Ministry is bustling beyond the walls of our church building! We invite you to read highlights of what’s happening in our ministries church-wide.

Care and Prayer

Earlier this Winter, our GriefShare Team ended its fifth session of Weekly Grief Groups. One participant said, “The connections with people here were meaningful to me, knowing that you’re not alone in it. I have a greater connection to my faith as a result. I was astounded by the compassion everyone had for each other.” The next group of GriefShare groups begins on Monday, February 27.

This Spring we are launching a brand-new Men’s Care Group, starting Monday, February 13, where we will support widowers, single fathers, and/or separated spouses in areas of parenting, family, and divorce in a safe and supportive Christian community.

Get Connected! With Care and Prayer

• Our Meals Ministry needs more team members to prepare and serve meals. Share this opportunity in your small groups or with those from other ministries you serve. We currently have a team of 15 but ideally would like 25 to 30 active leaders on a regular basis.
• Our Grief Support Team is actively looking for new leaders! Please share the need for those who have a heart for those grieving.

Missions

We just had a busy month with Missions! Teams were at Hesed House on January 11 and 12, we collected winter coats for new migrants arriving in Chicago, and we had our first full mission trip since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recently, our Mission Team (10 people) safely arrived back from Belize! While in Belize we served at a rescued girls’ shelter, assisted with medical outreach, and partnered with five churches to provide food for families in need through World Gospel Outreach’s Food Bank program. We are grateful to be back serving in this impactful way.

We are currently in prayer over our Mission Teams visiting and serving at Cherish Wototo Kenya (Nairobi, Kenya), and we welcome all teams back the week of Sunday, February 12.

Get Connected! With Missions

• Join us at Feed the Need – 2023 on February 18 and 19, 2023! As a premier sponsor of this community packing event, Good Shepherd’s goal is to provide 600 + volunteers over five packing sessions. Invite your family, friends, and small groups to help us reach this goal!

Preschool

Preschool enrollment and families served through our Preschool are increasing! Additionally, we are excited to share the launch of our Preschool’s new website.

Get Connected! With Preschool

• Join us in praying over our new Preschool building additions to best support its growing impact and ministry.

Family Life

We recently had 70 Middle and High School students join us for Winter Camp the weekend of January 20 – 22. The highlight of the weekend was relationships. Read the full recap here.

Additionally, we are excited to see the ways God will move through the lives and hearts of our Preteens (4th & 5th Grade) at Winter Camp the weekend of February 17 – 19.

Get Connected! With Family Life

• Dodgin’ 4 Dough is THIS weekend, February 10 and 11! We could use your help throughout the event in areas of serving, concessions, set-up, take-down, and much more. Learn more online.

Disabilities

We are celebrating our January Buddy Break where we had 56 kids with us! We praise God for the ability to serve families in our community through care and respite in an impactful way. The next Buddy Break dates are Saturday, February 25, March 18, April 29, May 13, and June 3.

Our Disability Ministry supported two families going through extremely difficult times by providing Christmas gifts for the whole family. These families were so incredibly blessed and grateful! THANK YOU, thank you, thank you Good Shepherd for making a difference through your generosity.

Get Connected! With Disability Ministry

• Light Up the Night is a spectacular red-carpet, dinner-dance experience for those ages 14 and up with disabilities. We are so excited to host this event! We are needing a BIG TEAM of volunteers to make this event a success. The first team meeting will be on Thursday, February 16. Learn more online.

Worship

Worship presses on toward the goal of inviting everyone to walk in the calling of Christ! On Sunday, January 8, we started off a new series inspired by the Ten Commandments, Ten Words to Live By.

Currently, Worship is teaming with Communications’ Production Team to produce video content for our upcoming Lenten Sermon Series and Midweek Bible Study written by Dawn Pulgine called Meet Him at the Cross. Local churches in our area will be following along with this Bible Study curriculum! Books are available to purchase beginning on Ash Wednesday.

Lastly, we are getting prepared for everything related to Lent, Holy Week, and Easter and we will be sharing details of our service times very soon!

Get Connected! With Worship

• We are always looking for new musicians, vocalists, and servants willing to use their giftings in areas of Worship and Tech to serve our congregation. Want to hop in? Reach out to Ryan Hammer, Contemporary Worship Director, or Craig Parsons, Traditional Worship Director.