WHAT'S HAPPENING AT GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH

Hello!

This week they've begun tearing down the old Jewel/Ace Hardware store
to make way for the planned Community Center. Check it out when you
come to church on Sunday.

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

1. TODAY-Thur. Jan 17-Church Council reports are due in the office
today for the Council meeting on Saturday. (Thanks to those who have
already submitted their reports—it is appreciated!)

2. TONIGHT-Thur. Jan 17-G2R (Genesis to Revelation) Bible Study meets
at Stoughton's at 7pm

3. Fri. Jan 18-Christian Unity Prayer Worship at 7pm at church (see
information below)

4. Fri. Jan 18-Friday Study meets at Laura Voruz' home at 7pm

5. Sat. Jan 19-Church Council meets at 8:30am

6. Sun. Jan 20-Worship at 8am (new time) or at 10am with Connection
Café between the services. Note that announcements for the 10am
service will begin at 9:50am.

7. Sun. Jan 20-Sunday School for youth age 4 through 5th grade will be
held in the church office beginning at 9:15am.

8. Mon. Jan 21-Monday Study at 7pm at the Suchomel home

9. Mon. Jan 21-3rd Monday Study will meet at 7pm at the Sanchez' home

10. Wed. Jan 23-A light dinner at 6pm followed by Wednesday Study at 6:30pm

11. Thur. Jan 24-Deadline for submitting February Rod and Staff
newsletter information

12. Fri. Jan 25-Friday Study meets at the home of Laura Voruz at 7pm

13. Sat. Jan 26-Shepherd's Pantry will be open from 9:30 to 11:30am at
2 Belmont Dr. (at Rt. 53). Help is always welcomed!

14. Sun. Jan 27-We will have one worship service at 9am that will be
followed by the 2012 Annual Meeting. A light breakfast is planned.
All confirmed members are encouraged to attend as we plan our budget
and activities for 2013.

15. Sun. Jan 27-Sunday Book Study meets from 4 to 6pm at the home of
Pastor Suzanne

A Winter 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. We have quite a few vendors who have signed up
for this event. Be sure to mark your calendars and plan to attend the
Fair which will include drawings, prizes and specials. Free admission
too!

Manna cards have arrived and will be delivered this Sunday, January
20. Thanks to those who ordered cards. It's a nice way to support
our church and you get something you can use as you wish to without
any extra fees.

Sunday Book Study-The Sunday Book Study will meet again on January 27
from 4-6 p.m. Pastor Suzanne will be hosting the group as they
continue to read "The Irresistible Revolution" by Shane Clairborne and
soon will 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 to when our next study begins.

Worship for Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
Pastor Suzanne is hosting a brief prayer service for the start of Week
of Prayer for Christian Unity. The service will be tomorrow, January
18 at 7:00 p.m. at the church. If you have a friend or family member
who attends church elsewhere, invite them and come worship together
that night. Help spread the word. All are welcome!

Music for Malaria Planning Meeting
We will once again be doing our Music for Malaria event. Our first
planning meeting will be on Saturday, February 2 at noon at the
church. If you are interested in helping with this event, please plan
on joining us. As we saw last year, all kinds of help is needed -
performers, speakers, pray-ers, listeners, sellers, greeters,
carry-ers, etc. More information will be shared on the date and venue
at the meeting. Questions? Please see Pastor Suzanne.

Lenten Supper, Study, and Worship are planned for the Wednesdays of
Lent and will begin at 6pm with a light supper, followed by a book
study at 6:30p.m. and then worship at 8:00p.m. The book we will be
studying/ discussing is, "Mosaic: When God Uses All the Pieces." If
you would like to join us for the book study, please sign up by next
Sunday, 1/27, so we order enough books. Unfortunately, this book does
not yet come in an eBook form, but the cost of the book is pretty
low--$6/per book.

Souper Bowl - Don't forget...now is the time to eat some soup for a
good cause. This year, for the Souper Bowl collection for those in
need, we're asking you to bring your soup cans to church. But,
instead of keeping the soup in the can, please eat it, then clean out
the can, put your monetary donation inside, and bring it to church on
Sunday, February 3. Yes, you most certainly can bring more than 1
filled can! In fact, the more the better! Please help us spread the
word on this event by inviting your friends and neighbors to eat and
donate too. Questions? Please talk to Pastor Suzanne.

Growth Team - The Team had another meeting on 1/15 and came up with
several ideas for 2013. These will be presented under the Pastor's
Report at the Annual Meeting on 1/27. The date for the next meeting
has not been set so, if you are interested in being a part of the
team, come join us. The team is for anyone interested in helping to
grow the church - financially, numerically, and spiritually. All are
welcome!

Pastor Gone...Pastor Suzanne will be traveling to New York for a
spiritual retreat and "scouting" trip. She'll be meeting with the new
Disaster Relief Coordinator for the Metro New York Synod of the ELCA,
in hopes of making connections for a possible summer mission trip to
assist Hurricane Sandy victims. She will also be returning to Breezy
Point, Queens, and taking videos and pictures to be used soon for a
fundraiser for the community. Pastor will be driving by herself
to/from New York, so please offer up prayers for her safe travel. If
you are in need of Pastor in her absence, please call Pastor Suzanne's
cell phone and she will make arrangements to get someone to you.

Recap from last Sunday: Last week, our theme was, "You are mine."
Using the story of Jesus' baptism, song with words from Isaiah, Pastor
talked about how God claims us as His own. Her challenge to us was to
daily remind ourselves that we are God's children and that He has
claimed us as His own and marked us with the cross of Christ. He is
well pleased with us and we should remind ourselves of this often. We
had a great, lively discussion about this, especially at the 10am
service.

Preview of this Sunday: Our theme this Sunday is, "Miracles." We'll
read about Jesus' first miracle and think about the various miracles
we see in our lives on a daily basis. We'll also hear from the
Apostle Paul, and listen as he teaches us about our spiritual gifts.
Join us for another lively message time.

If you didn't get your Annual Meeting folder last Sunday, be sure to
get it this Sunday, or you can stop in the office to get your copy.
Call before coming though to make sure I am here.

Wishing you peace, faith, hope, love, health and warmth.

Renea Horn Johnson
Pastoral Assistant
Good Shepherd Church