SHEEP BUZZ NEWSLETTER

April 19, 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.

Do you love your church? Consider giving Good Shepherd a review on Google. It helps other know about who we are and what we do!

Please keep our middle school youth in your prayers this weekend. We pray for safe travels and enlightened minds for those heading to Lutheranch for Confirmation Camp.

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.

Coming soon - 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!

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 one more week.

This Sunday, 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.

NEW BOOK STUDY OPPORTUNITY: Join us for Sunday afternoon book club study titled "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson, meeting again this Sunday, April 21st 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/

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

CARE DAY 2024

What a beautiful day to share with each other and the community. Three events took place on one day and gave the community a little insight about what we are all about. Volunteers from Good Shepherd were busy from early morning to mid-afternoon filled with smiles, and the many hands made hard work easy. Thank you to all who participated in these events in any way. The youth raised over $400, the blood drive exceeded their goal of pints donated and the results of the electronic fundraiser will be announced soon. Thanks be to God!

Meanwhile....

thirteen of our members took a road trip to Alabama to visit the Legacy Museum, Memorial, Sculpture Garden and Rosa Park Museum. With the little time we had, we were able to soak in the history of slavery in the South, while continuing the conversation of how we can be better. Our hearts and eyes were heavy by the days end!"

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.