All Members, Winter Residents, Family and Friends,
Greetings everyone! Susan and I returned home from New Jersey later yesterday afternoon! As we were boarding the plane at Newark Airport we received the sad news that our Office Manager, Carmen’s mother had passed away. Carmen will be out of the office for several days if not all next week. So please be patient, Susan and I will do our best to keep things moving forward. Our teachers are not responsible for the office, they have nothing to do with it so please do not burden them with any additional requests. Susan will be available in the afternoons (maybe to answer questions) and I am in and out with meetings and other responsibilities I have.
If you wish to express your condolences to Carmen we will have basket in the narthex to desposit you cards on Sunday and we will make sure she receives them. We will also try to let you know when her memorial service will be held.
Additionally our condolences are extended to Pam and Steve Bradshaw at the sudden and unexpected death of Pam’s sister’s (who passed away some time ago) husband. We pray God’s richest blessing on the family.
Susan asked me to remind everyone that after church on Sunday there will be a quick rehearsal for the “Instant Choir” to practice a song for Reformation Sunday (next week). So please hang around for this special rehearsal.
Susan and I had a great week in New Jersey! We spent some time with family and friends. I have originally thought I was going to be attending my cousins funeral mass on Friday afternoon, but they could not put things together in time. The funeral will be this coming Friday. John Deter was a year ahead of me in school and we grew up together. Her two older sisters were considered by my mother her daughters she never had. So rest in peace John.
We attended my 50th Class Reunion where there were about 90 of my classmates spouses and family members. I was a major portion of the program as I wrote and led a memorial observance for the 17 members of our class who had passed away over the years.
Additionally I was afforded the opportunity to preach at my home congregation. Here is the backstory and what I preached about.
When I first read our Gospel lesson for this past Sunday, I had to re-check to make sure I had the right date and scripture reference. You see when I contacted Pastor Andrew on September 3rd, 2025 I was not expecting and invitation to preach this past Sunday. I accepted and began my preparation. I grew up right up the street from the church. I was Baptized at Good Shepherd, Confirmed at Good Shepherd. And was ordained at Good Shepher June 26th, 1983. But something that probably only a precious few of of those in attendance remembered I preached my first sermon at Good Shepherd from the lectern when I was in 8th Grade. Pastor Voitko allowed me to preach right there. And what really shocked me was the fact when I looked at the Gospel Lesson for this past Sunday, Luke 17:11-19 I had to take a double take. This text of the 10 Lepers is the exact text I preached that first time I preached here nearly 55 years ago. This has to be a God thing. The healing of the 10 Lepers is a wonderful account of God’s Grace and Forgiveness. I would like to think that we are like the Samaritan who returned to give thanks to Jesus, but we are probably more like the other nine who receive God’s most abundant blessings, but fail to return to give thanks. Many have that “entitlement mentality” that says I deserve to be healed. We have a tendency to do the same. Many of the blessings we receive we feel we are “entitled” to what we receive. This is wrong we need to be “thankful” for what we receive. God’s unmerited loving kindness, His Grace which sustains us day after day.
We also survived a pretty severe “Noreaster” storm that lasted two and a half days. It was like a long hurricane with 45-60 mile an hour winds, periodic hard rains, and strong powerful tides four to five feet above normal high tides and very strong surf waves and tides. We were about a block away from inland water, but there was no flood near where we were other than normal storm drain back ups. But needless to say we didn’t do much Sunday and Monday.
Well that is all for this week. Have a great week and see you Sunday! Bible study 8:30AM, come join us!