Only three weeks left!
We're right in the middle of Building to Share God's Love, the capital
campaign to raise gifts and pledges over three years, to build a home for the
church. Our goal is two fold. The first goal is to deepen the faith of each
of Good Shepherd's members and friends, by calling every one of us to examine
our lives and prayerfully consider the things that come between us and loving
Jesus. The second goal is to receive $250,000 in pledges and gifts over a three
year period.
What a ride! I've never been part of anything that has so clearly and intentionally
focused an entire congregation's thoughts and prayers on just one thing - their
personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I've never been part of a church that
has talked about money so freely, without apology. I've never been part of any
endeavor that has asked so many people to consider such real sacrifice, a sacrifice
not only for themselves or their friends or their families, but for people they've
not yet even met! I've never known so many people who would even consider putting
so much of their lives in the hands of God.
Building to Share God's Love is putting us to a real test, showing
us what we're made of. Some of us are excited about the results we'll share
on Commitment Sunday, October 14 - and some of us are afraid. Some of us have
made up our minds about whether we'll give or how much we'll give - and some
of us are still unsure. Some of us are looking forward to what we'll build together
- and some of us are afraid it will tear us apart. We're a little on edge, a
little bit anxious - and maybe we ought to be. We've never done anything like
this before - and what we're doing will be a pivotal experience in the life
of this church, in our lives together.
What excites me is that no matter how this plays out, we cannot lose. The people
who dig into this, who really do give it their prayerful consideration, who
challenge themselves to trust their God and depend on each other - those people
will be tougher and leaner and more clear about who they are and whose they
are than ever before. And that's the kind of people I want to be part of.
What better time to do this than the season of Pentecost, the season that celebrates
the sending of the Holy Spirit to birth and build up the church. Join us, my
friends, for Building to Share God's Love - and see what love God builds
in you.
There's only three weeks left.
Pastor Jim
Speak to the people of Israel, that they may take for me an offering, from everyone whose heart makes them willing... And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst. Exodus 25:2,8
From the Shepherd's Song Newsletter -- October 2007
Copyright 2007 by Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
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E-mail your comments and questions to Pastor Jim in care of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church at gslc@sirus.com.