Good Shepherd

Lutheran Church

4000 Clayton Road

Concord, CA 94521

925-682-8410

gsconcord.com

Sunday Worship at 9:00 a.m.

Refreshments and

Sunday School for All Ages

begins at 10:15 a.m.

Shepherd’s Voice Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

Feeding bodies, minds and souls...

Volume 12 • Issue 12

2 Story of El Salvador

4 Happenings

5 Council President News

6 Men’s Bible Study Info

7 Friends Feeding Friends

January Newsletter Articles

Due December 21, 2016

December

Rev’s Reflections One of my favorite interactions in scripture is between Mary, the mother of

Jesus, and the Angel at the Annunciation.

The author of Luke records the account,

“And [The Angel] came to her and said, ‘Greetings, favored one! The Lord

is with you.’ But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what

sort of greeting this might be.”

I like this interaction because Mary’s response is real. She is afraid and

perplexed at what the Angel is talking about. When God comes to us we

often experience both of these emotions confusion and fear. We are confused as to why God is interrupting our lives and setting us in a differ-

ent direction. We are scared that the divine has interfered with the course

we have laid out for ourselves.

Mother Mary received the Angels greeting. She carried Jesus, God in the

flesh, in her body for nine months, and bore him to the world. Meditating

on her action of receiving the Holy Spirit, having Jesus formed within her,

and then pushing him out for the world to see is a worthy past time. As we

await his coming at Christmas in the manger, and his coming again we re-

member Mary’s faithfulness to God’s Kingdom.

In the Eastern Church they refer to Mary as “Theotokos” which means God

bearer. Mary is the archetype for all Christians, we seek to have God take

up residents within us daily. But, it doesn’t end with us, our faith leads us to

live as one united to God. In baptism we receive the Holy Spirit, we are

united to Jesus, and then we are called to bear him in our bodies to the

world. We as followers of Jesus are his hands and feet in the world.

May we remember Mary and her faithfulness as we approach Christmas.

May we seek to follow her example of saying “yes” when angels come to us.

And May we always seek to show others the God who ls within.

Peace,

Rev.

Page 2

El Salvador – Why poverty and corruption?

At the Salvadorian brunch where Sue Hertless and Betty Jacobsen reported on their visit to Resurrection

Lutheran in El Salvador the question was asked “What do you know about El Salvador?” Answers were

”Corruption” and “Poverty” and those are good answers To understand the poverty and corruption we

need to know something about the recent history of the country.

El Salvador’s civil war during the 1980’s was a war between the military led government and five left-wing

guerrilla groups. The United Nations has estimated that 85% of the killings during the civil war were by the

military and 5% by the guerrilla groups (it doesn’t add up to 100%, but these are the UN’s estimates). More

than 75,000 people were killed in a population of a little over 5 million (1.5% of the population). When the

civil war ended over 1 million people (1 in 5) were displaced. 40% of the homes of those displaced had been

destroyed and 25% of the remaining homes needed major repairs.

Many of El Salvador’s problems started because of income inequality and social injustice. In the 1900s it is estimated that 95% of the income from El Salvador’s chief export (coffee) went to 2% of the population.

This led to sharp division between the small powerful elite and the impoverished majority. Tension

increased during the 1929 Stock Market Crash when coffee prices dropped. The peasants and indigenous

people formed the Central American Socialist Party and led an uprising to address this inequality that is

known as “The Massacre.” During “The Massacre” the military killed over 10,000 people. In 1969,

economic disparity increased during a four day military conflict between El Salvador and Honduras due to

immigration policies and land reform laws (known as the Football War), where it is estimated that 300,000

Salvadorians were displaced and trade was disrupted. Following this war El Salvador increased their military

spending to modernize their army and keep the masses under control.

The 1973 Oil Crisis led to rising food prices and decreased agricultural output which made the socioeco-

nomic inequality even worse. Attempts at land reform failed due to opposition from the elite.

More discontent resulted from an election marred by blatant fraud and voter intimidation.

Tension continued to mount and the United States government saw the outcome of the conflict between

the military and civil population as a fortuitous event (in view of the recent overthrow of the Nicaragua

government, Somoza, by guerrillas). The U.S. increased aid to the Salvadorian military to prevent an

overthrow of the government. This increased aid resulted in Archbishop Oscar Romero publishing an open

letter to President Jimmy Carter in February, 1980, pleading with him to suspend U.S. aid to the military. He

warned the U.S. that support would only “sharpen the injustice and repression” of the people in El Salvador.

A month later the Archbishop was assassinated and the previously non-military groups were morphing into

guerrilla forces. In May, 1980, the leaders of the guerilla forces met in Havana to form

Farabundo Maetl National Liberation Front (FMLN). This meeting in Havana, a communist country,

increased the resolve of the U.S. to support the El Salvador military and the support continued during the

Reagan and Bush Administrations.

The ten year plus civil war resulted in “scorched earth” strategy (displacing or killing civilians who supported

the guerrillas), military “sweeps” through general population, death squads, 20,000 refuges crossing the

border to Honduras (Christian our contact at Resurrection and his family were among these refugees),

disappearing civilians, nuns and priest being killed and violations of human rights. Despite a UN Peace Treaty signed in 1990, conflict continued to a lesser degree.

Continued on next page.

December 2016

The Contra Costa Interfaith Climate Action Network (ICAN)

ICAN is a group of members of faith communities and concerned citizens associated with the Social

Justice Alliance of the Interfaith Council and California Interfaith Power and Light. We’re reaching out

to congregations that feel called to be stewards of the Earth and activists for social justice. We’re

planning an advocacy training to bring people together to learn new strategies to alleviate the suffering

in Contra Costa County that results from the effects of climate chaos.

If interested or have questions call Jan Warren at 925-818-6530 or email: jtxwarren@gmail.com

El Salvador – Why poverty and corruption?

Continued from previous page.

By 1993, a new civilian police force was deployed to replace the military and the Salvadorian Constitu-

tion was amended to prohibit the military from playing an internal security role except under extraordi-

nary circumstances. Today, although there is no civil war, many of the injustices and repression that

Archbishop Oscar Romero wrote about still exists. We will be reporting on them in the next

Shepherd’s Voice.

We pray that our efforts in supporting Resurrection Lutheran Church will show we care and ultimately,

in a small way, address the poverty and corruption that their people are feeling.

– The Evangelism Committee

Church Office Holiday Information

Because Christmas and New Year’s Day holidays fall on Sundays, both holidays are observed on the

following Mondays this year (December 26 and January 2).

The church office will be closed the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day.

Thanks to modern technology, the office phone will be monitored during business hours, should there be

an immediate need, please leave a detailed message and you will receive a call back.

Page 4

December

Birthdays

Elizabeth Kich 04

Richard Koehler 05

Kathy Price 05

Carter Munson-Ring 06

Wilma Seppala 06

Holly Pereira 07

Lori Randolph 07

Monica Berg 13

Madelyn Setchell 14

Lilah Roza 17

Carin Olson 18

Bob Ripley 19

Luke Bartlett 20

Karl Bohling 22

Madison Berg-LeDoux 23

Dylan Magic 23

Evelyne Kingwell 24

Judy Haier 25

Allison Buchholz 31

Rosemary Fassl 31

December Leisure Lunch

The holiday season is a busy time for all of us,

and so it is for the Leisure Lunchers !

Come and have some holiday fun with a delicious lunch,

delightful fellowship and a few surprises, too.

Tuesday, December 6

from Noon - 1:30 in Fellowship Hall.

Call Susan and Bob Ripley at 925-827-9717 for questions.

Everyone is welcome!

Christmas Eve Worship Assistants Needed

Lector for both the 7:00 p.m. & 11:00 p.m. services Two Communion Assistants for both the 7:00 &11:00 p.m. services

Usher Teams are needed for both the 7:00 & 11:00 p.m. services

Greeters are also needed at both the 7:00 & 11:00 p.m. services

If you can serve, please call the church office and let Laura or Rev know you are available. Thank You!

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Christmas Eve Worship Schedule

7:00 p.m. & 11:00 p.m.

Christmas Sunday Worship 10:30 a.m. New Year’s Day Sunday Worship 10:30 a.m.

December2016

Wedding

Anniversaries

Ron and Mary

Figueroa

December 15, 1967

News from the Council President

Hello everyone,

Here are some highlights from our last Church Council meeting on

November 1st:

- Recognitions:

o Sue Hertless recognized Pastor Jeremy for his 2 year anniversary

here at Good Shepherd.

- Nominating Committee is looking for church members interested in

joining next year’s council. If you are interested, please contact

Pastor Jeremy. This is a rewarding way to learn more about our church and

to help set the course for the upcoming year.

- Advent Boxes are available in the narthex. This is a great way to give

back during this season of Advent.

- Pledge/Time and Talent Cards – please don’t forget to fill out your

cards for the upcoming year.

Until next time…

Greg Buchholz

Ruth Circle Bible Study

Ruth Circle will be meeting

on December 8 at 10 a.m.

in the church kitchen to

prepare Christmas tins full

of delicious cookies for our

homebound members.

We hope you will join us

Jan. 12, at 10:00 a.m., as we continue our journey

through the Bible.

Drop in to the Pastor’s House for

Hot Cocoa, Delicious Cookies

and Festive Christmas Carols

6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Sunday, December 11.

Page 6

Good Shepherd Book Club January 2017

A FULL LIFE: REFLECTIONS AT NINETY by former President Jimmy Carter is the book we will be discussing at

our next meeting on January 10, 2017. Jimmy Carter, thirty-ninth President, Nobel Peace Prize winner,

international humanitarian, and fisherman, reflects on his full and happy life with pride, humor, and a few

second thoughts.

He talks about his youth in rural Georgia.

He writes about racism and the isolation of the Carters.

He describes the brutality of the hazing regimen at Annapolis, and how he nearly lost his life twice

serving on submarines and his amazing interview with Admiral Rickover.

He describes the profound influence his mother had on him, and how he admired his father even

though he didn't emulate him.

He admits that he decided to quit the Navy and later enter politics without consulting his wife,

Rosalynn, and how appalled he is in retrospect.

He is frank about the presidents who have succeeded him, world leaders, and his passions for the causes he cares most about, particularly the condition of women and the deprived people of

the developing world.

Join us at 7:30 p.m., in the Fireside Room, Tuesday, January 10, to discuss this book

and the devout Christian man who wrote it.

DON’T FORGET

Please turn in your pledges of Time, Talent and

Treasure for 2017. Everyone’s contribution is vital to our

continued health as a caring congregation.

Thank you from your Stewardship & Finance Committees

Beginning on Saturday, January 28, 2017

Join Rev for a Men’s Bible Study and Pancake Breakfast

8:30 a.m. in Fellowship Hall.

Little Things Mean a Lot

A special thank you for saving your aluminum cans for "Raising the Roof" at

Resurrection Lutheran in El Salvador. As of November 27, 2016

we have raised $120.

We appreciate you saving those cans. Just bring them to church on Sunday

morning or drop them off at the church.

The Evangelism Committee

Friends Feeding Friends

An outreach ministry of Good Shepherd that serves the needy in our county

Sarah Jean’s

Dream at age 4

—

“So people who

are really hungry

have food.”

For we are

God’s

workmanship

created in

Christ Jesus to

do good works,

which God

prepared in

advance for us

to do.

Ephesians

2:10

December 2016

1068 Bags of food distributed

1083 People helped with food

309 Hot Meals served

Highlights:

We welcomed Ameriprise Financial for their National Day of Service.

Ameriprise volunteers and Tabernacle families prepared a hot Thanksgiving

lunch and served it at the Concord shelter. Volunteers also packed

Thanksgiving grocery boxes, food bags and grooming supplies. Thank you for

your help!!

Special thanks to all who donated grocery gift cards. The gift cards were

distributed to families along with the Thanksgiving grocery boxes, fresh

produce, and breads. Thank you for blessing these families!

FFF is still collecting athletic shoes through the end of December. These

shoes will be distributed to needy folks all over the world through Angel Bins.

Next Shelter Lunch: December 17, 2016: 9:00 at Good Shepherd to prep. All

are welcome!!

Items needed this month:

Bath towels (New or used)

Dishes

Friends Feeding Friends Highlights for the Past Month

Pictured are

Ameriprise

Financial employees

from multiple No.

California offices.

Thank you

Ameriprise for your

service!

We loved having

you here at Good

Shepherd Lutheran

Church.

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2016 Executive Committee: President: Greg Buchholz, Vice President: Leone McCullough, Secretary: Betty Jacobsen

Member-at-Large: John Mott

2016 Congregational Council: Nils Anderson, Candace Bradley, Greg Buchholz, Adam Castle, Sue Hertless,

Betty Jacobsen, Leone McCullough, John Mott, Tony Rogelstad, Kelly Schaefer

Ministry Staff: Pastor: Rev. Jeremy Serrano - rev@gsconcord.com

Office Administrator: Laura Mott - lauramott@gsconcord.com

Organist: Christopher Hewitt - chrishewitt@gsconcord.com

Bell Choir Director: ----

Choir Director: Kathleen Flemming

Contemporary Music Leader: Tom Deans Flegel - tdeans08@gmail.com

Sound/Technology: Jamie Rodemsky - jamier1263@gmail.com

Treasurer: Laura Mott - lauramott@gsconcord.com

Financial Secretary: Vicki Smiglewski

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church 4000 Clayton Road

Concord, CA 94521

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church exists to reach out in Jesus name and gather in deep community, to learn and grow into God's Kingdom, to serve our neighbor

and worship the creator.

Merry Christmas!