SHEEP BUZZ NEWSLETTER

December 13, 2024

NATIVITY CRAFT

This is an example of the Nativity Character Craft the Youth and Family Ministry Committee has put together that has been taking place one hour before each worship service on Wednesdays. This Sunday, we willl craft the central characters, Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus during the Cookie Walk at 9:45 AM.

Then on Wednesday, Dec. 18th, our final characters (3 Magi) will be made on in Fellowship Hall one hour prior to the worship services at Noon and 7:30 PM. A great way to experience the story of Christmas with your family and friends.

THE 3RD ANNUAL COOKIE WALK benefiting our youth will be held in between services AT 9:45 am, on December 15th. A box of cookies will cost $5 and all proceeds will help our youth attend summer trips. Warm up those ovens!

EMPTY NESTER'S EVENT

Here's the information for our event coming up on Sunday, Dec. 15th. Please read everything, this contains most of the information you will need.

If you haven't paid, please email Karen Yerkes. All tickets have been purchased and dinner is in the oven! Check your email dated Dec. 3 from Karen Yerkes which contains everyone's email addresses so you can see who is coming and arrange your own carpooling if necessary.

A Tuna Christmas

(Presented by Cherokee Theatre Company)

from 2:30 – 4:30 pm (arrive early for best seats)

Event locations:

Canton Theatre,171 E. Main St., Canton

then dinner at Local on North 5:00 pm

Street parking is available and there is also a well lit parking garage. 

SUNDAY SCHOOL | 9:45 AM

All youth classes join us for the Mary, Joseph, Jesus craft in Fellowship Hall.

Faith Stories: Rm 117: Book study on “Life Together” by Dietrich Bonhoeffer.  No class on Dec. 15th. We will continue to meet until we finish our study. Join us today for the craft in Fellowship Hall.

Coffee and Conversation: Rm 118:  "Hope in the Lord" series. join us for the craft in Fellowship Hall.

Men in Mission: Rm 116: Various topics and discussions just for men. We will continue to meet Dec. 15 & 22nd.

NEW FLOWER AND DONUT CHARTS for 2025

Posted in the Administration Hallway are the new flower and donut charts for 2025. Have an occasion to celebrate or someone to remember? Please complete the dedication forms with the payment of $40 for flowers to adorn the Sanctuary on Sunday morning. If you sign up for the flowers, you are also welcome to take the flowers home with you after that Sunday's 10:45 service. Just leave the hard green plastic liner as it a custom liner that keeps the brass vase from getting ruined. Donuts every week cost $30 and keep the costs down for Fellowship to do many other activities.Sign up for both for 2025 beginning on Sunday.

GSLC CALL COMMITTEE NEWS

After interviewing a slate of candidates, we are pleased to announce that we have officially presented a primary candidate for Pastor to the church council. The church council is currently in active deliberations over this candidate, and will inform the call committee when that process has concluded and a vote has been taken. We wanted to let the congregation know about this exciting next step in our process! Please keep both the church council and the call committee in your prayers as discussions continue. More news to come!

If you have any questions, please ask us! We invite you into a conversation with as much information as we can give, understanding that some information must remain confidential. Look for our blue name tags or email us at callcommittee@gslutheran.org.

COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS:

• Voted to extend Pastor Karen's contract for three additional months.
• The payroll discrepancy that Rob noted at the last meeting upon further investigation was, as he suspected, due to an extra pay period landing within the same month. In sum, there were no errors.
• The Council officers elected for the next year are Craig Stichtenoth as President, Scott Panhorst as Vice President, Rob Homer as Treasurer, Sharron Ryan as Financial Secretary and Janice Swinford as Secretary. Committee liaisons are as follows: Facilities and Maintenance - Scott Panhorst, Fellowship - Mary Wilson, Worship and Music - Barb Kidder, Personnel - Deborah Ezell, Faith and Family - Karen Epstein and Emily Provost, Financial and Endowment - Rob Homer, Congregational Care - Janice Swinford, Stewardship - Sharron Ryan, Outreach - Ruth Clark

ACCOLADES:

• The volunteers who have done the Children's messages during worship since Mel's departure - Leanne Reynolds, Deborah Ezell, Karen Epstein, Tammy Frink, Janice Swinford
• All those who responded to the Angel Tree and those who will deliver the gifts collected
• All the carolers who visited the Oaks and member's homes

LADIES NIGHT OUT will be on

Tuesday, December 17, at 7:00 PM at

Tuscany Italian Restaurant

250 Cinema View

Woodstock, GA 30189

Please sign up in Fellowship Hall

HOLIDAY HOURS

The church office will be closed on December 26th and 27th for the Christmas holiday. The following week the office will close at noon on Dec. 31 and all day on Jan. 1st.

WELCOME OUR NEW OFFICE COORDINATOR AND SOME OFFICE CHANGES

Please stop by and give a big "Good Shepherd Welcome" to our newest staff member, Alissa Wells. Alissa will be taking the Office Coordinator position and will work in the office Monday - Thursday, 9 AM-12 PM, beginning this Tuesday, Dec. 17th. She will be located in the Main Office closest to the front door.

Carrie, our Bookkeeper has now moved to the smaller office behind this office which will remain locked for financial security and counters will now utilize the main office space on Sunday mornings. The Youth and Family Office is still vacant and contains materials and supplies for Sunday School and a few other committees.

Hello! I'm Alissa Wells, and I'm thrilled to join the Good Shepherd Church staff. My father, a retired ELCA pastor in Illinois, instilled in me a deep connection to the church throughout my life, and it feels wonderful to be part of a Lutheran congregation once more. I live in Canton with my dog Rocco and also run my own skincare business. If you ever need an esthetician or have any concerns about looking younger, I'm here to help. I look forward to serving God and this wonderful congregation.

E-MAIL SCAMS

It has been brought to our attention again that e-mails are going out from people posing as Pastor Karen or staff members. One of the most popular church scams is someone posing as a staff member to get an electronic version of our church directory. Always double check that the e-mail comes from any staff member by making sure the email address ends with @gslutheran.org before responding or interacting with any requests where pastor or staff member might be looking for help. Also remember, the church does not conduct any business using gift cards. Stay vigilent. Think first before acting or call the church if you are in doubt. If interested, there is good information about scams on the table near the doorway in Fellowship Hall.

Another popular scam is centered around unexpected deliveries during the holidays. Click on picture for more information from the Federal Trade Commission.

WEEKLY BIBLE STUDIES

We are blessed to have great lay leadership to host weekly Bible studies on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Roughly 40+ people attend these studies each week. Check out the Bible Study page on our website to see where you might want to join us.

WHAT'S NEW

Wednesday Lunch and Learn is engaged in a study for Advent titled, "The Weary World Rejoices" by Lifeway Women. Join us at 11:00 AM. Bring your lunch if you'd like. We will meet in Pastor's Office.

WORD ON WEDNESDAY will meet December 18 at our regular time (10:00 a.m.) in the Meeting Room. This allows for anyone that wants to participate in the 11:00 a.m. Advent Activity in the Fellowship Hall can do so and/or attend worship at noon. Advent activities (6:30 PM) and worship service (7:30 PM) opportunities will also be available in the evening.

We will use the study book for Advent Shadow and Light: A Journey into Advent by Tsh Oxenreider.  It is available on Amazon and the cost is less than $10 and is also available in Kindle format. 

THURSDAY BIBLE STUDY

Thursday Bible Study will celebrate with a potluck lunch on December 19 at 11am. They will not meet on Thursday, December 26

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.