What’s Happening at Good Shepherd
Bible Study Scheduling Announcement All Bible Studies that are taught by Matt will be taking a two-week break. They will pick back up during the first week of January.
A Message from the Missions Committee Thank you for filling shoe boxes for Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child. 24 Shoeboxes were sent from Good Shepherd to bless 24 children somewhere in the world. Lord, please use these gifts to bring these children to faith in Jesus Christ.
Christmas Outreach: Again this Christmas we at Good Shepherd have the amazing opportunity to celebrate Christ’s birth by helping those less fortunate than ourselves. Needy children from Saratoga Youth Center have provided us with wish lists for Christmas. Please join the Outreach Team in surprising these dear children with some special presents (valued at $15-$20) this holiday. Select a child represented on the Christmas tree in the Parish Hall and record your name, phone number, and the child’s number on the sign-up sheet. Please gift wrap the present and be sure to place the number of the child on the wrapped package. Please bring it to the secretary’s office on or before Sunday December 18th. We will help Saint Nick deliver the gifts to the children on Tuesday December 20th. See Carmen to know the name(s) of the child/children whom you select. Thanks so much!
Christmas Pageant The Christmas pageant will be held on Christmas Eve at 5pm. Please see Anne Kennedy to find out how you can help.
Christmas Service This year Christmas falls on a Sunday. There will be one church service on Christmas at 11am. There will not be coffee hour or Christian Ed on that Sunday.
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.
Mission Groups All Mission Groups are taking a two week break, and will pick back up in the first week of January.
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.
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 The countdown has begun! There are only 9 days left until Christmas, so you still have time to buy some food for our member food pantry. Please consider doing so if you’re able. In this way, those that use the pantry might be able to have a nice holiday meal.
Items like canned hams, canned potatoes or yams, instant potatoes, stuffing, canned peas, carrots, corn, scalloped potatoes, quick breads, pie mixes and fillings or anything else you care to bring.
Mission Group Discussion Questions
Hebrews 2:14-18
Main Ideas:
- Jesus achieved perfect mercy and faithfulness as a human
- Jesus became fully human in order to make propitiation for human sinfulness
Read Hebrews 2:14-18
1) What makes humans fear death?
- How is this fear different for Christians compared to non-Christians?
- How does the fear of death subject someone to lifelong slavery?
- Why are believers no longer subject to this slavery?
2) What does it mean that Jesus did not help the angels?
- Why are the angels not helped?
- Who are the “offspring of Abraham”?
3) Why did Jesus need to become human?
- According to verse 17, what did he achieve in his humanity?
- How did this make Jesus worthy “to make propitiation for the sins of the people”?
4) Jesus never sinned, so what does it mean in verse 18 that “he himself has suffered when tempted”?
- Why is he able to help those who are being tempted?
Last Week
Last Week’s Sermon: Last week’s sermon was called ‘Our Merciful and Faithful High Priest’ and was based on Hebrews 2:15-18. You can listen to or download it 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, ‘Worshiping On Christmas Day’ Matt and Anne discuss Christmas Sunday, worship, work and the church, and why Sunday is a good day to meet in a church building.
You can catch up on all of the older episodes here.
Tuesday Morning Bible Study The class this week had technical difficulties. We hope to have everything back in order when class resumes on January 3rd.
You can catch up on all of the older episodes here.
This Week
This Week’s Sermon is based on Hebrews 3:1-6.
Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God’s house. For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.) Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope. (Hebrews 3:1-6 ESV)
Team Galations is working on the altar this Sunday with Ife Ojetayo.
Shepherd’s Bowl Team 1, the Swoffer-Penna team will be working this week (12/22).
Altar Guild Karen Berman is serving this Sunday.
Nursery Emma Kennedy is serving this Sunday with Madison.
The readings for this week are: Isaiah 7:10-17 and Hebrews 3:1-6.
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.