From the Pastors Desk - November 07, 2021
I honestly never know what the date is anymore. I know the day of the week, but never the date. I think it’s because I am always thinking of things I have to do and deadlines for things upcoming. Between school event dates, church event dates, college and scholarship deadlines, I am constantly in a state of perpetual future.
One future date I am excited for is October 31st. Special thanks to Ed for arranging for Pastor Mitch Phillips, Assistant to the Bishop, to preach on Reformation Sunday. Afterwards there will be a coffee and cookie meet and greet with Pastor Phillips. Please enjoy your time with him. Be honest and open about what is wanted and needed in a new pastor for Good Shepherd. Let him know that we welcome his help and are willing to work with him. My apologies for not being there, however the Perry band always ends up in state competition on Reformation Sunday. It really irritates me, but the director chooses Sunday so the band kids who are in speech and debate, and there are many, can attend their tournaments on Saturday. I figure I only have three more years to go- and then TWO kids in college-YIKES!
Christ the King Sunday will fall on November 21st this year. I am not a fan! This sounds terrible, but preaching the crucifixion story in November just seems off and wrong. According to Lutheran Forum, Frank C. Senn wrote “Pope Pius XI established Christ the King Sunday in 1925 to counter what he regarded as the destructive forces of the modern world: secularism in the west and the rise of communism in Russia and fascism in Italy and Spain, harbingers of the Nazism soon to seize Germany. In the reform of the Roman liturgy after the Second Vatican Council, the festival of Christ the King moved to the last Sunday of the church year.” Since this is a rather strange festival anyway, we may or may not keep the traditional lessons. Ed and I will be working to create a service that, hopefully, does not include the Good Friday lessons and is much more uplifting!
Pastor Eli will be with us the 14th and 28th of November. Believe it or not, the 28th is the first Sunday of Advent! Personally, I don’t want to believe it!! Considering that Thanksgiving is only a month away sort of makes my stomach drop! I just hope someone reminds me what date to start thawing my turkey!
Faithfully,
Lei Fahrner
From the Pastors Desk - 11/03/24
Thanks Be To God for ALL of You!!
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Serving Others
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Where Did Everyone Go?
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Small Can Be Mighty!
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Dandelions!
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Keep It Short!
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When “Thank You” Seems Insignificant
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Searching for an Organist/Choir Director
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Always Living in the Future
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Thank You!
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“We are doing the best we can!”
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Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve Worship
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A Toast to Ed!
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All Saints Sunday, November 5th & Christ the King Sunday, November 26th
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November Already!!!???
From the Pastors Desk - 10/31/23
November Already!!!???
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Reformation Sunday, October 29th Combined service with Zion United Church of Christ
From the Pastors Desk - 10/01/23
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God!
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God’s Amazing Creation
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Oh, for a Thousand Thanks to Give!
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Lutheridge Bound…
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Fifth Sunday Combined Worship
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Trinity Sunday
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Happy Father’s Day!
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Organ Concert and Space Dedication
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Random Thank Yous!
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Holy Week Schedule
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Worship Opportunities with Zion
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The Future of the Church
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Ash Wednesday and Additional Lenten Worship and Bible Study…
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Care and Concern Committee
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January Sundays and Inclement Weather
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An Interview!
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Working Together
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November/December Upcoming Events
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Thanksgiving!
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Future Possibilities
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Thanks Plus More
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Upcoming Events…
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Odds & Ends
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This month I will be attending Music Week at Lutheridge
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Dream Big!
Notes from the Choir Loft - 06/30/22
This month I will be attending Music Week at Lutheridge
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Dream Big!
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Waiting!
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Thankful for Others
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The Sure and Certain Hope of Easter
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The narthex is an architectural element typical of early Christian and Byzantine basilicas and churches consisting of the entrance or lobby area
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Spring IS Coming…Really!
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Look Up
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Chilly Musings
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Let’s Get Back to Normal Living Again… Maybe????
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Christmas Time… Again, Already??!!
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november Voice 2021
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Notes from the Choir Loft - 03/31/21
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The year of Mark can be confusing for anyone looking for a sequential narrative.
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What is it that makes for a good story? A novel that grabs and keeps our attention gradually reveals that which is not known
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From the Pastors Desk - 11/01/20
Are you familiar with the term Minnesota Nice?
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Music in church has taken on a different tone since the pandemic started.
From the Pastors Desk - 10/01/20
The Northeastern Ohio Synod held its Synod Assembly online
Notes from the Choir Loft - 09/05/20
As the Sanctuary Worship Team looks at the guidelines we will use in October for sanctuary worship, I thought I would share a little about our musical options for the fall and winter.
From the Pastors Desk - 09/05/20
A global pandemic. Civil unrest. A society divided. A church struggling to find its place.
Notes from the Choir Loft - 08/01/20
What Do We Do This Fall?
From the Pastors Desk - 08/01/20
Do you watch the TV show Jeopardy?
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At Good Shepherd we are fortunate to have a large parking lot
From the Pastors Desk - 07/04/20
At Good Shepherd we are fortunate to have a large parking lot
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On Singing Together1
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One of my favorite church holidays is Pentecost
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On Singing Together
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One of my favorite church holid
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Many years ago, when I was in the Metro DC synod
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As I type this article (I decided not to use the one I’ve been working
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When I was in the 3rd and 4th grade our across
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I remember the first time I was allowed to stay up to welcome the New Year. Some of the details are a bit fuzzy, but I do remember the night.
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Music Fund
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New Stewardship Projects
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Stewardship
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Organist Notes
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New Hymns, New Organ
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Found faithful in little, with much, with all
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How Singing impacts your well-being
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Introducing Junior Church