February 7, 2007

Scripture Readings for Sunday

Jeremiah 17:5-10; 1 Corinthians 15:12-20; Luke 6:17-20

Annual Meeting – February 11th

Mark your calendars and join us for GSC's Annual Meeting on Sunday, February 11th. We will begin with a potluck immediately following the second service, and will follow the potluck with the business of the Annual Meeting. Hope to see everyone there!

Helping Hands

Helping hands, our senior group, will be meeting here at Good Shepherd Church on Wednesday, Feb. 14 at 1:30pm. Come to socialize and have dessert and coffee.

Care Group Prayers

As a way to remember God’s unfailing gifts of love and healing, our regular worship on February 10 & 11 will provide an opportunity for healing prayers, either silently or supported by others. Please come and be a part of this special opportunity.

GSC Coffee House Returns – Friday, Feb. 16

Come to the GSC Coffee House on Friday, February 16 at 7pm and hear Fuller Still the local band with a national following. Enjoy a night of music, food, beverages, and conversation in a relaxed coffee house setting. BRING FRIENDS, BRING NEIGHBORS, BRING FAMILY, BRING CO-WORKERS, ALL ARE INVITED! We will have a great night hanging out and visiting as Fuller Still shares the message of the Gospel through their unique sound and powerful witness.

Want To Become a Member at GSC?

If you are interested in membership at GSC, please contact Pastor Dave at 289-1748 or email him at pd@goodshepherdchurch.net. New member orientation will begin on Sunday, Feb. 25 between services (approx. 9:40am); and continue on Sundays March 4 & 11. New members will be received at the 10:45 service on March 11, with a welcome brunch to follow.

This Week at Good Shepherd

Wednesday, February 7

9:45am Stay and Play

5:30pm Confirmation

5:45pm Simple Supper

6:15pm Cherub & Carol Choir

Fellowship Committee

7:00pm HS Youth Group, Senior Choir

Thursday, February 8

7:00pm Sisters in Faith Bible Study

20-30’S group @ Schlicht’s

Friday, February 9

5:30pm Schulz/Kennedy Wedding Rehearsal

Saturday, February 11

8:00am Faith in Motion

3:30pm Schulz/Kennedy Wedding

5:30pm Worship

6:30pm Francis Fundraiser

Sunday, February 11

8:15 & 10:45am Worship

9:30am Education Hour

10:45am Worship

12:00pm Potluck Meal (FH)

Annual Meeting to follow potluck

Monday, February 12

10:30am Staff Meeting

6:30pm Celebration Chimes

Committee Night

Tuesday, February 13

7:30am Men’s Coffee

12:00pm Prayer Lunch

6:30pm Jubilation Chimes

Wednesday, February 14

9:45am Stay and Play

5:30pm Confirmation

5:45pm Simple Supper

6:15pm Cherub & Carol Choir

7:00pm HS Youth Group, Senior Choir

Scrip = Easy Fundraising

Want to be either the brains or the brawn of our new Scrip fundraising? Scrip is a term that means “substitute money”. In recent years many non-profits have stopped selling candy, magazines, and frozen pizza and have begun selling scrip. So, if you were going to purchase $100 worth of groceries from HyVee in any given week instead of paying $100 to the cashier you would buy a $100 scrip card (like a debit card) at church. You still pay the same amount but the church would make a fair percentage (varies with each store). Talk with Mark if you’d like to help get this program off the ground. The youth will do the grunt work of selling scrip but we’ll need adult help in educating the congregation, ordering scrip, and keeping track of inventory.

Youth Group

A group for anyone in 9-12^th grade that wants to be more active with their faith. Learn, discuss, and get revived for your daily walk through life. We meet weekly from 7pm – 8:30pm on Wednesdays. All are welcome. If you are an adult who would like to help co-lead this group with Mark please give him a ring :)

Spring Break Mission Trip

There is still room available for Adults and youth wanting to go on our Spring Break mission trip to Oceans Springs, Mississippi to help rebuild the area affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Talk to Mark presently as we need to send in our final registration soon. Info at www.gscyouth.com/springbreaktrip.html

Theological Opportunity

Do you like thinking and talking about God? Talk with Mark about putting your name in for Augsburg College’s Summer Theological Institute. They are only taking a few students but it is an all-expense paid week of room, board, experience, and theological education by some fine professors. For youth completing grades 10-12.

Thank You!

We wish to say ‘Thanks’ for all the cards, phone calls and especially the prayers for Marvin during his recent illness.

Hazel and Marvin Scheitel

Small Group Corner

Feb. 7 9:45am Stay and Play (Nursery)

Feb. 8 7:00pm Sisters in Faith Bible Study (Room E)

Feb.10 8:00am Faith in Motion

Feb.13 7:30am Men’s Coffee at Panera South

12:00pm Prayer Lunch

Small Group Directory

Tweeners Group (Contact Paul & Sue Trcka 281-1805) This is a group designed for those of you in your 40s and 50s (single or married). The group meets once a month on Saturday evenings for spiritual conversation, a short powerful DVD, dessert, coffee and laughter. Meeting dates and times to be announced.

Care Group (Contact Paula Freitag 282-9600)
This newly forming small group focuses on caring activities in the church and community such as phone calls, cards, support services such as meals, household repairs, etc..

Faith in Motion (Contact Tim Fynskov 288-3607)
This group meets to encourage physical activity. May - October we meet at Hy Vee South cafeteria for walking and bicycling. November - March we meet on Saturday’s at 8:00am at the church to discuss, plan, and/or demonstrate other activities that encourage a healthier lifestyle, conditioning, strength building, flexibility, etc.

Men’s Coffee Break (Contact Dave Herder 289-5723) Guys – need a coffee break? Come join this group for some caffeine and discussion. Meets weekly at Panera South.

Sisters in Faith (Contact Beth Krolak 288-2190)

A Bible Study Group for Women broken up into 6 – 8 week sessions. The group focuses on learning, laughing, sharing, and growing in faith. Meets weekly at GSC.

Young Adults Small Group (Contact Pastor Dave or Mark Hannan at 289-1748).Meeting times are at 7:00pm on the following dates: Feb. 8 @ Erik & Michelle Schlicht’s, March 8 @ Wendy & Bart Hanson’s and April 12 at Pastor Dave’s. This group is designed for folks in their 20s and 30s. Activities include watching short films, having discussions, making faith and life connections, eating food and hanging out.

College-Age Ministry Group (Contact Rita Howe 285-1507) This group is open to all. The group focuses on bridging the congregation when college-age students are away and home on breaks with caring activities such as mailings, newsletter, get-togethers. Group meets second Wednesdays at 6:30 pm. Non-parent student addresses are essential to make contact.

Lutheran Woman Today Bible Study (Contact Mary Olson 529-1314) This group will meet at Loretta Berglund's with dates and times to be announced.

Stay and Play (Contact Tammera Bird 282-5533) In times of bad weather, the Stay and Play group follows the Rochester School district decision. If school is canceled or delayed, Stay and Play will not meet. Please be sure to use the North doors when entering the church.

Dear People of Good Shepherd,

What an exciting time this is in the life of GSC! After a year of transition, 2007 is upon us and with it an opportunity for new beginnings. With endless possibilities, how will we “be the Church” here in our corner of God’s kingdom? As this year gets started, let’s talk about it, dream about it, and begin to chart a course for our shared ministry through a Congregational Conversation. This conversation will take place during Lent over the course of 61 meeting. I will attend each of these gatherings. I give much thanks to a team of over thirty members coordinated by Rita Howe who are making this project a reality.

I understand that at first glance this Congregational Conversation may bare a resemblance to the Pastoral Call Process meetings or to gatherings which took place three or four years ago when the strategic plan was being developed. However, I see these conversations as being very different in size, scope and purpose. Here are some thoughts about the Congregational Conversations we are about to have:

Good Shepherd is a much different congregation today than when either of the above named conversations took place. We have a new pastor and many new members in a place where significant transition and change has taken place in a short period of time. These conversations are happening on a larger, more intentional scale than the ones of a few years ago. We look for all members to be involved.

GSC is a GROWING congregation. This is very exciting! However, as we grow, we cannot assume that people know one another. These conversations will provide an opportunity for people to get to know one another. As a new member myself, I will also get to know the members of this congregation in a new and intentional way.

As we find ourselves on the other side of transition, we will seize a unique opportunity to gather as a congregation and begin the process of setting a new mission and vision as we determine what our core values are. In doing so we will begin to name some of the things that make us “tick,” think about what areas of ministry we are excited about and determine how we are going to live our call to love one another as God has loved us.

In short, these conversations will provide a rudder to help steer the future ministries of Good Shepherd Church. Such conversations are recommended every 2-4 years by various denominational resources. The sad reality is that we spend so much of our time in meetings and so little time actually meeting! Let’s meet and be a congregation in communication and dialogue about the mission and direction of the church as we seek to be a stronger more focused community rooted in the love of Christ.

So take a moment to fill out your registration card. A member of the Congregational Conversation team will be in touch with you soon to make sure you are registered and ready to engage in this exciting process. I look forward to meeting with each of you. Between now and then, let’s keep Good Shepherd Church in our prayers, asking for God’s guidance and direction as we gather, get to know one another and chart a course for our future ministries.

God’s Peace-

Pastor Dave

God bless your year!

Feb. 7 Emily Bendickson, Sarah Smith

Feb. 8 Tim Berg, Mark Billing

Feb. 9 Erica Bird, Daryl Munden, Ryan Munden, Jackie Thompson

Feb. 10 Jim Derouin, Duane Snyder

Feb. 11 Aaron Louks, Cade Poppe

Feb. 12 Edna Nemoede, Trudy Shaw, Cheryl Wasson

Feb. 13 Jayme Hemker, Dale Michaelson

Feb. 14 Logan Anderson, Mary Hung, Kurt West

+ For all the members of GSLC, especially: Joel & Denise Krueger (Christian, Erik), Paul & Becky Krueger (Brent, Lindsey), Scott & Jenny Kruse.

+ For ELCA congregations in the Southeastern MN Synod, including: Bethlehem in Lanesboro, Bethel in Rochester, Bethany in Frost, Christ in Faribault

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

559 20th Street SW

Rochester, Minnesota 55902

Phone: (507) 289-1748

Office hours: 8:00 am – 4:30 pm Monday – Friday

E-mail info: gscsecretary@goodshepherdchurch.net

Worship Services (with Holy Communion)

Saturday 5:30 p.m.; Sunday 8:15 & 10:45 a.m.

Staff

Dave Berg, Lead Pastor

Jack Friedli, Pastoral Assistant

Cynthia McLaren, Education & Music Director

Mark Hannan, Youth Director

Mike Thilges. Office Administrator

Vicky Mulvihill, Volunteer Coordinator

Ellen Herder, Roger Harty - Custodians

Happynings Newsletter

Mike Thilges gscsecretary@goodshepherdchurch.net
Newsletter deadline: Mondays by 4:30 pm

Web site

www.goodshepherdchurch.net

Paul Willemssen, Admin (willemssen@charter.net)