What’s Happening at Good Shepherd
Work Day Last Saturday, about 12 people got together here at Good Shepherd and spent the day clearing out different areas of the church. One of the old broken down organs was disposed of, and a very large portion of the garage was cleared out. Here is a picture of the progress made. You can see that we filled the dumpster to capacity, and how nice and clean the garage looks in the background. Thank you to everyone that came out to make this a successful workday. Look for news on another clean out day in the spring!
*photo credit: Allyson Loretz
A Message from Kathy Urda
Many thanks for all of the clothing donations from the members of Good Shepherd in the past month! On Saturday, November 18th, Windsor Pantry and United Churches of Windsor gave away turkeys and food staples, free coats and clothing to 125 families! Everyone was in high spirits and Father Dwyer was in awe! Many volunteers and twenty-five senior high school students worked hard and met new friends. All thanks and praise to our God through Jesus Christ!
Greening of the Church Traditionally the church is “greened” or decorated on the fourth Sunday of Advent, as close to Christmas as we can get. But this year, Advent Four is actually on Christmas Eve and we don’t want the whole church to be completely exhausted on Christmas Eve! Due to this, we’d like to decorate early this year. This Sunday, November 23, we’ll begin putting up some of the Advent decorations after the 10:30 service. Please feel free to bring your Thanksgiving leftovers to share, if you like, and enjoy the festive atmosphere!
Bishop Dobbs to Visit Bishop Dobbs plans to visit on December 3 this year, and we’ll be confirming a couple of new Good Shepherd members. There will be a ‘Friends and Family’ potluck with the theme of International Foods. Please be sure to bring a dish to pass, but stay and enjoy fellowship and lunch even if you don’t. Be sure to invite your friends and family, particularly those that don’t have a church, or aren’t Christian.
Attention ladies of Good Shepherd The annual Ladies Christmas Tea will be held on Sat. Dec 16 from 11-2. Please plan to attend as it is a nice way to get to know each other better. A time for fellowship and good food, this is a casual event. Watch this space for more information in the coming weeks. Please see Christine Osgood for more information.
Abraham had Isaac, Isaac he had Jacob…Time to think about preparing for our Christmas Pageant! There will be a brief meeting after church on Nov 5th to choose roles and then rehearsals will be directly after the 10:30 service on Nov 12th, Nov 19th, Dec 3rd, Dec 10th, & Dec 17th. Hope to see all children and youth there.
An Offer of Prayer The prayer team prays for the needs of the church on a weekly basis. If you have a specific request (Praise or intercession) please fill out a card and place it in the “prayer box” by the bulletin boards in the parish hall. All prayers are kept confidential.
Mission’s Prayer Request
From the CHE team, Nicaragua.
We thought you would like to see some stories that describe some of the impact CHE ministry has in the communities.
Melisa Arostegui is 23. She was married last year to a believer, but things did not turn out the way Melisa had hoped. The young man she married mocked her, and abandoned her after 3 months of marriage. People in the community were saying that she wasn’t a virgin, and that was why her husband left her. They were very cruel to her, abusing her physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Melisa turned to alcohol and parties, and made the decision to destroy her life.
We thank God that we could be with her in those difficult times. She received psychological therapy, and left the community for a while. Afterwards, we talked to her about training for her future and, above all, reestablishing her relationship with God.
Melisa listened to God, decided to study, entered the police academy, and graduated as a police officer. She is now working in the Leon police department, earning $263 a month. We thank God for what he has done in her life.
Christmas Schedule This year’s Christmas Schedule is a bit different. Be on the lookout for more information in the coming weeks.
November 26th – Greening the church, Thanksgiving leftovers potluck
December 3rd – Christmas Pageant rehearsal after the 10:30 service, Bishop Dobbs Visits, International Foods themed Family and Friends Potluck
December 10th – Christmas Pageant rehearsal after the 10:30 service
December 17th – Christmas Pageant rehearsal after the 10:30 service
December 23rd – Lessons and Carols service, 5pm
December 24th – Spoken eucharist service @ 9am, no 10:30 service, Christmas Pageant 5pm, performers arrive no later than 4pm.
December 25th – 11am eucharist service.
Ongoing Ministries
Good Shepherd Youth Group Each Sunday evening, the youth of Good Shepherd meet for fellowship and worship. Any young person between the ages of 12 and 18 are welcome to attend. Led by Good Shepherd member Tyler VanFossen. For more information, contact the Good Shepherd office at (607)723-8032.
Bread and Wine If you are interested in joining a group of women for a monthly supper and discussion, please contact Liz Hull. The group will be beginning a new study on a book called Money, Possessions and Eternity, by Randy Alford.
Health and Wellness Our bodies are “the tents” that the Lord has given us to house our souls. Begin to take care of the body which God Has given you. Check your blood pressure, blood sugar, and weight every Sunday in the Parish Hall 9-10AM. Please see Dolly Shaller or Carmen Swoffer-Penna for more details.
Last Week
Tuesday Morning’s Bible Study This Tuesday we continued our study of Exodus, moving from Exodus 22 to Exodus 23. We are in the midst of an extended section of divine law. God’s law reveals his character as well as our sin and need for his forgiveness. In this way, the law always points to Christ and his work.
Posted by Matt Kennedy on Tuesday, November 21, 2017
Last Week in Christian Ed Last Sunday we discussed human sexuality. We have, of course, discussed this topic before. In the past, due to the controversies we experienced in the Episcopal Church, we focused primarily on homosexuality. This time we approached the question more broadly and discussed God’s good design for human sexuality and the various ways human sin has corrupted it. As the cultural discussion of sexuality becomes ever more confused with questions about “identity” and the assertion of gender fluidity, it is vital for Christians to understand God’s original purpose and design for sex and sexuality.
Last Week’s Sermon was called ‘The Genuine Faith of Sinful Men’ based on Hebrews 11:20-22. It can be listened to or downloaded here.
Mission Group Discussion Questions
Hebrews 11:20-22
Read Hebrews 11:20-22. Genesis 27, 48, and 50.
1) How did the “future blessings” from Isaac to his sons (Gen. 27:28-29, 39-40) demonstrate his faith?
- What characteristics of Isaac demonstrate his humanity and sinfulness?
- How can one be both sinful and faithful at the same time?
- Why can God count someone righteous through faith? Why does faith save a sinner when human efforts can’t?
2) What did Jacob’s blessings on Ephraim and Manasseh (Gen. 48:8-22) demonstrate about his faith?
- How can the faith of a believer in Christ be demonstrated in a similar way?
3) How did Joseph’s mention of the exodus (Gen. 50:24-25) demonstrate his faith?
- What decisions have you made in your life that require faith in God’s promises?
- How have these decisions led you to die to yourself in exchange for a future hope?
- Why does faith in the promises of God give a believer hope?
This Week
This Week in Christian Ed We’ll continue our series on Human Sexuality. The class starts at 9:15.
This Week’s Sermon is based on Matthew 25:31-46.
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Team Corinthians is working on the altar this Sunday.
The readings for this week are Ezekiel 34:11-20 and 1 Corinthians 15:20-28.
Karen B. will be serving on the altar guild this Sunday.
To download a PDF of the 10:30 service bulletin, click on this link.
Have an item for the Update or an Announcement?
Email the secretary at:
gs.binghamton@gmail.com
by Monday night.