Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
January 2013
The Shepherd’s Voice
Good Shepherd
Christmas Cantata
Page 4
” Miracle In The Manger”
Page 6
January Readings
January 6: Isaiah 60: 1-6, Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14, Ephesians 3:1-12, Matthew 2:1-12
January 13:Isaiah 43:1-7, Psalm 29, Acts 8:14-17, Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
January 20:Isaiah 62:1-5, Psalm 36:5-10, I Corinthians 12:1-11, John 2:1-11
January 27:Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10, Psalm 19, I Corinthians 12:12-31a, Luke 4:14-21
RING OUT, WILD BELLS
By Alfred Lord Tennyson
Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,
The flying cloud, the frosty light;
The year is dying in the night;
Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.
Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.
Ring out the grief that saps the mind,
For those that here we see no more,
Ring out the feud of rich and poor,
Ring in redress to all mankind.
Ring out a slowly dying cause,
And ancient forms of party strife;
Ring in the nobler modes of life,
With sweeter manners, purer laws.
Ring out the want, the care, the sin,
The faithless coldness of the times;
Ring out, ring out thy mournful rhymes,
But ring the fuller minstrel in.
Ring out false pride in place and blood,
The civic slander and the spite;
Ring in the love of truth and right,
Ring in the common love of good.
Ring out old shapes of foul disease,
Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;
Ring out the thousand wars of old,
Ring in the thousand years of peace.
A favorite of Pastor Tim Johnson’s
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Memorial/Honor Gifts
Memorial/Honor gifts allow you to express your feelings of gratitude, honor, or your expressions of sympathy for the loss of a loved one and at the same time
support the ministries of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. Prompt and appropriate acknowledgements are sent to the honoree or bereaved family indicating
that you remembered them in this significant way. Gift amounts are not revealed.
In memory of Dan Olson
Pastor Craig and Wendy Schweitzer
In memory of Nick Krushe
Pastor Craig and Wendy Schweitzer
December Statistics
Baptized
Lonnie Farthing
Piper Lyric Farthing
Henry Nathan Engel
Funerals
Dan Olson
Nick Krushe
Thank You
Good Shepherd!
The members of the Meals on Wheels
board want to acknowledge and thank you
sincerely for your kind contribution. Your
recent donation will help us continue the
much appreciated service which Meals
on Wheels provides. Those who receive
the benefit of the nutritious meals which
we deliver will benefit greatly from your
generosity.
–Nadi A. Torres, President
Thank you for all you have done to
help the Community Center. The furnace
works great. The items you gave us from
your rummage sales continue to help the
Native American Community. At this time
of the year when the children are wishing
and hoping, we can give them a wonderful,
warm Christmas Party. We will share a meal
and enjoy being together. Please feel free
to come.
-Solen Community Center
On behalf of the clients, staff and
board of directors, thank you for your gift
to Welcome House, Inc. With your help,
desperate families in our Bismarck/Mandan
community have a chance to change their
lives. Welcome House served 400 clients
last year.
–Brenda Kriedeman, Welcome House,
Case Manager
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A Marvelous Musical Weekend
Good Shepherd Christmas Cantata Presented Dec. 8-9
The 2012 Christmas Cantata
entitled “Heaven’s Child” was
a beautiful compliment to our
worship on Dec. 8-9.
Thank you to the following
musicians: Karen Petersen, Piano;
Vicki Martel, Synthesizer; Joel
Erickson, Bass; Barb Murry, Flute;
Everaldo Martinez, Violin; Natalia
Vacarciuc, Cello; Taylor Abler, 1
Trumpet; Lauren Flemin, 2 Trumpet;
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Krystal Laskowske, 1 French Horn;
John Olheiser, 2 French Horn;
Danielle Wolf, Clarinet; Leslie
Williams, Oboe; and Gabriel Weisz,
Percussion.
Thank you to the following choir
members: Cheryl Bailey, Taylor
Helgeson, Tyrza Hoines, Vanessa
Hoines, Renae Haug, Kim Huber,
Susan Johnson, Greta Nelson, Barb
Roberts, Shaina Winning, Judy Bahe,
Becky Bailey, Sharon Burian, Paige
Fettig, Emily Hintz, Kjersti Hintz,
Gwen Marsh, Amy Park, Renae
Walker, and Debra Zeeb, Doug Alm,
Jim Fleming, Mark Kamphuis, Tim
Schenfisch, Dave Bangen, Brandon
Hoines, Pastor Tim Johnson, Greg
Fettig, and Cameron Scott.
Special thanks to Dennis Gowen,
Director and Richard Torrance,
Narrator.
The Year’s Best Excuse To Eat Cookies
Partners Decorate Treats To Fundraise For Those In Need
Photos Courtesy of Dwight Weisz
A cookie decorating party was held Dec. 15 in the Lynne Center and kitchen. The delicious treats were made
by the God Rocks students and several GSLC Partners. After the decorating party, the cookies were sold in
the Narthex Dec. 15-16 with the proceeds benefitting Good Shepherd members in need.
The Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Annual Meeting is scheduled for
January 20, 2013 at 12:15 p.m. in the
Lynne Center.
The 2012 Annual Report will be
available in the Narthex starting the
weekend of January 12-13.
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Genesis Church School Students Dazzle With
”Miracle In The Manger”
The Three Wise Men prepare to make their Troy Kuball turns over the “i” box during the program,
entrance during the 1:00 p.m. program.
which helped spell “Miracle” over the course of the show.
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The Genesis Church School children performed a series of songs during their Christmas program
entitled “Miracle in the Manger.” They delighted parents, grandparents, and friends at 1:00 p.m.
and 3:00 p.m. on Dec. 9.
God Rocks Students Spread Christmas Cheer
The God Rocks students
participated in a service project that
reached out to 45 Good Shepherd
members. They wrote out Christmas
Cards and baked cookies for
members of the church who cannot
leave their homes. The lesson was
on the importance of fellowship and
how a single act of kindness could
make a huge difference. Together,
they wrote out 100 cards and baked
20 dozen cookies for fellow partners
to enjoy. The God Rocks kids made
an intergenerational bridge to
members in our faith family that will
not be soon forgotten.
They also baked cookies for the
cookie decorating event, which was
another 32 dozen cookies! We are
thankful for four ovens and parent
volunteers.
2012 Angel Tree Was An Overwhelming Success
All of the Angel Tree tags were taken by GSLC Partners well in advance this year. The outstanding
response by the congregation in this effort to spread Christmas joy was greatly appreciated by the
following organizations: Abused Adult Resource Center, Burleigh County Social Services, Charles
Hall, Dacotah Foundation, Manchester House, Pride, Inc., Will-Moore School and Youthworks.
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Good Shepherd To Host G.I.F.T.S. Event
Several Growing in Faith to Serve
(G.I.F.T.S.), of the Western North
Dakota Synod-ELCA, events have
been announced.
On Saturday, January 19,
Good Shepherd will host “Life as
Passage: Reframing Life through
Worship.” Guest speaker Dirk Lange,
Associate Professor of Worship,
Luther Seminary, will help those
in attendance examine several
questions and points.
How do we worship God
faithfully when life gets so busy?
What traditions are important in our
foundation as Lutherans? Come to
learn more about Spiritual Baptism:
Reframing Life through Worship.
At the heart of faith is a passage,
a passage from death to life, a
passage from darkness to light, from
wilderness to the promised land.
Surprisingly, Luther defines all of life
as a spiritual baptism, as a continual
passage. How does he conceive of
this passage in daily life? In times
of great transition, even upheavals,
how is the Spirit leading? Are
there any indicators? Guideposts?
Road signs? We will spend the day
exploring some suggestions Luther
made in equally transitional times.
Dirk Lange is a former
congregational leader and brother
of Taize’. He served as editor of and
contributor to “Ordo: Bath, Word,
Prayer, Table” (OSL, 2006). He has
been involved with the Renewing
Worship project of the ELCA.
All ELCA members are welcome
to attend. Registration begins at
8:30 a.m. The event begins at 9:00
a.m. and will conclude by 3:30 p.m.
Registration is $10.00 and includes
lunch. Please register by January
14. Registration forms can be found
on our website under “News and
Events.”
Stephen Ministers Complete Training
The
2012
Stephen
Minister Class recently
completed their 50 hours
of training and had a
Service of Thanksgiving
and Commitment
to
pledge their readiness to become
a Stephen Minister on Tuesday,
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December 18 in the library. The
new class was welcomed by Good
Shepherd’s other Stephen Ministers
from previous classes, with a
group picture being taken and a
dessert reception given for them.
Congratulations to Peg Walth,
Colleen Schmidt and Linda Sitz,
our new class participants, on their
completion of their instruction!
Their Commissioning Service will
take place at the 8:30 a.m., the
9:45 a.m., and 11:00 a.m. services
on Sunday Jan. 6. An information
booth on Stephen Ministry will be
available in the Narthex.
Pictured above, left: Some of the current Good Shepherd Stephen Ministers attended the Service of
Thanksgiving and Commitment on December 18. Pictured right: Congratulations to Linda Sitz, Peg
Walth, and Colleen Schmidt in becoming the newest Stephen Ministers at Good Shepherd.
Heart River Bridges of Hope Update
Submitted By: Shera Nesheim, D.M.
Dear Friends in Christ,
It is with joy and thanksgiving, that
after two years of dreams, prayers,
and discernment, Heart River
Bridges of Hope and Community
of Hope are successfully engaging
in ministry in the Bismarck-Mandan
community and around the state.
We especially want to thank you,
Good Shepherd, for making this
ministry possible through your
hospitality in providing a meal
every Sunday evening for those who
worship at Community of Hope, and
also through your passion, advocacy
and engagement in this ministry.
Community of Hope, a branch of
the ministry of Heart River Bridges
of Hope, has begun worshipping on
Sundays at 4:00 p.m. at the Bismarck
YMCA as of November 4. Average
worship attendance for the month
of November was 32. Roughly threefourths of people who worship with
Community of Hope come over to
Good Shepherd afterwards for a
nice hot meal and fellowship. These
meals have been awesome and we
are so thankful for our partnership.
When you have a moment, check
out Community of Hope’s new
website: www.comofhope.com.
Heart River Bridges of Hope,
the over-arching program that
serves the entire state of North
Dakota, strives to provide youth
opportunities
for
community
worship, mentorship, wellness, and
mutually enriching relationships.
We have been building the Mentor
Program within Bridges of Hope
through mentor trainings and
advocacy among the youth. Since
beginning this fall, we have made
positive connections between two
students and their mentors. As we
continue to have students apply to
be in the Program, we continue to
call upon and have need of engaged
mentors. Male mentors are in high
demand (a large percentage of youth
who participate in the program are
male) so if you or someone in your
life feels called to being a mentor,
please consider attending a training
and learning more!
Twenty-four potential mentors
have been trained through the
Heart River Bridges of Hope Mentor
Program, which has been developed
by Mark Heinert, a Youthworks
employee who has worked with
out-of-home placement youth for
over 20 years, and Pastor Renee and
Diaconal Minister Shera.
Please spread the word about
our two future Mentor Training
Opportunities, and please join us if
you are interested!:
- January 5, 2013 at Heart River
Lutheran Church (701 16th Ave
SW, Mandan, ND) from 11:00 a.m.
to 4:00 p.m. This training is free for
all participants and lunch will be
provided. Please RSVP by January
1 to dm.shera@heartriverlutheran.
org.
- February 23, 2013 at Faith
Lutheran Church in Bismarck (1402
E Ave C) at the 2013 ELCA Glocal
Mission Event from 10:30 a.m. to
3:55 p.m. Registration for the entire
event (Feb. 22-23) is $35 and meals
are provided with registration. For
more information or to register for
the Glocal Event go to www.elca.
org/glocal. Sign up for the Heart
River Bridges of Hope track!
Worried about North Dakota’s housing shortage
and its effect on struggling families and seniors?
Join Lutheran Social Services Housing in doing something about it
As North Dakotans, we can do
better by people than letting them
be forced out of apartments due to
huge rent increases brought on by
good economic times. Do we really
want an 85-year-old grandmother
living in western North Dakota to be
pushed into homelessness because
her monthly rent suddenly jumped
by $1,000 overnight?
The state’s new Housing Incentive
Fund helps fight this trend by
creating new rental units that regular
North Dakotans can afford. You can
now assign up to 100% of your 2012
state income taxes to help build this
new affordable housing.
This is not a donation! You are
merely telling the government how
to spend the state income tax you will
already owe for 2012. You can even
designate the entirety of your state
income tax to a particular developer
you trust - such as Lutheran Social
Services Housing. In this year alone,
we are planning to build more than
a hundred new affordable units in
Bowman and Williston...all in the
heart of the Oil Patch.
Designating your future 2012 tax
payment and getting a tax credit
certificate which you can use for up
to a decade is easy. To participate:
- Estimate your 2012 tax payment.
- Fill out the enclosed form
naming where you want your
payment to go (e.g., “Lutheran Social
Services Housing,” or to one of our
specific projects. We are currently
raising funds for LSSH-Williston and
LSSH-Bowman. Tax designations
such as yours have already helped
to fund projects in Tioga, Beach and
Belfield this year).
- Write a check to NDHFA for the
amount of tax you want to designate,
putting “HIF” in the memo line.
- Send the form and check using
the return envelope.
- You will then receive a certificate
in the same amount to be filed with
your taxes. It can be used for up to
10 years.
If you have questions, call
Lutheran Social Services Housing
staff member John Phillips at 701793-1999.
NOTE: This is different from any
current church-based or Thrivent
giving opportunity related to
affordable housing.
“My people will live in peaceful
dwelling places, in secure
homes, in undisturbed
places of rest.” - Isaiah
32:18
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Partners In Finance
Making Ministry Possible with Your Financial Gifts
General Operating & Capital Campaign Fund
1,208,453
1,158,370
1,154,162
1,041,701
YTD ACTUAL INCOME
YTD BUDGETED INCOME
YTD ACTUAL EXPENSES
YTD BUDGETED EXPENSES
YTD November 2012
* Thanks to your gifts, 10% of our actual income is shared with various missions & ministries in our community
& the world.
Notes:
* A complete financial report is attached to the monthly Council Minutes and can be found in the information
carousels or on the Good Shepherd website.
* The mortgage note balance as of November 30, 2012: $932,319
February 29 Balance
$2,687,506 Payoff to Mission Investment Fund - NC Sale
($1,723,084)
November Principal ($2,571)
* The current interest rate is 4.625% with a monthly mortgage payment of $6,233 (principal and interest); the
next interest rate change is September 1, 2016; and the maturity date of the note is November 1, 2031.
* Funds received from the North Campus auction totaled $37,707. These funds were placed in a dedicated
building account to be used for improvements at the South Campus.
* Beginning January 2012, the Capital Campaign Fund - Income & Expenses fall under the General Operating
Fund.
Grief Support
Parents Of Adult Children Group
A grief group for anyone who has lost a loved one
gathers in Room 112. Starting January 7, the group
will meet at 1:00 p.m. on Mondays instead of Thursday
evenings. The group encourages fellowship with
support. Contact Terri at 226-0492 with any questions.
Parents of Adult Children, a group that connects
parents to offer support, encouragement, and
education meets on the second and fourth Monday
evenings at 6:30 p.m. in the church library. This is an
open group to anyone who is interested in working to
make their relationship with their adult child the very
best that it can be.
Knitters Group meets the second and fourth Tuesdays
in Room 112 at 4:00 p.m. All those who enjoy knitting or
who are interested in learning are welcome to join us.
SHEPHERDS BOOK CLUB
Knitters Group
Home Communion
Home Communion is available through our Lay
Communion Ministry.
CD Ministry To Homebound
Each worship service at Good Shepherd is recorded
and put onto CDs. These CDs are available to
be delivered to anyone who is homebound.
Call parish nurse Terri Camp if you are
interested in having them delivered to you.
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The Shepherd’s Book club will meet for our next
gathering on Monday, January 21 at 6:30 p.m. at
Pansegau’s home. The book we will
read and discuss for the meeting
will be, “A Crooked Number,” by
Nathan Jorgenson. Jorgenson, who
is from Minnesota, tells a coming of
age story about a dental student in
grad school, baseball, and young
love. Readers are asked to obtain
their own copy of the book to read
and discuss.
December Council Meeting Highlights
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT
Scott Parkin – President
Bill Sorensen – Vice President
Shawn Deisz – Secretary
Patrick Haug
Sheryl Zaun
John Giese
Rhea Beto
Glenn Mueller
Suz Buetow
OTHERS ATTENDING
Pastor Tim Johnson – Senior Pastor
Sandy Meidinger – Parish Administrator
Wendy Curry – Partnering Minister
Andie Rydberg – Parish Assistant
The meeting was called to order by Council President Scott
Parkin.
DEVOTIONS
Pastor Johnson led opening devotions.
BUSINESS
1.) Approval of Minutes:
Motion to approve the minutes from the November council
meeting (Buetow/Zaun, unanimous) motion carried.
2.) Finance Report:
Meidinger provided a recap of the November financials.
General Fund income for the month of November totaled
$88,739 which is 87.1% of the monthly budget of $101,922.
Expenses for the month of November totaled $86,094 which
is 79.9% of the monthly budget of $107,724. The General
Fund net income for the month of November is $2,645. YTD
income totaled $1,158,370 compared to the 2011 YTD total
of $1,021,029. YTD expenses totaled $1,041,701 compared
to the 2011 YTD total of $908,933. This resulted in YTD net
gain of $116,669 compared to the 2011 YTD net income of
$112,096. Benevolence payments included in November
expenses totaled $6,760 with a $98,307 YTD total.
The dedicated accounts received $11,075 and expensed
$4,886 resulting in net income of $6,189 for the month of
November. Motion to approve the November financial
report (Beto/Deisz, unanimous) motion carried.
3.) Audit Report
Meidinger presented the 2012 Audit Report. The Audit
Committee made three recommendations in their report:
a) Report cash balances based on the general ledger balance
versus the bank statement balance on the financials. This
recommendation was put in place on the November
financials.
b) Have someone with an accounting background review
the financial statements on a monthly basis. Currently two
Council members with accounting backgrounds review the
financials on a monthly basis. The Council recommended
the members of the Finance Committee review the financials
on a monthly basis as well.
c) Document internal controls. Meidinger reported with the
addition of one office staff member, this project should be
completed in 2013.
Motion to approve the Audit report (Deisz/Giese, unanimous)
motion carried.
4.) Endowment Council
a) Beto reported the Endowment Council currently has six
vacancies open. Three current members agreed to have
their names placed on the ballot to serve another term.
Names were provided to two current Endowment members
to contact potential candidates to have their names placed
on the ballot to fill the three remaining vacancies.
5.) Call Committee
a) One candidate was interviewed for the Pastor of Youth
and Family Ministries position.
b) Sorensen, Chair of the Call Committee met with Bishop
Narum to discuss possibilities for other potential candidates
to be interviewed for the position.
6.) Finance Committee: 2013 Budget
a) Forward in Faith is ending as of December 31, 2012. The
monthly mortgage payment is now included in the General
Fund. Some of those contributions are expected to switch
to the General Fund.
b) Benevolence in 2012 was budgeted at 10% and will
increase to 15% in the 2013 budget.
c) A new line item was added to the 2013 budget; Property
& Equipment Replacement. This line item was budgeted at
3% for a total of $42,000. These funds will be considered
dedicated funds and used for property and equipment
upgrades.
d) A discussion took place on how to spend the funds from
the 2012 budget surplus. Suggestions included: Debt
reduction, Camp of the Cross, ELCA Western ND Synod,
Lutheran Social Services and reserve funds for future church
needs.
Motion to move $100,000 undesignated funds into
designated Property & Equipment Replacement (Deisz/
Buetow, unanimous) motion carried.
Motion to approve the proposed 2013 General Fund Budget
(Deisz/Haug, unanimous) motion carried.
7.) Old Business:
a) Congregational Annual Meeting is set for January 20, 2013
at 12:15 pm in the Lynne Center. The 2012 Annual Report
will be available in the narthex the weekend of January 1213, 2013.
b) Council members Scott Parkin, Sheryl Zaun and Glenn
Mueller’s terms expire in January 2013. They will serve as
the nominating committee and meet to discuss potential
candidates to fill those vacancies.
8.) Pastor Reports:
a) Pastor Johnson
a. Thank you letter from Lutheran Social Services.
b. Camp of the Cross Support for 2013.
c. Stephen Minister installation.
Lord’s Prayer as closing prayer.
Respectfully submitted,
Andie Rydberg, Parish and Education Ministries Assistant
Good Shepherd Church Council Members
–Scott Parkin, President (2010-2013)
–Bill Sorensen, Vice President (2011-2014)
–Shawn Deisz, Secretary (2012-2015)
–Rhea Beto (2010-2015)
–Suz Buetow (2011-2014)
–John Giese (2012-2015)
–Patrick Haug (2011-2014)
–Glenn Mueller (2010-2013)
–Sheryl Zaun (2010-2013)
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106 Osage Avenue, Bismarck, ND 58501-2673
Phone: 701-255-1001 • Fax: 701-255-3644
Email: [email protected]
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PAID
Session - Getting Away
Submitted By: Evelyn Buchfink
Theme verse: Mark 6:30-31
“The apostles
gathered around
Jesus, and told him all
they had done and taught. He said to
them, “Come away to a deserted place
all by yourselves and rest a while. For
many were coming and going, and
they had no leisure even to eat.”
We are back in Mark for our study
this month. The apostles have been
away and they came back and told
Jesus all about what they had done
and taught and all the people they
had met. Jesus invites them to come
away and rest. What would it be like
to be one of those first missionaries,
to be so busy there was no time
even to eat? What would it be like to
find ourselves in the biblical story so
that we may find the biblical story in
our lives?
Our Lutheran World Relief project
for January is collecting soap. New
bars of soap in their original wrapper
may be put in the baskets and will
be shipped in May with the other
Care Kits and Quilts.
If you wish to join a Bible study
group (circles) Good Shepherd has
five, each meet at a different time.
One of these times might fit into
your schedule. It is a great way to
learn more about the Bible and
enjoy the fellowship of the group. If
you are interested in joining one of
these groups call Evelyn Buchfink at
255-1509 or Val Otto at 255-1415 for
meeting times and places.
Join Us Online!
www.goodshepherdbismarck.com
https://www.facebook.com/goodshepherdbismarck
http://twitter.com/GSLCBismarck