Friday, February 13, 2009

Good Shepherd Update Friday February 13th, 2009

Dear Good Shepherd,

I know this is a late Update...but here it is....There are some new details since yesterday, so please be sure to read it all.

We are not yet ready to post anything publicly online, but if you have not yet read your email, please do so. The letter I sent out by email yesterday will also be published in our bulletin on Sunday so people without internet access will be able to read it too. Suffice it to say that God's grace is both suprising and immeasurable.

Women's Bible Study will be held in the church this week.Micah's Sermon Still waiting for the text of Micah's excellent sermon from last week so I can post it here and on the website

Bible Talk at BU: In case you missed my talk on the nature of scripture at BU's Intervarsity Fellowship, here is part 1. Part 2 will be posted next week.

The Shepherd's Bowl: There were over 25 people at the Shepherd's Bowl this Thursday which is fantastic...that tells us that word about the new location for the meal, Conklin Avenue Baptist Church, is finally getting out. It was great to see so many from CABC volunteering to help our Shepherd's Bowl team last night. If you would like to volunteer to participate on a team, please let Kurt Osgood know.

Thank You to everyone who helped organize, prepared a meal, or served in any way during the International Feast last Sunday. There were so many different dishes from around the world that I lost count...and they were all delicious. It was such a rousing success, I think we've decided to make this an annual feast.

Good News: There were 123 people in church last Sunday. 112 the Sunday before. Thanks be to God who has blessed us in so many ways. Now let's get out there and tell people about Jesus.

Thursday Night Bible Study will start up again next Thursday at Conklin Avenue Baptist after the Shepherd's Bowl at 6:30pm.

Jeanette Ricker: The memorial service for Jeanette will be held at 11:00am this coming Wednesday at our present location...356 Conklin Avenue. Sympathy cards for Jeanette Ricker's family can be sent to; David Ricker at 30 Brookline Dr., Clifton Park, NY 12065

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper: As you may or may not know, we are planning a huge celebration for Shrove Tuesday (which is the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday...Mardi Gras for you pagans out there : ).... ) and we are inviting as many people as possible in the neighborhood to come and share pancakes and a fun safe evening. We'll be passing out flyers in the neighborhood beginning next week. We will certainly need your help. There is a sign-up sheet downstairs in the Parish Hall. There is a great variety of tasks. Please volunteer to help with this outreach event. We need you .

Palm Branches: Please bring your palms from last Palm Sunday to church this Sunday (February 15) and next (February 22). These will be burned at the close of the Shrove Tuesday Event in preparation for Ash Wednesday.

Applesauce: After Women's Bible Study we will be making applesauce to be frozen for the Shrove Tuesday Supper. Please come with a bag (or two) of apples and plastic containers.

Christian Education: Christ and Culture: The next cultural influence we'll tackle...beginning this Sunday... is Hedonism. No more need be said. See you there.I think that is all.

Youth Update From Micah: Youth Group will be happening at its normal times this week. Remember Junior High's new meeting time on Sunday, 2-4. Senior High is still meeting at 6-8. Now, I have two words for the Senior High...SKI TRIP! I know it's begun to warm up, so it's very important that we do this as soon as possible. I have set a tentative ski date as March 7. I will be bringing in permission slips. The total cost for the ski trip is $85. So start saving now! Now, last year, just about everybody dropped out at the last minute. This year, to guard against that, I will need permission slips and money from you by March 1st.

Junior High, if you are interested in going tubing soon, please let me know.Youth Tip #3...This one is aimed at the older folks and parents. Take an active interest in younger parents. You've been where they have been, you know what it's like. Take some time to offer encouragement and ideas to parents who are going through tough things. We are very lucky to have a church that spans multiple generations. Let's take advantage of it. Younger parents, be willing to listen and take whatever advice is being given to you.

Don't forget to invite your friends, family and neighbors to church...

Good News for the Week:
Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” (Mark 10:29-31)

3 comments:

M said...

Father Matt, I'm not a member of your congregation, but felt heartened by the hint of possible good news when I read last evening's blog post. You've all been in my thoughts and prayers and am very hopeful about the good news. I look forward to learning more when you are able to tell us. BTW, I had telephoned Anne a few week's back to ask if you both would have any use for a brand new 12 cup coffeemaker that I was given for Christmas. It's a lovely one, never used, I don't need it because I'd purchased a new one a few week's before Christmas when my older one had broken down. Anne said she would ask you, but I didn't know until after reading her blog the next day that she'd been ill. She'd told me that night that she would have you email me. Thought I'd mention it in case she'd not been able to tell you because she wasn't feeling well.

Matt Kennedy said...

Dear M,

Thank you for this note. And thank you also for the offer of your coffeemaker. Anne must have forgotten to let me know...if I remember correctly she was quite miserable. One of the (personally) sad things about leaving good shepherd was leaving behind our very nice 4 pot restaurant style coffee maker. We are now left with two regular coffee makers for the church which just doesn't cut it. A third would really help us and we would be very grateful.

We would like to pay shipping etc...if you could contact me by email

lambeth@flash.net

we can discuss this more.

Thank you again...and there is some good news. I'll be able to say something next week.

Anonymous said...

Dear Father Matt,

I,too, am a longtime SFIF reader (and friend of Sarah H!). You all have been in my prayers and I very much look forward to hearing your good news! God bless! Liz Forman