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Good Shepherd Update Thursday, December 21st, 2011

Dear Good Shepherd,

Merry Christmas everyone! Here is your Update for this week—the Saratoga Christmas Outreach, which has been in the Update for the past month or so, is happening this week. Look at the update below to find out what it is and how you can be a part of it. I am sad to say I will be with my family on Long Island for the holidays, but I will miss you all dearly and hope that you have a very blessed Christmas.

-Matt T

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
—-Isaiah 9:6 (ESV)

In this Update:
1. Christmas Schedule
2. Saratoga Christmas Outreach - Updated!
3. Coffee Hour
4. Christmas Pagaent
5. Last Sunday’s Sermon
6. This Week in Christian Education
7. Bible Studies and Mission Groups
8. Discussion Questions

Christmas Schedule:You are invited to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ at Good Shepherd. Here’s the schedule of events:
On Saturday December 24th at 5:00pm Good Shepherd’s Christmas Eve celebration begins with the annual Christmas Pageant (a play reenacting the night Jesus was born), and continues with music and worship.
On Sunday December 25th at 11:00am, Good Shepherd’s Christmas Day worship service begins, thanking God for the birth of his Son Jesus Christ through prayer, worship, the reading and exposition of scripture and communion

Christmas Outreach Updated: Again this Christmas we at Good Shepherd have the amazing opportunity to celebrate Christ’s birth by helping those less fortunate than ourselves. 30 needy children from Saratoga Youth Center have provided us with wish lists for Christmas. Please join the Outreach Team in surprising these dear children with some special presents (valued at $15-$20) this holiday. Select a child represented on the Christmas tree on the wall in the Parish Hall. Please gift wrap the present and be sure to place the number of the child on the wrapped package. Please bring it to church by Sunday December 20th. Thanks so much!

Coffee Hour: Thanks to all of those who have helped with coffee hour in the last year. It is an important part of our Sunday morning worship and fellowship time. Please plan on doing your part in the new year by signing up to host a 2012 coffee hour. We need 2-4 families each time to help out with planning the snack, serving and cleaning up so there is a job for each of you to do. The church can help with financial assistance to cover costs for the snacks if you need it. Please sign up for this ministry or speak with Kay Seaman or Virginia Wetherbee for more information.

Last Sunday’s Sermon, “Salvation Belongs to the Lord” (Jonah part 6) can be found here or viewed below:

This Week in Christian Education This Sunday we will take a one class break from Tim Keller’s “Reason for God” to discuss the meaning and importance of Christmas and the Incarnation. See you there!

Mission Groups: (all mission groups meet in homes and in keeping with our Sunday morning sermon series. You are invited to join the one nearest you.
* Mondays at 6:30pm Lee and Jane Bronson’s Mission Group meets at Darrell and Carolyn Dean’s house at 19 Newton Street in Port Dickinson.
* Tuesdays at 6:00pm Ife’s Mission Group meets at Carrie Moorhead’s house at 5 Hancock Street in Binghamton.
* Wednesdays at 7:00pm Joe Kovac’s Mission Group meets at 108 Allen Street in Johnson City.
* Wednesdays 7pm Bill Woollet’s group meets at Mary Lindsey’s House, 41 Hayes Street in Southeast Binghamton (near the present church.)

Bible Studies (all bible studies meet at the church in the parish hall and each study takes one book at a time and studies verse by verse)
1. Tuesday Morning Bible Study: Tuesdays at 9:00am—presently studying Hosea
2. Thursday Evening Bible Study (for beginners): Thursdays at 6:30pm—presently studying the Book of Acts
3. Men’s Breakfast and Bible Study: Fridays at 6:30am—presently studying the book of Acts.
4. Women’s Bible Study: Saturdays at 10:00am—presently studying Revelations

Discussion Questions:
Text: Jonah 2
1. In our moments of despair and hopelessness, what do we usually turn to or cling to?
2. What is despair and where does it come from?
3. All people and events are under God’s rule and authority. Name some situations, personal or biblical, where good has come out of a bad, difficult or frustrating situation.
4. How do our pains or struggles bring us closer to God?
5. Often, God’s timing does not match with our own. We consider God’s action to be too early or too late. Why does God’s timing always work, even if we don’t see it that way at the time?
6. Our false idols (pride, alcohol, food, relationships, career, children, past events, etc.) demand that we vow and sacrifice to them, and in return they “save us” or “serve us” in a way that is desirable. How do these actions change when talking about the Lord?
7. Jonah’s experience with God reveals that the Christian life is not without pain or discomfort, but he does rescue us from the worst – eternal death and separation. Share an experience that has caused you pain or trial as a Christian.
8. After reading halfway through the book of Jonah, share what you have learned from it so far, or highlight a few of the central themes.

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Good Shepherd Update Thursday, December 21st, 2011

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