Hello and blessings to all of the people of Good Shepherd Christian Church!! My heart is full as I join you! I am eager to safely meet you over the upcoming weeks and months. Each of you are in my prayers as I begin this ministerial journey with you as your new Lead Pastor.
On Monday morning, I took time in prayer sitting in the sanctuary amongst the many cut-outs of people in the pews with your names and pictures on them. I sat in delight as I read a few of the welcome notes from you. I look forward to doing this a little more each morning this week! Already, your words, thoughts, and prayers have welcomed me in warm, inviting ways, and I am grateful. I hope that you will also sense being lifted in prayer this week as I take sacred time praying for each of you by name, giving thanks for you and asking God to bless you.
Along with unpacking my church office this week and meditating on/creating my sermon and Sunday worship, I will be putting plans in place, with the help of leadership, to connect safely with each of you through small groups and safe distancing one-on-ones. It is a strange time to build a relationship, yet I look forward to being creative and getting to know each of you.
Here’s what I do know already: this congregation is filled with people that are caring, kind, faithful, creative, vibrant, servant-hearted, and warm. I know that you are a people with a vision for the ministry of this congregation and a place where ALL are welcome! I know that you are a beautiful congregation as the heart and spirit of Good Shepherd. I know the Holy Spirit has brought you together, ignited you, and encouraged you. I also know you have listened, discerned, and followed the Holy Spirit’s leading. We will do the same for however long this pandemic lasts, in awe of how the Spirit moves through each of us and weaves us together is Jesus’ love. Safely taking precautions to protect those most vulnerable around us and within us.
If you need to reach me, for any reason, please feel free to reach out. My direct number is (216) 309-2310. You can also email me at pastornina.gscc@gmail.com.
For now, my safe distance air-hugs, warm smiles, joyful greetings, and deep prayer be with you!
Pastor Nina
Sunday, August 9, 2020
Worship on Sunday, August 9, will be offered via live stream or dial-in. Please watch the website (and these update emails) for more information. To view the live stream video go to the Good Shepherd Christian Church website. After clicking the "Live Stream" button on the website you will be redirected to the YouTube channel for Good Shepherd Christian Church. Make sure you click the "like" and "subscribe" buttons under the live stream video!
If you do not have access to a computer to join the live stream follow these easy steps to dial-in:
Call this TOLL FREE number: 1-866-899-4679
When prompted dial this access code: 668-689-701
As a reminder, we do have online giving available. Click here to be taken to our online giving form. The Development team is also checking the church mailbox for any checks sent to the church. If you are mailing or dropping off your offering in the church mailbox be sure to put it in a sealed envelope and mark it Attention: Don Taylor OR Development Team.
URGENT ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Meals for Sandy and Gladys
Many of you know that Sandy Larry has been in the hospital this week. She will be heading home tomorrow, hopefully, and as she recuperates she needs to stay off her feet. If you are willing to help provide some ready to eat meals for Sandy and her mom, Gladys, please contact Carol Hensley, who is happy to schedule meals (to prevent multiple meals being delivered the same day) and is willing to deliver the meal on your behalf.
Annual Backpack Blessing
You are invited to come to our annual backpack blessing on Sunday, August 16 at 7 pm in the church parking lot. In this time of preparing for school in a very different way, we can come together and offer love and support to each other - and trust in God's presence with students, parents, and teachers. Please bring masks and be prepared to practice physical distancing. We will have a brief time of prayer for all who come - students and their families, teachers, and any others! Please feel free to bring your backpack, briefcase, calendar, computer, or whatever represents this coming school year.
Additionally, that morning in worship we would love to have some images of you getting ready for "back to school" - whether it's you or your child with a backpack, or your classroom or virtual learning setup, or some other image of your family as you get ready for this school year! Please send those images to the church office.
Coffee Table Conversation
The next Coffee Table Conversation will be held on Monday, August 24 at 7:30 pm via GoToMeeting. This is a “save the date/time” announcement. More information about how to join the meeting will be sent closer to the meeting date. This will be part two of a multi-part discussion on the book Pre-Post-Racial America by Sandhya Rani Jha. This month’s discussion will be on chapters 2-5.
St. Pauly Donation Shed
Due to COVID-19 and the shutting of international borders, our friends at St. Pauly Textile Inc have given us notice that they have temporarily closed our donation shed. The plan is to reopen it as soon as they possibly can, but the timing of that will depend entirely on what happens across the world in the coming months. We will be sure to let you know when it has been reopened.
Virtual Gatherings of the Week:
Good news! We have found a virtual meeting service that will work for all our needs! Hallelujah! This service will be used for ALL virtual gatherings we have at GSCC unless otherwise specified.
To join us from your computer, tablet, or smartphone please click here or go to https://www.gotomeet.me/GSCCOH
If you do not have access to a computer, tablet, or smartphone, you may also dial-in using your phone. To join us using this method please call this toll-free number 1-866-899-4679, and when prompted, dial this access code: 668-689-701.
New to GoToMeeting? Get the app now and be ready when the first meeting starts: Click here: GoToMeeting or visit https://global.gotomeeting.com/install/668689701
There are no Virtual Gatherings remaining for the week of Sunday, August 2 through Saturday, August 8.
Virtual Gatherings for the week of Sunday, August 9 through Saturday, August 15:
Prayer Time will be held Wednesday at 10:30 am
Bible Study will be held on Wednesday at 11 am
*This section will be a permanent addition to our biweekly updates and will be updated to reflect meeting times every week*
Welcome Table Food Ministry
Due to the 2019 Novel Coronavirus pandemic we have temporarily changed the format of our Community Meal program on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month. We now distribute dinners through a drive-thru format, placing bagged meals directly into the guest's trunk so we protect our guests and volunteers through social distancing. Please be respectful and adhere to social-distancing policies while using this service. We will also have bags of shelf-stable food available for pick-up at GSCC on Wednesdays from 11:30 am - 12:00 pm. Please email us here or here for assistance.
**The Welcome Table Ministry is prayerfully asking for egg carton donations. If you happen to have any empty egg cartons hanging around please consider donating them. You can drop them off at the church on Wednesdays between 11:30 am - 12 pm or on community meal days starting at 3 pm. There will be a bin for the egg cartons just inside the front doors or under the entry table.**
Welcome Table Volunteer Opportunities
If you would like to volunteer your time with the Welcome Table Ministry, there are multiple opportunities to do this. Below are the links to the sign-up forms.
The August Welcome Table newsletter will be viewable here August 20th.
We have DVDs available!
If you have trouble calling in for worship or do not have internet access but have a DVD player and want to SEE worship, we can have a DVD made up for you and sent directly to your house! If you are interested in receiving a DVD please contact Pastor Jill or Kaleena Hensley.
Laptops for Loan
We at GSCC have been blessed with a generous donation of multiple laptops from one of our local companies. These have all been refurbished by an IT professional and are in good working order. They come pre-loaded with Zoom and GoToMeeting for your convenience. If you or anyone you know is in need of, and doesn't otherwise have access to, a laptop to connect with others, work during quarantine, or homeschooling a child please contact Kaleena Hensley in the church office.
**Please understand that, at this time, we cannot offer IT support for these laptops.**.
Coronavirus Information from the Ohio Department of Health
Here at Good Shepherd Christian Church we are always looking for ways to care for our flock. Recently, we found the Ohio Department of Health website has a wealth of information pertaining to the coronavirus pandemic. This includes information about Ohio statistics (updated daily), latest developments, helpful videos, and a multitude of resources. Please click below to be taken to the Ohio Department of Health website.
We know times are tough and a little scary right now, especially because we feel we have very little control over what is happening in our own communities and all around the world. The website has checklists to help you navigate through this including, but not limited to; avoiding scams, cleaning and disinfecting alternatives, cloth face coverings, coping with restrictions, and many more! There are 4 pages of checklists! Here is the direct link for those checklists.
If you have a prayer request for the Pastors and/or to be held in prayer by members of our community, please fill out the new Prayer Request form. You can also find the
form on the homepage AND the "Contact Us" section of our website.
A reminder that you are welcome to join our email prayer chain. You will receive weekly updates for prayer requests. Let us know you're interested!
Calendar Information
Please check the church calendar often! You can find the calendar by clicking the Events tab on our website. We will be updating the calendar weekly. We will be doing this to keep you as up-to-date as possible on any cancellations or postponements of church events.
Birthdays and Anniversaries
Birthdays:
Erica Ware - August 1
Bridget Darr - August 5
Nancy Gregg - August 5
Tyler Delaney - August 6
Bob Seitz - August 13
Noah Goodman - August 16
David Ruch - August 20
Jennifer Palagyi - August 22
Jason Pugh - August 22
Jeremy Pugh - August 22
Mik Alexa - August 29
Anniversaries:
Tyler & Melanie Delaney - August 11
Rich & Sue Pejeau - August 19
John & Laura Gerlich - August 20
*This section will be a permanent addition to our biweekly updates and will be updated in the last "mini" of every month.*
Monthly Newsletter Information
Due to the "day to day planning" nature of our lives right now, all of us at Good Shepherd Christian Church have agreed that we would be able to better serve you by keeping you updated more often! This is why we are temporarily suspending the monthly newsletter to be replaced by these biweekly "mini newsletters". If there is anything you would like to share with the congregation, we would be happy to share it for you in these updates! The "minis" will be sent out every Monday and Thursday afternoon. If there is something you would like to add please submit those requests by 9am Monday (for Mondays "mini") and 9am Thursday (for Thursdays "mini"). Those submissions may be sent to office.gscc@gmail.com. As always, you may also visit our website for more information at www.goodshepherdchristianchurch.org.
If you have questions, or difficulty with this email, please contact Pastor Jill at sfpastor.gscc@gmail.com
