From time to time…
We’re going to start a new feature here in the update. At the top of the update, you might find, from time to time, some interesting facts about things going on around Good Shepherd. Nothing that wouldn’t be shared publicly will be found here, but we thought it would be a nice way to acknowledge things that are going on within our congregational community. If you know of an item that might be fun to share, please do pass it on to Stephanie in email or by phone.
A Joyous Occasion! Bob and Cookie Finch recently celebrated 50 years of marriage! Congratulations!
A New Opportunity As many of you know, Dave Coleman has for some time felt the Lord leading him toward a more involved place in ministry. He has recently been offered an assistant pastor position at Franklin Hill UMC in Montrose. Although we’ll miss them deeply, we are so happy for the Coleman family!
What’s Happening at Good Shepherd
Saratoga Fun Day! This week Carmen and several other folks went over to Saratoga Youth Center and hosted a ‘Fun Day’. There were games, crafts, music, face painting and PIZZA! The kids all had a great time, and were happy to see so many familiar faces from Good Shepherd. If you’d like to spend some time getting to know these great kids, please see Carmen. Here are a few photos of the day.
Fancy hands!
Evelyn provided entertainment with her accordion!
Steph practicing face-painting between customers.
Anne T. working to create tissue paper pictures with the kids.
CJ making cereal necklaces with the kids.
School Supply Giveaway and FREE Barbecue is this Saturday, August 27th noon to 2PM. This is always a big event and another way to reach out to the community with the love of Christ. Please see Carmen or call the church office to find out how you can help!
Youth Group The youth group will be meeting at the Morrison’s home this week on Sunday at 2:30. Please contact Ife at iojetayo.cogs@gmail.com for more information.
September 4th is the first Sunday of the month. There will be a potluck lunch and crucifer and acolyte practice. Please be sure that all crucifers and acolytes grab a quick lunch and head back to the sanctuary for practice. If you have a child interested in training to become an acolyte or crucifer, please contact Steph at the Good Shepherd office.
Ministry Fair Please join us on September 11th in the parish hall following the 8:30 service as we embrace stewardship as a way of life. Take a few moments to see the various ministry opportunities that are available at Church of the Good Shepherd. “If anyone would serve me” Jesus says in the Gospel, “let him follow me; where I am, there will my servant be.” Please join us in celebrating and learning more about each of these ministries.
And Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink”… There are bottles of water in the church refrigerator which are available to offer to anyone who is in the vicinity of the church. These are not for members of COGS, but are for those outside our walls. Please use this gesture to show others that we care.
Mission Groups Mission groups are meeting again! The location and format for each group may change weekly through the month of August. There is no printed schedule. Contact your Mission Group Leader for specific details for your group. See Ben Murphy if you have questions about Mission Groups or for help joining a group!
ACW Anglican Church Women (ACW) are inviting all the women of Good Shepherd to a lunch on Saturday, September 10 from 11:30-2:30. Come enjoy good food, fun, and fellowship at the Chaney’s home! Reservations are not required, but appreciated. If you need a ride or directions, see Pat Chaney or Christine Osgood.
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.
Ongoing Ministries
“And as for your little ones…”
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.
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.
Member Food Pantry Our lives are changing every day, sometimes even every hour. Often the plans we’ve made for ourselves are not the plans that God has for us. It’s easy to become overwhelmed with all of the need around us.
Buying items for our member food pantry is a small way that we can help our Good Shepherd family and friends that are in need.
In this simple act, we are able to keep his commandment to ‘feed his sheep’. Please consider picking up a can or two of something tasty to support the food pantry the next time that you’re out shopping.
Needs: canned meats and tuna, one box meals cereals, hot or cold cereal (other than corn flakes), crackers, cookies, salad dressings, side dishes, canned soups and stews, juice boxes or canned juices, canned fruit and veggies, coffee, tea, cocoa, and anything else you’d like to bring.
Last Week
Last Week in Adult Christian Education This was the sixth class session of our Christian education course on the 39 Articles. We discussed Article 10, is the human will able, apart from Grace, to choose God? And Article 11 on Justification by faith alone. You can listen in here: Articles 10-11: The Freedom of the Will and Justification by Faith.
Last Week’s Sermon: was called ‘Your Brother’s Keeper’, and was based on James 5:16-20. You can listen to or download it here.
Tuesday Morning Bible Study This Tuesday’s Bible Study was called ‘The Weak and the Strong’. In Romans 14, Paul moves on to deal with what was a pressing problem in many of the congregations he planted…how to deal with the relationship between Jewish and Gentile believers and the question of the ceremonial/dietary laws. Many Jews had been raised to feel disgust at the thought of ceremonially unclean foods and those who eat them but now, not only is eating once unclean food permitted because Christ has made all things clean, but they have been thrust into close fellowship with Gentiles who have always eaten them. As is true even today, ethnic pride and suspicions, cultural conflicts, and human prejudice all threaten to tear the church apart. But Christ, through his apostle Paul, provides the remedy. You can view it here, or watch it below.
Missed a study? You can catch up on the last month of the Tuesday morning Bible studies you might have missed 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, ‘Men, How to Raise Them and Get Them to Do Stuff’ Matt and Anne discuss masculinity, physical strength, how and when to discipline children, and how to get your husband to do stuff. You can catch up on all of the older episodes here.
This Week
This week’s sermon is based on Luke 14:1, 7-11.
One Sabbath, when he went to dine at the house of a ruler of the Pharisees, they were watching him carefully. (Luke 14:1 ESV)
Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 14:7-11 ESV)
Team Corinthians is working on the altar this Sunday with Melissa Boeker.
The readings for this Sunday are: Proverbs 25:6-7 and Hebrews 13:1-8.
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.