Whiz Kids Update

Whiz Kids will start up again this Wednesday! The students had a great time working on the Christmas play in December. They did a wonderful job learning to read their lines and performing for their families. Another treat was a visit from author, Beth Gully, who wrote The Other Side of Christmas, an unusual but interesting look at Christmas through the world and also from Our Savior, Jesus. The Whiz Kids each received an autographed book for Christmas as well. We look forward to the winter months reading and learning from our tutors on Wednesdays. New games and stories will also be celebrated. Be sure to talk to me or any of the tutors to find out how you can get involved! Happy New Year! 

 - Lisa Krejci, Whiz Kids Site Leader

Notes from the Head Elder

What is a Lutheran?

I have been a member of the Lutheran Church all of my life. I met my wife and we were married in the Lutheran Church. Our children were baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church. So, I would initially answer I am a Lutheran. To find the answer to the question, “What is a Lutheran?” you could simply google the answer. What you would come up with is from the Book of Concord website, and it elegantly answers the question. (See: http://bookofconcord.org/whatisalutheran.php) Of course, instead of a google search you can also download the Book of Concord app for your smartphone. To save you the hassle of looking it up, here is their short answer to “What is a Lutheran?”

While there are a variety of ways one could answer this question, one very important answer is simply this, “A Lutheran is a person who believes, teaches and confesses the truths of God's Word as they are summarized and confessed in the Book of Concord.” The Book of Concord contains the Lutheran confessions of faith.

At Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church we have identified ourselves not just as Lutherans but as members of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS). On the LCMS site it describes our identity (see: https://www.lcms.org/belief-and-practice) as:

The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod teaches and responds to the love of the Triune God: the Father, creator of all that exists; Jesus Christ, the Son, who became human to suffer and die for the sins of all human beings and to rise to life again in the ultimate victory over death and Satan; and the Holy Spirit, who creates faith through God's Word and Sacraments. The three persons of the Trinity are coequal and co-eternal, one God.

Does this mean we follow the man Martin Luther? No, it does not. Our congregations accept and preach the Bible-based teachings of Martin Luther that inspired the reformation of the Christian Church in the 16th century. The teaching of Luther and the reformers can be summarized in three phrases: Grace alone, Faith alone, Scripture alone. Come join us at our services to hear more about Grace, Faith and Scripture. We emphasize Luther’s three phrases on Reformation Sunday, traditionally the last Sunday in the month of October. 

Have you identified yourself as a follower of Christ and a Lutheran second? The pastor that married Kim and me was of the opinion that the Lutheran Church was flawed, and he was a lifetime member of the Lutheran Church as it was closer than any other denomination in following the Scriptures. 

My reflection after reading the Book of Concord and the Lutheran Confessions is that he was correct. This church, as well as all churches, is a human institution and as such it is flawed. For me and my house (Joshua 24:16) we serve the Lord, and as such we are in sync with the teachings at Good Shepherd and the Lutheran Church. Even if you did not join the church because it was Lutheran or even know what the Lutheran Confessions were prior to reading this message, my prayer is that you will take a look at them and start to gain an understanding of the Lutheran Confessions.  Who knows, years from now the Lutheran Confessions may become your reason on where you chose to worship. If you are like me, you know that we recite common confessions of our faith during the worship services each week. You may also know these creeds as the Nicene, Apostles' and Athanasian Creeds. The Lutheran Confessions agrees with them whole-heartedly. This is why the creeds are studied in Confirmation class and recited weekly in our worship services. 

So the next time you say you “are a Lutheran” you will know that you are person who believes, teaches and confesses the truths of God's Word as they are summarized and confessed in the Book of Concord.

May the Lord God richly bless your week.

-Glen Leavens, Head Elder

Youth Lock-In!

You're Invited!

below is information on the middle/high school lock-in (grades 6-12) at Zion Lutheran Church. If attending, please RSVP to Pastor Bill no later than Sunday, January 8.

Topic: SUPERSTITIONS!

Friday, January 13 7:00 p.m.-8:00 a.m at Zion Lutheran Church (1175 Birney Ln, 45230, Anderson Township). Cost is $12/person –includes laser tag, pizza, breakfast. 

What to bring: snack and drink to share, Bible, a favorite board game or cards, sleeping bag and pillow (optional), fleece for a blanket (optional)

We will be playing laser tag at the church! There will also be a service project — making no-sew blankets for a homeless shelter. We will supply the fleece, but you are welcome to bring some fleece if you want and then we will be able to make more blankets.
 

Notes from the Head Elder

What is the role of the Elder in our Church?

Here is what I shared with my board after being elected to the head elder position.

Our Expectations

  • You are an example for the congregation—regular in attendance for worship and Bible study.

  • When on duty, wear a sport coat with a name tag.

  • All members are touched by their elder.

  • We are moving forward in ministry at Good Shepherd. Each of us is doing the right thing in our own eyes. Please give me and others the same benefit of the doubt you want for yourself. (Proverbs 16:2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit.)

Each elder was assigned part of the alphabetical membership list of our congregation and asked to call every family on his list. We are concerned about the spiritual health of the congregation.  The church constitution asks us to follow-up with members in irregular attendance. Please sign in each time you attend as that is how we track attendance.

Our instructions:

  1. As an elder you are responsible for introducing yourself to each family on your list.
  2. If they have not been regular in attendance, ask them if we can assist with anything in their lives. Follow-up.

I have asked the elders to share with those who missed church that everyone who attended left the church on Sunday happy with God’s blessings. We all want to share how we enjoyed the stimulation of Christian fellowship. If coming together in worship was not important, we could broadcast our services or just send our sermons via email.

My belief is that our congregation should be a close-knit fellowship, a family in which we share tears and laughter and are genuinely interested in each other; bearing, caring, and sharing burdens. Shepherd sheep before they lose their way. It’s easy to maintain fellowship with friends, relatives, and cronies. But it’s equally easy to ignore the odd person, the reticent one, the “stranger” whom we don’t know. Good Shepherd has always been a friendly congregation, and we want to ensure that all feel welcome and none feel unwanted and fall away because we’ve excluded them from the circle of our friendship and activity. We ask the elders to include everyone in church activities because Christ invites everyone to His banquet table.

Of course the Board of Elders discusses why members may not be in regular attendance, and we are by necessity a closed meeting for that reason. We do require assistance from all to help with each other to walk together in Christ.

The other duties we perform are ensuring the church is unlocked and open before worship and locked and closed after worship services as well as assisting the Pastor with the distribution of communion. 

-Glen Leavens, Head Elder

Please click here to see who your elder is (determined by your last name) and feel free to contact your Elder if you have any spiritual care needs.

Giving Tree - That's a Wrap!

Thank you Good Shepherd for making the Giving Tree a success.  Through your generosity, gifts were provided for 10 children who attend Yealey Elementary School and 2 children who attend Ockerman Elementary.  Cheryl Burns-Kraft from Yealey Elementary expressed her appreciation by saying that these gifts will make a difference in the lives of these students. She was very grateful to the members of Good Shepherd!

Photos: Lynn Mitchell, Human Care Committee Chair, presenting gifts to Cheryl Burn-Kraft, Family Resource Coordinator at Yealey Elementary.