PDF of the bulletin insert can be found here
WORSHIP
Worship With Us Online!
Join us now in worship online!
Connect with us 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
LAST WEEK’S SERMON You can watch last week’s sermon here
Thank you to the members of the Kettering Noon Optimist Club for their generous donation to Good Shepherd for $250. The club uses one of our rooms in the lower level of the fellowship hall to store many of their club project supplies. To find out more about the work of the club to support the children of our community or to find out about club membership, check out their website https://ketteringnoon.org. Good Shepherd member Chris Steel is an active member of the club and a former president.
We at Good Shepherd extend our heart-felt thanks to the Church Council of First Lutheran Church, Dayton for their generous gifts of a brass Advent Wreath holder and communion
cups. While First Lutheran has closed its doors to worship, its Council members continue the task of managing the paperwork of church closure. Good Shepherd will use the Advent Wreath holder and communion cups with sincere gratitude and joy.
PARISH LIFE
SEPTEMBER COUNCIL & BUDGET VOTING RESULTS:
Good Shepherd is pleased to announce the voting results regarding Council members and the Annual Budget. First of all, 65 members cast their ballot – that’s more than half all voting members! Results: the 2025-2026 Budget was approved by a landslide (59 approved, 6 abstained). Likewise, all four candidates were overwhelmingly elected to a three-year term as Council members: Paula Bennett, Lorry Creech, Jeff Seibert, Kathy Seim.
OWLS LUNCHEON
OWLS Luncheon, Sat Oct 11 at 12:30, Geez: The Older and Wiser Lutherans (OWLS) of Good Shepherd will gather for an October feast on Saturday, October 11 at 12:30. We will meet at Geez Grill and Pub located at 6061 Far Hills Ave in Centerville (near Dorothy Lane Market). All senior citizens are invited to join us for good food and friendly fellowship. Please contact Ginny Herbeck (937) 298-8876 if you have questions.
OUTREACH AND SERVICES
GRIEFSHARE
Seeking compassion…a safe place…healing…understanding that our public grief is not the same as our private grief???
Good Shepherd is offering GriefShare for anyone dealing with the loss of a loved one. Folks can join at any time. GriefShare addresses both current and past losses – whatever may be weighing on your heart.
The GriefShare ministry offers biblical, Christ-centered teaching on topics associated with the death of a loved one. It is a place to find support and comfort in the company of others who are experiencing loss. The video seminar series and participant guide feature nationally respected grief experts and real-life personal stories. Each week there are group discussions about the weekly topics and personal grief experiences. Good Shepherd is hosting the 13-week program, GriefShare: Your Journey from Mourning to Joy, in person and online from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm on Sundays. If you or someone you know is interested, please register online at www.griefshare.org or call the church office. If you have any questions, contact Kathy Seim (937-901-0532) or Pam Bauser (937-602-8385).
TRUNK OR TREAT TIME!
Save the Date! Harmony Creek Church and Good Shepherd Lutheran will team up to host once again a Trunk or Treat on Sunday October 26 from 2pm-4pm. Plan to decorate your trunk and join us for an afternoon of fun!
SURVIVING THE HOLIDAYS 4.0COMING UP – Saturday, November 1st
Spread the word. ONLY one session that is powerfully packed with real experiences and expert advice.
This single session focuses on the challenges of grief during the holiday seasons of Thanksgiving and Christmas. The holidays intensify our feelings of loss amidst the emphasis on family and holiday gathering. The experts offer both practical suggestions and hope for remembering and cherishing our loved ones who are not gathering with us.
Saturday, November 1
GSLC Fellowship Lounge
10:00 am – Noon
Survival Guide resource for this session is $10.
If you or someone you know is interested, you may register online at www.griefshare.org or call the church office. If you have any questions, contact Kathy Seim (937-901-0532) or Pam Bauser (937-602-8385).
Mark your calendars now!
FOOD PANTRY NEWS
Our August food donations were delivered to 4 local food pantries on September 9 – totaling 205 food items. Thank you for faithfully remembering the families who are served by the food pantries in our community. As you do your personal food shopping, 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. You can bring your donations to church any time, but the next official Food Pantry Sunday will be Sunday, October 5 .
If you would like to volunteer on a Thursday at the Feeding Friends Pantry on Bigger Road near the former Victoria’s Secret Building, click here to sign up.
CONTINUING EDUCATION
YOUR WEEKLY INVITATION: Why invite others?
Why should we reach out and invite others? First, let’s just say it: merely filling our pews to increase our offerings is NOT a good reason to invite people into congregational life. That would be hollow, hypocritical, and not based on the teachings of Jesus.
So then, why should we invite others? We proclaim that in loving response to being created, saved and gifted by God, we are therefore called to seek, serve, and share Jesus Christ. Sound familiar? We are called to reach out as God’s hands, feet, and voice in this world in service that matters to God, made known to us through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We are called to share God’s message and invite others to work with us in community. If we at Good Shepherd take that leap of faith, allowing the Holy Spirit to truly lead our hearts and minds in fulfilling God’s mission, people will respond to our invitations and join us.
BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP
You are INVITED to join our group discussion!
Open for ALL. Drop ins welcome! Come join the lively conversation in the Fellowship Hall.
October Wednesday evenings ( 10/8, 10/15, 10/22)
6:00 – 7:30 pm
Meeting in person.
Studying The Invitational Christian by Dave Daubert
Curious about the emphasis on being an INVITING CONGREGATION? Wondering who is doing the INVITING? Thinking – what does INVITING mean to me? This is the place for you.
SUNDAY MORNING ADULT BIBLE STUDY
The Sunday morning Adult Zoom Bible Study is taking several weeks off for the summer.
Please watch for information about future opportunities.
THURSDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY DISCUSSION for ALL
Come join us on Zoom on Thursday mornings! Bring your bible with your coffee. 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. Questions: Call the office at 937-298-0136
Topic: Gospel Lectionary Readings for Worship
Facilitator: Roger Bauser
Time: 9:00 am – 10:00 am
MISCELLANEOUS
GSLC CHRISTMAS MARKET
The GSLC Christmas Market is on November 8, 2025 from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Vendors from all over the area will be attending with a variety of handmade items and small business products. The handmade presentations include stone candles, rehab’d vintage pieces, baked goods, crocheted pieces, jewelry of all sorts, embroidered pillows, designer cups, freshly made ornaments, wood designs, and so much more! The small businesses include Scentsy, Avon, Mary Kay, Lularoe, and many others! We will be selling a bite to eat from our kitchen, we will be conducting a Raffle, and we will be offering festive decorations to align with our theme!
Financial Update
The updated financial results through July 2025, are as follows:
- YTD income of $198,802 is $24,116 lower than the budget of $222,918
- YTD expenses of $160,094 is favorable to the budget of $227,948 due to lower Senior Pastor expenses
- July YTD net income is therefore $38,708
The bi-annual contribution statements have been mailed, please contact June Newell with any questions
Hand Sanitizer in pews: Small bottles of hand sanitizer are now available in the pews for you to use. The bottles are located near the center aisle.
The 2025 Altar Flower Calendar is posted in the Narthex near the serving area. You are encouraged to sign up now to select your favorite date. Flowers can be given in HONOR of a person or event or in MEMORY of a person or special occasion. When you choose to donate Altar Flowers, you are welcome to take them home after the Sunday service. Flowers that remain are made into bouquets and distributed to members of the congregation. They do bring great cheer and a loving connection to our GSLC family to someone who is hospitalized, ill or unable to worship with us. Altar Flowers are $45.00.
Consider adding your gifts to this important worship ministry. Donate flowers. Offer to become a Flower Delivery person.
There will be no altar flowers during the season of Lent
Offerings: Electronic Giving
Please 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