What’s Happening at Good Shepherd
Mission Group Announcement Mission groups are taking a break during the month of July. No groups will be meeting as regularly scheduled. Groups will resume meeting according to schedule in August, but the meeting location and format for each group may change weekly. See your mission group leader for specific details. Regular group format and schedule will restart at the beginning of September. If you have questions about the mission group summer schedule, ask your mission group leader or see Ben Murphy.
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/Ife to announce on Sunday and/or added to the paper and digital update.
Minister’s Calendar For those of you that serve on a ministry team on Sunday mornings, the new minister’s calendar will be coming out soon. With some of the changes happening within the congregation, there are many openings to be filled, and we’d like to fill them before releasing the new calendar. If you’d like to serve on a ministry team, and are a standing member of Good Shepherd, please see Steph Warner to find out where you can best help.
Global Petition The Islamic State has been responsible for many genocidal actions and other serious crimes perpetrated against Christians and other local people in the areas that are under their control. These crimes are actively flaunted in their publications. Barnabas Aid has created a petition to send to the United Nations and our governments asking them to acknowledge these actions as crimes, and take appropriate action under international law. Please see Carol Hallam if you’d like more information, or to sign the petition.
Health Fair and Ice Cream Social Thanks so much to the many who helped with the Health Fair and Ice Cream Social!! This was an an wonderful opportunity for us to host an event where many bible-believing Christians joined together to promote good health and wholesome activities! It was so encouraging to witness the many Christians in our community who share our commitment to share Jesus Christ and His love! It was also amazing to hear from attendees that indeed they had felt the Spirit among us! May God continue to guide us as we seek to reach others for Him!
ACW For many years the ACW has had an event called “Lunch out“. This invitation is open to everyone. Please come and join us for good food, good conversation, and good fun! On Saturday, July 9 at 11:45. We’ll meet at Cortese Restaurant, 117 Robinson St, Binghamton, NY 13904. Let Christine Osgood or Pat Chaney know if you plan on attending! Carpooling will most likely be available.
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.
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 at 607-768-5499 or mizliz74@yahoo.com.
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’s Sermon: was on the last section of Malachi. It should be posted soon, so keep an eye out for the great conclusion Jerry’s sermon series.
Mission Group Discussion Questions
Malachi 3:13-4:6
Main Idea(s):
- Those who fear God are remembered by each other and by God.
- Believers are God’s treasured possession.
- The day of the Lord will bring deliverance and destruction.
1) What assurances do you find in Malachi 3:16-18?
- In verse 16, why did those who feared the LORD write a book of remembrance?
- Consider those who have encouraged and supported you in being faithful to God. Why is remembering them important?
2) In verse 17, God speaks of his people as his “treasured possession.”
- How should knowing that God considers you as his treasured possession influence the way you think about yourself?
- How should it influence the way you interact with other believers?
- How should it influence the way you go about your daily routine?
3) According to verses 1-3, who are the groups of people present during the day of the Lord?
- How will the day play out for these different groups of people?
- Why is the day of the Lord described as “great and awesome” in verse 5?
- What warnings can you see for yourself from verses 1-6?
4) What personal hope do you find in these final verses of the Old Testament?
- How do these final words prepare us for the coming of Jesus Christ?
- What do we see about the character of God from these last 6 verses?
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, Matt and Anne are on different ends of the country, so you’ll have to wait until next week for another new podcast episode! You can catch up on all of the older episodes here.
This Week
This week’s sermon is based on James 4:7-10.
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. (James 4:7-10 ESV)
Team Ephesians is working on the altar this Sunday with Ife Ojetayo.
The readings for this Sunday are: Isaiah 66:10-16 and James 4:7-10.
The PDF Bulletin for this Sunday’s 10:30 service can be downloaded here.
Have an item for the Update or an Announcement?
Email the secretary at:
gs.binghamton@gmail.com
by Monday night.