What’s Happening at Good Shepherd
Prayer Shawl Prayer Shawl Ministry will be meeting Saturday, June 4 at 11:15. All levels of knitters are welcome!
Mission Group Announcement Mission groups will have modified formats and schedules throughout the summer as people take breaks and travel. Expect updates and details about these modifications as the summer approaches. As always, see Ben Murphy with any questions about or interest in mission groups.
Scheduling Reminder If you need to make an appointment with Pastor Matt, please be sure to contact Stephanie directly at 607-723-8032 or at gs.binghamton@gmail.com.
Often when people come to speak with Matt after the service on Sunday, he’s already been working for over ten hours, and doesn’t always remember to put it into the calendar. This can cause double bookings, or forgotten appointments. Please keep in mind that the office is closed on Mondays. Thank you so much for your understanding.
Update and Announcements If you have an item you’d like to have announced on Sunday morning, or included in the update, please be sure to forward the item to Stephanie by Wednesday afternoon, and specify if you’d like it announced or just listed in the updates. It will then be edited and forwarded to Anne to announce on Sunday and/or added to the paper and digital update.
Human Sexuality and How to Engage with People with Different Views Many people at Good Shepherd have expressed a need to discuss how to handle topics of human sexuality in their everyday lives. Good Shepherd has asked Garry Ingraham from the Love and Truth project to come and speak during Christian Education on May 29th, 9:15am. This promises to be an interesting and timely discussion.
Anglican Church Women Meeting The ACW will next meet on Saturday, July 9 at Cortese at 11:45. All are invited!
Ongoing Ministries
“And as for your little ones…”
Vacation Bible School is coming August 1-4 from 6-8 PM. It is an opportunity not only for children of Good Shepherd, but especially for children in our community to hear the gospel clearly presented. It is also an opportunity for you to lend your talents to those children. The range of skills that can be used in Vacation Bible School are broader than you may initially think. Vacation Bible School can be a beautiful quick snapshot of the body working together, all parts having the same goal but accomplishing that through a great variety of tasks and time commitments. Please talk with Anna Dreher and tell her what you enjoy doing and when (during the months of June-August) you are available. Your skills and interests are perfect.
Children’s bulletins are available to help your children follow all parts of the service today. Please pick one up from an usher.
Health Fair and Ice Cream Social 2016. The Ice Cream Social will be held on June 11 from 12-3pm. This year all participants in the event are required to agree with our statement of faith; a change which we pray will both protect us from the inclusion of groups which would oppose our beliefs, and also provide a venue for us and for other bible- believing Christians to proclaim our faith in words and deeds while promoting health of body, mind, and soul. This change also demands that we ALL take part in this effort. Please ask yourself what you can do to help and who you know who might be willing to participate. This event will include health screenings and information, holistic health professionals, Christian groups such as the Salvation Army, haircuts, skincare, facepainting, dance and athletic demonstrations, children’s crafts, music, food, and much more! There are recipes for food for this event downstairs by the sign-up sheet. Parishioners are encouraged to prepare these snacks/chili for June 11th. Please let me know how YOU would like to help!
Food Distribution The next food distribution will be Wednesday, May 25th from 10-11am. All are welcome, please bring containers to take away any goods that you receive.
Bread and Wine If you are interested in joining a group of moms for a monthly supper and discussion of women in the bible, please contact Liz Hull.
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 Summer is just around the corner, and children who’s meals are provided at school may go without. Supporting groups like CHOW, Catholic Charities, and church food pantries, like ours, can take over and help to fill that need. Please think of God’s precious children and do your part. You’ll be glad you did.
Food Needs: powdered milk packets or powdered coffee creamer, canned meats, creamy and crunchy peanut butter, spices, canned fruit, juices other than cranberry, and anything else you’d like to bring.
Last Week
Last week’s sermon ‘What Causes Fights and Quarrels’ was based on James 4:1-6. It can be listened to or downloaded here.
Mission Group Discussion Questions
James 4:1-6
Main Idea(s):
- Bitter jealousy and selfish ambition cause quarrels and fights.
- A desire to be like the world and a desire to love God are contrary to each other.
- God is righteously jealous for you.
- God’s grace is greater than our sinful passions.
1) How often throughout your day are you part of, or witness to, quarrels?
- What are the causes of these quarrels and fights?
- How are bitter jealousy and selfish ambition involved?
- How does the idea of quarrels presented in this section connect back to the previous section about wisdom?
- What does the phrase “your passions are at war within you” from verse 1 mean?
2) What attitudes are the reason for the actions listed in verse 2?
- Who is the focus of the actions listed in verse 2?
- What verse from the previous section about wisdom summarizes the truth of verse 2? [James 3:16]
3) Why do some not receive what is asked?
- How can we distinguish between godly desires and selfish desires?
- What is implied by verse 3 about how we should ask for what we desire?
4) Why are the readers of this section identified as “adulterous people” in verse 4?
- How does the rest of verse 4 explain what is meant by “adulterous people”?
- Why can’t we love the world and love God?
5) Compare the jealousy mentioned in verse 5 to the jealousy mentioned in the previous section.
- How are they different?
- Why is God jealous for us?
- Can we be righteously jealous? How?
6) Verse 6 states that God gives “more grace.” More than what?
- Do we earn the grace that God gives?
- What drives us to humility so that God gives grace?
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’s podcast is called ‘Holiday Edition’. You can listen in here.
This Week
This week’s sermon is based on Malachi 1:1-14.
The oracle of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi. “I have loved you,” says the LORD. But you say, “How have you loved us?” “Is not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the LORD. “Yet I have loved Jacob but Esau I have hated. I have laid waste his hill country and left his heritage to jackals of the desert.” If Edom says, “We are shattered but we will rebuild the ruins,” the LORD of hosts says, “They may build, but I will tear down, and they will be called ‘the wicked country,’ and ‘the people with whom the LORD is angry forever.’” Your own eyes shall see this, and you shall say, “Great is the LORD beyond the border of Israel!” “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the LORD of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. But you say, ‘How have we despised your name?’ By offering polluted food upon my altar. But you say, ‘How have we polluted you?’ By saying that the LORD’s table may be despised. When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the LORD of hosts. And now entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. With such a gift from your hand, will he show favor to any of you? says the LORD of hosts. Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says the LORD of hosts, and I will not accept an offering from your hand. For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the LORD of hosts. But you profane it when you say that the Lord’s table is polluted, and its fruit, that is, its food may be despised. But you say, ‘What a weariness this is,’ and you snort at it, says the LORD of hosts. You bring what has been taken by violence or is lame or sick, and this you bring as your offering! Shall I accept that from your hand? says the LORD. Cursed be the cheat who has a male in his flock, and vows it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished. For I am a great King, says the LORD of hosts, and my name will be feared among the nations. (Malachi 1 ESV)
Team Ephesians is working on the altar this Sunday with Ife Ojetayo.
The readings for this Sunday are: Malachi 1:1-14 and Galatians 1:1-12.
Have an item for the Update or an Announcement?
Email the secretary at:
gs.binghamton@gmail.com
by Monday night.