Church Directory We are updating our church directory. Please check the Master Directory located in the Narthex to ensure your contact information is correct. After the corrections have been made, we will have directories available in the New Year! Thank you for helping us keep our records straight.
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. This will be cancelled in the month of December for the holidays!
Blue Christmas Things seem sad for you over the holidays. Whether it is the death of someone you loved; someone battling a serious illness; loss of a job; or just feeling blue. We encourage you join us for a Blue Christmas service for anyone just not feeling excited and happy about Christmas this year. The service will be in the Fellowship Hall on Thursday, December 19 at 7:00 pm. Come and see how Jesus is joining with us in the ups and the downs of the Christmas Season. If anyone needs a ride, please let the office know and we will coordinate transportation for you.
Christmas Eve Service You are invited to join us for Christmas Eve at 4:00 pm for Christmas Carols and 4:30 pm for our service. Our Chancel Choir will be leading as we prepare for Christmas through music, prayer, and lighting of the candles.
Communion The congregation communes around the altar. Parishioners will follow the directions of the ushers to come forward. You may pause at the baptismal font and then move to the left or right to stand or kneel at the rail. We will start in front of the altar and continue around to the back. Please leave a space on either side of the baptismal font for those with mobility issues. After receiving communion, return to the pews using the side aisles, placing the communion cup in the tray by the pillar on either side. For those choosing to remain in the pews during communion, let the ushers know if you would like the communion assistants to serve you in your pew. If you prefer communion all-in-one cups may be picked up from the Narthex before service, or you may request one from the ushers during communion.
Pastor Bob Swanson to Serve as Vice Pastor GSLC is pleased to announce that the Congregation Council of Good Shepherd has signed a Vice Pastor Agreement with Pastor Bob Swanson. As vice pastor, Pastor Bob will be available to provide pastoral care on an emergency basis for congregational members as needed. Additionally, Pastor Bob will attend Council, Commissioner, and Transition team meetings to provide ongoing guidance and support to our congregational leaders. Pastor Bob will frequently lead worship, but other pulpit supply pastors will periodically lead worship as well. The Southern Ohio Synod continues searching for an interim pastor to lead our Good Shepherd congregation as we work toward calling a new pastor. Please continue to pray that the Holy Spirit motivates, guides, and sustains us in our journey. If you have questions, please contact Council President Judy Treadway or another Council member.
Pastoral Call Process – Ministry Site Profile (MSP) Team As part of the Pastoral Call process, each congregation creates a Ministry Site Profile (MSP). This profile is a report that introduces prospective pastoral candidates to each unique congregation and community. Our Congregation Council has appointed the following members to serve as the Ministry Site Profile (MSP) team: Judy Treadway, Mary Pierce, Paula Bennett, June Newell. In the coming months our MSP team will gather and summarize information to clearly and concisely describe the life and work of our Good Shepherd congregation. Once complete, the profile will be available for congregational review and feedback. After revisions, Council will review and approve our Ministry Site Profile before it is submitted to the Synod. If you have questions, please contact Judy Treadway.
OUTREACH AND SERVICES
Annual Poinsettia Project To raise money for ELCA Hurricane Disaster Relief we are asking for donations to the Poinsettia Project. Donations can be made “in honor of” or “in memory of” in ANY amount. Order forms are available in the Narthex. If you would like to take a Poinsettia home, there will be a place on the form to check, and we will make sure enough poinsettias are purchased. All donations in honor or memory of a loved one will be acknowledged by a card on the poinsettia cross in the Narthex and listed in an insert in the Christmas Eve bulletins. You can use an envelope from the pew and make checks to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and indicate Poinsettia Project. All forms need to be submitted to the office by Sunday, December 15.
Adopt-a-Family for the Holidays This year, our church will be adopting 2 families (with a total of 8 children) for the holidays. The tree will be set up in the narthex and the gift tags have been placed the week before Thanksgiving. Gift ideas/clothing sizes/etc. are written on the tags. 2 tags are attached together. Place one of the tags in the basket on the counter & keep the other tag as a shopping guide. Please wrap the gift & place that tag on the outside. There are plenty of gift tags, so feel free to take several if you want! All gifts must be returned to church by December 8 at the very latest. Please contact Lisa Connelly or Sandy Rosholt if you have any questions. Thank you for helping brighten the holidays for these two families!”
Food Pantry News Our OCTOBER food donations were delivered to local food pantries on November 4 – totaling 190 food items. Thanks to Denny Irby for helping with these deliveries. Thank you for remembering the families who are served by the food pantries in our community. As you make your personal 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/FjrnKG Next Food Pantry Sunday is December 1, but food donations can be dropped off any time you are in the building.
Helping Hands 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. This event will be cancelled for the month of December for the holidays!
Communion Visitation Ministry All are welcome at the Table. All are welcome to join this communion visitation ministry. Good Shepherd is developing a ministry that is new for us, but not new for God’s people. Pastor Bob Abrams, our Synod liaison, joyfully affirmed this ministry stating, “Communion of homebound members from the table on Sunday is an ancient practice dating from the earliest Christians, and is a wonderful sign of God’s love.” Now we need folks who are willing to learn more about Communion Visitation. This ministry involves taking communion to members who cannot join us at the Table. Volunteers go in pairs to the home of the member. They take a bulletin, any news from the congregation, and the elements for communion. The communion service with prayers is provided. The blessings of this ministry go both ways. Prayerfully consider. Come learn more. Contact the church office or Pam Bauser to let them know of your interest. As we sing, “We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord,” may we be one at our Table. Please lift our homebound members and this ministry in your prayers.
CONTINUING EDUCATION
NEW OPPORTUNITY for ALL
PATIENCE and PRAYER!
Join with others in a Small Group Fellowship Bible Study based on THE LORD’S PRAYER!
Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools:
An Invitation to the Wonder and Mystery of Prayer by Tyler Staton in 2022
If you are interested in participating, please contact Pam Bauser at psbauser@me.com
CONTINUE FAITHFULLY into the new year with PRAYING!
Lifelong Learning
YOUTH SUNDAY SCHOOL
IT’S HAPPENING! Don’t miss out!
IN PERSON ALL our youth K – 9 are welcome to come!
Meet in the Chapel!
Gather at 9:30 am
Lessons from 9:40 am – 10:20 am
Teachers Karin Linch and Sandy Rosholt.
SUNDAY MORNING ADULT BIBLE STUDY
Topic: 2024 Advent Devotions: Christmas in the Neighborhood
John 1: 14 – “And the Word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood.” (The Message)
What was Jesus’ neighborhood like? Who were his neighbors?
What is our neighborhood like? Who are our neighbors?
Facilitator: Roger Bauser
Time: 8:50 am – 9:50 am
Place: Comfort of your own home – connect and discuss with others online!
In a study, sponsored by one of our benevolence project partners, Global Health Ministries, featuring a variety of Scripture lessons and the thoughts of one of the most renowned Biblical interpreters and theologians of our time, The Reverend Dr. Walter Bruggeman, we are going to discuss how Jesus INVITES US to step out of our front door and get to know our neighbors – next door, down the street, in our community, and around the globe. 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 – December Devotions
December Devotional “In God’s Garden” by Hannah Hawkinson
What can we learn about Advent from fig trees?
Come and discover how our own spiritual journeys mirror the cycles of life in a fig tree.
Wednesday, December 11
10:30 am in the Lounge or online
7:30 pm online
Download the devotional.
See video supplement for December devotional.
The Bible study information is accessible online at www.gathermagazine.org.
GRIEFSHARE GriefShare ministries at GSLC will resume in
March 2024. If you have any questions, please contact the church office.
MISCELLANEOUS
Offerings:
The updated final financial results for the full fiscal year ending September 30, 2024 are as follows:
· Net Income ended the year at $256,752 vs. a budget of $266,600, including Harmony Creek
· Harmony Creek is at budget of $30,000
· Budgeted Offerings are $9,848 less than budget.
· Expenses $261,198 vs budget of $265,185
· Net loss of $4,446 vs budgeted income of $1,415.
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:
Lutheran Disaster Response. Click here.
Lutheran World Relief. Click here.
Lutheran Global Links. Click here.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Invitation to Wittenberg Lessons and Carols Weaver Chapel warmly invites you to join them on Friday, December 6, at 7:30 p.m. for a cherished evening of Lessons and Carols, a service filled with song, reflection, and celebration of the Advent season. This year, the Wittenberg Choir, Wittenberg Singers, and Brass Quintet will come together to offer music under the inspiring theme of His Light in Us. The Lessons and Carols service is a beloved tradition at Wittenberg, featuring music for the Advent and Christmas season woven between scripture readings, all culminating in a beautiful, candlelit singing of Silent Night. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m., with pre-service music to set the tone for the evening. This year, no tickets are required—just bring yourselves, your voices, and a heart ready to share in the light of the season.
Christmas Spectacular! “Christmas Memories” Concert The Centerville Community Band will be holding a Christmas Spectacular concert, “Christmas Memories” featuring the Centerville Pops and with a special guest, Elvis Aaron Presley Jr. (He’s for real!) The concert will be held on Sunday, December 15, 2024 at 3:00 P.M. at the Carillon Historical Park, Eichelberger Pavilion Ballroom. The Band and Chorus are grateful to be part of bringing music to our Miami Valley community! This is going to be an unforgettable family-fun holiday concert!! For tickets, visit www.daytonhistory.org