SHEEP BUZZ NEWSLETTER

June 6, 2025

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

HERE WE GO-"ON A JOURNEY WITH GOD!"

 It’s happening June 9 –13th, 9 AM—12 PM with over 90 young members of our community! Let's Go!!

A BIG thanks to ALL who are helping!

• Final training is Saturday, at 10 AM. If you have already attended a training, you do not have to attend this one.
• This Sunday, bring in any donated supplies.
• If you can help after the congregational meeting this Sunday around noon, we will transform the space to simulate a Road Trip!
• Rest up.

SOCIAL JUSTICE GROUP

The Social Justice Group will be meeting this Saturday, June 7^th, at 1:00, following VBS training. We will also have a shorter, recap meeting on Sunday, June 29th, at 9:45 between services for those that have been unable to attend or would like to drop in to find out more about the group. We will soon be starting the book study on The Making of Biblical Womanhood by Beth Allison Barr. Contact Holly Jones or Gina Crittenden for more information.

Today, we will honor our 2025 Confirmand, G. Swordsma during our Combined Worship Service at 10AM. Join us after the Semi-annual meeting for a cake reception.

This Sunday, June 8th, is our Semi-Annual Meeting, which will follow our worship service. A special Sheep Buzz Announcement was sent to all voting members detailing the business items for the Semi-Annual Congregational Meeting. The agenda for the meeting is as follows:

I. Call to order

II. Reading of the Mission Statement

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

III. Opening prayer

IV. Approval of Agenda

V. Approval of 11/10/24 and 1/19/25 Congregational Meeting Minutes

VI. Budget Presentation and Vote

VII. Constitution Review and Vote

a. Amendment - Discussion & Vote

b. Updated Constitution — Further Discussion & Vote

VIII. Presentation of Nominating Committee candidates and Vote

IX. Thank you!

 X. Closing prayer

Sound System and Streaming Upgrades 

Things are afoot for the Good Shepherd sound and streaming systems: 

Completed

• House Sound System (located on the pulpit side of the back wall) has been integrated into the Praise Team sound board. House sound is no longer using 30-year-old speakers, but the newer sanctuary EV arrays. 
• The sound board has been digitized and moved into the lobby area next to the streaming system. 

To be completed 

• New speakers for the lobby and nursery to be installed for ushers and nursery attendants to hear the service outside of the sanctuary. 2-3 weeks 
• A single production desk to house the sound board and streaming equipment. 4-6 weeks 
• Digitize the wiring under the Praise Platform. 6-8 weeks 
• Trench and bury the digital cable along the exterior wall. TBD, align with the gutter project being done by the property committee. 
• Install new speakers in the upper alcoves with the organ speakers. 6-8 weeks. 
• Install new PTZ cameras and microphones for the streaming system. 6-8 weeks** 

Thank you to Bill Alderfer, Drew Dickerson, Steve Frink, Scott Panhorst and Ben Setzer for their ongoing help with this project. Contact Pam Weinelt with any additional questions you may have on the sound system or Donna Garges regarding the streaming upgrades. 

Funding is being provided by designated funds that have been accumulating for a few years. 

**An additional $5,000 grant from the Southeastern Synod was recently approved to cover most of the $6,000+ cost for the Streaming upgrades.  

SYNOD ASSEMBLY RECAP

Pastor Karen, Deb Ezell, Barb Kidder, Lily Champion and our entire Southeastern Synod traveled to Columbus, GA, for this year's Synod Assembly. This year's theme was "Shall We Gather at the River, Called, Gathered and Sent." Bishop Kevin Strickland was re-elected for a second term as Bishop of the Southeastern Synod.

Give A Kid A Chance Backpacks (GAKAC)

We are again 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 binders

· Pick out a backpack you would buy your kids

· New backpacks only.

The congregation can also go online to 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- JUNE

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.

CAREGIVERS SUPPORT GROUP

Our next Caregivers Support Group in connection with the Alzheimer's Association is scheduled for Saturday, June 14th, 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.

INTERGENERATIONAL SERVICE TRIP

On June 15, 17 of us will head down to Ft. Myers, FL in conjunction with Luther Springs. We'll spend our days working alongside community members as they repair and rebuild homes impacted by hurricanes and listening as they share their stories with us. And yes, we'll have some fun with the counselors through team building, games, faith formation, and worship. We are going as an intergenerational group, with ages ranging from teen to "not-teen". We give thanks for the generosity of Good Shepherd, allowing us to pay in full the cost for each youth. We can't wait to share our stories with you on June 22 when we return. Please keep us in your prayers.

LADIES NIGHT OUT

Ladies Night Out will be on June 17th, at 7:00 pm.



Gameday Fresh Grill

2990 Eagle Drive Suite 106

Woodstock, GA 30189

Please sign-up in Fellowship Hall.

FUNERAL PLANNING

Pastor Karen will be leading a funeral planning seminar June 22nd, after the 8:30 AM service and June 29th, after the 10:45 AM service. If you are curious about how to plan for this celebratory transition into eternal life and ease the burden of your loved ones, consider attending one of these sessions.

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 - SAVE THE DATE!- FLAVORS OF THE WORLD DINNER

DATE: Saturday, July 12, 2025

TIME: 4:00 – 8:00 pm 

Save the Date cards are up on the Fellowship bulletin board, take one home!

A Sign up Genius will go out in June. In the meantime, start thinking of your favorite international recipe, your most memorable dessert from vacation, or your immigrant grandma's best comfort food to share! Mine will be Ukranian or German! How about you? You can also just make your own favorite dish, no rules here! 😃

NOW HIRING A YOUTH COORDINATOR

We have a shared Youth Coordinator position open and we're accepting resumes if you know of anyone that might be a good candidate to apply. Please pass them the following link to apply or let them know to reach out to our church office with any questions. This will be a shared Youth Coordinator between GSLC, Christ Lutheran Church of Marietta and First United Lutheran Church in Kennesaw. We are looking to have an expanded youth program to incorporate more families together. We plan to have Middle and High School youth join up for service projects, fun youth outings as well as mission trips. We also plan to have joint confirmation classes together as well.  

https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=6a8cbe8612456a00&from=shareddesktop_copy

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.

You can find some FATHER’S DAY cards on our table in the Fellowship Hall and we still have a few GRADUATION cards left.

NEW SEED PAPER cards are also available. Each Seed Paper card will be adorned with butterflies or other embellishments that are made out of paper embedded with flower seeds. These pieces can be removed from the greeting card and planted in soil. They will bloom into beautiful flowers for your pot or garden. Each card includes planting instructions. A lovely gift to send to a friend or relative!

WEEKLY BIBLE STUDIES

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

Theology On Tap: We will meet at Game Day during June, at 6:30 PM. Our next meeting dates are June 11th and June 25th.

Men in Mission

We plan to meet this Monday, June 9th at Marlow's Tavern in Woodstock, for a casual outing of burgers and beer.

Coffee and Conversation

We will resume our study, "Responding to God's Grace" on June 15th, on Sundays at 9:45 AM.

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. POPTABS

6. PRESCRIPTION MEDICINE BOTTLES

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.