Newsletter September
Mission Workshop: (26 September 2026 @ 10:00 AM, Saturday) Here at Good Shepherd. We are not promised a silver bullet nor easy answers. We will have an opportunity to gather with fellow missionaries who are willing and eager to learn from each other on how to more effectively engage the culture. The keynote speaker is Southern District (LCMS) President Eric Johnson. We have invited other LCMS congregations in our area to participate in this workshop.
Council Stewardship Letter 2026: Greetings In Christ!
As we start the transition from summer vacations to fall's regular work and school schedules, GSLC is going to highlight the many ways in which you can support the ongoing mission of sharing the Good News of Christ's love. We have needs both within Good Shepherd for the building up of the church, and more importantly, outside in reaching our neighbors. In the words of Matthew 28:18, we are called to go and make disciples of all nations.
As we gather as a family of faith, it is a fitting time to reflect on the call to stewardship that God has placed upon our congregation. Stewardship is more than a duty-it is a joyful response to God's abundant grace, an expression of trust and gratitude through the sharing of our time, talents, and treasures. Each one of us is invited to participate in the life and mission of Good Shepherd, not only in service but in the wise and faithful management of the resources entrusted to us. What a wonderful gift this is!
Through our collective stewardship, we support the ministries that nurture our spiritual growth, care for our neighbors, and extend Christ's love into the wider community. Your involvement, whether through volunteering or through generous giving, sustains these efforts and ensures that Good Shepherd continues to be a beacon of hope and hospitality.
The time, talents, and treasures that Christ has given to each of us, is vital to the ongoing ministries here at GSLC.
Over the next few weeks leading up to Rally Day and beyond, we'll take a few minutes during each Sunday's announcements to highlight the work of our different boards and the current needs of our church. For example, we need volunteers to support worship services in roles such as ushers, audio/visual/streaming, readers, singers, musicians, and altar guild. We need lawn care team volunteers to help maintain our grounds. We need people to help organize and execute Outreach events like our concert series and Life Team, Human Care drives like back-to-school supplies and angel tree, Fellowship/welcoming food events like our 5th Sunday fellowship and funerals as examples.
Besides the volunteering of your time and talents, your treasure enables ongoing operations, special events, and the upkeep of our aging buildings. While we haven't significantly expanded our operations over the years, inflation continues to increase costs. Donations received, however, have not significantly increased over the last few years and we find ourselves operating in a growing deficit. As noted in the bulletin, our monthly expenses are running from $5,000 to $10,000 beyond gifts received. Our bank savings account has enabled us to minimize the impact but will shortly require us to access our long-term savings and defer any expenses we can. Please prayerfully consider your current giving level. "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:7) You may also consider including Good Shepherd as part of your estate planning. Our Legacy Deo account was established to build a lasting financial resource for future ministry.
As we move forward together, let us embrace this season as an opportunity to renew our commitment to Good Shepherd's mission to love God and one another. Through prayerful generosity and heartfelt service, we respond to God's call, ensuring that our church remains a vibrant place of faith, fellowship, and outreach. May we each consider how we are called to give, serve, and grow as stewards of God's many blessings, trusting that through our shared efforts, Christ's love will shine more brightly in our congregation and community.
In Christ’s Service, Garry A. Haase, President
