The Shepherd’s Voice Our mission is to be more visible, to become more con-nected, and to draw closer, with Christ as our center.

Inside:

Prayer List

Help Needed

Council Highlights

Blessing of Pets

Book Club

Community Supper

Quilting News

Oktoberfest

Christian Meditation

Sunday Evening Worship

Educational Event

Noteables Concert

Joint Reformation Event

Reformation Events

Congregation Breakfast

Happy Birthday

Treasurer’s Report

Not too long ago (25 years?) Reformation Sunday for Lutherans was the most important festival between Easter and Christmas. Congregations not only decked themselves out in red but often brought brass music and all the festival elements they could. Yet due to centuries of conflict the subtext became a subtle hostility towards the Roman Catholic church. Gradually the observance reflects a need for continued reformation and dialogue and reconciliation among all Christians. To a large ex-tent, Lutherans are the only denomination that celebrates a yearly liturgical festival. It is important that our current celebra-tions hold a balance between gratitude for the Word of God set-ting Itself free and gratitude for our Lutheran tradition, while be-ing mindful of our place within the whole Body of Christ. As par-ticipation in churches declines rapidly in the Northern Hemi-sphere, this is a good time to contemplate the future need to join together beyond the walls of denominations in many different ways.

LV

PD

October 2017

Members: Mary Ruesch, Clare McElaney, Linda Bespuda, Diane Hensel, Gordon Cleland, Ron Haven, Ar-lene Juliano, Don Juliano, Miriam Kursawe, Brian Amado, and Sarah Mora.

Family & Friends of Members: Ray, friend of Vic Johnson; Jack, relative of Donna Duessel; Eddy, relative of Nina & Ken Furnes; Dorothy, aunt of Susan Chin; Deanna, friend of Miriam Kursawe; Marilyn, friend of Miriam Kursawe; Stu, friend of Lil Tesoriero; Ed, friend of Lil Tesoriero; James, friend of Lil Tesoriero; Paul, friend of Lil Tesoriero; John, relative of Donna Duessel; Pearl, friend of Janet Szulga; Ed, friend of Vic & Ellie Noll & Sam Barate; Mark, friend of Vic & Ellie Noll & Sam Barate; Madeline & Marc, friends of Cindy & Tim Carlson; Bonnie, friend of Eileen Remlin; Nick, relative of Vic & Ellie Noll & Sam Barate; Dave, brother of Donna Dues-sel.

Special Prayers for Armed Forces Personnel: Tyler, AJ, Matt, Kenny, Brian.

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

Psalm 147 vs. 3

The Prayer Requests Notebook is on the table in the narthex. If you would like to add a loved one to the list, simply write the name in the book. If you would like a prayer card sent to your loved one, please include the full name and address. Prayer requests may also be made by email or phone and will be included in the notebook by the church office. Should a loved one need prayers for longer than three months, simply add their name to the list again. To keep the list current and up to date, only the names recorded in the Prayer Request for Family & Friends Notebook will be listed on the prayer list. If you have not recorded a loved one’s name, please do

so.

2 The Shepherd’s Voice

Should you be in need of pastoral care, please contact Pastor Doug Ryniewicz by cell phone (860-595-9560—text if you like!) or by his email address (dearynos@gmail.com).

We are in need of people to help count the Sunday offering. You work in teams of three after the 10:30 worship service. You will be assigned for two Sundays in a row, several times a year. Please speak with Vic Noll, Susan Chin, or anyone on Church Council to be part of this important ministry.

3 The Shepherd’s Voice

Highlights from Your Church Council

September 18, 2017

Attendees: Pastor, Susan Chin, Billie Flaherty, Karen Merrick, David Wang, Cindy Carlson, Walt Bills, Jessica Thom, Donna Hoffman, Eileen Holleran, Lisa Lilly and Brian Immel.

Pastor Report: Pastor reported that congregants were happy to have both 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. ser-vices back. Pastor is considering keeping 8:00 a.m. service next summer perhaps without music. Coun-cil will prepare a survey in March regarding preference for summer worship services. Pastor held two 5:30 p.m. worship services this fall and had 7 in attendance. He performed a funeral, a memorial service and will perform a wedding for Raymond & Krista on Sept. 30th. Pastor Leo will cover September 24 when Pastor is a retreat leader for the School of Lay Ministry at Calumet. Pastor will attend the required Bishop’s Convocation for pastors in West Hartford Oct 23-25. Clare is enjoying Pacific Lutheran Semi-nary and has an 8-week assignment in San Francisco. She has a blog and invited all to follow it.

Worship and Music Committee Report: Walt Bills looked performer Peter Griggs up online and said that he played several string instruments and was very good. He suggested that we advertise if we schedule him to play at Good Shepherd. Karen Merrick suggested that we book him for January 6th which is 12th Night.

Stewardship: Billie Flaherty presented the Stewardship 2017 Annual Response outline. She will con-duct the Temple Talk the 1st week (10/1); Carlson family 2nd week (10/8); Sue Chin 3rd week (10/15); and Walt Bills 4th week (10/22). October 29th is Commitment Sunday. Sue thanked Billie for taking up Stew-ardship again this year.

Hurricane Response: $750 was collected and $1000 from the Emergency Fund will be added to send to Lutheran Disaster Response. It was decided to keep the collection open because of impending Hurri-cane Maria.

Audit Results: Renee Jackson conducted the audit and recommended that the Emergency Fund which has a $1,500 balance be reallocated and closed due to inactivity. Council decided that $1,000 would go to Lutheran Disaster Response (see Hurricane Response above) and $500.00 to disabled Calumet Campers.

Marketing/PR/Advertising: Eileen will talk to Karen Jackson about dates for an October Fest. We will have a brunch after the 10:30 a.m. service on October 29th to wrap up Commitment Sunday and cele-brate Reformation Sunday.

Respectfully submitted by Donna Hoffman, Secretary

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to speak with a council member or Pastor Doug:

Walt Bills

Trudi Black

Cindy Carlson

Sue Chin

Billie Flaherty

Donna Hoffman

Eileen Holleran

Brian Immel

Karen Jackson

Lisa Lilly

Karen Merrick

Jessica Thom

Dave Wang

Kyle Immel - Youth

Representative

4 The Shepherd’s Voice

The next meeting will be on Tuesday, October 3, 2017 at 1:30 p.m. when we will discuss “Small great things” by Jodi Picoult. In November we will discuss “Without A Map” by Mere-dith Hall. In December we will discuss “Ordinary Grace” by William Kent Krueger. Kathy Goulet is delighted to answer any questions you may have about the book club and looks forward to hav-ing you join in the discussion.

"Blessing of Pets" at Good Shepherd!!

"all things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small...

all things wise and wonderful the Lord God loves them all"

Sunday, October 1 at 2 p.m.

Return to church with your pets to celebrate the blessing that all earth's creatures are to us from God the Creator and Sustainer of all life. We will meet out on the lawn in a wondrous cacophony of yipping and meow-ing and singing. Use of cat carriers, dog leashes and safe containers for smaller pets like hamsters and snakes is highly recommended!

PLEASE invite friends, neighbors and other family members to bring themselves and their pets as well!! Please come even if you wish to remember and give thanks for the pets you used to have. Having a pet is not even required to attend! It will be a joyful sacred time!

5 The Shepherd’s Voice

Quilting News

The Shepherd’s Flock Quilters will meet October 7 & 21, 2017 from 9:30 a.m. to noon as we sew, iron, cut and assemble quilts for the needy. Feel free to come and go as you need. If you have questions, please speak with Ellie Noll. No experience is needed, just your willing hearts and hands.

Community Supper - October 4, 2017

at Golden Hill Methodist Church,

Golden Hill Street, Bridgeport

Cooks and set up crew needed. We start at 2:30 - 3:00 p.m. If you haven't already signed up and would like to help, please put your name on the list in the narthex. We can discuss car pooling if you want to. Any questions, please speak to Peg Wesche or anyone who has attended a supper before. Thank you!

This year we are trying something new. Would you like to join us for this event? It looks like lots of fun for all ages. Please speak with Karen Jackson or Eileen Holleran for more details.

6 The Shepherd’s Voice

Sunday Night At Good Shepherd

We welcome anyone to join us for any reason that may be helpful to you for Sunday Evening Worship. We celebrate a relaxing and meditative Service of Word and Sacrament. Bring a friend or neighbor! We gather at 5:30 p.m. on the following dates:

October 15 and 29

November 12

December 3 and 17

Christian Meditation Instruction and Practice

Many people in our society are benefiting from practicing forms of meditation that trace their roots to an-cient religious traditions of the East such as Hinduism (yoga, TM) and Buddhism (zen and mindfulness meditation).

Christians may benefit greatly from such practices. However, most are completely unaware of the rich treasure of ancient and distinctly Christian meditation practices that have watered the personal prayer lives of members of the church for many centuries. These practices are proven ways of lowering the resistances we have to a fuller awareness of God the Loving Trinity in the midst of our daily lives. On a secondary level they may nourish both mental, emotional and physical well being.

Gathering together on one Friday evening of October, November and December we will have a month to practice a prayer form and then "check - in" with a supportive group the next meeting time.

We will meet in the Lounge at 7pm

October 13, November 10 and December 8.

7 The Shepherd’s Voice

EDUCATIONAL EVENT—ALL ARE INVITED

Discerning Information about Muslims and Islam in a Polarized America:

Resources for Congregations

Led by Rev. Dr. David D. Grafton, Professor of Islamic Studies and Christian-Muslim Relations, Hartford Seminary

Saturday, October 14, 2017 8:30 A.M. - 3:45 P.M.

Given the presence of groups such as al-Qaida and DAESH (ISIS) there has been a dramatic surge in com-peting sources of information regarding Muslims and Islam. Debates about Islam seem to be stuck across the aisles in an attempt to argue that Islam is inherently either a violent religion bent on destroying America, or a religion of peace that is simply misunderstood. Public rhetoric fans the flames of fear that have gripped Ameri-can society. For leaders who must respond to such issues within religious communities, proper perspective is crucial. This workshop will help Christian leaders navigate the sources of information, critically engage re-sources, and provide opportunities to think through practical issues that move communities beyond fear and toward engagement with American Muslims as potential partners in working for the public good.

Please join us at Emanuel Lutheran Church, 60 Church Street, Manchester, CT 06040-5117

Cost of $20 includes lunch. To register for this event, e-mail Sandy Talbot at talbot@snet.net.

This event is sponsored by the New England Synod School of Lay Ministry Graduate Events Committee

A Joint Lutheran/Roman Catholic Service of Solemn Vespers

On the

Commemoration of the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation

October 29, 2017

Concordia Lutheran Church, Manchester, CT

Vespers at 4 p.m

Recital of Organ Works to begin at 3:30 p.m.

Presiding Bishops

Archbishop Leonard Blair, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hartford

Bishop Jim Hazelwood, New England Synod of the ELCA

The Noteables

Led by Vic Johnson

Invite you to a performance at Good Shepherd

on Sunday, October 22, 2017

at 3:00 p.m.

8 The Shepherd’s Voice

500 Years Commemoration of the Lutheran Reformation

Members of our congregation have been invited to attend events marking this important anniversary. Both events will be held on Roman Catholic turf!

October 25 - Dr. Kirsi Stjerna of Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary will offer a presentation: "Was Luther's Jesus a Jew?"

November 1 - Dr. Carlos Eire will speak on "Reformations". Dr. Eire is an expert on both Lutheran and Catholic Reformations.

Both these are at 7:30 p.m. in the School of Business dining room at Fairfield University. All welcome, no charge.

500th Anniversary

of the Reformation

Congregational

Breakfast

Sunday, October 29, 2017

9:15 a.m.

You are invited to a delicious breakfast in Gibiser Hall to celebrate the 500th Anniver-sary of the Reformation and the conclusion of the Live Generously Stewardship Drive. Please sign up on the bulletin board in the narthex or call the church office so that we

make sure we have enough delicious break-fast casseroles, donuts, fruit, juices and

more for everyone!

The current month’s birthday listing is posted on the bulletin board outside of the Pastor’s office. If your birthday is not listed, please contact the church office and the files will be updated. We do not want to miss anyone’s birthday.

Linda Bespuda 1-Nov

Bob Mc Farland 1-Nov

Justin Thom 1-Nov

Kristen Baron 2-Nov

Vicki Creutz 12-Nov

Ewald Steinnagel 12-Nov

Bob Carlson 13-Nov

Jill Schmidt 16-Nov

Lori Wheeler 16-Nov

Hilary Vojtek 17-Nov

Ethan Hoffman 19-Nov

Donald Juliano 19-Nov

Donna Duessel 20-Nov

Hans Liechti 22-Nov

Robert Wheeler 23-Nov

Cheryl Aubrey 25-Nov

Christa Buck 27-Nov

Dorothy Miller 27-Nov

Joan Doherty 28-Nov

Nancy Johnson 28-Nov

Sam Barate 30-Nov

Kristen Cavaliere 30-Nov

Linda Suhr 30-Nov

9 The Shepherd’s Voice