KIRK’S LOG

Stardate: August 31, 2008

Focus on the Gospel – Matthew 16:21-28

From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him and began to rebuke him, saying, "God forbid, Lord! This shall never happen to you." But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me; for you are not on the side of God, but of men."

Then Jesus told his disciples, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? Or what shall a man give in return for his life? For the Son of man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay every man for what he has done. Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom."

Ministers: The Rev. Carla Cunningham Usher/Greeter Team: 8:30 – Judy Gilman

The Rev. Bruce Cunningham 10:30 – Barbara & Paul Carpenter, Diane & Robert

Music: Kate Sauer, Interim Music Director Fleming, Chuck Qualley & Robert Sweeney

Don Sauer, Interim Band Director Hospitality: Kevin Blackerby

Adult Ed: Floyd Coppage Lock Up: Project Share

Those for Whom We Pray

Our members: Dorenda Morse, Jeri Smith, and Michelle Tang;

Our homebound members and friends: Fran Doty (Amy Homicz’s mother) and Anis Johnson;

Our extended family: Tammy Diaz (Paula Paul’s friend), Patricia Dickinson (friend of COGS), Ted Feng (Patrick Xavier’s uncle), Brian Festa (Lori Festa’s brother), Roger Hogeboom (Don & Barbara Mitchell’s nephew), Andy Hurst (Linc Nagle’s cousin, serving in Iraq), Justin Zel Montgomery (Linc Nagle’s son-in-law, serving in the Police Department), Amy Mueller (daughter of Susan Olson-Phillips & Det Phillips), Donald Peterson (Shirley Puariea’s friend), Marjie Prisco (Don and Barbara Mitchell’s daughter), Rev. Francis Rath (friend of COGS), Jane Tutolo (sister of Judy Kneebone, friend of COGS), 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 August 31 to Sept. 7, 2008

Sunday: 8:30 a.m. Worship

9:15 a.m. Adult Ed

9:30 a.m. Coffee on the patio

10:30 a.m. Worship

All Day Project Share

Monday: Office Closed

Wednesday: 6:00 p.m. ContemPLAYtion Band

Thursday: 6:00 p.m. Handbell rehearsal – sanctuary

7:30 p.m. Choir rehearsal – sanctuary

Sunday: 8:30 a.m. Worship – Communion

All morning Coffee

9:00 a.m. Children’s Education Time

9:15 a.m. Adult Education Time

10:30 a.m. Worship – Communion

11:30 a.m. Listening Post

11:30 a.m. New Member Class

Announcements

Flowers on the Communion table – have been given by Kay Main, in celebration of the life of Ruth Brown, Kay’s beloved friend.

Remember Project Share, TODAY – Bring your stuff! Check the sign-up board to see what we need.  Thank you for the generous gift of your time and resources! – COGS Community Service Program

State of the (Sunday) School Address – We still need volunteers to be lead shepherds! We currently only have 2 volunteers, and while I'm very grateful to those two people, that's just not enough to make the program run. Close your eyes for a moment and imagine COGS without a Sunday School program this year. What would that say about our church's values and priorities? If you've been thinking about volunteering but just haven't gotten around to signing up yet, please do so NOW (on the bulletin board in the hallway). We need lead shepherds for September, December, and every month of the spring semester.

New Member Classes

New member classes will be held on the first and second Sunday mornings of each month, following the 10:30 service. New members will then be received into the church on the last Sunday of the month. If you are interested in learning more about the United Church of Christ and Church of the Good Shepherd,
please join us on those Sunday mornings.

Rev. Carla and Rev. Bruce

Blood Drive September 21, 8 a.m. – 12 noon in Fellowship Hall – Blood products and the heroes who donate them are desperately needed. Contact Suzanne Miller at 453-6838 or suzmill3r@comcast.net, or sign up on the poster in the hallway, or sign up on the tear-off sheet below.

Light the Night Walk, Sept. 20, 6 p.m., Civic Plaza – The event starts at 6 p.m. and the walk will begin at dusk. The walk is about 2.5 to 3 miles long. Please note the new location this year — Civic Plaza in downtown Albuquerque. The Light the Night Walk (LTN) walk is held to commemorate all people who have or are suffering from Leukemia, Lymphoma or Myeloma. All money raised for the LTN walk will go towards research to find a cure for these terrible blood cancers. Everyone is welcome to come out and walk. The encouraged registration amount is $25/person. If you can’t make the walk and would like to donate, please make your check payable to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (or to LLS). Any person who donates or raises $100 will receive a T-Shirt, and any person who donates $200 will receive something from Best Buy (Best Buy has become a National Sponsor, so no sweatshirts this year). Any questions please contact Judy at 401-0562 or e-mail judymgilman@comcast.net. If you would like to participate in the Light the Night Walk or would like to make a donation, please complete the tear-off sheet below.

Forever Young – will meet on Tuesday, September 9, at 11 a.m. in Fellowship Hall. It will be a potluck lunch, so bring something to share. The meeting will focus on plans for the coming year. Be thinking about any interesting things that the group can do this year.

Anis Johnson welcomes visitors – Now that Anis Johnson can communicate better, she gets very lonesome and would really enjoy visitors. She resides at Manzano Del Sol in the Health Center. – Orp Christopher

COGS Bell Choir Rehearsals – Bell choir rehearsals are at 6:00 p.m. every Thursday, in the sanctuary.  Please contact Kate Sauer sau3er@msn.com if you are interested in joining the bell choir or learning how to ring at the beginning level (age 10 through adult).

Robin & Linda Williams
and Their Fine Group,
in concert at COGS, Saturday, September 13, 7:30 p.m. – The next Sandia Heights Coffeehouse Concert at COGS is Saturday, September 13 — a special performance by internationally-known Robin & Linda Williams & Their Fine Group (robinandlinda.com). Robin & Linda appear regularly on Garrison Keillor's A Prairie Home Companion and are veterans of Austin City Limits, The Grand Ole Opry, and The American Radio Company. They have toured with Emmylou Harris, Mary Chapin Carpenter, The Seldom Scene, and many others. This will be an all-ages, alcohol-free event, presented by the Sandia Heights Homeowners Association Community Service & Membership Committee. Doors to the Church Lower Hall will open at 6:45. Admission is $15/adults, $10/teens & seniors, $5/12 & under, under 5 are free. SHHA members are FREE. There are no advance ticket sales...come early for the best seating. Refreshments will be available, but feel free to bring a favorite dessert. Contact Linda Bolton with any questions or to have your e-mail address added to our Coffeehouse alert or volunteer list: 856-7100 or nlightsmgt@aol.com.

COGS Adult Ed

Adult Ed classes run from 9:15 to 10:00 a.m.

Sacred Conversations on Race

Everyone is encouraged to attend our next Sacred Conversation series, which will begin on Sept. 21 at
9:15 a.m. in the parlor. Continuing the discussion we began last June, this next discussion, the first in a planned series of five, will focus on the question, "is racism real?" These sessions are a direct result of UCC General Minister John Thomas' call for all churches to have a "sacred conversation on race," in response to the controversy around several out-of-context soundclips by Trinity UCC's Rev. Jeremiah Wright last Spring, and the national attention it produced. You are urged to attend these discussions, whose only aim is increased understanding and awareness by sharing honestly with one another in a safe environment. – in the Parlor –
Coordinator: Ruth Randall

Contemporary Theology Class

A New Christianity for a New World, by Bishop John Shelby Spong. – with Floyd Coppage in Classroom 1.

Spirituality Study Group starting new book in September – Join us at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 10, when we will launch our study of Surya Das's book,
The Buddha Within. – The Spirituality Study Group

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.