The staff at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church wishes everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! May you all be blessed! So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! – 2 Corinthians 5:17
Face Masks Love your neighbor as yourself. – Mark 12:31
Please wear your mask to keep you and your neighbor safe from the spread of COVID19. Please wear your mask when you are inside the church building.
Masks are required for worship at GSLC. GSLC leadership monitors the health advisories for our area. Under the current conditions, health officials recommend wearing a mask indoors for everyone’s safety. This includes people who are fully vaccinated. Given the current rise in COVID19 cases in our area, we are requiring MASKS during worship at GSLC. You may remove your mask for Holy Communion and then put it back on to return to your seat. If you prefer not to wear a mask, please join us for worship online. From the CDC website: To maximize protection from the Delta variant and prevent possibly spreading it to others, wear a mask indoors in public if you are in an area of substantial or high transmission. Montgomery, Greene, Preble, Butler and Warren counties are all areas with substantial transmission.
WORSHIP
Christmas Eve Worship Services
The first service will be at 4:30 pm (with music beginning at 4:00 pm) on December 24. This will be Candle Light worship where music will be led by the choir. This service will be streamed. The second service will be at 7:30 pm (music begins at 7:00 pm) on December 24. This will also be Candle Light worship with music led by the Praise Team.
We will be streaming our 4:00 pm Candle Light Service on YouTube & Facebook:
Facebook click here: Facebook
YouTube click here: Youtube
Christmas Eve Communion
If you are streaming the 4:00 pm Christmas Eve service from home but want to take Holy Communion while streaming you can pick up the communion elements earlier in the week at the church office or in the parking lot from 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm on Christmas Eve.
Parking Lot Communion will be offered on the 3rd Sunday of the month from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm. January 16 will be the next time we have it.
Worship With Us Online!
Good Shepherd will continue to offer online worship on Sundays and our parking lot Holy Communion on the third Sunday from Noon – 1:00 pm.
Please use the following links below to connect online to the Sunday Church Service:
Facebook click here: Facebook
YouTube click here: Youtube
OUTREACH AND SERVICES
Food Pantry News
Thank you to all who faithfully continue to support the food pantry with your donations. 280 food items were delivered this week and were received with deep appreciation. The primary food pantry donation bin is in the narthex; so, if you come to church on Sunday morning you can bring your donations and place them there. During the week, you can still place your donations inside the fellowship hall doors. Monetary donations may still be made by placing a check (payable to Good Shepherd with “food pantry” in the memo line) in the offering or mailing it to the church office. The food pantry has told us that the following items are among the most needed and useful for donation: noodles and pastas, cereals, canned fruits and vegetables, kids’ canned pastas, boxed “helper” meals, canned meats, chicken and tuna, instant potatoes, canned soups (Campbell’s Chunky soups or Progresso soups – if on sale – are especially useful because they can be stretched by adding pasta and making a casserole meal).
Annual Poinsettia Project
Thank you to all who have donated money to the Poinsettia Project, of which the beneficiary is ELCA Good Gifts. In the wake of the recent tornadoes in Kentucky, ELCA Disaster relief is requesting donations to help those affected by these tornadoes. We would like to donate to both outreach missions with the money raised for the Poinsettia Project. In early January, Pastor Jamie and I will meet to determine how the funds will be disbursed and we will share with the congregation. If you have already contributed towards the Poinsettia Project and would like to donate additionally to the Disaster Relief, please note “disaster relief” on your check/offering envelope. Please place in the offering plate or mail directly to church. Thank you, Merry Christmas and God’s Blessings to you all! Lisa Connelly – Witness and Outreach
CONTINUING EDUCATION
Lifelong Learning
Learn more about God’s Word for us. Join us ONLINE to learn together.
Our ADULT Lifelong Learning Classes are ONLINE. Everyone is welcome! Discover the quality adult education we have at GSLC. Our Bible studies are open to ALL near and far. If you haven’t checked any of these out, please consider this invitation to join us now.
Sunday School for K-8 youth: Our youth will resume meeting on January 9, 2022, in the chapel on Sundays at 9:15 am. ALL youth are welcome!
FRIDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY DISCUSSION for ALL
Topic: Gospel Lectionary Readings for worship
This study resumes on Friday, January 14, 2022.
Come on FRIDAY mornings! Bring your own coffee and treats along with your BIBLE. The focus is on the Lectionary Lessons for the upcoming weekend. Come join the discussion facilitated by Roger Bauser. 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.
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.
SUNDAY MORNING ADULT BIBLE STUDY
This session will be returning Sunday, January 16, 2022.
THURSDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY for Men
Topic: Gospel Lectionary Reading for worship
This study resumes on Thursday, January 13, 2022.
Facilitator: Roger Bauser
Time: 9:00 am – 10:00 am
Place: comfort of your home – connect online!
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. If you experience any difficulty, please contact Roger at rebauser@me.com or call 937-299-5186.
Griefshare
Mourning to Joy – Good Shepherd offers a fall and winter session of GriefShare. This ministry offers biblical, Christ-centered teaching on topics associated with the death of a loved one. The DVD seminar features nationally respected grief experts and real-life personal stories, followed by a small group discussion about the weekly topic and personal grief experiences. Good Shepherd is offering the 13 week GriefShare program in person and online from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm on Sundays.
The winter/spring session will begin on Sunday, January 9, 2022. We will continue to offer hybrid class sessions, both in person and online. The spring sessions will conclude on Sunday, April 8, 2022.
Registration and more information is available online at www.griefshare.org If you have any questions, contact Kathy Seim (937-901-0532) or Pam Bauser (937-602-8385). If you would like to support this ministry with more than your prayers, please contact Pam Bauser or Kathy Seim.
MISCELLANEOUS
GSLC Council Meeting Minutes – December 9, 2021
Please find a copy of GSLC Meeting Minutes by clicking the link here.
December Stewardship Snippets – December 24, 2021
Titus 2:11, 12 – For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly. It requires some readjustment to live fully as steward/disciples. Through Jesus we find strength. As we more fully turn to Jesus, our eyes clear, our minds brighten, and we find it easier to turn from worldly desires and values to the joy and simplicity of life in Christ.
December Stewardship Snippets – December 26, 2021
Colossians 3:12, 14 – As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. We all know that stewardship is about how we live so that we love God thoroughly and our neighbor as ourselves. This remarkable passage gives us a vivid image to help us get there. Wake each day and clothe ourselves in Christian character and love.
Offerings for last week: $2,150.00
The amount reported applies to contributions used towards the annual ministry plan which requires contributions of $5,243 every week.
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
AmazonSmile
It’s easy to do. Go to our website for Youth Donations, Good Shepherd Youth Donations, scroll down and 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!
Click here to fill out the form: Gift Card Order Form
A PLACE FOR NEWS
ELCA NEWS:
Lutheran World Relief Christmas Match. Click here.
Lutheran Disaster Response. Click here.
Lutheran World Relief. Click here.
ELCA Global Links. Click here.
A Note from Bishop Dillahunt
In this Christmas season, as we reflect upon this past year and all that we have been through, we are grateful that we can gather in worship safely. Thank you for caring for neighbors, friends, family, and strangers during this very special time of the year. Wishing you peace, comfort, health, and joy as we celebrate the coming of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.Once again this year, the Synod staff has gathered for a special service of carols, scripture, and prayer. This service will be posted on YouTube on Christmas Eve. Join us!
As we look to a new year may the God of love and grace strengthen you and give you peace.
Bishop Dillahunt and the Southern Ohio Staff Team