Good Shepherd News 2019

WORSHIP SCHEDULE8:30am Worship10:00am Children's Sunday School10:30am Worship

THE SHEPHERD’S STAFFPastor Larry Grunden, Jr.Choir Directors Nancy Davis, Mike MorrisHand bell Director Nancy DavisInterim Organist J. Chris MooreCustodian Coverall Custodial Nursery Vickie Schivler

CONGREGATION COUNCILPresidentVice PresidentSecretaryTreasurer

Deb Botkin, Ron Green, Jeff HenningDavid King, Susan Kogler, Melanie LeVanJennifer Rousculp-Miller, Rebecca Sanders

The Good Shepherd News is a monthly publication fromGood Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church

712 N. Fountain AvenueSpringfield, OH 45504

(937) 322-7222

Web site: www. jointheflock.org

gselcflock@gmail.com, pastorlarrygselc@gmail.com

Check us out on Facebook at

facebook.com/GoodShepherdSpringfield

OUR MISSIONCalled and sent into the world, we seek to serve as the living

expression of God's compassion, love & forgiveness.

Come and celebrate

the birth of Christ!

Christmas Eve Worship, Dec 24th

4:00pm Children's Worship

for the smallest of disciples

8:30pm Music begins

As I prepared my sermon for the first week of the Advent Season, I was really struck by Jesus' telling of the end times. He tells us that his return will come like a thief in the night and that no one will know the time, nor the hour, except for the Father. We should remain "awake!" He then tells us that one worker will be taken, and one will be left!

This apocalyptic, end time talk sure seems to put a damper on such a season as Advent, where we look to the happiness of Christmas. We are gathering our Christmas lists, making family plans, maybe even wrapping gifts at this point, so why must we hear about the end of time? How can we experience the joy of preparing for Christmas, while worrying about whether or not we will be "left behind?"

Workingpreacher.org presented an intriguing insight into the meaning of Matthew's words here. They suggest that when Jesus left this earth, he left us, the faithful behind. Not that Jesus will not return one day, but that in the meantime, the faithful have more work to do to continue God's mission here and now.

What this means for us today is that as we go about our busy schedules, and as we prepare for the joy of Christmas, and as we prepare for Jesus' return one day, that we should "remain awake" to our mission as Christians. That mission is to share the Good News of Jesus Christ to everyone. We have work to do. We, the faithful, have more work to do in the meantime.

It is not an easy task to take care of each other; to take care of our community, our neighbors, and our church, but this is what we are called to do. Good Shepherd is fulfilling God's mission in so many ways, but we the faithful, have even more work to do. As Advent turns to Christmas, remember these things: Remember to donate to worthy causes that help the poor. Remember to volunteer your time in this community. Remember to be generous to any in need, remember those who are homebound, and remember to be generous to the church.

We have work to do, and this may seem to be consuming, but think about Jesus, and you will feel the joy that our work brings. You will experience the joy of Christmas. You will live the joy of Christ. Have a wonderful Advent and a Merry Christmas!

Advent blessings,Pastor Larry

DECEMBER BEGINNINGS AND ENDINGS

New beginnings: Happy Advent! That is church language for Happy New Year. The First Sunday in Advent (this year on December 1) marks the first day of the new liturgical church year. It is the beginning of the cycle of festivals (Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, and Easter) that recall primary events in the life of Jesus which shape and animate our Christian faith. We live as the people of faith who have believed and welcomed the Messiah, God's Chosen One, to be our God Incarnate (made human to come and dwell among us), to save us from our sin, and to be our example of God's plan for Godly living. Guided by the Holy Spirit, we embrace and carry out God's mission plan entrusted to our Congregation of Believers, known as Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.

Naming all the individual facets of God's Mission given to Good Shepherd is difficult. As a community of Christian believers, we worship together, we pray together, we care for one another, we care for needy persons not specifically a part of our fellowship, we send mission support far beyond the boundaries of our property. We care for our church home, in respect and honor of God as a headquarters for Christian mission. We do all this, simply because God has asked us to; no other reason. Jesus asked his disciples, "Do you love me?" When the disciples answered, "Yes, Lord, you know we love you," Jesus answered, "Tend my lambs; feed my sheep." Though we may spend a lifetime discerning the finer points of God's will for our lives, we finally conclude that the Word ultimately is "tend my lambs; feed my sheep."

Blessed endings: December concludes the calendar year, as well as the fiscal year, of the life and business of our congregation. Last year, we adopted a 2019 Financial Mission Plan to underwrite and enable all of God's Mission given to us. This is an all-congregation undertaking, the collective responsibility of all of us, solemnly promised to God as we entered into our whole Mission Plan. God gives us gifts graciously, unconditionally. Everything we have, material possessions, as well as intellectual and physical capacities, are all gifts from God, pure and simple. God does expect a fair share return on all God has invested in us: "Tend my lambs; feed my sheep; go forth and bear fruit; from those to whom much has been given, much is expected, etc."

As this article is being written on November 26, our General Fund giving at Good Shepherd is trailing our General Fund expenses, year-to-date. And Congregational Treasurer Diane Timmons has reported to Church Council that she anticipates final month expenses to bring total 2019 General Fund expenses very close to budgeted figures. We need very strong December offerings to complete 2019 in positive territory.

Every Christian is responsible to underwrite God's Mission, no matter how small or large the gift. This is the time for each of us to prayerfully consider our giving to-date for the year, and to thankfully and joyfully bring our generous gifts to the Altar, handed freely with thanksgiving to God, for use as God grants us wisdom and grace for the mission God has entrusted to us. May God grant us the faith, trust, and strength to" let go and let God . . ." Thanks be to God!

Ron Green

GOOD SHEPHERD FOOD PANTRY

Thank you Good Shepherd Congregation! You filled up our shelves with quality food & wow did we need it. Another record breaking 334 food insecure folks were served at our pantry tonight. They were greeted with bean & ham soup & cherry crumble with cool whip. Our welcoming volunteers worked very hard. Thank you: Rick Broderick, Bill Dollhopf, Richard Kogler, Sandy & Bob Falkner, Mary & George

Parsons, Paul Buckles, Phil Winchell, Angela Barber, Barb Shuirr, Melinda Jud, Carla Canales, Chuck & Melanie LeVan, Ginny Martycz, Ellyn Shirk, Barb Strawsburg, Brady Edwards, Brittany Strawsburg, Chad Carr, Lily Kilgore, Mark Roberts and Randy Botkin, Many thanks to Sharon Veale for her constant donations of calendars, notepads & cool stuff. People love it!

David & Teri are rocking the shoe ministry with 38 pairs distributed. Folks were thrilled with their "new" shoes & boots.

Make sure you mark your 2020 calendar Saturday February 8th for our Soup Cook Off & Silent Auction 4-7pm. We have some really great collectibles, art & furniture. Also baskets & baked goods!

Upcoming dates to remember:-Wednesday, December 11 Pickup @ 2nd Harvest 9:15am. Drivers= Broderick, Buckles,

Falkner & Roberts. -Tuesday, December 17 Pack boxes @ church 3:30pm. Finished by 5pm.-Thursday, December 19 Morning pick up of baked goods & produce @ 2nd Harvest.

                    5pm Greet clients with refreshments                    5:30-7:30pm Pantry Time. Please come & bring a friend!

God's work. Our hands! denise

LIFE AT GOOD SHEPHERD

CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICESCHILDREN'S WORSHIP - 4:00pm on December 24th. Especially for the youngest of disciples, there will be singing, story time and the lighting of glow sticks! Bring your children, invite your friends to bring theirs and we can worship God together! All are welcome, but this service is oriented toward children up to grade 2.  CANDLELIGHT WORSHIP - Music begins at 8:30pm followed by a service of Holy Communion that ends in candlelight. Come, and celebrate the coming of the Christ child.

CHRISTMAS CARD EXCHANGE BOXES - Exchange Christmas cards with your GSELC family! The boxes are alphabetical and located on the table under the TV in the Fellowship Room. Don’t forget to check to see if you have cards too.

SMALL GROUP - You are invited to the home of Mark and Denise Roberts, 340 Ardmore Rd. for fun, fellowship and learning. We will meet Monday, December 9th at 7:00pm. For more info, call Mark and Denise and 390.3601.

MIRIAM CIRCLE - Our women's group will share a holiday lunch with friends at the Jaguar Room at CTC on Wednesday, December 4.  We will meet in the church parking lot at 10:45am to carpool. Cost will depend on your menu choice but should be around $10-$12.  Please contact Marcia Morris 322-7622, or Barb Bendure 399-8546, if interested in attending. WOMEN’S BOOK GROUP - Women’s book group will meet at the home of the Bendure's, 136 Roosevelt Dr, on Monday, December 16 at 5:30pm for dinner and a movie.  Please contact Barb Bendure, 399-8546 if interested.

SHEPHERD'S YARNERS GROUP - Shepherd's Yarners will not meet during the month of December.  Please mark your calendars for January as we will meet Wednesdays, January 8 and 15. More details to come.

YOUTH GROUP - There are many good times ahead with our youth! Bring your friends, and leave with a smile...Watch your email for more information or see Janis Bell or Pastor Larry.

YOUTH CHRISTMAS PAGEANT - All youth are invited to participate in Good Shepherd's Christmas pageant on Sunday, December 22. Please see Chris Zechman or Nancy Davis for rehearsal times! 2020 DIRECTORY - Good Shepherd is updating the contact information of our "flock" for our directory. If you have a new number, mailing address, or email address that you would like us to use, contact the office!

PUB THEOLOGY - You are invited to join our discussions, at Mother Stewart's, on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of each month on contemporary issues in relation to biblical text. The participation of consumption of alcoholic beverages is certainly not required, just come for the discussion. See Pastor Larry for more information. No December meetings! We resume again on January 12.

ALL MUSIC PARTY - Do you sing in choir? Do you play the Handbells? Do you offer your gift of music to God at Good Shepherd? Then you are invited to the Timmons home to celebrate that gift on December 12, at 6:00pm. There will be a rehearsal for choir, so warm up your voice in the car on the way! See Nancy Davis for details. CAROLING - Join with our choir and youth in a timeless tradition of spreading the joy of Christmas through singing! On Sunday, December 15th, following the 10:30am, service, we will meet in the kitchen for a quick lunch, followed by an afternoon of caroling. The more, the merrier! See Nancy Davis for more information.

COMMUNITYWITTENBERG UNIVERSITY Advent/Christmas/Epiphany programs are for all to enjoy. Come and worship at Weaver Chapel on campus!

Friday, December 6, at 7:30pm - Lessons and Carols for Advent and ChristmasMonday, December 9, at 7:30pm - Community Messiah SingMonday Feb 3, 2020 at 7:30pm - Medieval Candlelight Vespers~Candlemas Observance

GIFTS FROM THE EARTH – By Angela Barber

Here’s a wonderful cranberry sauce recipe that I have been making for years!  This is always served during the holidays at my house.  I

hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

12 oz fresh cranberries 1 cup port wine (or 3/4 cup cranberry juice)3/4 cup sugar1 Granny Smith apple, cored, peeled and diced into 1/2 inch cubes1/2 tsp cinnamon 

Combine all ingredients into a sauce pan and stir frequently on medium high heat until the cranberries break down and the mixture becomes syrupy.  Transfer to a bowl, cover and refrigerate for at least 24 before serving hrs (or up to 3 days).  Enjoy!!!

DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS

2 Randy Setty 5 Juanita Aukeman 6 Ron Green 8 Alex Rougier, Melissa Archambeau 9 Braden Malone 12 Andy Shuirr, Cheryl Rigsbee 19 Laura Jarzab 22 Merritt Wichner 24 Joy Goekl 29 Ed Snyder 30 Rachel Tune

DECEMBER ANNIVERSARIES

3 Douglas & Emly Dye9 Dan & Dianne Kress18 Bill & Mimi Spotts