WHAT'S HAPPENING AT GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH

Good Afternoon!

I am busily working on preparing the August Rod and Staff Newsletter so you can receive it at church on Sunday.  With this in mind, the list of What’s Happening below is shortened, since you’ll get the full August listing on Sunday.

1.      TONIGHT-Thur. July 28-Food Pantry Quarterly Meeting at 7:15pm

2.      Sun. July 31-There will be one worship service at 9:30am at the church with a personally prepared sermon from Pastor Suzanne.  Come hear her message in the cool comfort of church.

3.      Tues. Aug. 2-Long Range Planning Team meeting at 7pm

4.      Wed. Aug. 3-Wednesday Bible Study at 6:30pm at church

5.      Thurs. Aug. 4 to Sun. Aug. 7   Romeofest

6.      Sun. Aug. 7 Community Worship at 9:30am at Romeofest

FOOD PANTRY NEWS- Things are progressing well in our new quarters—it is such a blessing to have a larger space dedicated solely to our pantry ministry!  Recently we painted the walls, but have run into a snag on the flooring.  When we removed the carpet (which is being replaced with tile), the cement under it was very uneven along two walls. We desperately need someone who can level out the cement for us, or guide us on how to do it.  Anyone willing to lend a hand should call Teresa Linaweaver on her cell phone at 815-342-7090.  We’d welcome your help (and visit) any time.

Last Sunday we welcomed Pastor Barbara and all who stayed enjoyed our picnic/fellowship as well. 

This Sunday we’ll be hearing about how Jesus fed 5,000.  Come join us—all are welcome.

Peace, hope, faith, joy, health and love to you all!

Renea Horn Johnson

Pastoral Assistant

Good Shepherd Church

WHAT'S HAPPENING AT GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH

Good Morning!

And they’re off!  Pastor and her family are on their way to a much needed and anticipated vacation!  During this time (until August 1^st) Pastor will NOT be checking emails, Facebook messages nor will she receive or return phone calls.  Pastor thanks you for respecting her time away and asks for your prayers for their safe travel.  In Pastor’s absence, please contact our Council President, Sue Hattimer on her cell phone (815-592-6741) or her email address (peacewthn@msn.com) with any urgent matters.  You can call me at church (815-886-4354) with non-urgent matters or messages.    Remember the Church Council and I want to be contacted with any and all of your church needs. 

Here is an outline of What’s Happening . . .

1.      TONIGHT-Thur. July 21-G2R (Genesis to Revelation) Bible Study at 7pm at the Stoughton’s home.

2.      Thur. July 21-Deadline for submitting August Rod and Staff Newsletter materials.

3.      Sun. July 24-50^th Anniversary Sunday.  One service at 9:30am with guest Pastor Barbara Melaas-Swanson followed by a fellowship meal event

4.       

5.      Mon. July 25-Monday Night Bible Study at 7pm at the Suchomel home

6.      Wed. July 27-No Bible Study tonight-Pastor is on vacation

7.      Thur. July 28-Food Pantry Quarterly Meeting at 7:15pm

8.      Sun. July 31-There will be one worship service at 9:30am at the church with a personally prepared sermon from Pastor Suzanne.  Come hear her message in the cool comfort of church.

9.      Tues. Aug. 2-Long Range Planning Team meeting at 7pm

10.  Wed. Aug. 3-Wednesday Bible Study at 6:30pm at church

11.  Thurs. Aug. 4 to Sun. Aug. 7   Romeofest

12.  Sun. Aug. 7 Community Worship at 9:30am at Romeofest

Look for the LWR School Project Sewing Bee sign-up sheet in church on Sunday.  Plans are to sew beginning at 6pm on August 25 and possibly August 26.  This is a great way to not only provide much needed school supplies, but to show love and caring by doing the project.  Contact Lydia Faber or Pat Hurdle for more information.

Please be sure to email me (revassistant@gmail.com) your information for the August Rod and Staff newsletter.  I plan to work hard in order to have it ready for you to receive at worship on July 31, but it can only happen with your help:-)   Thanks in advance!

Last week, in my haste to get out of town, I totally forgot to send you What’s Happening after it was prepared.  Thanks to Pastor, you got it later that evening.  I apologize for not getting it to you as usual.  However, I’d like to point out that this is just a small example of how we all work together.  Pastor shared with me what a fantastic experience the Community Outreach Event was last Saturday.  Coming together as the Good Shepherd family for the good of the community was an uplifting, spiritual, thrilling, humbling and heartwarming, indescribable experience that would not have happened without everyone doing their part.  Isn’t it a blessing to all be a part of the Good Shepherd family?  We rock!!

Peace, hope, faith, joy, health and love to you all!

Renea Horn Johnson

Pastoral Assistant

Good Shepherd Church

What's Happening

Good evening, all.

Everyone is really getting excited about our big Summer Outreach Event this Saturday at Irene King School!  We hope you all will join your Good Shepherd family in extending our Loving God and loving others with the heart of Jesus message to the community.  We’d like to request that you bring lawn chairs with you to the event, since the metal chairs we intended to bring will be too hot for the weather that has been forecast.

Remember also the short congregational meeting between services this Sunday, starting at 9:30a.  Your guidance is important to the Church Council.  

Here is an outline of What’s Happening in July. . . 

1.      Sat. July 16-Good Shepherd Community Outreach Event at Irene King School Park from 10am to 12:30pm.  Those planning on handing out flyers in the neighborhood should be at the school at 8:15a; those helping set up tents should be there at 9a; those helping with the food truck should be there by 9:30a.  We will say a group prayer no later than 9:50a.

2.      Sun. July 17-Worship at 8:15 and 10am at the church.  There will be a short congregational meeting between services at 9:30am.  All are urged to attend the meeting.

3.      Tues. July 19-Church Council meets at 7pm.  Ministry Teams that need action/input from the Council should have reports to their Liaisons by Friday evening so copies can be made and shared with the Council by Sunday morning.

4.      Wed. July 20-Wednesday Bible Study at 6:30pm at church

5.      Thur. July 21-G2R (Genesis to Revelation) Bible Study at 7pm at the Stoughton’s home.

6.      Thur. July 21-Deadline for submitting August Rod and Staff Newsletter materials.

7.      Sun. July 24-  50^th Anniversary Sunday.  One service at 9:30am with guest Pastor Barbara Melaas-Swanson followed by a fellowship meal event

8.      Mon. July 25-Monday Night Bible Study at 7pm at the Suchomel home

9.      Wed. July 27 - NO WEDNESDAY STUDY

9.      Thur. July 28-Food Pantry Quarterly Meeting at 7:15pm.

Pastor Suzanne on vacation - Pastor Suzanne will be on vacation July 21-31.  During this time, for urgent matters, please contact our Council President, Sue Hattimer via her cell phone at 815-592-6741 or email Sue at peacewthn@msn.com.  Non-urgent messages for Pastor Suzanne can be left with our Pastoral Assistant, Renea, in the church office.  Her hours during this time are:  Th 7/21 and F7/22- 9am to noon; M7/25 – 11:30am to 2:30p; Tu7/26 - 9am to noon; W7/27 – 11:30am to 2:30pm; Th7/28 and F7/29- 9am to noon.  She can be reached at 815-886-4354.  Pastor Suzanne will NOT be checking emails while she is on vacation, nor will she be receiving or returning phone calls.  She thanks you for respecting her much-needed time away with her family.  Please pray for safe travel for them. 

Recap from last Sunday:  Our theme was, "Four Soils."  Using Jesus' story of the farmer and the four soils from Matthew 13, we talked about what kinds of soils we might be in our spiritual journeys - hard soil represents those who hear but don't understand, shallow soil represents those without deep spiritual roots, thorny soil represents those who allow material things and the lure of wealth to get in their way of a relationship with God, and fertile soil represents those who hear God's Word and take it to heart and produce a plentiful harvest/crop.  Pastor Suzanne asked us to think about what kind of soil we are and what kind of soil we will be.  Have you answered those questions for yourself?

Preview of this Sunday:  Our theme will be, "Weed Eaters."  We'll take a look at the story of the wheat and weeds from Matthew 13, along with the story about the mustard seed and yeast.  So, bring your open ears and open hearts and be prepared to hear what God has to say...and bring a friend to join you.

If you have any questions about our programs, activities or worship locations, please call the church office at 815-886-4354 and we’ll get the answers to you.  I won’t be in the office tomorrow (Friday) in order to be with my friend in Indiana who is hospitalized and may have to have surgery.

Keep cool and have a blessed weekend.  Remember to bring lawn chairs (and a smile) to Saturday’s event!

Peace, hope, faith, joy, health and love to you all!

-- 

Renea Horn Johnson

Pastoral Assistant

Good Shepherd Church

WHAT'S HAPPENING AT GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH

Good Afternoon!

I hope you all had a good 4^th of July holiday!  Isn’t it hard to believe that half of 2011 is history already?  Watch your mail for a letter about a short congregational meeting July 17^th between services.

Here is an outline of What’s Happening in July. . .

1.      TONIGHT-Thur. July 7-G2R (Genesis to Revelation) Study meets at 7pm at the Stoughton’s home

2.      Fri. July 8- FLY (Finally Loving Yourself) Lady group will meet for a picnic supper at 7pm

3.      Sun. July 10-Worship at 8:15 and/or 10am at the church.

4.      Sun. July 10-Flash Mob rehearsal following the 10am Worship. Anyone interested is welcome to come learn the steps that are very easy.  Come join the fun!

5.      Sun. July 10-Summer Outreach Event final check-in meeting at 9:30am (between services) in the front office.  All those coordinating tents and/or food giveaway need to be present.

6.      Mon. July 11-Monday Bible Study will meet at 7pm at the Suchomel home

7.      Wed. July 13-Wednesday Bible Study at 6:30pm at church

8.      Sat. July 16-Good Shepherd Community Outreach Event at Irene King School Park from 9am to 12:30pm.

9.      Sun. July 17-Worship at 8:15 and 10am at the church.  There will be a short congregational meeting between services at 9:30am.  All are urged to attend the meeting.

10.  Tues. July 19-Church Council meets at 7pm.

11.  Wed. July 20-Wednesday Bible Study at 6:30pm at church

12.  Thur. July 21-G2R (Genesis to Revelation) Bible Study at 7pm at the Stoughton’s home.

13.  Thur. July 21-Deadline for submitting August Rod and Staff Newsletter materials.

14.  Sun. July 24-50^th Anniversary Sunday.  One service at 9:30am with guest Pastor Barbara Melaas-Swanson followed by a fellowship meal event

15.  Mon. July 25-Monday Night Bible Study at 7pm at the Suchomel home

16.  Thur. July 28-Food Pantry Quarterly Meeting at 7:15pm.

Flash Mob Note - We had our first practice Tuesday night.  If you weren't able to make it but still want to be involved, join us after the 10am service for a rehearsal - we'll teach you the steps...they are very easy.  Come, join the fun!

Recap from last Sunday:  We looked at both the lesson from Romans about not doing the things we want to do and doing the things we don't want to do...I know, it sounds confusing.  We also looked Jesus' words in Matthew 11:25-30, particularly the ones about Jesus giving us rest.  He invites us to come to him with our heavy burdens and he will give us rest for our souls.  Our job is to give our burdens to him so we can be freed up to share his love with others.  Our challenge was to start our days putting our trust in God and end our days with thankfulness for the trust we showed or forgiveness when we failed to show trust.  How's your challenge going?

Preview of this Sunday:  Our theme this week will be, "Good Soil."  Using the parable of the Four Soils in Matthew 13, we'll think about what kind of soil we are and how we can improve our soil to improve the harvest God can get in and through us.  Any gardeners out there?  This might be a good message for you to relate to.  Join us and bring a friend!

Remember if you have any questions about our programs, activities or worship locations, please call the church office at 815-886-4354 and we’ll get the answers to you. 

Peace, hope, faith, joy, health and love to you all!

Renea Horn Johnson

Pastoral Assistant

Good Shepherd Church