Category: Ministry News

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

This Sunday, October 3rd, begins our new Faith Journey with a special service at 9:30am leading into Faith formation activities at 10:30 and followed by a fellowship luncheon.

The new program provides learning opportunities for all ages. this Sunday will be an intergenerational event centered on the reformation. Look forward to a special visit with characters from the Reformation and special crafts.

Faith Journey will continue the first Sunday of each month.

Our Faith Journey program is going through significant changes to provide more faith building activities for all ages.

The new program will take place the first Sunday of each month beginning with worship at 9:30am. Worship will lead into firsthand formation activities that include interactive learning for children and youth along with Bible study for adults. Following faith formation activities all with gather for a fellowship lunch.

Our inaugural program will take place October 3rd with intergenerational activities centered on the Reformation.

Everyone is welcome to join us as we journey together toward a deeper understanding of our faith.

Everyone is invited to Good Shepherd’s

Renewal Celebration
Rally Day and Picnic

Come celebrate as we renew the torch of our ministries after quarantining.

We will have a special 9:30am service at the church and then picnic at Kirby Park (pavilion 3) from 11am to 5pm on September 12th.
There will be food, fellowship, and games for all ages.

It has been wonderful being able to see everyone’s face again but we now must go back to making sure everyone is protected. Our area is now at substantial risk of Covid transmission. Per CDC guidelines we are encouraging everyone to wear masks at all services and indoors gatherings whether you are vaccinated or unvaccinated.

We ask that anyone who is not feeling well or has been exposed to remain home. Video recordings of worship will continue to be available online as soon as possible Sunday afternoons. If you are not receiving email notifications yet please submit your email to receive updates.

By Pastor Wes Poole

Deuteronomy 11:18-19

You shall put these words of mine in your heart and soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and fix them as an emblem on your forehead.  Teach them to your children, talking about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise.  – NRSV

Proverbs 22:6

Train children in the right way, and when old, they will not stray. – NRSV

Do you know the difference between education and experience? Education is when you read the fine print; experience is what you get when you don’t. – Folk singer Pete Seeger

Martin Luther, on Bible study:  I study my Bible like I gather apples. First, I shake the whole tree that the ripest may fall. Then I shake each limb, and when I have shaken each limb, I shake each branch and every twig. Then I look under every leaf. I search the Bible as a whole like shaking the whole tree. Then I shake every limb–study book after book. Then I shake every branch, giving attention to the chapters. Then I shake every twig, or a careful study of the paragraphs and sentences and words and their meanings.

Teach your children! It was one of God’s commandments to the ancient Hebrew peoples and it is still just as relevant and powerful a commandment all these millennia later. The continual nurturing of faith that we provide our children and ourselves throughout our lives is one of the most important responsibilities we have as God’s people and as a congregation. It’s also imperative to remember that when we commit to the discipline of studying scripture and growing in the understanding of our faith, we aren’t just cramming for some sort of “Divine Exam”. Our relationship with God in Jesus Christ is established through grace. As a result, “Christian Education”, as we often call it, is a matter of personal enrichment; empowering us to be better disciples and more effective agents of that grace in the world. As we continue to transition to a post-COVID world, your Faith Formation Team is in the process of visioning for the future of our educational ministries at Good Shepherd. There are any number of ideas being discussed, but one thing remains central, helping our people grow in understanding of our faith and devotion to God and neighbor. “Faith Formation” is not just something we do to help teach Bible stories to children. That’s immensely important, but only the beginning. Our faith, both individually and as a community, is constantly in formation; growing, changing, and hopefully deepening. Let us all, as a family of faith, commit to “shaking the apple tree” that is Holy Scripture, and to the life in service to God and neighbor that Jesus modeled for us.

Let us pray…

Lord, keep us steadfast in your Word. As we strive to teach our children “in the right way” and to keep your words in our hearts and souls, inspire us to take what we learn and put it to work in your Kingdom for the benefit of all people. Make us creative and engaged students and teachers; that your Word be made known to the world and transform the lives of those who experience it. We ask these things in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Be well, be kind, be safe, and pick up that Bible! You never know what might happen!

Blessings always,

Pastor Wes Poole †

By Pastor Wes Poole

Psalm 46:1

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. – NRSV

He knows not his own strength that hath not met adversity. – Ben Jonson.

The story is told about an elderly lady who was greatly disturbed by her many troubles–both real and imaginary.  Finally, her grandson, a pastor, tactfully told her, “Grandma, we’ve done all we can for you. You’ll just have to trust God for the rest.” A look of absolute despair spread over her face as she replied, “Oh dear, has it come to that?” Whereupon the pastor replied, “It always comes to that, so we might as well begin with that!”

“We might as well begin with that.” Yea verily…honest and forsooth! We all experience our share of life’s troubles. Some are undoubtedly bigger and more troubling than others. Regardless, God promises never to leave us to face them alone. That in itself is not all that controversial a thing to state. Of course, as people of faith we strive to place that faith as firmly in God as we can contrive. It is important to remember though that God almost always works through something, or someONE else. When we come to God for help through a time of trial or crisis, however great or small, we aren’t asking God to work “magic tricks” or to miraculously fix everything, but rather we are asking God to help guide us through. Often as not, it is our fellow sisters and brothers who serve as those guideposts. We see this quite clearly in the medical world. What is scarier than illness? Yet God asserts His presence through doctors and scientists, or the friends and loved ones who pray with us and for us. Whether we’re on the giving or receiving end of God’s Grace, it is in the face of our neighbor where we see God at work most clearly. For the modern day disciple of Jesus, it is vital that we not only acknowledge the grace and kindness shown us, but that we also become ourselves the agents and purveyors of that grace. Luther understood this when he penned his “greatest hit” A Mighty Fortress, which was based on Psalm 46. God is a very PRESENT help in trouble. Right here, right now, present tense, God is reaching out to us. May we always strive to be that present help for others. It is truly the perfect place to begin!

Let us pray…

God of mercy and comfort, help us to recognize your presence through the lives and actions of others. As we experience the grace you extend so lavishly, help us to continue being the agents of your grace in the world. For when we reach out to others in your name, we are all bound closer together, and your healing love is made known in life transforming ways. We ask these things in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Be well, be kind, and be safe. See you soon!

Blessings,

Pastor Wes Poole †

BY Pastor Wes Poole

Proverbs 6:25

Anxiety weighs down the human heart, but a good word cheers it up. – NRSV

Mamie Adams always went to a branch post office in her town because the postal employees there were friendly. She went there to buy stamps just before Christmas one year and the lines were particularly long. Someone pointed out that there was no need to wait in line because there was a stamp machine in the lobby. “I know,” said Mamie, “but the machine won’t ask me about my arthritis.”

Yea verily, Ms. Mamie! There is such power in those small “good words”. This week, I’m speaking from experience! I won’t weigh you down with the details, but we’ve had an ER visit, a long, difficult trip to SC, and an upcoming surgery as our primary stressors. Everyone is OK and healthy enough, but we’re feeling a bit frayed around the edges. Yet even through it all, there were various acts of kindness; some bigger, some smaller, all appreciated. We each have within us the truly awesome ability to make the lives of others better. It might be a hug, a cup of coffee and an attentive ear, or simply a random smile…but the potency of such acts, those “good words”, is immeasurable. It is also exactly the life into which we are called as Christians; exactly the life Jesus modeled for us during his earthly ministry. Jesus was able to affect the lives of others on a much grander scale. Indeed, his sacrifice for humanity is the greatest “good word” of all time. Still, the smaller acts of kindness he showed others, even those who were considered the lowest of the low, made just as powerful a difference in the lives of those people to whom he displayed caring and compassion. It is one of the cornerstone tenets of our faith that we are many members, yet still one body. When we look at each other and see the value in each unique individual, we finally start to realize another of the core teachings of our faith…that the Kingdom of God is at hand. For the Kingdom is at hand, and that hand is ours! As Jesus’ 21st century disciples, may we always choose to speak the good word. The impact we can make is profound. Let’s be the people who ask Ms. Mamie about her arthritis!

Let us pray…

God who spoke the cosmos into being, we know that our “words”, verbal and otherwise, can effect positive change in the lives of our brothers and sisters. Make of us a people who share the good word freely and with joyful hearts; that all may come to know the life that has been given to us in Jesus Christ. For it is in his name we pray. Amen.

Be well, be kind, and be safe! See you at worship!

Your Partner in Christ,

Pastor Wes Poole †