What’s Happening at Good Shepherd
ACW Ladies Tea The Anglican Good Shepherd’s Christmas Tea is Saturday, December 12 from 12-3;00! There will be Christmas Music played by Curt Osgood, tea of course, and lite snacks. Anna Dreher is our hostess! Come and connect with other women of Good Shepherd!
If you need directions or a ride……please see Christine Osgood or Pat Chaney.
Hospital visits A number of parishioners have recently been hospitalized and have wondered why they have not received a visit from someone at Good Shepherd. In the past hospitals notified clergy when parishioners were admitted. Several years ago laws were changed to protect patient privacy. Hospitals no longer inform clergy when you are admitted. You must volunteer the information or we will not know that you have been hospitalized. Last week we distributed cards with information about the church and numbers to call if you are hospitalized. If you did not receive one, they are still available from the church office. Call 607-723-8032 or email our secretary, Stephanie, at: gs.binghamton@gmail.com.
Prayer Shawl Ministry Prayer shawls are lovingly knitted as an expression of the knitter or crocheter’s care, concern, and prayers. They can reach out to those who are in need of comfort and solace, as well as in celebration and joy. They are a gift freely given. If you love to knit or crochet, or would like to learn, please join us on Saturday, December 19 at 11:15. Everyone is welcome!
Christmas Outreach: Again this Christmas we at Good Shepherd have the amazing opportunity to celebrate Christ’s birth by helping those less fortunate than ourselves. Needy children from Saratoga Youth Center have provided us with wish lists for Christmas. Please join the Outreach Team in surprising these dear children with some special presents (valued at $15-$20) this holiday. Select a child represented on the Christmas tree in the Parish Hall and record your name, phone number, and the child’s number on the sign-up sheet. Please gift wrap the present and be sure to place the number of the child on the wrapped package. Please bring it to church by Sunday December 20th. We will help Saint Nick deliver the gifts to the children on Tuesday December 22nd. See Carmen to know the name(s) of the child/children whom you select. Thanks so much!
Special Prayer Request From Barnabas Aid: Pray for Christians in Bangui, the capital city of the Central African Republic (CAR), who are being targeted, their homes looted and torched.
The bodies of over 30 Christians were left outside a church. Red Cross workers were refused access, and the Muslims dumped them in a mass grave by the church.
Many Christian families are now sleeping out in the open. “The people have lost everything, and have nowhere to lay their head. They have become wanderers and vagabonds in their own country,” a Christian leader wrote to Barnabas. “The threat of sudden death is on everyone’s mind, given what is going on in CAR far from the media cameras,” he wrote on October 29. “We are defenseless, our very lives exposed, and only God can save us.”
Ongoing Ministries
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 The food pantry has recently been blessed to overflowing! Thank you all so much for your generous donations. The food pantry has all it needs right now to feed many hungry families.
Last Week
Sermon Last week’s sermon was based on Luke 3:1-6. We’ll be posting the recording soon, so keep an eye out.
Tuesday Morning This Tuesday’s Bible study recording was called ‘Jacob Blesses his Sons’. It was based on Genesis 49. It can be viewed here. You can catch up on all of the older Tuesday morning Bible studies you might have missed here. You’ll need to have a LiveStream account, but it’s free and easy to sign up for.
This Week
This week’s sermon is based on Luke 3:7-17.
He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” And the crowds asked him, “What then shall we do?” And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Collect no more than you are authorized to do.” Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.” As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ, John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” (Luke 3:7-17 ESV)
The additional scripture reference for this Sunday is Ezekiel 36
Team Philippians is working on the altar this Sunday with Michael Beauharnois.
The readings for this week are: Zephaniah 3:14-20 and Philippians 4:4-7.
The PDF Bulletin for this Sunday’s 10:30 service can be downloaded here.
Have an item for the Update?
Email the secretary at:
gs.binghamton@gmail.com
by Monday night.