SHEEP BUZZ NEWSLETTER

November 1, 2024

ALTAR GUILD will be holding a training class on Sunday, November 3rd at 9:45 AM. This class is for those interested in learning more about Altar Guild and potentially joining this important group and for current members as we will be discussing what is coming up as we approach the Advent/Christmas season. We will meet in the Meeting Room.

STEWARDSHIP PACKETS

We will be hearing from our last member at our 8:30 AM service as she shares her personal story of Abundance.

We would like all the intent forms back to us by November 10th, which will be our Consecration Sunday. Additional forms are on our website.

A big thank you to those who have already returned their offering forms.

O Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a house for your holy name comes from your hand and is all your own.

1 Chronicles 29:16

Bring in your two cans of food this Sunday and place in the Shopping Cart for support of our local food pantry, Timothy's Cupboard. Thank you!

This is the Sunday (Nov.3) we collect your hard to recycle items. No need to use the orange bags at home, just place those #4 - #7 items in a regular kitchen garbage bag and we will take it to the recycler that accepts these items for you. Please check out the hefty website for the specifics on what can go inside these bags.

MUST MINISTRIES

THANKSGIVING BOUNTY

GSLC is now accepting monetary donations to help provide turkeys and hams that MUST can purchase from local retailers at a negotiated discounted price. 

Please place your donations in the offering plate or in the gold wall slot outside the bookkeeper's office. Please designate MUST Thanksgiving on the envelope or memo line. Our collection will end on November 3. 

POINSETTIA FORMS

It is that time of year when we begin to think about Christmas and all the decertations. Again, we will be ordering poinsettia plants to help beautify the Sanctuary on Christmas Eve. There is a form in this week's bulletin and you can find one on our website too. Save the date, November 30th, if you would like to help add additional decorations to the Sanctuary to begin the Advent Season.

THANK YOU

Thank you Good Shepherd! I have been truly celebrated and appreciated these last few weeks with cards and fruit, cakes and special treats, and lots of tea - all of my favorites. I especially appreciate all of your kind words and wishes. I am blessed to serve among you in this wonderful congregation. Thank you!

Pastor Karen

In case you missed the Pastor Appreciation video, you can click on the picture to view it.

GSLC CALL COMMITTEE NEWS

Ask a committee member to share one of the orange prayer cards with you, updated for October. It is our hope that you will take these home and keep GSLC in your prayers as this process continues.

If you have any questions, please ask us! We invite you into a conversation with as much information as we can give, understanding that some information must remain confidential. Look for our blue name tags or email us at callcommittee@gslutheran.org.

ELECTION DAY

There will be no admittance into Fellowship Hall after 2 PM on Monday, November 4th to set up for voting.

The church office will be closed on Election Day, November 5th. There will be Chancel Choir rehearsal in the evening, however please be aware that there will be no admittance into Fellowship Hall as they will be finalizing paperwork at that time.

On Wednesday, Fellowship Hall will remain closed until the poll workers pick up the machines. Word on Wednesday Bible study will take place in the Sanctuary at 10 AM.

Thank you for your understanding.

THE SEMI-ANNUAL MEETING of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church will be held on Nov. 10^th. There will be one worship service at 10 AM and the meeting will follow that service. Following the meeting, we will celebrate the year in Thanksgiving at our annual Thanksgiving Luncheon. Please sign up in Fellowship Hall. A special Sheep Buzz announcement which will included the Annual Report of the Congregation and the names of the Council Nominees was sent this past Thursday. You can view that information here.

Our next SECOND SUNDAY FAMILY AFTERNOON will be on November 10th, at "The Fringe" mini-golf, located at the Aurora Cineplex in Roswell. 5100 Commerce Parkway, Roswell 30075. All families, young and not-so young are welcome!  The Fringe at Area 51 lays just outside the entryway to Aurora Cineplex. Home to two 18-hole, family-friendly miniature golf courses, The Fringe is a enjoyable place to "putt up" your best shot. GSLC will cover the cost of one round of 18-holes of mini-golf, so join us after the annual Congregational meeting and Thanksgiving meal.

ANGEL TREE

Watch for our Christmas Angel Tree coming next Sunday. We will be supporting 35 kids from Carmel Elementary School. Details coming soon.

LADIES NIGHT OUT will be on

Tuesday, November 19, at 7:00 PM at

Chili’s Restaurant

1460 Towne Lake Parkway

Woodstock, GA 30189

Please sign up in Fellowship Hall

GSLC HURRICANE HELENE RELIEF

We can not thank GSLC enough for stepping up, collecting, donating, organizing and volunteering with the relief efforts in Augusta, GA. Together we raised over $3,000 and brought 10 sets of working hands and multiple cars filled with supplies to assist with tasks that needed to be done. God's love can not be measured here, it is endless.

From the field:

Susan and I have good friends who live in Augusta so speaking with them, had a general sense of the damage and long waits for full utilities. They were fine.

That said, the amount of damage from fallen trees was immense. Having experienced hurricanes in south Florida, this damage was unique. Palm trees almost never suffer damage and fall onto homes or vehicles. Not so for our state. The Augusta area with the dense hardwood and pine trees were no match for Helene.

As we traveled to Inspiritus assigned homes, I was taken back at the immense destruction. Homeowners were so appreciative of our presence, concern and removal of trees. Many homeowners joined us in the cleanup work.

Truly God's work, our hands. A small amount of sunshine in an otherwise stressful and bewildering day.

These homeowners will face this tragedy daily for many months ahead.

Our prayers remain for all that have suffered from one or both hurricanes.

I am honored to be a part of this wonderful group of Good Shepherd members who joined in this gift of love. Max 

See more photos here.

WORSHIP ATTENDER SURVEY

Our congregation has been given the unique opportunity to participate in a national study of worship attenders. The study is being conducted by Faith Communities Today (FACT), a research partner of the ELCA. Since 2000, FACT has conducted research that provides religious leaders of all traditions with critical information about the changing nature of congregational life and how to respond effectively.

For participating in this survey, our congregation will receive a $200 Amazon gift card and, if at least 10 people respond, a report of our responses.

Anyone 18 or older who is a regular participant can complete the survey. It should take between 12 to 15 minutes. Our Good Shepherd goal is to have a minimum of 50% of our regular worship attenders complete the survey. To take the survey, please click the link below.

TAKE THE SURVEY HERE

Please complete the survey by Friday, Nov. 22.

If you are interested in learning more about this study, please visit: https://www.covidreligionresearch.org/attender-survey/

Thank you for your participation.

THANK YOU

to all that participated in this year's Trunk for Treat. We had 20 cars and greeted over 120 families and handed out candy and trinkets to close to 300 kids. It was a fun evening and great fellowship with our community. Lots of Good Shepherd love going on here!

SUNDAY SCHOOL | 9:45 AM

All youth classes will meet downstairs. K-5 in B3, 6-8 in B8 and High School will meet in B1.

Faith Stories: Rm 117: Book study on “Life Together” by Dietrich Bonhoeffer.  

Coffee and Conversation: Rm 118: "Hope in the Lord" series. The series draws from numerous parts of the Bible, both Old and New Testaments. The author writes that "Through our study of God's word, Christ's Spirit strengthens us to people who hope in the Lord.

Men in Mission: Rm 116: Various topics and discussions just for men. 

WHAT'S NEW

Thursday Bible Study (10 AM in Fellowship Hall) we will be continuing with the book of Jeremiah. Bring your Bibles.

WEEKLY BIBLE STUDIES

We are blessed to have great lay leadership to host weekly Bible studies on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Roughly 40+ people attend these studies each week. Check out the Bible Study page on our website to see where you might want to join us.

HANDMADE CARD MINISTRY AT GSLC

ALL OCCASION cards are available, most for a suggested donation of $2.00 per card. All proceeds will 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.

LOOK FOR WAX SEALS!

Look for new cards that have beautiful wax seals on the fronts. Once again, the cards provided are mostly one of a kind and a wonderful gift for anyone who receives one. Also, there are a few hand painted cards left that were donated to GSLC from a local artist. Surely someone you know would love to get one in the mail!

CARING FOR CREATION

We continue our recycling initiatives. We appreciate all help from congregation members to keep these items out of landfills. Looking for more info? Visit our website page.

1. ORAL CARE WASTE

2. HEFTY ENERGY BAGS: (first Sunday of the month)

3. BATTERIES: (Size D and smaller) 

4. OLD EYEGLASSES

5. POPTABS

6. CLEAN-NO LABEL-PRESCRIPTION MEDICINE BOTTLES

7. DRAKE HOUSE: SEASONAL, PROFESSIONAL, WOMENS CLOTHING,

8.METAL RECYCLING: Drop off your scrap metals in the white 55-gallon drum located at the north side of the garage and we will take it to the Metal Recycler in Woodstock.

Chase would love to SEE MORE YOUTH in both the Chancel Choir and Bell group. Please contact him if you have questions or interest.

These rehearsals will continue weekly or as noted by Pam or Chase.

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

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.