SHEEP BUZZ NEWSLETTER

January 2, 2026

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

Epiphany of Our Lord

January 4, 2025

"Lessons From the Magi"

Worship Bulletins: 8:30 AM | 10:45 AM | Announcements

Sunday Readings: click here

Cpoies of Pastor Karen's sermons are available on the Welcome Desk.

You can also watch the 8:30 AM service LIVE this week on our Facebook Page. (You do not need an account to view the service). If you join us online, please sign our attendance book.

If you would like to submit an offering, please donate online.

TWO-CAN SUNDAY IS THIS SUNDAY

This Sunday, January 4th, we support our local food pantry, Timothy's Cupboard. Consider bringing two or more food items for those who are food insecure in our area. Place these items in the designated shopping cart.

We are no longer participating in the Hefty Energy Bag recycling program. Waste Management has canceled this program.

CHRISTMAS WORSHIP GRATITUDE

A huge shout out of thanks to all of the worship servants, musicians, singers, bulletin helpers, floral arrangers, and warm wishers of prayers for successful worship services. Our Christmas services were well attended and filled with love and Christmas spirit. We could not have done it without all of your generous help.

GRATITUDE FOR YOUR GENEROSITY

The staff of Good Shepherd would like to thank the congregation for all the generous Christmas gifts this season. We are honored and blessed to be loved by such a wonderful community. Happy New Year!

Council Officers for 2026:

Council members will be installed on Sunday, January 11th at both services.

President - Janice Swinford

Vice President - Karen Epstein

Secretary - Jason Launders

Treasurer - Rob Homer

Financial Secretary - Beverly Stichtenoth (appointed by Council) to be assisted by Sharron Ryan (appointed by Council)

Council Liaisons for 2026:

Fellowship - Mary Wilson

Personnel - Deborah Ezell

Outreach - Ruth Clark

Worship and Music - Chuck Storla

Youth and Family - Karen Epstein and Eva Schwartz

Facilities and Maintenance - Jason Launders

Finance - Rob Homer

Congregational Care - Craig Stichtenoth

Stewardship - Beverly Stichtenoth

New Youth Coordinator Intern - Julia Bennet-Polley will start in January

Accolades:

• All those who have responded to the Angel Tree and those who will deliver the gifts collected at church.
• Becky Mattocks for organizing the GSLC involvement in the Woodstock parade.
• The musicians who rang bells during the Woodstock parade.
• Debie and Rod Radcliff and the entire Radcliff family for helping to assemble and decorate the truck and trailer for the Christmas Parade.
• Those who continue to bring food for our neighbors, filling the MUST bins and the shopping cart.
• All the carolers who brought cheer to Sunabella Senior Living and some of our shut-ins.
• The Outreach Committee for organizing our homeless veteran gift card tree and the Angel Tree to support students at Carmel Elementary, plus all who donated.
• Tom Hebeisen, who constantly picks up greeting, welcoming, and ushering responsibilities as needed.
• The Thursday Bible Study class that tagged hundreds of stuffed animals to be given to our ministry partners and our preschool children.
• Karen Yerkes and Tammy Frink for organizing all the Empty Nesters events.
• The counters…. Ruth Clark, Jaimie Escamilla, Bettina Miller, Margaret Mixon, Al Reynolds, Sharron Ryan, Ben Setzer, Bev Stichtenoth, Patrick Swinford, Valerie Whiteman… who tirelessly work after worship to count donations and flower, donut, and poinsettia checks. 
• The Stewardship Committee for planning and overseeing a successful stewardship campaign this Fall.

SAFETY

All members with keys - As you enter and exit our building, please do not ever prop the doors open for later access. We want the building and all who enter to always remain safe and secure. Thank you!

MUSIC REHEARSALS

We will return to our normal music rehearsal times beginning this week. Chancel Choir will meet at 7 PM in the Sanctuary on Tuesdays, and Bells will meet at 7 PM in the Sanctuary on Wednesdays.

The Praise Team will meet this Saturday (Jan 3) at 9 AM and then on Thursday evenings at 7 PM for the remainder of the month, on the dates you are scheduled.

WEEKLY BIBLE STUDIES

Word on Wednesday: Watch your emails for an announcement of what and when we will meet in January. Our class runs weekly on Wednesdays at 10 AM. If newly interested in this group, let the church office know, and we will get you connected with the leader, Lori Peters. This Bible study also offers a Teams option. Let us know if you ever need the link.

Lunch and Learn: Wednesdays from 11:30 - 1 PM, bring your lunch and join us. We will begin a new study on January 7, 2026. Great discussions amongst great people, come and check us out.

Theology On Tap: We will be meeting at Game Day on January 7 and January 21st at 6:30 PM. This is a casual discussion on a wide range of topics. Enjoy a meal with us and some good conversation.

Thursday Bible Study:  We will resume our study of the lectionary readings prior to the Sunday service. We meet in Fellowship Hall at 10 am. This class is led by Pastor Karen.

SUNDAY SCHOOL - 9:45 AM-.Youth and Adult Sunday School Classes resume this Sunday, January 4th at 9:45 AM.

Youth Classes

Pre-K/Elementary School Room 111

Middle School and High School - Downstairs Youth Room

Confirmation will resume on January 11th in rm. 115.

Adult Classes

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. We also meet monthly at Marlow’s Tavern in Woodstock, at 7 PM, usually on the first Monday of the month. We will meet this Monday, January 5th. Hope to see you there.

Faith Stories: We are engaged in a study titled “The Essential Jesus” by Whitney Kuniholm. The book has 100 readings, split into different sections (the parables of Jesus, the miracles of Jesus, the hard sayings of Jesus, prophecies about a Savior, to name a few). The group will be taking a section at a time (we may take a break and come back later), on Sundays at 9:45 AM. We meet in room 117.

Coffee and Conversation: Rm. 118. This class is led by Ben Setzer. We will be studying passages from St. Paul's letter to the Romans.

SUNDAY SERVANT SCHEDULE

JANUARY

Consider serving in a new capacity. We need volunteers to serve in all of our Sunday roles!

Direct all updates, vacation plans, and changes to the schedule by the 15th of the previous month to Office@gslutheran.org. 

Please remember to try and find your own replacements. Thank you.

NEW YOUTH COORDINATOR INTERN

The Personnel Committee is excited to announce that we will have a Youth Coordinator Intern starting Jan 11, 2026. Julia-Bennett Polley is a Religious Studies major in her junior year at Georgia State University. She will be with us Sunday mornings for worship and Sunday School, plus Sunday afternoon family activities 1-2x/month. She will be working primarily with the middle and high school students. There will be some flexibility to include mission trips, wider church activities, service projects, and fundraisers. We look forward to welcoming Julia-Bennett. 

THEOLOGY ON TAP

We will be meeting at Game Day in Woodstock on January 7th at 6:30 PM.

CARGIVER SUPPORT GROUP

Our next caregiver support group will meet on Saturday, January 10th at 1 PM and Thursday, January 22 at 1 PM. If you or someone you know would benefit from this group of caring individuals, please invite them to our meetings. We share lots of resources and information for those struggling with caring for loved ones, especially those with Alzheimer's and dementia.

2026 GSLC CALENDAR MEETING

If you are a Committee Chair or Council Liaison, a small group or study leader, we are hosting our semi-annual calendar meeting on January 14th, at 6 PM in Fellowship Hall. If you can not make the meeting, please submit all your calendar dates to Donna at media@gslutheran.org by Jan. 11th, so we can have a productive meeting that includes everyone’s input. Here is our current calendar.

MARTIN LUTHER KING - DAY OF SERVICE - MONDAY, JAN. 19TH 

The Outreach Committee is planning several different service opportunities in our community. We will again be going to Mostly Mutts Market and the Homeless Veterans Thrift Store. There is also an opportunity planned for you to come to the church on Monday, the 19th, at 10 AM to help decorate and stuff gift bags for the first responders at the three fire stations along Bell’s Ferry, that serve our area. 

We are planning on assembling 99 bags for the three different fire stations in total. In those bags, we will include a thank-you note and some goodies. If you cannot come to the church, we are asking people to make homemade cookies to place in these bags. The cookies will need to be brought to the church on Sunday, January 18. 

There is a sign-up sheet at Sign-up Central with times and details. If you have other questions, please contact Cathy Mattocks.

YARN ANGELS

Yarn Angels will meet on Monday, January 19th, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., at the home of Jennifer Taylor. Light refreshments will be provided. This is a group of women who love to create beautiful projects with their hands while sharing the bond of friendship. Interested in learning a new skill? Come and join us.

LADIES NIGHT OUT

Our next Ladies Night Out meeting will be January 20th at 7:00pm at

LongHorn Steakhouse

1420 Towne Lake Parkway

Woodstock, GA 30189

Sign up in Fellowship Hall

YOUTH SUNDAY

Our next Youth Sunday will be held at the 8:30 AM service on January 24th. Youth members, please check out the sign-up sheet online and reserve your spot in the service. Thank you.

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.

Available in limited quantity, 2026 DESK CALENDARS!  Check out our new calendars for $7.00 each. These make a very nice and inexpensive gift for yourself or someone special on your holiday gift list! Get them while the supply lasts.

MORE NEWS AND INFORMATION

MORE FREE MONEY FOR GOOD SHEPHERD

Take advantage of free money from both Kroger and Thrivent (if you're a member).

Here is how to do it!

Do you love your church? Consider giving Good Shepherd a 5 Star review on Google and/or Yelp. 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.