Dear Faithful Members of the Good Shepherd Family: time for us to willingly worship Him. Yet we struggle to sacrifice a little more than an hour per week and are easily tempted to “take off” or “sleep in”. Our priorities and our time management are constant reflections of what we value, worship and serve. We must re- member that people of faith have always been tempted away from God and that our busy agendas or anything else that com- petes with the worship of God needs to be taken very seriously. When Jesus was tempted by the devil (Luke 4:8, Matt. 4:10), he re- sponds, “It is written, Worship the Lord your God and serve only him.” So in our transition into Spring/Summer let us re- member that we have been set free to “Worship the LORD with gladness; come into his presence with singing” (Psalm 100). Come on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. or on Sunday at 10:00 a.m…and bring a friend! To God be the glory! Eric Olaf Olsen, Pastor It would be an under- statement to say that our lives are complicated and busy. As we change gears and transition into Spring/Summer we find ourselves scrambling for ways to order our days and manage our time. Ball games, graduations, picnics, reunions, vaca- tions, weddings, work and many other impor- tant and special events and activities compete for our time. How can we do it all? Well the answer is that we usually can’t do it all. Something has to be sacrificed. As we consult our cal- endars, plan activities, and order priorities where is worship on our list? (Did you notice that I intentionally left “worship” off the above list?) Time is one of the greatest gifts given to us by God - yet how easy is it to squeeze God off the list and sacrifice wor- ship? Is it because we take our salvation and the grace that God gives to us for granted? Or do we just figure that God understands and will for- give? While it is true that our salvation is a free gift and that God is slow to anger and abounding with steadfast love, should we not re- member that our freedom was won through the death and suffering of Jesus and that God paid dearly to set us free? We are not recipients of cheap grace, but priceless grace. In Exodus we recall that God tells Moses to ask Pharaoh for the Isra- elites to be set free. Al- most everyone remem- bers that part of the re- quest, but the reason for asking for that freedom is often forgotten. Seven times God says through Moses, “Let my people go so that they may worship me .” God delights in our worship and praise, and we were created for this purpose. The freedom that we have received from God through Jesus is given to us for the same purpose. God’s overwhelming love for us is clear through the undivided attention he has given us through our savior Jesus Christ. God sacrificed everything on his agenda to give us a free life full of GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH & SCHOOL MAY 2011 AMESSAGE FROM OUR PASTOR Therefore, Therefore, Therefore, Therefore, since we are since we are since we are since we are receiving a receiving a receiving a receiving a kingdom that kingdom that kingdom that kingdom that cannot be cannot be cannot be cannot be shaken, let us shaken, let us shaken, let us shaken, let us give thanks, give thanks, give thanks, give thanks, by which we by which we by which we by which we offer to God offer to God offer to God offer to God an acceptable an acceptable an acceptable an acceptable worship with worship with worship with worship with reverence reverence reverence reverence and awe; and awe; and awe; and awe; (Hebrews 12:28) (Hebrews 12:28) (Hebrews 12:28) (Hebrews 12:28)
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Transcript
Dear Faithful Members of the Good Shepherd Family:
time for us to willingly worship Him. Yet we struggle to sacrifice a little more than an hour per week and are easily tempted to “take off” or “sleep in”. Our priorities and our time management are constant reflections of what we value, worship and serve. We must re-member that people of faith have always been tempted away from God and that our busy agendas or anything else that com-petes with the worship of God needs to be taken very seriously. When Jesus was tempted by the devil (Luke 4:8, Matt. 4:10), he re-sponds, “It is written, Worship the Lord your God and serve only him.”
So in our transition into Spring/Summer let us re-member that we have been set free to “Worship the LORD with gladness; come into his presence with singing” (Psalm 100). Come on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. or on Sunday at 10:00 a.m…and bring a friend!
To God be the glory!
Eric Olaf Olsen, Pastor
It would be an under-statement to say that our lives are complicated and busy. As we change gears and transition into Spring/Summer we find ourselves scrambling for ways to order our days and manage our time. Ball games, graduations, picnics, reunions, vaca-tions, weddings, work and many other impor-tant and special events and activities compete for our time. How can we do it all? Well the answer is that we usually can’t do it all. Something has to be sacrificed.
As we consult our cal-endars, plan activities, and order priorities where is worship on our list? (Did you notice that I intentionally left “worship” off the above list?) Time is one of the greatest gifts given to us by God - yet how easy is it to squeeze God off the list and sacrifice wor-ship? Is it because we take our salvation and the grace that God gives to us for granted? Or do we just figure that God understands and will for-give? While it is true that our salvation is a
free gift and that God is slow to anger and abounding with steadfast love, should we not re-member that our freedom was won through the death and suffering of Jesus and that God paid dearly to set us free? We are not recipients of cheap grace, but priceless grace.
In Exodus we recall that God tells Moses to ask Pharaoh for the Isra-elites to be set free. Al-most everyone remem-bers that part of the re-quest, but the reason for asking for that freedom is often forgotten. Seven times God says through Moses, “Let my people go so that they may worship me.” God delights in our worship and praise, and we were created for this purpose. The freedom that we have received from God through Jesus is given to us for the same purpose.
God’s overwhelming love for us is clear through the undivided attention he has given us through our savior Jesus Christ. God sacrificed everything on his agenda to give us a free life full of
G O O D S H E P H E R D L U T H E R A N C H U R C H & S C H O O L
M A Y 2 0 1 1
A M E S S A G E F R O M
O U R P A S T O R
Therefore, Therefore, Therefore, Therefore, since we are since we are since we are since we are receiving a receiving a receiving a receiving a
kingdom that kingdom that kingdom that kingdom that cannot be cannot be cannot be cannot be
shaken, let us shaken, let us shaken, let us shaken, let us give thanks, give thanks, give thanks, give thanks, by which we by which we by which we by which we offer to God offer to God offer to God offer to God
an acceptable an acceptable an acceptable an acceptable worship with worship with worship with worship with
reverence reverence reverence reverence and awe; and awe; and awe; and awe;
On the weekend of May 7-8, Pastor Ron Starenko, an ELCA retired pastor, will be our guest preacher. Pastor Starenko will be representing the ecumenical ministry of Food For The Poor (FFP), founded in 1982. Working to end the suffering of the poor in the Caribbean and Latin America, FFP provides food for the starving, builds small houses for the desti-tute, digs water wells for parched villagers, provides medicine and medical equipment for the sick and elderly, supports orphanages and education for chil-dren, and much more. The largest international charity in the U.S., FFP carries out its ministry with more than 96 percent of all donations received going directly to programs that help the poor.
Pastor Starenko and his wife Katy make their home in Naples, FL. During his active ministry he served several congregations, worked as a counseling pas-tor, and has been on active and inactive duty as a U.S. Navy chaplain. He has served on the speakers bureau of FFP since September 2001.
COFFEE HOUR SCHEDULE
Just a reminder that the following committees are scheduled to host upcoming coffee hours: May 2 Communication & Technology May 8 Council May 15 21+ Men’s Group May 22 Council May 29 Finance Committee June 5 Flower Committee June 12 Council June 19 21+ Men’s Group June 26 21+ Men’s Group July 3 Good Shepherd Fund
As a result of the efforts of our stewardship cam-paign, we are happy to report that the anticipated income from regular weekly envelopes is up by ap-proximately $15,000, which represents an 8 percent increase. We encourage all members who pledged to prayerfully honor your commitment. And for those of you who didn’t—it’s never too late.
HALLELUJAH! CHRIST IS RISEN!
. . . AND SO HAVE OUR PLEDGES!
I want to thank everyone for making my 90th birthday such a happy occa-sion. Special thanks to Ethel, Pastor Eric, Rodney and Gunhild for the work and preparation. The cake was beautiful and delicious. Thank you all so very much. The highlight of the day was the children singing happy birthday to me in church. I can’t describe what a wonder-ful feeling it was. Thank you all, again, for such a wonder-ful day. My Love and God’s Blessings, Dorothy Cronin
Editor’s Note: this letter was supposed to have appeared in last month’s newsletter; how-ever, it had been saved on the wrong hard drive during the compilation process.
Many thanks to all who contributed to the food drive. This month the food was delivered to Helping Hands Mission in Huntington, and it filled many empty spaces on the shelves. Any and all non-perishable groceries are always wel-come and very much appreciated. The items listed below are those that are frequently short in supply but high in need:
Powdered Milk Cold Cereal
Corn Canned & Dry Beans
Rice-A-Roni Side Dishes Spaghetti Sauce (no glass jars, please)
Canned Tuna Paper Towels & Napkins
Toiletries
Thank you again for your love and support of this mission service!
FROM OUR SOCIAL MINISTRY TEAMFROM OUR SOCIAL MINISTRY TEAMFROM OUR SOCIAL MINISTRY TEAMFROM OUR SOCIAL MINISTRY TEAM
A Special A Special A Special A Special “Thank You!”“Thank You!”“Thank You!”“Thank You!”
FROM OUR STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE. . . FROM OUR STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE. . . FROM OUR STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE. . . FROM OUR STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE. . .
GOOD SHEPHERD’S SENIORS are still sponsoring a project to help our Marines in Afghanistan. As the summer months ap-proach with daily temperatures reaching 110° our Marines depend on baby wipes for their personal hygiene. YOU can help buy buying unscented baby wipe refills (no plastic tubs, please) and small ziplock bags at the Dollar Tree store or your favor-ite supermarket, variety, or drugstore. A collection container for this project is in the narthex. All you need to do is donate the items & our seniors will send it out. Thank you for your support!
T H O S E W H O C E L E B R A T ET H O S E W H O C E L E B R A T ET H O S E W H O C E L E B R A T ET H O S E W H O C E L E B R A T E
Jason & Melissa Jansky whose daughter Leigha Noelle will be baptized on May 15; Jennifer & Stephan Carrieri whose son Austin John will be bap-tized on June 12; and Jesse & Victoria Jansky whose son Gavin Cooper will also be baptized on June 12.
GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH &
SCHOOL 99 Central Park Road, Plainview, NY 11803 Phone: 516-349-1966 Fax: 516-349-8438
Ministers: The Members of Good Shepherd Reverend Eric O. Olsen, Pastor
Judy R. Hinsch, A.I.M., School Director Teresa Ratkowski, Director of Choir and Organist
Maureen Cooke, Church Secretary/Newsletter Editor John E. Menig, Jr., Sexton
Page 4
The family and friends of Leonard Banzer; the family and friends of Eugene Brent; The family and friends of Elaine Pietrofere; the family and friends of Eva Zahn.
T H O S E P R E P A R I N GT H O S E P R E P A R I N GT H O S E P R E P A R I N GT H O S E P R E P A R I N G
F O R O R D A I N E D M I N I S T RF O R O R D A I N E D M I N I S T RF O R O R D A I N E D M I N I S T RF O R O R D A I N E D M I N I S T R YYYY
Roger Griffith
T H O S E I N N E E D
WE PRAY FOR...
Ryan Faret & family, Genevieve Thompson, Brian Banner (Knotek Family Friend), Mat-thew Munch and Matthew Jackman (Helen Lanza’s relatives), Patricia Petralia (Bea McCabe’s daughter), Emma Mehrer and John Binsfeld (Benner family friends), Charles and Chris Strakele (Ruth’s husband and son), baby Jake (Brent family friend), Maureen Araujo, Sean Walsh, Geraldine Shilstone (Robert Pietrofere’s mother), Mary Knotek, Joan Reis (Helen Lanza’s friend), The People of Japan, Henry Kir-schbaum (Lori Tollefsen’s uncle), Doris Monten, Nancy Kwiatkowski (Janet Cox’s daughter), Viena Ludewig, Jay Boryea (Paul Hinsch’s friend), Ken Dixon (Pastor Eric’s friend), Deb Gebhart (Ruff Family Friend), Sven Faret (Gunhild Schabel’s son), Rever-end Patricia Large (Lori Mason’s cousin), Diane Lisa (Cathy Vollono’s friend), Janice Ridings (Rickmeyer family friend), Francis Lee (Helen Kopf’s son), Lynne Carlson (Irma’s daughter-in-law), Ed Lennon (Lori Mason’s relative), Mary Melvin (Virginia Schroeder’s daughter), Mary Ellen Moyse (George’s wife), Don and Francine Unger (Katalina Paterakis’s grandparents), Fred Ruff, Joyce Tare, Jake (Maisch family friend) and his family, Ian Spadaro (Dottie’s grand-son), James Fields (Vincent and Dorothy Cronin’s nephew), Richard Karl (Naomi Pfund’s friend), Mary Gessing (Dorothy and Vincent Cronin’s cousin), Rita Cunningham (Cronin family friend), and Chris Cucci (Naomi Pfund’s student).
T H O S E W H O A R E G R I E V I N G T H O S E W H O A R E G R I E V I N G T H O S E W H O A R E G R I E V I N G T H O S E W H O A R E G R I E V I N G
T H O S E S E R V I N GT H O S E S E R V I N GT H O S E S E R V I N GT H O S E S E R V I N G
I N T H E M I L I T A R YI N T H E M I L I T A R YI N T H E M I L I T A R YI N T H E M I L I T A R Y
Lt. David Jacobs (Joyce Tare’s nephew, Alec & Madison’s cousin), CPT. Paul Rickmeyer, Major Phillip Sounia, MSgt. Richard Miranda, Christo-pher Zito (Mary Knotek’s friend), Sgt. Vincent Mezick and Russ Boynton (civilian) in Afghanistan (Hinsch/ Ressmeyer family friend).
Family Worship:Family Worship:Family Worship:Family Worship:
Friday, July 1Friday, July 1Friday, July 1Friday, July 1stststst at 11 am at 11 am at 11 am at 11 am
All are welcome to participate.All are welcome to participate.All are welcome to participate.All are welcome to participate.
UPDATE FOR MAY 2011
WITH COUNSELING SITES LOCATED IN: NASSAU SUFFOLK MANHATTAN QUEENS WESTCHESTER
Prepared especially for LCC Association Congregations & Schools
We’ve all heard the tragic sto-
ries. More and more fre-
quently, the media reports
cases of children and teens
harming others or committing
suicide in response to the hor-
rific emotional pain of being
threatened, harassed, or em-
barrassed by peer(s) through
the use of the internet, mobile
phones or other electronic de-
vices. How can we keep this
from happening to our children
and teens? Understanding the
facts behind cyberbullying and
knowing how to intervene may
help prevent another teen’s
suicide.
As parents, we need to become
aware of the fact that it is pos-
sible for a child to be a victim
one minute and a perpetrator
the next. The anonymity of the
internet can embolden a per-
son being bullied to respond to
being hurt by trying to hurt the
other person. There are several
important measures we can
take as parents:
Visit and become familiar with
helpful information from im-
portant websites about pre-
vention, dealing with poten-
tial situations, receiving help
and reporting cyberbullying
in case it happens to your
child. These websites are:
www.stopcyberbullying.org
and www.wiredsafety.org
Be the one trusted person
your child or children’s
friends can go to when
things go wrong online or
offline.
If an attack or provocation
does occur, do not over or
under react, but take the
information seriously.
Be supportive of your child; words
and attacks can wound a child
and have a lasting effect.
Let your child’s school know of
any cyberbullying behavior your
child is experiencing.
If your child has not experienced
a cyberbullying attack or threat,
be sure that he or she under-
stands the importance of adher-
ing to the following online rules:
Never give our or share your per-
sonal information, including PIN
numbers, name, address, phone
number, school name or e-mail
address when online. Never
send pictures of yourself to oth-
ers.
Ask permission from parents be-
fore sharing any information
with a chat buddy or another
website, even in registering
products, like games. Never
give anyone your password ex-
cept your parents
Don’t believe everything you read
online. People you meet online
can lie about their ages or their
lives.
Be polite to others online. If
someone sends a mean e-mail
message, don’t respond. Online
bullies are just like off-line ones
in that they want to get a reac-
tion from you.
Never send a message to another
person when you are angry.
Calm down and don’t say any-
thing that you may regret later.
Never open a message from
someone you don’t know. If in
doubt, ask your parents.
Do not delete or erase messages
from cyberbullies. Keep the
message as evidence in case it
is needed.
Trust your instincts. If something
happens online that doesn’t “feel
right”, it probably isn’t. Turn off
the computer and talk to a trusted
adult.
Never arrange to meet with some-
one you have met online unless
your parents go with you. Also, if
you and your parents do meet
them, choose a very open place,
like a restaurant.
If you are the victim of a cyberbully-
ing incident, tell your parents or
another trusted adult.
Mr. Chris W. Abatelli, LMHC, has a
Master’s of Educational Psychology
in Adjustment Counseling as well
as a Certificate of Advanced Gradu-
ate Studies (CAGS) in Counseling
from American International Col-
lege in Springfield, Ma. He works
as a mental health therapist for
Pederson-Krag Center and is Direc-
tor of Youth for St. John’s Evangeli-
cal Lutheran Church in Sayville, NY.
Mr. Abatelli counsels with children,
teens, couples and adults for a
wide range of issues including sub-
stance abuse, children with special
needs, adoptions and conflict reso-
lution. He sees clients at LCC’s Dix
Hills and Patchogue counseling
sites.
You may reach the Lutheran Counseling Center at 516-741-0994 or 1-800-317-1173 or e-mail us at [email protected]. LCC has
seven counseling sites in and around metropolitan New York. Visit our website at www.lccny.org. LCC has seven counseling sites over the New York metropolitan and surround-ing areas.
CYBERBULLYING: WHAT IF IT HAPPENS TO MY CHILD? By: Mr. Chris Abatelli, LMHC, LCC Staff Psychotherapist