PDF of the bulletin insert can be found here
WORSHIP
Worship With Us Online!
Join us now in worship online!
Connect with us 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
LAST WEEK’S SERMON You can watch last week’s sermon here
HOLIDAY HOURS
The Good Shepherd Lutheran Church office will be closed on Wednesday, December 24 – Friday, December 26 and Wednesday, December 31 – Friday, January 2. Please leave a message on the church phone in case of emergency.
PARISH LIFE
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.
STAFF CHRISTMAS GIFT
Please remember to share your gifts with our valuable staff by contributing to the staff Christmas gifts collection. If you choose to give financially, we ask that you donate either by check or via Tithely (scroll to find “staff Christmas gift.”) Please contribute by 12/21.
NEW: POINSETTIA PROJECT
To raise money for ELCA World 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 bulletin and 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 21.
NEW: 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.
NEW: PASTOR MALLORY’S INSTALLATION
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church with Pastors Bob Abrams and Tim Mentzer, representing the SOS office, will joyfully install the Reverend Mallory Camille Morris during Sunday worship at 10:30 am on January 18, 2026.
A reception with hearty hors d’oeuvres will follow for all to welcome Pastor Mallory and Robert.
Please join us to celebrate.
ADVENT CALENDARS
Advent Calendars are available in the Gathering Space/Narthex. It would be a blessing if you would consider making food pantry donations throughout the Advent season.
OWLS LUNCHEON
OWLS LUNCHEON, SAT DEC 13 O Come, O Come all silver-haired seniors. The December OWLS Luncheon for Older and Wiser Lutherans will be held in the Lounge here at Good Shepherd on Saturday Dec 13, 12:30-2:30 pm. Sandwiches, chips, and cookies will accompany lively conversation. No stairs to climb, and the parking is great. And lunch is free of charge – Merry Christmas! Questions? Call Ginny Herbeck or leave a message for Judy Treadway.
BLUE CHRISTMAS
The holidays can be a difficult time. Whether you’re grieving the loss of a loved one, supporting someone facing serious illness, dealing with job challenges, or simply feeling down, you are not alone. We invite you to join us for our Blue Christmas Service—a gentle, reflective gathering for anyone who isn’t feeling joyful this season.
The service will be held in the Fellowship Hall on Wednesday, December 17, at 7:00 p.m. Come and experience how Jesus meets us in both the ups and the downs of the Christmas season. If you need a ride, please contact the church office.
HELPING HANDS
Our Property and Facilities Commission 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.
The next Helping Hands will be January 17, 2026 from 9am – 11am to work on timely projects and seasonal tasks
MINIATURE GOOD SHEPHERD CHRISTMAS CARDS:
In celebration of love, relationships, and the coming of Christ, please invite friends and families to gather with you in worship at Good Shepherd during Advent and Christmas. These little Christmas cards are easy to carry and share with others and are now available in our gathering space. Please take a couple to share.
OUTREACH AND SERVICES
FOOD PANTRY NEWS
Our November food donations were delivered to 4 local food pantries on December 9 – totaling 450 food items. We also were able to include a box of food items for each of our Christmas Adopt a Families. Thank you for faithfully remembering the families who are served by the food pantries in our community. As you do your personal food shopping, 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. A BIG THANK YOU to the Biller Family and Denny Irby for helping organize the distribution You can bring your donations to church any time, but the next official Food Pantry Sunday will be Sunday, January 4.
If you would like to volunteer on a Thursday at the Feeding Friends Pantry on Bigger Road near the former Victoria’s Secret Building, click here to sign up.
LIFELONG LEARNING
YOUR WEEKLY INVITATION #13: Addressing Our Fears
As we gather our gumption to invite others to join our ministry, it is important to name and address our potential fears. First there’s the fear of rejection. “A random invitation from a door-knocker may not seem attractive…. But when one individual authentically connects with another, trust levels go up, so the better we know the person we are inviting, the more likely we are to be taken seriously.”
Then there’s the fear of being perceived as someone who is “pushy, fanatical or judgmental…. Sharing why your faith matters to you or how you have experienced God, spirituality, etc. can give you a base from which to…create reasonable connections between your story, their story, and the invitation to experience something that is important and meaningful to you.”
Some people fear harming a good relationship. “Real friendship involves risk and vulnerability…. The very act of inviting may express a level of friendship that had previously gone unnamed.”
Finally, some fear appearing stupid or foolish, afraid that they won’t be able to answer questions about scripture and their faith. In reality, people “will be more interested in a clear and genuine faith that is humbly shared with enthusiasm.” Remember, we are all on this journey of life and faith together. Know that the Holy Spirit is always at your side to guide and support you.
Source: Dave Daubert, The Invitational Christian, pp. 39-45.
Sunday morning classes for children and youth
Sunday School for children / youth in grades PreK-12 will begin Sun Nov 9. Class will be held in the chapel from 9:30 to about 10:15 and led by Karin Linch & Sandy Rosholt. Each weekly lesson will correspond to that week’s bible readings. Come join us!
THURSDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY DISCUSSION for ALL
Come join us on Zoom on Thursday mornings! Bring your bible with your coffee. 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. Questions: Call the office at 937-298-0136
Topic: Gospel Lectionary Readings for Worship
Facilitator: Roger Bauser
Time: 9:00 am – 10:00 am
MISCELLANEOUS
ADVENT NEWS
Did you know that our Advent Candelabra was in desperate need of repair? With the donation of First Lutheran’s old candelabra (also needing attention) we were able to combine the two into a new sturdy and beautiful stand to adorn our altar. We give thanks to the remaining members of First Lutheran’s congregation for their donation.
HARMONY CREEK
Harmony Creek will be hosting a Puzzle-Rama, a puzzle fundraiser! There will be close to 100 puzzles for sale, most priced between 5 and 10 dollars. All proceeds will go to the General Fund. Harmony Creek will be hosting a Parent’s Day Out on Saturday 12/20 1:00pm – 4:00pm. The cost is $15/child and $10/sibling. Follow this link to register
NEW: HOLIDAY CONCERT
The Kettering Civic is hosting its annual Holiday Concert on December 8, 2025. The concert begins at 7 PM and is free to the public. Location for the concert is the Kettering Middle School Auditorium located at 3000 Glengarry Drive. The adult concert band which was formed over 65 years ago performs in a variety of genres including familiar musicals, marches, classical arrangements and, of course, Christmas favorites. Several Good Shepherd parishioners past and present have performed with the band throughout its lengthy history. Come and enjoy some great music for the holidays!
Financial Update
Below are the financial results for the 2025 fiscal year ending September 30.
- YTD income of $241,320 is $26,231 lower than the budget of $267,551
- YTD expenses of $190,725 is favorable to the budget of $273,538 due to lower Senior Pastor expenses
- Full year net income is therefore $50,595 versus a planned loss of $5,987
The bi-annual contribution statements have been mailed, please contact June Newell with any questions
Hand Sanitizer in pews: Small bottles of hand sanitizer are now available in the pews for you to use. The bottles are located near the center aisle.
The 2025 Altar Flower Calendar is posted in the Narthex near the serving area. You are encouraged to sign up now to select your favorite date. Flowers can be given in HONOR of a person or event or in MEMORY of a person or special occasion. When you choose to donate Altar Flowers, you are welcome to take them home after the Sunday service. Flowers that remain are made into bouquets and distributed to members of the congregation. They do bring great cheer and a loving connection to our GSLC family to someone who is hospitalized, ill or unable to worship with us. Altar Flowers are $45.00.
Consider adding your gifts to this important worship ministry. Donate flowers. Offer to become a Flower Delivery person.
There will be no altar flowers during the season of Lent
Offerings: Electronic Giving
Please 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