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March 2015
Staff
the
VOLUME 54
n
ISSUE 3
SHEPHERD’S
The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd Newsletter
FROM PASTOR GREG
Lenten Mid-Week Services - Come Explore Our Baptismal Promises
Wednesdays, February 25, March 4, 11, 18, and 25 at 7pm
In the waters of Baptism, God offers us forgiveness of sin, delivers us
from death and the devil, and grants us eternal life! These are God’s
rich and never-failing promises to us. As receivers of these gifts, we in
turn pledge to live our lives in thanksgiving. We respond to God’s gracious actions with intentional, Christ-like attitudes and behaviors. It is
our hope that God might work in the midst of our response to bring
others to the waters of Baptism.
The rite for the Affirmation of Baptism in our Evangelical Lutheran Worship hymnal
gives specific language to our response to God’s promises. In this rite, we promise to:
• live among God’s faithful people;
• hear the Word of God and share in the Lord’s Supper;
• proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed;
• serve all people following the example of Jesus; and,
• strive for justice and peace in all the earth.
(Photo by Carol Mellor)
Lent was historically the time when people prepared for a baptism at Easter. With that
example in mind, this year we will explore one promise from the affirmation rite each
week. Join us for prayer, scripture, song, and reflection each Wednesday evening at 7pm!

The Lutheran Church
of the Good Shepherd
Lenten & HOLY WEEK Service Dates and Times
1515 Emmorton Road
Bel Air, MD 21014
p: 410-838-8081 f: 410-838-8026
Lenten mid-week services;
March 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th - 7 p.m
Sundays in Lent:
March 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd - 8, 9:40 & 11 a.m.
Like us on .. ..
Holy Week:
March 29th Palm Sunday - 8, 9:40 & 11 a.m.
Monday - Friday: 9 am - 3 pm
April 2nd, Maundy Thursday - 7:30 p.m.
April 3rd, Good Friday – 12 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
April 4th, Easter Vigil - 6:30 p.m.
April 5th Easter Day - 7, 9 & 11 a.m.
www.lcgselca.org
Office Hours
Sunday Worship
8:00 AM, 9:40 AM & 11:00 AM
Contemporary Cross Walk Worship
2nd & 4th Sundays at 11 AM
Fellowship & Education Hour:
9:30 AM
Pastor Greg Fetzer is Installed as the New Pastor at LCGS
The Lutheran Church
of the Good Shepherd
The Rev. Greg Fetzer
Senior Pastor
(410) 838-8081 office
[email protected]
Deborah Woods
Director of Music
[email protected]
Linda Ruese
Treasurer
[email protected]
Gina Miller
Interim Office Manager
(410) 838-8081 office
[email protected]
Ruth Marteny
Office Assistant
[email protected]
(410) 838-8081 office
Pastor Greg and his family
(Photo by Warren Hillstrom)
Steve Starbuck
Editor, The Shepherd’s Staff
[email protected]
Heather Raedeke
Graphic Designer, The Shepherd’s Staff
[email protected]
Communicatons Team
[email protected]
Pr. Greg’s Installation Reception
Good Shepherd Lutheran Preschool
Pastor Judy Cobb speaks at Pastor Greg’s
installation
(Photo by Warren Hillstrom)
Lois Dobart, Director
[email protected]
(410) 838-8457
www.facebook.com/goodshepherd
lutheranpreschool
New Covenant Christian School
Jean Armstrong, Principal
[email protected]
(410) 420-7727
The Shepherd’s Staff is published monthly, and
mailed to all member households.The deadline
for submitting material for inclusion in the
April issue of The Shepherd’s Staff is Sunday,
March 15th. Please send,
as early as possible, your articles, notices,
etc. to editor Steve Starbuck at
[email protected]
(Photos by Carol Mellor)
MARCH 2015 I PAGE 2
LCGS Welcomed New Members into
Our Fellowship on February 15, 2015
Our new members share a bit about themselves...
Their photos are displayed in the Narthex, please take a
moment to introduce yourself and welcome them!
Sherman and
Ann Canapp
• Sherman and Ann
got married at St.
Michael’s Lutheran,
Perry Hall, in 1998.
They moved to
Harford County
in 2001. Sherman
has three sons and Ann has two daughters. They are busy with
11 grandchildren going to their soccer games. They love to go
to Bonefish Grill.
Pastor Greg, Monica, Sophia, and Jonah Fetzer
• Pastor Greg enjoys playing board games with his family
over video games. Jonah likes to play lacrosse. Sophia is an
artist and loves to read. The Fetzer's will soon be welcoming
a new member to their family. Jonah is getting a puppy for his
birthday and Sophia is getting the fence for her birthday!
Erica Witte and Rick Greezicki
• Rick and Erica are from Bel Air. They are raising 5 boys: Ryan,
Matt, Josh, Zach, and Patrick. The boys are active in soccer and
basketball. Some LCGS members know Rick through coaching.
They are happy to be here at Good Shepherd.
Timothy and Dana Krakowski (Owen and Alexa)
• Owen likes his preschool class at LCGS and riding his bike.
Alexa likes to tag along with her big brother. Owen and
Alexa love eating pretzels and waffles. The Krakowski family
likes to spend their free time at the beach playing in the sand
and making sandcastles.
Joshua and Stacey Reese (Caroline and Emerson)
• Joshua and Stacey live in Forest Hill. They have a very
active three year old, Caroline, and nine month old, Emerson.
The Reese family likes to spend time at the beach and riding
the waves.
Ruthann and Gerrit Sutherland (Annika and Elise)
• Ruthann and Gerrit have been married since 2006. Gerrit
is a physicist at the U.S. Army Research Lab. Ruthann
homeschools the girls. Annika plays the violin and enjoys
Irish dancing. Elise plays the piano and twirls the baton.
Music Notes
“Sprucing-Up” the Chancel Choir and the Youth choir
At the end of choir rehearsal last week, I was “cornered” by
several of my singers. It was suggested to me that it was time
to investigate the purchase of new robes. There were many
reasons. The present green robes were purchased in 1992,
right after the new sanctuary was built, and they were beginning to show some wear and tear. Many of the zippers were
broken and the polyester material is very hot and heavy to
wear. I didn’t think that the robes looked that bad, but then
during the next service, (Feb 8th), my zipper came undone as
I hopped from the organ to the piano. Hmmm……….maybe
this proposal was worth considering.
And then, my thoughts turned towards the youth choir,
“Ringers and Singers.” They have no robes at all---I even
tried to stretch the Angel Choir cottas on them one Sunday,
but that was really a “stretch.” (literally!) They were way
too small. I feel that if we have a group of children willing
to assist in worship at LCGS, we should provide robes for
them……maybe even ones that match the Chancel choir
robes. In short, I became a convert to the “New choir robe”
campaign, and I’m now spreading the word.
During the Lenten season, a small committee, headed by
Stephanie Talbott and Andrea Hooper, will investigate different colors and fabrics for new choir robes at LCGS. (In
case you’re wondering, we’ve sought Council approval for this
project.) After Easter, we will launch a short campaign to raise
funds for our new robes, and even, perhaps, have a music concert to “spruce up the choir.” I hope that you will support our
efforts. We’ve started a new chapter in our church’s history,
and it would be nice to “look a little brighter and fresher.”
Who knows, maybe YOU might want to join choir to wear
one of those spiffy new robes!
- Debby Woods
DATES TO REMEMBER
Sunday, March 30-Palm Sunday
Procession and Passion narrative – 8am and 11am
**9:40 service-”Welcome to the King”-Youth Choir Musical
April 2,3,4 - Holy Week Services - 7:30pm (Vigil-6:30pm)
April 5 - Easter
7am, 9am, 11am - Festival Worship with choirs,
brass, and timpani
Victoria Yurechko (Alexis and Christopher)
• Vicky and her children, Alexis and Christopher, live in
Port Deposit. Alexis is busy taking horseback riding lessons.
Christopher is busy with his “wonderful twos.” Vicky has
returned to playing in the bell choir.
Debby Woods, Pastor Greg, and Freddy
taught our young congregants the Magic
Penny song by Malvina Reynolds in which
they learn that love is something if you give
it away, you end up having more.
(Photo by Carol Mellor)
MARCH 2015
I PAGE 3
CIA Youth Events
CIA (youth group for grades 6 - 12) are
the first Sunday and third Tuesday each month from
7-8:30 p.m. in the lower level of the parsonage Contact Mrs. Connie [email protected] or any of
the CIA leaders with questions/ information.
Attention bowlers of all ages!!! Do you want to have
an evening of fun with a wide variety of ages? Then
sign up to join the CIA Youth at APG for an evening
of bowling Friday, March 13th from 9:30-10:30pm. Those attending will meet in the parsonage at 8:15 for
pizza and chips. Everyone will carpool to APG for
an evening of fun. Please sign up by Sunday, March
6th. The cost is $4 per person to cover the cost of
shoes and bowling. CIA will provide pizza and asks
for donations of chips and desserts from those attending. If you have any further questions contact Connie
Charitonuk.
Youth collecting items for
TerraCycle recycling to raise
funds for their activities
Our middle and high school youth are collecting
many items in the Youth Room to recycle through
TerraCycle to raise funds for their activities and
programs. You can help by bringing these items to
the Youth Room and leaving them in the collection
boxes. Check the E-Pistle for a link to a list of items
that are being collected.
For more information about our
programs through TerraCycle, which
collects and repurposes hard-torecycle waste, visit www.terracycle.
com. If you have questions about the
program and how you can help us raise funds for our
youth programs, contact Debbie Madigan.
Attention Confirmation Students Retreat sign-ups due March 7th!
Just a reminder that permission forms and payment for the
mandatory confirmation retreat are due no later than March 7th. Completed forms can be left in the Confirmation mail slot outside
of the office suite. Contact Jo-Anne Toepfer with questions. Thank you!
“Eat More Chikin” to Benefit GAX!
Dine at Chick-fil-A at Constant
Friendship ALL DAY the 3rd Tuesday
of each month February through June
and 20% of the non-taxed sales will be
donated towards our GAX program.
You MUST TAKE THE FLYER with you to Chick-fil-A so
GAX gets credit for the sale.
Flyers are located in the Narthex or they can be printed at:
http://lcgselca.org/pdf/LCGS-GAX-Program.pdf .
Contact Jill Healey with questions. Thank you for your support!
February KFC
EVENT
Thank you to Meghan Marx for
organizing a fun afternoon of
games, crafts, and snacks for KFC.
(Photos by Carol Mellor)
MARCH 2015
I PAGE 4
The Faschnaut Variety Show
The CIA youth hosted their annual Faschnaut Variety Show on Tuesday,
February 17th Talented youth preformed short skits and sharing jokes
throughout the fun evening.
(Photos by Carol Mellor)
MARCH 2015
I PAGE 5
staying CONNECTED
The Faschnaut Variety
Show continued...
BROWN BAG BOOK CLUB:
March 15, 2015
Martha: A Novel by Diana Wallis Taylor
The Brown Bag Book Club will next meet on
Sunday, March 15, 2015 following the 11:00
AM worship service. We will meet in the LCGS
Conference Room. Please bring your lunch or
snack and join us as we discuss Martha: A Novel by
Diana Wallis Taylor.
She has spent her life caring for others--will she ever
find someone who will cherish her?
Martha’s entire life is marked by her responsibilities to her family. In the
absence of her mother, she runs the household, makes the meals, cares
for her father, and attempts to keep her absentminded younger sister
on task. In the midst of her duties, will she ever find time to live her
own life--or find her own love?
This touching, well-researched portrayal of Martha of Bethany, sister
of Mary and Lazarus, unveils the woman within the Bible character.
Through Diana Wallis Taylor’s lush descriptions and inspired fusion of
imagined and recorded dialogue, Martha’s world--her trials, triumphs,
and loves--vibrantly comes to life.
Follow Martha as she navigates the complicated worlds of family, faith,
and love . . . and you’ll never read her story the same way again. (Summary from the publisher.)
7 copies available at Harford County Library (plus 5 copies in EBook).
247 pages. Published in 2011.
Any questions? Please contact Linda Ruese or Andrea Hooper.
Our upcoming 2015 schedule…
April 19, 2015 Stones for Bread by Christa Parrish
May 17, 2015
The Round House by Louise Erdich
June 14, 2015
Gray Mountain by John Grisham
July 19, 2015
Love Anthony by Lisa Genova
Aug. 16, 2015
Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good by Jan Karon
Sept. 20, 2015
Pigs in Heaven by Barbara Kingsolver
Oct. 18, 2015
The Dinner by Herman Koch
Nov. 22, 2015
Angels Walking by Karen Kingsbury
Dec. 13, 2015
A Christmas novel (TBD) by Richard Paul Evans
(Photos by Carol Mellor)
Need prayers? Here’s how to list someone on
our Good Shepherd Prayer Chain
To list someone on the Prayer Chain, call the office at 410838-8081 or Coordinator Doris Mellor or complete a prayer
card (in the pew pockets.) Provide the person’s first and last names and
a contact number, or include your contact number. The Coordinator will
verify a member’s desire to be on the list and specific purpose to be
listed. In order to make the extensive list of family and friends current
and manageable, we will keep the name listed for three weeks unless it is
resubmitted.
MARCH 2015
I PAGE 8
DAY♥TIMERS
The Daytimers will have their luncheon/meeting on Tuesday, March 10,
at 11:00 am in the Celebration Room. Come and meet our new pastor,
Rev. Greg Fetzer, who wants to meet all of our group and speak to us. Please come and bring a friend, food for the Sharing Table, and paper
goods for FCCAU.
- Lowell Repp
Homelessness in Harford County
During the FED Hour on Sunday, March 8, 2015 from 9:30 to 10:30 AM,
four speakers will share gripping stories about homelessness in Harford
County; two homeless persons each of whom has a very different story to
tell, a case worker at the Welcome One Center and the financial director of
the center. We will get a very personal glimpse into this sad issue and learn
about causes and what we can do to help.
Behind the Scenes…
The good folks who keep the physical church running behind the scenes are
your facilities team. In the past few months we have coordinated the snow
removal, salted the side-walks, fixed leaky roofs, improved the lighting, and
plunged whatever required plunging! We jumped through numerous hoops
when the call came in about a burning smell in the Celebration Hall, we shut
down the entire system as a precaution, inspected the building, and climbed on
the roof with BGE only to find everything was fine with the HVAC. At the end
of the day we found a very happy lizard in the science lab who was enjoying an
extra warm heat lamp that had melted its base! In the next few months we will
be managing some significant projects including the new church sign and the
replacement of a storm water outfall.
MOM2MOM
Mom2Mom will have our
monthly meeting on March
13th at 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM
in the Narthex. We will prepare for our
family Easter Night. Our Family Easter
Night is Friday, March 13th from 6-8 PM.
The cost is $3 per person. Please RSVP to
[email protected] if you would like
to attend.
Childcare will be provided for children 1 - 6
years old. Please bring a sippy cup and $5
dues (per family).
Mom2Mom is a mommy Christian support
network. We offer a time to get together
with other women who face similar situations and challenges you do. We encourage
each other, have fun and learn together!
If you are interested or have any questions about our group, please contact Cindy
Burkhardt or Jennifer Nesaw. You can email
us at [email protected], find us on
Facebook, or visit us at http://mom2momlcgs.blogspot.com.
Mom2Mom Enjoyed Making Chocolate Candies
to Celebrate Valentine’s Day.
We are also beginning to develop our capital budget for the next 5 - 25 years.
It is hard to believe our sanctuary was dedicated on June 14, 1992. We are
still operating on much of the same equipment that was installed over 20
years ago. Once again that is a testament to the folks behind the scenes who
keep things running.
The end of winter is approaching and we can all rejoice when the first daffodil emerges, the first tulip blooms and the grass begins to grow. Behind the
scenes the facilities team will be getting the mowers ready, picking out plantings for the church grounds, and picking dates for the spring cleaning! If you
want to help out behind the scenes please let us know…nothing flashy but
you feel good at the end of the day and we can always use your help!
-- Chris Poling
Outreach Postcards
The Communication Ministry team is in the process of
creating a postcard announcing our new worship schedules and new pastor, Greg Fetzer, and inviting visitors to
join our church family. Information about our youth and
family programs will also be included. We hope to have the mailing ready
within the next month and plan to send the postcard to roughly 8000
households in surrounding neighborhoods.
Although there is money budgeted, we are seeking donations to help offset
the costs of this mailing. If you would like to help spread the good news
about the excitement at LCGS, please use pew envelopes and list “postcard
mailing” on the front or contact the church office. Thank you!
(Photos by Carol Mellor)
ways to SERVE
from the FLOWER COMMITTEE
Altar Flower Sponsors Needed
Have a Special Occasion that you want
to honor? Sign up for your “Special
Date” ASAP! Just pick your date and
sign up on the Flower Chart which is
on the counter by the windows in the
Narthex.
OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE
ALTAR GUILD
The Altar Guild is a vital group of volunteers at Good Shepherd, who
make sure the communion elements are set-up and ready for each service by
volunteering on Saturday mornings during an assigned month. One or two
members of the team also help the communion assistants keep the wine trays
filled. Each team serves one month at a time. This is a great opportunity to
serve Good Shepherd and takes minimal time on your part. For more information contact, Sallie Gartside, Vicar Dean.
COMMUNION ASSISTANTS
Arrangement Availability:
March 29th
April 19th
May 10th, 17th and 24th
Communion Assistants are needed, for the 9:40 & 11 a.m. services. As a
Communion Assistant you get to be a part of serving the congregation at the
Banquet. Please contact Sharlene Krause.
When you sign the chart, be sure to
take an envelope, located on the display.
Complete the information on the
envelope and either put it in the offering plate or send it to the office along
with the payment, $40.00 per arrangement. The flowers need to be paid for
prior to the week they are on the altar.
Please be sure you indicate on the
Flower Chart if you will remove
the arrangement or if you want
the Flower Committee to deliver
it to a hospitalized or “home
bound” member. When you remove
the flowers, please just take the paper
mache container and leave the silver
one on the shelf.
We have four Usher teams who serve once a month, and take turns when
there is a 5th Sunday in the month. Four people are needed at each service.
We are short at ALL services. If you are willing to help out on one of the
teams contact Harry Quinn.
If you have any questions or need more
information, please contact Karol Ashbrook, Flower Chairperson.
USHERS
GREETERS NEEDED
Are you a “people person”? The 9:40 and 11 a.m. service needs greeters. This
is a great place for our youth as well as adults to serve God at LCGS. Two
friends could serve together! Think about it and mark on the Pew Pad by
your name or contact Ruth Marteny in the church office at to [email protected].
LAY ASSISTANTS & LECTORS
This is another area that needs help at ALL three services. The Lay Assistant
leads in Scripture reading and prayers. The readings and prayers are e-mailed
to you each week so you can prepare.
The Lector, (currently only at 8 a.m.) reads only the Second Scripture, (also
e-mailed to you). We’d like to see Lectors used at the 11 a.m. service as well.
Contact Ruth Marteny in the church office at to [email protected].
PLEASE PRAYFULLY CONSIDER SERVING IN ONE OF THESE
POSITIONS AT THE SERVICE YOU ATTEND.
Karol Ashbrook
Flower Chairman
EASTER FLOWERS DEADLINE: SUNDAY
March 22, 2015
We will once again be decorating our Altar with
beautiful spring flowers for Easter. If you would
like to sponsor a plant (or plants) the cost will be
$9.00 each. You have the option of ordering Easter
Lilies, Asiatic Lilies, Azaleas, Daffodils, and Tulips. The deadline for
ordering is Sunday 3/22/15. Envelopes are on the Counter in the
Narthex. Please complete the information, include your payment
and put in the offering plate, or drop by the office.
If you have any questions, please contact Karol Ashbrook.
Volunteers needed
to help with
funeral receptions
There are sign-up sheets in the
Narthex which divides the times and
areas we need help. Check all times
and areas you are available.Your help
will be greatly appreciated. Please see
Carol Mellor with any questions.
MARCH 2015
I PAGE 6
WANT TO SERVE?
God’s Work, Our Hands
It is an exciting time to be involved at
LCGS! At our February meeting we
re-capped the successful Christmas
Basket and the Youth-led SouperBowl
Sunday projects.
Did you know our youth
(and congregation)
collected over 297
cans for The Edgewood
Sharing Table that
weekend? Special kudos
to Gwyneth Steel who
asked her 14th Birthday guests to donate
food for the project, instead of gifts. All
together her friends contributed an
amazing, 97 cans to the drive. (Maybe this
will start a generosity trend!)
Meghan Marx is our representative for
the Tanzanian Task Force, and reported
the group has now shipped $28,000
in medical supplies to Bunda Hospital.
It will take months to get there as
it must travel first by barge to the
Tanzanian border, and then another
400 miles inland to the hospital. The
Task Force worked diligently to raise
funds for delivery of an electric pump
to the hospital to provide running
water however, they now realize pipes
need replacement to accommodate the
difference in water flow. That is their
most recent challenge. For more project
info and how you can contribute please
contact Meghan Marx.
Kristin Woods will once again lead the
LCGS Team of Habitat For Humanity
Volunteers and asks anyone who would
like to join in the next build to 'pencil in'
the weekend of either April 18th or 25th
as tentative work dates. The upcoming
build will be on Franklin Street, Bel Air
and a firm date and sign up information
will be posted in weekly bulletin and
Epistle as soon as it becomes available.
Questions? Contact Kristin Woods.
The Lenten fleece collection project
to blanket our friends at the Upper
Chesapeake Hospital Infusion Center
is well underway. Our goal is to make
25 'no-sew' blankets for patients
currently undergoing treatment, and
we will need two 3-yard pieces to
create each blanket. If you have fleece
yardage leftover from other projects or can shop the local Walmart or JoAnn Fabric
stores, please donate! (Donation box is located in the church coat room.) We welcome
everyone to help tie/assemble the blankets during the FED hour on Palm Sunday. Mark
your calendars now!
April 1st is our next, assigned serve date at the Day Shelter. If you would like to help in the
kitchen, sit and chat with guests, or just learn more about this very worthy, ongoing outreach
program please contact Kim Wagner.
Opportunities to use our hands for Gods Work surround us! If you would like to become
more involved in planning or participate in the many 'Gods Work' projects that our
Servanthood group has on tap for 2015, please contact Patty Resnik.
God’s Peace
- Servanthood Committee
Peacemaker Ministries - PeaceMeal
Welcoming others – How do we reflect God’s glory?
And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being
ntransformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory. 2 Cor. 3.18
The apostle Paul indicates that the unveiled faces belong to those who are the Lord’s
Christians, believers, sons and daughters of God. As such, our unveiled faces are
reflecting the Lord’s glory. If we truly allow his likeness to permeate our words,
thoughts and feelings, then true reflection is taking place. However when our own
thoughts or opinions cloud our interactions, then the reflecting is anything but true.
The veil is back on and our personal glory trumps everything else for the moment.
Jesus reflected God’s glory as he went about proclaiming peace. He invited the least
of these to experience his love. He also glorified God by challenging the Pharisees
and religious leaders. Daily we have opportunities to interact with co-workers,
friends and family as well as strangers. Let us pledge to reflect God’s glory.
Need help? If you desire help in reconciling a conflict, disagreement or broken
relationship, consider calling a LCGS Peacemaking Reconciliation Team
member. Owen Ashbrook; Debbie Smeton or Gail Fricke. All communications
are confidential.
- Gail Fricke, Peacemaking Team
Sharing Table
The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd
will serve a hot lunch at the Sharing Table on
Saturday, March 21, 2015. Help is needed to
provide ground beef barbecue, potato chips and hamburger rolls; to wait tables;
to serve the meal; to set-up and clean-up; and to work in the kitchen. Credit for
service hours is available. It’s a great way to serve our Lord! Please contact Lisa
Steel if you can help.
The Sharing Table is a group of churches and organizations working together
to serve a free meal every Saturday to anyone in need at Prince of Peace Church
2600 Willoughby Beach Road, Edgewood. The Sharing Table serves approximately 75 to 100 guests from 11:30am to 1:00pm and distributes grocery bags of
food for clients to take home.
- Lisa Steel
MARCH 2015
I PAGE 7
PRESCHOOL CORNER
“Oh you can’t keep Jesus’ love
in a box ‘cause His love will
come a ’bubbling through.”
This was the song the preschoolers of Good Shepherd sang at
their February chapel when they
learned the story of Naaman. God showed his
love for Naaman by healing him of his leprosy
in the muddy waters of the Jordan River. The
preschool children found ways to let Jesus’ love
come “bubbling” out of them this month. All the
classes spent the beginning of the month making
valentines to show friends and family how much
they are loved. The three year-old classes then
learned about nursery rhymes and acted them out
using props. How fun it was to see our plastic Humpty
Dumpty fall off our block wall and break in two and see
the spider puppet come down and scare Miss Muffet off
of her tuffet! The children used their fine motor skills
to cut, glue, and draw to make some nursery rhyme art.
The four year-old classes studied friendship and fitness
as they made art projects with friends and learned about
activities that increased or decreased their heart speed.
At the end of the month they had a “Fitness Day” in the
ministry room/gym and had fun exercising! The Transitional Kindergarten also studied friendship and made a
special friendship quilt. Their other topic of study was
“Me on the Map”. They read a book by that name and
learned where they are in relation to the community,
the state, the country, and the world. The children then
made their own books to show those concepts. Even
with delayed openings and days off, there were still many
opportunities for learning and fun at Good Shepherd
Preschool in the month of February!
Do you enjoy writing, editing,
photography or design?
The Communications Ministry Team
invites you to join us
Do you enjoy writing, editing, graphic design, Web
design, photography, or shooting videos? The Communications Ministry Team invites you to explore how
you could use your talents and interests to help share
the good news of Jesus and His work in and through
Good Shepherd in our congregation and in the wider
community. Our next meeting is Tuesday, March 3
at 7 p.m. in Room 208 in the education wing.
All are welcome.
Hungry for more Lutheran Church of the Good
Shepherd news? Contact the Communications Team
at [email protected] with your First and
Last Name and email address to sign up to receive the
newsletters of your choice:
• E-pistle is the e-newsletter for Good
Shepherd members and friends. Its purpose is
to share brief, timely, upcoming information that
cannot wait for the weekend or The Shepherd’s
Staff monthly newsletter. It’s a good place to read
emergency or time-sensitive announcements, and
to receive The Shepherd’s Staff newsletter, in
full color.
• Sunday School is the e-newsletter for
Sunday school parents and teachers. Its purpose is
to share news and time-sensitive announcements
about our Sunday school program.
You can also visit our Website, www.lcgselca.
org, for more information about our ministries
and programs. We’re on Facebook too:
• Find Good Shepherd on Facebook at www.
facebook.com/LutheranChurchoftheGoodShepherd.LCGS
- Rhonda Messick
Good Shepherd Lutheran Preschool 2015-2016
Registration Information
Registration for preschool is currently open. The
preschool offers a wide variety of classes for 3, 4, and
5-year-olds, including a transitional kindergarten program.
If you know of anyone who may be looking for an excellent preschool, please help us to get the word out about
registration.
For more information about the school, visit our Web
site at www.lcgselca.org or our Facebook page at
www.facebook.com/goodshepherdlutheranpreschool
or contact Director Lois Dobart at (410) 838-8457 or
[email protected]
• The CIA youth group is on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/CIAYouthGroup.LCGS
• Good Shepherd Lutheran Preschool is on
Facebook at www.facebook.com/goodshepherdlutheranpreschool
- The Communications Ministry Team
- Lois Dobart
MARCH 2015
I PAGE 10
Health Care Ministries
AED News and call for certified members: We now have our 2nd AED!
It is located outside the Celebration Hall near the water fountains. There
is also an AED in the narthex near the coat room. Please take a moment
to locate these potentially life-saving devices!
We are also looking to compile a list of members who are currently CPR/
AED certified. If you are currently certified, please e-mail Kathy DeHoff.
Blood Pressure Screening: On Sunday, March 1, the Health Care Ministry will
continue offering free blood pressure screenings. You do not need an appointment, just
come to the Library between 9:15 and 10:45!
Hand Sanitizer: For your convenience during cold and flu season, you will find hand
sanitizer at the front of the aisle for you to use prior to taking communion.
Join Our Walking Group!! Contact Kathy DeHoff.
Health Tips and Recipes: Please continue to check the narthex and e-pistle for our
health tip and recipe of the month.If you have any questions or would like to join the
Health Care Ministy team, please contact Diane Brown.
Questions or Comments?
Please feel free to contact any of
the 2015 Congregation Council:
President
Stuart Goemmer
Vice-President
Evelyn Spratt
Treasurer
Linda Ruese
Secretary
Sallie Gartside
UNDESIGNATED FUND
In Memory of Sandy Depkin from: Mr. and Mrs. Robert Ewing and Children
FAMILY FUND
In Honor of Dorothy Kraft from: Mr. and Mrs. James Porter
Christian Education
Maureen Stark
Outreach
Susan Quinn
DAYTIMERS FUND
In Memory of Bertha Grimm from: Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Oaksmith
Worship and Music
Gene Oaksmith
JANUARY 2015 TREASURER’S REPORT
This Month,
2015
Income
Expenses
IncomeExpenses
Year-to-date,
2015
This Month,
2014
Year-to-date,
2014
$ 31,012.50
$ 31,012.50
$ 29,342.83
$ 29,342.83
$ (42,308.97)
$ (42,308.97)
$ (39,917.51)
$ (39,917.51)
$ (11,296.47)
$ (11,296.47)
$ (10,574.68)
$ (10,574.68)
Stewardship
Jim Lolley
Congregational Life and Service
(CLAS)
Missy Leppo
DEBT REDUCTION CAMPAIGN--LIVE THE VISION
This Month, 2015
Beginning Balance 1/1/14
Inflows
Outflows
Youth
Gordon Brown
Year-to-date,
2015
$ 1,397.00
$ 830.00
$ 830.00
$ (1,639.50)
$ (1,639.50)
Balance at end of month
Facilities Operation
Chris Poling
$ 587.50
December additional payments to principal
$ 1,639.50
Campaign-to-date additional payments to principal
$ 60,301.30
Mortgage Balance
$ 103,651.53
Projected pay-off date
Finance, Legal and Operations
(FLO)
Kim Wagner
September 2017
MARCH 2015
I PAGE 11
The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd
1515 Emmorton Road
Bel Air, MD 21014
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Is the Green Really Green Now?
Most of the congregation is probably unaware that the pew seats and grey chair
seats were cleaned with upholstery shampoo and deodorizer on December 29, 2014.
This marks the first time since June 1993, when the Sanctuary was dedicated for use,
that they have been cleaned in this manner. A little math tells you that. twenty-one
years have passed.
The cleaning team, which consisted of Gene and Claudia Oaksmith, Steve
Resnick, Lee Seibold, and I, didn’t know quite what to expect as this was a totally
new endeavor for us. Would the seats take long to dry? Would all the stains be
removed? Would you really be able to see and smell the difference? How long
would it take us, a crew of five persons, to accomplish this task?
I’m pleased to say that the results were better than we anticipated. First, the years
of accumulated wax (from many Silent Night candle lighting events) had to be
removed by using an iron on a low heat setting and the paper from brown bags
to catch the melted wax. Then we applied a spot cleaner to attempt to remove the
stains. The final task was to apply the diluted shampoo mix and deodorizer and
extract it. The removed water was really dark gray. All of the spots were removed
except the tan colored stains. They defied all our efforts. We suspect they were
caused by coffee spills at a time when it was consumed during adult classes that
were held in the Sanctuary. We plan to revisit those stains with a stronger spot
remover in the future.
All of this work was accomplished in six and one-half hours which included fortyfive minutes for lunch. We thank my wife, Helen, for the scrumptious chicken
vegetable soup she made and all the fixings for some great sandwiches too. We also
thank Gene and Claudia Oaksmith, Walt and Ginny Polley, and Glenn & Cathy
Garbinski for the use of their cleaning equipment. This event pointed out just what
a few dedicated people can really do! We thank all who gave of their time and
talent. By the way, most of the seats were fairly dry by the time we finished.
- Jim Porter
Our YAGM in Argentina
Maddie Tallman, one of our Young
Adults in Global Mission and member of
Evangelical Lutheran Church, Frederick,
sends this update. Maddie works at El
Arca Argentina, a home and workshop
center for adults with mental disabilities,
and helps on Sundays at Santo Sacramento
Lutheran Church. During the week
Maddie assists at the El Arca workshop,
helping to lead activities or assisting
members with crafts. In the afternoons she
spends time resting and conversing with
the residents and assistants. “I do a lot of
hanging out with my host communities.
Missionaries and host communities
accompany one another through the life
that they share. I don’t ‘do’ very much
besides spending time with the folks at El
Arca and Santo Sacramento. We are ‘being’
together and growing together. I invite
everyone in the states to ponder, pray and
practice what it means to ‘be’ rather than
‘do’.” Our offerings help to make this
program possible.
- ELCA