Online Worship & Holy Communion
With the Covid_19 numbers continuing to rise in Montgomery County, at the recommendation of Gov. DeWine & Bishop Suzanne Dillahunt, we will be moving back to online worship and meetings only beginning this weekend. Until we are out of a level 3, and the counties numbers continue to stay down we will remain doing everything online again. A few important things to note: We will continue to offer Holy Communion twice a month and that will be on the 2nd & 4th Sundays (August 9 & August 23) from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm. Hope to see you there.
Online Worship Information
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church will continue doing a video of our church service. Online worship will be available on Sunday at 10:30 am. Come and enjoy GSLC’s service online.
Please use the following links below to connect to the Sunday Church Service:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/goodshepherdkettering/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFjr6taytoTncrtHVY9TGQw
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
$2,365.00
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 Matters.
The potential dangers posed by reading and preaching Romans prompt some to set it aside. However, sometimes the church has read (and preached) Romans well, and—since shortly after Jesus ascended and sent the Holy Spirit—Paul’s letter to the Romans has been one of the texts Christians read (and preach) expecting to hear through Romans a Word from the Lord. Could this week be one of those times that by the Spirit’s power the Lord speaks through Romans again?
Though some of the Jews have, like Paul, come to see Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s promises to Israel and even as himself God, many have not (yet). And what’s more, by Paul’s preaching and the work of the Holy Spirit, many of the Gentiles—those whom God had not chosen, those on the outside of the covenant—were coming to have faith in Christ. Does this mean, Paul wonders, that God has abandoned Israel, that the children of the promise have been disowned as someone grabbed off the street is written into the will in their stead?
The image of Paul cut off from the community for its sake echoes Leviticus 16, the prescription of the rituals of the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year, when Israel would celebrate one of its great “sacraments” (as someone like Ambrose might describe it). Paul wills to be the scapegoat, the one who bears the sins, the violence, of the community for its sake, so that it can maintain its integrity.
In this wish, he imitates Christ who was made “to be sin for our sake, so that through him we could become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Israel is the Lord’s family, included long before the promise was extended to encompass the Gentiles too. Israel received the Law, the Lord’s will for their ordering of ceremony, civil society, families, diets, morality, and more. Israel is promised fruitfulness and abundance if they will but follow the Lord and the Lord alone.
Glory of glories, the Lord refuses to be a God without Israel but elects to dwell among the Lord’s chosen people as one of them, a son of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, a son of David, Emmanuel—the one by whom Israel may say, “God is with us.”
Through everything accomplished by Jesus the Messiah, he is now the end of the Law (Romans 10:4), the one who has established a new way of being in relation to God, adoption in the Spirit (8:15), yet it is a new way to the same God, a new way which in no way abrogates the election of Israel. Thus, when Paul raises the question again, “has God rejected his people?” (11:1) his answer is “Absolutely not!” in the CEB, “By no means!” in the NRSV.
How can Paul make this claim? What he has discerned in God’s patterns of election—“loving” the younger, weaker, trickster son Jacob and hating the elder, faithful, manlier, better hunter “Esau” (a quotation Paul pulls in Romans 9:13 to illustrate election not from Genesis but from Malachi 1:2-3)—is that the apparent rejection by God of the unchosen is only provisional and is directed towards a final reunion and consummation.
Paul’s worry that God might have made Israel as a “vessel of wrath,” created for the sole purpose of being destroyed and thereby demonstrating God’s mighty power (9:22) is answered finally that “God has locked up all people in disobedience, in order to have mercy on all of them” (11:32). Though Paul prayed that he could forsake his inheritance in order to keep Israel from losing its own, he need not be the scapegoat for Jesus Christ has already been cursed and cut off—for “anyone hung on a tree is cursed” reads Deuteronomy 21:23 as Paul reminds us in Galatians 3:13—and still been resurrected and exalted by the Lord that all might finally be welcomed into the family of God.
We Gentiles can rejoice that God has graciously chosen to adopt us into God’s family against nature, common sense, and good taste without thinking (blasphemously) that our inclusion is to the exclusion of God’s chosen ones, the Jews. Are our congregations ready to offer the praise which follows hearing this much good news?
Stewardship Snippets – August 2, 2020
When [Jesus] went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. – Matthew 14:14. Compassion and mercy. Wherever he goes, Jesus shows compassion and mercy, especially for the most vulnerable. As we steward our congregation into the future, how can compassion and mercy be a guiding principle for us and our church to help connect with our community and neighbors?
City Barbecue
Our Youth Fundraiser is back the first Monday of each month! Please come on out and show your support for Good Shepherd’s ongoing youth fundraiser with City Barbecue on Monday, August 3 from 10:30 am to 10:00 pm. The location is at 5 E. Franklin Street, Centerville, OH 45459. GSLC will get 25% of the sales back! If you order online or by phone, just tell them you’re with the fundraiser. Please let any of your friends and family know about this wonderful fundraiser, so they too can give back to our youth! GSLC wants to especially thank you for continuing to support us even when business is slow.
Jeremiah’s Letter on August 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. Thank you to all who generously support this ministry!
Food Pantry Donations
If you are planning to come to church for drive-thru communion this week, please remember the needs of the food pantry.This will be a convenient time to drop off non-perishable food to help meet the needs of many hungry families in our area. Your food donations are more important than ever during this trying time of covid-19 restrictions. If you prefer, you can drop off cash or a check payable to Good Shepherd. Someone will be at church to assist you with your donation.
Thank you to all of our Food Pantry Donors. During our July 6 delivery to the pantry we were able to deliver 305 much appreciated food items.
In these uncertain times, the Greenmont-Oak Park Church / Ascension Parish “Neighbor to Neighbor” Food Pantry serves an even more vital role in the lives of many Kettering area families. As a congregation, we have supported the pantry with our gifts for many years. As you are shopping in the grocery, please remember these families with a few extra purchases. Watch your local supermarket for specials to stretch your dollars even further.
Even though we are not meeting together, food donations may be dropped off at the church during regular business hours.
The collection box will be easily accessible just inside the exterior doors to the fellowship hall. Ring the bell. When the doors are unlocked, go inside and place your food in the collection box. If you are not going to the grocery regularly and you want to make a monetary donation, make your check payable to Good Shepherd and marked FOOD PANTRY and send it to or drop it off in the office. The food pantry staff will use your monetary gifts wisely.
GriefShare
Griefshare Reunion on Sunday, August 9, 2020 from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
ONLINE – GSLC is not sure that it will be wise to gather in person at this time.
Using Zoom folks can come and go as time allows.
Saturday, August 29, 2020 from 10:00 am – Noon
In person session for the Loss of a Spouse special session.
This session will be adapted if the GSLC building is not open at the time.
Located in the Fellowship Hall (to allow easier social distancing)
Sunday, September 13 – Sunday, December 6 from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Plan for in person sessions this fall. Online sessions work and provide a wider range of participation, Griefshare may try a combo of in person and online. These sessions will be adapted if the GSLC building is not open at the time. Located in the Fellowship Hall/Lounge (depending on size of group)
ANY one interested may contact Kathy Seim 937-901-0532 or Pam Bauser 937-602-8385. We will gladly answer questions. We can help you register. We can help you be ready to Zoom with us. We look forward to extending this accessible opportunity to the GSLC family and friends.
Lifelong Learning
Our ADULT Lifelong 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. While GSLC is opening for worship, our Bible studies and Sunday morning studies are remaining online. If you haven’t checked any of these out, please consider joining the conversations.
Our YOUTH classes are on vacation until fall.
Questions?? – Please contact Pam Bauser at 937-299-5186.
Topic: We Are CALLED to be GOD’S CHURCH in the World!
Facilitator: Roger Bauser
Time: 9:00 – 10:00 am
Place: Comfort of your home – connect online!
Bring your coffee. Have your Bible handy. We have heard GOD’S CALL! Now we will explore putting our CALL into ACTION!
Our topic is based on Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton’s Bible study available on the ELCA website. During the coming weeks we will explore our call to be CHURCH, our call to be LUTHERAN, our call to be TOGETHER, and our call for the SAKE OF THE WORLD! Sundays at 9:00 am on Zoom.
THURSDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY for Women
Topic: Finding God Faithful
Facilitator: Paula Bennett
Time: 11:00 am – Noon
Dates: Thursdays, July 30; and WEDNESDAY August 5
Place: Comfort of your home – connect online.
COME JOIN THIS GREAT OPPORTUNITY! If you missed the first week, don’t worry. Just link right in this week. If you need assistance, please reach out to Pam Bauser 937-602-8385.
In the midst of hardship, tragedy, and unanswered questions, it’s difficult to glimpse God at work. How do we hold onto our faith during these times? How do we trust God is working all things for our good and His glory? Over 8 sessions, Paula Bennett will lead the study to trace the path of Joseph’s life in the Book of Genesis to observe how God’s sovereignty reigns, even in our darkest moments.
Learn to recognize when God is working during periods of waiting, trust God’s plan when life doesn’t make sense, and rest in the sufficiency of His presence in every circumstance. His provision is enough. His presence is constant. His purpose is unstoppable.
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 continues 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 web site, 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.
Counseling Assistance
Good Shepherd is a member of the Covenant Society for Pastoral Counseling of Miami Valley Hospital. Trained and certified counselors are available to congregational members at any time, whether for a crisis or for ongoing help. This service is confidential, and anonymous if you choose. You do not have to go through the pastor or church to access this service. If you have a need simply call (937) 438-3486, tell the staff you are a member of Good Shepherd, our church is part of the Covenant Society for Pastoral Counseling through Premier. Because Good Shepherd is a member the cost to you is one-half of any non-reimbursed portion (for example, through insurance coverage) of the normal charge. For further information on this service you can call the above numbers, or talk to Pastor Jamie.
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. Lasting Promises click here.
ELCA Global Links Global Links: Praying for our world during COVID-19 click here.