SHEEP BUZZ NEWSLETTER

January 16, 2026

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

Second Sunday After Epiphany

January 18, 2026

"Ask Three Times"

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

Sunday Readings: click here

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

You can also watch the 8:30AM 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.

SAFETY

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!

Council Highlights

Top Priorities for 2026

(1)    Facility Safety and Security

(2)    Public Presence – Branding and Evangelism – Community engagement

(3)    Stewardship/Endowment – adding structure

(4)    Staffing stability

Accolades

• Carrie Finney and sons, and the Praise Team for taking down the Advent and Christmas decorations
•  Those who assist with the preschool chapel for Child’s Play – Julie Bryan, Marlene Durst, Donna Johnson, Sharron Ryan, Janice Swinford
• All who volunteered for Christmas Eve or Christmas morning services – ushers, acolytes, crucifers, lectors, assisting ministers, altar guild, children’s moment, A/V operators, greeters
• Musicians who made Christmas Eve glorious – Pam Weinelt, Anna Kate Peed, Praise Team, Chancel Choir, Bells, special musicians
• Michelle Provost, Donna Garges, Carrie Escamilla and Aaron Frink – the office staff who kept things humming through the busy month of December
• All the wonderful cookie bakers, cookie buyers, and cookie eaters for our annual Cookie Walk - we raised over $600 for our youth activities and we truly appreciate the support of the congregation.

SOCIAL JUSTICE MEETING

We will have a a brief social justice meeting in between services at 9:45 this Sunday on January 18^th. 

YOUTH SUNDAY--SIGN UP TODAY!

Our next Youth Sunday will be held at the 8:30 AM service on January 25th. Youth members, please check out the sign-up sheet online and reserve your spot in the service. Thank you.

NEW MEMBER CLASS- Feb 8th and 15th - 9:45 AM

The dates are set for our next New Member Class. If you are at a point where you would like to learn more about joining Good Shepherd, these classes are for you. We will detail some background information on Good Shepherd, the ELCA, and our Southeastern Synod. You will also get more details on all of our programs and a chance to meet our staff. If you are interested, save the two Sundays, February 8th and 15th, at 9:45 AM between services. We will meet in the Meeting Room.

WEEKLY BIBLE STUDIES

Word on Wednesday: We began “Wholehearted Faith” by Jeff Chu and Rachel Held-Evans. If newly interested in our 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 or e-mail media@gslutheran.org.

Lunch and Learn: Wednesdays from 11:30 - 1 PM. We will start our new study this Wednesday, titled “Nehemiah” by Kelly Minter. The book is available on Amazon. We would love to have you join us.  

Theology On Tap: We will be meeting at Game Day on 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 have resumed 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.

Youth Classes

Pre-K/Elementary School Room 111

Middle School and High School - Downstairs Youth Room

Confirmation: (January 25) Room 115, Topic: The Commandments 5-7.

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.

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.

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 (10 AM -12 PM) and the Homeless Veterans Thrift Store. (1 - 3 PM). (Click on the links for directions.) 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. Please also include 1 recipe card with your cookies.

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

THEOLOGY ON TAP

We will be meeting at Game Day in Woodstock on January 21st at 6:30 PM. A casual meeting of fellow believers centered around a meal, good conversation, and a variety of topics. We always love to see new faces.

CARGIVER SUPPORT GROUP

Our next caregiver support group will meet on Thursday, January 22nd at 1 PM and Saturday, February 14th 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.

We are hosting a special meeting called Dementia Friends on February 26th, during our normal meeting time at 1 PM. You can get more information on that event here. This is open to everyone.

CELEBRATION OF LIFE SERVICE - TAMMY CHILDREE

Please save the date, February 7, 2026, at 2 PM, at Good Shepherd, for a Celebration of Life Service for Tammy Childree, daughter of Sharron Ryan. Please continue to lift this family in prayer as they mourn and seek comfort during this time of loss.

GREETING CARD MINISTRY

 Card Ministry SALE Jan 18 and 25.

This is a great time to stock up on birthday, get well, sympathy, thinking of you and thank you cards. 

All cards are $1.00 which is a 50% savings! BOGO for 2 weeks only!



Valentine cards, new designs and hand-painted cards will be available beginning February 1, and each card will go back to the previous price of $2.00. Thank you for supporting our youth missions!

HELP WITH FELLOWSHIP COSTS

We have a donut hole, but not the kind we like. Please consider signing up to help with the cost of our weekly fellowship snacks and drinks provided after each worship service. The cost is $30 and you even get your name posted in the bulletin announcement page! The sign-up sheet is located in the Administrative Hallway near the first office.

MORE NEWS AND INFORMATION

DID YOU KNOW?

Mail delays can sometimes impact when church offerings are received. We’ve experienced longer delivery times for offerings sent through the U.S. mail. Electronic giving provides a secure, timely, and trackable way to support Good Shepherd’s ministry. Visit our donation page to learn more.

SCAM ALERTS

Please be advised that members of the congregation have been receiving emails that "look" like they are from Pastor Karen or potentially other members of our staff. Always check the from e-mail address and make sure that the extension following the @ sign is gslutheran.org. Pastor Karen or any other staff member will not communicate any business of the church to you from any other extension like yahoo, gmail, hotmail or aol.

In addition, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church will not ask you to purchase gift cards in any Good Shepherd or personal emails.

Lastly, a recent scam targeting churches revolves around our member directory. Never scan or email copies of our church directory to another member or friend. Refer whoever is asking directly to the church to office@gslutheran.org.

If you are unsure about something you may have received from Good Shepherd, please feel free to contact the church at 770-924-7286. If the office is closed, please leave a detailed message or contact a member of our staff using a Good Shepherd email address like, office@gslutheran.org, media@gslutheran.org or pastor@gslutheran.org. We will try to get back with you in one business day.

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.