A MESSAGE FROM GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH

Dear Members of Good Shepherd Church,

I'm hoping that you had a most joyous holiday and that you were with family and friends to celebrate the birth of Jesus. 

I would like to remind you that our Annual Congregational Meeting is this Sunday, the 28th after our 9am worship service.  We are asking you to bring 'snacks' to share.

As you have hopefully looked through our packets, we have many decisions to make.  This will not be a short meeting, but it is very important that all of us attend to make decisions about our church.  We have included the budget as submitted by the Budget Committee and Council decided not to present a 'suggested' balanced budget, but rather have the congregation work on this as a whole so we all have some input and say in what happens in our future.

We have so many gifts, we have such a great spirit in church as well as the Reignite meetings and we hope to do so much for our Community.  Please join us Sunday as part of the Good Shepherd family.  Your thoughts, ideas and suggestions are truly wanted and needed.  This is your church, not Council's and not Pastor's.  We all need to be there.  Please pray about what you want the Church to be in the coming years, and share that with all of us on Sunday.

I look forward to very positive, decisive and hopeful discussions as we move forward with Good Shepherd Church of Romeoville.

Love and Peace to you, my church family,

Carrie Worthington

Council President

"I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver."  Maya Angelou

WHAT'S HAPPENING AT GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH

Good Afternoon,

 

We're just a week away from celebrating the wondrous birth of Jesus!  What an exciting, anticipation filled time of year.  We are offering two worship opportunities on Christmas Eve.  The first will be at noon, for those who prefer to worship in the daylight.  Our second worship will be a candlelight service beginning at 11:00pm and will include Communion.  Come join us.

 

Here's What's Happening around Good Shepherd Church . . .

 

Sun. Dec 21-Connection Café begins at 8:30am with Worship starting at 9:00am with new members received and membership renewal

 

Sun. Dec 21-The second December Manna card orders will be delivered today!

 

Sun. Dec 21-The Church Council will be meeting beginning at 4pm

 

Wed. Dec 24-Christmas Eve Worship at 12:00 noon

 

Wed. Dec 24-Candlelight Worship Service with Christmas Communion at 11:00pm

 

Thur. Dec 25 – M E R R Y   C H R I S T M A S !     Happy Birthday, Jesus

 

Sun. Dec 28-Connection Café at 8:30am with Worship at 9:00am

 

Sun. Dec 28-Following Worship we'll have our 2014 Annual Congregational Meeting

 

New Members and Renewal of Membership on Sunday

A message from Pastor Suzanne and Council President, Carrie Worthington:  In our continuing efforts to get our "ducks in a row" and records in order, we will be offering a special time of receiving new members and renewing "old" memberships this Sunday, December 21 during our Sunday morning worship.  This is your chance to officially join our church or, if you've been a member for a while, renew your membership and commitment to our church.  As part of our church's constitution, all those desiring to be members are supposed to be "approved" by the Church Council.  So, everyone who participates Sunday morning will have their names recorded in the minutes of the Council's meeting on Sunday evening as official members of the church.  If you are already a member and are not able to participate on Sunday, DON'T PANIC.  You'll still be a member and we give thanks for your walking with us.  As we look to 2015, we're excited about the new faces and the not-so-new-faces that we see every Sunday and are hopeful that committing and recommitting ourselves to Good Shepherd will help all of us refocus, renew, and re-energize as we continue to serve God and others with the love of Jesus.  Questions?  Please contact Pastor Suzanne or Carrie.

 

Our 2014 Annual Congregational Meeting date of December 28^th is fast approaching, and folders for the meeting will be passed out to everyone on Sunday (one per family please).  Be sure to look over all of the information you'll be provided so that we can make knowledgeable decisions about the future of our church.  Feel free to contact any Council member with your questions, concerns or if you need clarification.  It is important that all communing members attend the meeting on December 28^th and bring their folder with them.

 

Manna order part 2 just arrived and your cards will be available in church on Sunday.  Thanks to the $6,021.00 total of December orders, we realized a profit for Good Shepherd of $358.67!  Your continued support of the Manna program is certainly appreciated.

 

Christmas Eve Worship

Pastor Suzanne will be offering two services on Wednesday, December 24 to celebrate the birth of Jesus.  She'll be holding a service at noon for those celebrating with family in the evening or those who prefer not to be out at night.  And, she'll be having our traditional candlelight service at 11pm, which will also include the first Communion of Christmas and a special time of transitioning to Christmas "morning."  We hope you'll be able to join us for one of these special services.

 

Storage Item needed

Pastor Suzanne is organizing our various worship banners and is in need of some kind of box or container at least 4' tall or wide in which to store them.  If you have a sturdy box that you aren't using or know someone who does and would be willing to donate it to the church, please get in touch with Pastor Suzanne.   Thanks!

 

Cleaning help needed

One of the responsibilities of our Reignite Space Team is to keep the church clean, scheduling people to clean, etc.  We're looking for a few people to help clean the church before we welcome guests for our special Christmas Eve services.  If you have time between this Sunday and Christmas Eve to clean - the bathrooms, floors, counters, dusting, etc., please contact Dave Darguzis, Pat Hurdle, Lynne Hurdle, or Allen Kirkland.  They will make arrangements with one of our Council members to let you in the facility.  Thanks, in advance, for your help.

 

Prayers

Some of our family members will remember the Deegan family, long-time members of our church who moved away several years ago.   We received word that Dianne passed away this past weekend.   Please pray for her husband, John and their three sons and their families.   John and Dianne served our church faithfully for many years in a variety of capacities and we pray God's comfort can be with Dianne's family in this difficult time.

 

I'm wishing peace, hope, love, faith, grace, health, warmth and a Merry Christmas to you all.

--

Renea Horn Johnson
Pastoral Assistant
Good Shepherd Church

WHAT'S HAPPENING AT GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH

Hello!

 

WOW!  We had such a fantastic Manna order this week and, by popular request, we will be placing an additional Manna order.  This second order needs to be turned in by Sunday, December 14^th and will be delivered on Sunday, December 21^st—just in time for Christmas giving.  Forms are available in the office or at church on Sunday.

 

Here's What's Happening around Good Shepherd Church . . .

 

TOMORROW-Fri. Dec 12-Buona Beef fundraiser at Buona Beef on Weber Road in Bolingbrook from 3pm until closing time.  Be sure to use a flyer when you order.

 

Fri. Dec 12-All reports for the Annual Meeting are to be turned in to the office TODAY for inclusion in the 2014 Congregational Meeting folders.

 

Sun. Dec 14-Connection Café opens at 8:30am with Worship beginning at 9:00am

 

Sun. Dec 14-Manna card orders will be available in church today and you can turn in another order for delivery next Sunday!

 

Sun. Dec 14-Holiday decorating and ornament painting following worship today.  All are welcome and encouraged to join the fun!  Bring a bag lunch, or we may order pizza.

 

(NOTE:  The 3^rd Monday Study will not be meeting this month)

 

Wed. Dec 17-Advent Bible Study begins at 7pm

 

Sun. Dec 21-Connection Café begins at 8:30am with Worship starting at 9:00am

(IMPORTANT NOTE:  Today is the day to get your 2014 Annual Congregational Meeting folder in church from your Church Council representatives.)

 

Sun. Dec 21-The second December Manna card orders will be delivered today!

 

Holiday decorating/ornament painting!  Just a reminder that we will be decorating the church space and painting ornaments on Sunday after the service.  Please feel free to bring a bag lunch or we may just order pizza.  All ages are welcome and everyone is encouraged to join us.

 

Advent Midweek Worship continues.

At the request of several members, we have had and will have Advent midweek worship.  Our next one will be Wednesday, December 17 at 7p at church.  Join us for this quiet time in the midst of a busy season to reflect on the meaning of Christmas.

 

Christmas Eve Worship survey—What are your thoughts?

Pastor Suzanne and the Inreach team are planning Christmas Eve service times.  As of now, we have one service at 11pm planned, which will include the first Communion of Christmas.  The team, however, is considering doing a morning or noon service, as well.  If you are interested in attending a service at that time, please contact me, Renea, in the church office (815-886-4354) or Pastor Suzanne or Roy Jamason.  Thanks!

 

Manna December order one will be delivered this Sunday, and December order two is due!  Check over the December order form that includes a special card under miscellaneous valued at $50 that is good at 17 different popular places.  See the special attachment which also includes information on ordering gift card boxes.  When giving Manna cards, you don't have to worry about the color, size or style of the gift—the recipient chooses just what they want, making it a win-win for everyone.  Having extra cards for forgotten gifts or giving one as a hostess gift is also an option.  Cards can be kept on hand for any time or occasion, and are a safe way to spend without carrying cash or worrying about a credit card being hacked by a security breach.  There are several vendor cards that will suit everyone's needs.  Best of all, you only pay the face value of the card and never have any extra fees added.  Check out the form and consider placing an order (or another order) on Sunday.  Thanks!

 

I'm wishing peace, hope, love, faith, grace, health and warmth to you all.  Have a good week.  Saturday is 12-13-14.  Have anything special planned?

-- 

Renea Horn Johnson
Pastoral Assistant
Good Shepherd Church

WHAT'S HAPPENING AT GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH

Hello and Happy December!

 

Where has the year 2014 gone to??  We've entered the wondrous Advent season and begun looking forward to the celebration of Jesus birth.  Good Shepherd will be holding this year's Annual Congregational Meeting on December 28, 2014, a month earlier than we usually do.  Mark your calendars now and watch for your folder of information that will be distributed in church the week before.

 

Here's What's Happening around Good Shepherd Church . . .

 

TONIGHT-Thu. Dec 4-Reignite Teams will meet at church beginning at 7pm

 

Sun. Dec 7-Connection Café will begin at 8:30am with Worship at 9:00am

 

Sun. Dec 7-All Manna orders and money should be turned in today!

 

Wed. Dec 10-Advent Bible Study will begin at 7pm

 

Fri. Dec 12-All reports for the Annual Meeting are to be turned in to the office TODAY for inclusion in the 2014 Congregational Meeting folders.

 

Sun. Dec 14-Connection Café opens at 8:30am with Worship beginning at 9:00am

 

Sun. Dec 14-Manna card orders will be available in church today

 

(NOTE:  The 3^rd Monday Study will not be meeting tonight)

 

Wed. Dec 17-Advent Bible Study begins at 7pm

 

Sun. Dec 21-Connection Café begins at 8:30am with Worship starting at 9:00am

(IMPORTANT NOTE:  Today is the day to get your 2014 Annual Congregational Meeting folder in church from your Church Council representatives.)

 

Manna December orders and payment are due this Sunday.  Check over the December order form that includes a special card under miscellaneous valued at $50 that is good at 17 different popular places.  See the special attachment which also includes information on ordering gift card boxes.  By giving Manna cards you don't have to worry about the color, size or style of the gift—the recipient chooses just what they want, making it a win-win for everyone.  Having extra cards for forgotten gifts or giving one as a hostess gift is also an option.  Cards can be kept on hand for any time or occasion, and are a safe way to spend without carrying cash or worrying about your credit card being hacked by a security breach.  There are several vendor cards that will suit everyone's needs.  Best of all, you only pay the face value of the card and never have any extra fees added.  Check out the form and consider placing an order on Sunday.  Thanks!

 

Have you signed up for I-give or Amazon Smile yet?  If anyone needs assistance in signing up for I-give or Amazon Smile or information about getting gift cards for Christmas (or any time) from our Manna program, please see Carrie after church.  Once these programs are set up they are very easy to use. 

 

I want you to know that, due to personal family and health issues, I may not always be in the office at my scheduled time and it is best to call before dropping in.  Thanks for your patience and understanding.  As always, I'm wishing peace, hope, love, faith, grace, health and warmth to you all. 

 -- 

Renea Horn Johnson
Pastoral Assistant
Good Shepherd Church