SHEEP BUZZ NEWSLETTER

December 6, 2024

ALZHEIMER/DEMENTIA CARE GIVER SUPPORT GROUP

Please join us on December 7^th at 9 AM, for a kickoff meeting for an Alzheimer/Dementia care giver support group at Good Shepherd. During this one-hour meeting you will learn more about the program and how you can directly help care givers dealing with these types of patients. This informational meeting is open to anyone. Please invite others that might be interested in learning more and participating in this group.Christmas caroling event will follow after this meeting.

CAROLING ON SATURDAY, DEC. 7TH

Make a joyful noise with your Good Shepherd friends as we carol at the Oaks retirement community on Saturday, December 7th. We will meet in the Entry Way at Good Shepherd at 10 AM. Come and be a part even if you didn't sign up. We will leave shortly after gathering together and travel to members homes. Bring your fa-la-la-la-la fun self and join us as we spread Christmas cheer!

MAKE GINGERBREAD HOUSES-Sunday, December 8th

Join us in making Gingerbread Houses for our Second Sunday Family Activity! We will be serving a pizza lunch beginning at 12 PM before we work together to design and create a holiday tradition! Please let us know how many people in your family will be attending so that we can have enough gingerbread kits and pizza! See you then!

WHAT IS EVANGELISM

In the feedback gathered from all of you by the Long-Range Planning Task Force, the congregation indicated a strong need to explore and re-ignite evangelism at Good Shepherd. To do this, we'll start with a gathering to talk about what evangelism is, brainstorm low hanging fruit, especially with Christmas ahead, and talk about strategies for moving forward. Join us if you'd like to come and talk and brainstorm with us on Sunday, December 8, after the second service. No commitment to be a member of Evangelism for the next 50 years - promise! We just want your feedback and ideas!

ANGEL TREE Deadline is Sunday!

Our church has partnered with Carmel Elementary School to provide Christmas gifts for 35 children.We ask that you return all WRAPPED gifts to the church no later than Sunday December 8. 

PLEASE RETURN THE ANGEL WITH THE CHILD'S NAME WITH YOUR GIFTS! If you have any gift receipts, please put in an envelope for the parents.



We will deliver all gifts to the school on December 9th. 

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. This is our last class for the year and we will be going through costumes for next week's service.

Faith Stories: Rm 117: Book study on “Life Together” by Dietrich Bonhoeffer.  We will continue to meet until we complete the book study. We will not meet on Dec. 15th.

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. This will be our last Sunday for the year.

Men in Mission: Rm 116: Various topics and discussions just for men.  We will continue to meet thru Dec. 22nd.

NEW FLOWER AND DONUT CHARTS for 2025

Posted in the Administration Hallway are the new flower and donut charts for 2025. Have an occasion to celebrate or someone to remember? Please complete the dedication forms with the payment of $40 for flowers to adorn the Sanctuary on Sunday morning. If you sign up for the flowers, you are also welcome to take the flowers home with you after theat Sunday's 10:45 service. Just leave the hard green plastic liner as it a custom liner that keeps the brass vase from getting ruined. Donuts every week cost $30 and keep the costs down for Fellowship to do many other activities.Sign up for both for 2025 beginning on Sunday.

GSLC CALL COMMITTEE NEWS

Ask a committee member to share one of the orange prayer cards with you. 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.

NATIVITY CRAFT

This is an example of the Nativity Character Craft the Youth and Family Ministry Committee has put together that will take place one hour before each worship service on Wednesdays, Dec. 11 (Shepherds), 18(Wise People). We willl craft Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus on Sunday, Dec. 15th during the Cookie Walk at 9:45 AM. A great way to experience the story of Christmas with your family and friends.

THE 3RD ANNUAL COOKIE WALK benefiting our youth will be held in between services AT 9:45 am, on December 15th. Take a look at the sheet at Sign-up Central to see what everyone is baking and add the items you will bake. A box of cookies will cost $5 and all proceeds will help our youth attend summer trips.

LADIES NIGHT OUT will be on

Tuesday, December 17, at 7:00 PM at

Tuscany Italian Restaurant

250 Cinema View

Woodstock, GA 30189

Please sign up in Fellowship Hall

E-MAIL SCAMS

It has been brought to our attention again that e-mails are going out from people posing as Pastor Karen or staff members. One of the most popular church scams is someone posing as a staff member to get an electronic version of our church directory. Always double check that the e-mail comes from any staff member by making sure the email address ends with @gslutheran.org before responding or interacting with any requests where pastor or staff member might be looking for help. Also remember, the church does not conduct any business using gift cards. Stay vigilent. Think first before acting or call the church if you are in doubt. If interested, there is good information about scams on the table near the doorway in Fellowship Hall.

Another popular scam is centered around unexpected deliveries during the holidays. Click on picture for more information from the Federal Trade Commission.

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.

WHAT'S NEW

Wednesday Lunch and Learn is engaged in a study for Advent titled, "The Weary World Rejoices" by Lifeway Women. Join us at 11:00 AM. Bring your lunch if you'd like. We will meet in Pastor's Office.

WORD ON WEDNESDAY will meet December 4,11, and 18 at our regular time (10:00 a.m.) in the Meeting Room. This allows for anyone that wants to participate in the 11:00 a.m. Advent Activity in the Fellowship Hall can do so and/or attend worship at noon. Advent activities (6:30 PM) and worship service (7:30 PM) opportunities will also be available in the evening.

We will use the study book for Advent Shadow and Light: A Journey into Advent by Tsh Oxenreider.  It is available on Amazon and the cost is less than $10 and is also available in Kindle format. 

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.