February 28, 2007

Scripture Readings for Sunday

Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18; Philippians 3:17-4:1;
Luke 13:31-35

Congregational Conversations Update

There has been a great congregational response to the Congregational Conversations! Last week was the start of a schedule that so far contains 160 households out of 385. Feedback from the sessions has been positive and participants are enjoying the sessions. It is very exciting that so many of our congregation will be joining in on this adventure!

Thank you for your continued flexibility and patient attitudes as the schedule continues to evolve. Volunteer callers continue to contact non-responders to schedule their session. To help ease the volunteer time for this task, we ask non-responders to contact the office to schedule a session. If you previously responded you could not participate, openings remain and we would greatly enjoy having you participate. Remember that all members are welcome to participate especially high school or college age members who can attend with their family or friend or on their own.

Participants scheduled through Sat 3/10/07 have been notified by either phone or email. From Tues 3/13/07-Thurs 4/19/07 the schedule is still evolving and participants will be contacted. We ask that you continue to hold your choices that occur during that time for this important church community adventure.

For those who have been contacted via email, it has been a schedulers dream! The ease, standardization, and decreased volunteer time have been outstanding. Please consider providing an email address to the church office for church communication activities; i.e. newsletter, volunteer schedules, notifications. It enables staff and volunteers to greatly increase their productivity and timeliness. God’s Peace,

Rita Howe

Holy Communion Education

There will be a time for 2^nd and 3^rd grade students and their parents to learn about Holy Communion between services at 9:45am in Fellowship Hall on March 18 and 25. This class is intended for students who have yet to receive their first communion, or those students who currently receive communion but would desire and benefit from further instruction. There will be a special recognition for those students who have completed the class and receive communion at Maundy Thursday worship at 7pm on Thursday, April 5. If you are interested in attending the classes please call the church office.

Interfaith Hospitality Network Update

Thank you to those who are helping welcome the Interfaith Hospitality Network guests. Two families are visiting us this week: Theresa (grandma), Tiffany (mom), TaVontae (son, 9), Takijah (daughter, 4), and Ty’Juan (son, 9 mos); and Nyebol (mom), Moses (son, 13), and Kuchcieng (daughter, 6). Theresa and Tiffany are working and looking for housing. Nyebol and family are Sudanese.

Paul Willemssen

This Week at Good Shepherd

Wednesday, February 28

IHN Week (Feb. 25-March 4)

9:45am Stay and Play

5:30pm Confirmation

5:45pm Lenten Soup Supper

6:00pm Cherub & Carol Choir

7:00pm Lenten Worship

8:00pm HS Youth Group; Senior Choir

Thursday, March 1

7:00pm Sisters in Faith Bible Study

Saturday, March 3

8:00am Faith in Motion

5:30pm Worship

Sunday, March 4

8:15 & 10:45am Worship

9:30am Education Hour

9:45am New Member Class (FH)

Monday, March 5

10:30am Staff Meeting

5:30pm Strategic Planning Committee

6:30pm Celebration Chimes

7:00pm Scrip Task Force

Tuesday, March 6

7:30am Men’s Coffee

12:00pm Prayer Lunch

6:30pm Jubilation Chimes

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, come to our first meeting on Monday, March 5 at 7:00pm at the church. If you would like to know more please talk with Mark or a member of the Youth Committee.

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 goes until March 28. 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.

Trading Graces online auction

“Trading Graces” -- an online auction on eBay hosted by Lutheran Services in America (LSA) -- will open Feb. 25 and continue through March 22. Now in its second year, Trading Graces is an effort to raise awareness and funds to support Lutheran health and human service organizations across the United States and Caribbean. Forty social ministry organizations are scheduled to participate.

“We have many interesting, original items to auction this year, and we are excited about raising funds that will help make a real difference in the lives of many people,” said Jill Schumann, LSA president. Items for auction include a timeshare at a resort in North Carolina, naming rights to a new kindergarten classroom at Holy Family Lutheran School in Chicago, antique dolls from 1917, original artwork and more.

January Financial Summary

2007 January Income $43,465

2007 January Expenses $44,675

2007 January Net Loss ($1,210)

About Evangelical Lutheran Worship

Did you know – that the new ELW book includes Martin Luther’s Small Catechism? It begins on page 1160. Check it out!

Pre-School VBS Planning

Your help is needed in planning for this summer’s sessions of pre-school Vacation Bible School. If you are interested in assisting in this program, contact Cynthia in the church office at 289-1748. VBS will run from 9am-3pm on July 9-13.

GSC Tennis Night

Saturday, March 24th starting at 6:30 PM (after the Saturday evening service)
All are welcome at the Rochester Tennis Connection on 2700 W Country Club Road (aka 2nd Street SW) for an introduction to tennis, or round robin play if you're experienced. All 6 courts are available for our use, with instructors for children ages 4 & up, adults just starting, and ball machine fun! Just bring your tennis shoes (we've got rackets, and carts of balls). Balcony viewing is available and we'll have snacks too. Cost is $5/individual, $10/family at the door. To help us anticipate attendance, please call the Rochester Tennis Connection at 288-4851 if you plan to participate.

Luther Seminary Listening Session

Luther Seminary will be hosting a listening session with President Richard Bliese at Bethel Lutheran Church from 2:30-4:00pm on Sunday, March 25. Please come and share your hopes and dreams for the church, helping Luther Seminary understand how to best prepare the church’s next generation of leaders.

Change for Change

During the month of March, donations to the Change for Change program will go to Channel One.

Small Group Corner

Feb.28 9:45am Stay and Play (Nursery)

Mar. 1 7:00pm Sisters in Faith Bible Study (Room E)

Mar. 3 8:00am Faith in Motion

Mar. 6 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.

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) Offers a time and place for parents and children (birth through Kindergarten) to gather, visit, and play together. No reservations or advance notice is required. Can’t come on a regular basis? Come when it works for you! Any questions? Call Tammera Bird at 282-5533.

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.

Richard Rohr Presentations

Richard Rohr, Franciscan Priest, spiritual leader, and world-renowned lecturer will be presenting the following programs in Rochester on
March 29 - 31, 2007.

● Thursday, March 29, 2007 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm        Free Lecture - Spirituality and Healing at Phillips Hall, Siebens Building, Mayo Clinic Sponsored by Mayo Clinic Spirituality Grand Rounds (No registration is needed. Lunch available for purchase.)
● Thursday, March 29, 2007 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm        $10.00 - Jesus Misunderstood at Christ United Methodist Church Sponsored by Christ United Methodist Church, A Faith for Tomorrow, and Integrative Therapies (Optional dinner at 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm for $7.50)
● Friday, March 30, 2007        7:30 pm - 9:00 pm $10.00
Saturday, March 31, 2007 9:00 am - 3:00 pm (lunch included) $55.00 - Spirituality, Hope in the Darkness hosted at Christ United Methodist Church Sponsored by Christ United Methodist Church, A Faith for Tomorrow, and Integrative Therapies (Participants may sign up for either Friday night or Saturday, OR sign up for both, as they build upon each other.)
● To Register for Thursday night, Friday night, or Saturday: Call Integrative Therapies at 507-280-2191
Or Register Online at www.integrative.org.