1 The Shepherd’s Call GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH 4201 Stoudt’s Ferry Bridge Road Muhlenberg Township, Reading, PA 19605 Telephone 610-926-4201 Pastor Denise E. Keltz email: [email protected]Number 5 May 2018 GO, Make Disciples 18-20 Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: “God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 The Message (MSG) On Sunday, May 20th three of our young adults will re-affirm their baptism in the rite of Confirmation. Alexis Bonte, Mikayla Garl and Jeremy Goodman have completed their preparation and will be confessing their faith and declaring their intentions to continue in the covenant that God made with them in their holy baptism. They will publicly proclaim that they promise: to live among God’s faithful people, to hear the word of God and share in the Lord ’s Supper, to proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed, to serve all people, following the example of Jesus and to strive for justice and peace in all the earth. Alexis Bonte is an 8th grader at Muhlenberg Middle School. One of her favorite activities is playing field hockey. She enjoys spending time with friends and family who keep her happy and motivated. Her fond memories of being a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church are seeing and connecting with her friends. Mikayla Garl is an 8th grader at Muhlenberg Middle School. One of her favorite activities is playing field hockey. She enjoys spending time with friends and family who are there for her when she gets discouraged. She likes all of the activities we do at Good Shepherd Lutheran church and she especially enjoys the debates we have had in “Cat Class”. Jeremy Goodman is an 8th grader at Muhlenberg Middle School. One of his favorite activities is playing soccer. He enjoys his time on the soccer fields as well as spending time with his friends and family. Jeremy likes how friendly and loving the people are at Good Shepherd Lutheran have been to him. Please pray for our newly confirmed members and offer them your congratulations when you see them. Your sister in Chirst, Pastor Denise
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- A discussion on the hiring of a cleaning service to take care of the church and
school sides of the building resulted in the council’s vote to award a contract to
Kelly’s Kleaning, to start working the first week of May.
- With the resignation of Diane Rothenberger, the positions titled Director of
Kids Corner and Director of Pre School have been merged into one job with the
job description of Director of Children’s Programs. The revised job description
was approved by council.
- A discussion on the appointment of a new Director of Children’s
Programs recommended that Rebecca Watson be named as the Director and was
approved in a vote by the council.
- Three confirmands, Mikayla Garl, Alexis Bonte and Jeremy Goodman, were
recommended to the council for membership; council approved their membership
through confirmation on May 20th
.
- Cathy Meck, Elizabeth Bennis, Paula Kline, and Betty Kline, request to be
received as new members. Recommendation to accept these people into the church
membership as of April 29th
was approved by the council.
- A Fall fundraiser was approved by the council. This activity will again be the
led by Barbara Greth with funds to support the work of Good Shepherd Church.
Finance Report
General Fund - Finances reported as of March 31st showed an income of
$15,924.15 with expenditures of $17,050.73 leaving the fund a
shortage of -$1,126.58. Year to date the general fund had an
income of $43,648.83 with expenses being $59,869.87 leaving
a deficit of -$16,221.04.
Line of Credit From January to March 2018, $13,360.32 had been borrowed,
$6,000.00 of which was taken out in March to pay the bills. No
money has been repaid to the account. April Estimates project
finances to show a deficit of $569.00, which would require us
to borrow again from the line of credit.
Mortgage payments Thus far this year have totaled $12,945.00 with contributions
totaling $13,348.00.
As a reminder to the congregation, April had five (5) Sundays that included Easter
(historically a strong day) making April appear to be close to financially good, or at
least, less negative.
The above information leads council to take action to inform the congregation of this
situation. The council believes another special program is needed to reduce the deficit before
the end of the year.
SUMMER SERVICES
Beginning on Sunday June 3rd
. The time for the service will be changed to 9:30 AM, which
will mean that the 8:15 AM communion services on the first Sundays will be discontinued for
Summer. Also we will be using the 10th
setting for the service during June, July and August.
4
Blessed to Be a Blessing Stewardship Campaign
Genesis 12:2b: I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will
be a blessing.
Thank-you to all who participated in our 2018 campaign. We hope the approach helped you think about all God has done for you, and then in turn think about your response to God’s love and riches given to you. If you missed the opportunity to turn in an “Estimate of Giving” card, you may get one at church (check with Dale Nelson or Rick Rothenberger), or you may go to our website: https://www.goodshepherdelc.org and click on the button “YourGivingEstimate” on the right side below the church picture. It will take you to a form to fill out with your estimate.
Do we live as if we trust God? Especially at Easter time we are reminded of Jesus dying as atonement for us, and rising to show us the promise of eternal life with Him. Do we live with thankfulness for what He has done and show gratitude for what He has done? God showed us His love while we were still sinful and self-serving. Thank God with your actions, not just your head knowledge.
Eugene Burkhart Memorial Educational Scholarship
If you are a senior in High School, you may apply for this scholarship. Some of the
requirements are: you must be a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, proof of
enrollment in higher education & an essay. Applications for graduating high school seniors
are available on the round table in the Gathering Area. Completed applications are due on
or before May 13 and are to be returned to Pastor Denise. The awarding of the Scholarships
will take place during worship on June 6, 2018.
Worship And Music Notes
The Altar Guild needs you. We are looking for more members for our Altar Guild.
Members set up the sanctuary for services (usually on a Friday or Saturday) and clean
up after the service. The procedures are well documented and you will work with
existing members to learn them. The time required is 1 to 2 hours about once a month.
With enough new members, an individual would need to serve less frequently. Contact
on our web-site and publish in our June Newsletter.
WBMD is working with BCC again
to provide a great week of
summer day camp June 25-29
at Allegheny Lutheran Church
For children who’ve completed grades K – 6.
Transportation can be provided if needed.
Cost is just $30 for the week!
July 30 - August 3 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Wernersville
Show on Friday, August 3 at 1:00 PM
For youth who’ve completed grade 1-6.
Watch for Registration Materials coming soon!
WBMD Calendar of Events
May 10 WBMD Ascension Service &
Spring Assembly at Atonement
May 22 WBMD Council
June 8-9 NEP Synod Assembly in Wilkes-Barre
June 25-29 WBMD/ Bear Creek Day Camp
July 30-Aug 3 WBMD Music Camp
August 13-17 Camp Noah in Reading
August 28 WBMD Council
Sept. 6 CROP Walk fundraiser at Isaac’s
October 7 Annual CROP Hunger Walk
More information and registration materials will be
posted on our web-site as they become available.
Save the Date!
WBMD
Ascension Day Service Thursday, May 14
th
7:00 PM at The Highlands
WBMD
Music
Camp
CAMP NOAH
August 13-17, 2018
at St. Luke’s Lutheran
in Reading PA
Lutherans of Berks County are organizing a
special Camp Noah for the children of families
who have relocated here from Puerto Rico after the
devastation of Hurricane Maria. According to
Centro Hispano, more than 350 families have
arrived in our local communities! Camp Noah is
designed for children who have experienced a
disaster and is meant to help them in their healing
process.
VOLUNTEERS are needed. Please contact
the WBMD for more information if interested.
Come help us
celebrate a new
baby girl!
Our new friends from Nigeria, the Johnson-Agiri family is expecting a baby at the end of May! The folks at Advent Lutheran Church have graciously offered to host a post-baby shower on Saturday, June 23rd from 1:00-3:00.
Stop in to meet the family and enjoy some light refreshments. If you’d like to bring a gift, we are encouraging gift cards or cash so they can purchase what they need as they need it. They have already been given a lot of second-hand