Operation Overboard - Vacation Bible School - July 9 - 13
VBS will be from 9am-12pm M-F, July 9-13. For preschoolers ages 3 to 5. Learners will plunge into Bible stories of people with deep faith and learn to trust a God whose love is bigger than the sea. Registration forms can be found in the Church Narthex or online here
Flamingo Flock
If you would like to FLAMINGO flock someone or protect yourself against being flocked, click on the appropriate form.
This is a fundraiser for the youth traveling to New Orleans for the National Youth Gathering. If you have additional questions please see the pewsletter.
“SHiNE” Worship Service being Created
An Inclusive, Interactive Worship Service
The “SHiNE” Christian worship service is being developed to address the worship needs of families who have children with special needs. We will initially have one service on the third Sunday of each month, beginning on July 15th at 12:30pm. The Mission Shine Team is “sharing God’s love with people of all needs and abilities in Christian worship, fellowship and teaching.” To read more about this ministry, click here.
Music at Good Shepherd – Concert Series Chamber Music Concert on June 3, 3PM
A free will offering will be collected to support the purchase of additional handbells to ring even more music to the glory of God. If you are interested in making a donation to the Handbell Fund for the 5th octave of handbells, your tax deductible donation can be made to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. Please include “Handbell Fund” in the memo line of your check.
Bell Choir Concert on June 3, AT 3 PM featuring BellSong from GSLC and the King’s Ringers from Christ the King Lutheran Church, Cary, NC
RAMS 3rd Annual End of Year Cookout - May 17
The GSLC Rams‚ will host the 3rd Annual End of Year Cookout on Thursday, May 17th at 6:30 pm at Green Level Homes. This event is meant to celebrate our relationship with the Green Level Homes residents, and to be a special event for them. Guests will include members from the Serving Cup board and the band Coffee Grinds, who will entertain us. Please come out for some delicious grilled food, good music and great fellowship.
All men of the church are welcome for this Men‚s Ministry event. Please sign up in the Narthex or online at the Rams Facebook page so that we can get an accurate headcount for food preparation.
If you'd like to receive emails on Rams' news and upcoming events or have questions about the Rams Men's Ministry, contact Matt Gainey at 919-610-2312 or mgainey@nc.rr.com.
Pan Lutheran Ministries Families Together Success Story in the Raleigh N&O
See this great article in the N&O featuring PLMFT a one of the families who is currently residing in our Short-term
Tuesday Morning Bible Study
Tuesday morning Bible Study will be reading "Making Sense of Scripture: Big Questions About the Book of Faith" by David J. Lose beginning March 20th at 9:30 am in the library. Book cost is $14 and there will be 7 sessions. This will be facilitated by members of the Bible Study group. We welcome your participation by signing up at the Wittenberg Wall. A check for $14 should be made payable to GSLC with "Tues. morning Bible Study" on the memo line.
Fall Preschool Registration is Now Open
Registration for the fall 2012 Good Shepard Preschool is now open. Click here to go to the Preschool website for more info.
Part-time Youth Ministry Coordinator Opening
Applications are now being accepted. This position was added as an amendment to the 2012 annual budget and the search committee is now looking for applicants. If you are interested or know anyone who might fit the position well you can find more information here. The application can either be mailed or filled out online and sent to: jobs@gslchurch.org
By Beth Bordeaux, MSW
Executive Director
The following is a true story about a recent graduate of our program. She has given us her permission to share her story.
Before coming to Families Together, Mary* was doubled up in a single hotel room with her son, her sister and her 2 children. Her story is typical of families that come to us for help - some life hardship has impacted their access to resources, education and employment.
Mary was very young when her mother died and her grandmother moved in to care for her and her sister. When she was in high school, her grandmother began having health problems and could not work to support the family so as a young girl she began to work while also attending school - she was determined to graduate because it was what her mother would have wanted. Before the end of her senior year, her grandmother died and left the two sisters alone. They stuck together to help each other in every way possible.
After 5 years of steady employment and increased responsibility with one company, a change in management changed her situation drastically, leaving her with no income, rent past due, and eventually an eviction. Mary and her sister worked for the same company; both experienced a similar end with the new management and ultimately the same end with eviction records. Because landlords rarely rent to tenants who have eviction records, especially when their only income is unemployment, the two sisters combined their dwindling funds to make weekly payments at a hotel to avoid the unimaginable.
While at PLMFT, Mary searched diligently for a new job and she enrolled in a bachelor's degree program in psychology and organizational development. At the end of her stay, she still did not have a job. Through negotiations with a landlord that we have worked with in the past, she was given a lease. Almost immediately following her move to her new apartment, she found a job and has stabilized quite well.
She still grieves for her mother and grandmother and recognizes the struggle is not over. However, she talks with determination and ambition as she describes her hopes to be a counselor once she has finished her degree program. She smiles with joy and pride as she shared stories of her son's accomplishments and honors in school.
Every dollar that we raise helps families like Mary's access stable housing and reach her life goals. Her story speaks to the real heart of our mission. Want to learn more about PLM? Find us on Facebook or visit us at www.plmft.org. Thanks for your support
*Name has been changed.
Cyber Schluppe Blog
Cyber Schluppe is now online as a blog. You have the option of posting comments or starting discussions to further expound on what is said. The list is moderated to prevent spam so your comments may not appear immediately. Check it out.
Community Donation Centers
A great way for us to be good stewards of those possessions we no longer need is to donate all that is useable to local community agencies. Use the agency list GSLC has assembled as a donation guide. It can help you understand what agencies are willing to receive and how they will distribute what is given. Also, some of these agencies are eager for volunteer help. Please use their contact information to learn more. As we seek to believe, belong and serve, may our donations reflect our desire to be Christ to our neighbor.
Click here for the agency list..
WIHN Online Signup
You can now signup online for WIHN for any of the 2012 dates. Just visit the new WIHN page and click the signup button at the top of the page.
Photos from Zimbabwe Trip
Thanks to Ken Newcomer for providing these photos from the GSLC trip to Zimbabwe.
GSLC Stephen Ministry on PBS
PBS recently produced a short story on Stephen Ministry through their Religion and Ethics department that featured Good Shepherd’s Stephen Ministry program. Included in this 7 minute video are clips from the training of our new Stephen Ministry class and several of our current Stephen Ministers and Leaders: Pam Mansueti, Elizabeth Arrowood, Allan Dickson, Karen Crews, Angie Glendenning, Kim Sweet, Pam Montgomery, Rene Anctil, Rob Crews, and Jeanne Van Divender. There is also a brief interview with Pastor David.
Please click here to see the video.
Thanks be to God for our Stephen Ministers and how God works through them to offer companionship and hope to people who are hurting!
Have Something for the Web?
We now have guidelines to posting for the GSLC website with descriptions of what and how to post. Did you know that each webpage has a "revision" date on the bottom? Ministry team leads, when was your page last updated? Click here for more info on posting.
