Good Shepherd Update Thursday July 22nd, 2010

Dear Good Shepherd,

It’s Thursday and I am writing the Update which means that I have yet to be vanquished by my children. Anne has been gone since Monday. I have had all five children all week long. I am still here. And I am here with enough energy remaining to send out news and information. The Update may not be as long and glorious as usual, but here it is.

There is some very good and interesting news in this Update (of course all the Updates are intensely fascinating, but this one even more so than usual) so please don’t just glance over the headlines but read the whole thing carefully.

Mission groups coming this Fall: Good Shepherd has been in this neighborhood only one year and already God has done some amazing things. People have met Jesus for the first time, lives have been changed, people in need have been satisfied. We worship, study scripture together, enjoy fellowship with God and each other and then God, working n and through us sends us out to proclaim his gospel and to serve those in need. That’s how he expands his kingdom on earth. It’s only been one year and God has already changed us and transformed so many around us in this neighborhood. 

Imagine what it would be like if the same thing were to happen in neighborhoods throughout Binghamton. What do you think God could do through small committed groups of believers all across the city devoted to worship, studying God’s Word, sharing their lives together, loving and serving the people in their neighborhoods and seeking ways to share the gospel of Jesus Christ—each group, in other words, acting as a missionary outpost of the kingdom of God?

The idea is not a new one. There were no church buildings in the first century. Christians usually met during the week in homes for study and prayer. In larger cities there would be many different Christian homes playing host to a many different groups of Christians through which the gospel spread into different parts of the community. Once a week, usually on Sunday, all the Christians in a given city would gather together for worship in one of the larger homes. But most evangelism, outreach, and discipleship training took place during the week in the smaller groups. And in this way the kingdom of God took root in and transformed entire cities and, ultimately, the empire itself.

This Fall, Good Shepherd will, by God’s grace, extend the kingdom of God by planting small mission groups in neighborhoods throughout Binghamton committed to neighborhood transformation. Each mission group will operate like a small church plant, making (and being) disciples (and all that that entails), discovering and then serving the needs of each neighborhood, building relationships, and offering a welcome entry point to the wider church fellowship.

You will hear much more about these groups in the coming weeks. We are in the process of appointing and training leaders, finding host houses, and making plans for the mission group launch this Fall. For now, I ask that you prayerfully consider the possibilities and opportunities not only for personal growth and nourishment but for the transformation of entire neighborhoods that these groups offer. And I pray that you will be willing to step forward and take part.

Audi Woollett will Reaffirm her Baptismal Vows/:This Sunday, August 25th, at the 10:30am service Autumn (Audi) Woollett will re-affirm her baptismal vows. A reaffirmation takes place when someone who has fallen away from Christ is restored to faithfulness. God has brought Audi to the place where she is ready to take this step. Reaffirmations are done publicly and they are a time for celebration…like a baptism. Please come and celebrate with Audi and her family.

Mid-year Financial Update: It is mid-year and things are going well. We have received over $112,000.00 since January 2010. This is amazing when you consider the fact that in 2008, our entire full year income was $114,000.00. Thanks be to God that he has so generously provided for the mission and ministries of Good Shepherd through your generous offerings and tithes.

We are about $5000.00 short of what we had budgeted for on the income side of things—mostly that shortfall comes from pledged capital campaign fund donations. We are still asking for donations to the capital campaign fund because we hope to pay a significant portion (if not all) of our mortgage off at the five year mark. The goal is to raise at least $150,000.00 by 2014 so that when we refinance we’ll have paid off the bulk of our loan (which was for $350,000.00) and have significantly reduced mortgage payments.

The shortage also comes from the fact that we did not take an official offering at the picnic. In any case, we trust God and we hope to make that up as we move into the fall since most of the big expenses planned for in the the 2010 budget are behind us.

The good news is that we have spent about $7000.00 less than expected…which means at this point, midyear, we are in the black (over budget on the income side—which is a good thing) by about $1000.00

Thanks be to God who provides for all of our needs!

Ministry specific donations update: Thank you to all who have decided not to direct their donations to specific ministries. Your decisions have been a great help to the vestry. If you are still directing your giving to specific ministries (like youth ministry or music etc…) in the church rather than giving to the church in general, on behalf of our treasurer and the vestry I ask that you please reconsider. The more people who choose to give specifically to one or more ministry the less money is available to the vestry to spend on parish needs. Specific donations tend to tie the hands of the vestry.

The primary exception to this request is the capital campaign fund which remains open for specific donations. Thank you for your generosity and for your consideration of this request.
Thanks be to God who provides for all of our needs.

New Chairlift: As you know we’ve needed to find a way to help some seniors and others in wheelchairs get down to the parish hall. A number of ideas have been floatedThe vestry approved the purchase and installation of a chairlift this week. The lift may be installed and operational before Sunday. Thank you to all who have donated to the elevator fund.

Good News from the Anglican Church Women The ACW has responded to a need at Ben Franklin’s School-based Health office.  We took 45 pairs of socks and 25 t-shirts for their children.  We will be contacting Ben Franklin School through the year to continue with this outreach to our South Side community.  Our next outreach project (from the Flea Market profits) will be donations to the Food Pantry and Christmas Angel tree program/Christmas Outreach.

School Supply Outreach: In conjunction with our Flea Market and Chicken Barbecue, we will be hosting a School Supply Giveaway.  If you are willing and able to contribute funds toward this outreach effort, please see Kay or Carmen. We will be giving out backpacks, folders, boxes of crayons, and pencils.

Acolyte Make-Up Practice: makeup practice didn’t go so well this last Sunday. It was my fault since I was talking to people after the service so long that parents had to go. We’ll reschedule for August 1st. If you were not at the last practice, please make a point of attending the practice after the 10:30am service on Sunday August 1st. Thank you.

Three new Leaders at Good Shepherd: Last week I announced that Jason Delancy stepped forward to take the position of evangelism coordinator. This week two more members have stepped up to take the remaining two positions. Virginia Wetherbee will be our new hospitality coordinator. Her task will be to help newer members and new attendees to integrate into the community and feel welcome. And Carmen Swoffer-Penna will be our new Outreach coordinator. Her task will be to find ways that we can serve the people in our neighborhood and community. Thank you to Jason, Virginia, and Carmen, for your willingness to serve Christ in his church.

Volunteer needed for the Parish Pantry: The parish pantry has been a great blessing to the church thus far. Many many have been bringing what they can to keep it well stocked, and many have been able to take what they need. We would like, at this point, one person who could keep an eye on the shelves and maintain a running list of what is particularly needed. We are not interested in monitoring who is taking what and how much—in fact the pantry is there for the purpose of allowing people to take whatever they need whenever they need it so monitoring who is taking what and how much is not something that we want anyone to be doing—but rather making it easy to see what is needed for those who wish to contribute. If you like those quiet out of the way jobs this might be the ministry for you! Pray about it and let us know if you’re interested.

Food Pantry—donations needed:  Please consider donating non-perishable food items to our food pantry.  If you would prefer to make a money donation, please see Bev Williams. Thanks!

No Thursday Night Bible Study tonight: With Anne gone this week, I am limited in my ability to lead bible studies in the evening. Ife is tied up tonight as well, so there will be no Thursday night bible study this evening but it will return next week.

Men’s Breakfast and Bible Study: The Men’s Bible Study meets at 6:30am every Friday morning for breakfast and discussion. We will continue in chapter 2 of Revelations. Chris Jones is cooking.

Women’s Bible Study: (from Carmen) We will continue our study of Isaiah on Saturday at 10AM. Welcome!

Tuesday Morning Bible Study. This is Good Shepherd’s first Bible study. It began 8 years ago and all the other Bible studies grew out of it. This study is led by Chris Vail. It meets every Tuesday morning at 9:00am in the parish hall. Currently this group is working through Acts in an effort to piece together Paul’s missionary journeys before turning to his Letter to the Romans. Ultimately, this group will work through all of the New Testament epistles and letters. All are welcome!

First Light Bible Study: This group meets every Tuesday evening at 6:30pm and is designed for intermediate and advanced students of Scripture. The group takes the time necessary to delve as deeply as possible into the text, learning the art and science of biblical exegesis. Ife Ojetayo leads the group which is currently working its through Acts. All are welcome.

Team Philippians: is up this week. Lee Bronson is captain.

Red Cross Blood Drive--(from Carmen) August 5th 1:30-6:30PM we will again welcome the Red Cross Donor Van to our church. If you are eligible to donate blood, please consider giving this gift of life. Look for a sign-up sheet in the Parish Hall or call the church (607-723-8032) to set up an appointment.

10 Reasons to Give Blood (Red Cross):

10—You get to eat sweets for free.
9—You’ll weigh less - one pint less than when you came in.
8—It’s easy and convenient.
7—It’s something you can spare—-most people have blood to spare…yet there is still not enough to go around.
6—Nobody can ask you to do any heavy lifting as long as you have the bandage on.  You can wear it as long as you like. It is your badge of honor.
5—You will walk a little taller. You will feel good about yourself.
4—You’ll be helping to ensure that blood is there when you or someone you know needs it. (At least one member of our parish requires regular blood transfusions.)
3—It’s something you can do on an equal footing with the rich and famous—blood is something that money cannot buy. And there is no substitute for it.
2—You’ll be someone’s hero—you may give a newborn, a child, a mother or a father, a brother or a sister another chance at life. In fact, you may help to save up to three lives in one donation.
And the number one reason to give blood…by the time you’ve finished reading this list, at least three people will need blood.

Mark Your Calendar: On August 14, there will be a chicken barbeque, flea market, and school supplies giveaway! The flea market will have no clothes, but will have utensils, games, pots and pans, and many other good items.

ACW Lunch Out: Please join us for a pleasant and fun lunch at Cortese on Saturday, July 24. We will met at the Church at 11:30 to carpool! Reservations will be made and separate checks will asked for. Please let Kay Seaman or Pat Chaney if you are attending. Everyone is welcome.

Changes in the Liturgy: For the summer, we’ll be rotating through three different Communion Prayers—a different one each month. The one we have been using, Prayer A, is great and will be a part of the rotation, but the Anglican tradition is a rich and varied one with so many different and good liturgies. So we’ll add Prayer D to our worship, which you can find on page 372 of the Book of Common Prayer, and the Kenyan rite, which can be found in the Kenyan prayerbooks that are all over the place throughout the church…but all three of these liturgies will be printed in the bulletin, too.

Last Sunday’s sermon, “How to Welcome the Lord” or, alternatively titled: “Jesus is not your copilot”, can be viewed here or below. There is no text yet.

This Sunday’s Sermon: We’ll look at Jesus’ instructions to his disciples on the topic of prayer in Luke 11:1-

[11:1] Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” [2] And he said to them, “When you pray, say:
“Father, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.
[3] Give us each day our daily bread,
[4] and forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
And lead us not into temptation.”
[5] And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, [6] for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; [7] and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? [8] I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. [9] And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. [10] For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. [11] What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; [12] or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? [13] If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
(Luke 11:1-13 ESV)

Adult Christian Education: The Thirty Nine Articles: This week we’ll continue discussing Article 7 of the 39 Articles which deals with the Old Testament and the levitical law. So why do we keep some of the commands of the Old Testament and not others? What on earth gives us the right to make that distinction. Is there any biblical reason for it? We’ll discuss these questions and more on Sunday between services at 9:15 am in the parish hall. Here are the 7th and 8th articles:

VII. Of the Old Testament.
The Old Testament is not contrary to the New: for both in the Old and New Testament everlasting life is offered to Mankind by Christ, who is the only Mediator between God and Man, being both God and Man. Wherefore they are not to be heard, which feign that the old Fathers did look only for transitory promises. Although the Law given from God by Moses, as touching Ceremonies and Rites, do not bind Christian men, nor the Civil precepts thereof ought of necessity to be received in any commonwealth; yet notwithstanding, no Christian man whatsoever is free from the obedience of the Commandments which are called Moral.

Article VIII: Of the Three Creeds

The three Creeds, Nicene Creed, Athanasius’ Creed, and that which is commonly called the Apostles’ Creed, ought thoroughly to be received and believed; for they may be proved by most certain warrants of Holy Scripture.

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