WORSHIP
Worship With Us Online! Join us now in worship online!
Connect with us on Sundays for an encouraging Word from God and a time of worship. Are you ready to worship together?
Please use the following links below to connect online to the Sunday Church Service:
Facebook click here: Facebook
YouTube click here: Youtube
Lingering with the Lord
Do you need some time away from the busyness of life? On the 4th Wednesday of the month come join us at GSLC to linger with the Lord followed by a time of prayer. Enjoy the chance to come together in singing and praying, while also getting a moment to spend with the Lord in prayer by yourself. There will be “stations” to help you focus on open different parts of our life if you need that, you can stay in your pew and pray, or you can just walk around the Sanctuary if that is what helps you enter some prayerful space for the Lord. Come join us Wednesday, August 28 at 7:00 pm in the Sanctuary. All are welcome to join us!
OUTREACH AND SERVICES
Matthew 25 Ministries
Recently, 423 pill bottles were donated to Matthew 25 Ministries in Cincinnati. This organization will use these on mission trips to dispense medicine. To help, please save prescription bottles that are cleaned on the outside and the inside with very hot water. To get the label off, you can use “Goo Gone” found in automotive sections of stores. Place clean bottles with lids in the tub near the entrance to the sanctuary. Thank you for your time and help in this important effort.
Backpack Blessing
We are doing something a little different this year with Blessing of the Backpacks. We will be blessing the backpacks of our children and school officials. We will also be providing details of what supplies are need for backpacks at Oakview Elementary and making backpacks full of school supplies to give to needy children at Oakview. Take advantage of the tax-free school supply week coming up on July 30 thru August 8. We will have the backpack blessing at the beginning of August.
Items for the Backpacks:
24 Count Crayons
Colored Pencils
#2 Pencils
Pencil Top Erasers
Glue Sticks
Fiskars Scissors
Folders
Dry Erase Markers
Backpacks
Food Pantry News
Our JUNE food was delivered to local food pantries on July 5 – totaling 153 food items. Thanks to Dennis Irby for handling this distribution. Thank you for remembering the families who are served by the food pantries in our community. As you make your food purchases, consider adding a few items for these families. It will be a wonderful way to help those around us. It is very helpful to avoid donations of food in glass containers so that nothing can be broken. If you would like to volunteer on a Thursday at the Feeding Friends Pantry on Bigger Road near the former Victoria’s Secret Building, go to https://signup.com/go/FjrnKGb
Next food pantry Sunday is August 4.
Jeremiah’s Letter – August 18
The mission of Jeremiah’s Letter is to bring congregations together from the greater Dayton community so that together they can enhance the daily lives of individuals and families of the inner-city who find themselves in need. To help support the works of Jeremiah’s Letter, Good Shepherd will be collecting bath and bedroom linens, personal hygiene products, canned foods and cleaning/laundry supplies.
Helping Hands
Helping Hands is taking time off for the summer months of July and August. The next official date will be September 1st. Our Property and Facilities Commission will have a recurring “Helping Hands Service Initiative” to help maintain and keep our church grounds and facilities in optimal shape as we strive to make it an inviting place. We will have a monthly event on the third Saturday from 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM to work on timely projects and seasonal tasks. If you have some time to lend a hand in a rewarding and beneficial way, please come join in the fun. Chris, Del, Wayne, and John will have a list of inside and outside projects along with the necessary supplies and tools on hand to make this time a productive, beneficial, and rewarding service opportunity for our church. Additionally, if you have ideas or recommendations on areas to improve, please send them to the Office Manager at office@goodshepherdkettering.com or to one of the commissioners. Thank you.
Are you a member and want to serve at GSLC?
Well becoming a Commissioner is a great way to be involved in the day to day ministries at Good Shepherd. We are looking for several commissioners to take over on October 1, 2023. Specifically, we are looking for a Finance and Administration Commissioner, a Parish Life & Response Commissioner, and a Worship & Celebration Commissioner. If you have any questions about these positions feel free to talk with Pr Jamie, Roger Bauser, or the current commissioner serving in that position. This is a great way to get involved as GSLC continues to carry out its mission to the community and the world.
CONTINUING EDUCATION
Lifelong Learning
YOUTH SUNDAY SCHOOL
Regular educational sessions for our youth will resume in the fall.
SUNDAY MORNING ADULT BIBLE STUDY
Sunday morning studies resume this Sunday, August 4th.
Come hear and ponder the Word of God active and relevant in our world today.
Facilitator: Roger Bauser
Time: 8:50 am – 9:50 am
Place: Comfort of your own home – connect and discuss with others online!
If you have any questions, please contact Roger Bauser at rebauser@me.com
THURSDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY for Men
The Men’s Bible Study is ONLINE on Thursday mornings at 9:00 a.m. Bring your own coffee along with your BIBLE. The focus is on the Lectionary’s Gospel Lesson for the upcoming weekend. Come join the discussion. This is a chance to go deeper before hearing the lessons on Sunday.
Topic: Gospel Lectionary Reading for worship
Facilitator: Roger Bauser
Time: 9:00 am – 10:00 am
Place: comfort of your home – connect online!
If you experience any difficulty, please contact Roger at rebauser@me.com or call 937-299-5186.
FRIDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY DISCUSSION for ALL
Come on FRIDAY mornings! Bring your own coffee along with your BIBLE. The focus is on the Lectionary Lessons for the upcoming weekend. Come join the discussion. Everyone is welcome! No prior experience is needed. Each week the study relates to the Scripture lessons for Sunday’s worship. Drop by and learn what’s behind the message on Sunday.
Topic: Gospel Lectionary Readings for worship
Facilitator: Roger Bauser
Time: 9:00 am – 10:00 am
For more information, please contact Roger at rebauser@me.com or call 937-299-5186.
Women’s Bible Study for SUMMER
“After Certainty: A biblical Guide” by the Rev. Dr. Meghan Johnston Aelabouni
Community and COMPASSION!
Wednesday, August 14
10:30 am in the Lounge or online
7:30 pm online
The July session focused on the gift of community to proclaim salvation even in the midst of uncertainty. This month our study takes us to compassion. What is it to offer compassion to ourselves and others? How might choosing compassion over correctness as a model for living as Christians in a polarized time? Wasn’t this what Jesus modeled in his ministry? Come and consider how we might live lives of compassion in our ever changing world.
Select the August 2024 link to join the conversation.There is much in the world that feels UNCERTAIN. This timely Bible study is available for ALL. Check out the links to download this thought provoking study seeking God’s Word as a guide in uncertain times. The videos and resources are accessible online at www.gathermagazine.org.
June 2024
After Certainty: Curiosity
Download the study.
July 2024
After Certainty: Community
Download the study.
August 2024
After Certainty: Compassion
Download the study.
MISCELLANEOUS
Congregational Notes – July 24, 2024
Click here for the GSLC Council Minutes
Click here for the Pastor’s Report
Click here for the Worship Recommendations Report
Leadership
We are looking for at least 2 Council Members for council this year. We are also looking for a Life Long Learning Commissioner, a Parish Life Commissioner, and a Worship Commissioner. Commission details are available in the Narthex.
Offerings:
For May YTD, the financial results are as follows:
· Offerings are $165,561 vs a budget of $177,733, including Harmony Creek
· Harmony Creek is below budget by $2,500 (June will catch-up)
· Budgeted Offerings are $9,672 less than budget.
· Expenses $172,199 vs budget of $178,797
· Net Loss of $6,637 vs a budgeted net loss of $1,064.
Electronic Giving
Don’t forget to send in your weekly tithe/offering to the church at 901 East Stroop Rd, Kettering, OH 45429 or go to our online Electronic Giving:
Electronic Giving Good Shepherd Lutheran Church is now offering the option of electronic giving for regular offerings and special offerings. Giving is done using the company Tithe.ly which is the only one endorsed by the ELCA. There are three ways to give:
1. Via smartphone using the Tithe.ly app (download via the App Store or Google Play)
2. Online at Tithe.ly
3. Via the GSLC Website which has a link to the Tithe.ly website to give directly to GSLC
The process to create an account and give is simple because it is tied to a debit or credit card. There is also a processing fee of less than 3% that you can choose to cover if desired. Benefits of Electronic Giving:
1. Ability to give from anywhere including other countries – you only need an internet connection via smartphone or computer.
2. Ability to give 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
3. Ability to choose from a variety of options where your gift goes.
4. Can give more than one gift at a time with the “Add Gift” option.
Questions: Contact Martin Pierce (937) 287-4021.
CHURCH PROGRAM DONATIONS
GSLC Lutheran Youth Corps (LYC)
Gift Card Program Did you know there is a way that you can financially support Good Shepherd at no cost to you? Through the LYC, you can order gift cards from a variety of merchants and restaurants at face value and a portion of each purchase is donated to the church to support youth programs. Although the percentage donated to the church may seem small, a few percent of our collective purchases can add up to a significant donation to Good Shepherd over time. Order forms are available in the Narthex. Orders placed on the weekend are normally available for pick up the following week, with the exception of some holiday periods and weeks where we do not reach the minimum threshold for placing an order. Please contact Don Bennett if you have any questions. What a great way to be faithful stewards of our resources!Click here to fill out the form: Gift Card Order Form
A PLACE FOR NEWS
ELCA NEWS:
ELCA Good Gifts. Click here.
Lutheran Disaster Response. Click here.
Lutheran World Relief. Click here.
ELCA Global Links. Click here.
ELCA World Hunger. Click here.
ELCA Disabilities Ministry. Click here.
COMMUNITY EVENTS AND NOTICES
The Kettering Civic Band to perform a free Summer Concert on August 8th.
The Kettering Civic Band is pleased to announce its final Summer Concert at 7:00 PM on Thursday, August 8th. The concert will be held in Kettering at Polen Farm (Address: 5099 Bigger Road). The band is directed by Catherine Abner, daughter of former Good Shepherd Choir Director, David Keener. The ensemble traditionally plays marches, show tunes and classical arrangements familiar to many. It is free to all, and ice cream will be available as a fund-raising opportunity for a local Boy Scout Troop. Since the concert is held outside on the Polen Farm lawn, please remember to bring a blanket or lawn chair, water, sun protective hat and possibly an umbrella. (There are some shade trees in the area where the audience sits.) The band ensemble, with approximately 65 members, has performed in Kettering and neighboring communities for more than 60 years. Past and current Good Shepherd members have participated over the years as part of the ensemble.