What’s Happening at Good Shepherd
Lunch with a Missionary Last Sunday, Garry and Melissa Ingraham from Love and Truth Network, one of the missionary organizations that Good Shepherd helps to financially support, were in Binghamton and were able to worship with Good Shepherd. They were very gracious with their time, both in teaching a Christian Ed class mainly focusing on the differing views within the church on the LGBTQ+ movement, and in staying afterward for a Lunch with a Missionary meeting.
You can learn more about the work that Garry and Melissa are involved in with Love and Truth Network at the website: https://www.loveandtruthnetwork.com
Kennedy Family Vacation The Kennedy family is taking their annual vacation. They’ll be enjoying some much-needed rest, and will return to Good Shepherd in late August. Although Matt will be here officiating the services for most of the Sundays, they are on vacation so please refrain from contacting them unless there is a medical/physical emergency. Tyler Van Fossen, the Pastoral Assistant will be available for meetings during this time, and the church office will remain open, and can be reached in all the usual ways.
Food Distribution The next Broome County Mobile Food Pantry food distribution will be Wednesday, August 22nd, from 10-11am. All are welcome, please bring containers to take away any goods that you receive.
The Ladies Bible Study meets on Saturday mornings each week at 10am. They are beginning a new study on the book of Nahum. All ladies are welcome. Contact Christine Osgood or the church office for more information.
Attention Parents – Children’s Chapel will not be meeting for the months of July and August.
Tuesday morning and Thursday evening Bible studies are canceled until the week of August 28th.
Church Donations Good Shepherd has always been a generous congregation and the vestry is so very thankful for your willingness to support the mission and ministry of this congregation.
You may not know this but while he easily recalls chapter and verse for randomly quoted bible texts, when it comes to keeping track of keys, wallets, cell phones, schedules, etc., Matt can be rather absent-minded. This is important information because sometimes, when in a rush, people hand Matt checks for the offering. So far, he has not lost one. But Anne has found several crumpled in his pockets while doing laundry.
If you miss the offering, you can always give your tithe to the tellers after the service, or leave it off at the office, or mail it in. Thank you so much for all the ways you give to build up the church.
Welcoming baby Patel This week, you can share in the Patel’s joy and shower them in love by bringing diapers size 1-4 for Baby A. You will find a labeled basket downstairs for the diapers.
CHE Update It was wonderful to pray as a church for Nicaragua and the Community Health Evangelism team recently. Later that day the CHE team sent photos of the children in one community receiving their lunches (see the missions board downstairs). One photo showed a little boy who accepted Jesus the day that Good Shepherd prayed! A Pastor and Area Leader are praying with him in the photo. Since then, 15 more children have accepted Christ! Thank you for your continued prayers.
Thank you so much to everyone who donated, lent tables, awnings, and their space, for the yard sale! And many thanks to everyone who shopped and donated. You all helped to make a very successful sale, despite being rained out on one of the days!
Did you Know? Tithes can now be given by text message. You can text ‘give’ to 1-607-882-6551 and tithe seamlessly. Here is a link to a nifty list of commands at Breeze’s website if you’d like to specify how your contribution is utilized.
Ongoing Ministries
Good Shepherd Youth Group The Good Shepherd Youth Group is made up of youth ages 12-18. The youth had a great impact at Arrowhead Bible Camp on August 7th. After four hours of loading a truck, splitting/stacking wood, and building a rock wall, there were lots of games, swimming, and supporting the campers at a talent show. We enjoyed fun snacks and games around a fire too!
Youth Group will continue their summer break until Sunday, September 9th. Youth Group meets on Sunday night at 6:30pm at Good Shepherd. All youth between the ages of 12-18 are welcome to join as we begin to build our bible study methods and begin our study of Romans.
Please contact Tyler Van Fossen if you’d like to know how to help or be involved in the Good Shepherd Youth Group in any way. Email: tvf.arrowhead@gmail.com
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 in September, at the Hull home.
Mission Groups Locations will be changing throughout the summer. See, call, or text Ben Murphy for details each week.
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.
Good Shepherd Food Pantry When I go shopping for the pantry, I think of how it would be if I didn’t have the means to provide food for my family. What would I do? Where would I go for help? The first place that I would think of is my church, and if they didn’t have a pantry, I would go to someplace that did. Keeping our pantry well stocked with appealing and nutritious foods helps many people keep their dignity and provide for their family without having to seek other avenues for help.
Needs: peanut butter and jelly, canned meats and tuna, macaroni and cheese, soups and stews, one box meals, canned fruits and juices, tea bags, coffee singles, sugar-free drink mixes, cereals (hot or cold) and anything else you’d like to bring.
Last Week
Last Week’s Sermon was given by Good Shepherd’s former Pastoral Assistant Jerry Shriver, and was based on Exodus17.1-7. It can be listened to or downloaded here.
Preventing Grace Podcast Did you know that Matt and Anne have a podcast? They talk about everything from church polity to rustic breads. In this week’s episode, ‘The Gospel, It’s Crazy But It Just Might Work‘ Matt and Anne discuss the Pope’s decision to change the Roman Catholic Catechism to say that the death penalty is always and everywhere “inadmissible”, new allegations about Bill Hybels of Willow Creek, and bats in the attic.
You can catch up on all of the older podcast episodes here.
Tuesday Morning Bible Study This Tuesday morning’s class was canceled.
The Tuesday Morning bible study will be canceled for the duration of the Kennedy vacation, resuming on August 28th.
This Week
This Sunday’s Sermon will be based on Ephesians 5:15-21.
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Team Philippians is working on the altar this Sunday.
The readings for this week are Proverbs 9:1-6 and Ephesians 5:15-21.
Karen B. will be serving on the altar guild this Sunday.
Ally L. will be working in the nursery this Sunday.
Shepherd’s Bowl Team 2 is serving with the Osgood family this Sunday (8/23).
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.