The Shepherd s Scroll

Transcription

1 The Shepherd s Scroll October 2016_ The Shepherd s Scroll GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH, ELCA 2101 S. Prospect Avenue, Champaign, IL Phone: Fax: God s Work. Our Hands. Volume 49, No. 10 October 2016 Pastor s Perspective S We are Church Together unday, October 16, both in worship and in adult forum, we will share stories of our faith in action and hold up the many ministries of our church, the Evangelical Lutheran in America (ELCA). We will share stories of how, as members of the ELCA, we are actively sharing God s love and grace and working for both peace and justice in our communities and around the world. Year to date as a congregation, we are $5,094 behind in our benevolence giving. Leadership has designated October 16 as We are Church Together Sunday. You will be invited take an active role in the ministries of the ELCA by designated gifts above and beyond your normal offering. Gifts may be placed in the pew envelops and marked benevolence or ELCA. Also, the loose offering on Oct. 16 will be designated for benevolence. Adult Forum Upcoming Schedule October 2: ELCA Campus Ministries. Pr. Rodger Diggs and Susannah Scaroni from St. Andrew s October 9: Cross-Generational Sunday school October 16: We are Church Together : The Ministries of the ELCA October 23: Making Sense of the Cross

2 2 The Shepherd s Scroll October 2016_ From the Youth & Family Director s Desk M y Grandma Jo shared with me a story about her parents that she remembered growing up. Her dad would drive from the Catholic Mass that he had just attended to pick up my Grandma Jo and her mom from Sunday School at the local Lutheran Church. Her dad would complain, Are you Lutherans so thick-headed it takes this long to get it? To which her mom would fire back, Well your worship is in Latin and you don t even know what the heck they are saying! My grandma s parents were involved in a mixed marriage at that time. I am overjoyed that these divisions that haunted my grandparents and great grandparents generation will not be an issue as my own kids grow up alongside their Catholic brothers and sisters. As we approach the 500 th anniversary of the Reformation it is good to look back on how far we have come. Many people and organizations form their identity around who they are against. It gives me hope that we can embrace our unique Lutheran identity AND our Catholic brothers and sisters. My friends and I joke that Lutherans are just Junior Varsity Catholics anyway, we just play on the JV squad! This past summer, our church warmly accepted Declaration on the Way: Church, Ministry, and Eucharist. This is a unique ecumenical document that gathers together 50 years of Lutheran-Catholic dialogue in preparation for the 500 th Reformation anniversary in The heart of the Declaration is the Statement of Agreements. There are 32 statements about church, ministry, and Eucharist for which Catholics and Lutherans already agree and have decided are not church-dividing issues. By highlighting the agreements over these 3 issues it helps us not rehash old debates and instead offers ways in which we can work together in our common life in Christ. (You can download the Declaration off of the ELCA.ORG website for further study with your Catholic brothers and sisters.) In many ways 500 years is way too long to focus on our differences. I am excited and encouraged by this step and am not afraid that we will somehow lose our Lutheran identity. The beauty of our Lutheran tradition is that we focus on going back to the basics offered in the Catechism. No matter what Christian denominations or faiths we work with we can always point people back to the Ten Commandments, The Lord s Prayer, The Apostles Creed, Baptism, and Communion. These are the things that continue to ground us in our life in Christ for the sake of the world. These things are part of the Gospel; these traditions are good news. So in an effort to encourage full participation in our study of the catechism this coming year I would prevail upon you and your family, should you own a cell phone, to download the Luther s Small Catechism App by Augsburg Fortress. It is totally FREE and can prove to be a great resource as we seek to live as God s good news in this time and in this place. Luther used the technology at his disposal to get the catechism into the hands of pastors and parents and it is my hope that our current technology will allow us to dive into the catechism with fresh eyes together. Freed and Renewed in Christ, Jason Fisher

3 3 The Shepherd s Scroll October 2016_ Youth Events Curtis Apple Orchard Thursday, October 6, 4-6pm Families with kids up through 5 th grade this event is for you. Jason has free tickets for each person in your family to receive a bag of apples, entrance to the corn maze, and a wagon ride on Thursday October 6 th from 4 to 6pm! Be sure to contact Jason to get your hands on this free family fun. Parents Night Out Friday, October 7, 5-8pm Youth Rummage Sale Friday, Oct. 21, 8am-noon and 6-8pm Saturday, Oct. 22, 8am-noon All proceeds raised from this event will help fund future youth trips, like the National Youth Gathering in Houston in It s not too late to donate, we can even schedule a pick-up or drop off at the church just contact Jason. Sunday, October 9 & 23, 5-7:30pm Good Shepherd Fellowship Hall Middle & High School youth get the run of the church as we play and pray in Jesus name. Dinner is provided by the adults from St. Peters, Grace, and Good Shepherd. Friends are always welcome. Sunday, October 30, 4-5:30pm Good Shepherd Fellowship Hall Youth & Families get to enjoy dressing up and playing some games together as we celebrate All Hallows Eve. So break out your best costume for its Halloween debut and be prepared for lots of candy. Middle & High School youth will be needed to either help set up, run games, or help clean up for this event. Set up will be following Sunday School Oct 30 th from 11:30-1:30pm with lunch provided. Set-Up October 18-20, 6-8pm Middle & High School youth are needed to help sort, price, and move items into place for our big rummage sale in the fellowship hall. Let Jason know which days and times you are available. Fri.-Sun., November Lake Williamson, IL Jr. HS retreat with worship, Bible study, games, rope course, zip-line, and more. Signed Covenant, t-shirt, and medical form along with the $100 registration is due by Sunday, October 23 rd. Scholarships are available if you contact Jason.

4 4 The Shepherd s Scroll October 2016_ Youth Events Continued Trunk or Treat is one of the largest outreach events our congregation participates in each year. Candy is given away as prizes for various games throughout the evening. If you would like to donate a bag or two of candy feel free to drop them off in Jason s office. He promises he will keep his hands off! Affirmation of Baptism Service Sunday, October 30, 9am Join Maggie Paul & Evan Gernenz as they affirm their faith by claiming for themselves their baptismal promises. There will be a short reception after worship to celebrate their continuing journey in following Jesus into the world. In order for Trunk or Treat to be a success in our neighborhood we rely on members of our church, and their friends, to bring their cars and hand out candy from their trunks. If you are willing to bring your car, decorated or undecorated, and hand out candy Jason to let him know you are game. Did you miss the chance to recycle your old tube TV last spring? Well now you have another chance on Saturday, Oct. 15, from 8 to Noon. Be a good steward of creation by recycling unwanted electronics. Connecting our lectionary readings in worship with children s books allows families to have godly conversations. Jason has a list of children s books that fit our weekly readings in worship. See Jason about the titles on the list needed for donation. 3rd and 6th Graders New Bibles Sunday, October 30 Students in 3 rd & 6 th grade this year will get new bibles. Jason will hand out bibles to parents ahead of time so they can write a personal note in them. Then families will have a chance to place the scriptures into their child s hands during worship.

5 5 The Shepherd s Scroll October 2016_ WOMEN OF THE ELCA FUNDRAISER 2016 BAKE SALE WITH A TWIST AND ZIP SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22 8am Noon In the Fellowship Hall Our annual fundraiser this year will be an expanded bake sale and will include Recipes in a Jar. Workers for the sale are needed for two sessions. Pick a shift from 8-10am or 10am -noon. If you can help, please contact Jodi Davis, Jenelle Keene, Beth Followell, or Tori Corkery. Calling all bakers! Start stocking your freezers with homemade cookies, cakes, pies, breads, rolls, or pastries! We will happily take donations of whole pies or cakes (baked or frozen) in addition to other baked goods. We will sell cookies/brownies in smaller packages (snack, sandwich, quart bags) to allow for a variety to be purchased without having to buy them in bulk. We will place labels on the packages due to the health department guidelines. Please drop off baked goods in the kitchen on Friday, October 21 or first thing Saturday morning, the 22 nd. Also, please remember to label your baked goods with the type/name of cookie, pie, bread, etc. If you prefer to drop off your items earlier that week and they can be frozen, please label WELCA Bake Sale and put in the church freezer. Community Event Sunday, October 9 th after the Sunday School hour. We will be putting together Recipes in a Jar, decorating jars, and making cookie dough balls to freeze. We need you to help make this annual fundraiser possible. Bring your family and friends... many hands make light work! Donations needed! To keep the costs down, please consider donating some of the following items: Variety of Ribbon Wide mouth, quart size canning jars with lids Sugar Light brown sugar Flour Rolled oats Chocolate chips M&M (traditional & fall seasonal) Mini Pretzels (not sticks) Bugles Original (trumpet shaped snack) Candy corn Zip lock bags (quart size) Supplies to be donated will be due by Sunday, October 2. Please label donations WELCA Bake Sale and leave them in the kitchen. Thank you!

6 6 The Shepherd s Scroll October 2016_ What Teenagers Need From Us More Than (Almost) Anything Else By Kara Powell B e the wall for your kids. Maybe it s because I grew up swimming. Or maybe it s because my oldest daughter is now 13 and a full-blown teenager. Either way, I can t stop thinking about an image that Lisa Damour uses in Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls Through the Seven Transitions into Adulthood. In the midst of inevitable parent/child conflict, Damour writes: Your daughter needs a wall to swim to, and she needs you to be a wall that can withstand her comings and goings. Some parents feel too hurt by their swimmers, take too personally their daughter s rejections, and choose to make themselves unavailable to avoid going through it again But being unavailable comes at a cost Their daughters are left without a wall to swim to and must navigate choppy and sometimes dangerous waters all on their own. While Damour s research is focused on girls, I would say the same imagery holds true with boys. As parents and youth leaders, kids need us to be a wall. A wall of support that doesn t withdraw or abandon them. Even when kids withdraw from us often hurting us in the process they need us to be the adult who stays steady. Damour gives some helpful tips on how to be the wall of support all kids need: 1. Anticipate that kids will push off. When a young person swims to you, enjoy it, but don t be surprised when they distance themselves from you. That s all the more common when that young person is your own child. 2. Rally your own support. Who in your life is the wall that you need, so that you can be a wall of support for young people? 3. Be aware of your own anger and self-protection. I m most likely to move away from my kids when they tick me off, or when they raise painful (and unresolved) issues in my own life. 4. Help teenagers have multiple walls not just you. Whether you are a parent or leader, you can t be the only wall for a young person. OurSticky Faith research continues to showcase the importance of young people having a team of adults who combine to form a fortress of support. What else helps you to be the support teenagers need, especially when they push away?

7 7 The Shepherd s Scroll October 2016_ This & That Welcome TATIANA! Women s: Anna Circle meets the first Wednesday of the month in the choir room. Next meeting: October 5 at 4:30pm. Ruth Circle meets the third Tuesday of the month in the choir room. Next meeting: October 18 at 9:30am. Sherry Webb will lead the lesson on The Rock Peter. Bring your Bible and join us! Rachael Circle meets the fourth Monday of the month. Next meeting: October 24 at 4:30pm. Men s: Men s Bible Study meets every Friday at 6:30am at The Original Pancake House. All men and women of Good Shepherd are encouraged to join us for any of these Bible study circles. We are blessed to have Tatiana Shustova as our new accompanist at Good Shepherd. Tatiana, along with her husband Aaron and 3-year-old son Pavel, have been members of GSLC for close to four years. Both Tatiana and Aaron have blessed us with their gifts in music in the past, offering mission concerts and most recently playing music during our El Salvador dinner. Tatiana was born in St. Petersburg, Russia, and completed the Artist s Certificate Program and a Master s degree in piano performance at Bowling Green State University in Ohio. In 2008, she was awarded a fellowship to enter the doctoral program in piano performance at the University of Illinois. She completed the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in piano performance under the direction of Dr. Ian Hobson in spring Please give Tatiana a warm welcome! October 13 at 9:30am, in the Choir Room October book: A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray. It is 1895, and after the suicide of her mother, 16-year-old Gemma Doyle is shipped off from the life she knows in India to Spence, a proper boarding school in England. Her reception there is not a friendly one. To make things worse, she s been followed by a mysterious young Indian man, a man sent to watch her. This book contrasts the freedom of a fantasy world with Victorian society s constraints on women. A sneak peek at November: Irish Meadows by Susan Anne Mason. Contact: Jan Nuss at jannuss3@sbcglobal.net or New members are always welcome! Hosted by GSLC Youth: RUMMAGE SALE Friday, October 21, 8am-noon & 6-8pm Saturday, October 22, 8am-noon Fellowship Hall We are accepting household donations (furniture, kitchen items, lawn & garden items, clothes, etc.) for our Rummage Sale. Donations can be dropped off at church and stored in the north classroom down the Sunday School hallway. We ask that all donations be dropped off by Tuesday, Oct. 18. All proceeds from the sale will help with expenses for our youth who will be attending the Carlinville or Rend Lake Retreat, Leadership Lab, or the 2018 National Youth Gathering in Houston. Thank you all for considering to donate your items to our fundraiser. Questions? Please Ruth Meyer at meyerclub@comcast.net.

8 8 The Shepherd s Scroll October 2016_ Church Staff Pastor...Thomas Hillertz Pastor Emeritus...Edward D. Schneider Youth & Family Minister...Jason Fisher Office Manager Yvona Vlach Office Assistant...Nancy Olson Treasurer.Dana VanDeveer-Jones Organist...Linda Pein Choir Director....Jill Crandall Parish Nurses...Sandy Rueter Elizabeth Kakoma Celeste Coverdill Good Shepherd Lutheran Church 2101 S Prospect Ave Champaign, IL Office Hours Mon-Thu: 7:30 am to 3:30 pm (lunch: noon 1 pm) Fridays: 7:30 am to Noon Scroll Deadline The deadline for the November Scroll is Thursday, October 20, at noon. Bulletin/Announcements Deadline Wednesday at noon, each week. Come Worship the Lord! Sundays at 9am, through November (Holy Communion served at all services) Christian Education for All Ages: Sundays at 10:15am Prayer REQUESTS If you have prayer requests that you want included on the prayer chain, contact Nicole Paul at or npaul55@gmail.com. Names to be included in the Sunday prayers can be submitted by contacting the church office at or staff@gslc-cu.org. Hospitalized? Please call the church office if you or a family member is in the hospital. You or a family member need to notify us directly, as hospital staff do not normally call clergy. Mark Your Calendar! Pet Blessings Sunday, October 2, 2pm Rummage Sale Fri. & Sat., Oct. 21 & 22 Fall Festival/Bake Sale (see details inside) Saturday, October 22, 8am-noon Reformation/Confirmation Sunday October 30 (don t forget to wear red!) Adult Forum Sundays, 10:15am Youth Group Sundays, 5-7:30pm