The Shepherd s Voice. Inside: Our mission is to be more visible, to become more connected, and to draw closer, with Christ as our center.

Transcription

1 The Shepherd s Voice Our mission is to be more visible, to become more connected, and to draw closer, with Christ as our center. Summer 2017 Inside: Prayer List Thank you Council Highlights Nursery News Thank you Confirmation Sin happens whenever we refuse to keep growing. Richard Rohr, Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life May the green season of warmth and growth, vacations, trips into nature, food and friends lead our hearts into all gratefulness. May we ask God unashamedly how God expects to call us out into real inner growth even if some growing is at first a kind of dying. May it be a dying from a small, more constricted self into a self that opens and ripens into God's generosity. Picnic Backpacks Garden Quilting News Finance News Community Supper Happy Summer Months, Book Club PD Congratulations Graduate VBS Happy Birthday

2 2 The Shepherd s Voice Members: Clare McElaney, Linda Bespuda, Diane Hensel, Gordon Cleland, Ron Haven, Arlene Juliano, Don Juliano, Miriam Kursawe, Brian Amado, and Sarah Mora. The Prayer Requests Notebook is on the table in the narthex. If you would like to add a loved one to the list, simply write the name in the book. If you would like a prayer card sent to your loved one, please include the full name and address. Prayer requests may also be made by or phone and will be included in the notebook by the church office. Should a loved one need prayers for longer than three months, simply add their name to the list again. To keep the list current and up to date, only the names recorded in the Prayer Request for Family & Friends Notebook will be listed on the prayer list. If you have not recorded a loved one s name, please do so. Family & Friends of Members: Elaine, friend of Lil Tesoriero; Paul, friend of Lil Teroriero; Jack, relative of Donna Duessel; John, relative of Donna Duessel; Pearl, friend of Janet Szulga; Ed, friend of Vic & Ellie Noll & Sam Barate; Mark, friend of Vic & Ellie Noll & Sam Barate; Madeline & Marc, friends of Cindy & Tim Carlson; Bonnie, friend of Eileen Remlin; Nick, relative of Vic & Ellie Noll & Sam Barate; Dave & Jean, friends of Walt & Becky Bills; Lynne, friend of Vic & Ellie Noll & Sam Barate; Rachel, friend of Barbara Dembin; Antoinette, friend of Barbara Dembin; Dave, brother of Donna Duessel; Claudine, friend of Becky & Walt Bills; Janet, mother of Chris Wesche. Special Prayers for Armed Forces Personnel: Tyler, AJ, Matt, Kenny, Brian. Our deepest sympathy and prayers to the family of + Andrew Scribe +, father of Chris Wesche. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147 vs. 3 Should you be in need of pastoral care, please contact Pastor Doug Ryniewicz by cell phone ( text if you like!) or by his address (dearynos@gmail.com). Dear Good Shepherd, Thank you I just wanted to say thank you for the Starbucks gift card you sent me for Valentines Day. It was so nice of you to think of me. I really appreciate it. - Joe Pleva

3 3 The Shepherd s Voice Highlights from Your Church Council May 15, 2017 Attendees: Pastor, Trudi Black, Billie Flaherty, Karen Merrick, David Wang, Cindy Carlson, Walt Bills, Karen Jackson, Donna Hoffman, Eileen Holleran, Lisa Lilly, Jeff Jackson and Clare McElaney. Synod Assembly Report: Pastor reported that there were 547 voting members at the Synod Assembly. They voted on changing the ELCA Constitution s mission from bringing all people to faith in Christ to draw all people into understanding and friendship. The thinking is that many congregations have deep friendships with other faiths. The Synod Assembly also made a resolution that the NE Synod would be a Sanctuary Synod. Pastor said Bishop Hazelwood congratulated us on Sarah Harrison s article regarding her winning the National Doodle 4 Google Competition. Clare McElaney reported that the theme was the Good Samaritan. She wore a t-shirt from the Synod that had a picture of the Good Samaritan on the front and Get off your donkey on the back. She attended a Fund for Leaders seminar where she learned that seminary students dropped from 1300 in 2007 to 660 in Tuition rose from $10,000 in 1970 s to $45,000 now. In the next 10 years there will be a shortage of Pastors due to retirement and the lower amount of seminary students becoming Pastors. Bishop Hazelwood talked about how do we get the Church out into the community. Clare suggested that such opportunities to get the Church out into the community were Sept 10 th God s Work, Our Hands and the 500 th church anniversary. She thanked Council for the opportunity to attend Synod Assembly. Karen Jackson reported on the Lag vs. Lead presentation and the 4G Generosity Project. Pastor proposed that we get more information and then make a determination if we want to get teams trained in these programs. Clare will pull info on these programs from their website. Jeff Jackson reported that there were many changes in congregations resulting in the need to do things differently. He attended programs on intercity congregations and their outreach. Marketing/PR/Evangelism: Karen Merrick will make we miss you note cards to send to members that haven t been to church in a while. Pastor has a list of about 60 people (12 families) to send cards to. Handwritten cards will be completed and sent out at August meeting. Follow-up visits will be conducted two weeks later. Goal is to have a personal touch and let people know we care, we miss them, and ask what we can do for them to serve them better. Respectfully submitted by Donna Hoffman, Secretary If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to speak with a council member or Pastor Doug: Walt Bills Trudi Black Cindy Carlson Sue Chin Billie Flaherty Donna Hoffman Eileen Holleran Brian Immel Karen Jackson Lisa Lilly Karen Merrick Jessica Thom Dave Wang Kyle Immel - Youth Representative Nursery News A gentle reminder that nursery care is available during the worship service for children in kindergarten and younger. Older children are always welcome in church. We have busy bags with coloring books, crayons, games, puzzles, etc. for their use during the service. The bags are located on the book shelf on the right as you enter the church.

4 4 The Shepherd s Voice Dear Good Shepherd, It meant the world to me to have Rachel and Jake's marriage blessed at Good Shepherd. Thank you all so much! Our family and friends were happy to be there - they loved the ceremony, the jokes, and the music. It was all so beautiful. Pastor Doug thank you for agreeing to have the marriage blessing ceremony at Good Shepherd. We laughed and cried during it - it was perfect! Karen and Jeff Jackson thank you for your beautiful duet of A Wedding Blessing. I am so appreciative of the extra time and effort you put into acquiring and customizing this meaningful song. Hilary Vojtek and Larry Black - you both added special touches to the words and music. Vic Johnson you are the best musical director ever! Thank you Anne Marie Carlson for the gift presentation from Rachel's Sunday School class. I was so touched by that. Donna Duessel and Vicki Creutz - thank you for overseeing the luncheon - I was able to relax and enjoy the day, knowing that you two were there for me. Thank you all very much! Lisa Lilly Dear Good Shepherd, We are so grateful and blessed. Thank you so much for everything you all did for our wedding blessing. The Sunday School surprise and picture frame was so thoughtful. Again, thank you all. Love, The Sanners Confirmation On Sunday, June 4, 2017, we welcomed DJ Bobowick, Connor Braun, Anne Marie Carlson, Collin Hoffman, Riley Immel, and Jack Schwarz into adult membership in Good Shepherd by Rite of Confirmation. Congratulations!

5 5 The Shepherd s Voice The Annual Outdoor Worship/Picnic on Sunday, June 11, 2017 was a great time! Beautiful sunny skies, a gentle breeze, an inspiring outdoor worship service, delicious picnic food, fun games, wonderful conversation and fellowship. Thanks to all who worked to make it a terrific event and to all who came and enjoyed the day! Take a look at the group photo on the bulletin board in the hallway at church. Special thanks to Dagny Hassinger, Lisa Lilly and Ken Furnes for the great photos! COVENANT TO CARE BACKPACKS AND SPECIAL REQUEST FOR A FAMILY IN NEED As in the past, we d like to ask your help in providing backpacks for our Covenant to Care kids as they head off to school. With our new, younger client list, it will be their first time in school for several of these children, so we have a wonderful opportunity to get them off to a great start. Names and ages will be in the narthex by July 16th. Backpacks can be left on either August 6th or August 13th for pickup on August 14th. Our social worker has a special request: she has a mother in a domestic violence shelter in Norwalk who has three young children ages 3, 2, and one month old. She is in need of a baby carrier as the shelter provides no transportation. If you are able to donate a carrier, please speak with me and I will connect you with the Social Worker to arrange a pick up. Thanks for your continuing generosity! Jane Fieberts

6 6 The Shepherd s Voice God s work. Our hands. Here s a picture of beets and turnips recently picked at the Monroe Food Pantry Garden by Marc and Cindy Carlson. Do you want to help feed people in need in the town of Monroe? We welcome volunteers of all ages to help weed and harvest the garden we planted at the Monroe Food Pantry. Sign up on the bulletin board or call the church office. If you have questions, please speak with Dave Wang, Larry Black or Donna Duessel. We also need volunteers to weed and water the flowers at church. They are a cheerful and welcoming sight to visitors and those passing by the church. Quilting News We will start up quilting again in July. Due to the holiday, we will meet July 8 and 22. from 9:30 a.m. to noon as we sew, iron, cut and assemble quilts for the needy. In August we will meet on August 5 and 19. Feel free to come and go as you need. If you have questions, please speak with Ellie Noll. No experience is needed, just your willing hearts and hands. Finance Committee News The Finance Committee will meet on Tuesday, July 11, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. (date to be verified the week before). If you have an interest in finance we invite you to attend the meeting. If you have any questions, please speak with any member of the committee: Vic Noll, Tim Carlson, Peg Wesche, Roy Remlin, Billie Flaherty.

7 7 The Shepherd s Voice Community Supper - August 2, 2017 at Golden Hill Methodist Church, Golden Hill Street, Bridgeport Cooks and set up crew needed. We start at 2:30-3:00 p.m. If you haven't already signed up and would like to help, please put your name on the list in the narthex. We can discuss car pooling if you want to. Any questions, please speak to Peg Wesche or anyone who has attended a supper before. Thank you! The Book Club is on vacation for the month of July. The next meeting will be on Tuesday, August 8, 2017, when we will discuss The Silent Sister by Diane Chamberlain. Kathy Goulet is delighted to answer any questions you may have about the book club and looks forward to having you join in the discussion. Matthew Johnson graduated from Western Connecticut State University with a bachelors degree in music vocal performance. Ethan Hoffman graduated from Newtown High School and will be attending the University of Connecticut in Storrs majoring incivil Engineering. Carly Lindsay graduated from Newtown High School and will be attending The University at Albany in the Honors College studying Environmental Science. Jade Serrano graduated with high honors from Shelton High School and was excepted into the honors program at Southern Connecticut State University.

8 8 The Shepherd s Voice VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL July 31 - August 4, 2017 Counselors from Camp Calumet are once again coming to Good Shepherd this summer and will run a full day vacation bible school program. This summer we are offering a half day for ages 4-5 and a full day for ages Teens and adults who are interested in volunteering, please contact Veronica Lenzen or the church office.

9 9 The Shepherd s Voice Linda Pleva 5-Aug Elaine Basala 9-Aug Tammy Crews McDonough 9-Aug Jessica Hoffmann 11-Aug Doris Schwarz 11-Aug Cindy Carlson 12-Aug Victor Noll 12-Aug Lillian Thiede 12-Aug John Carlson 13-Aug Edward Kusinski 13-Aug Leslie Forte 14-Aug Stephen Bespuda 15-Aug Anthony Cavaliere 15-Aug Gordon Cleland Janet Reck Roy Remlin Ellis Hensel Brian Lilly Robin Hoffmann Catherine McElaney Jackson Thom Vic Johnson Walt Bills Mark Schwarz Seth Boland 16-Aug 19-Aug 19-Aug 20-Aug 21-Aug 23-Aug 24-Aug 25-Aug 26-Aug 27-Aug 27-Aug 31-Aug Nora Paquin 2-Sep Carly Lindsay 16-Sep Lynn Kusinski 3-Sep Garrett Uhde 16-Sep Renee Shoop 3-Sep Paul Schwarz 18-Sep Megan Aubrey 4-Sep Clare McElaney 19-Sep Sandy Troesser 9-Sep Bill Serrano 19-Sep Amy Wood 9-Sep Joshua Smith 20-Sep Brigette Vojtek 10-Sep Ronald Stockman 24-Sep Dylan Dembin 11-Sep Ken Lee 25-Sep Brian Immel 11-Sep Adele Buck 26-Sep Beth Noll 11-Sep Danielle Noll 26-Sep Thomas Wheeler 11-Sep Scott Lindsay 28-Sep Kathy Goulet 12-Sep Amy Lee 29-Sep Callie Rubin 13-Sep Jerry Onofrio 30-Sep Erin Schwarz 13-Sep Kaitlyn Rogg 30-Sep Linda Gorman 16-Sep Lisa Schmidt 30-Sep The current month s birthday listing is posted on the bulletin board outside of the Pastor s office. If your birthday is not listed, please contact the church office and the files will be updated. We do not want to miss anyone s birthday.