Julio 2014
Blessed Summer Good Shepherd,

My prayer is that your summer is refreshing and awesome. The summer seems to be cruising by for many: The Tess family is busy getting kids to camps and activities. The leadership has been doing an amazing job with the capital campaign and the leadership development. We now have almost all the committee chairs set for the capital campaign, and we are working with the ministry chair people and their co-chairs. As usual we are busy, active, and faith filled at Good Shepherd.

Vacation Bible school for our youth is coming soon and we are getting excited for it! This year VBS will be held July 13-14. Please be sure to register soon; visit the sign up table which is in the narthex, or call if you need any additional registration forms.

We are beginning to set up for our summer Foundations class, which will be held in July and August, each Wednesday from 7:15-8:30 pm. This is a great time to get to know each other as a small group, and is targeted for those wishing to learn more about us and the Episcopal faith. This can also be the first step to formally join our church. Plans are also coming together for our confirmation program which will be starting in the fall, for any who wish to be received or confirmed into the Episcopal Church. Bishop Miller will hold the confirmation service (date and time to be determined at a later date) when all the classes have been completed.

We have also started the steering committee for latino ministry comprised of members of Good Shepherd and members from the Grace Church latino community. We are still planning on transitioning the Latino group from Grace to be with us in late September early October.

Happy Birthday America,as we celebrate our country's birthday and God bless all those who serve and keep us safe. Please wear red, white, and blue to our church services on the weekend of July 5 and 6 to celebrate (as a church family) our nations' birthday. Speaking of Birthday's ~ this Aug 17th I will turn 50. It’s on a Sunday, so please come to our annual "mass on the grass" at 10am, to be followed by my birthday party. You only hit a half a century once, and I want to be sure to celebrate it with my church family and friends!

It is really nice being with you this summer. Last summer, my Sabbatical was amazing and a huge grace in my life; but I really like sharing the summer with you and am glad to be here for the nice, but rainy, summer.

I hope that amidst all the business and traveling of the summer that you may find some quiet times to soak in the warmth and the beauty of our summer months in Wisconsin.

Have a blessed Summer.

God bless,
Fr. Mike