The Story GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH ABERDEEN, SD (605) 229-0846 Making Our Love and Mission Visible JUNE/JULY 2020 Dear friends, We have heard words like “unprecedented," "extraordinary," and "unusual,” to describe the times we are living in with COVID-19 and the many ways our everyday life has changed significantly. For those who follow the church calendar, the time from Advent (where the calendar begins) through Pentecost, is a walk through the story of the Gospel and is sometimes referred to as Extraordinary Time as we celebrate what God has done through the life of Christ. This second part of the year, from Pentecost through Christ the King Sunday (the end of the calendar), we celebrate what God does to empower us to live out our faith day to day in the context of our ordinary lives. This season is often known as Ordinary Time. I think many of us are thinking these days how great it would be for life to be ordinary. But what if we were to stop and consider just how extraordinary our lives truly are as God’s people. There really isn’t anything ordinary about life, especially if it’s rooted in our relationship with God. All good relation- ships need tending and spending time with God is an essential part of our faith life. Time when we can rest in his presence, read his word and speak to him in prayer. However, many of us are consumed by our busy lifestyles and responsibilities – even as our schedules, routines, and lives have been uprooted by COVID-19. I get busy serving God in church, taking part in different ministries, writing sermons, learning new technology to make online worship possible, studying CDC guidelines, and doing things on Christ’s behalf. Yet, despite all of that, it can still feel as if I have not spent any quality time with Jesus. I can neglect to listen to His voice and spend time in His word. This is a concern for us all as Christ-followers, and a trap that Jesus saw we can easily fall into if we’re not careful. This summer – however we are gathering for worship – I invite you to take time to Rest at the Master’s Feet. We will gather at the Master’s Feet each week in worship. We will sit and listen with our ears and our hearts. I encourage you to take time each week – whether it’s on Sunday or some other time throughout the week – to rest in Christ’s presence, listen for the still, quiet voice of God, and experience the stirring of the Holy Spirit. The season after Pentecost, is by no means ordinary in the sense of being unremarkable or unimportant. This season celebrates the ongoing work of Jesus in and through his people. With the Gospel, empowered by the Spirit, we walk day by day in faith. The church, through God’s ongoing presence, continues to plant seeds that will bring forth a harvest in the new creation. I am not sure what the future holds, but I know who holds the future, and that brings peace for today, and hope for tomorrow. Peace, Pastor Leland
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The Story GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH
ABERDEEN , SD (605) 229 -0846 Making Our Love and Mission Visible
JUNE/JULY 2020
Dear friends, We have heard words like “unprecedented," "extraordinary," and "unusual,” to describe the times we are living in with COVID-19 and the many ways our everyday life has changed significantly. For those who follow the church calendar, the time from Advent (where the calendar begins) through Pentecost, is a walk through the story of the Gospel and is sometimes referred to as Extraordinary Time as we celebrate what God has done through the life of Christ. This second part of the year, from Pentecost through Christ the King Sunday (the end of the calendar), we celebrate what God does to empower us to live out our faith day to day in the context of our ordinary lives. This season is often known as Ordinary Time. I think many of us are thinking these days how great it would be for life to be ordinary. But what if we were to stop and consider just how extraordinary our lives truly are as God’s people. There really isn’t anything ordinary about life, especially if it’s rooted in our relationship with God. All good relation-ships need tending and spending time with God is an essential part of our faith life. Time when we can rest in his presence, read his word and speak to him in prayer. However, many of us are consumed by our busy lifestyles and responsibilities – even as our schedules, routines, and lives have been uprooted by COVID-19. I get busy serving God in church, taking part in different ministries, writing sermons, learning new technology to make online worship possible, studying CDC guidelines, and doing things on Christ’s behalf. Yet, despite all of that, it can still feel as if I have not spent any quality time with Jesus. I can neglect to listen to His voice and spend time in His word. This is a concern for us all as Christ-followers, and a trap that Jesus saw we can easily fall into if we’re not careful. This summer – however we are gathering for worship – I invite you to take time to Rest at the Master’s Feet. We will gather at the Master’s Feet each week in worship. We will sit and listen with our ears and our hearts. I encourage you to take time each week – whether it’s on Sunday or some other time throughout the week – to rest in Christ’s presence, listen for the still, quiet voice of God, and experience the stirring of the Holy Spirit. The season after Pentecost, is by no means ordinary in the sense of being unremarkable or unimportant. This season celebrates the ongoing work of Jesus in and through his people. With the Gospel, empowered by the Spirit, we walk day by day in faith. The church, through God’s ongoing presence, continues to plant seeds that will bring forth a harvest in the new creation. I am not sure what the future holds, but I know who holds the future, and that brings peace for today, and hope for tomorrow. Peace, Pastor Leland
Youth page PAGE 2
VBS Volunteers Needed
Volunteers will be needed for VBS. Adults and youth that will be in 7th- 12th grade are encouraged to volunteer to help with this year’s VBS and church school kick off! Volunteers will be needed in a variety of areas such as leading games, crafts, stories, being a VBS Crew Leader, and helping with snacks. Please contact Amanda Black at 229-0846 or [email protected] to volunteer.
Vacation Bible School
Under Construction is the theme for this year’s Vacation Bible School theme. Due to the current uncertainties surrounding summer activities, VBS will be a kickoff to the fall’s church school year and will be held on September 11th-13th. Children ages 3 through 6th grade are invited to join this weekend filled with games, music, crafts and fun! Registration forms may be found online at www.goodshepherdaberdeen.org under the Ministry drop-down menu or call the church office at 229-0846 to sign up.
Vacation Bible School Hours Friday, Sept. 11th: 5:30pm – 8pm Saturday, Sept. 12th: 9am – 12:30pm Sunday, Sept. 13th: 9am – 10am, followed by a potluck after worship
Church School Wrap Up & Registration
This past church school year has been one that no one will forget anytime soon. Students learned Bible stories in the classroom, in large group activities, by watching lessons on Facebook, by doing activities at home and by joining Zoom meetings. The events of this year have taught us that learning about God and being a Christian doesn’t happen only by being at church. We can be good Christians and share God’s love wherever we may be. Thank you to all of the church school students & volunteers for their flexibility and ability to adapt to different ways of learning this year.
Registration for the fall is now open and you are encouraged to register early! Registering early helps ensure we have enough supplies and volunteers for the fall! A reminder to fill in all of the information on the registration form to ensure we have up-to-date information for your family.
Our church school & confirmation programs depend on numerous volunteers in order to run smoothly. Prior to the events of COVID-19, Good Shepherd relied on 32 volunteers for church school and confirmation each week. Church school teachers and Confirmation Guide leaders are needed for next year. Middle school and high school youth are encouraged to volunteer along with adults! If you would like to be a part of our church school or confirmation program, please contact Amanda Black at 229-0846.
STUDENT REGISTRATION 2020-2021 Church School & Confirmation Registration
*Please fill out ALL information before returning to the Church Office. We
will use this information to update our church records. Thank you very much!
Name________________________ Date of Birth________ Age (by Oct. 1st)____ Grade___ Name________________________ Date of Birth________ Age (by Oct. 1st)____ Grade___
Name________________________ Date of Birth________ Age (by Oct. 1st)____ Grade___ Name________________________ Date of Birth________ Age (by Oct. 1st)____ Grade___
Parent/Guardian(s) Name _____________________________________________________
Address____________________________________________________________________ Home Phone________ Mom’s Work___________ Dad’s Work__________
Mom’s Cell_________ Dad’s Cell__________ **Good Shepherd has my permission to text this (these) phone number(s). Yes ______ No _______
Email Address: ______________________________ Emergency Contact (include name, relationship to child, address, phone #s)_______________ ____________________________________________________________________________ Please check all that you would like to register for: ____Sunday Church School (3 yrs-6th grade) ____Wednesday Church School (3 yrs-6th grade) ____Confirmation (7th-10th grade) ____Children’s Vocal Choir (4 yrs thru 6th grade) ____Children’s Bell Choir (3rd-8th grades)
Special Concerns/Food Allergies: ________________________________________________________________________ I give permission for my minor child to be photographed or videotaped during church-sponsored activities. Photographs or videos may be used for promoting our programs to include, but not limited to, publication in the newsletter and website.
Parent/Guardian Signature ________________________ Date ______________________ **Church School and Activities will begin in September 2020 and run through the academic year,
ending in May 2021. Questions? Call Amanda Black at 229-0846 for more information. Additional forms
are available on the website.
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Silent Auction Items Needed
In order to make our online silent auction a successful one, your help is needed! Do you have an experience that you could auction, such as making a meal or a dessert for the highest bidder? Maybe you own a pontoon and could offer the highest bidder a ride on your pontoon. Youth can offer to mow a lawn. We are looking for volunteers to offer an experience that could be auctioned during the silent auction.
We will also take donations of gift cards or new items for the silent auction. Please contact Amanda Black at 229-0846 or [email protected] to donate an item or an experience.
After careful consideration, the decision has been made to cancel Good Shepherd’s annual rummage sale that was scheduled for July 28th and 29th. We are disappointed that we won’t be able to hold the rummage sale as we know many people in the community look forward to this event. However, we feel it is necessary for the well-being of not only our church members but also our community members.
Because the rummage sale is the largest fundraiser for the youth of Good Shepherd, a silent auction will be held at a later date in order to help our youth raise funds for next year’s National Youth Gathering and future summer camps & mission trips.
Decorate the Parking Lot The parking lot has been very empty the past couple of months and we are looking forward to when it can be filled with cars once again. Let’s bring some life back to Good Shepherd’s parking lot by decorating a parking spot in the south lot!
During the week of June 1st every household is invited to come and decorate a parking spot in the south parking lot! Bring your own sidewalk
chalk or, some chalk will be set outside near the front door for anyone who doesn’t have chalk. Come at a time that works best for you and your family, pick a parking spot to decorate and let your creativity flow! Once you are done decorating, take a picture of your decorated parking spot and post it to the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church’s Facebook page or email your pic to [email protected]. Don’t have a camera? Let the Good Shepherd staff know which spot you decorated and we’ll take a picture for you!
High School Graduates are Invited to Participate in Something New
PASSAGE: PASSAGE will connect graduated high school seniors to young adult small group leaders for conversation, prayer, and more. Based on Isaiah 43, PASSAGE will be centered on mutual support and wrestling with faith and life in times of transition.
Registration for graduated seniors opens May 27! Groups meet June 15 - July 31. Learn more at elcayouthministry.com/passage/
From the Bishop’s Desk Lutheran Social Services in South Dakota (LSS SD) and the South Dakota Synod office have had a longstanding relationship for the sake of ministry to the neighbor. As I began my call as your Bishop, we were faced with flooding across the eastern part of the state, which followed a long winter, wet spring and summer. I reached out to LSS SD to see if we can partner to bring hope and tools to be a caring neighbor to the neighbor in our rural communities. I espe-cially asked about a tool that can be accessed from the comfort of one's home to empower the individual to be confi-dent about reaching out with a message of hope and practical steps to a neighbor that might be hurting. LSS SD went to work and developed such a web-based tool, called Psychological First Aid. This is a web based self guided resource that allows lay people and rostered leaders alike to acquire new skills in times of stress and grief to walk alongside community members with confidence and hope. Please look for detailed instructions on how to access and utilize this tool to the well-being of your community in the coming weeks. Thank you LSS SD for your part-nership in ministry and you, ministry site partner, for being a good neighbor. Well done, good and faithful servants.
Journeying with you in Christ, Bishop Constanze
Blessings in the midst of chaos Rev. Jonathan Steiner Although our world has been rather chaotic lately, there are still so many things to give thanks for. God has blessed us with a life together, with a community to be part of, and with blessings in so many shapes and forms. One of those blessings is that we are stewards, caretakers of God's creation and everything in it. How are you taking care of what God has entrusted to you? How might you share your blessings with your neighbors?
Wooden spools from thread are needed for a Bazaar project. If you have any you would like to donate,
Who Do I Ask About Good Shepherd Women-Sharon Bossert Good Shepherd Men-Clay Dykema Ushers/Communion Assistants– Carl Anderson Reception Coordinators: Funeral-Mona Kapfenstein, Deb Nerland Wedding/Anniversary-Renea Wensmann, Leesa Christenson Library -Dorothy Brown, Ann Aman Altar Guild - Sandy Cahoy Food Pantry—Marty Axlund
Executive Council President-Rosemary Eisenbeisz President Elect-Matt Scott Treasurer-Kathie Getty Secretary-Connie Getty
Board Chairs Properties- Life and Growth-Brenda White, Renea Wensmann Evangelism-Earl Martell Mission-Wende Lewis Stewardship-Wade Douglas Worship-June Martell, Phyllis Donat Nominations-Mary Oleson, Brittany Konda Youth- Worship Schedule September-May: Sunday 8:30am and 10:45am; Wednesday 6:20pm (Sanctuary) June-August: Sunday 8:30am and 10:00am; Wednesday 6:20pm (Chapel)