WHAT'S HAPPENING AT GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH

Good Afternoon!

 Here it is February already, and Wednesday is Ash Wednesday.  Wow, time is really slipping past us, isn't it?  We have a lot of activities listed on our calendar and hope that you will attend and let your voice be heard.

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

     1.       TONIGHT-Thur. Feb 7-G2R (Genesis to Revelation) Bible Study meets at 7pm at the Stoughton's

 

2.       Fri. Feb 8-Preschool Annual Sweetheart Dance will be from 6:30-8pm at the Preschool

 

3.       Fri. Feb 8-Friday Bible Study will meet at 7pm at the home of Laura Voruz

 

4.       Sat. Feb 9-Shepherd's Food Pantry is open from 9:30-11:30am at 2 Belmont Dr. (at Rt. 53)

 

5.       Sat. Feb 9-Vendor Fair at church from 10am to 4pm.  Free admission, drawings and prizes.

 

6.       Sun. Feb 10-Worship at 8 and/or 10am with Connection Café between services.  (Announcements begin at 9:50am for those attending the 10am worship service.)

 

7.       Mon. Feb 11-Monday Study at 7pm at the Suchomel home

 

8.       Tues, Feb 12-Ministry Night at 7pm at the church.  All are encouraged to join us.

 

9.       Wed. Feb 13-Ash Wednesday Worship Services will be held at 7:30am and 7:30pm.  (No Wednesday Study tonight)

 

10.   Thur. Feb 14-FLY (Finally Loving Yourself) Lady meets at 7pm at the home of Lydia Faber

 

11.   Fri. Feb 15-Good Shepherd Church & Preschool will be represented at the Provider's Fair at the Rec Center from 9am to 2pm. 

 

12.   Fri. Feb 15-Crafter's Night will be at church beginning at 6pm.  Bring your project(s) and join them!

 

13.   Fri. Feb 15-Friday Study meets at 7pm at the home of Laura Voruz

 

14.   Sat. Feb 16-Praise Team Rehearsal beginning at 1:30pm

 

15.   Sun. Feb 17-Worship at 8 and/or 10am with Connection Café between services.  (Announcements begin at 9:50am for those attending the 10am worship service.)

 

16.   Sun. Feb 17-Sunday School will be held in the office at 9:15am for ages 4 through 5^th grade

 

17.   Sun. Feb 17-Sunday Book Study will meet from 4 to 6pm at the Texley's home

 

Our Winter Vendor Fair is this Saturday!  Attached is the latest flyer for this event which includes a list of vendors.  Hopefully you'll all attend the Fair and bring your friends as well!  It will include drawings, prizes and specials.  Free admission too!

 

The annual Preschool Butter Braid fundraiser kicks off on Sunday.  Buy a Butter Braid Pastry for $12 to serve Easter morning, or bring to the Connection Café!  Check the order forms on the Information Table to discover all of the available delicious flavors.  Delivery will be March 18 from 1-3pm.  For other arrangements, please talk to Pat Hurdle.  Thank you for your support.

 

Lenten Supper, Study, and Worship are planned for the Wednesdays of Lent, and will begin February 20^th at 6pm with a light supper, followed by a book study at 6:30pm and worship at 8:00pm.  The book we're studying/ discussing is, "Mosaic: When God Uses All the Pieces."  If you would like to join the book study and didn't sign up, please let Pastor Suzanne know ASAP.  The cost of the book is pretty low--$6/per book.

Souper Bowl – Thanks to those of you who participated.  This Sunday we plan to display all the cans received in a special way. 

 

Summer Music and Arts Event - We had a great first meeting last week for our summer music and arts event.  The date of the event is Saturday, June 29.  The location will be determined soon.  Money raised at this event will benefit the victims of Hurricane Sandy, particularly in the New York area, where Pastor Suzanne visited last month.  We plan to have an arts fair, specifically inviting young artists in our community to share their talents.  We also plan on having several bands playing throughout the afternoon.  And, we are hoping to bring a "big" or more-recognizable name for the evening portion of the event, and a presentation from victims of the storm.  If you know of any local bands that might be interested in performing, for little to no cost, please contact Pastor Suzanne or Steve Hurdle ASAP.  Our next planning meetings for this event will be on Saturday, March 2 and April 6 at noon.  If you have non-church friends who might be interested in volunteering at this event, please invite them to attend the meeting too.  We'll need lots of help and welcome all!  We're working on a name for the event so send your ideas to Pastor Suzanne or, better yet, bring them to our next meeting.

Growth Team - Those who have been attending the Growth Team meetings are invited to join Pastor Suzanne for a presentation from a local radio station on advertising on their station.  The meeting will be on Thursday, February 21 at 6:30pm.  Haven't attended any meetings yet but are interested in participating?  Feel free to join us.  We will be meeting at church.  

"How to" Event Planning Meeting - Our first planning meeting for our summer "How To" event will be on Tuesday, February 19 at 6:30pm.  This summer event will take place on Saturday, July 13.  We'll be offering a wide variety of "how to" workshops/tables to assist people in our community.  We also hope to offer a food truck from the Northern Illinois Food Bank.  If you'd like to help with this event, please join us at the meeting.  Thanks!

2013 Congregation Budget Challenge - As Lydia reminded us last Sunday at the 10a service, we voted at our Annual Congregational Meeting to pass a 2013 budget that includes a $42,545 "congregation challenge."  If each family in the church gives approximately $65 more per month than their pledged amount or any other offerings given, we can meet this challenge.  Lydia gave her testimony of how she is now cleaning a friend's house to meet her part of the challenge, the Council would love to hear other ideas of ways people are helping us meet this challenge.  Please email your ideas to Pastor Suzanne and/or feel free to share them in worship.  Together, we can meet and perhaps exceed the amount needed for our challenge!  God is good...all the time!

News from other ELCA congregations - We are invited to attend a special anniversary worship service at Shepherd of the Hill in Lockport next Sunday at 4:00pm.  The worship service will be a "blues" service and will be a celebration of the first anniversary of the Lockport Resource Center, a great community organization providing assistance to those in need through the funds of a thrift store.  Shepherd of the Hill is located on Route 7 (Renwick Road), about 3 miles east of downtown Lockport.  For more information, check out this link on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/events/115673745273957/?fref=ts.

 

 

Recap of last Sunday:  Last week, our theme was, "Speaking of Love."  Using texts from both Jeremiah and 1 Corinthians, we had an extended discussion on the "love chapter," 1 Corinthians 13.  We talked about what love is and what love is not.  We talked about how important it is, in any relationship, to work toward what love is - patient, kind, lasting, etc.  And, when we have times in our relationships when we are in what love is not - jealous, boastful, rude, etc. - we need to ask for God's help in moving back to patience, kindness, etc.  Pastor Suzanne also reminded us that, whether we know it or not and whether it is intentional or not, every day we speak of love - in our words and our actions.  Her challenge to us for this week was to be aware of how we speak of love - in our words and our actions.  How is your challenge going?

Preview of this Sunday:  This week, our theme will be, "Shine On."  We will hear the story of Jesus' transfiguration and we'll think about how we, as His followers, are called to shine His love, grace, and mercy into the world; how we are to be "mirrors brightly reflecting the glory of the Lord."  We hope you'll join us for another lively discussion.  Invite a friend to join you too.

We are moving ahead with putting together a church directory.  Please let us know what information you want shown (home addresses, home and/or cell phone numbers, email addresses, birth dates and anniversary dates) and get us a picture to be included--or we can take one at church.  Thanks in advance for your help!

 

I'm going to be in the office earlier tomorrow (from 9am to noon) in order to head to Indiana afterward.  So, please call or email me early if I can help with anything.  As always, I'm wishing you peace, faith, hope, love, joy, and health always. 

 

Renea Horn Johnson

Pastoral Assistant

Good Shepherd Church