SHEEP BUZZ NEWSLETTER

February 21, 2025

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

Join us for a service of celebration at 4 PM, on Sunday, Feb. 23rd, as we install The Reverend Karen Boda, as Pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.

Plan to stay following the service for a light taco bar supper provided by our Fellowship Committee.

We will livestream the service on Facebook. Worship Bulletin

BOOK DRIVE

Hi! I'm Sara P, a senior in high school. I attend the first service and as part of a school project, we're collecting books for foster children. We need your help! While we are primarily focused on early elementary educational books, we'll take anything! The Children's Haven is an organization that provides a healthy environment where foster kids can maintain relationships with their biological parents. The books you donate will go directly into that space, providing comfort to the kids and interactive opportunities for the families. Collection bins will be set up in the Fellowship hall for the next three weeks. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out!

ONLINE CALENDAR

Please note, we are aware that there is a glitch with our online calendar found on our website. When you open the calendar, the date defaults to December, 1899. Refresh the calendar by clicking the today icon and the calendar should reset to the current day and show the correct events. Microsoft is aware of the problem and we are awaiting a fix for this issue. Thank you for your patience.

Sunday Servant Schedule-March

Direct all updates and changes to the schedule to our new Office Coordinator, Alissa at Office@gslutheran.org. Please remember to try to find your own replacements. Thank you.

THE LUTHERAN COALITION AND HABITAT BUILD

The Lutheran Coalition Website lutheranhabitat.org has been updated with the latest Habitat build information. Use the site for everything you need to know about the current build in Canton and signing up for it.

NEW MEMBER SUNDAY

We will welcome new members to Good Shepherd on Sunday, March 2nd and will celebrate their membership with cake following each service.

This Sunday, February 23rd at 9:45 AM, is the final class for those interested in joining. We meet in room 115.

Use the button below to let Pastor Karen know you are interested in joining us.

CAREGIVERS SUPPORT GROUP

Our next Caregivers Support Group in connection with the Alzheimer's Association is scheduled for this Thursday, February 27th, 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 are invited to attend and become a part of this group.

EXPLORING EVANGELISM

Congregational Wide Study

Get excited because it's coming! Our second annual congregation wide study will be launched during Lent! It's a three-week study on EVANGELISM! We're planning for all the current weekly and Sunday morning classes to use the study, as well as provide an evening session with an online Teams option on March 24, 31, and April 7th. If you normally attend any of these classes, you do not need to sign up, however if you would like to participate in this offering, sign up sheets are available with all the class options at Sign-Up Central. 

HUNGER WALK/RUN 2025 AND MORE

Registration for the Atlanta Food Bank Hunger Walk has begun. If you would like to register or donate use the link below to be a part of our Good Shepherd Team. The date is set for March 9th and the event opens at noon with the Walk/Run starting at 2 PM at the Home Depot Backyard in Atlanta.

Don't want to walk downtown? On March 9th, we are preparing for a local walk to support reducing food insecurity in our area at Good Shepherd.

Beginning March 2nd, we are distributing coin boxes (just ahead of Ash Wednesday) to fill throughout Lent to support families that struggle paying for school lunches at Carmel Elementary School.

Lastly, we will place more emphasis on collecting food donations for our food ministry partners throughout Lent. Beginning with Two-Can Sunday on March 2. Find more details at gslutheran.org/hunger.

ASH WEDNESDAY

March 5th - Noon (livestreamed) and 7:30 PM. We will host Drive-thru ashes and prayer from 5 - 6:30 PM in the parking lot.

Each Wednesday during Lent, we will gather at noon and 7:30pm. A simple soup/salad supper will be available before the evening service. Our services will use Vespers: A Service of Evening Prayer by Carla Gioma, a beloved sung liturgy from Good Shepherd’s past. Our reflections each week will focus on the messy middles of our life, inspired by resources from Sanctified Art.

Postcards are available on the Welcome Desk to invite a friend!

The fellowship committee will be hosting soup and salad dinners prior to the Lenten evening services (Not Ash Wednesday) beginning at 6:30 - 7:15pm. We need some help with people making soup and/or helping to set up and clean up. There are sign up sheets in the Fellowship Hall. 

EMPTY NESTERS CARTER MUSEUM AND LIBRARY

Saturday, March 22nd join us at the museum from 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM and a early dinner (approx. at 2 PM) at a nearby restaurant (TBD). Visit Sign up Central to sign up!

• Cost for museum (payment goes to GSLC cash or check with Empty Nester's Carter on the memo):
• Seniors (62+) and Military: $10
• Adults: $12
• Please arrange your own carpooling.
• more information here: Carter Museum and Library:

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The next activity will be on Saturday, May 3 to Uhuburg Castle in Helen, GA. Did you know that there's a castle less than two hours away from Woodstock? We'll tour the castle and grounds and then go into Helen to enjoy the remainder of the day enjoying the "German" shops and dining as a group in one of the delicious restaurants that Helen has to offer. https://www.uhuburg.com/

INTERGENERATIONAL SERVICE TRIP

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and the Youth and Family Ministry Committee is investigating the opportunity for an inter-generational group to travel to Florida this summer in connection with NovusWay to serve communities affected by recent storms. Details, dates, and costs are listed on the Sign-Up Genius interest form.

Kindly, yet as soon as possible, indicate your interest using this link, in participating in this service trip so that we can finalize details and work on fundraising. Even if you are unable to participate, please respond so that we have that information as well.

Thank you for taking the time to consider participating in this service opportunity

HANDMADE CARD MINISTRY

ALL OCCASION 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.

NEW: Look in the card bins for LARGE PRINT cards. We now have a few Large Print cards available for your friends and loved ones who have vision problems. They will be distributed throughout the bins, but labeled as Large Print.

We have a new donation supply of HAND PAINTED cards from a local artist. If you enjoyed the hand painted cards previously, check out the new ones in our card bins. They are beautiful and special. 

Weekly Bible Studies

Word on Wednesday 10:00 AM Fellowship Hall. Our current study is: “Searching for Sunday” by Rachel Held Evans. We will be participating in the Evangelism study during the Lent season and will resume this study again after Easter. As always, both in-person and Teams options are available for our group. Please contact the church office for Teams link.

Wednesday Lunch and Learn:11:30 AM in Mtg. Room. “Jesus & Woman: In the First Century and Now”

Thursday Bible Study: We are doing a lectionary study each week, reviewing the texts for the upcoming Sunday. It's a great way to prepare yourself for worship each week and marinate in the Word of God. Join us anytime.

Theology On Tap: We will break during Lent.

CARING FOR CREATION

We continue our recycling initiatives. We appreciate all 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

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.