We have three responses to Haiti:

1. As part of First Serve on February 6, we will have a massive Meal Packing Project in which we'll assemble hundreds of dehydrated, ready-to-eat meals that will then be shipped to Port-Au-Prince.

2. We have sent a check to UMCOR, the United Methodist Committee on Relief. UMCOR has an outstanding reputation among relief providers. We'll announce the amount on Sunday.

3. Between now and next Tuesday, January 26, we are collecting Health Kits. Simple and easy-to-make, here are the instructions:

Health Kits for Haiti

Many of you are asking how we might walk together in helping earthquake victims in Haiti. A need exists for health/hygiene kits. UMCOR has 3,000 kits in the pipeline for the present time and is asking churches to make more. The contents and instuctions for the kits are below. To expedite shipping, it is important to donate complete kits and to follow all instructions.

Please drop off Health Kits at Good Shepherd's Guest Services Desk or the Reception Office by Tuesday, January 26.

Place these items inside a sealed one-gallon plastic bag:
1 hand towel (15" x 25" up to 17" x 27", no kitchen towels)
1 washcloth
1 comb (large and sturdy, not pocket-sized)
1 nail file or fingernail clippers (no emery boards or toenail clippers)
1 bath-size bar of soap (3 oz. and up)
1 toothbrush (single brushes only in original wrapper, no child-size brushes)
6 adhesive plastic strip sterile bandages
Please include $1 cash for each kit you send toward the purchase of toothpaste.

Important Kit Assembly Information:

All items included in kits must be NEW items.
All emergency kits are carefully planned to make them usable in the greatest number of situations. Since strict rules often govern product entry into international countries, it is important that kits contain only the requested items-nothing more.
Do NOT include any personal notes, money or additional materials in the kits. These things must be painstakingly removed and will delay the shipment.

So put together a kit -- or ten -- and bring it to church on Sunday or to the office through the week.

As we said on Sunday, we're less interested in the "why?" and more focused on the "what now?"

. . . there's an app for that.

This week takes us into some of the most interesting territory from the book of Proverbs. Especially considering the wisdom level of the man who wrote the bulk of the book.

I really like this app. I like what we're going to do this Sunday.

Along the way, we'll give an idea of what our next steps as a church will be for the people of Haiti.

Sunday.

8:30. 10. 11:30.

Pathfinder is just about my favorite ministry at Good Shepherd. I love it because . . .

1) It helps a big church feel small.
2) It is a low-pressure way into group life.
3) Our guides have good personalities.
4) It is not bible study, but it is spiritual conversation.
5) We're trying a new twist with our next launch -- the groups will meet at the church, on Mondays, for five weeks, with child care already provided.
6) We don't force friendship on people through Pathfinder . . . which is why deep friendships form.
7) If people miss a meeting or drop out of a group, we don't make them feel guilty.
8) It is simple -- easy access, easy exit, easy organization.
9) We stopped trying to be a "church of small groups." We recognized we are a "church of relationships."
10) I get to be a guide. Maybe that means I have a good personality.

Sign up for the January 25 launch event here.

Here's the promo for our new series called There's An App For That.



The book of Proverbs, 21st Century style.

I can't wait.

It starts out with "Say You Don't Know Where To Turn . . ."

Sunday, January 3, 2010.

8:30. 10. 11:30.