THE LUTHERAN CHURCH OF THE GOOD SHEPHERDA RECONCILING IN CHRIST CONGREGATION OF THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA

~.CONNECTIONS.~

February 2020We gather to worship God as a faith community on Sunday mornings at 9:30am

Sunday Camp faith formation for school-aged children is offered on First and Third Sundays, simultaneously with worship, during the school year.

We welcome ALL people. We look forward to seeing you!

FROM THE PASTORLENT at the Lutheran Church of the Good ShepherdLent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 26. We will gather before God to remember who we are as well as who God is and what we need to please our creator. The service of Holy Communion and the Imposition of Ashes begins at 7:00 PM. Please plan to be there. It’s a solemn way to begin our forty day’s journey and to be reminded of God’s loving heart for us and for all people. Every Wednesday in Lent we will gather for a simple supper of soup and bread beginning at 6:30. Following that we will sing Mart

Haugen’s Evening Prayer. After that we have choir rehearsals and confirmation classes. Please sign up to help with the supper bringing soup and/or bread. Sunday, April 5 is Palm Sunday, the day we receive palms to carry into our homes as a sign of welcoming Jesus into our homes. We also read the Passion and death of our Lord from Matthew’s Gospel. Like all the services throughout Lent, we will worship at 9:30 AM.Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday. Services will be held on Thursday, April 9 at 7:00 PM. This day is Maundy Thursday (the name comes from Jesus giving us a “new commandment” to love one another as he did for his disciples in washing their feet. “Maundy” comes from the Latin word Mandatum, commandment). The altar will be stripped of vestments in preparation for Good Friday.On April 10 we gather again to observe Good Friday, the day Jesus died. The service

will be at 7:00 PM. Easter Day is April 12, the Resurrection of our Lord. We worship at 9:30 AM as we hear that Jesus is alive and living in his people today.

News from the Congregational Council Ron Lee, President

LCGS: Plan to finish our mortgage 10 years early, and annual meeting actions.• Can we finish our mortgage early? Since our mortgage is scheduled to be paid up in 2034, it is exciting to think that maybe, just maybe, that might happen ten years earlier. The illustration on page 2 (below) shows how this might happen, with extra commitments and efforts by us in time, talents, and monetary gifts – all equally important. Actions in the black boxes of the illustration reduce the principal of the mortgage. They have happened in past years, some just in 2019, and are part of LCGS’s overall plan for the next three years, 2020, 2021, and 2022. The LCGS plan is titled “Invest-ing in Our Future”, and I add, through time, talents, and monetary gifts. The boxes in red, holding a yard sale each year and cleaning all or part of the church by us, could result in additional funds reduc-ing the principal. The yard sale was done last year, but no commitment for the future has been made. Both actions have been suggested by members and discussed in the council. Let’s think and talk about what might be possible.• Mortgage Reduction/Capital Appeal ongoing. As a very important part of our plan discussed above, the Mortgage Reduction/Capital Appeal for three years has started and will continue through Sunday, Feb. 23. Copies of the campaign bulletin are at the church for you to pick up, read, and use for submitting your pledge; the bulletin will also be sent to you. Our goal is $95,000, which will cover yearly mortgage payments (principal and interest) of $30,024 for each of the next three years, 2020, 2021 and 2022. Please prayerfully consider your response.• Congregation votes to approve LCGS 2020 operation budget. The 2020 budget was developed by the Finance Committee and approved by the Council. Congregational approval happened at our annual meeting on Sunday, January 26. The budget anticipates an operating income of $102,777, op-erating expenses of $53,344, and payroll expenses of $57,974, totaling $111,318. There is a deficit of -$8,541. Details of the 2020 budget are in the LCGS Annual Report. The Council approved having a mid-year 2020 budget review and correction in July, with the understanding that major corrections will need to be accepted by the congregation.• Congregation approves the first LCGS background-check policy. The following policy was ap-proved at the annual meeting: All adults (greater than or equal to 18 years of age) who wish to work (volunteer oras an employee) with children and youth must register, receive and pass a national background check prior to working with the children/youth. The application for background check must be made from the town in which the prospective worker resides with the results sent directly to the church. Ad-ditional periodic rechecksmust be made every three years per worker. The details regarding the implementation of this policyas well as any future safe church policies regarding youth, shall be enforced by the leader of Chris-tianEducation for the church given that the leader will have already undergone a background checkthemselves. With this action, LCGS makes its first step in adopting a Safe Church Policy, encouraged for all churches by the New England Synod. Jen Kimber, our leader of Christian Education, will be overseeing implementation of this policy. If you have suggestions or questions, please talk to her.• Congregation elects members to various posts. Elected council members include Marie Bender Lee and Avis O’Neill for second terms; Gail Eastwood-Stokes, David Nunez, Kathy Vigness Raposa and Annie Senerchia for first terms. New Nomination Committee members are Deb Crary, Jean Vi-can, Arlene Anderson, and Avis O’Neill. The 2020 Synod Assembly voting members are David Black-well and Donna Gilton. A big thank you to all of these members willing to contribute their time and tal-ents for thesepositions.

INVESTING IN OUR FUTUREThrough Time, Talents and Monetary gifts-2020, 2012, 2022

Sunday Readings in February, 2020February 2 - Fourth Sunday after Epiphany Micah 6:1-8 – The people of Israel turned faith solely into works done according to traditions. The prophet Micah reminds them that the genuine sacrifice God looks for is to do justice, love kindness,

and to walk with humility with God.1 Corinthians 1:18-31 – The Christian community in Corinth was badly divided among many different groups.  Paul’s message comes as reminder that the only thing that matters is Jesus and his cross which is the foundation of our faith; pedigree is foolishness.  The world does not understand the cross. It is a reminder of what it means to follow Jesus, something to be seen in the life of his people.Matthew 5:1-12 – The fifth through the seventh chapters of Matthew is the first of Jesus’ teaching section in this gospel.  This is the “Sermon on the Mount”. In this opening section Jesus teaches about blessedness or happiness and peace.  But as is typical of Jesus, this places of blessedness would not be where most people would even expect to have blessings.  This section reveals an im-portant truth: God’s ways are not the world’s ways.

February 9 – Fifth Sunday after EpiphanyIsaiah 58:1-12 – God is not impressed with sacrifices and fasts we take on to make ourselves look good.  God speaks through the prophet that the fast God delights in is standing up for others, those considered not worth attending to.  It is to “loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke.”  The authentic life as one of God’s peo-ple is seeking justice and respect for the outsider or stranger in need.1 Corinthians 2:1-16 – Paul reminds the church in Corinth that he came to proclaim the reign of God in down-to-earth language.  He then proclaims that the wisdom of God seems foolish to the world, but the truth of this wisdom of humility means that we are open to being guided by and have God’s word as a special gift in our lives. Matthew 5:13-20 – Jesus reveals the truth that his followers are called to be salt and light in the world, to make a difference in the lives of others.  This is what the Law and prophets in the Hebrew Scriptures taught. Jesus continues their message and calls his people to do likewise.  

February 16 – Sixth Sunday after EpiphanyDeuteronomy 30:15-20 – Following the commands of God leads to life and even prosperity.  Ignoring God’s ways brings sadness and loss.1 Corinthians 3:1-9 – Paul reminds the Corinthians that arguing and sewing division in the church are signs of immaturity.  Ministry is given by God, not one person or group winning and another losing. All the life of the church community is given by God and leads back to God.Matthew 5:21-37 – Jesus teaches all who want to follow him that forgiveness is a center part of life with him.  It’s an important piece of how we live at peace with other people also. While we cannot make forgiveness happen, we can certainly refuse to accept it for others as well as for ourselves.

February 23 – Transfiguration of Our Lord, Last Sunday after EpiphanyExodus 24:12-18 – Just as Jesus spent forty days in the wilderness, so too Moses spent forty days on the mountain top in communion with God.  There Moses receives the Ten Commandments to share with God’s people.2 Peter 1:16-21 – The apostle writes about the revelation of Jesus as God’s Son and then declares that no Scripture is a matter on one’s individual interpretation, but rather the Holy Spirit guides those who seek to understand what the Scripture teaches.Matthew 17:1-9 – This event of the revelation of Jesus as God’s Son is connected with the resurrection by Jesus’ warning not to tell of it until after Jesus rises from the dead.  In a mystery of light and sound and vision, Peter, James, and John come to know Jesus in heavenly splendor. This is the same Jesus who will die on the cross to reveal to us God’s mercy, grace, and lovNEXT NEWSLETTER DEADLINE: February 24, 2020

Ongoing Prayers For:

Homebound, Hospice, or Skilled Care: John Phillips, Marilyn Lindstrom at Scalabrini Villa, Marge Maki at South County Nursing & Rehab, Audrey Stein at St. Elizabeth’s in E. Greenwich.

Those who are ill or otherwise in need of prayerful support: Julie Guerin, daughter of Diane & Bob Guerin; John Guild, Lisa Lessmann’s father; Kris Bacon; Joe Scornavacci, friend of Diane & John Amaral; John Viselli and Jim Miceli, friends of David & Bernadette Spink; Nancy Rousseau; Josephine Guerin, mother of Bob Guerin; Cathy Taylor; Maria Manuela Dickerson, friend of Joyce Bourque; Eero Moisio, friend of Riitta Passananti; Aiden Mulligan; Karin Kohl; Jim & Ann Hazelwood, friends of Marie Bender Lee; Richard Mello, friend of Fred Baillargeron; David Gilton & Donald Cunnigen, brother and friend of Donna Gilton; Naomi Sawyer; Sheila Greene, friend of Jen Kimber; Audrey Stein; Karolyn Lee & Kathy Lee (Ron Lee’s sisters); John Russell and Joe Corcoran (brother-in-law & nephew-in-law, respectively, of Ken Kemp); Maggie Reichgott (Margie & John Bell’s granddaughter); Karen Perry (Naomi & Fred Sawyer’s daughter); Joyce Bourque, & her husband Dick; Ed Briggs along with Ruth & Allan McGuy (friends of Ken Kemp); Bob DeVito (friend of the Stokes &Vergun families); Carol & Carl Chiulli/ Samantha Sanzaro (siblings & niece of Geri Chiulli); Sally Bradley; Alice Babcock (friend of Avis O’Neill, Nancy Mowbray and Marge Maki), Jonathan Duffer (Nadia’s uncle); Barney (Jean Vican’s friend); Kurt Johnson & Richard Guisti (friends of Avis O’Neill); Lisa Lessmann & Taylor Lessmann (Ann & Richard’s daughter-in-law & granddaughter); John Brennan (friend of Joyce Bourque & the Stokes family); Dot Ashton (Gail & Ralph Stokes’s brother-in-law’s mom); J.P. Cottam, Rev Kit Wilke, & Joe Schifino (friends of Gail & Ralph Stokes); Graham Stokes.

Loved ones in the armed forces: Michael Bock, Mathew Kankash (Bobbi & Scott Teller’s sons-in-law); Heath O’Neill (husband of Liz Spink); Sam “Ed” Traver (Gail Stokes’s cousin); Raymond Hakey and Greg Charron (the Lessmanns’ nephew and great-nephew); Andrew Anderson (Leslie Sevey’s nephew); Noah Cooper (Avis O’Neill’s son-in-law); Manny Morales (Annie Senerchia’s son)

WELCOME HOUR TEAMS2- A. Senerchia, J. Vican, J. Deutsch9- A. O’Neill, M. Bell, A. Anderson16- K. Amitrano, M. Morrison 23-M. Bender Lee, D. Guerin

Worship Assistants for FebruaryLectors Assisting Ministers Altar Care2- E. Taylor 2- K. Amitrano 2-J. Vican9- S. Teller 9- M. Bender-Lee 9-K. Amitrano16- R. Stokes 16-D. Gilton 16- A. Lessmann23- K. Bacon 23-D. Guerin 23- J/B Deutsch

Communion Assistants Greeter/ Ushers2-A. O’Neill 2- R. Passananti/J. Vican9- A. Anderson 9- B/S Teller16- A. Lessmann 16- D/B Guerin23- J. Vican 23- J/B Deutsch

THANK YOU to all who help make our worship services happen!!

FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYSElisabeth RemmingVergun 3Geri Chiulli 4Kathy Vigness-Raposa 8Earle MacGillivray 9Nadia Duffer 9May Kimber 10Scott Lambert 11Avis O’Neill 24Brierley Raposa 27Benjamin Sevey 29

Happy birthday to all! May God bless you with a happy, healthy year.

LUTHERAN CHURCH OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD Pastor: The Reverend Dennis Kohl 401-787-2694

Parish Administrator/Office Manager: Karen Amitrano, 789-7776 (office), 286-8124 (home)

Please contact the church office for any pastoral needs or emergencies, or Council President Ron Lee

2020 CONGREGATIONAL COUNCIL: OFFICERS OF CHURCH COUNCIL

President-Ron LeeVice President- Secretary- Geri ChiulliTreasurer- Eric Taylor Thank you for your work and the work of all members of the council.

Ronald Lee 782-4297 Eric Taylor 783-3969Geri Chiulli 782-6466 Gail Eastwood Stokes 667-2803Fred Sawyer 603-986-7276 David Nunez 234-3283Ralph Stokes 440-3722 Kathy Vigness Raposa 295-0687Marie Bender-Lee 782-4297 Ann Senerchia 789-7196Avis O’Neill 783-9208

Announcements OUTREACH

The Domestic Violence Resource Center is planning a teen event in February, with focus on preven-tion and healthy relationships. More information later.

Interfaith Counseling Center (ICC) now has an office in Wakefieldon Tuesdays and Thursdays at Church of Ascension. Affordablecounseling available to all in need. Call ICC at 401 461 5234 formore information or to make an appointment.

Jonnycake needs are ongoing, as well as Mathewson St. Breakfast, so please keep the donations coming. They are very much appreciated.

A sign up sheet is on the bulletin board for people to make soup and bring bread, to be served before before the Holden Evening Prayer service during lent.

You’re invited to the Good Shepherd 

Chili & Chowder Cook-Off

Date: Saturday, February 29, 2020Time: 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Place: Good Shepherd ChurchDo you enjoy making chili or chowder? This is the perfect chance to show case your cooking skills and support a great cause. Signup sheets are on the bulletin board. We will also be hosting a bake sale table and looking for peo-

ple to donate baked goods. Signup sheet for this is also on the bulletin board.

A donation of $10. per person is suggested. This allows you to try chili & chowder samples from all participants and cast your vote for the Peoples' Choice Award! Please invite your friends and family. All are welcome.Proceeds to benefit Joyce Bourque’s Help Hope Live fund. Two years ago, Joyce received the mira-cle of a life-saving kidney transplant, thanks in part to the generosity of members of this congregation. But now her body is rejecting the kidney. Joyce needs our help again as she faces this new chal-lenge. Please help us to help Joyce? Participate in this find-raiser in whatever way you can, as cook or consumer--or both!

Dear Friends, if you haven’t been in church recently (or even if you have), we wanted you to have the information about helping Joyce Bourque to face the new complications that have arisen with her kidney transplant. She is SO grateful for the help and support our church was able to give her during the years leading up to her successful transplant two years ago. Remember praying and watching as her number rose on the waiting list? We still pray for her. But now she needs our help again. Her body is rejecting the kidney. 

We don’t know what lies ahead, but the medical expenses are already mounting as testing, diagnos-tics and treatments begin. Please see Jen Kimber’s details about the dinner being planned for Febru-ary 29, which we hope you’ll support! But also please note that you can send tax-deductible contribu-tions to help Joyce directly to her fund at Help Hope Live, which manages her account for the North-east Kidney Foundation. Holding the funds there protects Joyce’s medical and other benefits, as it is not considered income. Each time her account reaches certain thresholds, matching funds are re-leased, so your help can be the key to more help. Thank you for whatever you are able to do. 

Donate by credit card online at Joyce’s campaign page:  https://helphopelive.org/campaign/376/(click the yellow “Give” button on the left) 

Or donate by mailing a check, payable to:  Help Hope LiveNote in memo:  In honor of Joyce Bourque  (Important, to make sure the funds go to her account)Mail to:Help Hope Live2 Radnor Corporate Center,  Suite 100100 Matsonford RoadRadnor, PA 19087

February2020 LC of the Good ShepherdSunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1

9:30am Worship

2 1:00 Social Group

3 7:30am Peace Group9:30 Quilter’s

4 5 9:15am YOGA

6 7 8

9:30am Worship

9 10 117:30am Peace Group9:30 Quilter’s7pm Church Council

1211am Bible Study6-7 Confirmation7-choir

139:15am YOGA

14 15

16

9:30am Worship

171:00 Social Group

187:30am Peace Group9:30 Quilter’s

1911am Bible Study6-7 Confirmation7-choir

209:15am YOGA

21 22This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND

239:30am Worship

24 25 26ASH Wednesday

27 28 29Fund Raiser-Chili and Chowder Cook Off