THE MESSENGER. Pastor s Message

Transcription

1 THE MESSENGER Our Mission To Share the Good News of God s grace through worshipping, teaching and reaching out to all in need of God s love. D e c e m b e r 2018 Pastor s Message The lights, the decorations, the carols, the gatherings. This is a special time of year and all of the festivities are very appropriate given what Christmas is all about - the incarnation, God becoming flesh in the person of Jesus Christ. Stop and consider the wonder, the amazement, the miraculousness of this most blessed mystery. God; the creator of all that exists, who rules the universe, who is all powerful and omnipresent, has become human; a creature who is very limited in terms of power, and is very vulnerable to many things. This is how much God loves the world. Please do not let the joy of the Christmas season pass you by. God loves you! So much so that not only did God come to earth many years ago but God still comes to you today in Jesus' body and blood. All of us, frail creatures that we are, are loved by God who is the creator of all that exists. It can't be said enough, "God loves you". In addition to our regular Sunday morning worship, Christmas Eve worship will begin at 7:00.

2 New Chairs for the Sanctuar y In preparation for our new chairs we will be removing the old ones on Dec. 2nd. Our old chairs are being donated to a congregation in need. We will be cleaning the carpets in the sanctuary and foyer and have been given a delivery date of Dec. 6th for our new chairs! D at e s t o Re m e m b e r! Dec. 1st Decorating the church at 9:00 am Dec. 2nd Removal of old Chairs Dec. 6th New Chairs arrive. Dec. 8th Salvation Army Buckets Come help us ring the bell for the Salvation Army Red Kettles. Proceeds comes back to our community to help provide for those in need. Sign up sheet in the Narthex Dec. 10th Lydia Bible Study at 11:30am Dec. 14th Sounds of Christmas at 7:00 pm Helping Hands Christmas Baskets Applications are available to nominate or request a basket. You can get an application at any of the area churches as well as the library, school and thru FISH. Dec.14th Last day to get applications in. Dec. 16th Last day to bring in your donation of grape jelly and Macaroni and cheese. Dec. 21st Pick up day Dec. 17th Clothesline at 9:00 am Dec. 21st and 28th No Bible Study Dec. 23rd and 30th No Sunday School Dec. 24th Christmas Eve Service at 7:00 pm Dec. 25th Jesus s Birthday Merry Christmas!

3 Other Opportunities to Serve We Need You! GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH Presents A WONDERFUL EVENING OF CHRISTMAS MUSIC FEATURING THE CHRISTMAS CHOIR, AND THE SHEPHERD S BELLS Special Guests: Salem Vocal Quartet Tara Iddings, Cello Volunteer to help with Worship service: Assisting Minister Greeter Usher Audio/Video Nursery Altar Guild Lector Or volunteer to help with: Sunday School Luth Youth yard work/upkeep Friday, December 14, :00 p.m. Other Ministries Son Rise Service Clothesline Plarning Group Panera Bread Senior Shepherds

4 Senior Shepherds News Next Dec. 18th Christmas Luncheon Noon at Laura's Country Diner To carpool, please meet at Good Shepherd at 11:30 a.m.) Senior Shepherds are invited to bring their Christmas Spirit and appetites to enjoy a Christmas luncheon at Laura's Country Diner, 8 Pike Street, Laura, OH! Please register your plan to attend by signing your name on the sign-up paper on the bulletin board. If it is more convenient for you to drive to Laura directly, please indicate with an * after your name. Highlights of November The Senior Shepherds welcomed Dr. William Ginn, West Milton's family practitioner for over 34 years and the Miami County Coroner, as guest speaker. Dr. Ginn shared information that he has learned in the past three years since becoming the Miami County Coroner related to the local opioid crises. Many questions were raised and answered. The Senior Shepherds appreciated Dr. Ginn's presentation. Also appreciated: Delicious refreshments provided by Marsha Fischbach. Thank You, Marsha!

5 Thank You! Thank You! Water! Water! Water! A check for $1, is being sent to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to be used where needed to help provide clean water for some of the 783 million people who do not have access to clean water and almost 2.5 billion who do not have access to adequate sanitation! This money will be spent on irrigation canals, wells, latrines, etc. Thank you to all who helped with this very worthwhile project! Thank You for Caring! There will not be any Sunday school classes on December 23rd and 30th. Classes will resume on January 6th. We are in need of a teacher (or teachers) for the 1st thru Middle school age group. Kia will teach in December but after that we do not have a teacher for that age group. If you are willing to teach or would like to get more information to make a decision you can contact Amy Grile or Barbara Cecil. Study, after study shows children who actively engage in a faith community on a regular basis are rewarded with SIGNIFI- CANTLY reduced likelihood of life problems and risky behaviors, and stand to significantly improve their odds of a happier, healthier, and longer life. These studies show the same results for adults as well. Neil MacQueen Go to : for more about the importance of regular church and Sunday school attendance. NEED HELP TO KEEP YOUR GIVING CURRENT? If so, you can easily sign up for Simply Giving, the automatic withdrawal from an account of your choice to be transferred to the Good Shepherd account. Just let Betty Lou Johansen know and you can be signed up to have the amount you choose and how often you choose to have the transfer of funds to the church account. There is NO CHARGE for this, and you can always be up-to-date, even when you are on vacation! You can start the process, change it, or stop it AT ANYT TIME, just by letting Betty Lou know. Think about it. It is VERY EASY AND QUICK to sign up.

6 D BIRTHDAYS 3 Bob Cecil 14 Arlene Warner 7 Butch Traylor 23 Paula Barker 12 Haley Anderson 25 JESUS Brian Ely 26 George Franks ANNIVERSARIES 29 Ed and Barbara Menker E C E M B 13 John Johansen 29 Jose Lopez S E R V I N G ASSISTING MINISTER COMMUNION ASSISTANT ALTAR GUILD Kristine Hayes Toby Theis Gloria Shellhammer Debbie Bredeson ACOLYTE LECTOR 2 Carter Berner 2 Jeff Barth SOUND 9 Dawson Tinnerman 9 Jeff Barth Russ Baker 16 Grace Leffew 16 Judy Moncrief 23 Brady Tinnerman 23 Judy Moncrief 30 Rosalyn Welhener 30 Judy Moncrief USHER CAPTAIN FLOWERS NURSERY 2 Brian Ely 2 Jodi & Jeff Barth 2 Suzie Vagedes 9 Jarrett Grile 9 Marie Kopp 9 Debbie Bredeson 16 Dave Vagedes 16 Ric & Arlene Warner 16 Kia Blankenship 23 George Franks 23 Judy Moncrief 23 Lori Gellatly 30 George Franks 30 OPEN 30 E R GREETERS 2 Tara Welhener 9 Kathy & Rob Williams 16 David & Kristine Hayes 23 Ann & Russ Siler 30 Lori Gellatly JANUARY ACOLYTES 6 Kendall Leffew 13 Carter Berner 20 Dawson Tinnerman 27 Grace Leffew If you cannot serve on an appointed day, it is your responsibility to find someone to serve in your place.

7 December 2018 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT Dec 2nd Last day to order your poinsettias 1 9:00 am Decorate the Church 2 9:15 Bell Practice 9:30 am Sunday School Christmas Choir Practice pm Plarn 7:00 pm Musical Practice 7:45 pm Choir 6 New Chairs Delivered 7 10:00 am Bible Study 8 9 FISH SUNDAY 9:15 Bell Practice 9:30 am SS Christmas Choir Practice 10 11:30 am Lydia Bible Study pm Plarn 6:30pm Musical Dress Rehearsal :00 am Bible Study Sounds of Christmas Program 7: :30 am Sunday School 17 9:00 am Clothesline pm Plarn 7:00 pm Choir Practice :00 am Bible Study pm Plarn

8 Council Minutes Nov 13th, 2018 Present: Rusty Baker, Les Barker, Kea Blankenship, Pastor Steve Gellatly, Amy Grile, Toby Theis and Ric Warner Devotions: - Ric Warner Secretary s Report: Approved as read. Motion: Les Barker Second: Toby Theis All were in favor. Financial Secretary s Report: Approved as read. Motion: Pastor Steve Gellatly Second: Les Barker All were in favor. Treasurer s Report: Motion: Amy Grile Second: Kea Blankenship All were in favor. Pastor s Report: Endowment Committe is November 26th at 7pm. Our new copier has been delivered. Worship: Toby Theis No choir practice on Nov. 21st, to allow people to attend the Community Thanksgiving Service. Our Christmas musical is scheduled for Friday Dec. 14th and practices are going well. We will have communion at the rail on the Sunday s in Advent with continuous communion on Christmas Eve. The Christmas Eve service begins at 7:00pm with special music. The worship committe will meet the first part of January to plan for spring. Christian Education: Amy Grile/Kea Blankenship Averaging 10 students in Sunday school and Catechism. Kea is teaching in December. We will not have Sunday school Dec 30th. We are in need of teachers for the 1st thru Catechism age group. We may not have any teachers for this class after December. Going to check with LSIM on Sunday School Curriculum. Mission/Outreach/LSIM: Preschool Ms. Denise is back as interim director after Ms. Luscia resigned. The position will need to be filled and in order to do so we will need to evaluate and create job descriptions for all Preschool positions. MUCC Helping Hands Thanksgiving service Nov. 21 st at Potsdam Brethren Property: Les Barker/Rusty Baker/Ric Warner wood strips have been installed over the window and door moldings in the sanctuary to allow decorations to be put up and removed without damaging molding. Working on getting TV in nursery operational. Youth: Susan Knife No Report Stewardship: Ric Warner/Russ Baker 40 pledging units an increase of 3 giving units (gained 5, lost 2) Pledges are $87, plus estimated giving and Misc income of $19,908 for a budget income of $107,352. This is a reduction in estimated income of approx. $1400 from last year. Old Business: Betty Lou is now set up with a new church data base program. We have set up a drop box connection to allow information to be shared as needed. New chairs will be here after Nov. 29th. Old chairs to be picked up after church on Dec. 2nd. Carpets will be cleaned in sanctuary and narthex before new chairs are place in sanctuary. New Business: 2019 proposed budget was reviewed. Motion was made to submit proposed budget to the congregation. Motion: Les Barker Second: Kea Blankenship All were in favor. We have several members who will be finishing terms on council. We will get the word out that new council members are needed. Our next council meeting will be our Christmas Dinner on December 18 th at Ric Warner s A motion to adjourn was made by Les Barker and the meeting was closed with the Lord s Prayer. Respectfully submitted, Amy Grile

9 Our Church Staff Rev. Steve Gellatly Pastor Home Phone Cell Phone: Ric Warner Church Council President Thank You! The Preschool would like to thank all those who were able to show up for our Trunk or Treat event. Even though the weather didn t cooperate, we had fun. We loved the crazy hats and costumes too! Thanks again! Like us on Facebook! Visit us Like and follow us so you can see all that is going on at Good Shepherd. Marsha Fischbach Music Director Betty Lou Johansen Pianist Phone office@goodshepherdwestmilton.com Website: Good Shepherd Lutheran Church 1209 South Miami St. West Milton, Ohio PLACE STAMP HERE