The Social Justice Committee asks the congregation to respond to the Middle East and Europe Refugee Crisis. A special offering will be collected this Sunday, September 27.

MIDDLE EAST AND EUROPE REFUGEE CRISIS

A record number of refugees and migrants from the Middle East are fleeing war and poverty and making a terrifying, life-threatening journey to find a safer, better way of life in Europe. Although they come from different countries, for various reasons, they share a common goal: hope for a brighter future. As conflicts continue, especially in Syria and Iraq, the number of people seeking safety and basic necessities is on the rise.

As a church, we are called to respond. Lutheran Disaster Response <www.ELCA.org/disaster> is committed to meeting basic humanitarian needs and upholding the rights of those fleeing war and crisis. We are working with our companion churches – the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hungary and the Slovak Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Augsburg Confession in Serbia – and The Lutheran World Federation to provide food, diapers, blankets, water, health kits, hygiene kits and psychosocial services to assist those who have fled their homes.  We are also in communication with our church companions in Germany as they receive tens of thousands of refugees.

Your prayers and support are needed now for immediate relief. Gifts designated for the Middle East and Europe Refugee Crisis will be used in full (100 percent) to assist those directly impacted.

Please make your check to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and write in the memo line, Refugee Crisis.

Tuesday, September 22
7:00 pm – C.L.A. Circle Meeting, Marie Freerking hosting

Wednesday, September 23
7:30 am – Men’s Breakfast
2:00 pm – Pastor Amy at Aase Haugen
5:30 pm – Service of Evening Vespers with Holy Communion using Holden Evening Prayer
6:15 pm – Food and Faith – Simple Supper provided; intergenerational conversations
7:00 pm – Choir Rehearsal
8:00 pm – Band Rehearsal

Sunday, September 27
9:30 am – Worship Service with Holy Communion
10:30 am – Fellowship Hour
10:45 am – Sunday School (Youth Sunday School/Confirmation in pastor’s office)
10:50 am – Adult Forum: Church Council Caucus.  Narthex.
(Special session for Church Council members on how we can use Adult Education facilitation to strengthen Good Shepherd committees and ministries.  ALL COMMITTEE CHAIRS INVITED.)

Erika Lozano began working as the Administrative Assistant at Good Shepherd on September 16, 2015.  Erika is a graduate of the University of Florida with a degree in Wildlife Biology.  She came to Decorah for a summer position as a wildlife biologist, loved the area, and decided to stay.  She is from Key Largo, Florida. Erika’s office  hours are M-F, 8:00 am – Noon.

Pastor Amy Zalk Larson was formally installed as the fifth pastor at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church at a Festival Worship Service on Sunday, September 13.  A group of children formed part of the procession to begin the service. Special music was provided by the Good Shepherd choir, band and other musicians. Assistant to the Bishop Rev. Stephen Brackett represented the Northeastern Iowa Synod of the ELCA at the Worship Service serving as preacher and installer.

A reception followed the service where Pastor Amy was presented with a welcome prayer shawl.  She was introduced to the wider community at the annual Good Shepherd Welcome Friends and Neighbors Picnic held later that day.

For the past ten years, Pastor Amy has served as campus pastor at Luther College where she worked with the Luther Student Congregation as well as students, faculty and staff. Previously, she was the Pastor of Education and Family Life at First Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls, MN and the Intern Pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ottawa, IL.

Pastor Amy graduated from Luther College with a BA in religion earned in 1996 and received an MDiv degree from Luther Seminary in 2000.

She is married to Pastor Matt Larson, who is pastor of the Burr Oak-Hesper Lutheran parishes in the Decorah area.  They are the parents of two children, Nathan and Abby.

Photo:  Clara Knudson