WHAT'S HAPPENING AT GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH

Happy New Year!

We have hit the ground running in 2013. Right now we're putting
together a short newsletter as well as preparing for the Budget Forum
on Sunday, which will follow our one 9:00a.m. Worship service.
Everyone is encouraged to attend the Budget Forum and give us your
input on the church budget for 2013. Perhaps you remember that last
year, in an effort to shorten the timeframe of our Annual Meeting, the
budget was established beforehand, included in the Annual Meeting
folder, and voted on at the time of the Annual Meeting. If you cannot
attend the Budget Forum, please contact any of our Council members
with whatever you feel needs to be addressed in the 2013 budget.

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

1. TONIGHT-Thur. Jan 3-G2R (Genesis to Revelation) Study at Stoughton's at 7pm

2. Fri. Jan 4-ALL ANNUAL REPORTS FOR INCLUSION IN THE ANNUAL MEETING
FOLDERS ARE DUE IN THE OFFICE TODAY

3. Fri. Jan 4-Friday Study meets at 7pm at the home of Laura Voruz

4. Sun. Jan 6-One Worship Service at 9:00am followed by a Budget
Forum. All are encouraged to attend and help plan our 2013 budget.

5. Mon. Jan 7-Monday Study at the Suchomel's meets at 7pm

6. Tue. Jan 8-Shepherd's Food Pantry will be open from 6:30-8pm at 2
Belmont Dr. at Rt. 53

7. Tue. Jan 8-Ministry Night at church at 7pm. All are welcome to
hear reports and help plan our various ministry activities.

8. Wed. Jan 9-First Wednesday Study of 2013 will meet at 6:30pm at
church. All are welcome!

9. Thur. Jan 10-FLY (Finally Loving Yourself) Lady meets at 7pm at
Lydia Faber's. Start 2013 out right by getting organized and learning
to love yourself as well.

10. Fri. Jan 11-Friday Study will meet at 7pm at the home of Laura Voruz

11. Fri. Jan 11-Crafters Night from 6pm at church. Bring your craft
projects and join us!

12. Sat. Jan 12-Shepherd's Food Pantry will be open from 9:30-11:30am
at 2 Belmont Dr. at Rt. 53. Helpers are always welcomed!

13. Sun. Jan 13-Worship at 8am* and/or 10am with Connection Café
between services (*new time)

14. Sun. Jan 13-Sunday School meets in the office at 9:15am for youth
age 4 to 5th grade

15. Sun. Jan 13-Deadline for submitting January Manna order forms

16. Sun. Jan 13-Radical Book Study meets from 4 to 6pm at Pastor Suzanne's home

A Vendor Fair is coming to Good Shepherd on February 9, 2013. Anyone
who is a direct selling vendor and interested in a table should
contact Carrie Worthington via email carriejo.worthington@gmail.com
for more information.

Manna cards next order form will once again be in church this Sunday
as well as being attached to this email. Orders will need to be
turned in by January 13, with delivery the following Sunday. Use
these cards for routine purchases and also to have on hand at home for
"extra" gift occasions that may come up.

Annual Reports Reminder - Council members, Ministry teams, and
financial folks - please remember that your annual reports are due to
Renea tomorrow-- January 4. Please email the reports to Renea, and
copy Pastor Suzanne, in a word document format. This makes it easier
for editing purposes. Questions? Please contact a Council member or
Pastor Suzanne.

Wednesday Study-Our midweek Wednesday Study will start up again next
Wednesday, January 9 at 6:30 p.m. A light supper will be provided to
assist those coming straight from work. We'll be deciding what book
to study together and invite anyone interested in joining us to come
on out when we meet at church from 6:30-8:30 p.m. All are welcome!

Sunday Book Study-The Sunday Book Study will meet January 13 and 27
from 4-6 p.m. Pastor Suzanne will host the group on 1/13 and we'll
determine who will host on 1/27. We are continuing to read the book,
"The Irresistible Revolution" by Shane Clairborne and will soon be
deciding on the next book we'll be studying. Feel free to join us at
any time or get in touch with Pastor Suzanne to be alerted as to when
our next study begins.

Recreation Center Open House-The Romeoville Recreation Center will be
hosting it's annual Open House on Tuesday, January 15 from 5:30-8:00
p.m. We will again have a table there to advertise our various
ministries. We're looking for 3-5 people willing to serve as hosts at
our table, along with people to help set up and take down the table.
Because this is also the date for our Growth Team meeting, we will
need people to serve who are not on this team. If you'd like to help
out, please be in touch with Pastor Suzanne, Council Liaison to the
Evangelism Team.

Growth Team Meeting-Our next meeting is scheduled from Tuesday,
January 15. Please note that we will hold the meeting at the
Romeoville Recreation Center at 7:00 p.m., as the church is hosting a
table at their Annual Open House. People interested in serving on
this team or being a part of it in any way should meet at the church's
table a little before 7p.m. and we will try to find a place to meet.
This "team" is fluid and welcomes all members and attendees interested
in growing our church - financially, numerically, and spiritually.
Questions? Please contact Pastor Suzanne, our Council Liaison to the
team.

Pastor Suzanne to testify in Springfield-Pastor Suzanne has been asked
to testify again in Springfield for the marriage equality bill going
before the Illinois Senate and House. She would like to share her
testimony with church members who might want to hear it. So, she will
be available at 8:30 a.m. this Sunday, prior to our one service at
9:00 a.m., to read it. Feel free to come and listen. Please keep her
in your prayers as she prepares for this important event.

Recap from last Sunday: Last Sunday, our theme was, "New Year...New
Life." Pastor Suzanne encouraged us to think about how we are living
our lives and how we might choose to live them in the coming year.
Using the text from Colossians 3:1-17, she talked about the way in
which we are called to live now that we have new life in Christ. She
talked, too, about how hard it can be sometimes to live in this new
life and, when we feel ourselves slipping back into the "old sinful
ways" we must immerse ourselves in God's Word, prayer, worship, and
surround ourselves with fellow believers who can walk with us, support
us, and mentor us through. We also talked about the lesson from Luke,
chapter 2, when Jesus is presented and dedicated in the temple and how
Simeon was led to the temple on that very day. Pastor talked about
the importance of listening to leadings of the Holy Spirit so we don't
miss out on opportunities God is putting before us - perhaps
life-altering opportunities, as was the case with Simeon and Anna.
So, now that the New Year is officially upon us, how will you life
your "new life" and will you let the Holy Spirit lead you?

Preview of this Sunday: On Sunday we'll go back in time a little to
the appearance of the wise men in front of Jesus. In the season of
the church year, this Sunday is called Epiphany. So, why not talk
about the meaning of the word, epiphany, and think about some of those
moments we've had in our lives, particularly as they relate to our
faith journeys? We'll also think about how our faith journeys are
related to what the apostle Paul calls, "God's secret plan." Is it
really a secret? Come, and find out.

Watch for your first Rod and Staff newsletter of 2013 in church on
Sunday. Always feel free to call the office if you have any questions
or concerns and someone will be sure to get back to you.

Wishing you peace, faith, hope, love and a healthy and prosperous new year!

Renea Horn Johnson
Pastoral Assistant
Good Shepherd Church