SHEEP BUZZ NEWSLETTER

May 30, 2025

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

9:45 AM

Coffee and Conversation: Rm 118:  We will continue with the "Responding to God's Grace" series during the summer. We will not meet the next two Sundays, to allow for participation in the events surrounding the Semi-Annual Meeting.

Men in Mission: Rm 116: Various topics and discussions just for men. We will continue to meet during the summer.

A special Sheep Buzz Announcement was sent last Friday evening, around 7 pm, detailing the business items for the Semi-Annual Congregational Meeting to be held on June 8th.

Council highlights:

• This Sunday, June 1, between services will be a discussion with our Council President, members of the Constitution Task Force and representatives from the Finance Committee to answer any questions concerning the revisions to the constitution and the proposed budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year. 
• June 8th is scheduled for our Semi-Annual Meeting, which will follow the one 10 AM worship service.
• There will be two volunteer workdays to assist Facilities and Maintenance: one on "God's Work. Our Hands." Sunday and another date in the Fall to be determined.
• The congregation has acted out their stewardship to our generous God by benefiting the community in many ways recently. Good Shepherd members have donated to Inspiritus, assisted in lowering the delinquent lunch account balance at Carmel Elementary, and participated in and donated to the Hunger Walk. For these and many other ways you have shown your love to others, thank you!

Council accolades:

• Those who planted the VBS sign - Damon Garges, Clint Gruwell, Mark Yerkes, Karl Westerville
• Those who have worked to upgrade our sound system - Pam Weinelt, Drew Dickerson, Ben Setzer, Steve Frink, Bill Alderfer 
• Debra Radcliff for updating the children's area outside the sanctuary

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 THIS WEEKEND

Please keep Pastor Karen, Deb Ezell, Barb Kidder, Lily Champion and our entire Southeastern Synod in your prayers as they travel to Columbus, GA, for this year's Synod Assembly. This year's theme is "Shall We Gather at the River, Called, Gathered and Sent." Details of this gathering can be found online.

THIS SUNDAY

It's the first Sunday of the month, and we are running our Two-Can Sunday food collection. Consider bringing two cans of food (or more) to donate to Papa's Pantry. Please leave your items in the shopping cart and NOT the MUST barrels outside.

It is also HEFTY Recycle day, so bring in those hard-to-recycle items. Place your bags in the trash receptacle located near the front door.

REGISTRATION IS CLOSED!

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

All volunteers: Background checks and "Protect My Ministry Training" needs to be completed. If you have any questions, contact Pastor Karen.

Final in-person training is June 7, at 10 AM in Fellowship Hall. If you did not previously attend a training, please plan on attending.

 We will also need all available hands to help decorate on Sunday, June 8th, prior to our opening on June 9th. 

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.

TEXT LINKS FOR SHEEP BUZZ COMMUNICATIONS

It has come to our attention that the software program "Remind" we have been using that sends a text message link to your cell phone is not working for everyone. If you wish to continue to receive these types of notifications, we must obtain your permission (please choose yes or no below) AND you must download the remind app on your device, put in your phone number and change your notifications.

If you already have the Remind app, you may need to change your notifications in the app.

To change notifications:

1. Click on the 3 stacked dots in top right hand corner.
2. Select account settings
3. Select Notifications
4. Add your phone number if it is not listed
5. To receive text notifications, click the 3 stacked dots next to your phone number and select to turn on notifications. You can also find the remind app in the Apple Store or the Google Play store.

If you have never received text messages and would like to be included, text @gslc1 to 81010 and download the app and then set the notifications as instructed above.

If you have any questions feel free to reach out to Donna, our Media Coordinator at 770-924-7286 x5.

CONFIRMATION/PENTECOST

On June 8th, we will honor our 2025 Confirmand, G. Swordsma during our Combined Worship Service at 10AM.

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.

LADIES NIGHT OUT

Ladies Night Out for 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.

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!

Word on Wednesday: “Word on Wednesday recently concluded their study of “Searching for Sunday” by Rachel Held Evans. They gathered to celebrate another wonderful year of study and community. They will be taking a pause for the summer and will resume in the fall. 

Wednesday Lunch and Learn: We are on break for the summer, we will resume sometime after school starts up again.

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.

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.