Good Shepherd United Methodist Church is a fellowship of believers in Christ called to be servants, who worship God, love others, and reach out to the community and the world.

From the Study By Bob Machovec, Pastor One of the most beautiful Christmas carols is "O Little Town of Bethlehem." The words from that carol echo a truth that carries into the New Year, “the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight." As we begin a new year, we have many hopes and more than a few fears. The ancient Greeks spoke of time in two ways. One term was called chronos (from which we get the word “chronology”), that is the orderly and sequential marking of time. The other word was kairos, sometimes called “God’s time.” At times we may experience a kind of dynamic interplay between these two - the evenly-moving clock time of chronos and lively moments of divine intervention of kairos. There are those occasions, when the two may intersect. Such times are "thin places;" places where God opens the door to new possibilities. There are also "thin times;" moments in which God's vision awakens us to holiness amid the mundane endeavors of life. Plato once described time as the "moving image of eternity," and surely the New Year points to holiness amid change; in which life, like God's mercies, is new every morning. In many ways, this is what New Year's is about — seeking new behaviors, new attitudes, and new visions for the coming of a new year. The New Year's resolutions, even when they last only a few days, remind us that we can be transformed; that we can

become new creations; that we don't have to live by business as usual, but can see our lives in a new way. The impact of past and present need not imprison us; we have the freedom to change our attitudes, and then even our behaviors. Behold God is doing a new thing and so can we! While celebration is in order at New Year's, the turning of the year is also an opportunity for reflection, gratitude, and transformation. As the late Dag Hammarksjold once counseled: For all that has been—thanks. For all that shall be—yes!

Gratitude opens the door to appreciation, inspiration, and openness to the future. The great "yes" we proclaim is not assent to injustice, global climate change, racism, sexism, homophobia, and consumerism. It is a "yes" to God's life moving through all things, calling us

forward to changed lives and changed communities. The ancient Hebrews remind us of the call to choose life moment by moment amidst our responsibilities to our communities and the planet. Gratitude and appreciation open us to life-transforming love. As the calendar turns to a New Year, we are reminded that there is a graceful movement (and grace-filled moments) amidst all change. But the promise is that God breaks through time and space to lead us into the New Year! Wishing you God’s blessings as you begin the new year.

See you in church!

G O O D S H E P H E R D U N I T E D M E T H O D I S T C H U R C H

J a n u a r y 2 0 1 5

“...seeking new behaviors, new

attitudes, and new visions for the

coming of a new year.”

Read the Bible in One Year Use the plan below to read the entire Bible in one year!

Worship Services

EVERY SUNDAY Traditional Service 9:15 AM Praise Service 11:25 AM Sunday School for all ages 10:30 AM

Bible Studies Attend one of our weekly Bible Studies! Mondays For Men Every Monday (Excluding Holidays) 6:30—8:00 pm Location: Stage Room Pastor’s Bible Study Every Thursday 10:00 AM Location: Library *Not meeting on January 1, 2015.

Special Worship Services

Ash Wednesday February 18, 2015 7:30 pm

January Genesis — Exodus 40

February Leviticus — Deuteronomy 4

March Deuteronomy 5 – 1 Samuel 17

You’ve read one quarter of the Bible!

April 1 Samuel 18 —1 Chronicles 2

May 1 Chronicles 3 — Esther 10

June Job — Psalm 89

You’ve read half of the Bible!

July Psalm 90 — Isaiah 17

August Isaiah 18 — Ezekiel 8

September Ezekiel 9 — Zechariah 14

You’re three-fourths of the way through!

October Malachi — Luke 18

November Luke 19 — 1 Corinthians 9

December 1 Corinthians 10 — Revelations 22

Congratulations!! You have read the entire Bible!

Tips:

Read 3 chapters

each day.

Pray for

understanding

before reading.

Stay focused on

the outcome of

learning the

word of God.

Reward yourself

when you have

reached your

reading goal for

each month.

Ask a friend to

take the reading

challenge with

you.

Remember that

the Bible is

God’s written

word to you!

GSUMC’s Latest News

Farewell But Not Goodbye Sunday, December 28, 2014 was Diana Andrews last day our Director of Christian Education. We thank Diana for the education ministry she provided us for the past three years. On January 4, 2015, there will be a reception for Diana at 10:30 am in Fellowship Hall. Please join us to thank Diana for her service to us.

Sunday School Break Sunday school classes did not meet on December 28, 2014, and will not meet again on January 4, 2015. Classes resume on Sunday, January 11, 2015.

Good Shepherd UMC Welcomes a New Director of Christian Education By: Marcia Schroeder, SPRC Chairman

The Staff Parish Relations Committee is pleased to welcome Erin Tkachik as the new Director of Christian Education beginning January 1, 2015. Erin is a member at Good Shepherd United Methodist Church and has been a part of the church family for many years along with her husband, Jeff, and three sons, Garrett, Cameron, and Peyton. We are grateful to have Erin as part of the Good Shepherd United Methodist Church Staff!

Summer Mission Trip Announced This year Good Shepherd United Methodist Church gives you the opportunity to be a part of a unique local mission experience with the Nehemiah Mission of Cleveland! The mission trip will be from June 7 - 13, 2015. Read under Missions & Outreach for more information.

Support Our Church Campers Each year a Valentine’s Dinner is organized by Elizabeth Whited as a fundraiser to support our church campers. All proceeds are used as scholarships for church camp. The dinner is on February 8, 2015 at 6:00 pm. Reservations are being taken now until February 1, 2015. Read under “Upcoming Events” for information regarding the dinner.

2015 Church Officers and Committees The 2015 Church Officers and Committees list is now available by request from the church office.

Youth News In December, the Youth adopted 4 angels from the Angel Tree and went shopping for them. We had a enjoyable time shopping and wrapping the gifts together. On December 21st we celebrated the holidays together with breakfast and Nativity Story Trivia! The Youth have had a great year and are looking forward to another fun year of learning and growing together.

Youth Retreat to Solid Rock at Camp Wanake January 23—25, 2015 Registration is open. The deadline to register is January 16, 2015. No late signups will be accepted. Required forms are available on the youth page of the church website, the church office, or from Jennifer directly. Requirements to attend: Permission Slip Medical Form $35.00 per person

There is a $75.00 maximum per family. Scholarships are available for the retreat. Camp Fundraiser coming in February 2015 All Youth planning on attending summer camp in 2015 should volunteer at the Valentine’s Dinner on Saturday, February 7, 2015 . All proceeds of the dinner go toward scholarships for church summer camp. Contact Jennifer with questions on how to volunteer. Information about the dinner can be found under “Upcoming Events.”

Youth News

By Jennifer Sefl, Youth Director youthdirector@gsumparma.com | 216.741.8876

Youth Group is open to all 7th – 12th graders. Sunday School starts in the Youth Room at 10:30 am.

Save the Date! Valentine’s Dinner

Camp Fundraiser February 7, 2015

Sunday School Room Assignments

Grades 7—8

Junior High Room

Grades 9—12 Youth Room

All grades initially meet

in the Youth Room.

The Nehemiah Mission Project

June 7-13, 2015

This coming summer we invite you to join us on a unique local mission experience. The

Nehemiah Mission is a mission of the North Coast District of the United Methodist Church located

at 6515 Bridge Avenue in Cleveland. Crew members will stay in their barracks for the week, and will

provide help and support to needy people in the heart of Cleveland. Mission experiences may

include construction, yard work, painting, cleaning, and working in food pantries, soup kitchens, and

vacation Bible camps.

This experience is open to youth and adults. You must be at least 15 years old to attend. The

cost for the week is $302.50 and includes air-conditioned sleeping quarters, all meals, building

supplies, and a t-shirt. There will be a $100.00 discount for the first 10 crew members who register

with a deposit of $50.00 and turn-in all completed medical and release forms. Checks should be

made payable to Good Shepherd United Methodist Church.

Please go to www.nehemiahmission.org for more details.

Contact Bev Schultz or Carly Neczypor with your questions or for registration information.

Beverly Schultz Carly Neczypor

beverlyschultz@gmail.com cneczypor@live.com

“Send me to the city, so that I may rebuild it.”

Nehemiah 2:5

Missions & Outreach

Saturday, February 7, 2015 Valentine’s Dinner 6:00 PM The Valentine’s Dinner is a fundraiser for church summer camp scholarships. The cost for the dinner is $35.00 per couple. Reservations are required and can be made in the Schiering Parlor between services or by calling the church office. Reservation Deadline: February 1, 2015. Please contact Elizabeth Whited for more information at (440) 884-1127 or elimeredith@yahoo.com.

Wednesday, February 18, 2015 Ash Wednesday Special Service 7:30 PM Come join us at this special service as we begin the Lenten season.

Save the Date

Second Sundays for Seniors

Understanding Your Financial Options

February 8, 2015

12:30 PM

Sunday, January 4, 2015 Reception for Diana Andrews 10:30 AM Please join us on Sunday, January 4, in Fellowship Hall to give thanks for the service that previous Christian Education Director, Diana Andrews, blessed us with for the past three years. Refreshments will be served during this time of thanks for Diana’s service.

Sunday, January 11, 2015 Second Sunday for Seniors 12:30 PM Topic: Assisted Living Options The next session will be held on Sunday, January 11, 2015 at 12:30 pm in the Stage Room covering the topic of “Assisted Living Options.” Each month through April there will be a new presenter who will bring a wealth of experience and expertise in their area. The goal of this program is to help seniors gather information and form their own care team. Reservations are not required, but suggested. For more information or to make a reservation, please call the church office at (440) 884-9090. Fliers are available at the Forestwood entrance or by request from the church office.

Upcoming Events

January 2015

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 New Year’s Day

The Church Office

is closed.

2

7 PM PTP, S

3

1 PM Caring

Dinner, SR

4

10:30 AM Recep-

tion for Diana

Andrews.

No Sunday School

5

6

7 PM D14, SR

7

7 PM Choir

8

10 AM Pastor’s

Bible Study, L

7:30 PM WCM, P

7:30 PM TCM, L

9

7 PM PTP, S

10

11

12:30 PM Senior

Sunday, SR

6:30 PM Bowling

League, YTL

12

6:30 PM MFM, SR

7 PM PSCM, O

7 PM Prayer

Shawl, P

13

12 PM RC, SR

14

10 AM CCM ,SR

7 PM Choir

Practice, S

15

10 AM Pastor’s

Bible Study, L

7 PM SPRC, L

16

2:30 PM Grief

Support Group, P

7 PM PTP, S

17

18

19

6:30 PM MFM, SR

20

7 PM D14, SR

21

7 PM Choir

Practice, S

22

10 AM Pastor’s

Bible Study, L

23

Youth leave for

Retreat to Camp

Wanake

7 PM PTP, S

24

25

Youth return from

Retreat.

The Children’s Choir

performs in both

services.

6:30 PM Bowling

League, YTL

26

6:30 PM MFM, SR

27

28

7 PM Choir

Practice, S

29

10 AM Pastor’s

Bible Study, L

30

7 PM PTP, S

31

Titles

MFM—Mondays for Men

TCM—Trustees Committee Meeting

YTL—Yorktown Lanes

PSCM—Program Staff Committee Meeting

CCM—Care Committee Meeting

SPRC—Staff Parish Relations Committee Meeting

PTP—Praise Team Practice

FCM—Finance Committee Meeting

RC—Rachel Circle

D14—Disciple 14

WCM—Worship Committee Meeting

Locations

O—Church Office

SR—Stage Room S—Sanctuary P—Parlor YR—Youth Room YTL—York Town Lanes LL—Lower Level

This page was left blank intentionally so that you may

remove the January Calendar from your newsletter.

Messages and Thanks

I would like to personally thank you all for your recent gift to OhioGuidestone. Your charitable support will help us make a positive, lasting, measurable difference in the lives of our 20,000 children and families we serve each year.

I wanted to share the passing of Paul Horvath who was a member of the original Evangelical United Brethren Church with his parents Martin and Lucille Horvath and his brother Kenneth. Paul passed away on November 15, 2014.

Dear Church Family, I’d like to thank everyone for your concern, prayers, and cards during my recent surgery. I am feeling much better—still need a couple more weeks of healing but it is so comforting to know that so many of you cared. I really do appreciate it. May God bless all of you.

Dear Friends in Mission: Thank you for your gift to the General Board of Global Ministries through the Advance, the designate mission giving channel of The United Methodist Church. Your gift supports church and community leadership development,; educational; cross-cultural missions experiences for older adults; community-based restorative justice programs to bring healing and systemic change’ programs that protect and uphold migrants workers; and programs that equip United Methodist around the world to response to alcohol, drugs, and related violence. Thank you for giving so generously.

Alex S. Petrus, CFRE Vice President of Advancement OhioGuidestone

Audrey Auman Daughter of Harold & Ester Auman

Ken Myers

Roland Fernandes General Treasrur

General Board of Global Ministries

Thank you to all who donated Christmas gifts to Ohio Guidestone, West Side Community Center, USO, and Angel Tree of the Nehemiah Mission. Thank you for your generous gifts and love for people in need.

Good Shepherd UMC

Contact Us

Good Shepherd UMC

5930 State Road

Parma, OH 44134

(440) 884-9090

office@gsumparma.com

Visit us on the web at

www.gsumparma.com

Prayer Requests

Let us pray for you.

Submit prayer requests

through the website, by

phone, or by e-mail.

SAVE THE DATE!

Second Sunday for Seniors

January 11, 2015

12:30 - 1:30 pm

Topic:

Assisted Living Options

Reserve your seat by calling (440) 884-9090

January’s Topic:

Understanding Your Financial Options

Good Shepherd

United Methodist Church

5930 State Road

Parma, OH 44134

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