Good Shepherd Update Thursday July 29th, 2010

Dear Good Shepherd,

It’s been a fairly busy week at Good Shepherd so, thankfully, the bulk of what needs to be said this week was already written last week. If you didn’t get the Update or read it last week, please do so this week since there are a number of important announcements from last week that are reprinted below. But, of course, there are some new things as well so if you were thinking of just skipping out this week, please resist that temptation and read the whole thing.

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.

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: We now have a chairlift. It has been installed in the south stairwell near the handicapped entrance. Thank you to everyone who has helped collect the funds to make this purchase. 

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: is This Sunday, 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. The pantry is running very low at this point in the summer. If you would prefer to make a money donation, please see Bev Williams. Thanks!

Thursday Night Bible Study: is back on for tonight. We’ll finish John chapter 10 and hopefully move into chapter 11. This bible study starts at 6:30pm and meets downstairs in the parish hall.

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. Charles and Don are 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 Romans: is up this week. Chris Jones is captain.

Sunday School (Catechesis) Work Day: Sunday, August 15, I would LOVE for whoever is able to stay a little bit longer after the 10:30 service to have lunch and help make some of the materials still needed for Sunday School this fall for the little ones. You don’t have to particularly skilled to help, but if you are, that’s great too. We need every variety of help. I will have a variety of stations set up in the parish hall. As soon as the service is over you can get coffee and lunch and pick a project or part of a project. You can spend as long as or as little as you like. I imagine that we will need at least two of these work times to be ready for the fall. Please mark your calendars and consider helping. Thanks so much.Anne

Red Cross Blood Drive--(from Carmen) This Coming Thursday, 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.

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, “Jesus’ Teaching on Prayer part 1”:Many Christians have been taught that for prayer to be “sincere” it must arise spontaneously and unrehearsed from the emotional well of the heart. This is a very modern way of thinking that would have been very strange to first century Jews like Jesus and his disciples who would have recited memorized prayers in synagogue every Sabbath. There is no need to pit liturgical prayer against free form prayer. Sincerity and authenticity can mark both or they can be lacking from both…the difference has nothing to do with the form of prayer and everything to do with the will and intention of the heart.

You can read the text…here

This Sunday’s Sermon: Matt Tuttle will be preaching on the following text from Ecclesiastes: 1:12-14; 2:1-7, 18-23

[1:12] I the Preacher have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. [13] And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. [14] I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.

[2:1] I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.” But behold, this also was vanity. [2] I said of laughter, “It is mad,” and of pleasure, “What use is it?” [3] I searched with my heart how to cheer my body with wine—my heart still guiding me with wisdom—and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the children of man to do under heaven during the few days of their life. [4] I made great works. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself. [5] I made myself gardens and parks, and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees. [6] I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees. [7] I bought male and female slaves, and had slaves who were born in my house. I had also great possessions of herds and flocks, more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem. [8] I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I got singers, both men and women, and many concubines, the delight of the children of man.
[9] So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me. [10] And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil. [11] Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.

[12] So I turned to consider wisdom and madness and folly. For what can the man do who comes after the king? Only what has already been done. [13] Then I saw that there is more gain in wisdom than in folly, as there is more gain in light than in darkness. [14] The wise person has his eyes in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. And yet I perceived that the same event happens to all of them. [15] Then I said in my heart, “What happens to the fool will happen to me also. Why then have I been so very wise?” And I said in my heart that this also is vanity. [16] For of the wise as of the fool there is no enduring remembrance, seeing that in the days to come all will have been long forgotten. How the wise dies just like the fool! [17] So I hated life, because what is done under the sun was grievous to me, for all is vanity and a striving after wind.

[18] I hated all my toil in which I toil under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to the man who will come after me, [19] and who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will be master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom under the sun. This also is vanity. [20] So I turned about and gave my heart up to despair over all the toil of my labors under the sun, [21] because sometimes a person who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave everything to be enjoyed by someone who did not toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil. [22] What has a man from all the toil and striving of heart with which he toils beneath the sun? [23] For all his days are full of sorrow, and his work is a vexation. Even in the night his heart does not rest. This also is vanity.
[24] There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, [25] for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? [26] For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

Adult Christian Education: The Thirty Nine Articles: This week we’ll finish our discussion of Article 7—dealing with the relationship between the Old Testament Law and the New Covenant and then move speedily (heh) through Article 8 and then on to article 9 of the 39 Articles. Article 9 moves us into the section of articles that deal with personal salvation. How much freedom to choose do human beings have by nature? Pelagius taught that we are all born with the power and ability to please God without any supernatural assistance. Do you agree with him? We’ll discuss this question and more on Sunday between services at 9:15 am in the parish hall. Here are the 7th, 8th, and 9th 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.

Of Original or Birth Sin
Original sin standeth not in the following of Adam (as the Pelagians do vainly talk), but it is the fault and corruption of the nature of every man that naturally is engendered of the offspring of Adam, whereby man is very far gone from original righteousness, and is of his own nature inclined to evil, so that the flesh lusteth always contrary to the spirit; and therefore in every person born into this world, it deserveth God’s wrath and damnation. And this infection of nature doth remain, yea, in them that are regenerated, whereby the lust of the flesh, called in Greek phronema sarkos (which some do expound the wisdom, some sensuality, some the affection, some the desire of the flesh), is not subject to the law of God. And although there is no condemnation for them that believe and are baptized, yet the Apostle doth confess that concupiscence and lust hath itself the nature of sin.

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