The Shepherd’s Staff February/March 2013 Join us this Easter In a celebration of hope Sunday, March 31 Traditional Easter Services: 8:00 and 9:30am (Sanctuary) Contemporary Easter Service: 11:00 am (Sanctuary) Alternative Services: 8:01 am, 9:29am and 11:01am (Worship Center) Other Holy Week Opportunities: Maundy Thursday, March 28 7:00pm—Traditional (Sanctuary) Good Friday, March 29 7:00 pm—Tenebrae (Sanctuary) 8:30pm—Contemporary (Worship Center) No Service Saturday, March 30 Opportunities: Small Group and Mission Impact G reetings in the strong name of Jesus Christ! I hope that your Advent, Christmas and New Year celebrations have been filled with much joy and gratitude for “Immanuel...God with us”. Celebrations around 1310 Shepherd Drive were exciting and “Worth The Wait”! So now we begin a new year and I am hopeful that God will bring each of us deeper into life in Christ and into life together as his body. I have seen the transformation that occurs when people are intentional about where and how they will grow spiritually. Being in community and serving together are some of the best ways to grow. To that end I want to encourage everyone to get involved in two specific areas: First, now is a great time to become part of one of the many small group opportunities in the Good Shepherd community. There are groups that meet here at church as well as dozens of groups that meet in homes in the surrounding area. There are groups for every age, for men, women, married, single and more. There are groups designed to meet specific healing and recovery needs as well. There are groups that meet to serve, study, pray and do life together. For more information check the website, the bulletin, the connection sheet or email Pastor PJ at [email protected]. Second, now is a great time to check out the many opportunities for mission impact in 2013. We’ll be sending teams to faraway places like Guatemala and Honduras and we’ll also send teams to local missions like Feed My Starving Children and Hesed House. There are dozens of ways to extend the love of Christ to the world through Good Shepherd missions. Everyone can participate in ways both large and small. For more info simply check the website, the bulletin, the connection sheet or email Pastor Gary at [email protected] 2012 was a good year for some, a not-so-great year for others and if you are at all like me, it took some unexpected turns along the way. Through all of those highs and lows, those twists and turns, community and mission were crucial to my life in Christ. God is good to us. Thanks to all of you for your serving hearts, for your generous giving and for your commitment to the mission of Jesus in this world. I pray that you are filled with deep love and joy of the Holy Spirit. In Christ, Pastor Glen 2 Lent. Brings an opportunity for Reflection and WORSHIP: Date Location Time Worship Style Ash Wednesday February 13th Sanctuary 7:00pm Traditional, Communion with Imposition of Ashes Wednesday Lenten Services 2/20, 2/27, 3/6, 3/13, 3/20 Sanctuary 7:00pm Blended Fellowship Gatherings Activity Center 6:00pm 3 Wednesday PRE-Service Meals (select dates) 2/13, 2/27, 3/13 A L ENTEN J OURNEY — Good Shepherd is known for its multi-venue worship. What does that mean? Think of it as a multi-pronged approach, in this case towards the Cross of our Lord. It doesn’t matter what space, music, worship flow or sermon gets you there—it’s important you take the journey. We want to especially bring that to your attention as we enter Lent and our journey to Holy Week. To that end, the Worship Team has designed three very different approaches all of which deliver us to the miracle of Jesus’ resurrection. We encourage you to attend any and all of these services; deepen your faith and perhaps along the way get some insights and God’s answers to life’s many questions. W e d n e s d a y L e n t e n S e r i e s — “THE LORD’S PRAYER: LEAD US TO THE CROSS” Though we say the prayer that Jesus taught us week after week, are we really aware of its depth, its meaning and its transforming power? Beginning on Ash Wednesday Feb. 13th and each Wednesday throughout the 40 days of Lent we will explore this powerful tool for living that Jesus himself gave us. Change the rote recital into a spiritually uplifting indwelling—come with us each Wednesday as we illuminate THE LORD’S PRAYER. FELLOWSHIP GATHERINGS— This Lenten season we will provide three occasions for fellowship. Meals will be served on Feb. 13th (Ash Wednesday) Feb. 27th and March 13th. Bring your family and friends, enjoy the breaking of bread and stay for the enriching of your souls. 3 Here’s what’s ahead in Worship. Visit our website at www.goodshepherd-naperville.org for complete details about our current Sermon Series. You can also listen on-line to any weekly Sermon! “CRIES OF THE HEART” Sanctuary Series February 17th—March 17th Each Sunday in Lent we will listen to, examine and celebrate God’s songs: The Psalms. These ancient prayers in music will be our guide as they were for Christ Jesus. From rejoicing to lamentations, each week a different Psalm will be lifted up and take us further down the road to that week in Jerusalem where their prophecy is fulfilled. Let these remarkable CRIES OF THE HEART strengthen and comfort you. “BROKEN” Worship Center Series February 17th—March 17th Are you meant for brokenness or wholeness? Sin or Salvation? To live a life apart from God or fulfilled by Him? The Worship Center series faces the storms of life and shows how they are stilled in He who gave it all. Lent will become a way forward for you in this deeply affecting series. Learn that you are never alone, never without options and ultimately never to die through the faith in Jesus— He who heals the BROKEN. Holy Week and Easter Sunday Worship Opportunities listed on the front page. Bring a friend! We welcome ALL to come and grow in their relationship with God. Want to get involved on a deeper level? Serving opportunities within Worship always exist. Serving helps to connect you to the community and provides a sense of belonging. Please contact the Worship Team today to get connected! Sanctuary Worship Coordinator: [email protected] Worship Center Coordinator: [email protected] 4 The Cornerstone Café serves thousands of people each month, with the invaluable help of our many volunteers. This month, we asked a few questions of Micah Roberts who has been volunteering at the Café on Sunday mornings since it opened in 2010. What is your favorite part of being a Café Team Member? My favorite part of volunteering at the Café is getting to know different people including Pastor P.J. What initially made you decide to go through the volunteer training? I decided to volunteer at the café because I had the experience cleaning at my other jobs. What have you learned through this experience? I learned that talking to people can be easy and very hard, especially when people cannot stop talking about how good Green Bay Packers are…ha ha…but I push myself to talk to more people at the café. What is your favorite drink? :) I like trying all the new drinks. What would you say to someone who is considering volunteering at the Café? I would say that you can do it and always try your best, and you will experience God's love, and his never-ending will. An integral part of our Sunday team, Micah Roberts keeps the café seating area clean, tidy and ready for guests to enjoy. Not only is it wonderful to have Micah on our team but it is also an encouraging environment in which he can develop and utilize job skills as he works toward a more independent future. We depend on him each week for his contribution and enjoy having him on our team. Thank you for serving, Micah! Come by during the week and get to know some of our other Café Team Members always ready to serve with a smile! 5 A Conversation with Preschool Director Caryn Schatz Over 60% of the Preschool students are not members of Good Shepherd. Therefore, the Preschool, under Director Caryn Schatz, offers Good Shepherd a chance for outreach to families in the Naperville area. As some of the parents become involved with the Preschool, they ask about Christian Education and worship opportunities available for their children and for them. Edith Bell spoke with Caryn recently to learn more about the Preschool’s daily operations and about the opportunities provided by God to teach and reach each child. EB: What are the minimum teacher qualifications? Do the teachers have to be licensed? Edith Bell (EB): What is the vision of the Preschool? Caryn Schatz (CS): We look at developing the whole child. So, there is the social-emotional component, the physical component, and the spiritual component. We also look at partnering with the parents: we are an extension of the families. It also gives us the ability to educate parents to help them when they are young. CS: No, the teachers do not have to be licensed. State guidelines require a lead teacher to have a high school diploma and some years of experience, or an associate’s degree. We require a lead teacher to have a bachelor’s degree in education. We are fortunate to have some teachers with a master’s degree. Also, per State requirements, lead teachers must have 15 hours of inservice training annually. A teacher assistant has a high school diploma and loves to work with children. Each classroom has a lead teacher and a teacher assistant. EB: Why was the Preschool started and when did it start? CS: The idea of the Preschool started actually before I came here about 17 years ago. We had many young families that had an interest in our church being able to provide a foundation for children… to be a place for early childhood development and growth. So, they thought the church would be a nice place to start the Christian foundation. Then, they decided to hold a meeting to see about the interest of a preschool. I was just becoming a member [of Good Shepherd] at that point. We went to the meeting. We had about 20 - 30 people to get everything in order and licensed. EB: How are the teachers hired? CS: A candidate submits an application and is invited for an interview with a team member and me. Then, we hire the person we feel would be the best fit. EB: Does the church governing body oversee the Preschool activities? CS: Yes, the governing body, church council, and the preschool board oversee preschool activities. The preschool board is a group of volunteers composed of preschool parents and educators in the community. EB: How do the licensing and permit processes work? CS: The Preschool was licensed in 1997 by the Department of Children and Family Services. Our license is renewable every three years. That’s when the State announces a full-day visit to review our files, walk through classrooms, look at our curriculum, and go through teacher information files and student files. The Health Department and the Fire Marshal come in every three years for visits. All of these agencies also make unannounced visits annually. EB: On average, how many children are enrolled? CS: Currently, we have about 130 students. We have the Young 3’s program with 12 children (children with birthdays between September 1st and January 31st), the Three-and Four-Year-Old program with 55 students, and the rest of the students in the Fours and Fives group. EB: How many teachers are in the Preschool? EB: When is the Preschool open? CS: The staff consists of 18 part-time employees. This includes teacher, teacher assistants, administrative assistants, a Spanish teacher, and a Musik Garten teacher. The Spanish teacher and the music teacher are part of the Enrichment program, which is included in the tuition. This is unique to Good Shepherd; although other preschools have Enrichment classes, additional fees are charged. CS: Each year, the Preschool opens after Labor Day weekend and ends around Memorial Day. The number of days per week varies from year to year. In the past, we were open five days per week. The interest was not there this year; so, we do not have classes on Tuesday. The children either come two days a week, three days a week or four days a week. Some come for 2.5 hours in the morning (9:00 - 11:30am); some come for 2.5 hours in the afternoon (12:15 - 2:45pm). Another part of the Enrichment program is our preschoolers meet once a month with the pastors in the sanctuary. This provides connection between the pastors and our students as the students listen to Bible stories, sing songs, and share in prayer. 6 Tuition is paid by the month, and is based on the number of days a student comes to the preschool. EB: Is enrollment restricted to children of church members? CS: Actually, only about 30% of our students are from Good Shepherd. The rest, from the greater Naperville area, are not members of Good Shepherd. We also award scholarships to children whose parents are having financial difficulties. The parent completes an application. The Board reviews each situation and awards a scholarship based on that circumstance. The amount awarded is applied to the tuition, and the parent pays the balance. EB: What is a typical day like for the students? CS: When children arrive they are greeted by a loving teacher with a warm smile and hug. They begin their day with a fine motor activity where skills such as lacing, coloring, tracing or cutting are practiced. They then move into circle time where they share, sing songs, talk about the weather, the calendar, read a story and engage in literacy activities. After circle time, students transition into Centers. Some of the Centers include: a block center, a writing center, art center, computer, sensory table and a home living center, During this time, children may be found building with blocks to create roads , houses, zoos, etc. The house keeping area is busy with children cooking, cleaning and serving meals at the table. Others are using a variety of writing tools to create notes or pictures for family and friends. Each day, an art activity is available that relates to the days themes. Students enjoy a healthy snack time while the staff encourages manners, taking turns and conversation in a small group. Large motor activities take place in the activity center or outside on the playground and give the children the opportunity to run, ride trikes, scooters, climb and more. Christian values are taught throughout the day through songs, Bible memory verses, stories, fingerplays and prayer. Our day ends with a group prayer. EB: How else is the Preschool funded? CS: The Peschool has fundraising events such as selling Manna gift cards and putting on a golf outing each June. The golf outing is the primary means for funding scholarships. EB: What is the purpose of the Mitten Tree? CS: We love to do projects that teach the children about faith in action. We like to teach them as early as possible about giving and helping people in need. Mitten Tree was the first faith in action project we started. Recently, the children helped collect supplies for the Honduras trip. EB: There are activities at church during the day where parents need childcare. Does the Preschool take care of that? CS: Each group or ministry provides its own childcare. EB: How do you care for children who become ill? CS: If children become ill, the first thing we do is remove the child from the rest of the students and keep the child comfortable until a parent comes. EB: Do the students go on field trips? EB: What is your procedure if the parent cannot come and sends someone else to pick up the child? CS: The four-and five-year-olds do go on field trips to places like the pumpkin patch and the grocery store where we talk about nutrition. One of our church members, who is a veterinarian, invites us to see the facilities and the animals being treated. CS: We ask the parents not to put us in this kind of an awkward situation. We have an emergency card that the parent fills out to indicate who has permission to pick up the child. If someone who is not on the card comes to get the child, we only release the child to that person if a parent informed us about this person. We prefer written permission regarding this. EB: How do the parents find out about the preschool? CS: Parents may be invited to the annual Preschool Sunday. The number one way parents find out about the Preschool is through the Good Shepherd community. We are fortunate that we have a sought after, desirable preschool because of our programs, the quality of childcare, and the experience of our teachers. We are security conscious even with our doors. The parking lot doors to the Preschool are locked. There is a narrow window of time that the doors are unlocked for parents to drop off their children. We have a wonderful opportunity not only to teach and reach the children, but also to provide parents with positive first encounters of Good Shepherd through their preschool experiences. As they become involved with the Preschool, some parents ask about what Good Shepherd offers for Christian education for all family members. EB: Who does a parent interested in enrolling a child contact for more information? CS: A parent can go on the church website (http:// www.goodshepherd-naperville.org/), click Contact, and complete the form asking for more information. Or, the parent can call the Preschool office at 630-961-9055. EB: How is the tuition determined and how is it paid? CS: The Preschool Board determines the tuition. The tuition covers operating expenses such as salaries for the Preschool staff members, equipment and supplies, daily snacks, and other needs. We also compare our tuition to about 20 similar preschools, and try to place our tuition in the middle of what other preschools charge. Typically, we set up a tour of the facility and go through the registration process. Something people don’t usually know is the registration process begins months before the start of the school year in September. So, we are registering students now for September 2013. [This helps with budgeting and staffing.] 7 What the Good Shepherd Community Means to Me In this issue, our “person on the street” feature highlights comments from members of one of the small groups. “One of the things I think is fantastic about Good Shepherd is that it has so many resources. Depending on what you are looking for, Good Shepherd is large enough that there are so many things available. You are likely to find what you need. The people are so welcoming. What I see is, no one is so concerned about following religious rules or anything like that. It’s more about wanting to help people who are looking to have a relationship with God. More recently, an emphasis is on people connecting through small groups so that they do not feel lost in such a big church. I think this is important. All in all, I think Good Shepherd is a great place to be.” Chris Tower “I came to Good Shepherd about five years ago and read about the men’s breakfast in the bulletin. The following Saturday, I went to the breakfast and have pretty much attended the breakfast ever since. The men in that group brought me to Jesus Christ and opened the door to a solid relationship with Him. I can honestly say that Good Shepherd changed my life.” Frank Giglio “Small groups have meant so much to me from the standpoint that I joined Good Shepherd about three years ago, but had not been involved in any activities or groups. I had not done anything other than attend Sunday service. In my previous church, I was very active in a variety of services and serving activities. So, this small group has meant so much to me because it’s gotten me involved with meeting people and connecting again. I’m very grateful to Good Shepherd and the opportunity being in a small group has given me.” Jerry Shambo “Good Shepherd has been a spiritual home to me; a place where I really feel at home; a place where you can grow in Christ and make good friends that are Christians. It has really changed my life to be part of such a wonderful, spiritual community.” Jan Welter “What Good Shepherd means to me is everything. It’s changed my world from when I started to attend here, about five years ago. I had grown up in a church, but I hadn’t really gone on a regular basis during my adult years. Through Good Shepherd, I’ve learned so much about who God is. It’s just strengthened my faith and my understanding.” Laurie Pranskunas “Good Shepherd throws its doors open to people of any color, race, or gender. Originally from India, we lived in many places before coming to Naperville. We ‘attended’ churches where we sat in last rows, and left without really engaging in the Word or attempting to apply it in our life. “Eleven years ago, I [Sujaya] prayed for a “sign” from God (Sharpie on the wall would have worked!) when we began church hopping in Naperville. Our son Dilip, who was two, had severe stranger anxiety. When we entered Good Shepherd, Donna Mae and Dale Reishus greeted us. After a tour of the church, they suggested the church nursery for Dilip. I took him there ready to dart out with a hysterical child clinging to my right leg! He walked in; without a whimper, he played with toys without looking for me! THAT was surely a sign!! .We stayed! “Since that time, we have been active in the Community: technical support, choir, acolyte ministries, CRHP, small group, women’s Bible studies, and others. Our children, Divya (17) and Dilip (13), continue to walk closer with God through this church and its student ministries. Our lifelong friendships and connections encourage us in our journey. God shows us love through Good Shepherd’s living, breathing community, and we share that with others outside the church.” Ebenezer and Sujaya Robin If you or your small group would like to share your experiences within the Good Shepherd Community with readers, please contact Roberta Carzoo in the church office, or Edith Bell ([email protected]) to schedule a time to talk. “As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord” -- Joshua 24:15 8 “Gifts from the Heart” Our hearts were overwhelmed with the incredible generosity of all from the Good Shepherd family who so graciously responded to the “Gifts from the Heart” opportunities this year. It was another record-setting year of gift-giving, beginning with Operation Christmas Child in October and November. We thank Sandy Sand and her team for the six hundred or so boxes that were sent to many countries to bring joy to children in far-away lands. Likewise, we thank the leadership team of Kathy Peart, Kim Bennema, Margaret Swedzikowski, Sue Rasmus, Kerri Kerr, Amy Brunner, Lindsey Leiker, Linda Jancik, Caryn Schatz, Kim Jeske, and Helen Petzold for their many hours of effort in coordinating the Angel Tree, Shining Star, Friends of the Lakota, Gift Mart, and Mitten Tree opportunities which garnered record- setting gift-giving! Good Shepherd families brought true joy to many children and families through great generosity this season! 9 A Dental Mission to Baudin, Haiti A Dental Mission to Baudin, Haiti is Russ Fling’s account of his journey to a mountainside of the Caribbean country. It is a tale of faithful servants of God banding together to set up a makeshift dental clinic in a place where few have received much dental care, if any, in the past. Russ, who was inexperienced in providing dental care to others, joined a team of mostly experienced dental missionaries, some of whom had been on dozens of such missions. In the days before the group arrived, Hurricane Sandy had swept across the island, and, to get to the place where God had called them to go, the group would have to traverse miles of washed-out roads, with mud pits and stuck vehicles in their path. The tale is told through the eyes of Russ, who sees many signs of God’s glory along the way: despite the damage wrought by the hurricane, he sees evidence of a country and its people recovering from the earthquake that shook this world so hard not so long ago. The missionaries arrived in Baudin on Saturday, and set up the clinic and their sleeping quarters. On Sunday, they participated in mass with more than 300 local worshipers. The service was conducted in Creole. Afterwards, the group finished preparing the clinic for the week. When Monday came, so, too did the patients. Each day started with a prayer outside with the patients. Russ provides the reader with many poignant details of his participation in providing dental care. Combine the facts that sugar cane is a staple of the Haitian diet and that dental care as we know it is almost non-existent there, and you will not be surprised to learn that a great deal of the work that was provided by the dental clinic at Baudin was the work of extracting teeth. Between Monday and Thursday, the group provided care to approximately 300 patients, and extracted more than 700 teeth. As Russ points out, “many more dentists are needed to treat these Haitians on a regular basis because preventative dental treatment is by far one of the most effective in all forms of medicine.” -by Owen Ranta 10 D Hola from Mexico! ear Good Shepherd family, Merry Christmas! I’m back here at the orphanage, busy as ever – we are in the midst of our big Christmas program, in which I’m singing. We did four performances last night (5:00, 6:15, 7:30, 8:45) and have four more coming up tonight (Saturday). It’s exhausting but fun! We’ve already gotten to share the Christmas story with over a thousand people from the community and surrounding towns. It’s going pretty great down here in Mexico! This past week we had a power outage for a while and the water pumps stopped working as well… so being without electricity and water for a while, we got to teach the kids a great lesson about appreciating the things we are blessed with and not taking them for granted. To be honest, I think the adults needed this lesson more than the kids! I know it certainly gave me a much-needed reminder! Anyway, we have lights and water now, so things are good. You can access my blog by going to my website: www.christinadociamore.weebly.com and then clicking on the “blog” tab…or, here is the direct link: http://christinadolciamore.weebly.com/blog.html. Thank you, as always for the encouragement, support and prayers! I appreciate it so much. Blessings from Baja California, Mexico! Christina Altergott Christina Altergott, a member of Good Shepherd who is a teacher by vocation, is putting her teaching career “on hold” to serve as a missionary at an orphanage in Baja California, Mexico. F Malaysia Mission Update ar D. Tong, a member of Good Shepherd, has been traveling on mission trips to Malaysia for the past 9 years. Below is a recent update of these mission experiences. Many transformational stories accompany these incredible mission experiences. The two 2012 mission trips, from March to May and from September to November, were very unique and I experienced the blessings and guiding hands of the Lord. This was my ninth year since I made my commitment to the ministry Jesus called me to join the Mission to Malaysia. It was the first time I was invited two times in a year and it was also the first time the English General Council of BCCM extended an invitation. It was also the first time I was invited to speak to a Business Group Christian Fellowship and to a Students Christian Fellowship that involved many different church bodies. In April, I was honored to speak at the Synod Assembly of PCS and in November to speak at the devotion for the 130th Anniversary of BCCM, the English General Council. The scope of ministry, the diversity of people being reached and the number of churches of different church bodies involved, has been extended substantially throughout these nine years. I am grateful for all of the opportunities of ministry: whether in preaching or in teaching at the Bible Institute, or in conducting a servant-hood leadership seminar, or in caring for the needy or praying for the sick…God's hand of blessing, guidance, leading, protection and providence is always obvious. That is why there is so much joy and reward beyond what my words can express. During my last trip of short-term mission, the encouraging words of David Livingstone, a missionary and explorer in Africa, often appeared in my mind and have provided a model for my mission trip to Malaysia. After sixteen difficult years in Africa, his body was emaciated by fever that had coursed through his veins, and his left arm hung useless at his side, the result of being mangled by a lion. Still, in speaking to the students of Glasgow University, he said, "Shall I tell you what sustained me during the hardship and loneliness of my time in the field? It was Christ's promise, "Lo, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:20). What a great attitude he had. No matter what trials we face, Jesus never leaves us. What a friend we have in Jesus. Blessings to you, 11 Partnering with World Relief DuPage/Aurora ‘…And who is my neighbor?’- Luke 10:29 Jesus was a refugee. Refugees are people who have fled across an international border because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. After Herod ordered the death of all boys in Bethlehem under the age of two, Jesus’ parents took him and fled to Egypt to escape the political violence. World Relief DuPage/Aurora resettles refugees that the U.S. government accepts for permanent residency into the DuPage and Aurora area – refugees like Dam Thang. Dam Thang fled to Malaysia in 2005 amidst threats from the military-controlled government in Myanmar, leaving behind his wife and two daughters. His wife and daughters, now 7 and 10, fled to eastern India in 2007 as Myanmar (formerly Burma) continued to repress individuals from minority cultures, ethnicities and religions. Dam Thang came to the U.S. about a year ago for resettlement by World Relief DuPage/Aurora. After six years of separation, he was joined by his wife and daughters. Having arrived with few possessions, Dam Thang and his family now live in Wheaton in an apartment furnished with donated household goods. World Relief relies on donations of furniture and household goods to create homes for approximately 50 new refugees that arrive each month. Let’s help provide a warm welcome to a refugee family in April! IN APRIL, GOOD SHEPHERD FAMILIES WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE A REFUGEE FAMILY IN ONE OF SEVERAL WAYS: ♦ Airport Pick-up Assistants greet refugees when they first arrive at Chicago, and help bring them to and orient them to their new home. Refugees never forget the first smiling faces they see! The time commitment ranges from 3 to 6 hours. Interested volunteers must complete an application and attend a training session in advance. Contact Mary Miller for more information. ♦ Through the donation of new or gently used items called a Good Neighbor Kit. A Good Neighbor Kit – see list on next page - provides all of the small household items that refugee families desperately need upon arrival. A Good Neighbor Kit conveys a tangible "welcome" that transcends language barriers. ♦ Set up the family's apartment with the possibility of meeting the family! The time commitment ranges from 3-5 hours for delivery and setup. Watch the weekly bulletin and April’s Shepherd Staff for details on how to sign up to serve. Questions? Contact Mary Miller at [email protected] or 630-922-4124. 12 World Relief DuPage/Aurora Good Neighbor Kit List SPRING CLEANING? Set aside gently used household items you no longer need and donate them in April to a refugee family. Note: All consumable items and pillows must be new. Kitchen Items 1 set mixing bowls 1 set baking pans 1 set pots and pans 1 set cooking utensils 1 set sharp knives measuring cups and spoons medium/large cutting board manual can opener 3 kitchen towels 3 dishcloths silverware for 8 dishes for 8 8 drinking glasses 1 bottle dish detergent 2 O-Cello type sponges kitchen trash can and bags 1 roll aluminum foil 1 roll plastic wrap 2 rolls paper towels Bedroom Items queen-sized blanket queen-sized sheet set 3 twin-sized blankets 3 twin-sized sheet sets 4 pillows (only new pillows accepted) 1 clock radio with alarm 25 hangers Bathroom Items 4 towel sets (bath, hand and washcloth) shower curtain and hooks 2 bottles shampoo 4 bars soap 4 toothbrushes 2 tubes toothpaste Cleaning Items 1 bottle cleaning spray 1 can scouring powder 1 toilet brush Miscellaneous Items 1 plastic laundry basket 1 pad of paper 1 box envelopes 5 pens/pencils 1 box of light bulbs Standard Food Items 5 lbs. sugar 10 lbs. flour 10 lbs. potatoes 5 lbs. onions 5 lbs. rice 1 gallon cooking oil 1 box feminine supplies 15 disposable razors 4 rolls toilet paper 1 bottle hand lotion 2 boxes tissue paper small trash basket 1 box laundry detergent 1 broom 1 dustpan 1 electric fan 1 calendar 1 small toolkit 1 book of stamps 1 box black teabags 1 box salt 1 can black pepper 1 jar instant coffee 1 case pop 13 1 Weekend - 415,000 Meals… SAVE THE DATE! On February 15th, 16th, and 17th (Presidents’ Day weekend), Good Shepherd Church will host a multi-church Feed My Starving Children mobile pack event! The Activity Center will buzz with excitement as over 2,000 volunteers from Good Shepherd and nine other congregations in the Naperville area team up to pack 415,000 life-saving meals for those in need around the world. On behalf of the starving children who rely on FMSC’s food for survival, please help make this event a success by volunteering in one or more of the following ways: FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15TH: Set up 8:00 AM TO 3:00 PM (various shifts) FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15TH - SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17TH: Greet and direct volunteer packers to the activity center (various shifts) Register food-packing volunteers before each shift Refill food bins between each shift SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17TH: Tear down—8:30 PM TO 10:30 PM GOOD SHEPHERD FOOD PACKING SESSIONS Saturday, February 16th - 3:00 to 5:00PM Sunday, February 17th – 9:30 to 11:30AM Sunday, February 17th (FUEL & IGNITE students only) – 6:30 to 8:30PM SIGN UP TODAY AT THE CONNECT CENTER! For more information, contact Mary Miller at [email protected] or 630-922-4124 or visit: www.fundraising.fmsc.org/faf/home/default.asp? 14 Feeding God’s Starving Children Hungry in Body and Spirit 2013 PACKING SESSIONS Friday, January 25th 8:00 to 9:30 PM Mobile Pack at Good Shepherd Church** February 15th, 16th, 17th Various Times Wednesday, March 27th 2:30 to 4:30 PM Thursday, April 25th 8:00 to 9:30 PM Friday, May 31st 8:00 to 9:30 PM Saturday, June 29th 11:30AM to 1:30 PM Saturday, July 27th 9:00 to 11:00 AM Saturday, August 24th 4:30 to 6:30 PM Saturday, September 28th 7:00 to 9:00 PM Saturday, October 26th 2:00 to 4:00 PM November To Be Scheduled December To Be Scheduled Packing sessions are held at 555 EXCHANGE COURT, AURORA (** Mobile Pack held at Good Shepherd Church Activity Center**) For other dates and times, sign up at: www.fmsc.org. Questions? Call Mary Miller at 630-922-4124. Office Help Wanted J oin our team of volunteers to occasionally help us cover the Connect Center during office hours. Duties would include answering phones and welcoming incomers. Training is provided. Time commitment is 1-4 hours. If you enjoy people, this is the volunteer position for you! Please contact Roberta: 630-961-9220 or [email protected]. 15 (A letter from Jason T. Altenbern, Community Relations Coordinator from District 204 - Indian Prairie School District) Dear Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, I want to thank you, the organizers for your annual holiday giving program, and the participating families from your congregation who provided gifts for District 204 students in need. I am especially grateful to the fourth– and fifth-graders from Club 45 who provided winter accessories to our preschool children. I was already aware of your congregation’s generosity with other local and regional causes when I first approached you this fall seeking holiday support for preschool children and their families in need. I recall we talked about the challenge of adding one more outreach effort to your full schedule this holiday season, and here’s where I truly believe God has a sense of humor. Not only did you address the needs of our preschool children, but your compassionate congregants were able to expand those efforts to include gifts for middle school students and host a winter accessories drive as well. To say you met this new challenge is an understatement. By my estimations, you provided support to more than 125 students this year! Perhaps more importantly, you re-introduced the possibility of hope and joy to many this season a little brighter for scores of students and their families to which we are truly grateful and I am deeply humbled. On behalf of students, teachers, and school administrators, I thank you again for your support. I also extend best wishes to you and everyone at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church for a wonderful holiday season and a prosperous 2013! Sincerely, Jason T. Altenbern Community Relations Coordinator Dear Good Shepherd family, We are preparing our January regular update; but we wanted to personally thank you for supporting us financially in 2012. Your prayers and support gives us encouragement. Our prayer is that you will know that you share in the blessings of our ministry here in Honduras. May the Lord continue to provide all your needs according to His riches in glory! In Christ, Pete, Angie, Nick and Lily Friday, February 1 at 7-9:30pm Saturday, February 2 at 9am - 4pm Friday, Feb. 1 at 79:30pm Saturday, Feb 2 at We are pleased to invite those who are engaged, married, or looking forward to getting married someday to a retreat at Good Shepherd Church in the Worship Center. Led by Pastor PJ Malin and Janice Rubin. 16 T he Christy Awards were started in the Spring of 1999 when nearly a dozen Christian publishers confirmed the need for establishing a Christian fiction award to recognize novelists and novels of excellence in several genres of Christian fiction. Named after Catherine Marshall’s best-known and loved novel, Christy, the Christy Award is designed to: • Nurture and encourage creativity and quality in the writing and publishing of fiction written from a Christian worldview. • Bring a new awareness of the breadth and depth of fiction choices available, helping to broaden the readership. • Provide opportunity to recognize novelists whose work may not have reached bestseller status. The Good Shepherd library is happy to offer the following 2012 Christy Award winning novels for your reading pleasure. The books are: 1. Wolfsbane by Ronie Kendig come home-until secrets begin to unravel secrets that could tear her birth family apart. Lexie learns the true meaning of the Pennsylvania Dutch word demut, which means "to let be" as she changes from a woman who wants to control everything to a woman who depends on God. Embark upon a danger-laden mission within the pages of Ronie Kendig's riveting Wolfsbane. Demolitions expert Danielle Roark thought escaping from a brutal Venezuelan general was a challenge. Now she's charged with espionage and returned to the jungle where a new nightmare begins. Will Dani survive or become just another political pawn destined to be lost forever? Former Green Beret Canyon Metcalfe is disgusted with the suits on Capitol Hill. Still wrestling with the memories of a mission gone bad, he and Nightshade launch a mission to find Dani. Can Canyon rescue Dani, armed with nothing but raw courage? 3. Promises to Keep by Ann Tatlock Eleven-year-old Roz (Rosalind) Anthony and her family have just moved to Mills River, Illinois, to escape an abusive situation. Only days after settling into their new home, they are surprised to find the previous owner, Tillie Monroe, on their front porch reading the newspaper. Though her sons have sold the house and sent her to a facility for the aged, she is determined to die in the place she lived her life and somehow manages to find her way "home" day after day. Feeling sympathy for the elderly woman, Roz's mother allows Tillie to move back in. Mara Nightingale becomes Roz's first friend in Mills River. In spite of their many differences, the girls discover they have something in common that binds them togetherboth are hiding secrets. So they make a promise -"cross my heart and hope to die"never to tell anyone else. 2. The Amish Midwife by Mindy Starns Clark and Leslie Gould A carved box with two locks of hair, the title to property in Switzerland, and a burning desire to learn about her biological family lead nurse midwife Lexie Jaeger from Oregon to Pennsylvania. There Lexie pledges to help her biological Aunt Melia, a lay midwife who has been charged with manslaughter after an Amish client and her baby die. Lexie always knew she was adopted, and when she finally meets her birth grandmother, she feels she 17 Library News (cont’d) 4. Words by Ginny Yttrup next birthday, she will gain an inheritance from a spinster aunt --and sweet independence. But can she remain hidden as a servant even when prying eyes visit Fairbourne Hall? Kaylee's mother is gone. And it seems she took Kaylee's voice with her. Now, ten-year-old Kaylee must fend for herself with her mother's abusive boyfriend. Her days are spent collecting words she may never speak. Sierra Dawn is alone. She has allowed the shame of her past to silence her present hopes. But on the twelfth anniversary of her daughter's death, God begins wooing her back to Himself. Brought together by Divine design, the relationship between Kaylee and Sierra begins a healing process in each of them as they dare to let the Truth, Jesus Christ, set them free. 7. The Queen by Steven James While investigating a double homicide in an isolated northern Wisconsin town, Special Agent Patrick Bowers uncovers a high-tech conspiracy that twists through long-buried Cold War secrets and targets present-day tensions in the Middle East. A pulse-pounding thriller that explores the rippling effects of the choices we make! 8. Veiled Rose by Anne Elisabeth Steng 5. Wonderland Creek by Lynn Austin Rose Red trusts no one with her secret. She hides in the forest, her face veiled in rags, shunning the company of all save her old father and her nanny goat. Her life is bleak and lonely. Until she meets a privileged young man sent to spend his summer in the mountains. Leo, a lonely lad, befriends Rose Red, and together they begin hunting for the Mountain Monster which, rumor says, stalks these lands. But the hunt which begins as a game holds greater risk than Leo supposes. Alice Grace Ripley lives in a dream world, her nose stuck in a book. But the happilyever-after life she's planned on suddenly falls apart when her boyfriend, Gordon, breaks up with her, accusing her of living in a world of fiction instead of the real world. Then to top it off, Alice loses her beloved job at the library because of cutbacks due to the Great Depression. Fleeing smalltown gossip, Alice heads to the mountains of eastern Kentucky to deliver five boxes of donated books to a library in the tiny coal-mining village of Acorn. Dropped off by her relatives, Alice volunteers to stay for two weeks to help the librarian, Leslie McDougal. 9. Waterfall by Lisa T. Bergren Maybe most American teens would love a Mediterranean vacation, but the Bentarrini sisters are stuck in Italy every summer with their archaeologist parents! Young Gabi is bored out of her mind . . . until she's swept into the 16th century and a whole new world filled with knights, horses, armor, swords, and great-looking Italian guys! 6. The Maid of Fairbourne Hall by Julie Klassen Pampered Margaret Macy flees London in disguise to escape pressure to marry a dishonorable man. With no money and nowhere else to go, she takes a position as a housemaid in the home of Nathaniel Upchurch, a suitor she once rejected in hopes of winning his dashing brother. Praying no one will recognize her, Margaret fumbles through the first real work of her life. If she can last until her 18 Preschool News I 2013 – 2014 Preschool Registration Dates t’s hard to believe that NOW is the time to register for the preschool for next Fall. Good Shepherd offers a program licensed by the Department of Children and Family Services, and the curriculum follows the Illinois Standards for Early Childhood Education. Enrichment classes include Spanish and Musik Garten classes, as well as monthly sanctuary visits with our Pastors. Please call 630-961-9055 or email [email protected] to set up a tour of our facility, meet the teachers and see the classrooms in action. Manna Gift Cards Thank you for ordering your gift cards through our preschool. Orders are due the third Sunday of each month, and gift cards are delivered at the end of the week. Manna gift card orders will continue to be taken with a paper order form and checks as well. The Manna order form and drop off box is located at the Connect Center. Our available inventory is listed below. If you shop at any of the places listed below, please consider purchasing a gift card and supporting our preschool. American Girl $25 Houlihan’s $25 Olive Garden / Red Lobster $25 Barnes & Noble $10 iTunes $15 Outback Steakhouse/Carrabba’s $25 Bath & Body Works $10 Jewel $50 / $100 Starbucks $10 Bed Bath & Beyond $25 Kmart $25 Taco Bell $10 Buffalo Wild Wings $25 Lou Malnati’s Pizza $25 Talbots $25 Burger King $10 Mrs. Fields $10 Toys R Us $25 Chili’s/On the Border/Maggiano’s $25 Meijer $25 Ulta Cosmetics $25 Chipotle $10 Naperville (Downtown) $10 VISA $50 Dunkin Donuts $10 Noodles & Company $10 Walmart / Sam’s Club $25 Fannie May $20 Oberweis Dairy $10 Wendy’s $10 GFS $25 / $100 Check out www.mannagroup.net for full listing of cards available! 9th Annual Golf Outing and Dinner to benefit Good Shepherd Lutheran Preschool Sunday, June 2nd Tamarack Golf Course Golfers may be able to register soon at [email protected]. 19 Family Life - Special Needs Ministry FUSION would like to express it’s heartfelt gratitude to all the volunteers who have given their time to make this ministry possible. We could not do it without you, and we are blessed to have you on our team! What the parents are saying: Fusion has meant so much to our family. The respite gives us a chance to have breakfast together or to spend a few hours focusing on our daughter, without heeding to worry about our son. Fusion on Sunday gives us the opportunity to worship without distraction, and know that our son is learning at the same time. Fusion is what allows me and my husband the opportunity to worship together. Without Fusion, we would have to attend separate services. Receiving God's word at the same time helps strengthen and unify our marriage. It's that important. Lynda Ernie Sharol Karen Jenny Jake Zack Kathy Nancy Joel Wendy Danielle Debbie Julie Cathy Connor Heather Lynn Trent Holly Louisa Able Anderson Anderson Baus Bell Bennema Bennema Blackburn Dierdorff Eurich Eurich Guleserian Hadraba Hartin Harvey Hildebrandt Hildebrandt Hillier Hillier Jacobsen Jacobsen Tara Melody Maddie Alayna Arianna Jennifer Mandy Kathy Jack Gennie Shelly Ralph Bri Allison Donna Sean Deanna Kara Sue Kay 20 Lipke Maass Menconi Mihalakakos Mihalakakos Mihalakakos Musson Nickelman Pitsch Roberts Saylor Scully Stalter Swanson Williams Willis Wisniewski Wisniewski Wisniewski Zorn Children’s Ministries Partnering together in ministry so kids can embrace and discover a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. EARLY CHILDHOOD FEBRUARY How wide and high and long and deep is the love of Christ,” Ephesians 3:18, NIV. Can you measure it? That’s what we’re investigating this month! Can we even measure how much Jesus loves us? How big (picture a preschooler’s arms open wide) is His love? You and I know we can’t measure Jesus’ love. It’s way too big, but we’re going to have fun trying this month with our preschoolers as we celebrate the month of love by celebrating the One who loves us the most. We will tell the stories that Jesus told when He was trying to communicate how much God loves us. The story of the lost sheep where the shepherd loved his one sheep so much that he left 99 to go and find him. The story of the Prodigal Son that demonstrates how much God loves us even when we walk away from Him. The story of the Good Samaritan (a preschool favorite), which shows us how we are to love others like Jesus loves us. And finally, the story of Zacchaeus, a wee little man who learned he was loved even though he had made many, many bad choices. We will share all these stories of love so that our preschoolers will know that they too are loved. They are loved by Jesus with a love that is so wide and high and long and deep that they could never really measure it—no matter how hard they try. MARCH Every time I think about the amazing gift God gave us, I just have to say, “Wow!” I mean, think about it. God sent His Son to die for you and for me. Pause on that a moment. It will make you say, “Wow!” too. That’s what we want for our preschoolers this month. We want them to say, “Wow!” We want them to be wowed by the miracles that Jesus performed while He lived among us. We want them to be wowed by the awesomeness of His power. We want them to be wowed by His entrance into Jerusalem, and we want them to be wowed by the fact that He came alive on Easter day. It is a month of WOW moments. Take time to really discuss them with your preschoolers. Help them to see that Jesus was the ONLY one who could perform those amazing miracles. Help them to feel the excitement of Palm Sunday. Help them to experience the joy of Easter. Discussing each of these stories is a time to treasure our Savior and the amazing gift He gave us. By Kathy Hill. ©2012 Orange. All rights reserved. www.WhatIsOrange.org * All rights reserved. Used by permission. KINDERGARTEN THRU 5TH GRADE sacrifice to restore the relationship. God proved He cared about peace when He sent His Son to pay for our sins. Peace is part of God’s character. And He wants us to reflect peace in our relationships with others. Peace is more than just “not fighting” and saying the right things to keep people happy. Peace is living in a way that shows you care more about others than about being right. It’s about building strong relationships through mutual trust. The monthly memory verse is: So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up. Romans 14:19, NLT. That is exactly what God did for us when He sent Jesus to make peace with us. Peace cost Him something great, but out of His love for us, He gave His all. 21 KINDERGARTEN THRU 5TH GRADE (CONT’D) Our Bottom Line is: Prove you care about others by walking away from a fight. In Week Two’s Bible story, Jacob stole Esau’s birthright (Genesis 27, 31-33) taking his inheritance and his place in the family. Our Bottom Line is: Prove you care about others by letting go of “what’s fair.” In Week Three’s Bible story, Abigail intervenes (1 Samuel 25:1-35) when her husband picks a fight with David. Our Bottom Line is: Prove you care about others by being part of the solution. In Week Four, the Scripture helps us understand the principle of peace (Colossians 1:20; 3:15). It tells us that peace originated with God’s love for us and Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for us. This week, our Bottom Line is: God proved He cared for us, so we can prove we care for others. When our relationships are broken, we often find ourselves avoiding other people. We know that we need to work at this relationship, but it’s easier to ignore what’s going on and sweep it under the rug. Working at the relationship is messy. It will cost us something. It will take time. But peace is worth the effort. MARCH —He did. God told Joshua that the wall of Jericho would fall if the people marched around it for seven days—it did. God told Mary that she would have a baby boy—she did. Jesus said He would die and rise again three days later—He did! Honesty is important because it builds trust. What God says is true; He has shown us that time and time again. And that’s one of the reasons we know we can trust God. But the same should be true in our own lives. If we want other people to trust us, we need to live honest lives. When we tell the truth and we follow through with our promises, other people learn to trust us. But when we cover up who we are, what we’ve done, or we constantly break our promises, then the people around us stop trusting us. They begin to wonder if, in the Moment of Truth, you can be trusted. The monthly memory verse is: “An honest person has respect for the Lord, “Proverbs 14:2a, NIrV. Living a life of honesty shows that we respect God and the people we care about. We can find a way to be truthful and still careful of the feelings of those we care about. In Week One’s Bible story, Jacob’s sons lie to him about what’s happened to Joseph (Genesis 37:17-36; 45:25-28). Our Bottom Line is: When you are not truthful, you can hurt the people you care about. In our Week Two Bible story, we meet Gehazi, Elisha’s trusted servant (2 Kings 5, NIrV). Our Bottom Line is: When you are not truthful, you lose trust. In Week Three’s Bible story, Zacchaeus was a thief and considered a traitor to his people (Luke 19:1-10). Our Bottom Line is: When you are truthful and make things right, you build trust. In Week Four, Judas betrays his Teacher and Friend for thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26:14-16, 20-25, 45-50; 27:1-5). Our Bottom Line is: You can lie so much that it’s hard to remember what’s true. Week Five is Easter! In this week’s Bible story, we’re examining some of the amazing things Jesus said and the most amazing thing He did (John 3:3, 16; 14:1-6, 28-29; John 18-20). But our Bottom Line is: When Jesus came back from the dead, it proved that what He said was true. Living an honest life may sometimes be hard. It might mean admitting when we’ve done something wrong or made an embarrassing mistake. It might mean passing up a chance to sneak an extra turn and win the game while your friend isn’t looking. Or it may be as simple as following through on the things we have promised. Whatever the circumstances, this month, let’s look for ways to be honest so that others can trust you. 22 November 25 Ava Rose Boldt Nolan Anthony Dal Porto Liam Jeffrey Cheney October 4 Natalie Kay Mars Born to John & Melinda Mars December 8 William Karl Gommell III and Jaclyn Renee Balsan December 9 Andrew James Senica December 9 Liam & Noah Brown Born to Nate & Kim Brown December 28 Edgar Manuel Hernandez and Monica Marie Mickelson December 15 Thomas Robert Hebel Born to Timothy & Meghan Hebel December 29 Timothy Michael Koll and Katie Elizabeth Fick December 22 Rebecca Elizabeth Berens December 23 Natalie Kay Mars Michael Boone Starr December 30 Pierre Ramos and Amy Ballas January 6 Hudson Seth Hoover New Member Orientation Classes Are you ready to become a member of a God-centered, encouraging and joyful place? Find out what we believe, our vision and values at New Member Orientation Classes beginning in February! There are three class sessions offered on Sunday afternoons and/or Tuesday evenings. Class Dates: Sundays, February 3rd, 10th, 17th, 12:30 - 2:00pm or th Tuesdays, February 5 , 12th, 19th, 7:00 - 8:30pm Childcare and refreshments offered during all classes. A luncheon to honor all new members will be on Sunday, March 3rd. Sign up on the Connection Sheet during services, at the Connect Center or on the website at www.goodshepherd-naperville.org. There are three orientations held each year, in February, June and October. For more information, please contact Julie Utter at [email protected] or 630-961-9220 ext. 3031 23 Good Shepherd Lutheran Church of Naperville Our Worship Schedule: Sunday Worship traditional services ............... 8:00am & 9:30am contemporary service .......... 11:00am alternative services .............. 9:29 & 11:01am Saturday Worship contemporary ....................... 5:30pm Christian Education 2 years to adult ................... September - May Preschool ages 3, 4 & 5 ........................ September - May: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri Office Hours: Monday - Friday .................. 8:30am - 5:00pm Good Shepherd Church Staff: Pastors: Gary Olson, Greg Wenhold, PJ Malin, Glen Wagner Office Roberta Carzoo - Office Manager, Peter Edgers - Facilities-Operations Director, April Fecht - Financial Administrator, Support Team - Kim Bennema, Jay Kermer, John Harrison, Laura Ostrovecky, Julie Utter, Debra Vian Communication Bill Parrish - Director Good Shepherd Vision: Reach and transform spiritually distracted families in our local community so they come to know and love God. Children’s Ministries Caryn Schatz - Preschool Director, Director of Family Life - Bethany Hammer SPARKS - Gretchen Dexter, Norma Johnson; NURSERY - Jenn Anderson Inside this Month Pastor’s Article .................. Page 2 Lent Journey ...................... Page 3 Worship Series .................. Page 4 Café ................................... Page 5 Preschool Interview ...... Pages 6-7 GS Community ................... Page 8 Gifts From Heart ................ Page 9 Missions .................... Page 10-16 Library ...................... Pages 17-18 Preschool News ............... Page 19 Fusion .............................. Page 20 Children’s Ministry ... Pages 21-22 New Member Classes ...... Page 23 Family Life Special Needs Coordinator - Heather Long Worship & Music Craig Parsons - Director Worship Team - Jeannine Allen, Steve Caballero, Ryan Hammer, Kate Kalthoff, Michael Madick, Steve McGraw, Lori Sonnenberg, Paul Wood Student Ministries Director of Family Life - Janice Rubin 6th - 8th Grade FUEL; High School IGNITE Lauren Anders, Sue Halford, Tara Beth Leach, Donna Wandke Café Directory of Café Ministry - Maureen Caballero Café Manager - Kris Barker Church Council: President: Zac Larson; Vice President: Christy Rustemeyer; Secretary: Matt Hebel; CFO: Duane Tiede Tom Anderson, Karl Cordes, Ross Dupper, John Felton, Patrick Rogers 24
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