WHAT'S HAPPENING AT GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH

Happy Thanksgiving Eve!

 Since tomorrow is Thanksgiving, we are sending you this week's What's Happening (and two not happening) report today.  Here is What's Happening at Good Shepherd Church over the next week...

 1.      TONIGHT-Wed. Nov 21-Our annual Thanksgiving Eve Worship is at 7pm.  Afterward we'll enjoy pie and dessert fellowship.  Bring a friend, dessert to pass, and join us!

 2.      Fri. Nov 23-Rod and Staff December newsletter information needs to be submitted TODAY!  (NOTE:  The Friday Study will not be meeting tonight)

 3.      Sat. Nov 24-Shepherd's Food Pantry will be open from 9:30-11:30am at 2 Belmont Dr.

 4.      Sun. Nov 25- Worship at 8:15 and/or10am with Connection Café between services.  Announcements begin 10 minutes before each service.

 5.      Sun. Nov 25-"The Irresistible Revolution" Book Study will meet between 4 and 6pm at the home of Lydia Faber

 6.      Mon. Nov 26-Monday Bible Study at the Suchomel home begins at 7pm

 7.      Wed. Nov 28-Advent Book Study, "Christmas Gifts That Won't Break" meets from 6:30 to 7:45pm at church

 8.      Wed. Nov 28-Advent Worship Service at 8pm at church

 9.      Fri. Nov 30-Friday Study will meet at 7pm at the home of Laura Voruz

 10.  Sat. Dec 1-"Coffee with the Bishop" gathering on Saturday, December 1, at Shepherd of the Hill, Lockport, from 10:00 – Noon. 

 11.  Sat. Dec 1-Family Scavenger Hunt begins at church at 6pm.  All are welcome to come join the fun and fellowship!  Be sure to sign up at the back of church.

 12.  Sun. Dec 2-One Worship Service will be held at 9:30am

 Thanksgiving Eve Worship:  Join us this evening at 7pm for a special worship service focused on giving thanks. Before you go to spend time with your families, come gather with your church family as we thank God for the many blessings He has given us.  And, be sure to stay after for our dessert fellowship.  Please bring a friend, a dessert to share, and join us!  All are welcome!  (NOTE: There will NOT be a Wednesday study tonight.)

Advent Book Study and midweek worship:   We invite you to join Pastor Suzanne and others from the Wednesday study for a 4-week Advent Book Study of the book entitled "Christmas Gifts That Won't Break."   It starts November 28 and goes through the Wednesday before Christmas.  The study will take place from 6:30-7:45pm, followed by Advent worship at 8pm. Books are $4 each. The book and these midweek worship services are a great opportunity to stay focused on what really matters in the midst of this busy holiday season.  Join us and invite a friend too.

 Have you seen the Mooved by Eggsample cow?  We hope you'll check out and support this special fundraiser for providing milk and eggs to our Shepherd's Food Pantry.

 Recap of last Sunday:  Last Sunday, Pastor Suzanne gave a personal testimony of the time she and her family spent at the Point Breeze Fire Department in Breezy Point, Queens, NY.  She talked about how, when the people had lost everything, the one thing they held onto was their faith.  Using Jesus' words from Mark 13, Pastor reminded us that the buildings around us - no matter how big and beautiful - will fall away; our material things will fall away.  What will remain is our faith.  We need to hang on to it in good times and bad.  Pastor also spoke about trust and commitment and, using Paul's words from 1 Timothy 6, reminded us that money in and of itself is not bad.  It is "the love of money that is at the root of all kinds of evil."  How we spend our money reflects what we value.  As we look to a new year and making new commitments to the church, Pastor Suzanne encouraged us to think about how we spend our time and our money and how these will reflect our trust, commitment, and faith in God.

Preview of this Sunday:  This Sunday, our theme will be, "Alpha and Omega."  We'll look at several Scripture verses that remind us that God is, was, and is to come and how the never-changing, never-failing love of God can carry us through anything.  We invite you to join us in the post-Thanksgiving lull before the "hurry up and get ready for Christmas" journey begins.  All are welcome!

Please remember to get your Rod and Staff December newsletter information to me by Friday.  I will be here waiting for your reports!

Driving to work in the fog this morning, I was thinking about what I am thankful for, since I know we are invited to share that information at the Thanksgiving Eve worship.  I am personally thankful for the choices that have been and are given to me.  Have you thought about yours?  I look forward to sharing them with you tonight.

Here's wishing for you all the blessings of peace, hope, joy, health, thankfulness, and love always.  Have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.

Renea Horn Johnson, Pastoral Assistant

Good Shepherd Church