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August 2015
Dear Church Family,
Summer is soon drawing to a close. Many will join us for the church retreat to Bonclarken; others are enjoying the last vacations of the summer and getting ready for busy fall schedules. We are also closing in on the last few phrases of the Lord's Prayer for our summer worship series. I hope you have been as challenged as I have as we've dug into phrases like "Thy Will be Done" and "Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors." I know I will never pray or hear the Lord's Prayer in quite the same way.
Please continue to keep our music search committee in prayer as they interview and interact with candidates for music director. The position became vacant last Sept 1 and it's been a full and challenging year, with many blessings from the choir and worship team, Linda Jenkins, Rick Bean, Kelsey Gilsdorf, and others who have contributed musical gifts and leadership.
I want to say a special thanks to Kelsey Gilsdorf. She has been teaching piano lessons out of Good Shepherd since last fall. After filling in with the worship team and for service music on several Sundays, she was willing to work for us on a temporary basis through the spring and summer, and has been such a blessing! With her upcoming marriage in September and a whole swath of new piano students at her Mount Holly studio, her time with us is drawing to a close on Sunday, August 2. We pray every blessing for her and Tyler in their new life together as husband and wife!
I also want to say a special thanks to Mariah Woodbury, who has served as our pastoral intern this summer. She returns this fall to her senior year at Davidson College after a summer of teaching, preaching, visiting, and living among us. I've heard from many of you how she has blessed you in Sunday school class or through one or both of the sermons she preached (find them at gspcsermons.blogspot.com or on iTunes!). I know she has also loved getting to know the very special Good Shepherd family. Thank you for welcoming her so warmly!
Finally, please keep our elders, deacons, and ministry staff in prayer as we meet the last weekend in August for a visioning retreat. With the capital campaign mostly finished, I believe we are poised for a new and exciting season of life and ministry at Good Shepherd, and we want to diligently seek and listen to where God would lead us as a church. Your prayerful support is necessary and appreciated!
Thank you for being a part of Good Shepherd. It continues to be such a privilege to serve as your pastor!
In Christ,
Robert
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UPCOMING SERMON TEXTS & THEMES
August 2 (Bonclarken): Comfort in Affliction: 2 Corinthians 1:1-11: Quay Youngblood preaching
August 9: (Youth Mission Sunday) Lead Us Not into Temptation, but Deliver Us from Evil: Luke 8:11-15; 1 Corinthians 10:12-14
August 16: For Thine is the Kingdom: Revelation 5:11-14; 7:9-10; 11:15-17
August 23: And the Power and the Glory: John 1:14-18; Revelation 5:11-14; 12:10
August 30: Forever: Psalm 111; Revelation 5:11-14 |
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AUG events
in addition to weekly events
Jul 31 - Aug 2:
Bonclarken Retreat
05: 7:00-8:30pm:
Singalong Choir Rehearsal
08: 8:00 am - 6:00 pm:
Youth Lake Day
09: 9:30 am:
Youth Mission
Sunday School
09: 11:00 am:
Youth Mission Sunday
12: 7:00-8:30 pm:
Singalong Choir Rehearsal
22: 1:00-4:00 pm:
Youth Pool Party
20-30:
Officer/Staff Retreat
A LOOK AHEAD...
Sep 07:
Church Office Closed
Sep 18-20:
High School Retreat
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AUG service
usher captain:
Clay Cupples
Luther Baker
youth: Elizabeth Austell
youth: Maggie Slade
lay assistant:
02: Quay Youngblood
09: Todd Pearce
16: Eliott Ball
23: Ruth Ruane
30: Suzanne Harrington
children's message:
09: Suzanne Harrington
16: Chris Orr
23: John Kreutzer
30: tba
children's church:
09: Julie Hetterly
16: Megan Butler
23: Todd Pearce
30: Kathy Larson
nursery:
09: Kim Kinken
Henry Slade
16: Chris Orr
Mira Pearce
23: Emily Pearce
Calista Ball
30: Marty McKenzie
Savannah Ball
fellowship time:
09: Daniel & Kim Kinken
16: Larry & Bunny Littleton
23: Lee & Marlis Littleton
30: Jim & Barbara Kennedy
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AUG birthday
02: Mary Robinson
03: Jim Hinton
05: Myrna Fourcher
09: Maria Mruk
10: Steve Ruane
10: Ron Long
10: Nancy Payne
12: Howard Bishop
12: Lucas Pearce
18: Melanie Hatfield
18: Kristin Hodgson
18: Lawson Campe
20: Patrick Larson
20: Elizabeth Austell
22: Bentley Ball
23: Sonnie Wright
27: Janet Bean
28: Lee Littleton
29: Ronnie Dolinger
29: Eliott Ball
29: Chris Orr
If we have missed anyone, please let us know so we can update our records!
**Remember that you can access our church calendar online anytime at http://gspccalendars.
blogspot.com
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 COMMUNITY groups
Our community groups went really well last semester - lots of connections made, lots of relationships built, and lots of sewing projects made, board games played, books read (7!), and a whole garden built! God has been doing amazing things in these groups. Just one comment I heard from a connection made, from two people who found they had a lot in common and were able to share and encourage one another in a difficult time in both of their lives - "We never would have even known this about each other if it weren't for our community group." We are so pleased at how well things are going so far with this ministry!
NOW... to get y'all ALL thinking about the fall. We are looking to add some new groups and add people to the groups we already have. SO, we're looking for some new leaders. Please, ALL of you pray about it and see if God may be leading you to start a new group. Remember, the main purpose of these groups is simply to build relationships among congregation members and visitors and friends. Each group is built around a common interest. So if you would like to start a running group or a group for young moms or a guitar pickin' group or a basketball group or really anything, however God is leading you - or poking and prodding you. Community groups will meet twice a month in the Fall semester, at whatever time works for the leader.
Also, because some of us miss the community building time we used to have at Wednesday night suppers, we will add in a BIG GROUP dinner and program once a month on the FIRST WEDNESDAY night of the month. This dinner will be open to the WHOLE CHURCH COMMUNITY (not just those who are in community groups), but will be hosted by a different community group each month, so you will all be able to get a taste of what all is happening in each of our community groups.
If you are interested in leading a community group in the Fall, please contact Kathy Larson (kathy@gspc.net; 704-668-3467). Thanks so much!
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GOOD books
by Gail McKitterick, librarian
One of the things I love about Donald Miller is that he is first and foremost a storyteller and a poet. His faith is always there, but it is woven into the whole fabric of who he is. Although, I found his new book, Scary Close interesting in that I gained some important psychological insights into the journey towards human intimacy, I was having a hard time finding God in that process.
In Scary Close, Miller traces his own story from public isolation to more meaningful relationships –in particular his relationship with Betsy, the woman he recently married. The collection of anecdotes that he tells as he traces the process from the realization that he needs to become less a performer and more himself are funny and endearing. Unfortunately, something is definitely missing. I don’t think we can ever begin to build honest, close relationships with people until we begin to experience intimacy with God. In the Message version of Psalm 18:20 & 24, it says, “God made my life complete when I placed all the pieces before him... God rewrote the text of my life when I opened the book of my heart to his eyes.” I didn’t have the feeling that Miller’s journey towards intimacy with other people was based on intimacy with God. Or if it was that wasn’t clear in the book.
One interesting chapter talked about Donald’s experience with a program called Onsite at a country retreat center near Nashville. His experiences there are a large part of what he writes about in this book. Through group interaction and personal counselling Donald begins to uncover his inner self and see how it differs from his public self. He then begins to attempt to bring them into closer alignment with each other. In other words, he is learning to be himself which is worthy goal. His inner life is characterized by words such as “gentle, calm, knowing, responsible, wise.” His public self he describes as, “a show-off, desperate, funny, charming, tired, anxious.” (p. 60)
I’m not convinced that our inner selves are so grounded and good and that our outer selves are so desperate. In fact, it is often the other way around. I think a better way to describe what he calls the inner self is self we long to be, the self that God made us to be. And in order to get to that place we need to “let God transform [us] inwardly by a complete change of [our] minds.” (Romans 12:2 -TEV) Then we can be in a place to begin that journey towards intimacy with other people.
I feel the book contained too much popular psychology and not enough of the real, gritty poetic storytelling that normally characterizes Donald Miller’s writing. But like all of us, he is a work in progress. I can’t wait to see where he will go next.
Scary Close is available in the Good Shepherd Church Library
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CHURCH mice
No, we don't have mice in the church building! Church mice are families in the church who sign up to send letters, notes, and small packages to our college students when they're away from home. If you are interested in taking part in this sweet ministry to the young adults of our church who are off at school, please contact Cindy Howell or the church office (admin@gspc.net; 704-364-1234).
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THANK you
A great big THANK YOU for the amazing support you all showed for VBS! We had 55 children attend and over 40 volunteers. Thank you to those who volunteered with the children, to those who helped with the planning, and to those who donated food, supplies, and funds. This week could not have been successful without each and every one of you. Thank you!
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GOODbye
To Everyone at GSPC,
I want to say thank you so much for making this one of my favorite summers! From the moment I arrived all of you welcomed me with open arms and have continually reflected God’s love. Thank you so much for sharing your church with me and letting me be a part of such a special place. It has truly been a delight and honor getting to know many of you and I have been touched and encouraged by many of your stories.
The continual support and encouragement that I received will not be forgotten and I will always be grateful for my time at Good Shepherd. My time here has meant so much to me and I have learned the value and beauty of having a family of believers. I have truly loved being a part of this community and I will really miss it, but I look forward to seeing what God does through all of you and I hope to be back sometime soon!
Sincerely,
Mariah
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SUNDAY school
Just a reminder that there is NO SUNDAY SCHOOL on August 2, due to the Bonclarken Church Retreat.
Youth Mission Sunday
Sunday School: 9:30 am (ALL AGES); Worship: 11:00 am
The whole church is invited to come at 9:30 am to hear the youth report back to us about their mission trip experience. They will speak in both Sunday School and worship, but you will hear a WHOLE LOT MORE during the Sunday School hour so come on out!!
RALLY DAY will be September 13 at 9:30 am. Mark your calendars for BREAKFAST with your church family and hearing about the new Fall Sunday School classes. We'd love to see EVERYONE come out for breakfast, whether you've been involved in Sunday School in the past or not!
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COOK book
Our 2015 GSPC Cookbook, “FEEDING THE FLOCK,” is ready to be submitted so that it can be printed and delivered to us around the first of September. We thank each and every one who submitted recipes and helped in other ways to get this cookbook published.
The cost of the cookbook is $12.00 and does NOT have to be paid until it is delivered to you. There is a pre-order sign-up sheet on the counter in the Welcome Area. Please list your name, telephone number or e-mail address, and how many books you wish to order. We will contact you when the books arrive.
Any questions or concerns, please call Jane Chiseck (704-560-5251), Barbara Thomson (704-362-0736) or Diana Horne (704-362-1234).
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COMMUNITY garden
Our community garden is growing (YAY!) and with a lot of our group traveling off and on through the summer, we really could use more help!
Like, really. Some weeks it's only 1 or 2 people out there!
If anyone out there is interested in helping plant, cultivate, water, or build NEW beds, please contact Shannon Klar (704-299-0201;
shannonstarmer@gmail.com).
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PRIMEtimers
Mark your calendars! Join us for Bingo & Barbeque Night on October 3 at 5:00 pm at the Rea Shed. More details coming soon.
If you want more information or want to know to know how to help with Primetimers, contact Jane Chiseck (704-560-5251; jchiseck@hotmail.com).
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WOMEN of the church
All women are invited! Please join us for our Fall Retreat on October 10 from 9:00 am - 1:00 pm at the Rea Shed. Lunch will be included. More details coming soon.
For more information or to find out how to help with Women of the Church events, contact Jane Chiseck (704-560-5251; jchiseck@hotmail.com).
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YOUTH ministry
Lake Day
Saturday, August 8, 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
Come on out and swim and play with your G-shep friends!!
Youth Mission Sunday
Sunday School: 9:30 am (ALL AGES); Worship: 11:00 am
The whole church is invited to come at 9:30 am to hear the youth report back to us about their mission trip experience. They will speak in both Sunday School and worship, but you will hear a WHOLE LOT MORE during the Sunday School hour so come on out!!
Pool Party
Saturday, August 22, 1:00 - 4:00 pm
More swimming and playing with your G-shep friends!!
Youth Group
August 23 and 30, 4:00 - 6:00 pm
Annnndddd... we're back to regular youth group starting on August 23. Come on out and play, worship, study, and pray together. Bring friends - all are welcome!!
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SINGALONG choir
We have two opportunities coming up to participate in a "summer singalong choir." If you've ever wanted to try out singing with the choir or if you've missed singing in the choir this summer, these are two great opportunities before choir resumes in the fall.
- On Sunday, August 9, Gwen Ingram will lead and direct a piece for gospel choir.
- On Sunday, August 16, guest director, Eric Vanderheide, will direct the choir in worship.
Rehearsal for each Sunday will be on the previous Wednesday from 7:00-8:30 pm, and then Sunday morning at 10:30 am.
If you plan to come, please let Pastor Robert know (robert@gspc.net) in advance, indicating which one or both Sundays you can sing. |
GOODbye
Dear Good Shepherd family,
Thank you all for your hospitality, love, and acceptance that you have shown me these past five months. It has been such a joy to come to church every Sunday, and worship with you all. As sad as it is for me to leave, Tyler and I are very excited to start our lives together as a married couple in September, and appreciate your prayers for us.
I have enjoyed getting to know you all, and will miss it very much here! I pray that God will continue to nourish you and draw you closer to Him as you seek to serve Him and love Him more.
Kelsey
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