Wouldn't you know that while I'm on vacation next week, the weather forecast is calling for cooler temperatures! Guess that rules out water sports for us, but camping should be good. With the cooler weather, wouldn't it be nice to bake some cookies in the oven? We have just over a week to place orders for the annual Preschool Cookie Dough fundraiser. Be sure to check it out in church on Sunday.
Here is What's Happening at Good Shepherd Church. . .
1. TODAY- Thur. Sept 13-Reports for Church Council meeting on Saturday are due in the office today
2. TONIGHT-Thur. Sept 13-FLY (Finally Loving Yourself) Lady meets at 7pm at Lydia Faber's home
3. Sat. Sept 15-Church Council Meeting at 8:30am
4. Sat. Sept 15-Family Fun & Food Bags Tournament at the home of Laura Voruz begins at 3pm (see details below)
5. Sun. Sept 16-Worship at 8:15 and/or 10am. Announcements begin 10 minutes before each service with Connection Café between services.
6. Sun. Sept 16-Sunday School for children age 4 through 5th grade will meet in the church office at 9:15am
7. Sun. Sept 16-Founder's Day Parade kicks off at 2pm. Come cheer on our Preschool!
8. Mon. Sept 17-3rd Monday Study at the Sanchez' home begins at 7pm
9. Wed. Sept 19-Wednesday Study meets at church at 6:30pm
10. Thur. Sept 20-Deadline for submitting Rod and Staff October newsletter information
11. Thur. Sept 20-G2R (Genesis to Revelation) Study meets at Stoughton's at 7pm
12. Thur. Sept 20-Matthew 25 Group Meeting at 7pm at the church. All are welcome and encouraged to attend as we develop
13. Sat. Sept 22-Shepherd's Food Pantry will be open from 9:30 to 11:30am at 2 Belmont Dr. (at Rt. 53). Help is always welcomed.
14. Sat. Sept 22-Praise Band rehearsal at 1:30pm at church
15. Sun. Sept 23- Worship at 8:15 and/or 10am. Announcements begin 10 minutes before each service with Connection Café between services.
16. Sun. Sept 23-Book Study will meet at 4pm at the home of Judy Jordan
Bags Tournament - Looking for a fun activity and a place to informally get to know other church members? Then join us this Saturday, Sept. 15 at the home of Laura Voruz for a family bags tournament. We'll be having hamburgers, hot dogs and Portillo's beef. All you need to bring is a side dish or dessert to share and your own beverage. If you have a bags game, bring that along too. Hope to see you there!
A Synod Discipleship Gathering is going to be taking place at St. John's in Joliet this Sunday, Sept. 16 from 2 to 3:45pm. Pastor is hoping to attend and encourages anyone interested to attend also. St. John's is located at 2650 Plainfield Road, just east of Louis Joliet Mall.
Sunday Book Study - Just a reminder that our book study group has started a new book and we'd love to have you join us for the next discussion. We're reading Shane Claiborne's book, "The Irresistible Revolution." Books can be purchased at Amazon.com and also at hpbmarketplace.com for a reasonable cost. If you don't have time to get a book, join us anyway, as several extra copies were ordered. This next study will take place Sept. 23 at the home of Judy Jordan - her address is 450 Montrose Drive in Romeoville. We meet at 4:00pm with supper and then our study. Questions about the group? Contact Pastor Suzanne.
Matthew 25 Group meeting - Thursday, 9/20 at 7:00pm at the church. Join us as we continue to work on our Dairy Fundraiser to help our food pantry families. We'll also be thinking about other ways we might be able to help those in our Romeoville community. Our group is based on Jesus' words in Matthew 25:35-40. We want to be about the business of doing these things for the least in our community. Come, be a part of our group!
Ministry Night was AWESOME! Our Ministry Night this past Tuesday evening was great! Unfortunately, our special guest couldn't make it BUT, as usual, God had other plans anyway. No walking happened Tuesday night but don't be surprised if you see some Good Shepherd family members walking around a Romeoville neighborhood in the very near future. We're looking for people to join us in walking the neighborhoods, being prayerful observers of what is around us. Using Acts 1:8-9 as our starting point, Pastor Suzanne reminded us that Jesus called us to start telling people about him starting first, in "Jerusalem," our own backyards and then going out from there. Check out the pictures on Facebook to learn more about our discussion about meeting the needs of our community, our "Jerusalem." We definitely felt the moving of the Spirit in the room and look forward to sharing more with all of you in the weeks to come!
LOOKING AHEAD--Elmhurst College Speaking Engagements – During October, Elmhurst College hosts some great speakers on a variety of topics. Here are a few that Pastor Suzanne will be attending. Admission to these events is $10 and tickets are available at the door or online at www.elmhurst.edu/tix. 10/4 - 7:00pm - Bishop Gene Robinson will speak on, "Justice and Compassion in An Age of Demonization." 10/9 - 4:00pm - Simon LeVay will speak on "The Science of Sexual Orientation." 10/11 - 7:00pm - Ross Douthat will speak on "Bad Religion: How We Became a Nation of Heretics." 10/18 - 7:00pm - Rev. Barbara Rossing (from our own Lutheran School of Theology) will speak on "Apocalypse Now: Revelation - So No One Is 'Left Behind.'" If you're interested in attending, let Pastor know and maybe we can set up car pools.
Recap from last Sunday: Our theme last week was, "Dead or Alive...Faith." Continuing our study on the book of James, we talked about his challenge that "faith without works is a dead faith." We talked about the difference between faith saving us and works proving our inward beliefs. We also talked about the story of the healing of the woman's daughter and the deaf mute man from Mark 7. Pastor suggested that perhaps Jesus was the first one to use "reverse psychology." He told the people not to tell everyone what they had seen, with the miracles... not surprisingly, the people didn't listen. The more he told them not to tell anyone, the more they spread the news. So, DON'T tell anyone about Jesus this week. DON'T tell anyone about our church. DON'T share your story of faith with anyone. Gee, let's see how that works.
Preview of this Sunday: Our theme this week is, "Praises and Curses." We'll continue to look at the book of James; this week we'll focus on chapter 3, talking about controlling our tongues... not an easy one to talk about. We'll all be challenged!
Our Facebook page link is https://www.facebook.com/#!/goodshepherdromeoville for those of you who have been having trouble reaching us.
Friday the 21st of September is the third anniversary of my being your Pastoral Assistant. Those years have passed quickly and truly been a blessing for me. I'll be missing and thinking of you all next week, and wish everyone peace, hope, joy, health, and love always.
Renea Horn Johnson
Pastoral Assistant
Good Shepherd Church
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