What’s Happening at Good Shepherd
A Request for Help
Can anyone lend ready-lit Christmas trees to help decorate our Huge Rummage and Handicraft Sale (which will benefit CHE, Nicaragua) at Christmas in Montrose? Dec 2nd and 3rd, at Bridgewater Baptist church, Church St, Montrose. Also, donations are very welcome. You can bring them to church on Sundays. Come and support CHE, and enjoy Christmas in Montrose.
Thank you, Anne, Bill, and Darling.
An Invitation There is a community dinner with turkey and all the trimmings, taking place this Sunday, November 13th from 2:00-3:30 pm, at the West Family YMCA, 740 Main St. Johnson City, NY 13760. There is no cost for this dinner and all are welcome to attend. Please contact Karen at 607 770 9622 ext. 405 with questions.
Trunk N Treat Thanks to all who helped with Trunk ‘N Treat! We hosted many children and adults who enjoyed Christian music, games, donuts, hot chocolate, and cider in the Parish Hall. Our antique/classic car friends also joined us with trunks of treats in the parking lot. There was also a gospel clown who made amazing balloon animals with a message about Jesus! There was prayer and there was conversation with those who otherwise might never learn to know us. Please pray that these efforts to reach out to our neighborhood may bring glory to our Lord and may add believers to His kingdom.
Scheduling Reminder If you need to make an appointment with Pastor Matt, please be sure to contact Stephanie directly 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 nine 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 and Fridays, but you can always leave a message. Thank you so much for your understanding.
Operation Christmas Child This Sunday is the last day to drop off shoe boxes. Please make sure it goes to Carol Hallam. If you forget yours at home, there’s still hope! There are leaflets with additional drop off locations and dates available at the front and back of the sanctuary. You can drop your shoe box at any of the corresponding locations/dates and your box will still make it to a child!
Mission Groups Mission groups have returned to their regular meeting times. If you are already part of a Mission Group, check the location and schedule of your meetings with your Mission Group Leader, and in the Week at a Glance section of this morning’s update. See Ben Murphy if you haven’t joined a Mission Group yet and need help finding one!
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
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 or contact the office. The next meeting will be on November 19th, and we’ll be discussing Anna and the Samaritan Woman.
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 What a welcome sight it was on Sunday when I entered our Member food pantry and saw that it was filling up. Thanks to everyone who gave recently and continue giving. Your generosity is greatly appreciated!
Items needed: Powdered milk, Canned meats, tuna, one box meals, Kid foods like spaghetti O’s etc.;
Canned corn, peas, carrots, asparagus, sweet potatoes(yams), canned pears, peaches, or pineapple; Stove Top Stuffing Mixes,
Pie Crust mixes and Fillings, instant Puddings (regular and Fat Free), Ketchup, mustard, Mayo, Relish, Steak Sauce or anything else you care to bring.
We also need: Toilet paper, Tissues, Paper towels, napkins, and dishwashing liquid.
*Please refrain from donating flours or sugars.
Last Week
Last Week’s Sermon: Last week’s sermon was called ‘Let All the Angels Worship Him’ and was based on Hebrews 1:3-6. You can listen to or download it here.
Mission Group Discussion Questions
Main Ideas:
- Jesus is no angel—he is the eternal son of God!
- Jesus is God, whom even the angels are commanded to worship.
Read Hebrews 1:4-6
1) How has Jesus Christ “become as much superior to angels”? [Review verses 2 & 3, especially the end of 3]
- What is the name that he has inherited mentioned in verse 4?
- Why does this make him more than just an angel?
2) How do verses 5 and 6 prove the truth of the statement in verse 4 that Jesus is superior to angels?
3) Given the excellency and supremacy of Christ, why do you think human beings, even believers, still tend to
trust in other things first?
- In what areas of life do you need to recognize the supremacy of Christ and trust fully in him?
- How can you begin to refocus your mind on Christ for these situations?
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, The ‘Christian’ Candidate, Anthony Bourdain, and Passing Out Matt and Anne Kennedy discuss what to eat as America careens full speed toward the election cliff, whether or not there is a Christian candidate running for President, Anthony Bourdain, and their son passing out during church.
You can catch up on all of the older episodes here.
Tuesday Morning Bible Study was based on Ecclesiastes 7.
How could a funeral possibly be better than a feast? The day of death better than the day of birth? What good is sorrow and mourning and why should we not flee from it? Perhaps these questions are most appropriate on this particular election day. Today we move into chapter 7 of Ecclesiastes. There Solomon tells us that indeed, better is the day of mourning than the day of feasting and we will see why.
Missed a study? You can catch up on the last month of the Tuesday morning Bible studies you might have missed here.
This Week
This Week’s Sermon is based on Hebrews 1.
The Supremacy of God’s Son
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”? Or again, “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son”? And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.” Of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire.” But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.” And, “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end.” And to which of the angels has he ever said, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”? Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?
(Hebrews 1 ESV)
Team Galations is working on the altar this Sunday with Anne Kennedy.
Shepherd’s Bowl Team 1 is serving this Thursday (11/17) with Carmen Swoffer-Penna.
Altar Guild Mary Tuttle is serving this Sunday.
Nursery Emma Kennedy is serving this Sunday.
The readings for this week are: Malachi 3:13-4:6 and Hebrews 1.
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.