Newsletter

 

Our Purpose in Life

 

This past month I have buried two friends, listened to a Pastor friend reaffirm his call from God in the midst of a two year fight with depression, received frantic phone calls from several people and dealt with many, many minute details of life. To some, those details are unimportant, but to others, are vital.

 

The list above doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of what's happened in my life in the past month.  Like most of us, when things are going very well I am very pleased, happy and excited.  When things don't feel like they are going very well, I get sad. Why am I here?  What's my purpose in life?

 

Like my Pastor friend, knowing that God loves me keeps me going.  No matter what I do and if succeed or fail, God's love for me never changes.  The Bible tells me that it is new very day.  God never tires of loving me even when I don't seem to love Him as much as I ought to.

 

I also believe firmly that God has called me to be the Pastor at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. I'm not just here because it's convenient or because I don't like to move. I'm here to help us accomplish what God wants us to do as a congregation.  I also believe each and every one of you has a purpose from God.

 

But like me, I suspect you flounder and wonder.  Like me, I suspect that you need encouragement and to have that love of God reaffirmed in your life.  Like me, I suspect that you are on a journey trying to understand how God wants you to live out your purpose and that you could use some help in doing that.

 

A group of us have been meeting to pilot our plan to launch our Purpose Driven Life campaign this fall.  It has been an incredible time.  I think all of us have grown closer to each other and to God.

We have learned some things that we hope will make the campaign run smoothly.  We have also learned some things about each other that have just astonished us.  That's the joy and the surprise of being in relationship with each other.  All of those things are gifts from God.

 

It is not our intention to be exclusive.  We hope to learn enough that as groups form in the coming weeks for our campaign on Purpose Driven Life, that we will be able share from our failures and successes. 

 

I would ask you to think and pray about joining a group this coming fall.  I believe that it has the potential to change each of us and our ministry at Good Shepherd.  I believe very firmly that God is calling us to be clearer about our own purpose in life and our purpose as a congregation.

 

All my belief will be for nothing if we are not willing to step out in faith.  This is different than what many of us have experienced before.  It is new and there's always leeriness about newness.  Is this a plot or ploy to get us to do more or give more?  Is there some devious plan or hidden agenda? 

 

Without reservation I can tell you no to all those things.  This is an opportunity to grow, to grow in faith.  It will be an opportunity to live out what we have said our mission is: Sharing Christ, Changing Lives.  I think it will be a great journey both of discovery and of growth.  I hope and pray that you'll take the risk and opportunity.

 

 

 

 

Peace in the Lord,

 

 

Pastor Don Muller

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THIS AND THAT FOR

 

 

 

Please remember these friends, who have had loved ones die recently, in your prayers: the family of John Amato, uncle of the Ticknors; the family of Marge Vitalone, aunt of Doug and Martha Stratton; the family of William Smith, father of Bob Smith; the family of Teresa Green, sister-in-law of Elaine Green; the family of Cecil "Butch" Brand, uncle of Tori and Mark Zagata; and for the family of Shirley Lynn.

 

Marriage

 

Congratulations to Sandra Anne Masline and Richard Lee Elliott, who were married by Pastor Don, on June 21, at Sonnenberg Gardens. Witnesses were John and Cathy Elliott. We wish the new couple God's abundant blessings and much happiness in the years ahead.

 

Baptism

 

On May 18, Hailey Jo Keller, daughter of John and Jolynn (Stanley) Keller, was welcomed into God's Kingdom of Grace by Holy Baptism.  Godparents for Hailey Jo are Steve and Cindy Hemingway. May God bless Hailey Jo and keep her in His love and care all the days of her life.

Birthdays & Anniversaries

 

July  16   Brett Wood

July  18   Linda Gage

July  19   Delores Furnum

July  20   Jeff Maneval

July  21   Brianna Stonewell

July  21   Ronald Ticknor

July  22   Brenda Hoff

July  23   Caleb Schilstra

July  23   Melissa Maneval

July  24   Rachel Reubens

July  24   Aaron Stonewell

July  25   Joan Nemitz

July  25   Brandon Roat

July  25   Pierce Habberfield

July  28   George Greene

July  29   Virginia Knapp

July  29   Dee Kluge

July  29   Carlotta Young

July  30   Kathy Johnson

July  31   Vern Gillett

Aug.   1   John Allhusen

Aug.   1   Tammy Figenscher

Aug.   1   Nola Trost

Aug.   1   Curt Sanger

Aug.   1   Jim Day

Aug.   1   Tom Ritchey

Aug.   2   Bill Costigan

Aug.   2   Ezekiel Motzer

Aug.   3   Earl Smith

Aug.   4   Jon Allhusen

Aug.   4   Cassy Pittenger

Aug.   5   Margaret Talboys

Aug.   5   Alex Francis

Aug.   6   Jane Zagata

Aug.   7   Peter Donofrio

Aug. 10   Karen Schumacher

Aug. 10   Linda Benivegna

Aug. 10   Colin Roth

Aug. 11   Christa Schneider

Aug. 12   Carole Germuga

Aug. 13   Steve Hemingway

Aug. 14   Alayna Duemmel

Aug. 14   Carroll Wilcox

Aug. 15   Gary Salvagni

Aug. 15   Doug Stratton

Aug. 16   Sue Breese

Aug. 16   Deb Smith

Aug. 16   Wendy Dakin

Aug. 17   Ron Baley

Aug. 19   Ruth Dainty

Aug. 20   Cindy Hemingway

Aug. 21   Kory Parker

Aug. 22   Kelly Cochrane

Aug. 22   Zachary Best

Aug. 23   Eric Rohrback

Aug. 23   Sean Rohrback

Aug. 24   Marlene Beswick

Aug. 25   Emily Thompson

Aug. 25   Hannah Gulvin

Aug. 26   Sarah Roat

Aug. 27   Mark Love

Aug. 29   Don Hauser

Aug. 30   Rylan Rebmann

Aug. 31   Diane Bartholomew

 

Jill & Carl Persson celebrate their 10^th on 7/18.

Kelly & Aaron Sperano celebrate their 6^th on 7/19.

Lisa & Patrick Randolph celebrate their 12^th on 7/21.

Tracy & Felix Cerza celebrate their 7^th on 7/21.

Elizabeth & Anthony Copella celebrate their 3^rd on 7/23.

Amy & Vince Sirianni celebrate their 22^nd on 7/26.

Stephanie & Thomas Sanger celebrate their 7^th on 7/28.

Polly & Allen Simmons celebrate their 14^th on 7/29.

Mary Anna & Jim Chard celebrate their 47^th on 7/29.

Linda & Wes Utter celebrate their 18^th on 8/3.

Kathy & Ron Chapman celebrate their 18^th on 8/3.

Kerri & John Burdett celebrate their 8^th on 8/5.

Marcia & Han Molls celebrate their 48^th on 8/6.

Donna & Tom Lewis celebrate their 37^th on 8/7.

Cathy & Bill Craw celebrate their 21^st on 8/8.

Lori & Frank Nau celebrate their 21^st on 8/8.

Judy & Bruce Anderson celebrate their 8^th on 8/12.

Cherie & Don Ens celebrate their 43^rd on 8/14.

Shirley & Bob Perryman celebrate their 49^th on 8/15.

Lisa & Butch Brahm celebrate their 22^nd on 8/16.

Linda & Walt Metz celebrate their 28^th on 8/16.

Brenda & Chris Hoff celebrate their 29^th on 8/18.

Laura & Andrew Ewens celebrate their 5^th on 8/18.

Erin & Doug Schneider celebrate their 2^nd on 8/19.

Sandy & Bob Smith celebrate their 41^st on 8/19.

Ginny & Ed Lepkowski celebrate their 16^th on 8/22.

Mary & Michael Chrysler celebrate their 5^th on 8/23

Jane & Mark Zagata celebrate their 12^th on 8/24.

Becky & Jon Armstrong celebrate their 29th on 8/25

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tuesday AM Bible Study

 

Our Tuesday morning Bible study moves to church for the summer.  You are invited to join them in the teen room each Tuesday at 9:30 AM, beginning on July 22.  The topic for this short series is Spiritual Warfare and the study will be led by Janet Stager.     

 

 

  

 

 

Praying for Kids on Aug. 20

 

Did you know that this year, members of our church prayed for every child in Canandaigua Academy?  Many parents were touched and grateful for our prayers.  We heard stories of how these prayers impacted the student's lives.  We will never know the far reaching affects of the prayers, but we are sure lives have been and will be changed.

 

Looking ahead to the next school year, we are planning a prayer event before the school year begins.  We would like to cover each child with prayer.  The prayers we use are scripture prayers, actual verses from God's Word in which the child's name is inserted.  Please join us on August 20 at 7 PM for this event.  We will meet in the Middle School south parking lot and disperse to the various schools for a prayer walk.  The more people who join us, the more children we can cover in prayer.  Please sign up on the Wittenberg Door.  God can do miraculous things in the lives of our children if we bring them to Him in prayer.

 

 

 

Have you heard the good news about these friends?  Mary Allhusen was named a 'Shining Star' at Thompson Hospital.  Ellen Bischoff was recognized for her 10 years of employment at Thompson Hospital.  Donna Besler was named Director of Development at CareNet.  Michael Serron was named a conference second team all-star in lacrosse at Ithaca College.  Tori Serron, a 2008 graduate of Canandaigua Academy, will be attending FLCC in the fall where she will major in liberal arts/humanities.  Nick Benivegna, an AP Scholar, was chosen to give the speech that he wrote at Canandaigua Academy's commencement ceremony in June.  Nick also received a Rod Sterling scholarship and will be attending Ithaca's Park School for Cinema and Photography in the fall.  Nola Trost made Deans List at Keuka College.  Katherine Costigan graduated from the University at Buffalo on May 12.

 

 

Volunteer at LeTourneau

 

LeTourneau Christian Camp, on Canandaigua Lake needs help painting a cabin.  Please contact Roxann Muller or Krista Stonewell if you can help.

 

 

 

 Softball

 

Sign up now to play softball on our church team (ages 15 and older). Two women must be on the field each inning, so women are especially encouraged to sign up.  Games begin on Tuesday, May 13. Call the church office if you are interested.

 

 

 

 

 

Class of 08 Grads

 

Are you graduating from high school or college?  We would love to highlight you in the July edition of our newsletter.  Please put your information into the newsletter editor mailbox at church or e-mail it to tlcgs@frontiernet.net.

 

 

 

Garden Bounties: Did God bless your garden with an abundance of produce this summer?  Why not consider bringing your extra vegetables to church and sharing them with those who are unable to garden.  We thank those who are already doing this.  It is a wonderful way to share God's creation.

 

Prayer List Updates:  Sharon Chrisman will be contacting people in an effort to update the prayer list we use each Sunday.  When she calls, let her know if the people you put on the list should remain or if they may be taken off.  You may also add a name when she calls.  You are always welcome to call the church office with your prayer requests and updates.