April, 2023
Dear Church Family,
We’ve been “Preparing for Easter” for all of March and I’m ready to celebrate the Resurrection with you on Easter Sunday! But before that we still have Holy Week services the first week of April.
April 02: Palm Sunday
April 06: Maundy Thursday communion, 6pm [not livestreamed]
April 09: Easter Sunday: 7:00am sunrise service; 11am Celebration of the Resurrection worship service
Whether you are able to join us in person or engage with us online, I hope that each of you has a meaningful and blessed Holy Week and Easter!
SOMETHING NEW --> OUR SUNDAY MORNING SCHEDULE!
Each year the elders, deacons, and staff meet to pray, discern, and envision the coming year. Along with that comes setting priorities and working for programs to follow those. (GROW-SERVE-CARE-STEWARD comes from the last two of these gatherings!) Under the GROW vision, we have specifically sought to cultivate outreach, relationships, and ministry with children and families. As we explored some of the barriers to young families participating on Sunday mornings, we found that 11:00 worship was a challenge. Elementary kids often wake up at 6:00 or 6:30 for school and eat lunch as early as 10:30 or 11:00. A worship service that doesn’t start until 11:00 creates a challenge for young children and their families. So we have been considering a different Sunday morning schedule for some time, and in more earnest in the past several months as we have had major outreach events to children and families in our community.
Out of this vision and commitment to GROW with respect to children and families we are going to try something new starting right after Easter Sunday. It’s an overall earlier Sunday schedule. That may thrill some of you; it may challenge others. But we ask that you join us for this “experiment”; we can’t do it without you! We’ll check in with you to see how it’s going and also to report back on what we are seeing in terms of engaging children and families.
Here’s the schedule, starting Sunday, April 16.
Sunday School: 8:30-9:30am
Fellowship Time: 9:30-10:00am
Worship: 10:00am-11:00am
This is a good time to invite people to church; I hope to see you there!
In Christian love,
Robert
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UPCOMING SERMON TEXTS & THEMES
April 02: PALM SUNDAY - "Real Saving" (John 12:12-19)
April 06: MAUNDY THURSDAY service, 6pm
April 09: EASTER SUNDAY - "The Main Attraction" (Luke 24:1-8; Romans 1:1-7)
New Series: "Resurrection Life"
April 16: On the Road (Luke 24:13-35)
April 23: A Memorable Meal (Luke 24:33-49)
April 30: The Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20)
May 07: Buried and Raised (Romans 6:1-7)
May 14: A New Creation (2 Corinthians 5:14-21)
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Mark Katibah (Community Life)
Linda Jenkins (Christian Education)
Mike Lampson (Worship)
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COMMUNITY life
4/01 - Ladies Tea
Ladies Tea at the church 10:00 AM. More information below.
4/04 - GSPC Ladies Night!
Ladies Night Out will be on Tues Apr 4. Please join us for a time of connection and fellowship! Kids and teens welcome.
6:30 pm, Trio Restaurant (10709 McMullen Creek Pkwy)
Please let Heather (704-575-6557) or Mindy (919-280-9718) know if you can come so they can make a reservation.
Hope to see you there!
4/11 - Men's Wings
Wings will be 1 week earlier to accommodate the Session meeting moving to 4/18. Children/grandchildren - boys AND girls - are invited and welcome! The next Wings Night will be held on Tuesday, April 11, at 6:00pm. We meet at Buffalo Wild Wings, Providence Promenade, 10706 Providence Rd.
4/21 - Community Group Game Night - Friday, April 21 @ McKenzie's Clubhouse at 6:30pm.
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LADIES tea
You are cordially invited to a Good Shepherd’s Easter Ladies Tea Saturday, April 1st at 10:30am. Our dapper and very attentive GShep men will be serving us lovely savory and sweet treats as well as keeping our tea cups full. Please bring your favorite teacup and saucer along with you. Be sure to invite any special ladies in your life and RSVP to Kim Kinken by March 15 at 704-763-3661 or kimanddanielk@gmail.com.
If you would like to donate to the Community Life fund please include a $10 donation.
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EASTER FLOWER cross
Flower Cross: We invite you to bring flowers on Easter morning for the flower cross in the sanctuary. You may add your flowers at any time leading up to the 11:00 worship service.
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EASTER lilies
A time-honored tradition of honoring our loved ones is by placing white lilies in the sanctuary on Easter morning. Easter is April 9th. After the service on Easter morning, please take your Lilies home to enjoy with your families.
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Quay Youngblood (Finance)
Daniel Kinken (Facilities)
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FINANCIAL update
February was another strong giving month. We set an ambitious budget for 2023 and you are responding well. Regular giving of your tithes and offerings helps the church do great things in God’s kingdom. Thank you!
If you are comfortable with online giving, you can find a link on our website (gspc.net). Click on the word LINKS across the top of every page and "Online Giving" will be in the menu underneath. Or scroll down on the home page and look for the "GSPC SECURE ONLINE GIVING" button.
If you would prefer to mail a check to the church, please send it to our secure mailbox shown below. Thank you for your support and please continue to stay safe.
Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church
P.O. Box 78175
Charlotte, NC 28271
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Leslie Pack (Mission/Service)
Ann Baker (Personnel)
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CROP WALK award
A few weeks ago, Leslie Pack was honored with the Lloyd Lancaster* Award from Charlotte CROP Walk, in recognition of her long-time leadership and commitment to the CROP Walk. We are thrilled for Leslie and so grateful for her leadership and example among us. Please read below the comments given by Charlotte CROP Walk in conjunction with the ward. ~Robert
Our first award to be presented this morning is the LLOYD LANCASTER* AWARD. This award began in 2019 to honor Mr. Lloyd Lancaster, who showed a long-time dedication and commitment to the success for the Charlotte CROP Walk. He was an advocate for the poor and under-served who were dealing with issues of hunger and poverty.
We are blessed to have individuals who are active in the CROP Walk, who have demonstrated that same commitment and have shown it through their actions.
The person who has been nominated for this award this year began their journey in CROP by walking with her children in her first CROP Walk over 35 years ago!
Over the many years the nominee has taken on a number of leadership roles, including being the team captain for the past 35 years! She has encouraged many in the church to be walkers and givers, as Lloyd Lancaster did.
When I asked several others who know her to share words that described her, words like caring, passionate, dependable, giving, and active were among them.
Like many leaders she is not one that seeks attention, but she is one who makes things happen and gets the job done.
So, we are pleased to award Leslie Pack, from Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church, the 2022 Lloyd Lancaster Award.
Leslie and the 2022 CROP Walk Team from Good Shepherd
*Lloyd Lancaster was a pillar of the Charlotte CROP Walk for most of the years it has been going. He was an active recruiter and fund-raiser and walked his last time at the age of 98, pushed in a wheelchair by family and friends. He is the uncle of Russ Lancaster!
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MISSISON highlight
Son Servants is a short-term mission ministry dedicated to serving God’s people in need while sharing the love of Christ with them. With over 30 years of experience, Danny Dotson, who is the Director, provides assistance to groups who are interested in serving.
Their theme verse is John 12:26, “Whoever serves Me will follow Me, and where I am my servant will be. The Father will honor the one who serves Me,” which is captured in their slogan “to love is to serve.”
Son Servants works with various kinds of groups including youth groups, accompanied by adult leaders, to assist in selecting a location that meets the group's needs, interests, and skills. They also schedule activities, local logistics, select the projects, and accompany them on their trip.
Over the years, our youth groups have participated in in Son Servants mission trips throughout the eastern US and internationally. They have provided faith-based programs that have challenged and strengthened our kids, allowing them to participate in activities outside their comfort zones, helping others in ways they didn’t know they could. The group activities, evening chapel, and quiet times have strengthened their faith in Christ. Many of our youth have served as Summer Staff members after High School, helping coordinate programs and supervise youth groups on the mission trips.
GSPC Missions has supported Son Servants financially as they start their programs back up after the pandemic.
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01: Grace Hayes
06: Heather Austell
07: Ron Pack
07: Kierra Sergeant
11: Andy Houston
11: Melissa Katibah
11: Bunny Littleton
21: Penny Grady
21: Kayleigh Sergeant
23: Camron VanderHeide
26: Roberta Garrett
28: Lisa Trevisan
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28: Tyler Dameron
29: Walker Austell
30: Karla Katibah
30: Ashley Butler
If we have missed anyone, please let us know so we can update our records!
**Remember that you can access our church calendar online anytime at gspccalendars.blogspot.com
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communion: Maundy Thursday
06: Cindy Dolinger (preparer)
06: Marty McKenzie (server)
ushers
02: Russ & Millie Lancaster
06: Chuck & Linda Jenkins
09: Jim & Angela Hinton
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16: Mike & Marty McKenzie
23: Ronnie & Cindy Dolinger
30: Chuck & Linda Jenkins
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01: 10:00a - **Ladies Tea**
02: Palm Sunday
02: 12:15p - Deacons' Meeting
04: 9:30a - Women's Bible Study
04: 6:30p - Ladies Night Out
05: 8:00a - Men's Bible Study
05: 9:45a - Book Club
05: 7:00p - Choir Rehearsal
06: 6:00p - Maundy Thursday Service
07: **Good Friday**
09: **Easter Sunday**
09: 7:00a - Easter Sunrise Service
10: **Church Office Closed**
11: 9:30a - Women's Bible Study
11: 6:00p - Men's Wings Night
12: 8:00a - Men's Bible Study
12: 6:30p - Dinner Church
12: 7:00p - Choir Rehearsal
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14: 9:00a - Prayer Ministry
18: 9:30a - Women's Bible Study
18: 7:00p - Session Meeting
19: 8:00a - Men's Bible Study
19: 9:45a - Book Club
19: 7:00p - Choir Rehearsal
21: 9:00a - Prayer Ministry
21: 6:30p - Game Night
23: **Voice Deadline**
23: 11:30a - Community Lunch
25: 9:30a - Women's Bible Study
26: 8:00a - Men's Bible Study
26: 6:30p - Dinner Church
26: 7:00p - Choir Rehearsal
28: 9:00a - Prayer Ministry
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