Good Shepherd Weekly Update, January 20, 2024

Annual Meeting The 150^th Good Shepherd Annual Meeting will be held tomorrow, Sunday, January 21, 2024 in the parish hall immediately following the 10:30 service.  If you are a member of Good Shepherd, please make every effort to attend.  The meeting is generally close to one hour, and a potluck lunch will be served.  Please feel free to bring a dish to pass, but stay, have lunch, and attend the meeting even if you don’t.

This year we have two items to vote on: both vestry member Chris Jones, and Sr. Warden Tom Dinnel are ending their current terms of service and are both on the slate to be re-elected.

We will also be having the annual Good Shepherd coffee competition tomorrow.

A Pressing Need Chuck Course, a long-time friend and neighbor of Good Shepherd has encountered some recent health issues.  He is need of an aide to help him throughout the day.  If you are interested in the position, please see Steph or contact the church office.

Arrowhead Trip The Good Shepherd Youth Group will be taking their annual weekend trip to Arrowhead Bible Camp on February 2-4.  Please keep them in your prayers as this is a working retreat.  Pray that they are all able to stay focused and serve to the best of their ability, and that God would use this time to grow their relationships with Him and with each other.

Shrove Tuesday (known in some countries as ‘Pancake Day’ or ‘Fat Tuesday’) is the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. This year it falls on February 13. ‘Shrove’ comes from the Latin word ‘shrive’, and means ‘absolution’.  It is thought that the tradition started when families would eat all of the fatty, rich foods in the house so as not to be tempted during the penitent season of Lent. 

Good Shepherd hosts a free pancake and sausage supper from 4:30 to 6pm to mark the day, which is followed immediately by a short ceremony in which all of the palm fronds of the previous year are burned to produce the ashes that are used for Ash Wednesday’s services.  If you would like to help, please contact Steph Warner.

Ash Wednesday Services will be held at 7am and 6pm on February 14.  On this day that begins the Lenten season, Christians all over the world come together and have ashes imposed upon their foreheads as a reminder that we are all sinners and to “remember that we are made of dust, and to dust we shall return”. 

Scheduling Reminder If you need to make an appointment with Matt, please be sure to contact Stephanie directly at the office by phone (607-723-8032), text (‪724-663-1229) or email (gs.binghamton@gmail.com).

Often when people come to speak with Matt after a service on Sunday, he’s already been working for over nine hours, and doesn’t always remember to put commitments into his calendar.  This can cause double bookings or forgotten appointments. 

Please keep in mind that the office is closed on Mondays, but you can always leave a message.  Thank you so much for your understanding.

Good Shepherd Food Pantry Needs The food pantry is looking a bit sparse!  We could really use donations of the following items:

Peanut Butter
Spaghetti/Pasta
Soups (especially w proteins)
Heat & Eat meals (Ravioli etc.)

Sunday Worship and Holy Eucharist

The 8am service This service includes readings from the Bible, a sermon, offering, confession, and communion. There is no music during this service. The 8am service is not currently being live-streamed.

The 10:30am service This is a full traditional Anglican Holy Eucharist service, including readings from the Bible, music, a sermon, confession, and communion.  This service is available for livestream on our Facebook page.  You can download a PDF copy of this week’s service bulletin here.

This Sunday’s lectionary readings are: Jeremiah 3:19-4:4, Psalm 130, Acts 14:19-28, and Mark 1:14-20.

You’ll also notice that there are links in the offertory section to take you out to two different means of giving electronically. You can give online through Breeze or you can text a donation through Breeze at 607-882-6551. Good Shepherd also has a PayPal account. As always, thank you for your great generosity and kind support.

Catching Up…

Last Sunday’s Sermon Last Sunday, Jonathan preached on John 1:43-51. You can listen to “The One Without Deceit” here.

You can catch up on older sermons here.

Last week’s Christian Education class can be listened or or viewed here.

The Cranmer Fellows Podcast (CFP) explores pastoral ministry and theology from an Anglican perspective. CFP is a project that Jon and Matt have undertaken in order to 1) encapsulate the pastoral training Matt has given men over the years into an accessible resource and 2) serve as a door to, we pray, a future program to train more people for ministry. Though geared toward the pastor, ministry leader, and pastor-in-training, what Jon and Matt talk about is applicable to all Christians!

Here is a link where you can listen to previous episodes. https://anchor.fm/thecranmerfellowspodcast.

You can subscribe to CFP on all major platforms.

Ongoing Ministries 

Intercessor Ministry Good Shepherd has resumed offering Prayer on the side altar during Communion. On any given Sunday, you may notice a person standing at the side altar rail as you come forward to receive the bread and wine.  That person is part of the Prayer Ministry, people trained to pray for any anxieties or troubles you may have.  If you would like prayer for any reason, please feel free to stop as you pass.

Audio-Video Team Are you a technologically capable person who would like to serve the church with your gifts?  Good Shepherd is adding a volunteer team to run sound and the livestream for the 10:30 Sunday service. If this is a ministry that interests you, please reach out to Micah.

Morning Prayer This group meets online by Zoom at 7am Monday through Friday.  The liturgy and readings are available each day at www.dailyoffice2019.com. Join the parish email list and look for a weekly email invitation in your inbox.

Tuesday Morning Bible Study meets at 9:05am to walk through different books of the bible, verse by verse.  Taught by a member of the pastoral staff in the main room of the parish hall.  This class is currently studying 1 Samuel, and can be viewed in person or online each week by livestream.

Home Groups Home Groups exist to glorify God and build up the church through weekly gatherings where members of Good Shepherd and non-members alike may come to grow in fellowship and discipleship around God’s word.

You can find information on times and locations in the paper update.  Please check with your home group host or leader for more info.

Shepherd’s Bowl Community Dinner Good Shepherd offers a free nutritious meal to the people of Good Shepherd and the wider community on Thursday evenings from 5:30-6:30. If you are able, this is a great time to get to know others and enjoy a free and delicious meal.

Thursday Evening Bible Study This is a great place to connect with others and learn more about what God has to say to us through his word.  The class is taught by The Rev. Jon Groves, and they are studying the gospel of Mark.

Friday Morning Men’s Bible Study Each week men gather at 6:30am to share bible study and prayer time together.  Men of any age are welcome to attend.  If you are interested in learning more about this study, please email Pastor Matt, Jonathan Groves, or contact the church office. This class is currently studying the book of Revelation.

Women’s Bible Study meets at 4:30pm on Friday afternoons in the Parish Hall.  Anne Kennedy teaches this study, and they are currently studying the book of Luke. If you’d like to join by zoom, please join the church email list and look for a link in the weekly update email.

Good Shepherd Youth Group The Good Shepherd Youth Group serves young adults by providing an engaging context for them to grow in:
1) Maturity in doctrine
2) Faithfulness to Christ
3) Service to others

Good Shepherd Food Pantry Did you know that Good Shepherd has a member food pantry?  The pantry is a small room off the kitchen and a small basket in the kitchen freezer.  Everyone is welcome to make use of the church pantry regardless of income.  No questions asked.

The food pantry is a great way to directly (and anonymously) help fellow members by donating shelf stable food and frozen items, farm fresh unwashed eggs, and personal hygiene items.

If you are in need, please feel free to make use of the pantry.  If you’d like more information, please see Jenn Fowler.

Have an item for the Update or Announcements?

send an email to gs.binghamton@gmail.com by Monday evening.

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