The Lord Provides!

We made budget!

O give thanks, for the Lord is good! (Psalm 103)

Our final numbers for 2009 (unreconciled) indicate that we met and exceeded our budget. This is amazing considering the economy last year. Many of our people lost their jobs, yet people were very generous with their time, talents, money, and possessions.

We started a whole new ministry (The Milestone) to young adults who are "aging out" of the foster-care program -- and this was an unbudgeted ministry item. Even then, we were able to give more than we ever have to people in need in our community and within our congregation. Just when we thought we might have to reduce ministries because of lack of funding, we were able to increase it.

May we credit this good news of meeting the budget to the work of God in our lives? As we took our eyes off of ourselves and responded to God's love and generosity by being loving and generous, we experienced something wonderful -- joy through the work of the Holy Spirit.

There is a profound joy in giving to bless others. Jesus said, "If you lose your life for the sake of the gospel and for me, you will find it" (Matthew 10:39). Thank you, Lord, for demonstrating your truth in our lives.

-- Pastor Jeff

Good Shepherd Christmas Stocking

Lord, when did we see you hungry? (Matthew 25:37-40)

At Good Shepherd we have a dedicated fund to help the members of our congregation who are in financial need. We call it "The Christmas Stocking."

As long as I have been at Good Shepherd, at least 17 years, every Christmas we literally hung a red Christmas Stocking (like the one in the photo) on the back wall of the sanctuary next to the wood-cut image of of the face of Jesus (made by Preston Luck) and the baptismal fount. This Christmas stocking was the brainchild and personal project of Kathy Engeness, a small ball of endless energy, a retired secretary for the Pentagon, who has since gone on to be with the Lord. People would place checks and cash in the stocking, in addition, to their offering in the plate. The monies gathered, then, in the stocking would be used to help those members who were in financial difficulty.

Since those early years, "The Christmas Stocking" has now become dedicated account to which people give throughout the year, not just during the Christmas season, to assist our members in need. The hanging of the stocking is more symbolic than functional, serving as a reminder of the needs of our people all throughout the year. Now people just note on envelopes or checks that they want to give to The Christmas Stocking.

Your donations to "The Christmas Stocking" are used exclusively for Good Shepherd members. To help others, we have another account, "The Samaritan Account" that assists those in need from our community. Both are different from our benevolence accounts, which is a tithe of all that we receive in the General Fund that is then allocated to local and foreign missions and missionaries to help with the advance of the gospel and God's kingdom through evangelistic and humanitarian work.

The Christmas stocking has been used to help with rent, mortgages, utilities, clothing, food, medications, Christian counseling, car and home repairs -- whatever is the most pressing need. These are free gifts to the families and individuals, although almost all who have received have out of gratitude, when they are able, replenished the fund for others. Others give to The Christmas Stocking out of an awareness of those in need. As long as there is money in this account, we are able to help our church family members.

As you tithe to the general fund of the church, I would encourage you to consider a little extra to give to "The Christmas Stocking." It is in keeping with the Christian heritage of the origin of Christmas stockings, when Bishop Nicholaus of Myra secretly gave a stocking of money to a poor father of three children in their time of need. Look for the stocking near the baptismal fount. Let's celebrate the joy of Christmas all year long.

- Pastor Jeff

Vietnam Needs Met

Children of Peace International Fundraiser

Praise the Lord for the recent fundraiser and auction for COPI (Nov. 7, 2009) at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Sandy, UT which raised approximately $45,000 to support children at risk in Vietnam!

Money was raised to provide:

• 7 college scholarships for one year ($200 x 7)
• 250 scholarships for indigenous children ($35 x 250)
• 20 scholarships for girls to attend boarding school in Sapa ($100 x 20)
• Support for K'Hor community for one year ($2500)
• Support for local Vietnamese medical mission team ($200 x 10 trips)
• 50 Scholarships for Pediatric nurses to study English (50 x $25)
• 15 industrial sewing machines for Hanoi Vocational School for disabled students (15 x $250)

Additional support went to the children at Compassionate Home in Van Giao, Nam Dinh. An orphanage in Van Giao was built to accommodate the children who lose their parents to the yearly floods.

You can find out more about Children of Peace International (COPI) by visiting www.childrenofpeace.org.

The light that shines brightly oversees also shines brightly at home.

- Pastor Jeff