baptism is the gate for us. Once we pass through the waters of baptism we say and believe we are called and claimed by God. I.E we are on the team. We call the process of accepting this love and calling the process of conversion. The Bible churches call it being saved. It is about the on going process of giving your heart and Soul to God.
I found it ironic that under Merriam Webster’s definition of conversion was 10 the association and adoption of a religion and also an extra point conversion in football.
So being that it we are in Packer Badger country I though a good ole football prep talk may be in order.
(Blow Whistle and grab the football)
It is time to convert for the extra point. It is time to be on the team or off the team. It is time in our new year to up our reps. If we are going to win this game, this battle. We are going to need to up our reps. Do some spiritual weight lifting. Read our scriptures say our prayers and put our nose and our eye on the goal.
This is no time for spiritual slackers. It mean out there and our opponent is big and mean and sneaky. It is time to bring out the armies.
Connie Ott from St. Dunstan’s sent this little poem in my Christmas Card. I think it sums it up nicely. It’s a poem by Howard Thurman
When the star in the sky is gone, when the kings and the princes are home, when the shepherds are back with their flocks, the work of Christmas begins. To find the lost, To heal the broken, To feed the Hungry, To release the Prisoners, To bring Christ to all, To make music in the heart.
I do believe that it is time to up our game and to realize that team means together everyone achieves more. Together we can do battle against the darkness. Times are going to be tight for a while and in tight times great opportunities present themselves. It all comes down for me to does our baptism mean something or not. Does being on God’s team mean something to you? As the Notre Dame Coach in Rudy says. No excuses do the work. I think the image of being in the trenches is a good one. In hard times we need to stay close together, pray hard and be ready for the opportunities that God sends our way. So we can continue to convert our heart to God’s love and score the extra point for Jesus when it is our turn.
In the love of God