What’s Happening at Good Shepherd
Mobile Food Pantry The next Broome County Mobile Food Pantry food distribution will be Wednesday, May 23rd, from 10-11am. All are welcome, please bring containers to take away any goods that you receive.
‘Thank You’ seems an insufficient expression for all that so many at Good Shepherd did to help prepare for Synod 2018. Please know that many people were blessed by our staff of volunteers. Childcare and kitchen staff in particular were especially appreciated during the active portion of synod, but so many people behind the scenes gave of their time and talents to make synod a blessing and success again this year. From praying for, painting, cleaning, organizing, staffing, managing, supplying, caring for, and serving the guests of Good Shepherd and CANA East. You have truly done a good and kind thing in helping to make this event a success. Please accept the most sincere thanks of the entirety of the Diocese of CANA East.
Health Fair and Ice Cream Social Do you have a regular hairdresser? A restaurant where you go often? A bakery? Or a favorite café? Please consider asking them if they would be willing to contribute a gift card for our FREE raffle at our Health fair and Ice Cream Social on June 2nd? We are also in need of massage therapists to give free chair massages. Please help find new participants for this annual family-friendly event!
Ongoing Ministries
Good Shepherd Youth Group Have you heard? Tyler and Ashley V. welcomed their new daughter into the world recently. Tyler will be taking some much-needed time off to enjoy these first few weeks with their new daughter. Youth Group will resume on May 26.
If you’d like to know how to help or be involved in the Good Shepherd Youth Group, please contact Tyler Van Fossen.
Bread and Wine If you are interested in joining a group of ladies for a monthly supper and discussion, please contact Liz Hull. The group is currently studying a book called Money, Possessions and Eternity, by Randy Alcorn. The next meeting will be this Saturday at the Hull home at 6pm.
Mission Groups are expected to start shifting and multiplying within the next 6 months. If you are interested in joining, now is a great time. If you are interested in leading as well, we are looking for possible co-leaders to consider. Mission Groups exist to bring glory to God as small groups seek to help each other become more like Christ through study, discussion, prayer, and fellowship. Please contact Ben Murphy after church or by email to talk through your ideas and thoughts! Email: mgroups.cogs@gmail.com for more information.
The Vestal mission group has changed location, and will now be meeting at the Dinnel Home.
CHE Rummage Sale Collection We are collecting for the spring rummage sale to raise money for CHE, Nicaragua. Specifically, to support Juanita and Izamar, the Area leaders in Leon department. Please bring items to church starting the last Sunday in April through the end of May. If you have something you would like us to pick up (in our car), please let us know. Bill and Anne. Thank you!
Missionary Update The situation in Nicaragua continues to be very difficult, at least in the capital. Darling and I (Anne T.) spoke briefly and carefully on Monday after a silence due to concerns about monitored communications. She says these concerns are the same, so we will not talk again for a while. The conditions continue to be compared to Venezuela.
The supermarkets were looted, and people are having difficulty getting the food and meds that they need. There is uncertainty and volatility. A lot of foreigners have left. The Kepplers, who work with the CHE team, are returning to Germany early for their summer vacation. People are staying indoors as much as possible, except for going to work in potentially unsafe conditions. Darling and Chico go into the city every day (20 min drive) to comfort, encourage, and be with their church people and the community around them. This is the text that Darling and Chico are praying:
Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you.
May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as
ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the
presence of our God and father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.
1 Thess. 3: v11-13
The donations that Partnership in Hope sent on Friday were greatly appreciated, and have been applied to some immediate needs. Darling says they know we are praying, and our prayers are absolutely necessary.
Good Shepherd Food Pantry When I think of our food pantry, I automatically think of how it provides food for those in our congregation whose income or circumstances don’t always allow them to have enough food. Food that is essential for the body and mind. If everyone who donates could provide food for just one person, we could keep our food pantry stocked all year. You could think of it as providing for an extra family member at each meal.
Items needed: canned meats (chicken, ham or turkey), instant or scalloped potatoes in a box, peas, carrots, corn, etc, fruit and fruit juices, boxed bread mixes, cake and pie mixes, powdered milk, coffee creamer, and anything else you’d like to bring.
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
Last Week’s Sermon ‘The Disciple Jesus Loved‘ was preached by Matt Kennedy, and was based on John 1:1-5. It can be listened to or downloaded here.
Last Week in Christian Ed We continued our Great Council’s series by finishing up our discussion of the Council of Ephesus and the title “Mother of God” for Mary. Then we moved on to discuss the last Great Council, the Council of Chalcedon which gave us the “Two Natures, One Person” description of Christ. We took a look at the Chalcedonian Creed and some of the false teachings that made such a creed necessary.
Tuesday Morning Bible Study This Tuesday, we picked up where we left off in Leviticus chapter 1 and the instructions about the “burnt offering”. Each type of offering displays both the desperate human need for reconciliation with God and God’s gracious provision for sinners. Both the need and the provision come together ultimately at the cross of Christ, of which the sacrificial system was a shadow. You can watch at this link, or in the box below.
Posted by Matt Kennedy on Tuesday, May 15, 2018
Preventing Grace Podcast Did you know that Matt and Anne have a podcast? They talk about everything from church polity to rustic breads. This week, in King David and Tullian‘, Matt and Anne Kennedy talk about King David’s adultery with Bathsheba and murder of Uriah provide a good model for the restoration of fallen pastors.
You can catch up on all of the older podcast episodes here.
This Week
This Sunday in Christian Ed We will wrap up our “Great Councils” series this Sunday discussing the aftermath of the 4th council. If you missed this last Sunday’s discussion of the Councils of Ephesus and Chalcedon, you can listen here. Coming up next, we’ll have at least one or two Sunday’s of Q and A. If you have any questions that you’d like me to address, please send them in via email or in person. I’ll announce the next series in two weeks!
This Sunday’s Sermon will be based on John 1:5-13.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
Team Corinthians is working on the altar this Sunday.
The readings for this week are Acts 2:1-11 and 1 Corinthians 12:4-13.
Mary S. will be serving on the altar guild this Sunday.
Jaime H. will be working in the nursery this Sunday.
Shepherd’s Bowl Team 1, the Swoffer-Penna team is serving this week (5/24).
To download a PDF of the 10:30 service bulletin, click on this link.