What’s Happening at Good Shepherd
The Good Shepherd Annual Meeting will be held on January 31, in the parish hall immediately following the 10:30 service. Please do make every effort to be there.
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper and Mardi Gras Shrove Tuesday (known in some countries as ‘Pancake Day’ or ‘Fat Tuesday’) is the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, this year it will be on February 9th. ‘Shrove’ comes from the Latin word Shrive, and means ‘absolution’. It is thought that the tradition started when families would eat all of the fatty, rich foods in the house so as not to be tempted during the penitent season of Lent. Good Shepherd hosts a pancake and sausage supper to mark the day, which is followed immediately by a parade with live music through the fellowship hall, and a short ceremony in which all of the palm fronds from Palm Sunday of the previous year are burned to produce the ashes that are used for Ash Wednesday. There will be face painting, mask making, and music.
Needs:
1.Please bring some of your homemade applesauce / fresh fruit to church by Sunday February 7th to serve at the supper.
2. Please bring your palms from last year to burn at the conclusion of the event.
3. If you play an instrument and would like to participate in the Mardi Gras parade, please see Joe Osgood.
Finally, come to the event in costume (or not) and bring family, friends, and neighbors. There will be no charge, but love offerings will be most appreciated.
Life Choices Baby Bottle Collection Drive ‘I thank God for Life Choices and the people who work/volunteer there. I am grateful.” This is a quote from Nan, a client at Life Choices Center. This is an easy way that we as a church help others like Nan find what they need at Life Choices Center. Simply pick up a baby bottle, fill it will cash, check, or coins and return it by Sunday, February 28th. Life Choices Center is looking to raise $55,000 (we help with $713.75 last year)! All to help women and men in our community before, during, and after unplanned pregnancies. Let’s join them in making this campaign a huge success! To learn more the work at Life Choice Center, visit: LifeChoicesCenter.org
Thank you for your participation in Change for Life 2016.
Ben Franklin Elementary School is still in need of undergarments, socks and sweatpants for children sizes 5, 6, 7, and 8.
Food Distribution The next food distribution will be Weds, Jan 27th from 10-11am. All are welcome, please bring containers to take away any goods that you receive.
Did You Know? You can now give online to Good Shepherd! Use the link below to give via credit card or bank account transfer. You can even set it up to give automatically, so you don’t have to worry about forgetting your check book on Sundays! Keep in mind that the processing cost is less for bank account transfers than for a credit card.
If you prefer to use envelopes, you can continue to do so. Giving online, however, is easier, and it helps you keep track of your giving more easily. I would definitely encourage you to try it!
Shortly after the start of the year, we will have Breeze set up so that you can go online to your own account and keep track of your giving.
For now, please use this link…it is very straightforward and easy to use! If you have any questions at all, feel free to contact Lauren Kirst.
Go to https://goodshepherdbinghamton.breezechms.com/give/online now to give!
Lauren Kirst
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 We are SO thankful for all of the donations to the member food pantry recently! The food pantry is very well stocked.
Pantry Needs: Peanut butter, or anything else you’d like to bring.
Last Week
Last Week’s Sermon: ‘A Light to the Magi’ was based on Matthew 2:1-12. It can be listened to or downloaded here.
Tuesday Morning: This Tuesday morning’s Bible Study ‘The Righteous Shall Live By Faith’ was based on Romans 1. It can be seen 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 James 1:1-4
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings. Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:1-4 ESV)
Team Phillippians is working on the altar this Sunday with Michael Beauharnois.
The readings for this week are:Isaiah 62:1-5 and James 1:1-4.
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.