August 2015 - Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd

Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd (ELCA)
1325 North 45th Avenue East, Duluth MN 55804-1507
August 2015
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Permit No 28
Duluth, MN
FROM PASTOR DAVE
Spanish Immersion in Honduras
My time in Honduras studying Spanish was a journey of personal spiritual
renewal. My dear friend Josefina Santos helped make arrangements for
me to attend the Ixbalanque Language School in Copan Ruinas, site of the
Mayan ruins. For two weeks I was able to immerse myself in Honduran
culture by living with a host family, Delmy and Manuel Paredes. For four
hours each morning I experienced one-on-one Spanish teaching with my
excellent teacher, Sara Martinez. Afternoons were spent in continued
Spanish study; study of the Gospel of Luke in Greek, English and Spanish;
and posting photos and reflections to LCGS. Because Copan Ruinas is
considered the safest community in Honduras, I was able to enjoy a run
each day, a first-time experience in my travels to Honduras. These simple
daily rhythms provided the opportunity to enter deeply into a daily
experience of Sabbath. Thanks be to God and to LCGS for valuing
continuing education!
Initially I admit I was impatient to begin speaking Spanish fluently. After
all, my purpose in studying Spanish is to build relationships with the
people of Honduras, and especially my friends in the Lutheran Church in
Honduras. But Sara wisely showed me that there are no fast short cuts in
language acquisition. The philosophy at Ixbalanque is described as “poco
a poco,” building fluency in Spanish “piece by piece” through mastery of
the fundamental elements of the language. This approach is slower and
deeper than my quick-fix approach, but it works! I was able to make
progress in understanding the structure of the Spanish language, and I
slowly but surely was able to produce the noun system, and even the regular verbs in the present tense. Wonderful progress! And then we entered
the world of the irregular verbs (there are so many!), as well as the past
tenses! Wow, this was very humbling, daily faced with how much I didn’t
know! Sara and I laughed that the vocabulary flashcards we were using
were graded for ages four and up. I suppose I am included in “and up.”
But I knew that I was making solid progress in learning Spanish, and it was
a delight to begin to appreciate the beauty and precision of the language.
God was using the study of Spanish to teach me the power of sustainability, beauty and quality. I know deep in my bones that this is a fundamental
principle of life, the “secret” of spiritual growth, marathon training, and
transformational mission. At the edge between present ability and that
which is truly new, we meet God and growth is possible.
I wonder what God has in mind for our community of Christ as we come to
the edges of transformational worship, reaching out locally and globally,
nurturing the faith of all? It will be exciting to discover!
Your “age four and up” partner in learning,
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REACHING OUT
Thank you for your generous donations to
our Local Back to School with Backpacks
Program in support of CHUM. Our global
neighbors also need our help. This is an
opportunity to help children around the
globe get a head start this school year.
L !" W$ %& R%() K(+—
August is our best time to shop for school kits as supplies are
on sale now.
Donation boxes will be in Gathering Space in August.
Each school kit contains:
Four 70 sheet notebooks (wide or college ruled)
One 30 cm ruler (cm on one side, inches on other)
One Pencil sharpener
One blunt scissors
Five unsharpened #2 pencils with erasers
Five black or blue ballpoint ink pens (no gel ink)
One box of 16 or 24 crayons
One 2 ½ “ eraser
Join Lutheran Social Services
& The Northshore Inline
Marathon
and End Youth Homelessness in
Our Community
Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota is the official charity of the NorthShore Inline
Marathon’s 20th anniversary celebration!
Create or join an LSS team for the NorthShore Inline Marathon and raise funds for the
LSS Center for Changing Lives! Teams may participate in Inline Marathon, Wheels Off
Half Marathon (running event) or the Tunnel 10k (running event).
Contact LSS Staff Robin Maxwell at 218-302-6837 or Robin.Maxwell@lssmn.org
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REACHING OUT
P(./ 0 !" 1 !…?—
The Hunger Team kicks
off their annual food
drive August 16th.
Donations will fund outings such
as: visits to Duluth Zoo and the
Children's Museum and Exercise
Groups - hiking and physical
The Hunger Team will collect and activities in nature.
display donations for one month:
August 16th through September Please continue to drop your
20th.
coins in the pastel plaid container
on the Gathering Area Welcome
Our partners at CHUM Food Shelf desk.
have a few specific requests;
tuna, canned meats or meals like T!"/ 5$— Thank you for
thick soup, chili and stews as well past donations to our Penny
as peanut butter.
Drive. As a congregation we
contributed $200.14 this past
Watch for our display of
year to the Hildegard
donations and the next time you House.
grocery shop, please “Pick up an
extra…”
The total contribution from the
Lake Superior Conference
P""(+— The Women of the
churches was $1,430.43.
Lake Superior Conference are
Our pennies and small change
collecting pennies, larger coins
really do add up.
and bills are also accepted and
appreciated. The recipient this
year will be Children's
Therapeutic Services & Support
(CTSS). CTSS is a program to help
children under 18 with mental
health, emotional and other
behavioral issues.
The program is sponsored by
HDC, seeking to empower a child
to see life's potential, overcome
the affects of mental health
issues and encourage them to
envision productive lives.
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PARISH NURSE
Dear Friends and Co-members,
The wealth and blessing of friendship has truly been a factor in my
life these last weeks. Always aware of friends and the comfort they
offer, I truly have been blessed by the closeness of friends especially
in times of unrest or chaos.
I am honored to call many co-members of Good Shepherd friends
which by nature implies closer ties and knowledge of their lives. Our
friends share our lives, our stories and know both the good and bad
stuff. What a treasure!
Those who are members of our church family share one part of our
lives. We are connected to co-members by our very presence here
each week. Sharing worship time and meetings to plan and do.
God’s work makes firm connections to others as we share personal
callings and connection to God. The value of co-members can not be
measured.
It builds, enhances and mentors our own connections.
Our personal health correlates with the support and love received
on a daily basis. Health includes Body, Mind and Spirit. I worked 44
plus years as a nurse, know a lot about body health but I have found
spirit to be of huge influence. Our Bible study group recently
studied the connection to God and the variety of ways people see
that connection. The comfort of God’s presence can never be
overrated and truly cannot be compared.
With gratitude I thank God for His support, I thank God for His
presence in the lives of my co-members and return love and support
to my friends. Blessings in need and in those calm times too!
—Linda Susens, Parish nurse
LUTHERAN CHURCH OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD
MISSION STATEMENT:
A Community of Christ
Experiencing God † Reaching Out † Nurturing Faith
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THANK YOU
Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd,
Over the years supporters like you have allowed us to provide food
to those who were food insecure, emergency shelter to those without a place to sleep, more permanent supportive housing to families
with children, support to people living outside, assistance in finding
housing, basic necessities to those in need.
Since the beginning of 2015 we have helped 74 individuals and 10
families to find housing, plus the 44 families who have moved into
the Steve O'Neil Apartments between December and March. The
CHUM Emergency Food Shelf served 8% more hungry clients in the
first quarter of 2015 than in 2014. It is through your congregational
support that CHUM affects 7,000 lives in our community each year.
Thank you for assisting us in our passion and our mission.
Your gifts totaling $335.00, received in March-April-May, supports
our work of providing better lives for our neighbors whether that is
through food, shelter or giving them a voice.
Sincerely,
Mary Schmitz
Development Director
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DETROIT YOUTH GATHERING
Our Teens Leading by Example
Anthropologist Margaret Mead tells us to “[n]ever doubt that a small
group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.”
She reminds us that, “[i]ndeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
From 11 July to 19 July, I walked with a thoughtful and committed
cadre of the young adults of the congregation, ranging in age from 15
to 18, in mission and learning projects in East Lansing, Michigan, with
several hundred of their peers from throughout the Northeast
Minnesota Synod, and in Detroit, Michigan, with tens of thousands of
their peers.
The week was soul enriching and involved service projects, learning
opportunities, worship experiences, and close bonding with the
group.
Based on independent assessments of the value of volunteer labor in
Michigan, over $90,000 in service was provided to the East Lansing
area and over $3.5 million to the Detroit area, all without denying a
local and worthy resident a job or source of income.
These are an extraordinary group of young people, willing and eager
to serve and share and commune. A recent national article declared
that the rest of Christendom had something to learn from the
Lutheran Youth. The future is well served in their care.
None of this would be possible without the care and support of the
LCGS congregation.
Respectfully submitted,
Brian C. Fischer
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NURTURING FAITH
Sunday School
Sunday, September 13th – Come celebrate the start of the
Sunday School Year!
Blessing of the Backpacks at the 8:30 & 11 AM Worship Service.
Join us at 10:00 AM for our annual Sunday School Open House.
Confirmation
Good Shepherd Families: Watch Your Mailboxes!
We will be sending letters to individual families with more
information about fall programs, including…
7th Graders: Welcome to Confirmation!
8th and 9th Graders: Welcome BACK to Confirmation
10th Grader: Ready to Affirm Classes
ALL Sunday School Families: Calendar and Registration Forms
All of these mailings should be coming your way by the end of the month. If you have
not received this information by September 1, please contact Katie 218-525-1922.
To the dear, dear congregaon members here at Good Shepherd,
Words cannot express my gratude for this congregaon supporng
my maternity leave during these past three months. Those first
moments with Jasper were precious but overwhelming. Overwhelming with joy. Overwhelming with gratude. But somemes just plain
overwhelming with not enough sleep, a screaming baby, and too
many dirty diapers! I truly needed this me become a mother and
learn how to funcon in this new, o'en overwhelming role.
Now I am back and ready to learn how to be a mom AND a full me
Director of Youth and Family Ministry! I am excited to learn how to
serve you in this new way. First, I need to say thank you, thank you,
thank you for this me away. Thank you for all of your love and
support and prayers. There really are no words, but I had to try.
With deepest gratude, Kae Rich and Family
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A TIME TO WORSHIP
—Spiritsong on the Beach—
Wednesday, August 12th at 7:00 PM
Pr. Dave’s Beach
3514 Minnesota Ave. Park Point
Music is one of the ways that God comes to us as the Good Shepherd when
we walk the darkest valleys. Mirroring the 23rd Psalm, Henry David
Thoreau said, “When I hear music, I fear no danger. I am invulnerable. I see
no foe. I am related to the earliest times, and to the latest.”
Our summer worship is dedicated to these questions: How has music
shaped your faith? How has God used music to touch you when words fell
short?
Bring your own lawn chair! This is a relaxed, camp-fire style setting. All are
welcome. Please join us on the beach for our final Spiritsong Worship
Experience of the summer.
Our Regular Schedule
resumes
September 13th, 2015
Please join us at our
8:30 AM or 11:00 AM
Worship Service
We enjoy Coffee &
Fellowship at 10:00 AM
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May 24
May 31
June 7
81
157
92
June 14
June 21
June 28
127
105
122
July 5
July 12
July 19
76
125
110
Stewardship Stories
What moves you the most about being a member of LCGS?
The church understands that we live in the real world and in the
“here and now.” and that part of our call is to help those locally in
a real and tangible way (quilts, blankets ,food, winter, kits, etc. )
and that serving God is not an abstract idea.
What fellowship event have you enjoyed the most and why?
Ruth Circle, Friday Morning Bible Study, Thursday Morning Bible
Study, good friends for years and years and interesting topics!
Are you up to date on all the
events, opportunities and
news at LCGS?
We send out weekly email
announcements to our
congregation. As a starting
point, we use one email address per household.
For many of you this is brand new information! If so, join our list
simply TEXT LCGS to 22828 or email Jessica at communications@lcgsduluth.org.
Add as many accounts as you like!
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PRAYERS
If you would like us to
pray for a specific
concern, please call the
office at 525-1922 and
your request will be
shared with others who care about
your needs and believe God will hear
and answer. If you have a prayer
request emergency and it is after
church office hours, you are invited to
call Karin Lemenager at 721-4332.
PRAYERS FOR HOSPITALIZED PERSONS
shared with the Prayer Chain (and in the
Prayers of the Church) will begin with “God
knows the names of all for whom we pray…”
unless permission has been granted by the
hospitalized individual or a family member of
the individual. This is in keeping with our
Privacy Policy. If you have questions/
comments regarding this policy, please feel
free to discuss it with one of the pastors.
Good Shepherd randomly prays for all its members. During
these weeks we are keeping the following in our prayers:
August 2 Brian & Kristi Fischer, Sydney, Carrie, Camie and Casey; Kathy
& Jim Dexter, Alison and Kaitlyn; Dan & Kim Dauner, Emma,
Ian and Charlotte
August 9 Audrey Amundson & Milton Legg; Amy & Michael Goman,
Katelyn, Madison and Jillian; Matthew Berg, Brynn and Jackson
August 16 Elizabeth & Craig Anderson; Karen & Daniel Dock, Peter and
Amanda; David Gow, Sarah and David; Lisa Berg
August 23 Sharla & Jim Anderson; Joyce Dohlin; Jenna & Andrew Bergee
August 30 Robert Anderson; Katie & Clayton Rich and Jasper James;
Bradley Graff; Jay Bergman
Prayer
“
God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship
in spirit and truth." John 4:24
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Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd
Summer Services begin May 24th at 9:30 AM
Office Hours: M-Th • 9AM-4PM; Friday • 9AM-11AM
Phone: 218-525-1922 · Website: www.lcgsduluth.com
MEET the STAFF
Pastor Dave Mesner, Lead Pastor
(home) 218-529-9715
email: dmesner@lcgsduluth.org
Pastor Tim Berdahl, Pastor
(home) 218-728-4382
email: tberdahl@lcgsduluth.org
Katie Rich, Director of Youth & Family Ministry
218-525-1922
email: kkrich@lcgsduluth.org
Patti Hallback, Office Manager
218-525-1922
email: office@lcgsduluth.org
Jessica Hehir, Communications Coordinator
218-525-1922
email: communications@lcgsduluth.org
Beth Lee, Treasurer
218-525-1922
Kayla Hoeft, Nursery Director
218-525-1922
Music Team:
Linda Turpening, Organist
218-525-1922
email: linda@archdirect.com
Debbie Sanders, Good Shepherd Choir Director
218-724-9065
email: debra.k.sanders@icloud.com
Christa Overson, Joyful Noise Director
email: christa.overson@gmail.com
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September
Newsletter
Deadline:
August 15