| January 2012 |
The Good News |
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A new beginning and a changeless promise But if everything were always new, then our life would be quite disorienting! Imagine coming home each day to a completely rearranged house. Imagine having to figure out again and again where the light switches are and the thermostat and the electric outlets and the linen closet and the medicine chest; imagine having to pull out five drawers before you find the silverware or the aluminum foil. That would be so exhausting. Clearly, there is something comforting and reassuring about things staying put and unchanged. This reassuring steadiness is also available to us every day: God’s love for us is steadfast and unchanging. It will be there for us tomorrow as surely as it was there for us yesterday. Even in the greatest turmoil and upheaval, God’s friendship for us remains unchanged. These two qualities, the fresh beginning of each day, and the love with is without change, are like two wings that carry us through the year and even through life. These two qualities are expressed very beautifully in one of our Lutheran prayers: Lord God, you have called your servants to ventures
of which we cannot see the ending, by paths yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go, but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. - Morning Prayer - Evangelical Lutheran Worship pg. 304 I wish you a blessed new year! May many of your dreams come true, and many of your projects succeed. May you always know yourself to be held in God’s gracious embrace. Congregational meeting-January 29 @ 11:30am Social Action-Giving Tree
Second Mile giving for January is for our Sister Synods Time to collect your thoughts for the 2011 Annual Report
Festival of Nations-January 14th We will all be bringing dishes from our own traditions and heritages, but we are adding "Adopt a Table." Adopt a table, and you can decorate it with your heritage in mind. Just think of the different tables we will have, such as: German, Scandinavian, Far Eastern, American, French and Middle Eastern. If you don't want to decorate the table yourself, join in with others who share your heritage and you can adopt a table together. CGS Mission and Resources These were both well-attended and productive. I was especially impressed by the creative thinking around stewardship, volunteer work, and fundraising. Thanks to everyone's thoughtful comments, we've been able to significantly reduce the projected shortfall in a revised proposal. Unsurprisingly, a few recommendations from the two sessions stand in conflict. Consequently, the Finance Ministry will meet on January 7th after the Calendar Planning Meeting to choose among the conflicting recommendations, and to verify that our 2012 estimates still make sense based on the actual 2011 expenditures rather than projections. All interested members are invited to attend. Of course, the budget proposal offered at the annual meeting in January will be open to further discussion and amendment. I still fully expect the budget we present for approval to exhibit an unsightly (and dangerous!) gap that predicts serious financial trouble within a year or two. This gap is a direct consequence of the difference between what we say we want to accomplish (given the ways we're willing to accomplish it) and the resources (whether in volunteer-hours or in dollars) we are willing to commit. My sincere hope is that everyone will prayerfully consider their giving commitments of time, talent, and money for 2012, and make it possible to not only eliminate the gap, but for this congregation to actually grow in service and outreach. The "E" word In conjunction with this year's stewardship campaign we recalled how Jesus said that where our treasures are, there our hearts will be as well. It's not that our giving follows our hearts, but that our hearts will follow our giving, and that *that's* the wisdom of giving as a spiritual discipline. I think the same applies to evangelism. It's not so much that our experience of faith calls us to evangelism (though it should), but rather that by practicing evangelism we will find our faith experience enriched! Margaret V. and I have volunteered to kick-start CGS's Evangelism Ministry. Here's our top secret strategy:
Thank you from Pastor Bea Thanks from Sarah and Lewis Education Today discussion panel
News from the Pews
New books in the Library
CGS Stork Corner See Linda or Laurie for more info about donating to the CGS gift. Birthdays
Calendar of events
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January Good News In this issue: A new beginning and a changeless promise |
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The Good News e-Version January 2012 If you wish to subscribe to this newsletter, email us here. Our mailing address is: 1550 Meridian Ave San Jose, CA 95125 Our telephone: 408-266-8022 Copyright (C) 2011-12 Christ the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church All rights reserved. |
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The vote for our budget will take place at the congregational meeting on January 29th 2012 at 11:30 a.m. During this meeting we will also be electing two congregational representatives and two alternates to serve as voting members at the synod assembly and the district gathering. 
Thank you to all who gave food and/or gifts for the Family Giving Tree. The Lord’s pantry was very happy to receive the gifts and food, as will the children and families you helped to serve. 
In the month of January, our second mile offerings will be divided among the Sierra Pacific Synod’s companion synods: the Lutheran Church of Rwanda, the Lutheran Synod of El Salvador and the Taiwan Lutheran Church. Please keep these churches around the world in your payers this month and consider an additional offering toward their ministries. The Sierra Pacific Synod is blessed to accompany these churches in mutual ministry as we proclaim God’s creative, redeeming and sanctifying activity in all the world.
If you lead a Ministry or a Committee, please take a few minutes to write down this year's major accomplishments and challenges, and your plans for next year. Please send your input to the church office. The annual report will be made available electronically via the congregation's website in time for the January annual meeting, so make sure to have your reports in to Laura by January 8th.
CGSLC has had a rich tradition of celebrating our diversity. What began as an annual smorgasbord dinner eventually evolved into an International Potluck. In honor of our diversity and anniversary we revive this tradition with a fresh concept.
The process of developing the proposed 2012 budget has been challenging. The draft budget presented at out November 20th congregational meeting made it clear that we, as a congregation, had to "sharpen our pencils". To explore ways of mobilizing additional resources, reducing expenses, and to make sure our resources are going towards our mission priorities, the Finance Ministry held meetings on November 27th and December 18th so gather additional input from the congregation.
Evangelism. No word (other than perhaps "Stewardship" or "Passionate Spirituality") seems to evoke more discomfort among mainstream churchgoers. Yet all are crucial to the health of the Church.
The Education Today Panel will meet January 8th, the second Sunday as usual, at 11:45 am in the Fireside Room. We will examine how your support systems functioned throughout the holidays. We also will establish an agenda for the following few months. Calling educators of all persuasions, parents, and interested individuals!
Congratulations to Pastor Charles Witschorik who is now The Rev. Dr. Charles Witschorik! He earned his Ph. D. in History.
The Library starts out the New Year with some new books. Come check them out! Stay tuned for some reviews, and if you are so inclined, write your own reviews for submission.
Join us in celebrating, as Jean and Julia prepare for their TWIN bundles of joy. CGS will be hosting a baby shower for them on January 22 during coffee hour.
