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
Worship This Weekend Because of the dangerously frigid temperatures, the icy parking lot and sidewalks, and in the best interests of everyone’s safety, there will be no Saturday services at Good Shepherd this week and the Sunday service will be done virtually. Tune in for worship. Stay safe and warm, everyone, and check on the welfare of your friends and neighbors.
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
Parking Lot Communion will be offered on the 3rd Sunday of the month from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm. February 20 will be the next time we have it.
Ash Wednesday Service and Ashes
On March 2, GSLC will have an Ash Wednesday service at 7:00 pm. There will be drive through ashes from Noon to 1:00 pm, and again from 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm before the service at 7:00 pm.
OUTREACH AND SERVICES
Souper Bowl Sunday
GSLC’s Super Bowl 2022 has begun! We are collecting non-perishable food items to benefit our local food banks in Kettering. Who are you rooting for this year: the NFC team, the AFC team, or the Commercials? Let us know by placing your donations in the labeled boxes in the narthex. We will be collecting through Super Bowl Sunday, February 7. Thanks for your support of our local food pantries.
Food Pantry News
Thank you to all who faithfully continue to support the food pantry with your donations.
Our “Souper Bowl” results as of Sunday 1/30 are as follows:
AFC BENGALS (448) Commercials (145) NFC 49’ers (82) For a TOTAL of 675 food items.
Keep your foot on the gas Bengals fans. Remember what happened to the Chiefs and their big half-time lead. Remember the food pantries and their clients are the big winners.
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).
Please remember that January is SOUPER BOWL Month for Good Shepherd (thru Sunday, February 13 – Super Bowl Sunday). You still have two weeks to vote for your favorite team or the commercials by placing your donations in the appropriate bins each Sunday.
Jeremiah’s Letter
Sunday, February 20 is Jeremiah’s Letter Sunday. Please consider donating any of the following items to Jeremiah’s Letter: sheets, bath towels, blankets, toilet paper, shampoo, conditioner, soap, deodorant (full size or trial size), toothpaste, tooth brushes, feminine hygiene products, Depends, razors, shaving cream, denture cleansers and adhesives, backpacks, sleeping bags, broth based soups, canned goods, cereal, laundry or cleaning supplies.
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 meet 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
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
ow Lutherans Interpret the Bible by Dr. Mark Alan Powell
Facilitator: Roger Bauser
Time: 8:50 am – 9:50 am
Place: Comfort of your own home – connect and discuss with others online!
No need to wonder. Come find out more about Lutherans and our use of the Bible to tell the Good News. Be bold and join the conversation. Come listen. Come read Scriptures together. Come learn with others. Each week is an independent session. Just pop in!
Dr. Mark Alan Powell, professor emeritus from Trinity Lutheran Seminary at Capital University and respected Biblical scholar, shares insights on how we read and understand the Scriptures from a Lutheran perspective with a Lutheran understanding. Does our Lutheran heritage color the way we think about the Scriptures? Does it influence the way we respond to God’s Word? Do we interpret the Bible in the same way as others from differing faith backgrounds? Dr. Powell encourages questions. Our facilitator also encourages questions. There is no need to know. Just come explore.
The format is online to provide a safe, healthy way to connect. This is a chance to listen and learn together. Each week there will be video clips with Dr. Powell and conversation about the key points he shares. The sessions are designed to allow folks to come to one or all. This study will be our focus through February 27, the liturgical season of Epiphany.
THURSDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY for Men
Topic: Gospel Lectionary Reading for worship
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.
MONTHLY BIBLE STUDY for Women
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2021
So much to ponder!. A familiar theme: THE KINGDOM of GOD!
In January we discovered in the phrase “kingdom of God” Jesus is referring to an ACTION not a place. Now Dr. Mark Allan Powell invites us to ponder what are the secrets or mysteries of the kingdom. THE KINGDOM of GOD is a big deal to Jesus. Come find out more about what Jesus teaches us in this study. This theme continues through April 2022.
Mark your calendars NOW for this wonderful study in February. We will be continuing this study on March 23 and April 27.
Topic: The Kingdom of God: Mysteries of the kingdom (January/February 2022 issue of Gather)
Leader: Pam Bauser
Time: 10:30 am OR 7:30 pm
The study is available in the January/February 2022 issue of Gather for Faith and Action, the magazine from the Women of the ELCA. If you need a copy of the study, please contact Pam Bauser at psbauser@me.com or 937-602-8385.
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 is underway. We will be in person again this Sunday, February 6. Those coming to GSLC will meet in the Lounge. We will continue to offer hybrid class sessions, allowing folks to join us 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
Offerings for last week: $1,495.00
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 Disaster Response. Click here.
Lutheran World Relief. Click here.
ELCA Global Links. Click here.
ELCA presiding bishop issues pastoral message on Ukraine
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9).
I watch with grave concern as tensions continue between Russia and Ukraine, and I fervently pray that a peaceful resolution to the conflict will be reached. I affirm the statement of the Lutheran World Federation’s general secretary, the Rev. Dr. Anne Burghardt: “We urge all parties to de-escalate the situation and work for peace and stability. A peaceful solution must be found.”
Our social statement For Peace in God’s World offers guidance:
We of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America share with the Church of Jesus Christ in all times and places the calling to be peacemakers. . . . [T]he basis of the Church’s peace-calling is in God’s final peace, the peace of God’s eternal reign. That calling is to proclaim the Gospel of God’s final peace and to work for earthly peace.
Join with me in praying for peace for the people of Ukraine and that the international community will play a constructive role in this regard. We pray also for the Ukrainian diaspora in our context, that they may know God’s peace.
In peace,
The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton
Presiding Bishop
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
COMMUNITY EVENTS AND NOTICES
Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel
This unique exhibition in Dayton invites you to step into the universe of the greatest masterpieces of Michelangelo, seen from a totally new perspective. It is brought to you by the organizers of the finest themed exhibitions such as: Star Trek, King Tut, Titanic, Frida Kahlo, Michael Jackson and more.
Location: Mall at Fairfield Commons (Upper level of previous Elder-Beerman) Beavercreek, OH
Date: started January 14, 2022
Duration: The visit takes around 60 to 90 minutes
Tickets: $19.00 per adult, get them via online HERE.
COVID-safe: Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel Experience is true to size, hands free, and perfect for our socially distant yet innovative world. This exhibit is reproduced using state-of-the-art technology and is suitable for all audiences, relying on a spacious area where Michelangelo’s masterpieces stretch floor-to-ceiling and closer than ever. The experience will awaken visitors’ curiosity by presenting a never-before-seen perspective of his timeless masterpieces.