February, 2010

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of a journey to the cross called Lent that leads us to the joy and glory of Easter. It is time for self-examination, penitence, renewal and new beginnings. In our worship we reflect on sobering themes and examining our humanity with the goal of measuring God’s grace and celebrating the depth of His love.

This year’s Lenten theme is “By My Hand? For My Sake!”, a series that asks “What is your role in the suffering and death of our Lord?” “In what ways might we be considered responsible and in what ways do we benefit?” Week by week these concerns are dramatically addressed by biblical characters who actually did have a hand in the crucifixion of Christ.

Come and join the journey, beginning with Ash Wednesday services on February 17^th at 10:00 AM and 7:30 PM, as we gather for Holy Communion, reflect on our mortality and hear God’s word of promise. The 10:00 AM service will be followed by our annual luncheon honoring our members who are 65 or more years young.

Our evening services throughout Lent will also highlight the “Witness to the Faith” as presented by the members of our eighth grade confirmation class. The Wednesday evening Lenten Suppers will begin on Wednesday, February 24^th. Dinner will be served promptly at 6:15 PM. A free will offering will be collected to help support our youth who will be attending the Mission Trip to Benton Harbor, Michigan. Come out for a light supper consisting of soup and salad and enjoy the friendship and fellowship of your fellow church members before attending the midweek Lenten Services. If anyone would be willing to donate soup, a salad, or dessert for any of our Lenten Suppers, please sign up on the bulletin board or see Ron. Come and share with us the bread of life.

Included in this mailing is the Lenten coin folder designed to help us with the daily disciplines of prayer and penitence. The hope is that these folders provide support for each of us in our growth as followers of Christ during this important season called Lent. All funds received in these folders will be used for our Mission outreach.

Lent is the season in the church year in which we prepare for the celebration of life. The new life of spring, the new life of the resurrection. May your journey through the cocoon of Lent lead to the joy and beauty of Easter’s butterfly.

Reaching out to those less fortunate!

The next cooking date of REST cooking is February 16^th at 9:30 AM. We continue to take food to the Worth Food Pantry. February request includes: SpaghettiOs, canned ravioli, Lunchables, canned meats and baby food. The need continues and donations of any other items are always appreciated.

The Missions Committee encourages you to read the numerous thank you letters we have received from those ministries we were able to support this past year. The letters are posted on the church bulletin board. We continue to focus our mission efforts in support of the many worthwhile efforts of Christian care and service with which we have come in contact. The Committee reminds you that great care is used to insure that our gifts are used for the purposes we intend. The mission offerings for the months of January and February will go to help the people of Haiti following their devastating earthquake. We encourage everyone to continue to use their white monthly mission’s envelope in care of others. Please help us in aiding the relief efforts of our church in support of these needy people. Thank You!

Our Tuesday groups are looking forward to many meaningful discussions of faith in the days and weeks ahead. The 9:30 AM Prayer Group is discussing Enough: Discovering Joy Through Simplicity and Generosity, while the 10:30 AM Bible Class is studying the Gospel of “Luke”. The 4:00 PM Discussion Group is discussing The Shack.

Our Thursday evening class, Bible Discovery Group continues to enjoy wonderful participation as they continue their journey through the “Kerygma” program of Bible Study. New participants are always welcome!

Blood Drive . . .The annual blood drive will be held on Sunday, February 28^th. You will be able to register for an appointment starting Sunday, February 14^th. If you have any questions or would like to assist with registration or help the day of the drive please contact Jan at 708/448-4170.

The February meeting of the “OFF Club” will be brief and follow the morning Ash Wednesday service and Senior Appreciation Luncheon. Both the service and the luncheon are always memorable occasions so we highly recommend that you plan on coming for all events.

There will be no cost this month and we will be entertained by the “4 Old Parts”, a delightful quartet of fellows who appeared for us a year and a half ago and were warmly received.

Remember: Ash Wednesday service at 10:00 AM, luncheon follows, then the very brief meeting and our entertainment! See you there!

Mark your calendar for Friday, February 12^th at 7:30 PM. The St. Olaf Choir will be performing at the Ozinga Chapel at Trinity Christian College on that evening. Ticket information at www.stolaftickets.com.

Thank You Connor Mish for being the Assistant Director for the Joy Ringers on January 17^th. You did a terrific job!

Need a Valentines Day dessert? To help raise funds for our trip to Benton Harbor, Michigan in July, the High School Mission Trip participants are hosting a spaghetti dinner and dessert auction immediately following the 11:00 AM service on Sunday, February 14^th. There will be a free will offering for the dinner. At approximately 12:45 PM, we will begin the dessert auction. For those of you who haven’t attended a dessert auction before, it is an entertaining and fun way to bid on homemade desserts for you to take home and share with your family. Please come and enjoy an afternoon of good food and fellowship while supporting the youth of our church. Remember, this is your opportunity to get your Valentine the perfect present. As the Pillsbury Doughboy says, “Nothing says lovin’ like something from the oven.”

Do you enjoy baking? Desserts are needed for the dessert auction on February 14^th. If you would be willing to provide a homemade dessert to be auctioned off, please sign up on the bulletin board or see Ron. Desserts should be brought to church on the 14^th and dropped off in the kitchen between 8:30 and 11:00 AM.

Quilters Needed! The St. Mark’s Quilting Group which makes quilts for needy people in Africa and lap robes for area nursing homes here, is in need of additional participants. Quilts are machine sewn and all materials are supplied. If you are interested in helping with this mission outreach please call Helga Kairies 708/598-7794 or Pastor Basch.

The Confirmation Basket-ball League continues play on Saturday mornings. Games are at 9:00 and 10:00 AM. Team schedules are posted on the bulletin board across from Lori Puttkammer’s office. Please see Ron Skoglund or Pastor Basch if you have any questions about the league.

The High School Basketball League continues play on Tuesday evenings (except Tuesday February 2^nd – That week’s game has been rescheduled for Thursday, February 4^th). Games are at 7:00 and 8:00 PM. Team schedules are posted on the bulletin board across from Lori’s office.

There will be a High School Mission Trip Meeting on Sunday, February 28^th from 6:30 – 8:00 PM for all trip participants. Details about this meeting will be mailed to all trip participants before the meeting. Please let Ron know if you will be unable to attend this meeting.

Thinking about cleaning out your basement, or attic? The annual Garage Sale will be in late April or early May. More de-tails about item drop-offs and pick-ups will be available in the April Parish Paper.

Join us for an “Olympic” experience on February 5^th from 6:45 PM – 8:30 PM. It will be an evening of fun beginning with an Opening Ceremony, then family fun competitions, and a Closing Ceremony. Each family will need to make a “Family Banner” ahead of time. Please see Lori to get your banner and instruction sheet. Please be sure to sign up on the bulletin board if you are planning to attend. We’d love to see you!

An Overboard Adventure Fellowship Activity Day for those Sunday School students in Nursery 3 yr. olds class thru 1^st grade has been rescheduled for February 21^st. Our high-seas fun will begin at 12 noon and end at 2:00 PM. The adventure includes a light lunch, movie, games and a craft. Sign up sheets are on the bulletin board. Volunteers will be needed!

Vacation Bible School 2010 Planning…is in the works. We will have a planning meeting on Tuesday, February 23^rd at 7:00 PM. Anyone interested in helping to brainstorm for the 2010 VBS is welcome to join the meeting as well as anyone interested in being a part of the VBS staff. VBS 2010 will take place the week of July 12^th – 16^th.

Fifth Grade Lock In. . . February 26^th – February 27^th . . . The time has come! Our evening will begin at 7:00 PM on February 26^th and end on February 27^th at 8:30 AM. The lock in will include the mission task of grocery shopping, with the money raised from the Sunday School bake sale, to purchase food for the Worth Food Pantry. We will need parent volunteers to help provide transportation to the local Jewel Food Store and back, as well as chaperone a group while shopping. All 5^th Grade Sunday School students received their paperwork and permission slips. Please have these permission forms returned to Mrs. Lori by February 21^st.

Send mail to ron@Good-Shepherd-Church.com with questions or comments about this web site. Last modified: 06/30/10

Send mail to ron@Good-Shepherd-Church.com with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: 06/30/10