SHEEP BUZZ NEWSLETTER

July 4, 2025

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

A Prayer for the Fourth of July

Gracious and Sovereign God,

On this day we give You thanks for the gift of freedom and for the blessings we enjoy in this nation. We remember with gratitude those who have served and sacrificed to preserve liberty and peace. Help us to use our freedom not for selfish gain, but to serve our neighbors in love. May we be faithful citizens of this land, and even more, faithful citizens of Your Kingdom. Keep our leaders wise, just, and humble. Heal our divisions, guide our steps, and make us instruments of Your peace. We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

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.

BACKPACK COLLECTION

Thank you Good Shepherd Lutheran Church! We collected 39 backpacks for Give A Kid A Chance. Please pray for the children and parents that will receive them at the event on July 19.

Thank you for your generosity!

Jenny Truesdale, Outreach Chair 

THE CHANGE IS HERE

In July, the ELCA, as well as dozens of other denominations, will transition to the NRSVue of the Bible (New Revised Standard Version – Updated Edition). This Bible translation took almost three years of work by 37 different communions or denominations. The NRSVue sought to use all current available scholarship and eliminate any social, political, or theological agenda, any of which would put to question the integrity and trustworthiness of the translation.

Read More Here.

Babies, Babies Everywhere!

For the entire month of July, Outreach is collecting baby diapers (newborn through toddlers) and baby wipes for Inspiritus. These items are not covered by Food Stamps and therefore Inspiritus has a great need for families with little ones. There will be bins in the Entryway and Fellowship Hall throughout the month of July. 

STAY TUNED

The texting software company we have been using to send text messages when a Sheep Buzz is delivered has changed their business model and is forcing us to look for a new product. We hope to roll out something new in the next few weeks. If you would like to be added to the list or removed from the list, please let Donna know at media@gslutheran.org.

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- JULY

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.

GARDEN OF GRACE

This week's harvest, thank you to all of our gardeners!!

A NEED FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND CARE

Many of us have been fortunate to have a friend or loved one walk with us through some very holy spaces. We may have experienced physical, emotional, or spiritual challenges or joys, and then received a hug, card, phone call, text, meal or visit when we needed it most. We may have felt God's holy, inexplicable, and healing presence surround us. The journey may have been long, but we were not alone.

Good Shepherd is blessed with a true community of caring people who act as God's hands and feet, walking with others through sacred spaces. I am touched when I hear about the care that "just happens" in our midst. What a blessing! 

If you are interested in making our care even more intentional, ensuring that no one slips through the cracks, please pray and see whether God is resting this ministry on your heart...then let me know.  -Pr. Karen

ARE YOU INTERESTED?

If you are interested in either First Communion Classes for your child or joining our church as a member? Please contact Pastor Karen. Her e-mail address is pastor@gslutheran.org.

BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS

We are working towards developing a deeper relationship with the 110+ preschoolers in Child's Play Preschool which meets in our Education Building. If you are curious or interested in this ministry, please let Pastor Karen know. We need prayers and hands and hearts!

SUPPORTING A GOOD SHEPHERD MINISTRY CANIDATE

Our Constitution states that the pastor shall "seek out and encourage qualified persons to prepare for the ministry of the Gospel". Supporting candidates in ministry is not simply a "duty" of the pastor and the congregation, but it is truly a joy and a way that Good Shepherd can help the wider church to live into the future.

You may be aware that Elizabeth Fennell, member since 2017, has just completed her first year of seminary at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary. She has requested that we as a congregation formally support her as a candidate for ministry and take seriously our responsibilities in this discernment process (as linked below).

Our Congregation Council is in agreement to support Elizabeth, with our prayers, our active engagement in her discernment, and by inviting her to participate in worship, preach and teach, as the opportunities arise. We look forward to walking with Elizabeth on this holy journey.

Many blessings,

Pastor Karen

From the ELCA Candidacy Manual

Congregations identify and accompany people as they discern their vocations. For people who have discerned a call to rostered ministry, their congregation submits a Congregational Registration form, which identifies and affirms them for rostered ministry.

A congregation maintains a relationship with a candidate...Read More

FUNERAL PLANNING

There was a great response for the funeral planning sessions that were held the past two Sundays. If you are interested in receiving the funeral planning worksheet, copies are available on the welcome desk, here, or find it under "documents", in the Resource and Policies section of our website, under the "About" tab.

YARN ANGELS

Our next meeting will be on Monday, July 7th, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the home of Melinda Mundis. Light refreshments will be provided.

CAREGIVERS SUPPORT GROUP

Our next Caregivers Support Group in connection with the Alzheimer's Association is scheduled for Saturday, July 12th, 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.

Empty Nester's Flavors of the World Dinner

SIGN UP NOW

DATE: Saturday, July 12, 2025 | 4-8 PM

Get all the details here

New Sermon Series: The Tears of Things

Sundays: July 13, 20, 27, and August 3

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church – In person & online

This summer, join us for The Tears of Things, a four-week sermon series shaped by Richard Rohr’s latest work on the prophetic path—from righteous anger, through grief, into courageous, compassionate truth.

Each week, we will reflect on the tension between judgment and mercy, between despair and hope, and the prophetic transformation that happens not in triumph, but in tears. Rohr writes that most prophets begin with outrage at injustice—but they do not stay there. True prophets evolve. They become bearers of love forged through lament.

You don’t need to read the book to join us—but if you’d like to follow along, some copies are now available in the Fellowship Hall thanks to a Thrivent Action Grant, or you may purchase your own. Weekly study guides will be included in the SheepBuzz and in print at church.

Come sit with us in the “blue”—in the grief that doesn’t end the story, but deepens it.

WEEKLY BIBLE STUDIES

Thursday Bible Study:  We will resume on July 10th. We will be digging in deeper on the topics of the weekly sermon series, “The Tears of Things”. Class will not meet on July 24th. 

Theology On Tap: We will meet at Hickory Flat Kitchen in Canton during July, at 6:30 PM. Our next meeting date is July 9th.

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. Our next outing for Marlow's Tavern in Woodstock, for Burgers and Beers, is July 7th.

Coffee and Conversation

We continue our study, "Responding to God's Grace" on Sundays at 9:45 AM. We will not meet July 27-August 10.

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.

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. METAL/ALUMINUM (near garage)
6. POPTABS
7. PRESCRIPTION MEDICINE BOTTLES; Please remove labels.

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.