GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH 4201 Stoudt’s Ferry Bridge Road Muhlenberg Township, Reading, PA 19605
Telephone 610-926-4201
Pastor Thomas H. Reinsel. Interim
email:
Number 9 September 2016
Sermon from August 7, 2016 12th Sunday Pentecost series c 2016 GS
“Do not be afraid little flock for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you’re the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Good words – wonderful God image – “God’s good pleasure” – followed by an honest reality check on how we are to live every day. Give alms – do an inventory of how and where I am returning God’s good pleasure to me”. Terrific
Gospel text this morning.
Now from time to time it is the Interim Pastor’s responsibility to provide congregational updates. And some significant thresholds have come into focus as we move thru 2016. May I provide for you a reflection from conversations with your financial committee and Church Council, these last months.
We begin by looking at the 2015 financial secretary’s report. We have in existence 336 giving units. A unit being one person or a couple. However - 154 of those people – claiming membership – have made no contribution in 2015. And for three or more years those giving no dollars to Good Shepherd have varied from 182 – to 238 non-contributing giving units.
This means as we gather here this morning there are 182 giving units – yes us - reduced from a 250 number in years past. I am not certain if you were ever informed of these numbers in years past but you need to know now. 154 no contributions – and 182 who do.
What are the ramifications of such statics??
We can learn quite a bit from the weekly bulletin financial report.
You will note first of all that the line of credit with our banking institution is now around $17,500.00. It has been lingering at $20,500.00. You began the line of credit 3 1/2 years ago with balances due at year’s end of $6,000 - $12,000 and entering 2016 with an $18,000 outstanding balance due. We have a kind bank – lines of credit are to be paid in full yearly – not extended. So our regular expenses are being off set for three or more years by borrowing each month.
Note the announcement concerning debt reduction:
Our mortgage debt is north of $500,000 – a half million. $524,000.00. Over the past years I see that you have had some excess money in the debt reduction account. Thus for several years – as your finance chair has mentioned – your giving to the debt has been supplemented from this mortgage account - - assisting to make the $4315.00 monthly payment.
This account is now exhausted. This reality check on the mortgage is in really sharp focus.
Well any thoughts you interim???
Yes we can make some inroads into this present situation. According to the ELCA Mission Investment Fund (the folks who manage our Endowment Fund) by their guidelines we can receive up to 4.5% of earnings in 2016 without harming our GS endowment fund. This year that is about $5,000.00
Our summer camp and our Pre-school are poised to return to the general fund – that is return to ALL of us at Good Shepherd their excess over expenses – while retaining some founds to plan for a new year.
They have already made a partial payment taking our line of credit down to $17, 500.00. Our women of the ELCA have already made their contribution. This aggregate amount could be up to $10,000.00. A onetime yearly contribution - - for which we give thanks to almighty God. However – note please – these dollars are not from our regular member offerings - these are program excesses and endowment investments.
OK TOM - - Is there hope???? OF COURSE OF COURSE
This is not the first time in GSELC – history a message like this has been given. And as always before – as in this present time – you the faithful will again have to consider - -
“What is my return to the Lord God for all of Good Shepherd’s ministries???
Please hear me clearly - - this does not mean adding more fundraisers – more special offerings – the 182 of us prayerfully have to consider a stewardship response.
“What am I giving on a weekly basis in my return to God for all that has been given to me”???
AM I returning a valid percentage to God of the first fruits of my labor? I am returning to God remember - - who has the pleasure of giving us the kingdom.
There are many creative opportunities for the Church Council to consider. And along with this Interim we will look at them all. So the little flock gathers each one considering how I can support all of us together.
Good Shepherd is a treasure - -and where your treasure is there your heart will be also.
These words are not easy - but I have prayed that they are faithful to the Glory of God. I love each of you but we needed to know.
Now when all energy seems consumed – it is my greatest desire that we have bread and wine together. For we can each of us feel Christ’s promise of a New Spirit as Jesus has told us – “I will come and have supper with you”. What a renewed sense of trust “Do not be afraid little flock for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom”!!!
Come eat together - - Jesus is waiting for you and me.
WORSHIP HIGHLIGHTS
Sunday, September 4th – Called to contemplate the cost of discipleship today, we might be helped by translating Paul’s request to Philemon into our prayer of the day: Refresh my heart in Christ. Strengthened by the company and forgiveness of the Christ in the Blessed Sacrament and recalling God’s grace in remembrance of baptism, we can be strengthened in this hour to “choose life”—to choose life in God as our own. The readings for today are: Deuteronomy 30:15-20, Psalm 1, Philemon 1-21, Luke 14:25-33. This will be the last of our 9:30am services.
Sunday, September 11th – The grumbling of the Pharisees and the scribes in today’s gospel is actually our holy hope: This Jesus welcomes sinners and eats with them. That our God wills to seek and to save the lost is not only a holy hope, it is our only hope. As Paul’s first letter to Timothy reminds us, “The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” Thanks be to God. The readings for today are: Exodus 32:7-14, Psalm 51:1-10, 1 Timothy 1:12-17, Luke 15:1-10. Today we will honor the First Responders to 9/11 along with our church picnic to be held at Jim Dietrich Park. The service will begin at 10:30am followed by lunch. Please bring one of your favorite dishes to share. The church will provide hot dogs & hamburgers and drinks. Don’t forget your lawn chairs if you do not want to sit at the picnic tables.
Sunday, September 18th –. As we are invited today to consider what it means to be managers (rather than owners) of all that we have, it is crucial to recall that we are bought with a price. “Christ Jesus, himself human, ... gave himself a ransom for all.” Apart from the generosity of God we have nothing—we are nothing. By God’s gracious favor we have everything we need. The readings for today are: Amos 8:4-7, Psalm 113, 1 Timothy 2:1-7, Luke 16:1-13. Today is Rally Day! Come join the fun as we gear up for a new Sunday School year. Don’t forget Sunday school begins at 9:15am & worship service is at 10:30am.
Sunday, September 25th – Consideration of and care for those in need (especially those “at our gate,” visible to us, of whom we are aware) is an essential component of good stewardship. It is in the sharing of wealth that we avoid the snare of wealth. It is the one whom death could not hold—who comes to us risen from the dead—who can free us from the death grip of greed. The readings for today are: Amos 6:1a, 4-7,
Psalm 146, 1 Timothy 6:6-19, Luke 16:19-31.
Notes from Church Council
Last evening the Church Council decided to sponsor a special emphasis to pay off the line of credit by the end of 2016. Using such visuals as a thermometer and special made-up envelopes in the pews along with a letter to contributors and non-contributors alike - explaining the drain to our funds and the help that is need immediately for us to continue ministry here at Good Shepherd. These funds are to beABOVEyour weekly offerings.
Stewardship is the means to fund the everyday operations of this congregation. The programs like Pre School, Kids Korner and Summer Camp are functioning well and generate funds above their operating costs. These programs have been generous in their support of our congregation, but were never to be the source of income to carry out the mission of Good Shepherd.
This congregation, all of us, needs to be aware that Stewardship of time, talents and treasures, direct gifts from GOD is the source of funding to carry out the mission of Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church. WE are at the precipice of a downward spiral financially; fund raising while helpful to reach a specific goal is not the answer to our long term Mission.
Stewardship will be presenting their annual event with emphasis on proportionate giving. This is an approach, based in the bible that we all need to consider very prayerfully. Also a good option to help even out the flow of finances is SIMPLY GIVING.
Thank You,
Lynn Shollenberger, Church Council President
INTENTIONAL GIVING The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. If we want Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church to have a greater impact, then we need to help.
Memorial Garden Brick Orders
We still have space for more bricks in our Memorial Garden. If you would like to order one or more, please fill out the form enclosed in the newsletter or they are located on either desk in the Narthex. The cost is $32.00 each and the deadline to order isSeptember 25, 2016.Please give or mail form and money to Janice in the office. If you have any questions about the bricks, please contact Mark Weaver at 610-921-3836.
PRESCHOOL NEWS
Preschool is starting again this month and many things are happening!
We had to say “goodbye” and a huge “thank you” to Heidi Zimmerman and Cindy Ciatto for their years of service and dedication to our preschool. We are also saying “goodbye” and “thank you” to two of our newer staff members, Michelle Eaton and Samantha DeLong. Their energy and spirit will be missed!!
Kathlynn Knarr started last year as a member of our extra class. This year she will work all week for both our classes. And we are welcoming a new teacher, Mrs. Aneda Laragy, to our T/TH classes. She has years of experience teaching in preschool settings and we are very excited about adding her to our preschool family. Diane Rothenberger will continue to teach our M/W/F classes.
We still have a few openings and will register children anytime during the year if spaces are available. So if you or someone you know is interested in our preschool have them call Diane at 610-926-0274 or by email at .
We are looking forward to a very exciting school year!
Diane Rothenberger
Director
ATTENTION REDNER’S SHOPPERS
On Aug. 7th, Redner’s began distributing new loyalty cards to its shoppers. These are used to accumulate points toward gas purchases and also for our church to get a one per cent rebate on all purchases (except a few items like milk, stamps, etc.) After Sept. 7th, the current cards will not be able to be used for either of these purposes. Please take a few minutes the next time you are in any Redner’s Supermarket to register for and obtain your new card. The one per cent rebate is a big help to our church. We thank all who participate in this program.
LONG RANGE PLANNING NOTES
Ideas we think could be done near term (immediately to five years)
(Note: alphabetical order—does not indicate time or priority)
Annual Mission Trip
Congregational Nurse (volunteer position?)
5th quarter gathering for youth after football games (at and with Calvary Lutheran?)
Long Range Financial Plan …mortgage reduction/elimination
Meaningful Bible Study
Picnic Grove
Reformation celebration
Small interest groups (book club, etc.)—needs champion
Wall of history (past leaders, church history, etc.)
Worship services on web (audiovisual upgrade)—donor/memorial fund?
Other ideas that have been mentioned:
Daytime education opportunities for seniors (legal and medical advice)
Fellowship area upgrade (make more of a Gathering area)
Fellowhsip Hall kitchen upgrade
Nave carpeting (would need fundraising campaign or major donation)
Recreation/Playground area (Plan/intended use needed)
Senior Daycare (very unlikely—significant remodeling/addition needed)
Senior Living Community (very unlikely—significant cost/staffing needed)
Solar Energy as a possibility (Business plan needed)
Visitation of inactive members (perhaps visiting visitors would be more valuable)
Your input is needed with respect to the above ideas. Contact Dale Nelson () or 610-462-2475 or any other LRP Committee member: Pastor Tom, Lynn Shollenberger, Larry Forrer, Kristen Simmons, Joe Garl. Tentative next meeting: Sept. 8th at 7:30 p.m.