KIRK’S LOG

Stardate: April 20, 2008

New Member Service

INTRODUCTION OF NEW MEMBERS

QUESTIONS OF THE CONGREGATION:

One: We who are the members of the Church of the Good Shepherd are committed to building up the body of Christ, which is the church.

All: We remember Paul’s words to the church at Corinth:

One: There are many different gifts, but always the same Spirit.

All: There are many different ways of serving, but always the same Lord.

One: There are many different forms of activity, but in everybody it is the same God who is at work in them all.

All: We each have a part to play and a contribution to make to the common good.

One: Each of us has been given unique gifts: some have the gift of teaching,

All: Some of administration, some of music, some of caregiving, some of outreach,

One: Some of discernment, some of prophecy, some of evangelism,

All: Some of prayer and worship, and some of the stewardship of resources.

One: Let us welcome one another’s gifts joyfully,

All: Help carry one another’s burdens with compassion,

One: Pray for one another with open hearts,

All: Deal with our conflicts in a healthy and straightforward manner,

One: Keep communication open, honest, and gentle,

All: And work for the common good of God’s people.

One: Let us celebrate our diversity and quiet our temptations toward divisiveness.

All: Let us affirm our mutual purpose to be the Body of Christ and treat one another with the respect, understanding, acceptance, and affirmation that are the birthright of every child of God.

NEW MEMBER RESPONSES

UNISON PRAYER

O God of Hospitality, we praise you for the opportunity to welcome new members among us today.

We thank you for their life stories, their faith journeys, their diversity of gifts.

May we who have been here a while be zealous in our willingness to listen and to learn.

Make us open to revised visions and new perspectives, we pray.

Help us to provide a nurturing environment for these new friends
as we invite them into our church and into our lives.

Enable us to take time for one another as we establish a shared faith and a common history.

Bless us all, O God, as we worship together and seek to be your servants in a needy world.

Amen.

HYMN OF WELCOME AND RIGHT HAND OF FRIENDSHIP

“I Am One Voice”

(Solo) I am one voice and I am singing, I am one voice and I am singing,
I am one voice and I am singing; I am not alone.

(Two voices) We are two voices, we are singing… we are not alone.

(Congregation rise and join in singing) We are God’s people, we are singing… we are not alone.

This is our story, we’ll keep singing… we are not alone.

Announcements

STAFF newsletter deadline – this Thursday, April 24.

Book Groupies – The next gathering will be tomorrow, April 21, 6 p.m., at the home of Beth Kissling, 5204 River Ridge Ave. NW. Phone: 288-8666. Book: Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace.

Forever Young – Forever Young will meet this Tuesday,

April 22, at the National Hispanic Cultural Center, 1701 4th Street SW, at 11 a.m. Admission is $2 for seniors. For those who wish to carpool, we will meet at COGS at 10:30 a.m.

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.

Help us to provide a nurturing environment for these new friends as we invite them into our church and into our lives.

Help us to provide a nurturing environment for these new friends
as we invite them into our church and into our lives.