Veterans to be honored during November 10th services

As you’ve heard, and you’ll see elsewhere in this edition of the Sheepskin, on Sunday, November 10, we’ll be observing Commitment Sunday . . . that day when we bring our pledges to the altar for the 2019 Stewardship Campaign.

That Sunday, however, is also the Sunday prior to Veteran’s Day. As we did last year, during the service we’ll honor the commitment many in our congregation have made to serve in the Armed Forces of our country.  

This year, in addition, we’re asking those who’ve served in any branch, to bring a photo of themselves from that period of their life/service. We’ll have tables set up in the Narthex to display them.

Family Happy Hour on November 10th offers ways to connect

Join us November 10th for Family Happy Hour! It will be a great opportunity to connect with other families, discuss service and fellowship opportunities, and help us to identify priorities for family ministry here at Good Shepherd.

Appetizers, drinks, and childcare will be provided!

We will meet in the Parish Hall from 4 to 5:30 pm. Please register on-line at www.gshep.org so that we know how many are coming

Goals for this year’s Love in Service Stewardship Campaign

The Stewardship Committee, our Vestry and our Rector have set a high goal for our 2020 Stewardship Campaign! We are hoping for pledges of $550,000.

There are many exciting areas that this goal encompasses:

 1. We desire to maintain and adequately compensate our staff –who represent and make possible our amazing worship and programs. (The staff has not seen a salary increase for four years)

 2. We hope to expand our Family Ministry programs as new families and children join our parish.

 3. We look to expand our youth program under the excellent leadership of Rachel Whipp.

 4. We have included some key maintenance projects in this budget, (such as resurfacing our parking lot, and beginning to replace our aging carpet in the parish hall and the hallways).

 5. We will continue to move toward fulfilling our pledge to the Episcopal Church in Colorado.

 We believe the goal is attainable, because Good Shepherd has a great history of rising to the occasion! In particular from 2011 to 2019 Good Shepherd has responded to our several Capital Campaigns over and above our operating budget with approximately $100,000 in additional giving per year. This is hard to believe but it is true:

1. Debt Mortgage Reduction –

from $750,000 to $30,000                  $720,000

2. Contribution to the Cathedral

Ridge Camp and Conference Center

Capital Campaign                                $40,000

3. New Organ and Installation            $85,000

4. Music with a Mission donations     $30,000                                                          

5. Basement Remodel                         $5,000

In addition, the 2020 Stewardship Campaign, in agreement with the Vestry, has committed to no Capital Campaign in 2020 and, with the anticipated response from our parishioners, no Supplemental Campaign in 2020.

We really appreciate all of our parishioners who have kept their pledges current in 2019, as we have dealt with three plumbing disasters in the basement as pipes broke, with a $5000 deductible for each. Your Finance Committee and your Vestry have done wonderful work maintaining a balanced budget.

We will have our ingathering of pledges for our 2020 Stewardship Campaign on November 10 at all three services and we will celebrate with a breakfast after the 7:45 AM service, a light lunch after the 10 AM service, and a special dessert after the 6 PM service.

Working together as a family and a parish community we can achieve this goal and continue our exciting ministry as we grow and do our Lord’s work at Good Shepherd.

Your Stewardship committee – Jim Wolfe (Chair), Keith Anderson, DeeDee Atwood(communications) Nan Behringer, Tom Billing, Rev. Gary Brower, Griffin Bridgers, Andy Folkerth, Anne McMahon, Joe Namaksy

“Pulling out all the stops” – an update on our new organ and dedication concert on Friday, November 22

Good Shepherd’s new Rodgers electronic organ made its debut at the morning worship services on Sunday, September 22nd.  Many parishioners have commented about how much they like the new organ; and I have also noticed that the singing of the congregation has become stronger and more energetic since the new organ was installed!

Our new organ has many advantageous features.  Our new organ has a rich variety of sounds, most of which have been digitally sampled from pipe organs, to recreate as closely as possible, the sound of an actual pipe organ.  Many different sounds can be employed by pulling out knobs called “stops”, hence the phrase “pulling out all the stops,” which is now generally used to mean “going all out”!  In addition to the traditional pipe organ stops, this organ has MIDI (musical instrument digital interface), which makes available another 231 sounds at the turn of a dial (sounds that include theatre organ sounds; orchestral sounds, like the oboe; harpsichord and piano sounds; and a huge number of other sounds).  This organ has three keyboards, which allows for more possibilities of contrasting sounds, and which makes possible performance of organ pieces that were beyond the range of our previous organ.  Having speakers on both sides of the church (20 speakers, as compared with the previous four) allows for antiphonal (back and forth) sound, as well as stereophonic (surround) sound.  Technology has come a long way in the 35 years since our previous organ was purchased!

Our previous organ has found a new home at Good Samaritan Episcopal Church in Gunnison, Colorado.  This congregation was very excited to receive our previous organ, which will replace a Hammond home organ in their sanctuary.

A multitude of thanks to all those who contributed to Good Shepherd’s organ fund!  Special thanks to Connie Branton, our choir director, for all of her fund-raising efforts!

We owe a huge debt of gratitude to Good Shepherd parishioner Curt Watson, who donated his time and expertise for months, in order to get the choir loft remodeled; and to get the new, beautifully designed speakers installed.  Thanks to all who assisted him, including Bob Rae; Bob’s sons, Aaneer, Aazer, and Aasal; Whitney Hill; John Stratford; and the members of Good Shepherd’s Men’s Group.

We are going to have two more fund-raisers to finish paying for the costs associated with remodeling and electrical work to accommodate the new instrument.  A freewill offering will be taken at the Organ Dedication Recital on Friday, November 22, at 7 p.m. (mark your calendars and bring your friends to hear Rick Seaton, outstanding organist and Rodgers representative, showcase our new instrument).  A bazaar will also be held after the morning services on Sunday, December 8th!  (To donate arts and crafts for the December 8th bazaar, please contact Connie Branton).

If you haven’t already done so, come celebrate with us and enjoy the sound of Good Shepherd’s new organ!

New on-line communications form to be rolled out in November - www.gshep.org/communications

Life is better when we’re connected. That’s why Good Shepherd offers over 10 different vehicles to keep our congregation informed including our monthly newsletter, The Sheepskin, our weekly E-News, our website, social media postings and our Sunday announcements, just to name a few. If you are a ministry leader, you know how important it is to get the word out about your event or program, and we are here to help you.

Our Communications Director, DeeDee Atwood, and our Parish Administrator, Kathy Hunter are tasked with the management of these vehicles, collecting information, proofing and editing material and then rolling it out to you in a timely manner. To be more efficient, and to make sure you get the most publicity for your efforts, we have created a page on our website with a form for you to submit your information.

Starting in November, Kathy and I will ask that all communication requests go through the website portal. Simply go to www.gshep.org/communications, fill out the form, and select where you want to publicize your information. On the page you will also find important deadline information for all our vehicles. Just one click will enable you to submit your information for all the available options.

Most events and programs do best with three weeks of publicity, so that means you should submit your materials not only by the deadline, but even further in advance if you want several weeks for it to be promoted.

Please be patient with Kathy and me as we encourage you to use the website form for submissions, and remember that all materials are subject to editing and availability.

Happy writing!

Advent Faith Forum to offer two wildly different views of Jesus

Beginning on the first Sunday of Advent, December 1st, Fr. Gary will offer a 3-session class addressing the question, “For WHOM are we preparing?” We will use, as a point of departure, The Meaning of Jesus, a book co-written by Anglicans Marcus Borg (former professor of New Testament at Oregon State University) and N.T. Wright (New Testament scholar and retired Bishop of Durham, England).  The fun thing about the book is that they represent opposite poles of theological understanding, Borg being more progressive and Wright being on the conservative side. Yet they were good friends, and their back-and-forth in the book makes for stimulating reading.

We will order 10 copies of the book, and make them available to the first folks who “sign up”.  The book, of course, is available through libraries and on-line in all formats: Kindle, Paperback and Hardcover (both new and used. 

The class will meet on Sunday mornings, from 9:00 - 9:45, on December 1, 15, and 22. (December 8 will be the Vivaldi Bazar!)

Walking the Way of Love: a report on the Episcopal Church Colorado Convention 2019

The 132nd Annual Episcopal Colorado Convention was held October 3-5, 2019. Good Shepherd had several parishioners attend as delegates to represent the best interests of our parish. The following article describes their experiences at the convention.

There are so many wonderful things about being a delegate at convention. There is an inspiring and beautiful worship service with Bishop Kym Lucas, visiting with Episcopalians from all over Colorado, and electing deputies to national convention. One of the very best parts is learning of the many ways our church helps the people of Colorado and other parts of the world. In exchange, we have a responsibility to share what we learned with our fellow members of Good Shepherd.

This year's convention theme was “Walking the Way of Love.” Our Presiding Bishop, Michael Curry encourages all Episcopalians to adopt this practice. There are seven parts -- "Turn, Learn, Pray, Worship, Bless, Go, and Rest". From the keynote speaker, to the worship services, to the workshops -- all were intertwined with the theme.

Each delegate can attend three breakout sessions:

Donna White attended "Radical Welcome: Building Bridges to the Center" (Bless), by Michael Green and Anthony Suggs. This session focused on remembering that every person is a gift, and we are called to love and respect one another. "Cross-Cultural Servanthood: Go and live like Jesus" (Go) where we learned about El Hogar in Honduras, which was established as an Episcopal Mission in 1979 and provides quality education and a safe and nurturing home to boys and girls living on the streets. "Go Forth Using Power With Love" (Go) by Dr. Cedar Barstow and Student Rabbi Charna Rosenholtz, focused on how Jesus walked the way of love, using his power, by listening deeply.

Deborah Sampson attended “Silence, Service, & Solidarity” (Pray) by two contemplatives which guided us through several methods of silent prayer. Deb also visited with a representative of Daughters of the King about possibly reactivating our chapter. “Pray With Your Phone: Photography as Spiritual Practice” (Pray) was the work of Rev. Rebecca Crummey who gives each new Episcopal Service Corps member a disposable camera to record God working through their year, Rev. Brian Winters, a former photo-journalist who demonstrated his photo meditation on doors; and Dick DeVries, author of Contemplative Vision, Photography as a Spiritual Practice. Deb is incorporating what she learned in her personal spiritual practice and will be inviting you to join her. Deb, Jim Wolfe, Nan Behringer, and Becky Beall-Moore attended “Reclaiming Sabbath as Spiritual Practice” (Rest) which challenged us to incorporate this ancient practice in our lives.

Other sessions delegates attended included “Engaging Head & Heart: Owning Our Relationship with Money” (Turn) – Jim Wolfe, “Faith in Motion” (Turn) -- Mike Marfia, “Pilgrimage as Prayer in Movement” (Pray) – Rev. Gary Brower & Nan Behringer, “Mission Beyond Ourselves: Mission Ministries” (Go) – Mike Marfia, and “Legacy Giving: Ministry for Generations” (Bless) among others. If you are interested in learning more about Convention 2019, visit Episcopal Church in Colorado where you can watch videos of all the general session presentations (we particularly recommend the keynotes by Rev. Dr. Patricia Lyonsor, or talk to one of your delegates: Donna White, Becky Beall-Moore, Deb Sampson, Nan Behringer, and Mike Marfia. Jim Wolfe attended as a member of the diocesan standing committee, and Rev. Gary Brower and Rev. Merrie Need attended as clergy.

Why you should consider serving on the Vestry

There are many gifts with which we can serve God and Good Shepherd. Just as Altar Guild serves with reverence for the Eucharistic meal and musicians offer their talents, vestry members have gifts for seeing the big picture, balancing competing interests, protecting the assets of our parish, etc. Why serve on vestry? Because you have these gifts and you want to share them.

The vestry is like a board of directors for our church. Our vestry prayerfully considers how we can best serve God and the community, both the membership community and the larger community. Vestry members meet monthly and once or twice a year in retreat. Members also participate in the Grow, Serve, Celebrate and stem teams.

Vestry members serve three year terms, must be nominated to serve, and then the congregation votes to elect the new members at our Annual Meeting in January. Feel free to ask vestry members what it is like to serve in that role. That might be part of your discernment process along with prayer and sitting in silence.

For details about the nomination process, contact one of the newly named nominating committee members: Suraya Bowermaster, Kaitlyn Bridgers, or Deborah Sampson.

Congregational Care Ministry seeks volunteers

Calling all Shepherds!

The Congregational Care Ministries (CCM) is seeking volunteers to be Shepherds to our Congregation! The Shepherds are members of a ‘faithful contact’ team dedicated to keeping in touch with an assigned portion of our congregation. The mission is simply to maintain contact with all the families in our flock, to be sure that Good Shepherd is aware of needs that we may be able to assist in addressing.

When making occasional calls on your assigned list of families, you will be asking what the church can do for them, not what they can do for the church. Needs or concerns that might arise can then be passed on and addressed by other ministries in our church, or the Clergy, as appropriate.

Orientation and training will be scheduled when we have gathered our volunteers.

Many hands make light work!

If you are interested or have questions, please contact the CCM members, Greg Bell, Karin Elsen, Bev White or Rev. Sandy Boyd.

Volunteers needed to sew Jamaica mission bags

Each year in February, Good Shepherd partners with Jamaica Missions USA and sends a group of volunteers to the poorest sections of Jamaica to offer free medical and dental care. In conjunction with that trip, we also sew hundreds of cloth bags that are given to the Jamaican patients to hold the medicines and toothbrushes distributed at each clinic. 

We are looking for volunteers to help us with the sewing of these treasured bags for the upcoming 2020 trip. It’s easy to do, and all the materials are ready for you to assemble. The baskets of precut fabrics and instruction sheets are on a table in the parish hall. They are easy to make, and all help is greatly appreciated. Samples are available to examine. Please turn in your bags by Sunday December 15th. Any questions call me at home—303-791-2613.

Reduce your taxes with a QCD - Qualified Charitable Distribution

Charitable contributions from your IRA?

If you have reached 70 ½ years of age, and are subject to RMD (Required Minimum Distributions) from your IRA (adding to your reported income, grrr!), consider a QCD (Qualified Charitable Distribution) as a means to give to a charity (such as, your church!) and save on taxes.

A QCD is a direct transfer from your IRA to a charity (such as, your church!) that can reduce the reported income from your RMD directly on your 1040, without any need to itemize. It is a great way to pledge to your charity (such as, your church!) and reduce your reported RMD income at the same time.

There are some restrictions, and conditions that must be met, but consult IRS Pub. 590-B, and/or your IRA trustee and your tax preparer on how to accomplish a QCD for your favorite charity (such as, your church!)

Children’s Ministry News

I give thanks to God for all who teach His Word and help out with the kids on Sunday mornings.

Remember to set your clocks BACK one hour Nov. 3 before going to bed. Isn’t this time of year wonderful? Who can’t use an extra hour of sleep!

On December 15, during the 10:00 service, we are offering a youth & children's choir which will be led by Connie Branton (our Choir Director). Rehearsals are Sundays from 10:20-10:30 on Nov. 17th & 24th and Dec. 1st downstairs during our Sunday school time. We will have one last rehearsal at 9:30 in the Sanctuary on December 15, right before the kids will sing in the service. All kids and youth are welcome!

Godly Play and Living the Good News are the two offerings for children on Sunday mornings, beginning at 9:45. Please keep in mind that Sunday school will meet every Sunday in November at 9:45. Then, at approximately 10:35, we process into the sanctuary so the kids can rejoin their family at the Peace, followed by the celebration of Holy Communion. Please note: if you are running late, kids are always welcome, so come on down when you arrive at church!

Every Sunday in November, the Godly Play classroom will be led by either Elaine Farrell or Susie Street with either Jackie Algermissen, Emma Blackburn or myself helping. The presentations for this month are as follows:

·         November 3rd: Valley of the Dry Bones

·         November 10th: Jonah

·         November 17th: Daniel and the Lion’s Den

·         November 24th: Isaiah

Elaine Oxenbury is the faithful every week teacher in the 3rd, 4th and 5th grade class. The liturgical teachings (meaning it follows what is being taught in the church service) for November will be:

·         November 3rd: Invitation to Change (Jesus transforms us in the routine of daily life…Luke 19:1-10…Zacchaeus)

·         November 10th: Resurrection Life (Jesus assures us of the reality of eternal life…Luke 20:27-38…the resurrection and marriage)

·         November 17th: Standing Steady in God (Jesus calls us to remain faithful in tough times…Luke 21:12-18…the end times)

·         November 24th: Ruler of All (We acknowledge Jesus as Sovereign and Lord…Luke 23:33-45…Jesus loves us so much that He willingly died for us)

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and we look forward to seeing all the children on Sunday mornings!

Men’s Group meetings in November

In November the Men’s Group will meet on the Saturday mornings of the 2nd and the 16th. Note, these dates are earlier than usual as during the months of November and December our schedule switches to the 1st and 3rd Saturday’s of the month due to the upcoming Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

We’ll meet in the parish hall for a full breakfast on November 2nd at 7:30 AM and there again for a light breakfast on November 16th at 7:30 AM. A short program follows breakfast from 8:00 to 9:00 AM in the Chapel, with our meetings ending generally at 9:00 AM.

The topics for November will surround a review/conversation on chapters within the book entitled “An Uncommon Guide to Retirement” written by Jeff Haanen featuring topics relating to finding God’s purpose for the next season of life.

Note, each session stands on its own, so those interested can attend any one of the individual sessions even if you miss one or several meetings. Information relating to the topics covered will be available at the meetings.

Mark your calendars and join us on November 2nd and/or the 16th for conversations relating to these interesting topics. We welcome men new to the Church and/or those having an interest in the Men’s Group.

Please email me at (roden.pete@gmail.com) if you have any questions or would like to receive any additional information.

Thanks for your interest and look forward to seeing you at one of our upcoming meetings!

Snapshot of Good Shepherd’s finances as of September, 2019

A graphic representation of our finances.

From Fr. Gary: “He is going ahead of you to Galilee” (Mk 16.7)

During the summer, I led a training in the personal, and practical, application of Appreciative Inquiry. As I’ve said many times, Appreciative Inquiry is a method for managing change that emphasizes carrying the best of the past into the present and future. It is a powerful methodology, but one that requires a bit of a “paradigm shift” for many of us (since we seem to default to trying to fix the worst of the past).  One of the tools that was part of the Appreciative Living Circle training was the “Visualization Exercise.”  The instructions for the exercise were: "Think about your day tomorrow, and imagine it going as well as you possibly can. Mentally step through your routine and the various activities you have planned, and see yourself moving through them easily and joyfully. Visualize yourself feeling good as your day unfolds.”* This tool plays with the “carrying the best of the past” idea and transforms it into “imagining the best for the future.”

Ever since I became acquainted with this exercise, I’ve read the end of the Gospel of Mark through a different lens. Mark’s Gospel, as you may recall, ends with the women finding Jesus’ tomb empty, except for a young man in white clothes. He tells the women that Jesus isn’t there; he's been raised and “is going ahead of you to Galilee.” The women flee in terror. There are no post-resurrection stories in Mark’s Gospel; the “end of the story” is left to the women (and others) who follow Jesus to Galilee. And, of course, it was in Galilee where Jesus spent most of his ministry; it was where the hope in his mission was birthed. And it is back to Galilee, to a place of hope re-born, that the “young man” directs "Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome.” There, the young man suggests, will be found the next steps in Jesus’ mission.

The question, reading the end of Mark through this lens, then becomes: “What can we imagine we’ll find in Galilee? Jesus will be there! What new things might he have in store for us”? This is a powerful question, I believe, for all of us. Certainly as individuals, we look forward, imagining an amazing future, as we contemplate a career choice, or being with our life-partner, or becoming parents. In any of those, we realistically recognize that there will be some challenges, some sacrifices. But the hope for the future outweighs those!

The same situation is ours, corporately, at Good Shepherd! As we move into our “Season of Visioning”, we are bid to remember that "Jesus is going ahead of us into Galilee” . . . that place, those places, where Good Shepherd has seen amazing things happen! We know that they can happen; the time is right for similar, new things, to amaze us! So, what can YOU imagine we’ll find in “Galilee”?

Another consideration when imagining an amazing future is wondering whether we’ll have what it takes to make that future a reality! That, of course, means taking stock and planning—whether as individuals or corporately. As a congregation, as we anticipate planning for the future (of which our stewardship is a significant part), we take into account all of our resources, and to bring them to the task of building in “Galilee.” We are a growing congregation with manifold gifts of time, talent and treasure. As Paul reminds the Corinthian Christians, we are not lacking in any gifts (1 Cor 1.4-7); we’ve been blessed by God!

Let’s follow Jesus into our Galilee! Let us "Think about our future, and imagine it going as well as we possibly can.” Let us “visualize [ourselves] feeling good as [it] unfolds.” And let us work with God to make it happen!

CREDO! - Fr. Gary heads to a conference

In late October, I will be heading off to CREDO (which stands for “Clergy Reflection, Education, and Development Opportunity”). It is amazing week of thinking, praying, reflecting and resting. It’s all about affirming wellness—in my case, the wellness of clergy.  (By the way, Bp. Kym is focused on “Healthy Congregations, Healthy Clergy"!)

I signed up, and paid, for this in the spring of 2018 - before I came to Good Shepherd. I knew, that wherever I might serve, I would benefit from this week away (I’ve been invited—and gone—twice before). But, now, it comes at an amazing time for me, and for Good Shepherd!  We are visioning; we are looking towards the future.  A bit of “away time with intention” will equip me with new ideas and energy to bring back to Denver (I’ll be headed to the Gulf Coast).

While I’m gone, the flock will be in good hands!  The Congregational Care Ministry team will handle emergencies with grace and compassion. And, as I’ll be away one Sunday morning, I’m grateful to Bishop Cal Schofield for filling in for me on October 27!

I covet your prayers! I’ll be praying for you!  It’s all about ALL of our health!

Blessing of the Animals on October 6 to be held at Willow Creek Park

LET ALL GOD’S CREATURES SAY “AMEN!"

It’s that time again to bring our four (six or eight or no) - legged friends before God and recognize, with them, that they are blessed! And that we are blessed by God through them!

This year, our celebration will be on Sunday afternoon, October 6 at 2 pm.  The location will be at the Shelter at Willow Creek Park (8000 E Phillips Cir., Centennial CO, 80112).

“WHAT???” you ask, “Not at the Church????”  Nope! We’re trying a location that has plenty of parking (like the church) but that is more accessible to LOTS of folks. So, it’s up to the congregation to invite others to a “neutral playing field”. 

As last year, we’ll have doggie (and kitty) communion — well, treats (provided by Bark Box!).  There will be some refreshments, too, for the human companions.

This year, we’re asking folks to bring along old towels and blankets to donate to the Denver Dumb Friends League. These will be used to provide some comfort in their cages for both dogs and cats. (Old dog beds are welcome, as well!).

INVITE YOUR FRIENDS . . .  INCLUDING THOSE WHO DON’T HAVE FOUR (OR SIX OR EIGHT) LEGS!

Congregational Care update: Presence Ministry

The Congregational Care Ministry committee (Karin Elsen, Bev White, The Rev. Sandy Boyd, Greg Bell, Nan Behringer and Duanne Namaksy) continues to work on the many ways we can all care for each other. Thank you for visiting us at the Ministry Fair!

Have you ever been told you are a good listener? Do you have a desire to be with others, hear their stories, and provide encouragement? If you have this gift, consider being part of our Presence Ministry. With a congregation of our size, we need folks to serve with our pastor and other volunteers in Congregational Care.

The Presence Ministry is working on a program for those of you who want to volunteer your time by being a presence and connection for congregation members. These spiritual caregivers will provide their time to be with members in time of need. This would include care, concern, prayer, support and presence for those members who might be experiencing surgery, illness, loneliness and other needs. The spiritual caregivers telephone people in need of contact, and meet one-on-one with persons needing a listening ear and offer support for grieving families. We will also have volunteers (called “Shepherds”) who will be keeping in contact with members to assess their needs. The Shepherds will be assigned a specific list of congregants to keep in contact with mostly by phone calls. There will be a need for volunteers to send greeting cards to congregants as well.

This ministry also includes the Eucharist Visitor Ministry and if you would like to be part of the Eucharist Visitor Ministry, taking communion to church members who cannot make it to a service, you can contact Greg Bell. If you are being called to be a part of this Presence ministry and you have the time, compassion and commitment, please see Bev White or any of the CCM members.

Grounded! – An inspirational story by Jill Briscoe

Jill Briscoe is a British American author, editor, and speaker. She has written or co-written over 40 books and serves as the founder and Executive Editor of Just Between Us magazine. This devotion was presented by Chris Hall at a recent Vestry Meeting. He’d like to share it with you.

9/11 sent Jill Briscoe on a six-day detour with the unprecedented opportunity to point others to the God Who is in control.

It was September 11th and I was on United Flight 929 heading for Chicago and home. As the pilot began to dump fuel into the Atlantic, I looked over at my neighbor. We both raised out eyebrows.

“Now then,” the captain announced over the intercom, “we have a healthy aircraft.”

“Well, that’s good,” I said! But the cabin crew was suddenly far too busy for my liking.

What were they doing?

I looked at my watch. We were about three-and-a-half hours out of London’s Heathrow Airport heading for Chicago. “All airspace and borders have been closed in and out of the United States,” the pilot continued. “We have been informed we have a national emergency on our hands and will be landing in 20 minutes at Gander Airport in Newfoundland. I can’t tell you anymore until we are on the ground. Crew, prepare the cabin for landing.”

That was it. My seat companion was a young heart surgeon.

“I hope we aren’t going to need you!” I said.

“So do I,” he replied with feeling.

“So, what do you think?” I asked him after a few stunned moments. He shook his head, puzzled.

“Maybe a nuclear reactor?” he suggested.

“Taliban,” I said. Having just been in Russia, the Taliban had been featured heavily in the news and they came readily to mind as we debated what on earth could have caused such drastic measures.

We and the six thousand others in 27 airplanes busily landing in Gander, Newfoundland (doubling the population) were left greatly wondering and not just a little apprehensive. Psalm 139:16 came readily to mind. "Every day ordained for me was written in Your book, before one of them came to be.” Even September 11th, 2001 Lord, I murmured.

I hastily read the emergency landing instructions in the pocket in the front of me (the one we never bother to read). At that moment I experienced two things. First, a settled certainty that there was nowhere else I should be at this moment other than this airplane seat, firmly buckled into the ordained will of God for me. "Everyday”, it says Lord. Everyday. That includes September 11th as surely as it means all my yesterdays and all my tomorrows, doesn't it? Yes, said that still small voice in my soul. I recognized the whisper of His grace.

Second, I knew a heady sense of anticipation for whatever was ahead. Of course, none of us in the skies had an inkling of the size and shape of the horrific events that had unfolded an hour or so after we were airborne. But God was good to give me 30 saving minutes before landing to check my theology and make sure it was securely in place before we were informed of the horrific things that had happened.

What did I believe? That God was in control even when I wasn’t? Yes! That nothing could happen to His children apart from His permissive will? Yes! That God was good – all the time, even when things were bad? Yes! That I and other Jesus lovers on that plane had a colossal advantage over those who had no high tower for their soul to run into, a Good Shepherd to calm their beating hearts, hush their fears, and remind them that if the very worst was to happen, the very best was yet to come? Yes!

Still in our seats twelve hours later, waiting for processing by the Canadian authorities before being driven 30 miles to the Salvation Army church in Gambo, Newfoundland, I had reason enough to settle into six days of “God experiences.” If I really believed what I believed, this would be an unprecedented opportunity to do what Stuart and I had just been training pastors, leaders, and missionaries to do all over Russia. Establish a presence, gain credibility, and speak for Christ in the situation, to anyone who would listen.

I had already established a presence by getting on my flight at Heathrow. My “village” or “people group” was composed of 200 passengers and crew from many different cultures and countries, and I was firmly established among them.

Next, I needed to gain credibility. How? I knew the answer to that one. By my reactions to the situation we found ourselves in, and my loving response to those around me. Immediately, I faced my first test.

The crew announced that they would wait for four hours before feeding us the food they had left because they had no idea how long we would be shut up on the plane. My mind flew to my purse where I had a packet of biscuits (“cookies”). A struggle ensued.

“I’ll wait till everyone’s asleep,” I thought, “and then nibble them scrumptiously.” I was immediately horrified at myself! “Well, that’s a great way to begin to gain credibility,” I lectured my soul. Any fancy ideas I’d had of rising to the occasion for Jesus disappeared.

God helped me to do a little bit better as the days went by. I set about my unexpected task to gain quick access to the hearts of the people God had brought into my life for this short time. But how to start? I prayed – all the time. I smiled – all the time – at everybody. I began touching an arm or a shoulder, day by daily day and asking simply, “How are you doing?” From the very first day people responded. One girl even asked me, “What on earth have you got to smile about?” I told her!

I found myself more excited than I could imagine, with a growing consciousness of the importance of every hour, and especially of mealtimes at the long Salvation Army tables. We were served by Salvation Army staff whose mercy gifts shouted louder than words to all of us. “We lucked out being here,” a passenger commented. “I don’t know why they have been so giving and kind to us.” I told him!

Meal after meal I found God had prepared hearts around me. Some needed a challenge or a provoking thought, others assurance or comfort. A child needed a story or a game of cards. I was stretched as others debated deep and difficult things. I tried to put as many links on the chain of salvation as I could, believing others would add theirs’ in the days ahead. It turned out to be one of the most challenging, frustrating, self-revealing, exciting, productive, God-shadowed, weeks of my life!

I certainly didn’t win every argument about the character of God (How could a good God let this happen?) or the wisdom of God (Why did He make hunger in the first place?). Neither were there necessarily receptive ears to my biblical perspectives (This is God’s world and He wants it back.). But, I got agreement that we were a thankful planeload of people. I was also thankful for the chance to put some of the faith I talk and write about so easily to work in a difficult setting.

As we have been recovering from the incredible events of September 11th and regroup spiritually for what is around the corner, I am encouraged by my own small experience. God waits with our future in His hands, and it will be alright.

And the writer to the Hebrews says, “Once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heavens.” The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken – that is – created things, so that what cannot be shaken may remain.

And finally, Hebrews 12:28-29 says, “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our ‘God is a consuming fire.’”

So let’s be thankful and so worship God.

You are invited to St. Clare’s “Sip, Shop & Support” fundraising event Oct. 25

Our budget is small, the need is great, and we are asking for your support for our annual fundraiser on Friday October 25 from 5 until 7 pm. The event will be held at St. Clare’s which is located at The Episcopal Church of St. Peter & St. Mary 126 W. 2nd Avenue Denver, CO 80223. For a small donation you may enjoy hors d’oeuvres and beer and wine, bid on silent auction items, participate in the live auction and enjoy a short program.

St. Clare’s is an open and inclusive community, attempting to seek and serve Christ in all persons, to strive for justice and peace among all people, and to respect the dignity of every human being. Our guests are some of Denver’s homeless, the marginalized, those in poverty or the working poor needing meals, clothing, spiritual community, and other support that our ministry provides.

Our mission is to offer short-term respite from the harsh realities of homelessness and poverty by offering a hot, homemade meal, clothing, spiritual support and a caring community to those in need.

We serve between 125 and 150 guests on any given Tuesday for a cost of about $1.18 per meal. Our guests tell us that the home cooked food is the best meal they have all week. As of September 1, St. Clare’s has served 3,942 meals, and 716 volunteers from 15 congregations have contributed 1,825 hours of service in 2019.

If you can, please join us on October 25. We would also welcome your donations of auction items, e.g. gift baskets, restaurant gift cards, tickets to sporting events or nights at a mountain condo.

Watch for copies of our invitation at church and feel free to invite your friends and family and share this information through social media. A link will also be provided for online donations. Contact Shelley Hitt for more information, skhco@msn.com or 720-937-4354

“Lord when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or in prison and not minister to you? And He will reply, Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for the least of these, you did not do for me”.

-          Matthew 25:44-45