Two Options to Worship
Good Shepherd is continuing to offer in-person worship to anyone who would like to worship with us every Sunday Morning at 10:30 am. Holy Communion will also be available in person during the worship service. If you can’t meet together with us on Sunday Morning, we will continue to offer online worship on Sundays and our parking lot Holy Communion on the first and third Sundays from Noon – 1:00 pm.
Please use the following links below to connect online to the Sunday Church Service:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/goodshepherdkettering/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFjr6taytoTncrtHVY9TGQw
Online Events Information
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church will be doing a Streaming Devotional with Pr. Jamie Vannoy every Wednesday at Noon. We will also be including Read Aloud Stories with Don Bennett every weekday, Monday – Friday, at 2:30 pm. Please come, connect, and enjoy.
Please use the following links below to connect:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/goodshepherdkettering/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFjr6taytoTncrtHVY9TGQw
Offerings for last week:
$2,288.14
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 https://tithe.ly/give?c=329631
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 or Denise Wilson (513) 913-0133.
This Week’s Article
This week’s article is by William Willimon @ Ministry Maters.
As the days grow darker in the fall, the scripture readings grow darker in the Revised Common Lectionary. At the end of Matthew’s gospel, Jesus promises to be with his disciples “until the end of the age” (Matthew 28). What will that “end” be like and what is its meaning?
We mainline, liberal-leaning pastors are apt to be discomforted by Matthew’s apocalyptic. There’s no doubt that Matthew (in a way unlike Mark, Luke, or John) asserts that divine judgment is real and that exclusion from God’s realm is fully possible if disciples refuse to live as Jesus has directed. Here’s a gospel in which there is weeping and gnashing of teeth, exclusion from wedding feasts, the gavel coming down and the door being locked. If your stress is upon Jesus as unconditional, all-accepting, utterly gracious love, Matthew’s stress on judgment as encouragement for good works in the name of Christ is sure to make you uncomfortable.
The parable of the coins in Matthew 25:14-30 tempts those of us who are uncomfortable with apocalyptic to focus on the first half of the parable and exclude the second half from our proclamation:
The master gives out coins and, since I like to think of myself and my congregation as a talented bunch of people, I’m tempted to see those talents as equivalent to the coins in the parable: Didn’t God gave us talents to use responsibly?
Wouldn’t your congregation love to hear that sermon? Most do.
Most of the verses of the parable seem to turn on the master giving the slaves some of his great wealth so that they can turn a profit for the master. The slaves are differentiated by how much or how little they are entrusted: the first two receive 10 coins and 5 coins, respectively. The parable repeats, almost word for word, what the first two slaves receive in coins and the response they get from the master.
The third slave receives much more attention in the parable, the one who buried his one coin in the ground. The behavior of the first two slaves is covered by Matthew 25:23. After verse 24, concerns about the one-coin slave takes over the narrative. The severe judgment of the third slave seems to be the intention of the parable—all the talk of the slave’s uselessness, the casting into outer darkness, the wailing and gnashing of teeth. There’s no doubt that the parable wants to talk about judgement.
It’s possible, as some commentators allege, that the first half of the parable is straight from Jesus while the last half is by later moralistic church commentators. And who wants to think of God as a master of slaves whose judgment is reserved for cautious investors?
Although we may be uncomfortable with Matthew’s story, the whole story, first and last half taken together, let’s pay more attention to Matthew’s text than to our own reactions and reservations.
Surely, it’s fair to say that Matthew’s apocalyptic—the grand unveiling, the revelation—is meant to show us something about God and ourselves that has enduring relevance. Knowing the end, the ultimate judgement, the eventual return of the master, how then should we live now?
We find ourselves in the meantime, stuck between Jesus’s first advent and the next. Jesus has come and shown us God’s way to us but God isn’t yet done with us nor is Jesus’s mission completely fulfilled. Matthew’s parable of the coins may not be a completely satisfying answer to all our questions—what metaphor is? However, we are shown something revealing about God. In a surprising show of generosity and trust, the master has “entrusted his property to them” (Matthew 25:14 NRSV). Yet the master also promises eventually to return and settle up with them.
It’s important, when working with biblical apocalyptic, to apply a hermeneutical principle: apocalyptic is not solely concerned with the future but with the present. The parable is being told by Jesus who is, in his crucifixion and resurrection, both present to them and yet absent from them, both available to them and yet far away from them, so what’s the relevance of this now-not yet quality of Jesus for our present existence?
We don’t know when the master will return and settle accounts. What we do know is that the master one day will return and that the master connects the master’s gifts with our faithful deeds. The master’s grace is to be responded to with our good deeds.
One interpretation of this parable: God’s gifts are God’s assignments; grace entails responsibility; God’s grace is judgmental; God’s judgment is gracious.
Jeremiah’s Letter is on November 15
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. Thank you to all who generously support this ministry!
Food Pantry News
Our November 3, Good Shepherd delivery of 270 food items to the Greenmont-Oak Park-Ascension Neighbor to Neighbor Food Pantry was greatly appreciated. Many thanks to the Good Shepherd members and our generous neighbors for continuing donations each month. With Congress and the President currently unable to reach an agreement on economic assistance for pandemic victims our donations now are more important than ever. As you are doing your grocery shopping, please remember the food pantry recipients for these life-sustaining gifts. If you prefer, you can send a check, (payable to Good Shepherd and marked for food pantry) to the office. You can drop off food or checks during the week by ringing the fellowship hall entry bell and placing items in the donation box immediately inside the door or you can bring them to church on Sunday if you choose to attend in-person worship at 10:30 am.
Need a Treasurer
Denise Wilson resigned from being Treasurer after serving faithful and we are in need of a Treasurer. Please pray that we fill this crucial position on the Council will be filled quickly. If you are interested in knowing more information about the position feel free to call the Church Office and ask to speak to Pr. Jamie.
Live Streaming
Our Audio Visual team has been working hard getting our live streaming capabilities up and running. They are now in need of folks to train. If you are willing to help and love being able to volunteer you are the ones we want. The more volunteers we have the less times you have to do it per month. We will be streaming one service a week and it will be a rotating schedule. Don has assured me it is not difficult, you just have to be able to pay attention!! Please, if you are on the fence about this come and see what it is all about. In other words, no obligation, try before you “buy” in. Any questions contact Don Bennett at don.bennet@goodshepherdkettering.com or call the church at 9237-298-0136. ~ Michele Weyhrauch, Worship Commissioner
Advent Midweek Services
On Wednesdays from December 2, December 9, and December 16 there will be Advent Midweek Services at 7:00 pm via GSLC Facebook and Youtube channels.
Please use the following links below:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/goodshepherdkettering/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFjr6taytoTncrtHVY9TGQw
GriefShare
GSLC continues to offer GriefShare to our community. If you or someone you know is interested, please be in touch with Pastor Jamie or call Pam Bauser (937-602-8385) or Kathy Seim (936-901-0532). GriefShare is a faith based ministry that combines group discussion, video input from experts and others who know the grief journey, and individual study in the resource book. This ministry is available to all who have experienced the loss of a loved one at any time. Further information and registration is available at https://www.griefshare.org or by calling the GSLC office (937-298-0136).
GriefShare’s Mourning to Joy is OPEN to ALL!
Now through Sunday, December 6 from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Topic: GriefShare
Time: SUNDAY 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Lifelong Learning
Our ADULT Lifelong Learning Classes are ONLINE! Everyone is welcome! Learning Classes are ONLINE! Everyone is welcome! Please contact the church office for the links below to join in the conversations.This is a great time to “zoom” in and discover the quality adult education we have at GSLC. Our Bible studies are open to ALL online. If you haven’t checked any of these out, please consider joining the conversations.
Our YOUTH classes (Kindergarten – 6th grade) are resuming in person on November 1. The WHIRL curriculum is based on the weekly lectionary for the church year that allows our students to connect what they learn in class with what they hear in worship. Karin Linch and Sandy Rosholt are the teachers for our youth classes.
CATECHISM is being offered online this year. Catechism is for our 6th, 7th, and 8th graders in preparation for confirmation, affirming the baptismal promises. If you have an interest in our studies of the Bible, Luther’s Small Catechism, and Lutheran heritage, please contact the church office for more information. Pastor Jamie and Don Bennett teach our catechism classes.
SATURDAY MORNING BREAKFAST BIBLE STUDY DISCUSSION for ALL
Topic: Lectionary for Sunday worship
Facilitator: Roger Bauser
Time: 9:00 am – 10:00 am
Place: comfort of your home – connect online!
Join Zoom Meeting Saturdays at 9:00 a.m.
Bring your own coffee and breakfast along with your BIBLE. The focus is on the Lectionary Lessons for the upcoming Sunday. Come join the discussion facilitated by Roger Bauser. Use the Zoom meeting link to join the conversation. Everyone (ALL ages and genders) 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. If you experience any difficulty connecting, please contact Roger at rebauser@me.com or call 937-299-5186.
SUNDAY MORNING ADULT BIBLE STUDY
Topic: ACTS of the Apostles: a Biblical study on The Book of ACTS!
Facilitator: Roger Bauser
Time: 9:00 am – 10:00 am
Place: Comfort of your home – connect online!
Bring your coffee. Have your Bible handy. COME BE RENEWED by the power of the Holy Spirit! COME LISTEN to God speak to each of us through the Book of ACTS. This week read and ponder Acts chapters 10-11.Hear more of God’s love as the Holy Spirit leads the disciples to share the Good News as Peter has a vision and travels to meet Cornelius. If you experience any difficulty connecting, please contact Roger at rebauser@me.com or call 937-299-5186.
THURSDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY for Men
Topic: Lectionary for Sunday worship
Facilitator: Roger Bauser
Time: 9:00 am – 10:00 am
Place: comfort of your home – connect online!
The Men’s breakfast Bible Study is ONLINE on Thursday mornings at 9:00 a.m. Bring your own coffee and breakfast along with your BIBLE. The focus is on the Lectionary Lessons for the upcoming Sunday. Come join the discussion facilitated by Roger Bauser. Use the following link to join the conversation. If you experience any difficulty, please contact Roger at rebauser@me.com or call 937-299-5186.
AmazonSmile
In 2018, we received $15.95 in donations from AmazonSmile. In 2019 we received $19.64. Would you like to help go over those amounts for 2020? It’s easy to do. Go to our website, goodshepherdkettering.com, and on the front page on the right side you will see a little graphic labeled amazonsmile. Click on that and follow the directions. Once you’ve done that, instead of going to amazon.com to make an online purchase, go to smile.amazon.com and for every purchase you make, we will get 0.5% of that price donated to us. It’s still Amazon, with all the features of the normal site, we just get a small cut. Over time those 0.5% donations add up. Please consider supporting us in this way. The proceeds go to help with youth events. If you have any questions, please contact Don Bennett.
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 and the First Lutheran Breakfasts. 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!
ELCA NEWS:
ELCA Disability Ministry God’s work. Our hands. Click here.
Lutheran World Relief Sustainable Development. Click here.
ELCA Global Links. Click here.