What’s Happening at Good Shepherd
The Ladies Bible Study will not be meeting this Saturday. It normally meets on Saturday mornings each week at 10am. They will begin the book of Jonah on Sept 8 at 10:00. Join us to find out why Jonah resisted going to Nineveh. All ladies are welcome. Contact Christine O. or the church office for more information.
Van Fossen Family Vacation The Van Fossens will be taking a much needed vacation for the next week. Please refrain from contacting Tyler if possible. Pastor Matt will be back from vacation, and the office will operate under its normal schedule.
Church Donations Good Shepherd has always been a generous congregation and the vestry is so very thankful for your willingness to support the mission and ministry of this congregation.
You may not know this but while he easily recalls chapter and verse for randomly quoted bible texts, when it comes to keeping track of keys, wallets, cell phones, schedules, etc., Matt can be rather absent-minded. This is important information because sometimes when in a rush, people hand Matt checks for the offering. So far, he has not lost one. But Anne has found several crumpled in his pockets while doing laundry.
If you miss the offering, you can always give your tithe to the tellers after the service, or leave it off at the office, or mail it in. Thank you so much for all the ways you give to build up the church.
Did you Know? Tithes can now be given by text message. You can text ‘give’ to 1-607-882-6551 and tithe seamlessly. Here is a link to a nifty list of commands at Breeze’s website if you’d like to specify how your contribution is utilized.
Missionary Update
InterVarsity Campus Tour Each year InterVarsity takes the new students on a tour of several local churches. This year Good Shepherd will host these students on September 23rd. The potluck which would normally be held on October 7th will be held on September 23rd instead, and the theme will be International Foods. Come to enjoy lunch and welcome the new students! Please bring a dish to pass, if you’re able.
The Sluyter Family On August 13th at 7:30am Nick and Lauren Sluyter welcomed their baby girls into the world. Below is a short message from Nick.
On August 13th at 7:30am, Lauren gave birth to our three daughters Emilia, Sarah and Lucy. We are so excited that our family has multiplied!
Like most triplets our girls are premature and so they will be staying in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) for a long period of time. Although our girls were premature they were very healthy for their gestational age, and even at only 31 weeks they all were born able to breath fairly well.
The conception and birth of babies is truly miraculous. This week I have been meditating on the reality that in both physical birth, and in being born again by the Spirit, we may plant and water but it is only God who makes things grow (1 Cor 3:7). In the same way that a baby is formed by God in the womb apart from any work of the mother, we may share the gospel with others but it is God who softens the hearts of people and brings them to repentance, faith, and new life in Him.
Our three girls are truly a miracle from God, and to Him alone be the Glory. Amen.
Please be praying for Emilia, Sarah and Lucy, that they will all grow and develop ahead of schedule in every way. Particularly pray for their lungs, brains, and digestive systems.
Also be praying for Lauren and I as we adjust to a new normal in life, balancing our new responsibility as parents, to raise our children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
CHE Nicaragua The CHE Association is now working with a total 1,500 children in the various communities.
145 children have accepted Christ.
Please pray for them all to continue to grow in Christ, and in commitment to him.
Ongoing Ministries
Good Shepherd Youth Group Youth Group will continue their summer break until Sunday, September 9th. Youth Group meets on Sunday night at 6:30pm at Good Shepherd. All youth between the ages of 12-18 are welcome to join as we begin to build our bible study methods and begin our study of Romans.
Please contact Tyler Van Fossen if you’d like to know how to help or be involved in the Good Shepherd Youth Group in any way. Email: tvf.arrowhead@gmail.com
Bread and Wine If you are interested in joining a group of ladies for a monthly supper and discussion, please contact Liz Hull. The group is currently studying a book called Money, Possessions and Eternity, by Randy Alcorn. The next meeting will be in September, at the Hull home.
Mission Groups Mission Groups will begin meeting on the week of September 10th. The locations and times for meeting are:
LOCATION: BINGHAMTON SOUTHSIDE
TIME: TUESDAYS @ 7:00PM
HOST: CARRIE MOORHEAD @ 5 HANCOCK ST. BINGHAMTON, NY
LOCATION: BINGHAMTON WESTSIDE
TIME: WEDNESDAYS @ 6:30PM
(break from regular meeting 4th Wednesday of the month)
HOST: THE VANFOSSENS @ 65 BEETHOVEN ST. BINGHAMTON, NY
LOCATION: VESTAL EASTSIDE
TIME: MONDAYS @ 6:30PM
HOST: THE CARLTONS @ 4217 EMERSON PLACE VESTAL, NY
LOCATION: VESTAL 4-CORNERS
TIME: THURSDAYS @ 6:30PM (off every 5th Thurs to serve at Sheps Bowl)
HOST: THE EMMONS (SEPT & OCT ONLY) 8 JANE LACEY DR. APT A ENDICOTT, NY
REG. MEETING PLACE: KIT & KENNY DONOVAN @ 468 ECHO RD. VESTAL, NY
Good Shepherd Food Pantry When I go shopping for the pantry, I think of how it would be if I didn’t have the means to provide food for my family. What would I do? Where would I go for help? The first place that I would think of is my church, and if they didn’t have a pantry, I would go to someplace that did. Keeping our pantry well stocked with appealing and nutritious foods helps many people keep their dignity and provide for their family without having to seek other avenues for help.
Needs: peanut butter and jelly, canned meats and tuna, macaroni and cheese, soups and stews, one box meals, canned fruits and juices, tea bags, coffee singles, sugar-free drink mixes, cereals (hot or cold) and anything else you’d like to bring.
Last Week
Last Week’s Sermon was called ‘God So Loved the World’, and was based on John 3:16-21. It can be listened to or downloaded 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, ‘Pro Tips for Everyone‘ Matt and Anne give advice to the world.
You can catch up on all of the older podcast episodes here.
Tuesday Morning Bible Study This Tuesday morning’s class was based on Leviticus 8.
Unfortunately, there were technical difficulties, so the video isn’t available.
This Week
This Sunday’s Sermon will be based on John 3:22-30.
After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing. John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized (for John had not yet been put in prison).
Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a Jew over purification. And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.” John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease.”
Team Corinthians is working on the altar this Sunday.
The readings for this week are Deuteronomy 4:1-9 and Ephesians 6:10-20.
Christine O. will be serving on the altar guild this Sunday.
Carrie M. will be working in the nursery this Sunday.
Shepherd’s Bowl Team 4 is serving with the Michael Beauharnois this week (9/6).
To download a PDF of the 10:30 service bulletin, click on this link.
Have an item for the Update or an Announcement?
Email the secretary at:
gs.binghamton@gmail.com
by Monday night.