What’s Happening at Good Shepherd
A Message from Basileia
Hi! My name is Amy, and I’m a sophomore majoring in accounting at Binghamton University. Because of your support, I have met God at Basileia through studying his word with others who are excited to learn about Him too. He showed me and revealed to me that His word is alive and that there is so much I don’t know about Him. Thank you for your support!
In Christ, Amy
~Thank you, Anglican Church of the Good Shepherd! Because of your partnership in the Gospel, prayer and support, Amy met God this past year and is hoping to witness to and start a small group in her Greek community next year!
In Him, Lisa Ojetayo
Health Fair and Ice Cream Social A BIG Thanks to all those who participated in the Health Fair and Ice Cream Social last Saturday! This was a beautiful occasion for so many Christians to network together to show our love to the community! And the hand of the Lord our God was upon us!! Bless His name! May He continue to guide as we serve in His name!
Father’s Day This Sunday is Father’s Day. As is the custom here at Good Shepherd, all men of any age are welcome to help themselves to a meat stick at the sanctuary entrance after the services.
A Heartfelt Thank You Birthright of Binghamton expresses our deepest appreciation and ‘Thank You’ for your continuing and generous support of our Mother’s Day flower Sale. Birthright is a non-profit pregnancy center staffed by dedicated volunteers. All of our services are free, including pregnancy tests (58 in 2016), newborn layettes (71 in 2016), clothing (244 clients were helped with clothing in 2016), diapers (233 babies in 2016) and resources, as well as guidance, support and friendship. For further information, or if you are interested in volunteering please call Diane at (607) 372-0312! We look forward to hearing from you!
Sincerely,
Diane Yajko, Birthright Co-Director
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.
An Invitation Lauren Kirst and Nick Sluyter are getting married! All are invited and welcome to celebrate the beginning of their marriage at the wedding ceremony. It is taking place here at Good Shepherd on June 24th at 2:00pm.
VBS Vacation Bible School is coming! Think about joining in the fun of telling our neighborhood kids about Jesus.
Look for the sign-up sheet downstairs and save these dates: Monday, July 31- Thursday, August 3. 6:00-8:15 PM.
Save the Date! This year the School Supply Giveaway and Free BBQ will be happening on August 26th from 12-2pm. If you’d like to know how you can help, please see Carmen Swoffer-Penna.
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.
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 What is the difference between ‘doing’ and ‘helping’? The dictionary describes ‘doing’ as: an activity or proceeding, and ‘helping’ as: to assist. Our food pantry can be thought of in much the same way. It is a thing we ‘do’ to have a food pantry available to Good Shepherd members, but we can ‘help’ by continuing to keep it stocked with good, healthy foods.
Items needed: peanut butter, canned meats, tuna, coffee, tea, canned/powdered milk, canned fruit, canned veggies (except for green beans), rice in 1lb bags (brown or white), gluten free items, sugar free items, condiments: mayo, mustard, ketchup, relish, fruit juices (other than grape), kid foods, and anything else that you’d like to bring.
Last Week
Last Week’s Sermon was called ‘The New Covenant in His Blood’ and was based on Hebrews 8:7-12 and can be listened to or downloaded here.
Tuesday Morning Bible Study was called ‘Horse and Rider He Has Thrown into the Sea‘ and was based on Exodus 14. You can watch here, or in the window below. You’ll need a LiveStream account, but it’s free and easy to sign up for.
You can catch up on all of the older classes here.
Mission Group Discussion Questions
Read Hebrews 8:7-13
1) Why was a second covenant needed?
- What does it mean that the first covenant wasn’t faultless?
- What was the purpose of the first covenant? Did the first covenant fulfill its purpose?
- Who is the “them” in verse 8? What is the fault found in them?
2) Verses 8 through 12 quote from Jeremiah 31. What is described in verses 8-12?
- Who promised and subsequently has established this new covenant? How is this similar and different from the old covenant?
- According to verse 9, who broke the old covenant? How is the new covenant different?
- What does it mean when God says “I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts”? How is this different from the old covenant?
- What does it mean in verse 11 when it says “for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest”? How is this different from the old covenant?
- How has God been merciful toward our iniquities? What does it mean that God will “remember their sins no more”?
3) Which is the better covenant? Why is it the only sufficient covenant?
- How is the old made obsolete by the new?
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, ‘Bernie Sanders, Scotland, and The Office’, Matt and Anne Kennedy discuss “The Office”, Bernie Sanders and his shock over basic Christian belief, and the Scottish Episcopal Church’s decision to embrace gay “marriage”.
You can catch up on all of the older podcast episodes here.
This Week
This Week’s Sermon is based on Hebrews 9:1-14.
Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly place of holiness. For a tent was prepared, the first section, in which were the lampstand and the table and the bread of the Presence. It is called the Holy Place. Behind the second curtain was a second sectioncalled the Most Holy Place, having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron’s staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant. Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.
These preparations having thus been made, the priests go regularly into the first section, performing their ritual duties, but into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people. By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing (which is symbolic for the present age). According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.
But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
Team Ephesians is working on the altar this Sunday.
Shepherd’s Bowl Team 3 with Steph Warner (6/22).
Altar Guild Anne Kennedy is serving this Sunday.
The readings for this week are: Exodus 19:1-8 and Hebrews 9:1-14.
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.