Pastor Rike’s Message – Feb 2020
A New Year
This is the first newsletter sent in the new year. As such there are a number of important pieces of information to be shared. First, the current year marks the 125th year of ministry for our congregation.
Good Shepherd traces its beginning to the thirty members who formally organized the Aspinwall Evangelical Lutheran Church on April 15, 1895. On May 3, 2020 we will celebrate and give thanks for the past even as we look toward the future. There will be a single worship service on May 3 with a banquet in the Fellowship Hall after the service.
As we enter into this 125th year of ministry there are number of activities that are being planned. These activities grew out of conversations at a December 2019 Council Meeting. These ideas were presented to the congregation at the Annual Meeting on January 26.
Since then three working groups have been organized and have been meeting. One of them, entitled “Chopped” is focused on a fundraising type of event that would involve chefs from the area preparing a meal using the same ingredients a needy family might receive in a distribution from a food bank.
The second event, entitled “Noah’s Ark” will take place June 6 and will likely involve a petting zoo on the grounds of the church property. The third event or series of events involves Art, Theology, Conversation and possibly trips to local venues and establishments.
At the February Council officers were selected from among those elected by the congregation at the Annual Meeting. John Gulakowski will serve as President, George Stathis as Vice-President, Dee Stathis as Secretary, and Deb Pegher as Treasurer.
Worship in Lent
Our congregation uses a three year schedule of Bible readings for worship. We share this schedule, called a Lectionary, with Roman Catholics, Episcopalians, and some Methodists and Presbyterians. The Lectionary readings scheduled for this year during Lent contain extended passages from the Gospel according to John (in some cases entire chapters are to be read).
In order to hear these readings from the Gospel we will not be using the appointed Second Reading (mostly from the book of Romans – see below) during Lent. Instead, a hymn or other music will follow the First Reading, leading to the reading from the Gospel.
Similarly, the First Reading each week will be proclaimed from a Children’s Bible and make use of pictures. The children will be invited to come forward after the Prayer of the Day so they can see those pictures.
After the First Reading and during the hymn or music that comes before the Gospel the children will return to their families. During Lent the musical portions of the liturgy we will using from setting 10 in the hymnbook. This setting makes use of familiar hymn tunes and was used at Good Shepherd several years ago.
Bible Study on Romans
As mentioned above, the appointed readings from Romans will not be proclaimed in worship during Lent this year. Instead, the regular 9:30 a.m. Bible Study on Sunday will focus on Paul’s letter to the Romans. A Study Guide is available. If you would like a copy of the Study Guide please use the sign-up sheet in the narthex or contact Pastor Rike.
Teach Your Children Well!
At several important points in the book of Deuteronomy Moses reminded the people of God, “Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” (from Deuteronomy 6:6-9 and in a similar form Deuteronomy 11:13-17)
As was mentioned in the sermon on February 16, we also need to have God’s commands constantly before us. To help us do that there is a booklet in the narthex you may use during Lent. There is a short passage from Luther’s Small Catechism appointed for every day of Lent.
The Catechism appears deceptively “easy.” However, the depth it conveys is something that Luther himself wrote that he could never master. Those who wish to explore the treasure that is the Catechism and explore its depth are encouraged to contact Pastor Rike to arrange either individual conversation or a time when a group may gather to do so (see below).
Prayer, Tea, and/ or Talk
Finally, those who wish and are able to do so are encouraged to join Pastor Rike on Wednesdays at noon in the church. He will be praying the Great Litany (more information on that in the sermon on March 1). Even if you cannon join him at that time copies of the Great Litany will be available in the narthex and, you may use them on your own at that or another convenient time.
Pastor Rike will be available for Tea and conversation on Wednesdays before or after that prayer service. Please know, you can also schedule a time to speak with him.
Blessings for a Holy Lent