WHAT'S HAPPENING AT GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH

Good Afternoon!

WOW!  What a busy week it has been so far with Vacation Bible School and getting ready for the Music for Malaria Concert Event.  If you've signed up to serve at this event, you should have received a separate email from Pastor Suzanne.  If you didn't receive it, please contact her.  If you didn't sign up to serve but you would like to, please join us anytime after 3pm tomorrow (Friday) at Deer Crossing Pavilion by Romeoville City Hall.  We'll be setting up the space starting around 3:30pm and we'll start welcoming guests around 5:30pm.  All ages and abilities are welcome to serve!  Please contact Chris Daniels, our volunteer coordinator, and she'll get you connected.  You are welcome to just attend the event too - join us from 6-9pm for music from several churches and our own, "Wet Paint," praise team.  Not able to attend?  Please pray for good weather and abundant blessings as we raise money for this cause.

 

Here is What's Happening at Good Shepherd Church over the next few weeks. . . .

 

1.      TONIGHT-Thur. June 28 VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL will meet at church from 6:00 to 8:30pm.  Check out the pictures on Good Shepherd's Facebook postings and see what a great time they have been having!

 

2.      Fri. June 29-Music for Malaria Concert Event will start at 6pm at Deer Crossing Pavilion by Romeoville City Hall.

 

3.      Sun. July 1-Worship at 8:15 and/or 10am (announcements begin 10 minutes before each service) with Connection Café held between services

 

4.      Tue. July 3-Shepherd's Food Pantry is open from 6:30-8pm at 2 Belmont Dr. (at Rt. 53)

 

5.      Thu. July 5-Romeofest Planning Meeting will be held at 7pm at the church

 

6.      Thu. July 5-G2R (Genesis to Revelation) Bible Study at Stoughton's at 7pm

 

7.      Fri. July 6-Friday Study is held at Sheri Valintis' home beginning at 7pm

 

8.      Sun. July 8- Worship at 8:15 and/or 10am (announcements begin 10 minutes before each service) with Connection Café held between services

 

9.      Sun. July 8-Radical Book Study meets from 4-6pm

 

10.  Mon. July 9-Creativity Unleashed for youth in grades 6 thru 12 meets from 2-4pm at the church.  All youth are welcome to attend and bring their friends as well!

 

11.  Tue. July 10-Ministry Teams Meeting Night at 7pm at the church.

 

12.  Wed. July 11-Creativity Unleashed for youth in grades 6 thru 12 meets from 2-4pm at the church.

 

13.  Fri. July 13- Creativity Unleashed for youth in grades 6 thru 12 meets from 2-4pm at the church.

 

14.  Fri. July 13- Friday Bible Study meeting at the Valintis home beginning at 7pm

 

15.  Sat. July 14-Shepherd's Food Pantry is open 9:30-11:30am at 2 Belmont Dr.(at Rt. 53)

 

16.  Sun. July 15- Worship at 8:15 and/or 10am (announcements begin 10 minutes before each service) with Connection Café held between services

 

17.  Sun. July 15-Radical Book Study will meet from 4-6pm

 

Back-to-School Clothing Giveaway - On Saturday, August 10 from noon to 4:00 p.m., the Matthew 25 group will be hosting a clothing giveaway.  If you have gently used clothing you would like to donate, please contact Rose Darguzis or Pastor Suzanne.  Please check out the sign-up sheet on the info table at church too.  We're looking for people to sort clothing, launder clothing, set up a few days before, check people in the day of the event, and pray with people who come.  We're looking for clothing in all sizes - children, adult women's, and adult men's...but PLEASE make sure it is gently used only - no tears, rips, stains, etc.  Thanks!

 

Romeofest Meeting - On Thursday, July 5 at 7p, the Evangelism Team will be hosting a meeting to plan for Romeofest.  If you're interested in participating in the planning of this 4-day event, please join us at the church or talk to our coordinator, Carrie Worthington, or our Evangelism Chair, Chris Daniels.  For our newer family members, Romeofest is the town's annual festival, at which we host a booth with crafts for kids and information on our church and our ministries for adults.  If this sounds interesting to you, please join us for the meeting.  Romeofest takes place August 2-5.

 

Radical Book Study - Our next two sessions will be July 8 and July 15.  Pastor Suzanne will send out an email to the group with the location of the sessions.

 

Creativity Unleashed - Our FREE arts experience will take place July 9-13 from 2-4 p.m. and from July 16-20 from 7-9 p.m.  If you are or know a youth in grades 6-12 that you think might be interested in this program, please give them the information.  You can also contact Rose Darguzis, Heather Murphy, or Roy Jamason.

 

Recap of last Sunday:  Last Sunday we talked about "Fear and Faith."  Using Mark 4:35-41 and 2 Corinthians 6:1-13, we talked about how to move from fear to faith.  We talked about how important it is to have a fellow brother and sister in Christ to walk with us in those times when our fears seem to overpower our faith.  Pastor Suzanne challenged us to think about the things that we are afraid of and how we can move from fear to faith.

 

Preview of this Sunday:  Our theme will be "Faith, Healing, and Giving."  We'll use Mark 5:21-43 and 2 Corinthians 8 as we talk about how our faith leads to healing and how healing can lead to a more generous spirit.  We'll hear the story of the healing of Jairus' daughter, along with the story of the woman who touched Jesus' robe.  We hope to see you Sunday...and invite a friend to join us too!

 

Hope that you enjoyed your abbreviated July Rod and Staff newsletter that was passed out in church last Sunday.  I will be gone on vacation next week, so you won't be getting a What's Happening report until I return.   If you need information, please know that you can call the church or Pastor's cell phone and leave a message.  Your call will be returned as quickly as possible.

 

I'm volunteering at the Music for Malaria event tomorrow night and hope to see you there.  Come join us for the music, market, malaria information, and to take a journey on the Tanzanian Trail.  Bring others as well.  You'll be proud of what we have accomplished in making it all come together!  Good Shepherd rocks!

 

Wishing you the blessings of peace, hope, joy, health, and love always.  Be safe on the roads and stay cool!

 

Renea Horn Johnson

Pastoral Assistant

Good Shepherd Church

 

WHAT'S HAPPENING AT GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH

 

Good Afternoon!

Are you enjoying the break from the heat?  I'll admit I miss the sunshine, but look forward to cooler sleeping weather this evening. 

 

The G2R Study will not be meeting tonight.  Please help spread the word that the Stoughton's had to cancel tonight's meeting. 

 

Here is What's Happening at Good Shepherd Church over the next few weeks. . . .

 

1.      TONIGHT-Thur. June 21-Church Council meets at 6pm

 

2.      Fri. June 22- Creativity Unleashed from 7-9pm for youth in grade 6 to 12 at the church

 

3.      Fri. June 22-Friday Bible Study meets at Sheri Valintis' home at 7pm

 

4.      Sat. June 23-Shepherd's Food Pantry is open from 9:30-11:30am at 2 Belmont Dr.

 

5.      Sat. June 23-Fellowship Game Day from 4 to 7pm hosted by our friend and neighbor Russ at 504 Dalhart.  (See details below)

 

6.      Sun. June 24- Worship Services at 8:15 and/or 10am (announcements begin 10 minutes before each service)

 

7.      Sun. June 24 thru Thurs. June 28 VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL will meet at church from 6:00 to 8:30pm

NOTE:  Because of Vacation Bible School and the Malaria Concert, there won't be any other meetings or study groups this week

8.      Fri. June 29-Music for Malaria Concert Event will start at 6pm at Deer Crossing Pavilion by Romeoville City Hall.

 

FAMILY FUN AND GAME TIME THIS SATURDAY, JUNE 23.  Our Fellowship Team has put together another family game event.  Hot dogs and hamburgers will be provided, and side dishes, salads or snacks would be welcome.  Our friend and neighbor Russ is hosting the event 'round the corner at his home at 504 Dalhart.  So dig out your favorite board and/or outdoor games and come join the fun. 

 

SKY Vacation Bible School: Where Everything is Possible With God! The Sky's the Limit!  Next week come join us for VBS Sunday, June 24 – Thursday, June 28 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.  Registration is FREE and open for children aged 4 through 5th grade.  Please call Debbie Suchomel at (815)341-6135 or register on-line at www.groupvbspro.com/vbs/ez/welcome432   Invite your family, friends, and neighbors!  We look forward to seeing you there!  (P.S. We are also still looking for a few servants of God to help!)

 

Recap from last Sunday:  Our theme last week was "Telling Stories."  Using Mark 4:26-34 and 2 Corinthians 5:6-21, Pastor Suzanne talked about the importance of telling our stories about how our lives in Jesus have made a difference to who we are.  She also talked about how important it is to listen to others and encourage them to share their stories so we can help them find places where their stories intersect with God's story.  Being a storyteller, much like Jesus was, means telling stories and listening to stories to find those common places.  Pastor challenged us to tell our stories and invite others to share their stories with us too.

 

Preview of this Sunday:  This Sunday, we'll hear the story of Jesus calming the storm.  Our theme, "Fear and Faith," will help us explore the things we are afraid of and how our faith can help us deal with these fears.  We'll also hear from the apostle Paul and think about how our lives reflect our faith to others, even in difficult circumstances.  Join us and invite a friend to join us too!

 

We are working on having an abbreviated Rod and Staff newsletter for July available for you in church this Sunday.  Keep your fingers crossed we can get it ready for you.

 

Wishing you the blessings of peace, hope, joy, health, and love always!  

 

Renea Horn Johnson

Pastoral Assistant

Good Shepherd Church

GAYANA GARROTT'S MOTHER HAS PASSED AWAY

Brenda Jackson, mother of Ganaya Garrott, passed away on Tuesday.  The following are arrangements for tomorrow, Saturday, June 16:

Visitation from 10am to 11am

Celebration of Life from 11am to 12pm

All will take place at Robey Park Manor Funeral Home, 2510 Chicago Road (at 26^th Street) in Chicago Heights, IL 60411.

 

Brenda was born on June 21, 1950 and resided in Park Forest, IL.  May she rest in peace.

WHAT'S HAPPENING AT GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH

 Hello and Happy Flag Day!

I was surprised at how many people haven't even mentioned Flag Day on the radio or TV.  It is my husband Greg's birthday as well, though he doesn't like to say much about it either! 

 

The Creativity Unleashed program for youth in grades 6 to 12 kicked off Monday afternoon, and they are having a great time unleashing their artistic talents!  If you know of any youth who would like to join us for this free program, send them.  Tomorrow we'll meet from 2 to 4pm and the second week (6/18, 6/20, 6/22) we'll meet from 7-9pm.  Please help us spread the word!  Rose, Roy and Heather have a lot of talent that they're sharing.  The more the merrier!

 

Here is What's Happening at Good Shepherd Church over the next few weeks. . . .

 

1.      TONIGHT-Thur. June 14-FLY (Finally Loving Yourself) Ladies meeting at 7pm

REMINDER:  Deadline for submitting July Rod and Staff newsletter information is today.  We are doing a "mini" version to keep you up-to-date on our many activities and will do a full newsletter for August.

2.      Fri. June 15-Creativity Unleashed for youth in Grades 6 to 12 from 2 to 4pm at the church

 

3.       Fri. June 15-Friday Bible Study meets at 7pm at the Valintis home

 

4.      Sun. June 17- Worship Services at 8:15 and/or 10am (announcements begin 10 minutes before each service).  We'll be celebrating Father's Day following worship with a barbecue!

 

5.      Mon. June 18 thru Fri. June 22-Summer Day Camp from 8:45 to 11:45am at the church

 

6.      Mon. June 18-Creativity Unleashed from 7-9pm at the church.  All youth in grade 6 to 12 are welcome!

 

7.      Mon. June 18-Monday Bible Study at 7pm at the Suchomel home

 

8.      Tues. June 19-Quarterly Food Pantry Meeting will begin at 7pm at the Pantry.  All are welcome to attend and see how the garden is growing!

 

9.      Tues. June 19-Deadline for submitting reports for Council Meeting on Thursday

 

10.  Wed. June 20-Wednesday Study meets at 6:30pm at church

 

11.  Wed. June 20-Creativity Unleashed from 7-9pm for youth in grade 6 to 12 at the church

 

12.  Thur. June 21-Church Council meets at 6pm

 

13.  Thur. June 21-G2R (Genesis to Revelation) Study at the Stoughton's begins at 7pm

 

14.  Fri. June 22- Creativity Unleashed from 7-9pm for youth in grade 6 to 12 at the church

 

15.  Fri. June 22-Friday Bible Study meets at Sheri Valintis' home at 7pm

 

16.  Sat. June 23-Shepherd's Food Pantry is open from 9:30-11:30am at 2 Belmont Dr.

 

17.  Sun. June 24- Worship Services at 8:15 and/or 10am (announcements begin 10 minutes before each service)

 

Pastor Suzanne away - Pastor Suzanne is out of town this afternoon through Saturday evening for the Northern Illinois Synod Assembly.  If you have an emergency, please text or call her on her cell phone (815-355-2397) and she will make arrangements to get someone to you.

 

Creativity Unleashed - Our arts experience is going well and those involved seem to be enjoying themselves.  If you're creative and want to share your talents, join us tomorrow afternoon and/or next week on 6/18, 6/20, and 6/22 from 7-9pm at the church.  Creativity Unleashed is a free program for youth in grades 6-12, but adults are welcome too!  Please contact Rose Darguzis or Heather Murphy for more information.

 

Music for Malaria Servants/Volunteers - If you are volunteering/serving at our 6/29 event and you haven't yet done so, PLEASE get your t-shirt sizes to Pastor Suzanne via email ASAP.  We need to get the shirts ordered so we have them in time for our event.  Haven't signed up yet to volunteer/serve?  Please contact Chris Daniels.  All are welcome!

 

SKY Vacation Bible School: Where Everything is Possible With God! The Sky's the Limit!  Come join us Sunday, June 24 – Thursday, June 28 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.  Registration is FREE and open for children aged 4 through 5th grade.  Please call Debbie Suchomel at (815)341-6135 or register on-line at www.groupvbspro.com/vbs/ez/welcome432   Invite your family, friends, and neighbors!  We look forward to seeing you there!  (P.S. We are also still looking for a few servants of God to help!)

 

Recap from last Sunday:  Last week our theme was, "We Are Family."  Using Mark 3:20-35, we talked about what it means to be a family and how our families of origin (the families we grew up in) and our spirit families are the same and may be different.  We also talked about how we can help each other carry the troubles that we go through (see 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:5) as we care for one another as family members.

 

Preview of this Sunday:  This Sunday, our theme will be, "Telling Stories."  We'll focus on Mark 4:26-34 and 2 Corinthians 5:6-21 and think about what it means to tell our stories as we act as God's ambassadors in the world.  Invite a friend or neighbor to join us as we hear Jesus' stories and think about telling our own.

 

Wishing you the blessings of peace, hope, joy, health, and love always!  Happy Father's Day to all who qualify!!

 

Renea Horn Johnson

Pastoral Assistant

Good Shepherd Church

 

WHAT'S HAPPENING AT GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH

Hello!

Now that the local schools are officially on summer vacation, we have a lot of activity opportunities to offer.  Check over the information below and call the office (815-886-4354) if you need any further information about participating.  We need participants and volunteers to make these successful.

 

Here is What's Happening at Good Shepherd Church over the next few weeks. . . .

 

1.      TONIGHT-Thur. June 7- G2R (Genesis to Revelation) Study at Stoughton's beginning at 7pm

 

2.      Fri. June 8- Friday Study at the Valintis home begins at 7pm

 

3.      Sat. June 9- Shepherd's Food Pantry is open from 9:30-11:30am at 2 Belmont Dr. (at Rt.53).  Helpers are always welcomed!

 

4.      Sat. June 9-Music for Malaria final planning meeting at the Romeoville Municipal Center at 12:30pm

 

5.      Sun. June 10- Worship Services at 8:15 and/or 10am (announcements begin 10 minutes before each service).  Connection Café offered between services.  NOTE:  There will be a

 

6.      Sun. June 10- Radical book study meets from 4pm to 6pm at Lydia Faber's home

 

7.      Mon. June 11- Creativity Unleashed for youth in Grades 6 to 12 from 2-4pm at the church

 

8.      Mon. June 11-Monday Bible Study at Suchomel's beginning at 7pm

 

9.      Wed. June 13-Creativity Unleashed for youth in Grades 6 to 12 from 2 to 4pm at the church

 

10.  Wed. June 13-Our first Play and Pray Wednesday gathering begins at 6pm

 

11.  Thur. June 14-FLY (Finally Loving Yourself) Ladies meeting at 7pm

REMINDER:  Deadline for submitting July Rod and Staff newsletter information is today

12.  Fri. June 15-Creativity Unleashed for youth in Grades 6 to 12 from 2 to 4pm at the church

 

13.   Fri. June 15-Friday Bible Study meets at 7pm at the Valintis home

 

14.  Sun. June 17- Worship Services at 8:15 and/or 10am (announcements begin 10 minutes before each service).  We'll be celebrating Father's Day following worship with a barbecue!

 

Music for Malaria Volunteer/Servant Meeting

Join us this Saturday at 12:30pm at the Village of Romeoville Municipal Center (1050 W. Romeo Road) for our volunteer/servant meeting.  We'll be connecting people with our various servant roles for our 6/29 Music for Malaria event.  There are lots of different places to use your gifts including:  greeters, "medical" help, "mosquitoes," Fair Trade Market vendors, Tanzanian Trail guides, etc.  This is sure to be a great event and we hope that everyone will come out and join us.  We want this event to be a "come together" moment for our church and the other churches joining us that day!  All ages are welcome and needed!!!  Questions?  Please contact Chris Daniels, our Volunteer/Servant Coordinator.

 

Creativity Unleashed

Rose Darguzis, Roy Jamason, Heather Murphy, and Pastor Suzanne are coordinating this summer arts experience for youth in grades 6-12.  We will kick off this "program" on Monday, June 11 at 2pm at the church.  We've decided to use an anti-bullying theme for this and all the artwork produced will be displayed on the Sunday of Romeofest.  We're hoping to get all kinds of youth artists including singers, painters, dancers, photographers, musicians, etc.  We'd love to have skit, band and/or singing group perform on Sunday afternoon on the mainstage at the Fest.  We're also hoping to display some of the paintings, photography, etc. during that time as well.  If you know of a youth who would like this program, please invite them to join us.  It is a FREE program!  And, if you have artistic talents and would like to help out, please let us know or just show up.  The first week (6/11, 6/13, 6/15) we'll meet Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 2-4pm.  The second week (6/18, 6/20, 6/22) we'll meet from 7-9pm.  Please help us spread the word!

 

Play and Pray

Our first 2012 Summer Play and Pray event will be this Wednesday, June 13 starting at 6pm.  Bring your own supper and join your Good Shepherd family for a time of fellowship.  We'll then worship together at 7:30pm.  If the weather is good, we'll be outside so please bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on.  Mark your calendars for our other Play and Pray events – July 11 and August 15.  Please note that the Wednesday study WILL meet next week; we'll continue our discussion of Job at 6:30pm, worship at 7:30pm and then continue our discussion after worship.

 

Pastor Suzanne Out of Town

Pastor Suzanne will be out of town from next Thursday evening through Saturday evening to attend the Northern Illinois Synod Assembly on Friday and Saturday with our delegates, Camille Garcia and Bob Hurdle.  If you have an emergency during this time, please text or call Pastor at 815-355-2397 and she will make arrangements to get someone to you.  Thanks!

 

Recap from last Sunday:  Our theme was "Could We Be an Acts 2 Church?"  Using Acts 2:22-47, with an emphasis on verses 43-47, we discussed what stands in the way of us being like the kind of church that the early disciples led.  Many people said selling our possessions and giving the proceeds to the poor would be the hardest.  We like our things, don't we?  Pastor Suzanne challenged us to think about what is keeping us individually and corporately, as a church, from being the Church that is described in Acts 2:43-47.  What does it mean to have a deep sense of awe?  What does it mean to meet together constantly, to share everything we have?  What does it mean to sell what we have and give the proceeds over to the poor?  What does it mean to worship together every day, to meet in homes and share meals?  And if we did those things, would we see the end result that the early Church did, which is, "Each day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved?"

 

Preview of this Sunday:  This week, using Mark 3:20-35, our theme will be, "We Are Family."  We'll talk about how Jesus defines family and how our spiritual family can be just as important to our lives as our blood family.  We'll also be discussing 2 Corinthians 4, where Paul discusses the troubles that happen in our lives and we'll talk about how our relationships in God's family can help us walk through these times of trouble.  Join us and invite a friend to join us too.

 

One final note regarding VBS 2012

SKY Vacation Bible School: Where Everything is Possible With God! The Sky's the Limit!  Come join us Sunday, June 24 – Thursday, June 28 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.  Registration is FREE and open for children aged 4 through 5th grade.  Please call Debbie Suchomel at (815)341-6135 or register on-line at www.groupvbspro.com/vbs/ez/welcome432   Invite your family, friends, and neighbors!  We look forward to seeing you there!  (P.S. We are also still looking for a few servants of God to help!)

 

Wishing you the blessings of peace, hope, joy, health, and love always! 

 

Renea Horn Johnson

Pastoral Assistant

Good Shepherd Church