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As we venture into the doldrums of summer,

doing our best to avoid political discussions of

any sort (that’s my policy anyway!), I find

myself considering the conversations our

forebears have had with God. Many people

view such conversations as prayer. But let’s

consider our communication with God

conversation, a back and forth exchange of

ideas and opinions.

We know God loves us. Does that mean God

loves us as valued individuals or as adored,

indulged, and occasionally disciplined “pets”?

When we refer to ourselves as children of God,

does that mean God loves us unconditionally,

without expectation? I don’t think so. God does

love us unconditionally, but just as we have

expectations of our children (and even our

pets!), God has expectations of us.

And sometimes it’s hard to determine what

those expectations are. We have the Bible to

guide us, of course. But we also can be guided

by our relationship with God. Given any

situation, if we’re trying to determine WHAT

TO DO, we can look to the Bible and to God’s

presence with us to help us make decisions. I

believe most of us, if questioned, would be able

to accurately answer the question “What do you

think God wants you to do?” Even children can

answer that question. Most of us have that inner

barometer, that sense of right and wrong.

(Of course there are those who don’t, and they

are a whole other conversation, involving

psychologists and other professionals.)

God wants to have a relationship with us. And

whether we acknowledge it or not, God does

have a relationship with us. It becomes evident

as we go through life. I consider Abraham’s

ability to walk along and simply chat with God

to be an excellent example of what our

relationship with God can be like. Whether we

chat or argue with God or not, God is there,

walking beside us, always ready to

communicate with us.

But are we ready to listen? Listening is a skill

that needs to be cultivated. Just because we can

hear doesn’t mean we’re listening. Think of all

the times you have participated in a

conversation when you have spent your “turn to

listen” actually silently planning out what you

want to say? When have you sat back, as an

open and available participant, just ready to

listen to what was being said to you? Ready to

absorb, without judgment? It’s not easy. In fact,

it’s really hard!

What if we did that with God? What if our

prayer was, “Dear God, I know I’m capable of

listening. I know I can do this. Please help me

to open my ears so I can really hear what you

have to say to me. Please help me to listen.”

As we enter into August, let us believe we can

be open, available to God, without expectations

or preconceived notions. Let us believe God

truly hears us, truly listens to us. Let us

imagine, and then believe that we can have

conversations with God.

The Shepherd’s Crook The Church of the Good Shepherd

Pitman, NJ The Rev. Susan E. Osborne-Mott, Rector August 2016

“We Love Our Church”

A Letter from Mother Susan

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Uppity Women of the Bible

Women's Thursday Bible Study will resume on Thursday, September 8th with the study of the Book of Judith. Our series is presented by Dr. Lisa Wolfe. She describes this book this way: "Judith, from the Koine Greek version of the Hebrew Testament reads like a historical novel rife with warfare, lust, espionage and intrigue. This six-week series takes you from a mythological battlefield and a besieged city into the studio and psyche of the Baroque painter Artemesia Gentilschi." We'll actually be doing this series in five weeks. Many participate in Morning Prayer first. The class begins at 9:30 and lasts one hour. For questions, contact Mel Caron at 478-234-3698 or melanieannecaron@gmail.com.

Church History Display

I hope that everyone has had a chance to

check out the Church History Exhibit in the

glass case in the parish hall. It features a

rotating exhibit of artifacts and pictures from

our combined church history as a Good

Shepherd Family! It is a fun way to see what

others have used in the past in their worship

and study! If you have anything that you would

like to share, please let me know! I am running

out of exhibit items. I have enough for 2 or 3

more exhibits and I have been rotating them

every 4 months. Your items will be returned to

you in good condition after the exhibit ends.

Thanks so much!

Ellie Dunn

609-868-7104

CHURCH MINISTRY LEADERS

These are some of their names and numbers, if you have any questions.

Senior Warden George Funk - 856/232-0941

Junior Warden Sue Burkhard - 856/218-1035

Treasurer Lee Braidwood - 856/228-0737

Asst. Treasurer George Funk - 856/232-0941

Brotherhood of St. Andrew -

Wayne Szalma - 856/469-3028

Women at the Well Diane Wall - 856/374-9081

Jenn Harrington – 856-383-0823

Altar Guild Shelly Harris - 856/589-8160

Newcomers Deb Prieto – 856/478-0795

Youth Group -

Chelsea Richmond – 856-723-4123

Sunday School Lori Bathurst – 856-415-9283

Pat Braidwood – 856-228-0737

VESTRY LIAISONS, 2016

Personnel – Jack Daugherty

Property & Security – Len Clark

Endowment Planning – Rich Harrington

Columbarium – Deb Prieto

Newcomers/Greeters – Deb Prieto

Adult Christian Education – Jack Daugherty

Internal Ministries – Cindy Taglienti

Outreach – Connie Parent

Sunday School – Elizabeth Nelson

Brotherhood of St. Andrew – Wayne Szalma

Youth Activities – Chelsea Richmond

Family Promise – Rich Harrington

Prayer Ministry – Cindy Taglienti

Stewardship Committee – Len Clark

Choir – Rich Harrington

Senior Warden – George Funk Junior Warden – Sue Burkhard Treasurer – Lee Braidwood Clerk of the Vestry – Chuck Lezenby Assistant Clerk of the Vestry – Diane Wall

SERVICES

Saturdays: 5:30 PM – Holy Eucharist

Sundays: 10:00 AM – Holy Eucharist

Tuesdays & Thursdays: 9 AM Morning Prayer

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Prayers for the Parish Families

For August

Morton families, Moulthrop family, Murray family, and Myhre family

OUR PRAY-ERS MINISTRY

Each Sunday during Communion time, our team of Pray-ers offer prayers with our parishioners. We have now expanded this meaningful ministry to our Saturday evening Holy Eucharist at 5:30pm.

After you receive Holy Communion, if you want/need additional prayers, there will be a team of Pray-ers in the rear of the Church who are willing to offer prayers for you. These prayers can be offered in joy for a Blessing you have received, or can be to help ease a burden which lies on your heart. Please take advantage of this wonderful ministry of our parish. All prayers are confidential.

Pray-er Ministry

Anyone interested in being a Pray-er Minister at the Saturday night or Sunday services please contact Cindy Taglienti @ 227-1566 or cindytaglienti@comcast.net.

The Food Pantry

The Food Pantry always needs tuna, canned

fruit and vegetables, macaroni & cheese,

peanut butter, jelly and juice. They are also

in need of volunteers to help with the Food

Pantry on Tuesday evenings to give out food.

They are open on even dated Tuesdays each

month from 6pm – 7pm.

Saturday Morning Movie

SATURDAY MORNING MOVIE will take place

on Saturday, September 10, 9:30-11:30 in the

Parish Hall. Breakfast will be provided. We

will once again be watching a presentation by

Pastor Rob Bell entitled "Everything Is

Spiritual". There is no word in the Hebrew

Scriptures for "Spiritual". And Jesus never

used the phrase "spiritual life." Because for

Jesus and his tradition, all of life is spiritual.

So what does that mean? Rob Bell will share

with us his understanding on this question in a

way that is informative, funny and extremely

thought-provoking. For questions, contact Mel

Caron.

Coffee Hour

Just a reminder that Coffee Hour is a service

that is supplied cost-free to you thanks to the

donations of time and supplies by the hosts and

coffee hour assistants. If you enjoy the coffee

hours but are not able to be a host or assistant,

you can always be a help by donating cans of

coffee, paper plates, 9-10 oz. cups, coffee

creamer, baked items, or fruit every once in a

while. If you want to be a host or assistant on a

regular basis (about once every ten-twelve

weeks) let one of the coffee hour volunteers

know. Thanks to all of the volunteers for making

the coffee hours enjoyable.

FORWARD DAY BY DAY

The new issue of Forward Day by Day for

August-September-October has arrived.

Please take one for yourself. They are on

the table at the back of the church and in

the Parish Hall.

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Jane E. Terry Johnson Ashley Kari Donna Barton Aaliyah Seely McFadden family Seely family Art Dilworth Walter Hickman Amy Elfreth family Don Snyder Clint Lorance Anna Lorance Carole Melissa Benson Bill Brower George Farley Kim Evans & twins Henry Traz Gloria Rubino Audrey Bill Beard Andrew Buck Joe DeMarco James Anna Candyce Rich Reiniello Kate Killebrew Len Davis Emily Eugene & Jean McLaughlin

Church of the Good Shepherd

Prayers of the People

Prayers for the Church and Clergy

For all Churches in the Diocese of NJ & Ecuador Michael Curry, the Presiding Bishop William “Chip” Stokes, Our Bishop The Rev. Susan E. Osborne-Mott, Rector Sister Cass, AF Charles Nakash – Missionary in the Dominican Republic

Prayers for the Nation

Barack Obama, Our President Chris Christie, Our Governor

“For all those who serve and protect us at home”

Prayers for the Sick and in Need

Gordon Ellis II Ruth DeLoreto Heather Alice Swan Antonette Gorman Sandy Mary Jane Merille Ulisny Radd Dilworth Frank Meralinda Stevis Lenny Jim Doris Faith John & Pat Wisniewski Vincent Jackson Tod Porter Terri Tara Chase Michael Jeremy Williams & family Freda Ryan Bubnoski Daniel Moore Regina Sandra Louie Michelle F. Janet L. Jim Minnie Ms. DeStefano Julie Landwher Florence

Tracie & family Michelle Siegle Mike Daly Jeanne Maripat Makalusky Hilda Deborah & Glynn Natasha Tuoy Helen & Ken Caroline

Prayers for all Military Personnel

* We pray for our enemies and for those with whom we are at war. *

“Almighty God, we commend to your gracious care and keeping all the men and women of our armed forces at home and abroad. Defend them with your heavenly grace; strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give them courage to face the perils which beset them; and grant them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be; Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

Pastoral Emergencies

If a Pastoral Emergency should come up for you, hospitalization, death in the family, please call the Church Office 856-589-8209 or after Office hours please call Mother Susan at 732-759-4358.

Peter Larrabee Brian Almondrod Raymond Harris, III Steven Sanders Matt Spangler Lynn Spangler Scott Thomas Glen Tim Dan Hurlbut Zak Bartelt Alex Driscoll Brian Randazzo Buzz Parish Charlie Hiemeril John A. Lukacs Joe Sheridan Hal Wagner Matt Rebecca Jon S. Lehr Keith Tucker Dave McElwain Hugh Robinson Andrew Olsson

Joshua Albright Zachary Guise Scott McPherson Andrew Ten Eyck Matthew Cushinotto Theresa Cushinotto Mike Grzybowski Ted Mike McHugh Tom Devore Bonnie Weis Kane Lawlor Drew Naphy Rhen Brinkerhoff Brian Opel Jonathan Dickson Matt Michael Marta Marcos Bryan Jensen Allistair Edinger Andrew

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Prayer Shawl/Caring Hands Ministry

Every so often we get a request for a Prayer Shawl to be given to someone in need. Sometimes it is during an illness, sometimes during grieving periods after the loss of a loved one. The Shawls are crocheted or knitted by the women in this ministry. Every other Tuesday morning you will find our Caring Hands Group knitting/crocheting the shawls in our Conference room. They are made with prayer for those who will receive them.

I can’t begin to tell you of the peace and comfort these shawls have brought to so many people. They need not be members of our parish. Need is spread everywhere.

If you know of a need, just ask Pat Braidwood.

Page Turners’ Book Group

August 21: PIGS IN HEAVEN by Barbara Kingsolver

The Page Turners meet once a month, immediately following the 10am Holy Eucharist, in the Conference Room. Please come and join us for some very interesting discussion, exchange of ideas and sharing.

OUTREACH

Thank you so much for your wonderful and generous donations of clothing and shoes for men in Camden! It is always a constant struggle to obtain men’s clothing and shoes in good condition! Believe me that everything is used and desperately needed! If you have any men’s clothing and/or shoes that you wish to donate, please place them in manageable size bags on our front porch! We will be happy to deliver them for you! We are located at 223 Highland Terrace, Pitman.

Ellie and Carl Dunn

A Partnership with Mannino’s Cucina Italiana

Vito Mannino (owner of Mannino’s Cucina Italiana) has agreed to a partnership with the Church of the Good Shepherd. A donation will be made to the church of 10% of the luncheon or dinner bill for every member who dines at the restaurant (located at 126 South Broadway - between the bakery and the Police Station). Please notify your server that you are a member of the Church of the Good Shepherd before placing your order. The restaurant is open Monday thru Thursday and Sunday from 11:00AM until 9:00PM and Friday and Saturday from 11:00AM until 10:00PM. Reservations are recommended on Friday and Saturday evenings. The food is excellent!! Your support of this partnership will be greatly appreciated!!

INQUIRER'S CLASS

INQUIRER'S CLASS will meet August 7 in the Conference Room following the 10 a.m. Service. Our topic for August will be "Embracing Mystery". Some believe that people today hunger for mystery. Studies have shown that people don't have the language to explain that this is what they seek, they just know that something is "missing" for them. How can we find the mystery of God and more importantly how do we embrace it in a way that makes sense to us. All are welcome to join us for this DVD presentation and discussion following!

September's Inquirer's Class will focus on "Out into the World: Challenge Facing Progressive Christians."

HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT

PUTTING OUR BELOVED PARISH,

GOOD SHEPHERD, IN YOUR WILL?

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What’s Happening In August

All Tuesdays & Thursdays

9 AM Morning Prayer

August 6 & 7 - PENTECOST 12

Saturday, 5:30 PM Holy Eucharist

Sunday, 10 AM Holy Eucharist

11:30 AM Inquirers’ Group

August 10 – 7 PM Property Committee Meeting

August 13 & 14 – PENTECOST 13

Saturday, 5:30 PM Holy Eucharist

Sunday, 10 AM Holy Eucharist

August 20 & 21 – PENTECOST 14

Saturday, 5:30 PM Holy Eucharist

Sunday, 10 AM Holy Eucharist

11:30 AM Page Turners

August 27 & 28 – PENTECOST 15

Saturday, 5:30 PM Holy Eucharist

Sunday, 10 AM Holy Eucharist

Contemplative Prayer Time Before Our Worship Services

For those who seek a time for quiet prayer on Saturdays and Sundays, from now on Mother Susan will open the church on Saturdays at 4:30 PM for the 5:30 PM service. We ask that 4:30 to 5:15 be a quiet prayerful time. Likewise, for Sundays, she will be in the Church at 9 AM for a quiet time from 9 to 9:30. We ask that all who come early to church honor these times as times for quiet prayer and contemplation.

Summer is here! We need to keep our Lawn-

Mowing Schedule going. If you are interested and

available to help out with mowing the Church

grounds please add your name to the Mowing List

in the Parish Hall. Thanks in advance!

August Birthdays

01 – Robert Earley

04 – Adam Bathurst

04 – Ethan Bathurst

06 – Pat Braidwood

07 – Andrea Startare

08 – Nathan McHugh

11 – Jason Vail

12 – Victoria Nelson

13 – Roger Baker

13 – Art Dilworth

13 – Emily Peel

14 – David Wynkoop

16 – Maureen Wynkoop

17 – Kevin Baker

17 – George Funk

17 – Madison McNally

17 – Diane Wall

18 – Audrey Buck

18 – Darrin Buono

20 – Susan Baker

23 – Patrick DeLooff

25 – Frank Jackson

26 – McKayla Earley

27 – Wayne Szalma

28 – Hal Johnson

DEADLINE

The deadline for the August 2016 Crook will be on July 15, 2016. Please e-mail all articles to goodshepherdpitman@gmail.com.

Maryanne Charlton Parish Administrator

MOWING SCHEDULE

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Let’s Cool Down the Parish Hall!

Our Parish Hall is a great space for us to enjoy fellowship, but it’s an uncomfortable and underutilized space during the heat of the summer. However, hallelujah! An anonymous parish member has offered a generous donation towards air conditioning! We need your help to reach the total needed. The total additional monies we need are approximately $7000. We are now almost halfway! So we are asking you to consider a special donation to the Parish Hall AC Fund. We will not begin the project until we have the needed funds in hand.

If you want to donate, please put “Parish Hall AC Fund” on the memo line of your check. You will find a thermometer in the Parish Hall that tracks our progress. Unlike others where you see the temperature rise toward the goal in red, this one will show the temperature falling in blue! We want to thank you in advance for your donation.

The Building & Grounds Committee and the Vestry.

Activities Calendars

Aug. 2016 – Aug. 2017

Our Parish Calendar will be available soon.

You’ll find them at the back of the church

or in the Parish Hall. We have a lot of

wonderful events planned for the year.

Parish Directories

Our updated Parish Directories are now

available. Please pick one up. They are in the

back of the Church and in the Parish Hall.

Treasurer's Blog - August 2016 Results through June 2016

Total Income:

Here is a breakdown of our total income for six months of 2016:

Budget Actual

Loose Plate 1,300 1,101

Envelopes 103,000 101,644

Special 5,100 4,067

Other 150 300

Income 109,550 107,112

Total expenses:

Here is a recap of our total expenses for six months of 2016:

Budget Actual

Expenses 106,093 101,903

Please note: We are now looking to raise

funds for Parish Hall air conditioning.

While we have a large donation covering

over half of the $17K estimate for the

project, we need to raise 7K to reach our

goal. So far we have raised $3.9K. Please

give thoughts to helping us make our goal

of having coffee hour in a cool environment

for the summer.

Sunday School News

We have had a fairly good response to our

Sunday School Survey! We will have a

meeting to discuss Sunday School on

Tuesday, August 2 at 7:30pm. We will

probably have another as well. Sunday

School registration will be on the weekend of

September 10th & 11th. The first day of

Sunday School will be on September 18th.

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Thanks to the Caring Hands Ministry

The following note was received by Caring Hands Ministry for the box of hats, scarves and blankets sent to World Vision. This is a new addition to this ministry's intention to reach beyond our borders!

Hello Knit for Kids Friend,

Thank you for the beautiful handmade item(s) you have made for children in our country and around the world. We received your wonderful gift and appreciate all the love and effort that went in to making it.

Your items were received and entered into our database in June, 2016.

Our most recent shipments have gone to Armenia, Bosnia, Burundi, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Mali, Mongolia, Nicaragua, Rwanda, Somalia and Swaziland.

Please join us in an urgent need to knit 32,000 blankets! These blankets will go in Promise Packs, which are filled with school supplies, personal hygiene items, and a hand-written note of encouragement. Promise Packs are distributed to school aged children in countries throughout the world. Visit knitforkids.org and click on Get Involved/Start Knitting. From there you will want to click Download a Pattern, where you’ll find the instructions for our bold stripe blanket pattern.

Thank you for supporting the Knit for Kids program!

Blessings to you,

Knit for Kids c/o WORLD VISION 210 Overlook Drive Sewickley, PA 15143

email: knitforkids@worldvision.org URL: www.knitforkids.org URL: www.worldvision.org

Mother Susan’s

Upcoming Schedule

Mother Susan will be out of the office

August 3rd through August 8th.

She is on vacation August 15th through

August 26th.

For the two Sundays Mother Susan will be

gone, Deacon Carl Dunn will lead a

Deacon’s Mass.

Deacon Carl was lifted up by Good

Shepherd to become a deacon. It is

wonderful to welcome him back. He will

offer pre-consecrated bread and wine (pre-

consecrated by Mother Susan)

This is ultimately the same as the bread and

wine Mother Susan or a LEV (Lay

Eucharistic Visitor) would bring to you when

bringing the Eucharist to you when you are

ill or otherwise unable to attend church. In

this way we open the arms of Good

Shepherd even wider.

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August 2016

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

1

2

3 Mother Susan away

4 5

6 5:30 PM Holy Eucharist

7 Pentecost 12 10 AM Holy Eucharist

11:30 AM Inquirers’ Group

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9 9 AM Morning Prayer

10 7 PM Property Committee Mtg.

11 9 AM Morning Prayer

12

13 5:30 PM Holy Eucharist

14 Pentecost 13

10 AM Holy Eucharist

15 Mother Susan on vacation

Crook Info Due

16 9 AM Morning Prayer

17

18 9 AM Morning Prayer

19

20 5:30 PM Holy Eucharist

21 Pentecost 14

10 AM Holy Eucharist

11:30 AM Page Turners

Mother Susan on vacation

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23 9 AM Morning Prayer

24

25 9 AM Morning Prayer

26

27 5:30 PM Holy Eucharist

28 Pentecost 15

10 AM Holy Eucharist

29

30 9 AM Morning Prayer

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Place Fridge Magnet here!

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The Shepherd’s Crook

Church of The Good Shepherd

Pitman, NJ

August 2016

Church of the Good Shepherd 315 Highland Terrace Pitman, NJ 08071

Telephone – 856-589-8209 E-mail – goodshepherdpitman@gmail.com

www.goodshepherdpitman.org