KIRK’S LOG

Stardate: December 16, 2007

Focus Scripture – Isaiah 35:1-10

The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the LORD, the majesty of our God.

Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are of a fearful heart,

“Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God. God will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense. God will come and save you.” Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,

and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert;

the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp, the grass shall become reeds and rushes. A highway shall be there,

and it shall be called the Holy Way; the unclean shall not travel on it, but it shall be for God’s people; no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray. No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there.

And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Minister: The Rev. Dr. Sue Gallagher Usher/Greeter Team: 8:30 – Jill Marjama-Lyons

Lay Reader: Kay Main 10:30 – John Dickel, Myra Galbiati, Judy Gilman

Music: Marilyn Levine, Director Gwen Lewis, Mercy Martinez-Nunnally

Kate Sauer, Organ; Dorenda Morse, piano Hospitality: Emily Wheelock

Adult Ed: Lanie Dickel, Floyd Coppage Lock Up: Judy Gilman

Those for Whom We Pray

Our members: Nancy Eberhardt, Charles Hill, John Jenne, Anis Johnson, Jeri Smith, Hillary Straba, and Lizzie Straba;

Our homebound members and friends: Fran Doty (Amy Homicz’s mother) and Fred Luft (Bobbi Luft’s husband);

Our extended family: Linda Coen (friend of Ann Meierkord), Mary Jo Colegrove (Dorenda Morse's mother), Geneva Davis (Diane Fleming’s mother), Emma Elliott (Bob & Pat Rosenak’s great-granddaughter), Michelle Feng (Patrick Xavier's cousin), Stephen Halsted (former COGS pastor), Madeline Katribe Hanna (Linc Nagle’s former spouse’s mother and grandmother of his two daughters), Roger Hogeboom (Don & Barbara Mitchell’s nephew), Justin Zel Montgomery (Linc Nagle’s son-in-law, serving in the Police Department), Amy Mueller (daughter of Susan Olson-Phillips & Det Phillips), Dave Myers (former pastor’s wife Sue Altenbernd-Myers’ husband), Donald Peterson (Shirley Puariea’s friend), Olivia Prisco (Don & Barbara Mitchell’s granddaughter), Peter Smith (Linc Nagle’s brother), Neil Weaver (Nancy Barfield's friend), for others for whom we have been praying, and for those whose names are known by you and God.

Church Meetings for the Week of December 16-23, 2007

Sunday: Advent

A Natural Christmas

A Respite from the Hectic

8:30 a.m. Worship

All morning Coffee

9:00 a.m. Children’s Education Time

9:15 a.m. Adult Education Time

10:30 a.m. Worship – The Tree Cantata

11:30 a.m. Inquirers Class
Monday: 6:00 p.m. Book Group – at the home of

Pastor Sue

Wednesday: 6:00 p.m. ContemPLAYtion Band

Thursday: 3:00 p.m. Study of Spirituality Group

6:00 p.m. Handbell rehearsal – sanctuary

7:30 p.m. Choir rehearsal – sanctuary

Saturday: 10:00 a.m. Party, lunch, and rehearsal for

Children’s Pageant – plus a

Special Visitor – until 1 p.m.

Sunday: 8:30 a.m. Worship – new members received

All morning Coffee

9:15 a.m. Adult Education Time

10:00 a.m. Children’s Pageant

10:30 a.m. Worship – new members received

Announcements

Wishing and Giving – We have attempted to make life and giving as easy as possible for you this year. The things you will find on the wishing tree at the back of the Sanctuary on December 9 are all common items that you might either have at home already or are easily accessible. These are all simple things that will benefit someone in the community. When you have selected something off the tree, please:

· Take the envelope with you.

· When you have secured the item requested, tie the envelope to item and set it under one of the trees in the FRONT of the sanctuary.

· If it is something like socks or mittens, please hang it on one of the trees in FRONT.

If the item you select is a financial contribution to an agency or project, please make the check out to COGS and place it back in the envelope. Then, hang the envelope on one of the trees in front. Please do not put the filled envelope on the wishing tree in the BACK of the Sanctuary. Thank you so much for expanding the giving arms of Church of the Good Shepherd.

Book Groupies – The book group will meet at Pastor Sue’s home, tomorrow, December 17, 6 p.m.
Please bring:

· a healthy appetizer

· a book for a homeless child

· a book you would NEVER suggest that a church book group would read! You had better put it in a plain brown wrapper!

Directions available at the church. – Pastor Sue

STAFF newsletter deadline – this Wednesday,
December 19.

Please remember that the church office will be closed the 3 days after Christmas – Pastor Sue and Marilyn Levine will take turns being “on call” for emergencies. Please call either one of them should you have need. Cell phones are probably the best means of contact. The church office will be open on Monday,
December 24, and on Monday, December 31.

New Mexico Coalition Against Domestic Violence –
For help, call 246-9240. State Hotline: 1-800-773-3645; National Hotline: 1-800-799-7233; Statewide Legal Resources Hotline: 1-877-974-3400. Services are FREE and confidential.

COGS Adult Ed

Adult Ed classes run from 9:15 to 10:00 a.m.
and meet in the Church School classrooms.

Contemporary Theology Class

A continuation to conclusion of the study of Marcus Borg’s excellent book — Jesus: Uncovering the Life, Teachings, and Relevance of a Religious Revolutionary.
– with Floyd Coppage in Classroom 1.

New class beginning December 2,

and running through December 16:

Advent Meditation

Lanie Dickel will be leading an Advent Meditation class in classroom 2, beginning on Sunday, December 2. The class will convene on three consecutive Sundays, concluding on Sunday, December 16. Sessions will cover “Guided Meditation”, “Healing Meditation”, and “A Meditation Reflecting on Advent”. Please join us for this uplifting spiritual experience.

New Members and Inquirers Class

New members will be received

next Sunday, December 23.

If you feel ready to join this family of faith, please contact Pastor Sue.

The Inquirers Class for people interested in learning more about Church of the Good Shepherd will be TODAY, 11:30 a.m., in the parlor.