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. Come join us Wednesday, June 26 at 7:00 pm in the Sanctuary. All are welcome to join us!
OUTREACH AND SERVICES
Food Pantry News
Our May food was delivered to four local food pantries and two mini-pantries – totaling 167 food items. Thank you for remembering the families who are served by the food pantries in our community. As you make your 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/FjrnKGb
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. We will have a monthly event on the third Saturday, June 15 from 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM to work on timely projects and seasonal tasks. If you have some time to lend a hand in a rewarding and beneficial way, please come join in the fun. Chris, Del, Wayne, and John will have a list of inside and outside projects along with the necessary supplies and tools on hand to make this time a productive, beneficial, and rewarding service opportunity for our church. Additionally, if you have ideas or recommendations on areas to improve, please send them to the Office Manager at office@goodshepherdkettering.com or to one of the commissioners. Thank you.
Jeremiah’s Letter – June 16
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.
ReNew Day Camp June 24 through June 28 from 9:30 am – 12:30 pm
Good Shepherd is hosting a Day Camp following Mark 4:1-9, the story of the seed sower.
Our Day Camp is a safe place where children can have fun as they grow in faith so that they can help change the world. This program is designed for children who are pre-k through entering grade 6 and is free of charge. Lunch and snacks will consist of fresh healthy foods with lots of fruits and vegetables available. All known food allergies will be accommodated.
The schedule will start with the youth gathering for celebration and praise, then follow with learning activities, games, lunch, and ending with youth pickup. In addition to the daily schedule, on one evening Good Shepherd will host dinner for campers and their families at 6:00 pm with a special program following at 7:00 pm. There is no charge for the dinner.
Registration for our Day Camp can be picked up at the church office or downloaded from the eBlast and at www.goodshepherdkettering.com. Registration is limited to 30 campers. Please grab a brochure from the counter in the Foyer and invite any kids you may know. We would love to share with the youth in our community how to grow in faith, have fun, and change the world.
If you would like to volunteer, please contact the church office at office@goodshepherdkettering.com or contact Don Bennett at don.bennett@goodshepherdkettering.com
Daycamp Need
GSLC is asking people to save their empty toilet paper and paper towel rolls. They will be using them for a craft in day camp and will need a lot of them. Please give any donations to the office or Don Bennett.
Gathering 24 News
Rowan Linch is attending the Lutheran National Youth Gathering in July 2024. She travels by bus with 30 other youth from Epiphany Lutheran and other churches to New Orleans for a week. They are camping in churches and sightseeing along the way. All participants are raising funds with Epiphany Lutheran. We are asking for your support for this faith journey. The National Youth Gatherings have been important to youth faith formation at Good Shepherd for over 60 years.
How Good Shepherd can help:
· Put her and all participants in your prayers.
· Help by attending fundraising events at Epiphany Lutheran Church in Centerville.
· Ask how her events and the group-building activities are going.
Are you a member and want to serve at GSLC?
Well becoming a Commissioner is a great way to be involved in the day to day ministries at Good Shepherd. We are looking for several commissioners to take over on October 1, 2023. Specifically, we are looking for a Finance and Administration Commissioner, a Parish Life & Response Commissioner, and a Worship & Celebration Commissioner. If you have any questions about these positions feel free to talk with Pr Jamie, Roger Bauser, or the current commissioner serving in that position. This is a great way to get involved as GSLC continues to carry out its mission to the community and the world.
CONTINUING EDUCATION
Lifelong Learning
YOUTH SUNDAY SCHOOL
Regular educational sessions for our youth will resume in the fall.
SUNDAY MORNING ADULT BIBLE STUDY
Transition into the summer schedule joining this study on GRACE!
Topic: Up & Down: Where Grace Takes You
Facilitator: Roger Bauser
Time: 8:50 am – 9:50 am
Place: Comfort of your own home – connect and discuss with others online!
Come explore the possibilities of GRACE! We talk about grace, how do we live in grace? God offers grace, can we accept that generosity? God extends grace to all, do we? Luther’s life was transformed by his understanding of God’s immeasurable grace which led to the reformation. How can God’s GRACE reform us?
If you are interested in viewing the online videos that accompany this course, 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 for SUMMER
“After Certainty: A biblical Guide” by the Rev. Dr. Meghan Johnston Aelabouni
The Summer 2024 Bible study is available to ALL on the Gather website! There are three sessions: Curiosity, Community, Compassion. The videos and resources are in the May/June and July/August Gather print magazines. They are also accessible online at www.gathermagazine.org. This is a wonderful opportunity to explore these Bible studies on your own or with others. We will meet together at GSLC in June and August.
Our study’s author, Rev. Dr. Meghan Johnston Aelabouni has done previous studies. She and her family live in Israel continuing their ministry in the midst of constant uncertainty. She writes, “A global pandemic, political upheaval, a changing climate… these days, the future is more uncertain than it has ever been. Or is it? For the people of the Bible, life was often shaped by deep uncertainty. Encounters with God sparked awe, confusion or courage, but rarely certainty. Instead, God’s people have always been called to follow God into the unknown, trusting in God’s certain grace and love.
“After Certainty: A biblical Guide” by the Rev. Dr. Meghan Johnston Aelabouni
CURIOSITY!
Wednesday, June 12
10:30 am in the Lounge or online
7:30 pm online
Jesus’ ministry, during the uncertainty of the first century Roman occupation, often challenged the “certainties” of the status quo when it came to faith, power and relationships. Curiosity drew people to Jesus and his message. Holy curiosity can lead us to hear Jesus’ message and see God’s presence in new ways. Come and see!
Download the study.
Watch the video supplement.
Further information is available at www.gathermagazine.org
The NEXT session will be on Wednesday, August 14th! Mark your calendars now.
MISCELLANEOUS
OWLs Luncheon
The next luncheon is scheduled for noon on Saturday, June 8 at Greez! on Far Hills Ave. There is a sign up sheet in the narthex. Please sign up if you plan to go so we can give them an accurate count.
Offerings:
For April YTD, the financial results are as follows:
· Offerings are $150,532 vs a budget of $155,516, including Harmony Creek
o Harmony Creek is at budget ($17,500)
o Budgeted Offerings are $4,985 less than budget.
· Expenses $148,146 vs budget of $157,202
· Net Income of $2,386 vs a budget of -$1,686.
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:
ELCA Good Gifts. Click here.
Lutheran Disaster Response. Click here.
Lutheran World Relief. Click here.
ELCA Global Links. Click here.
ELCA World Hunger. Click here.
ELCA Disabilities Ministry. Click here.
COMMUNITY EVENTS AND NOTICES
Art Exhibit
On Friday, June 7 from 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm Christian Fellowship Center will have paintings and drawings of Nancy Birdsong (Pastor/Head of Staff at Southminster Presbyterian Church). Nancy’s artwork includes portraits, still life, nature scenes, and wildlife. Most of her work tends toward realism, with some hints of impressionism. Southminster Presbyterian Church is located at 7001 Far Hills Avenue in Dayton. Come to door #5 on the Alex Bell side of the parking lot).
Kid’s Fishing Derby at Delco Park on Saturday, June 8. Registration goes from 9:00 am – 9:45 am and the Derby is from 10:00 am – Noon. Lunch is provided with awards from Noon – 1:00 pm. Parents or guardians must remain with their children during the event. Poles and wax worms will be available. Held rain or shine. For more information, call Ron Labatzky at 937-689-1021.
River’s Edge Brass Band
Westminster Presbyterian Church at 125 N. Wilkinson Street in Dayton is hosting a concert by The Rivers Edge Brass Brand on Sunday, June 9 at 3:00 pm. Ample parking is across from the church on First Street, additional park at the corner of Perry and Second Street. From 75, turn south on 48, turn right in Monument, left on Perry Street, and left on First Street. Freewill offering.
Harmony Creek’s Church Hurts June Meeting
Open to all, ChurchHurts is a support group for anyone who has been wounded by the church. The group will meet on Monday, June 24 from 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm in the Lounge and on Zoom. To sign up, you can email Rev. Michelle Wilkey at pastormichelle@harmony-creek.org.