Author: Daren Bernecker

During the November 21 semi annual meeting the congregation voted to move to one unified worship service on Sunday mornings. Beginning December 5 we will have one worship service at 10:00am every Sunday. This will allow us to worship together as a community of Christians.

Adults and youth alike shared their blessings at our First Sunday in November. After opening with a reading and discussion on the classic book “The Giving Tree”, everyone made crafts not only for themselves but to share share with others. Handmade gifts of floral arrangements and fabric pumpkins were place in custom decorated bags for delivery to homebound members and friends.

First Sunday is an intergenerational Faith Formation program that takes place the first Sunday of each month. Watch for more information coming soon on First Sunday December.

By Pastor Wes Poole

Galatians 6:2

Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. – NRSV

Matthew 7:7

 Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. – NRSV

I get by with a little help from my friends. – Lennon/McCartney

Recently, I accepted an offer to sing the tenor solos in big choral work to be performed up at Marywood University. While in some ways it is difficult for me to admit this, it has been one of the hardest and most challenging pieces I have ever attempted. Usually, I take pride in being the guy who shows up, ready to go, makes it look easy, greets people afterwards, and goes home pleased to have brought some beauty into the world that others appreciate. This time around, it became evident early on that this particular enterprise was going to require a bit more work and commitment. That didn’t scare me, but when I started studying and practicing and was STILL having a hard time, I kind of started to panic. I can’t go out on a stage and just die in front of a hall full of people! 80 choir members, two conductors, and a whole orchestra were counting on me to have my stuff together! Failure was simply not an option.

What was the answer? Well, I did what I should have done way earlier and reached out to friends for help; two in particular. They took time out of their busy schedules to help me “woodshed” the material and get my brain and voice around it. Just today I finally feel like I can do this without bringing shame to my clan or my voice part! ☺ As I write this, I’m feeling a sense of lightness and thankfulness that I haven’t in awhile. How wonderful it is when we bear one another’s burdens! It is such a blessing to the one who receives the help, but asking for help is also a blessing to the one who is asked. As many of you know, I worked in the secular world right before coming to Good Shepherd. One of the most rewarding parts of the job was when someone would come to me for help, and I was able to do just that. It is such a blessing to the helper and the helped. It isn’t hard to see how this plays out in the life of the modern day disciple of Jesus. We are called to be the helpers, and to accept help graciously. This is central to faithful Christian living. Maybe it’s filling bags full of food for those in need…which the Good Shepherd Family does so well. Maybe it’s cutting an elderly neighbors grass, maybe it’s buying a meal for the homeless person who asks for your help, or receiving the gift of a meal during a time of grief. It is said that no act of kindness is wasted. No doubt the “Good Samaritan” in Jesus’ parable would have come away with a sense of blessing for rendering aid to the wounded man. The moral of the story is that we shouldn’t shy away from helping, asking, or receiving. Jesus said as much. This approaching holiday season is often referred to as the “season for giving”. As we walk our walks of faith in our daily lives, may we keep our hearts and minds open to the blessings of gracious giving AND receiving.

Let us pray…

Gracious and generous God, throughout history you have shown us that when we put our trust in you and ask boldly, you provide. Help us to reflect that same spirit of giving in our daily lives; offering help when needed and thankfully receiving it when it is given. We ask these things in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Be well, be kind, and be safe!

Blessings always,

Pastor Wes Poole †

By Pastor Wes Poole

Genesis 2:1-3 

Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their multitude. And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work that he had done in creation. – NRSV

Last week, as I was coming back from SC and the funeral of my sister’s best friend, I was rather focused and stressed. It was a whirlwind of a trip; emotionally fraught and personally exhausting. I am glad I was able to do it, but the task itself was a bit daunting. Learning and rehearsing new music, driving the 12 hours down to SC, rehearsing that music with the other people involved, participating in the service itself, the obligatory (and helpful, if tiring) social gathering afterwards, followed by the long trip back; yeah, pretty draining! Having had way too many “slowdowns on I-81” had put me on edge. More than once, I just shouted to the Universe in frustration, “I am getting too old for this!”…or something to that effect! At any rate, I was probably about 3 hours from home, tooling along on “lovely” 81, when I finally did what I should have been doing all along…I looked up. No, I wasn’t driving with my head in the floorboard, but I was in full bore “tunnel vision” mode…eyes on the proverbial prize…laser focused on getting home and sitting in my chair! But then, I looked up. I looked up and saw the fall foliage beginning to turn. I looked up and beheld the emerging reds and oranges and browns of autumn, hands down my favorite time of year! I breathed out a bit, and the clinched ball of anxious energy in my stomach decompressed a bit more. I’ve never been all that outdoorsy a person, but the beauty of God’s creation in the crisp autumn air has always been healing and restorative for me. Everything about this time of year brings a sense of contentment that is truly refreshing. Halloween and Thanksgiving. The infectious energy of kids Trick or Treating. Cider, turkey, cranberries, and sweet potato pie! Heck, I even love candy corn and pumpkin spice…not to put too fine a point on it! 😉 

God, in His wisdom and generosity, provides us these times of refreshment. Granted, yours may be different from mine, but when we pause for a moment, take our eyes off the road, and acknowledge the wonder of Creation, we find that they are there waiting for us to claim them. A friend of mine posted an unknown quote that read, “Burnout exists because we’ve made rest a reward, rather than a right.” Amen! God doesn’t desire stressed out, exhausted, and generally cranky disciples. The tasks of ministry can be daunting enough sometimes, but God wants us to embrace the model He Himself followed in those opening chapters of Genesis. I’ve often wondered why an omnipotent God needed to rest at all following Creation. I think maybe God was showing us that rest in itself is Godly. Maybe you find that rest in a peaceful moment, as I tend to in autumn. Maybe it’s in a hobby or other interest. Whatever it is, embrace it! God has reached out to all of us and reminds us that our well-being is important to Him. During this season of Thanksgiving, let us re-devote ourselves to bearing each other’s burdens, and finding Holy Refreshment for the months ahead.

May the God of Peace increase our joy and continue to grant us opportunities to slow down and recharge.

Let us pray…

God of wholeness, we thank you for the gift of Creation and our part in it. As the days grow colder, may our hearts still continue to burn bright with love for you and all of our brothers and sisters. Help us to support one another, that we all may be continually strengthened for ministry and service. We ask these things in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Be well, be kind, and be safe!

Blessings always,

Pastor Wes Poole †

On October 3rd the Reformation came to life as Pastor Wes and Guy played the parts of Johann Tetzel and Martin Luther. After and introduction by Christine Tetzel came offer indulgences to reduce time in purgatory. As he was selling indulgences Luther came and challenged the selling of indulgences.

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Craft activities and a fellowship lunch followed in Fellowship hall. Projects included making LED candles with Luther’s Rose, painting sun catchers of Luther’s seal, and making stained glass jars.

The next Faith formation event will me November 7. Be sure to sign up for emails to stay informed about our ministries