SHEEP BUZZ NEWSLETTER

June 27, 2025

 We are called gathered and blessed to be a community and instrument of grace for all sheep of the Good Shepherd.

Council highlights:

• Our projected giving for the year should be enough to pay down the upcoming fiscal year's budget shortfall
• New Co-chairs needed for Fellowship as well as Outreach committees
• New video camera options for the front door are being investigated for better staff safety
• Council will not meet the month of July and will resume their regualar meetings in August.

Accolades:

• Finance Committee (Gail Setzer, Rob Homer, Carrie Escamilla, Pete Dumpis, Ken Eggers and Raelene Swordsma) for the dedicated work to get everything ready for the annual meeting and the next fiscal year's budget
• The Constitutional Task Force (Holly Jones, Jason Champion and Melinda Mundis) for combing through the document so thoroughly and editing as needed
• The 50 VBS volunteers, especially Karin Storla who took on the important task of leading this amazing ministry, Through this church's donations, and the volunteers' decorating, planning, smiling, singing, endless walking and dancing, patience and enthusiasm we welcomed 84 adorable children and were given the opportunity to show them God's love and plant the seeds of faith.

THIS IS WHY WE DO VBS....

"I just wanted to tell you that my grandchildren REALLY enjoyed their time at VBS. Thank you for sharing the Word of God with them. VBS is their ONLY exposure to Jesus so every moment counts. We are grateful for all your hard work. See you next year!!!"

FUNERAL PLANNING

Pastor Karen will again be leading a funeral planning seminar June 29th, after the 10:45 AM service in Fellowship Hall. If you are curious about how to plan for this celebratory transition into eternal life and ease the burden of your loved ones. You only need to attend one of these sessions.

LAST SUNDAY TO DONATE TO Give A Kid A Chance BACKPACK DRIVE (GAKAC)

We are collecting for GAKAC, until June 29th. Each backpack needs to:

· Cost a minimum of $20.

· Be at least 15” and able to fit a 3-ring binder

· Pick out a backpack you would buy your kids

· New backpacks only.

The congregation can also continue to go online and shop at www.giveakidachance.org/donations to shop on Amazon for backpacks and other school items. These items will be sent directly to the GAKAC warehouse. Jenny Truesdale will take the backpacks we collect to Hillside before July 6^th. Collection bins are located in Fellowship Hall. 

SUMMER VACATIONS - Are you a visitor?

Are you traveling this summer and plan to visit another church? Have you always wanted to attend the church down the street? Or on the other side of town? Or a mega church, tiny church, or a different denomination?

If yes, Evangelism needs you!

We want you to attend another church and ask yourself how it felt to be a visitor. Then consider how it feels to be a visitor at Good Shepherd.

We’ve got some questions to help you ponder this. Please pick up a copy from the entryway desk or from this link before you travel, then on Sunday, August 17, join us either between services or after the 10:45 service to share your experiences. We hope to learn how we can make others feel more welcome at Good Shepherd, here in this place we all love.

If you can’t attend our meeting, consider filling out the sheet and giving it to Pastor Karen. We’d love to hear about your experiences!

SUNDAY SERVANT SCHEDULE- JULY

Consider serving in a new capacity. We need 8:30 Acolytes and Crucifers, it is not a role for just youth! Please advise the office of your vacation plans so we can schedule to the best of our abilities.

Direct all updates and changes to the schedule to our Office Coordinator, at Office@gslutheran.org. Please remember to try to find your own replacements. Thank you.

GARDEN OF GRACE

This week's harvest, thank you to all of our gardeners!!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND CARE

Alan and Pastor Karen express their thanks for all of the cards, texts, Facebook "likes", prayers, and hugs as they grieve the loss of Alan's mother. Your support is greatly treasured. A service for Ellie will be held in Greenville, SC, later in the month of July.

ARE YOU INTERESTED?

If you are interested in either First Communion Classes for your child or joining our church as a member? Please contact Pastor Karen. Her e-mail address is pastor@gslutheran.org.

BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS

We are working towards developing a deeper relationship with the 110+ preschoolers in Child's Play Preschool which meets in our Education Building. If you are curious or interested in this ministry, please let Pastor Karen know. We need prayers and hands and hearts!

SUPPORTING A GOOD SHEPHERD MINISTRY CANIDATE

Our Constitution states that the pastor shall "seek out and encourage qualified persons to prepare for the ministry of the Gospel". Supporting candidates in ministry is not simply a "duty" of the pastor and the congregation, but it is truly a joy and a way that Good Shepherd can help the wider church to live into the future.

You may be aware that Elizabeth Fennell, member since 2017, has just completed her first year of seminary at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary. She has requested that we as a congregation formally support her as a candidate for ministry and take seriously our responsibilities in this discernment process (as linked below).

Our Congregation Council is in agreement to support Elizabeth, with our prayers, our active engagement in her discernment, and by inviting her to participate in worship, preach and teach, as the opportunities arise. We look forward to walking with Elizabeth on this holy journey.

Many blessings,

Pastor Karen

From the ELCA Candidacy Manual

Congregations identify and accompany people as they discern their vocations. For people who have discerned a call to rostered ministry, their congregation submits a Congregational Registration form, which identifies and affirms them for rostered ministry.

A congregation maintains a relationship with a candidate...Read More

INDEPENDENCE DAY

The church office will be closed on July 4th in observance of Independence Day.

CAREGIVERS SUPPORT GROUP

Our next Caregivers Support Group in connection with the Alzheimer's Association is scheduled for Saturday, July 12th, at 1 PM in Fellowship Hall. Anyone in the community who is supporting and/or caring for a loved one experiencing dementia or other long-term debilitating issues is invited to attend and become a part of this group.

A CHANGE IS COMING

A change is coming July 1st, and it may be to a place you least expect – Our Bible.

Read More Here.

YARN ANGELS

Our next meeting will be on Monday, July 7th, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the home of Melinda Mundis. Light refreshments will be provided.

Empty Nester's Flavors of the World Dinner

SIGN UP NOW

DATE: Saturday, July 12, 2025 | 4-8 PM

Get all the details here

New Sermon Series: The Tears of Things

Sundays: July 13, 20, 27, and August 3

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church – In person & online

This summer, join us for The Tears of Things, a four-week sermon series shaped by Richard Rohr’s latest work on the prophetic path—from righteous anger, through grief, into courageous, compassionate truth.

Each week, we will reflect on the tension between judgment and mercy, between despair and hope, and the prophetic transformation that happens not in triumph, but in tears. Rohr writes that most prophets begin with outrage at injustice—but they do not stay there. True prophets evolve. They become bearers of love forged through lament.

You don’t need to read the book to join us—but if you’d like to follow along, some copies are now available in the Fellowship Hall thanks to a Thrivent Action Grant, or you may purchase your own. Weekly study guides will be included in the SheepBuzz and in print at church.

Come sit with us in the “blue”—in the grief that doesn’t end the story, but deepens it.

WEEKLY BIBLE STUDIES

Thursday Bible Study:  We are now on break until July 10th.

Theology On Tap: We will meet at Hickory Flat Kitchen in Canton during July, at 6:30 PM. Our next meeting date is July 9th.

Men in Mission

We continue to meet on Sundays, in room 116 at 9:45 AM. Come and check us out. We are a great group of men doing marvelous things together in fellowship and service.

Coffee and Conversation

We continue our study, "Responding to God's Grace" on Sundays at 9:45 AM. We will not meet this Sunday, June 29th.

GREETING CARD MINISTRY

ALL OCCASION handmade greeting cards are available, most for a suggested donation of $2.00 per card. All proceeds support our Good Shepherd Youth Mission Trips. This ministry is being hosted by Molly Maher, Linda Rowell, and Pam Hough. Thank you for your wonderful support of this GSLC ministry.

By popular request, we have a new supply of MAGNETIC BOOKMARKS that have Bible verses on them, still only $1.00 each. Pick one out for yourself or tuck one into a greeting card to send to someone else. It makes a nice, tiny gift for someone special.

CARING FOR CREATION

We continue our many recycling initiatives. We appreciate all the help from congregation members to keep these items out of landfills. 

NEW WAY TO RECYCLE THOSE PLASTIC BAGS

Mostly Mutts Market is accepting plastic bags from various businesses - Target, WalMart, Publix, Kroger, etc. to use at the store. They are also accepting cardboard boxes, flattened or not, as well. Their address is 5505 Bells Ferry Rd. Acworth 30102.  

1. ORAL CARE WASTE
2. HEFTY ORANGE ENERGY BAGS: (First Sunday of month) Please remove labels (see below)
3. BATTERIES: (Size D and smaller) 
4. OLD EYEGLASSES
5. METAL/ALUMINUM (near garage)
6. POPTABS
7. PRESCRIPTION MEDICINE BOTTLES; Please remove labels.

We need to remove labels from these bottles try these methods:

1. Warm the label in the sun
2. Use a hairdryer for heat
3. Put bottle in a glass of very hot water

MORE NEWS AND INFORMATION

Do you love your church? Consider giving Good Shepherd a 5 Star review on Google. It helps other know about who we are and what we do!

CHURCH CALENDAR

ONLINE CALENDAR

Use this as a resource for all Good Shepherd Events. Need to add an event? Contact our Media Coordinator and she will get it on the calendar for you.

This is our submission form for you to submit non-urgent prayer concerns. Prayers will be posted to the Prayer Circle, via e-mail, during normal business hours, usually around 3 PM. As always, if you have an urgent prayer request, please contact Pastor by cell or email. 

If you would like to pray for others, as part of our prayer circle, please contact our Media Coordinator and she can add you to the Prayer Circle group.