SHEEP BUZZ NEWSLETTER

October 16, 2026

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

🌟Indicates something NEW this week!

🌟BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS SERVICE

This Saturday, October 17th, at 1 PM, we will be having our rescheduled Blessing of the Animals service. It should be a beautiful afternoon to enjoy this special service for the creatures that bring us so much joy. All leashed or crated pets are welcome to bring their humans! 🐾

🌟 Twenty-First Sunday After Pentecost

October 18, 2026

8:30 AM Traditional Worship | 10:45 Praise Worship (Youth led at 10:45 AM)

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

We have large-print bulletins available for the service. If you would like a copy, please ask one of the ushers, who will be happy to provide one.

You can also watch the 8:30 AM 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.

🌟PASTOR AND STAFF APPRECIATION SUNDAY - October 18

Please join us as we celebrate and show our appreciation for the amazing staff we’re blessed to have at Good Shepherd between services at 9:45 AM. Sunday School classes will begin following the short reception. Baskets will be available for your cards and other tokens of your appreciation (please ensure you put staff names on any envelopes).

🌟SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES:

Youth Sunday School Classes at 10 AM

PreK/Elementary: Room 111

Middle/High School/Confirmation: Youth Room Downstairs

Adult Sunday School Classes: 10 AM

Men in Mission: Room 116. This is a casual group studying the Bible together. We often use study materials from Rob Bell.

Final Social Statement Class: Join us in Fellowship Hall at 10 AM for the final session of the ELCA Social Statement on Civic Life. This class will be led by Matt Provost, Vicar Sam, and Bettina Miller. You can obtain more details on this topic on the ELCA website. All are welcome.

🌟STEWARDSHIP PACKETS

All members, please pick up your Stewardship Packets in the Entryway. If you have completed your packet, please return it to the designated locations in the Entryway, Fellowship Hall or the altar. All forms are requested back by Nov. 8th.

🌟SUNDAY SERVANT SCHEDULE

OCTOBER & NOVEMBER

Consider serving in a new capacity. We need volunteers to serve in all of our Sunday roles!

Please 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.

Monthly Highlights

• The Financial Secretary reported that overall, we are ahead for the quarter
• Work on fixing the ditch will begin the week of November 9th
• Facilities and Maintenance is actively getting quotes for the tile work in the Narthex and the fire alarm system 
• We are looking for individuals who may be interested in spearheading creation of the GSLC Woodstock Holiday Parade float
• Our Scarecrow is up in downtown Woodstock - we recently held the 10th spot in the top 10
• The new website is close to completion - look for the official re-launch soon
• Our bookkeeper, Carrie Escamilla, has revised her in-office hours to Sunday mornings, but will be available via email at other times

Accolades

• Barb Kidder and all those who contributed to the meal for Al Reynold’s memorial
• The many hands that coordinated and participated in God’s Work, Our Hands Sunday activities
• Celebration of Arts Sunday – Kay Abramson for coordinating and all the many varied types of artists that shared their creativity
• All who planned, set up, cleaned up, and contributed to the success of our Fall Harvest Lunch, including Trina Hutchison, Jill Stedman, Tom & Nick Evangelista, Barb Kidder, Mary Wilson, Ann Krull, Craig Stichtenoth, Patrick Swinford, Eric Holm, Shelley Trampnau, Clint Gruwell, Gordon Swordsma, and the Stewardship Committee.
• Arnie Ludvigsen for working so diligently to get quotes for the many projects being taken on by Facilities and Maintenance
• The Youth for leading the 10:45am service on Sunday, October 18^th, especially Garrett Swordsma for preaching
• Those who built and installed our scarecrow for the Woodstock Scarecrow Invasion – Jill Stedman, Tom Evangelista, Tammy and Steve Frink, and Kathy Casagrande.

🌟OUTREACH BEDDING DRIVE

The Outreach committee is collecting for Sleep in Heavenly Peace during the month of October. We are happy to announce that they have built almost 200 beds since they started at the beginning of 2026. Please use their website shpbeds.mindfulgiving.org to order the items they most need and have them sent directly to the organization. When on their website, select GA Cherokee County.

If online ordering is not for you, you can purchase pillows and twin bed-in-a-bag sets. They can be sent to Ron Mixon. If you need his address, please contact the church office. We encourage everyone to use their website or send directly to Ron, since there are many events and activities happening in Fellowship Hall this fall. 

🌟MORE CARING FOR CREATION UPDATES

Metal Recycling: When donating aluminum cans, please separate these from other metal items. Aluminum foil and aluminum takeout trays need to be submitted with steel cans and other metal items — not the aluminum cans. 

Drake House: Kathy Brill is asking that donated items be placed in plastic bags or boxes, as it makes it easier for her to load the items into her car.

🌟SCARECROW INVASION IN WOODSTOCK

Current Rank: 10th place.

Continue to cast votes for your favorite scarecrow in downtown Woodstock. Good Shepherd's scarecrow is located at #150 on Main Street, just north of Towne Lake, in front of “The Chambers at City Center”. It costs $1 to vote. In-person voting is at the Woodstock Visitors Center. Take a photo with the scarecrow and send it our way! We also have a cash jar in the entryway if you would like to cast your vote at church.

🌟COULD THIS BE YOU? WE COULD USE THE HELP!

We are looking for a couple of creative people to help drive two projects.

1. We would like to create some new Good Shepherd T-Shirts/Sweatshirts with our new logo. Is this a project you would like to lead?
2. In 2025, we participated in the downtown Woodstock Christmas Parade. Is it your calling to help create a new Good Shepherd float for 2026?

If either of these is calling out to you, please let Pastor Karen or the church office know as soon as possible.

🌟YARN ANGELS has contributed the following items to the Encouragement Project this month. What a blessing of love for those receiving these treasures.

31 - Scarves, hats, mittens, gloves, headbands

14 - Quilts, Blankets

31 - Pillowcases, Burp cloths

2 - 6-piece coaster sets

3 - Baby Sweaters, Shawl

1-  Bag Misc. Yarn

For Good Shepherd: 3 Prayer Shawls

WORD ON WEDNESDAY

Word on Wednesday now meets on Wednesdays in the Fellowship Hall at 10 AM. Please join us as our study leader, Lori Peters, guides us as we explore “What Grows In Weary Lands” by Tish Harrison Warren, which can be purchased on Amazon. A Teams option will also be available for anyone interested to join us online. Email Lori or the church office if you need the link. 

CHRISTMAS CAROL PLANNING EVENT

Christmas is coming! Following the Synod's recent "Revival Days," which several council members attended, it was noted that the lower parking lot was often empty, so passersby may wrongly think that Good Shepherd is empty. To change this perception, we had the idea of filling the lot on an evening in December and offering a Christmas Carol Singing for the community. We could invite local families to come and sing along with us. Lots of ideas, but no firm plans yet. If you have ideas and would like to help make them happen, please come to a planning Session at 7 pm on Monday, October 19th. Thank you to all those who have stepped forward already!

LADIES NIGHT OUT

Meets regularly on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 7 PM. This is an evening out and a break from cooking, with good conversation and good food among sisters in Christ. This month, we will meet at Dina's Family Restaurant (Formerly Gondolier's) on Tuesday, Oct. 20th. Please sign up in Fellowship Hall.

Dina’s Family Italian Restaurant & Pizza

10029 Highway 92 #112

Woodstock, GA 30188

🌟CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP

We are a group of facilitators trained by the Alzheimer's Association to assist in communication, prayer, and support for those caring for others. We meet regularly on the second Saturday and the fourth Thursday of every month at 1:00 PM, at Good Shepherd. Anyone is welcome to attend these group sessions. Our next meeting is Oct. 22nd. We will be meeting in the Fellowship Hall.

TRUNK OR TREAT

A favorite event of the year! Grab a group of friends or gather your family and decorate your car for our annual Trunk or Treat, to be held in our lower parking lot on October 28, 2026, from 6 - 8 PM. Sign up at Sign Up Central in Fellowship Hall to reserve your parking space.

🌟REFORMATION CONCERT - Friday, October 30, 2026, 7:30 pm

Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, 731 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta will host Echoing Air, an Indianapolis-based vocal ensemble with Baroque instruments. “A Mighty Fortress” is an inspiring concert of music showcasing the music of 16th to early 18th-century Lutheran composers. This program vividly portrays the Lutheran ideals of forging a personal connection with God and the growing prominence of the German vernacular language in sacred music. Join us as we bring to life the works of Heinrich Schütz, Johann Schein, Dieterich Buxtehude, Vincert Lübeck, Johann Rosenmüller, Johann Fischer, and Dietrich Becker in a harmonious celebration of this rich musical tradition. Admission and parking are free, and a reception will follow the concert. https://www.facebook.com/events/1728055265189198

NOTE THESE OTHER DATES:

Oct 31 - Quarterly Blood Drive at Good Shepherd ( 8am - 1 pm), make appointments at redcrossblood.org, sponsor code: goodshepherdlutheran.

Nov. 7 - Electronic Recycling Event and Good Shepherd's Garage Sale (cash only) more details coming soon. Sign-up to help at Sign-up Central.

Nov. 9 - One 10 AM service, Consecration Sunday, Semi-Annual Meeting, Thanksgiving Luncheon.

THURSDAY BIBLE STUDY

This class meets at 10 AM on Thursdays in Fellowship Hall and is led by Pastor Karen. We focus on the lessons that are coming up for the next Sunday.

Feel free to drop in at any time. Bring your Bible.

GREETING CARD MINISTRY- new cards available

TAKE NOTE! Our card bins are FULL of new greeting cards, with lots of new designs! We also have a new supply of HAND-PAINTED cards, which are generously donated to GSLC by Liane Dolezar, a local Woodstock artist. All donated proceeds support our Good Shepherd Youth Mission trips. This ministry is being hosted by Molly Maher, Linda Rowell, and Pam Hough.

MORE NEWS AND INFORMATION

UPDATE YOUR INFORMATION

If you have young adult GSLC members either living in your household or living outside the home who may still want news and information about Good Shepherd, please consider updating their contact information with the church office at office@gslutheran.org

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!

BUILDING ACCESS REQUEST

& CHURCH CALENDAR

Online Calendar & Calendar Submission and Entry Request Form

Use this as a resource for all Good Shepherd Events. Need to add an event to the calendar or request access to our building use the form below. Questions? Contact our Media Coordinator.

Please note that all building access requests will not be added to the calendar. The office is primarily using one form to streamline the office processes for building entry and events.

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.