February 14, 2007

Scripture Readings for Sunday

Exodus 34:29-35; 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2; Luke 9:28-43a

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.

LENT 2007

We are about to enter into the season of Lent and a journey toward the cross of Good Friday and the empty tomb of Easter Sunday. Here is a look at our shared Lenten journey at Good Shepherd.

Wednesdays

The Lenten season begins with Ash Wednesday worship at 7pm on February 21. Throughout the Lenten season, we will have Wednesday soup suppers beginning at 5:45pm and midweek worship at 7pm with the theme, God’s Covenant and Images of Sin. Each Wednesday we will explore one of five different Hebrew words for sinfulness from the Psalms and examine paintings from Eugene Christopherson representing each word. Our midweek worship opportunity will include time for prayer, song, interaction, study and devotion. We hope you will make this a part of your Lenten discipline.

Saturdays and Sundays

During the season of Lent we recommit our selves to following Christ. Throughout our Lenten weekend worship we will be hearing stories of how God has been active in the lives of members of Good Shepherd Church. Each week a different member of GSC has offered to share stories of when they have felt God’s active presence in their lives. In the sharing of our stories we name times of when God has been with us on our journey. In hearing the stories of others we gain hope and insight into where God has been present in our own journeys.

May you know God’s blessings and feel God’s presence at each step of the journey throughout the upcoming season of Lent.

Lenten Soup Suppers

It's time to pull out those comfort food recipes. Lent is coming up the end of this month and that means homemade soup at GSLC. Please join us on Wednesday evenings during lent for soup and bread supper before worship service. There is a sign-up sheet in the narthex, please sign up to bring your favorite soup one week. This is a good time to show off your culinary talents.

This Week at Good Shepherd

Wednesday, February 14

9:45am Stay and Play

1:30pm Helping Hands

5:30pm Confirmation

5:45pm Simple Supper

6:15pm Cherub & Carol Choir

6:30pm College Age Ministry

7:00pm HS Youth Group, Senior Choir

Thursday, February 15

7:00pm Sisters in Faith Bible Study

Friday, February 16

7:00pm GSC Coffee House featuring Fuller Still

Saturday, February 17

8:00am Faith in Motion

9:00am Quilters

10:00am GSC Brass practice (Sanctuary)

5:30pm Worship

Sunday, February 18

8:15am & 10:45am Worship

9:30am Education Hour

9:45am IHN Volunteer Re-certification (FH)

Monday, February 19

10:30am Staff Meeting

6:30pm Celebration Chimes

Tuesday, February 20

7:30am Men’s Coffee

12:00pm Prayer Lunch

1:30pm Lutheran Woman Today Study

6:30pm Jubilation Chimes

Wednesday, February 21

9:45am Stay and Play

5:30pm Confirmation

7:00pm Ash Wednesday Service

8:00pm High School Youth Group

Scrip - Task Force

A special task force will be forming soon to help get our Scrip fundraising program off the ground. This small group will meet to discuss and plan the specifics that will become Good Shepherd’s Scrip program. If you have any interest in serving in this manner or would like to know more about fundraising with Scrip please talk with Mark or a member of the Youth Committee.

Going, Going, Going...

There is still room available for Adults and youth wanting to go on our Spring Break mission trip to Ocean 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

Youth Group in Lent

To accommodate for our Lent schedule, High School Youth Group will be meeting from 8-9pm. Come for the 7pm service and we’ll worship together. This adjusted time starts on Ash Wednesday (February 21) and goes until March 28. There will be no youth group during Holy Week (April 4) due to the Spring Break Mission Trip. Youth Group is for anyone in grades 9 – 12.

A Week in Summer...

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.

Young Adult Trip To France

Men and women 18-29 are invited to take part in a trip of spiritual renewal to the Taize community in France in summer 2007. The trip is a joint trip between our synod and the New England Synod.

Throughout the year, young adults come from around the world to this ecumenical community in France to take part in meetings centered on “inner life and human solidarity.”

Participants enter into the rhythm of community life for the week; gathering with the brothers three times a day for prayer, joining with people from other countries for meetings, meals, small group discussions and practical jobs. Tentative dates are July 7-18 and the cost should be just under $2000 (cover airfare, lodging, meals, and program costs at Taize). There will be time together at the end of the trip to enjoy the sites of Paris.

Contact Katie Butler at the synod office at butler@semnsynod.org, 507-280-9457, or 800-426-6376 (MN only) for more information or if you are interested in participating. Visit www.taize.fr for more information.

WE DID IT!

The Polar Plunge & Chili cook-off was a success! We raised more than the $1500 needed and are able to furnish a room at The Francis. The Francis seeks to help those who are homeless or in danger of becoming homeless by providing transitional housing. In meeting the challenge, someone will be able to have a furnished place to stay. Thank you to all our polar plungers, chili and desert makers, and all the organizers who helped make this event a reality. It was a way to have fun even as we served our community. For pictures of the event, go to the website: http://www.goodshepherdchurch.net/polarpics.html

The Service of Healing

This past weekend we had a service of healing at Saturday and Sunday worship. The need for healing is constant in our fractured lives and in our broken world. We are bold to continue asking for God’s healing hands and loving presence. Thank you to all our prayer ministers for their presence and service.

A prayer from this weekend

God of grace, love and mercy, you are a constant source healing. I pray for your steadfast presence and healing hands to rest upon _______________. Through your Holy Spirit, continue to grace us with your gifts of strength and life. As we wait for that day when there will be no more pain, assure us of your power in our lives that we may trust in your eternal love and guiding hand through Jesus, our Healer, our Savior and our Lord. AMEN.

May God’s healing presence remain with you throughout the week

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.

Change for Change

February’s charity for the Change for Change program is Family Services.

Small Group Corner

Feb.14 9:45am Stay and Play (Nursery)

1:30pm Helping Hands

6:30pm College Age Ministry

Feb.15 7:00pm Sisters in Faith Bible Study (Room E)

Feb.17 8:00am Faith in Motion

9:00am Quilters

Feb.20 7:30am Men’s Coffee at Panera South

12:00pm Prayer Lunch

1:30pm Lutheran Woman Today Study at Wally & Loretta Berglund’s

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. The next meeting is scheduled for February 24.

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: 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, and 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.

Congregational Conversations Update

The schedule for the Congregational Conversations is under way. Members will receive confirmation for their scheduled session time over the next two weeks. In addition, approximately one week before your session, you will receive a written reminder and a request to review and confirm address, phone, email etc. is current. Any questions please contact the office or Rita Howe.

If you aren’t scheduled for a session yet, you can still do so by calling the office or contacting Rita Howe. Please join us as it is not too late!

Thank you to the volunteers who are contacting congregational members by phone. They are: Lonnie Fynskov, Judy Haevlick, Ellen and Dave Herder, Abby Jones, Val Jorgensen, Mary Olson, Cathy Pickett, Gaylene Ryan, Molly Schmidt, Molly Van Norman, and Sue Weber. This is an important role and we are thankful for their positive attitudes and time that support our important Congregational Conversations. Please thank them when you see them!

IHN Re-Certification

IHN board member Deb Palmer will be here Sunday, Feb. 18, to conduct re-certification training in the Fellowship Hall at 9:45 am. Re-certification is required for IHN volunteers who attended training prior to 2006. Other times and locations are available for re-certification and for new volunteer training. Our next host week begins Feb 25. A sign-up sheet is in the narthex. Questions to Paul Willemssen or Joann Holt-Angerman

Congratulations

To Lisa and Delbert Feenstra on the birth of their twin baby girls, Ella Louise and Adeline Rose, on Tuesday, January 23.

Ice Hawks Tickets

Hockey tickets have been made available to GSC from the Rochester Ice Hawks. The tickets may be used for the 7pm games on Feb. 17 or 23. Contact Mike in the office.