Excerpts from the September Newsletter...

EVANGELISM

“The good news of God’s Love is something to share!”

September 7-8, 2010 at St. Philip Lutheran Church, Roanoke, VA

Learning Opportunity for Pastors and Key Leaders (that’s YOU! J)

with Dr. Kennon L. Callahan, Ph.D,

·       author of Twelve Keys to an Effective Church: Strong, Healthy Congregations Living in the Grace of God

·       Developing Keys to an Effective Church: Strengths, Shepherding and Generous Giving

If you can, plan to join Pastor and the Church Council Members, who are attending.

The registration fee is $80, but if 3-5 come it is $65 and if more than 6 come, it is $50

Please let Pastor or Sheryl know if you are planning to join us!

Good Shepherd Church Council Minutes

August, 2010

Due to Council member schedule conflicts, there was no August Council meeting.

A clarification from the July minutes discussion of altar flowers. The suggestion was not to eliminate flowers, but rather to suggest that members bring flowers from their gardens in place of flowers from the florist.

One financial note: For the second consecutive month a Dominion Power fuel credit has paid the power bill. Donations to the playground equipment total $400 thus far.

Next Council meeting is September 8th at 7:00 pm. Good Shepherd and Mt. Nebo Treasurers and Presidents will meet with the Parish Treasurer on September 16 to prepare the 2011 Parish budget.

Respectfully submitted,

Ross Hunter

ORGANIC COFFEE

Organic coffee now available.  The Good Shepherd LWR coffee Project kiosk now offers organic whole bean, drip grind regular and drip grind decaf coffees.  Your purchase of these Fair Trade coffees enables small-scale coffee farmers to earn a fair price, provide cooperative healthcare and educational facilities for their families and care for the environment.  As Lutherans, we have become Equal Exchange’s largest faith-based customer group.  Thank you and enjoy!!

SERVICE MINISTRY

You did it again, Good Shepherd sent 95 pounds of yummy and much needed health care products to the Love Outreach Food Pantry!  Thanks so much for sharing your blessings with those in need!

In the heat of these August days, Christmas seems a long way off; however, school counselors have already been in touch with Good Shepherd asking for help.  Thrivent funds are not available for supporting a family with food, shoes and coats.  If you are interested in searching for other ways to support a family in need, please contact Carol Hunter.  We’ll get creative and do our best to spread God’s love among the most needy in our community.  Merry Christmas!

tHE LOVE OUTREACH PANTRY

The Love outreach pantry collects different items each month. 

September: body soap and shampoo

October:              cooking oil

          November:           cake mixes

They will take any non-perishable food items at any time.  Just put it in the red box in the narthex

One of the joys of a small church is that we are a family pulling together to do God’s ministry in this time and place.    We wish to acknowledge with appreciation all that each of you do!

CAROLINE FURNACE CAMP

To write about a place that is so full of wonder and mystery that words can not capture or emulate the area of Caroline Furnace. There is a mystical presence that completely surrounds the vast territory that not even the people who are the closest to God can even grasp the idea that there is some kind of force that draws people to this place, and when they leave ( those who have come to Caroline Furnace) there is a glow on every child and adult’s face; forever these people’s lives have been changed.

* * * * *

Being a counselor is never an easy job to do, even for those who have done it in the past. There is training week that is always a must, but this training that I will be talking about will not be a shock for those who have done similar things, but to those who have never done such acts before.

Training week may seem to be easy for those who are in the process of becoming a counselor; yet clearly, this exercise will break any man down mentally and physically. For this training not only teaches you when things get tough: suck in your gut, tighten up your belt, and take one step at a time; but to pray for healing, guidance, peace, and to lean on your fellow counselors; for they will surely help their neighbor in need.

The first day of training was hiking up mountain tops; sometimes it will end up being whole day or two days of hiking even though the main counselor leaders try to keep it only a day. The group will take the trail at the majority of times, but there were some when we will be off the trail (only to explore wild life and picking up fire wood).

During the hikes, there were some of those who can be quite vocal and others are not quite so. Some have a talent of music is very captivating and mesmerizing to the audience’s ears. Yet, others are more artistic than their fellow brethren. Though the majority of the group are given a God given gift of musical talent.

Through-out the first day we all were trying to figure one another out, as though attempting to seek an answer out that will not reveal itself to seeker until he stops seeking it.

As the day begins to end itself only to reveal another one, every counselor will look at the setting of the sun and watch the stars begin to make their appearance. It has always been the best part of the hiking trip, because everyone’s eye became aesthetic to the setting of the great star that will be resting beyond the mountains. Unknown reason we all begin to feel at peace within our inner self and what ever troubles we carried on our backs, that burden was lifted off our shoulders, and we became at peace.

Night then took over the presence of light and we would all sit down around the camp fire. We would roast marshmallows and make s’mores, as well as talk about our lives in the world. We all have our secrets and that is what we talked about; as well as how we got here, what is purpose for us being here, and things that we all would never talk about outside of the counselor group.

There was another outdoor trip that involved with canoes. The trip had also a presence that just made you think about your life, what you might be called for, noticing all the burdens that we carry and did not know that we have so many, what makes us joyful and happy, and what our dreams are. It was a trip that stirred our insides and yet, it still gave each and everyone of us (that are future counselors).At times we would sing down the Shenandoah River to keep spirits high and it had drawn everyone closer to one another.

We would look for fish and attempt to catch them with our hands, but we had been unsuccessful. Some counselors would stick their feet out of the canoe and into the river. It looked refreshing and so I did the same. Doing such an activity not only was it refreshing but it also gave every person a peace of mind. Water is strange substance. It is not used for drinking and swimming in but it has an ability to cleanse one’s body inward and outward, as well as cleansing the soul.

Rest of the training we (meaning the new counselors of Caroline Furnace) did nothing but study the Bible and practice the teachings. Doing the outdoor activities and learning the teachings of the Bible can and will change a man for the better. For once you’ve done these things and the week is ending every person feels rejuvenated: spiritually, mentally, and physically.

Even the people who never or not even know of the Lutheran camp, Caroline Furnace can see or witness that there is a change in their fellow friend or family.

These people who have been touched by the holy spirit will feel that they were brought here for a certain time and now they can conquer any obstacle that comes in their way as well at the same time be full of joy in their hearts.

How do I know this you may say. Well, I was there, and I have seen it and I also bare evidence the in my mind, heart and body. I would recommend anyone who feels down on their luck, some may need help of leaping an obstacle that is giving that person great difficulty, or you just need one simple thing and that maybe just healing of the heart.

With Caroline Furnace Lutheran Camp, anything is possible if you allow yourself to receive faith, have trust in your fellow brethren, and to give yourself the knowledge that you deserve a second chance and through this camp it gifts will be received, healings will be performed, teachings of faith will be seen, and God’s love and protection will be felt.

My name is Robert and I am a former counselor of Caroline Furnace Lutheran Camp. I hope what you may seek will be in this blessed place, an area that God’s presence is just as strong as it is in the church. For children, who come to this area it is a place of freedom with out troubles and burdens and seek only one thing, that is to feel God’s ultimate love towards them.

Parish Women of the ELCA

The Women of the Parish will meet on Tuesday, September 14 at 9:30 at Mt. Nebo.  We will begin our new study, The People of God: Unity in the Midst of Diversity. During the year we will be looking from a biblical perspective at things that unite us and divide us as people of God—things in our lives and lives of others we often find difficult to talk about even in our faith communities.

We invite all women of the parish to join us for this study.

We also plan to have a one-day retreat on prayer.  This had been planned for the summer but was cancelled. Watch the bulletin for the time and place.

SEPTEMBER LAY LEADERS MT. NEBO

Ushers – Mary Ann & Harold Berrey                        

Lay Reader – Fritz Brittain

Communion Assistant – Jim Jones

Acolyte - Robert Wilkinson 

 Mt. Nebo Homecoming

Homecoming at Mt Nebo will be September 12.  The Rev. Bill Hall, former pastor, will be our guest minister.  A covered dish lunch will follow the service.  Plan to join us for worship, lunch and fellowship.