Witness and Outreach at Good Shepherd reaches from right here in the greater Dayton and Miami Valley area to people and organizations all over the world. Our members support these ministries not only with their pocketbooks, but also with their time and their energy. Created, saved and gifted by God we seek, serve and share Jesus Christ. To volunteer or to learn more about these or other opportunities to serve, contact the church office.
Adopt–A-Family: Purchase gifts for one or two needy families each year at Christmas.
Acolyte: A young person lights and extinguishes altar candles during the worship service, assists with the offering and other duties as needed. (Acolytes are usually grade 4 – 12.)
Altar Guild Ministry: Prepare the bread and wine that is utilized for Communion during worship services. Keep the paraments up to date.
Assistant Minister: Help at the Altar during the worship service.
Christmas Poinsettia Project: Every Christmas season, an opportunity to make monetary donations for special projects is offered. Funds can be designated in memory or honor of others.
Communion and Visitation Ministry: Lay member teams visit homebound members and visitors each month to distribute communion, share stories and build relationships.
Communion Assistant: Help with communion during the worship service.
Craft Show Donations: Proceeds from our annual craft/vendor show are donated to local charities and the Kettering City Schools.
Financial Support of the ELCA: Donate to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Good Shepherd supports the ELCA which, in turn, provides a variety of blessings in a myriad of ways: The ELCA supports congregational renewal and the planting of new congregations; forms and supports new lay, ordained and global leaders for mission; encourages and forms lay youth and young adult leaders; supports the church’s disability ministry; bolsters commitment to walk with global companion churches in shared witness; and expands efforts to address poverty and hunger. For example, the ELCA supports a comprehensive approach in nearly 60 countries to solve challenges that perpetuate hunger and poverty.
Flower Ministries: Take the flowers from a worship service to a homebound or hospitalized member of Good Shepherd.
Food Pantries: Donate non-perishable food and can goods for distribution to four community food pantries. We also keep a “little food pantry” stocked at the elementary school across the street. Food can be dropped off anytime.
Greeters and Ushers: Welcome visitors and members to worship services. Distribute bulletins, gather the offering and invite people to come forward for communion.
GriefShare: We offer sessions to those in the congregation and community that are dealing with loss.
Homework Club: Good Shepherd coordinates with teachers from Oakview Elementary School to offer a place for 4th and 5th grade students to accomplish homework tasks in a relaxing, caring and nurturing atmosphere. Good Shepherd volunteers help the students with their school assignments and provide them with healthy snacks. Volunteers are needed one or two days per week during the academic year.
In Lieu of Easter Lilies Project: Each year during Lent, an opportunity to make monetary donations to local ministries is offered. Funds can be designated in memory or honor of others.
Kettering Holiday at Home: We provide a free food booth at the city of Kettering’s Labor Day parade. This provides an opportunity to connect with our community.
Lectors: Read the Word during the worship Service.
Lesotho Nutrition Initiative: In collaboration with Harmony Creek UCC, we annually pack meals for the Lesotho Nutrition Initiative. We also provide financial support for this mission. This project is coordinated by Scott Rosenberg of Wittenberg University.
Matthew 25 Ministries: We collect and donate pill bottles for international mission trip supplies.
Music Ministry: Share the gift of music by singing or playing an instrument with the Chancel Choir or with the Praise Team. Visit the music page for more information.
OWLs: “Older Wiser Lutherans” meet for lunch and fellowship monthly.
Quilt Ingathering: Each year, we host a tractor trailer to gather quilts and kits from regional churches. These are delivered and distributed through Lutheran World Relief.
Sound Technician: Operate Audio Visual (slides) equipment during the worship service.
Vacation Bible School/Day Camp: Each summer, we provide a free, weeklong camp to children.
Video Technician: Operate the camera during the worship service.