SHEEP BUZZ NEWSLETTER

April 12, 2024

DID YOU KNOW?

...that Easter is not over until Pentecost, the fiftieth day? These 50 days, a full week of weeks, are a time when we are meant to experience what it means when we say Christ is risen. It’s the season when we hear and ponder the beginnings of our Church, the gifts of the Spirit, and the meaning and mission of discipleship, on what joining in the communion commits us to be and do. Throughout the fifty days of Easter, you might notice several changes in our worship service. The Paschal Candle, sometimes called the Easter Candle, is a sign of the risen Christ and lighted for each service. It is also traditional to use the Thanksgiving for Baptism instead of the Confession and Forgiveness, not because we don't need to confess and be forgiven, but to remember during this Easter season that God has joined us to Christ through baptism and clothes us with mercy and forgiveness. The thanksgiving praises God for all of God's actions to save through water and the word, praying that our present assembly will be renewed by the Spirit in forgiveness, grace, and love. Finally, we have returned to the second option provided by our ELW for the Lord's Prayer. We pray that the slight variations in the seasons of our church year will further enhance our experience in worship and our relationship with God and each other.

Plan to help or participate in CARE DAY 2024 this Saturday, April 13. We are always looking for helpers for these events so stop by and lend a hand. Blood Drive 8 AM - 1 PM, Car Wash 10 AM - 12 PM, Electronic Recycle, 10 - 2 PM. Click the button below to get all the details of CARE DAY 2024, and share with your friends and neighbors.

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY

Get your photo taken Sunday after either worship service in Fellowship Hall, if you would like to update or be included in our church photo directory. We will be offering this for the next couple of weeks.

NEW BOOK STUDY OPPORTUNITY: Join us for Sunday afternoon book club study titled "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson, beginning this Sunday, April 14th at 4pm in Fellowship Hall. Both the recent trip and the book highlight the Equal Justice Initiative. More info can be found here: https://eji.org/

This month on April 21st, at 9:45 AM, during Coffee with Council, our Long-Range Planning Task Force will give an update on where the task force is at in their process.

CELEBRATE EARTH DAY

On April 21st at both worship services, we will have a special Caring for Creation service. At the conclusion of the service, we will process outside and bless the "Garden of Grace" and give thanks to God.

Clean up day at GSLC

To further celebrate Earth Day, the Caring for Creation, Youth and Family Ministry, and Facilities & Maintenance Committees are hosting an exterior Spring clean up day here at Good Shepherd. We are planning to do this on Saturday, May 4 beginning at 9:00 a.m. In addition, one of our Girl Scouts Troops will also be hosting a craft fair that same day so you can do some work for GSLC and support our local girl scouts.  Mark your calendars!

Thank you for all the recent donations for the smaller food pantries that we support. Timothy's Cupboard and Papa's Pantry are always grateful for your contributions.

We continue our recycling initiatives. We appreciate all help from congregation members to keep these items out of landfills. 

1. ORAL CARE WASTE 

2. HEFTY ORANGE ENERGY BAGS: (first Sunday of the 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

BRING IN YOUR LADIES CLOTHING

We are also now supporting Drake Closet, a clothing boutique that collects women's clothing, accessories, shoes, boots and jewelry donations. The proceeds from the boutique sales benefit The Drake House, which supplies housing for a defined time to women who have met with financial, employment, or family difficulties and are seeking or entering the workplace. Caring for Creation will collect SEASONAL, clean and like new donations and deliver to the Drake House as needed. Look for the big orange drop-off bin in Fellowship Hall.

Handmade Card ministry at GSLC

Handmade Card ministry at GSLC

ALL OCCASION cards are available 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.

Tea Cards: Would you like to send someone a hug in a cup? We have you covered with our Tea Cards! Every Tea Card contains an appropriate message and a prepackaged tea bag for your recipient. Send someone a HUG IN A CUP!

MORE NEWS AND INFORMATION

Thank you to all those that served at worship services, played instruments, sung in choirs, baked yummy food and helped set up and clean up for Lent, Holy Week and Easter. It takes a village to coordinate and to facilitate all that goes on during this week we are grateful and blessed to have the community of support.

DATES TO REMEMBER

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 Office Coordinator and she can add you to the Prayer Circle group.