What’s Happening at Good Shepherd
A Note from Hannah H.
Dear Church of the Good Shepherd,
This coming weekend I am moving on to pursue more graduate work at Wheaton College in Chicago, Illinois. Though I have only been attending since March, I already feel as though I am leaving a family behind at COGS. The atmosphere of love, care, and welcome in this congregation is very special: a true Christian fellowship. I am sad to leave, but grateful to have called this church my home for even a brief time. I look forward to remaining in touch, and perhaps I will see you during my family visits, breaks, and holidays. Thank you for showing me the love of Christ!
InterVarsity Student Visit Students from InterVarsity go to various churches throughout the area and at the beginning of the school year we do something called a “Church Tour” in which we organize an order in which a handful of new students can systematically visit the 5 churches that we provide rides to. COGS will be hosting Church Tour on Sunday September 3, 2017. Basically, this means that we will be having many new students (and some returning students) come check out our church…they will attend Christian Ed, the 10:30 service, and the potluck afterwards (it perfectly fits on the first of the month which is awesome!)
It would be wonderful if members of our church really went out of their way to meet these students and intentionally bring food to share at the potluck. Many of the students that attend the Church Tour are freshman and have just left their home churches. COGS has so much to offer to students (community, solid teaching, etc) and we would love for their first impressions to be welcoming!
Take Them a Meal Pauline King will be having her hip replaced on August 11. Her husband John does not cook. They would appreciate any meals that you can provide as she recuperates from her surgery.
You can sign up to take them dinner at this website: http://www.takethemameal.com/meals.php?t=VPYT5077
Do You Have Room? As some of you have heard, the Radmans are providing a home during the 2018 school year for Oliva, an international exchange student from Spain. We look forward to welcoming her on Sunday, September 10, after the first three days of school at UE!
There is another 11th grader they would be delighted for us to meet if he can be placed within the next two weeks:
Hector lives on a walnut ranch in Mexico. He loves to hike, camp, bike, swim, play tennis and golf and is interested in photography. He makes friends easily and is involved in church activities.
For more information, contact Jill Darling at 570-395-3215.
Good Shepherd Women’s Get Together The Annual “Get Together Lunch” at Pat Chaney’s will be Saturday, September 9 from 11:30-2:00 with lunch at noon. 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.
Church Picnic Good Shepherd’s annual church picnic will be held at Nathaniel Cole Park, (Shelter #1) on August 20th. Please bring a dish to pass and enough meat for your family (more is always welcome!). Plates, silverware, drinks, and cups will be provided. There will be swimming, games, hikes, and a softball game. This is a great time to get to know each other better! If you need transportation, please let Stephanie know, and we’ll try to coordinate a ride for you.
Sunday School Announcement The teen Sunday School class will be taking a break for the next few weeks. It will resume on August 20th. In the meantime, all teens are welcome to sit in on the Adult Sunday School class.
Kennedy Family Vacation The Kennedy family is taking their annual vacation. They’ll be enjoying some much-needed rest, and will return to Good Shepherd on August 19th. Please refrain from contacting them unless there is a medical/physical emergency. The church office will remain open, and can be reached in all the usual ways.
School Supply Giveaway and Free Barbecue August 26th 12-2PM we will host our annual School Supply Giveaway and FREE Barbecue. Please consider donating funds/supplies for this outreach to families in need. Especially needed are backpacks, folders, and crayons. Let’s help make the beginning of the new school year a little less burdensome to the less fortunate in our community. See Carmen or Stephanie for more information.
Water Please take time to offer a bottle of cool water to a passerby or a basketball player! If you spend any time at COGS, you will notice folks just outside our doors. Make that small effort to touch them as you offer a bottle of water in Christ’s name. The water bottles with Christ’s message are in the fridge.
An Offer of Prayer The prayer team prays for the needs of the church on a weekly basis. If you have a specific request (Praise or intercession) please fill out a card and place it in the “prayer box” by the bulletin boards in the parish hall. All prayers are kept confidential.
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 Every day families go without proper nutrition because of one reason or another – so church food pantries can become essential. Keeping them stocked with healthy foods is a necessity. The next time that you’re at the market, try to pick up something for the pantry if you’re able, as even a small amount can help.
Items Needed: soups and stews, peanut butter and jelly, one box meals, assorted pastas and sauce, fruit juice and canned fruits, canned meats and tuna, and anything else you’d like to bring.
Last Week
Last Week’s Sermon (given by Mr. Ife Ojetayo) was called “Eyewitnesses of His Majesty“. It was based on 2 Peter 1:13-21. It can be listened to or downloaded here.
Tuesday Morning Bible Study will not be meeting during the time that Matt is on vacation. We expect to begin broadcasting again on 8/22.
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 Generation Raised by Smart Phones”, Matt and Anne discuss social media and the “iGen” generation. How has growing up online changed the way human beings relate to one another?
You can catch up on all of the older podcast episodes here.
This Week
This Week’s Sermon is based on Galatians 5:13-26.
For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
Team Corinthians is working on the altar this Sunday.
The readings for this week are: Jonah 2:1-10 and Galatians 5:13-26.
The PDF Bulletin for this Sunday’s 10:30 service can be downloaded here.
Shepherd’s Bowl Team 1 with Carmen Swoffer-Penna family will be serving this Thursday (8/17).
Have an item for the Update or an Announcement?
Email the secretary at:
gs.binghamton@gmail.com
by Monday night.