Here's what's happening at . . . .

Worship & Education
THIS SUNDAY IS COMMITMENT SUNDAY!  
We are called to participate in God's mission in our congregation, our community and the world. On October 20, we will celebrate our commitment to the work of this church during the next year. This commitment involves our prayers, our presence, our active participation, and our financial support, and is a way to give thanks to God. After the 10:30 worship service, we will enjoy a luncheon in the Fellowship Hall. Please join us!
CLASSES THIS SUNDAY
Sunday School classes begin at 9:10 a.m. Child care is available for children five and younger in the nursery.
 
Elementary School Children
This class begins with music, followed by a lesson using the Godly Play approach.  

DiGG Class (Delving into God's Goodness)
This month, representatives from various organizations in our community have visited us to talk about the services they provide, all of which are forms of accompaniment, one of Good Shepherd's focus areas. On  October 20 , Carolyn and Rivers Smith will talk about their new non-profit,  STEP WNC ,  which is a home repair and firewood ministry. 

On  October 27 , Paul Cooper will lead the class,  "Christian Spirituality and Everyday Mindfulness."   The discussion will focus on Centering Prayer as a Christian meditation, the Mindfulness idea of meditation; and a comparison of the two.

Intersections Class
On October 20, the class will continue a study of the book 8 Habits of Love: Overcome Fear and Transform Your Life
INQUIRERS' CLASS ON THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Continuing on October 20 and 27, Pastor Graf is offering classes on the Lutheran Church: where Lutherans came from, who Lutherans are, and what Lutherans teach, preach and believe. The class is for those life-long Lutherans wanting a "refresher course" in our church, persons who are interested in joining our church, or those just curious about what being a Lutheran is about. The class will be held in Pastor Graf's office from 9:15  to 10:05 a.m. Grab a cup of coffee between worship services and join us for these informal opportunities to learn, or just be reminded, of what being Lutheran means. 
ALL SAINTS SUNDAY

On  Sunday, November 3 , Good Shepherd will remember with thanksgiving loved ones who have died. If you would like your loved one to be included by name in the prayers during worship that day, please contact Whitney in the church office (883-3680 or lcgs@comporium.net). There will be an opportunity to light candles in remembrance of loved ones during both worship services. 
At Good Shepherd
PG's PEN

"What do you believe?" 
 
We ask that question every Sunday. And the congregation responds with a traditional recitation of the Creed. It can be just a bunch of words. Or it can be a confession of what's inside; of a faith we live by. Do we really believe in a God who created and is owner of everything? Do we believe in a God who sacrificed his only Son to give us eternal life? Do we believe we are God's voice and hands, his "trustees" of everything? Saying "I believe" is one thing. Doing something to give substance to those words is something else.
 
The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd is all about what we believe. And we declare that, not just in our words, but in what we do. We have been entrusted with caring for God's world; creation, critters and creatures. We have been entrusted with God's Word; the story of God's Son and his sacrifice on the cross to give us eternal life. We have been entrusted with the Church as a place to worship, serve, and learn about this awesome loving God who wants to spend eternity with us. Being faithful to that trust means doing, not just saying, what we believe.
 
This Sunday, God will ask each one of those who are blessed to be part of the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd to do something. That something is make a commitment to be part of ministering God's way and Word in 2020. That something is to give substance to those words, "I believe." What will you give? What will you do? How will you thank God who gives you everything? 
 
Those Pledge Forms you received in the mail, or pick up at the church, are important. They represent your faith. They say, so much more significantly to God than words, what you truly believe! 2020 will be a great year of Gospel Ministry BECAUSE OF YOU! 
 
Christ came that we might have abundant and eternal life.  Live it up!

Pastor Graf
OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE!
On the "Pledge Forms" for "Ministry 2020," your church is not only asking members of our faith community to commit to financially supporting the work of Christ through LCGS, but also to commit to participating in that work through worship, education, witness, member care and building Christian community. In order to participate, knowing the opportunities that exist and the positions that are needed for doing that work, is essential. Look for "Opportunities to Participate" in the bulletins, on display around the church, and in the weekly newsletter.
 
Right now, there are several opportunities for you to prayerfully consider. If God stirs you with interest in any of them, let the church office or Volunteer Ministry Coordinator Jody Schuld (937-644-2029 or jwstichr@yahoo.com) know.
 
The congregation needs persons to serve in planning for and directing "faith formation" among children, youth and adults. This means there are vacancies on the Christian Education Committee for members and a chair. Find out what it's all about from Kimberly Dunbar (kimberlylcgs@comporium.net) or  Heather Merritt.
 
LCGS is still looking for a Children and Youth Ministry Coordinator. If you or someone you know can serve or if you want to find out more, please talk to Kimberly Dunbar.
 
Robert McKeown has come to the end of his term as Treasurer of LCGS. It's an important job and absolutely essential to the work of ministry in our church. Robert would love to talk with anyone who feels led to consider this opportunity, or just wants to know more about it. He can be reached at 803-467-3026 or mckeownr@mailbox.sc.edu.
 
God has given gifts to each of us. LCGS offers you the opportunities to use them in God's work!
HOLD THE DATE!

The annual Congregational Meeting is scheduled for Sunday,  November 17 , in the Fellowship Hall following the 10:30 service. Lunch will be provided by the Fellowship Committee. 
ALL SAINTS SUNDAY BRUNCH
On Sunday, November 3, beginning at 9:15 a.m., there will be a potluck brunch held to honor our choir, which will be performing special music during both services. The congregation is asked to bring dishes to share. Additional information and a sign-up sheet are on the bulletin board. Contact Sandra Ostermeier with any questions ( sandyko49@gmail.com; call or text 828-384-2444).
CARE OF CREATION
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Part 2 - Drinkware  
What's better than recycling your plastic glass? Reusing it. Several dozen reusable, dishwasher safe, BPA-free plastic drinking glasses have been donated to the church. You are encouraged to choose one of these for your water during coffee hour or meals. When you're finished, simply empty any leftover liquid in the bucket provided and place your container in the large pans that are used to collect plates and utensils. If you prefer, for whatever reason, to use the disposable cups, please recycle them. Again, empty any liquid/ice into the bucket and place your container in the nearby large bin labeled recycling.  
CALL PROCESS UPDATE

The call committee continues to seek the Lord's guidance as we search for our next pastor.  We again request that you keep us in your thoughts and prayers. 

COMING SOON AT GOOD SHEPHERD . . .

Sunday, October 20
  8:00 a.m.  Worship Service (Sanctuary)
  9:00 a.m.   Coffee Hour (Fellowship Hall)
  9:10 a.m.  Sunday School Classes  (Education Wing)
  9:15 a.m.  Inquirers' Class (Pastor's Office)
10:30 a.m.  Worship Service (Sanctuary) 
11:30 a.m.  Ministry 2020 Luncheon (Fellowship Hall)
  
Membership & Evangelism
COMMUNITY CARE CORNER
The "Community Care Corner" feature in the weekly newsletter allows us to update you on people for whom we are praying or to submit a new prayer request. If you have an update on someone or a new prayer request to share in the Corner, please email or call the church office (lcgs@comporium.net or 883-3680) by noon on Thursday. 

Mark Hauser, brother-in-law of  De Carlson, recently suffered a stroke which left him unable to speak or swallow. He is beginning therapy to regain those abilities.

Jackie Jenkins continues to recover from pneumonia and dehydration.
SERVING THIS SUNDAY

Interim Pastor.................................................................................Rev. Dr. Richard Graf
Minister of Music ..................................................................................... David Gresham
Organist ......................................................................................................Vance Reese
Outreach Ministry Coordinator..............................................................Kimberly Dunbar
Assisting Minister .............................................................Ellen Dozier / Karen Anderson
Reader .....................................................................Sandy Ostermeier / Sophie Dunbar
Ushers ..................... Lauren & Fred Weed / Wayne Drake, Lamar Propst, & Kia Emaus
Acolyte ....................................................................................Ellen Dozier / Yuri Emaus
Greeters ..................................Jody & Bob Schuld / Patricia & Hal Galloway, Ian Merritt
Child Care during Sunday School............................................................................TBD
Elementary Sunday School Teacher.............................................................Linda White
Elementary School Doorperson...............................................................Heather Merritt
Child Care during Worship ....................................................................Kimberly Dunbar
Altar Care.....................................................................................................Kate Reinke
Communion Bread.....................................................................................Barb Jackson
Tellers ............................................................................Debra Whiteaker & Lorel Durlak
Doorkeeper of the Day ..................................................................................Roy Larson
Coffee Hour.(8:00).............................................................................PJ & Bruce Larson
Coffee Hour (10:30)...................................................................Ministry 2020 Luncheon
                                               
World & Community
TWO THANK YOUs!
DSS staff with items donated 
by Good Shepherd members
Thank you to those who donated to our Pastor's Discretionary Fund in the past few weeks. These donations will better enable us to financially assist neighbors in our community, usually in collaboration with Sharing House, this fall and winter. 

Thank you to everyone who donated items (duffel bags, toiletries, books, toys, art supplies, socks, and underwear) for our local Department of Social Services over the summer. These items are being given to children that DSS works with, who have typically suffered abuse, neglect or other traumatic situations. DSS recently sent us a thank you card and picture that's now up on the bulletin board. If you haven't seen it yet, please do so. It will brighten your day!
In Our Community
COMMUNITY SUICIDE AWARENESS TRAINING
Thursday, October 24, 2019
5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
106 E. Morgan St., Brevard (Dept. of Social Services, Conference Room)
 
If you can use the word 'suicide' in a sentence, you can save a life.  
 
Many people in our community are impacted by suicide. Due to stigma, most suffer alone. We can make our community safer for everyone. This training will provide attendees with basic conversational skills to help 
someone considering suicide. All are welcome. Refreshments will be served.
 
Speaker Fe Anam Avis is a nationally known figure in suicide prevention work and has trained thousands of people in suicide awareness and intervention skills. He is the creator of Soul Shop™, an international movement which trains clergy, ministry  leaders, and community members to care for those impacted by suicidal desperation as a regular aspect of their life together.
 
For more information, please contact Kimberly Dunbar, Outreach Ministry Coordinator at  Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd (828-883-3680 or kimberlylcgs@comporium.net).
POWER UP DINNER FOR SHARING HOUSE
Did you know that in 2018, Sharing House gave $147,000 in heating assistance to over 870 families in Transylvania County?! This is the organization's biggest expense in serving our needy residents.

To help meet this need, St. Philip's Episcopal Church, in partnership with the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Transylvania County and our local Jewish community, is hosting its annual fundraising dinner, POWER UP, for Sharing House and is inviting our entire community to attend. There is no charge to attend, but we are urging folks to donate generously that evening with cash, check, credit card, or through Pay Pal. In addition to the wonderful food, there will be a wine bar and plenty of opportunity to socialize.

The event will take place on Sunday, November 3 beginning at 5:00 p.m. at St. Philip's. An RSVP is required by October 28; please contact Bobby King  (678-592-4068 or bobbyaking48@yahoo.com) or Polly Averette (828-553-1870 or pollycaverette@gmail.com). 

Please extend a helping hand so that our neighbors will be warm this winter!!
ELCA, NC Synod, & LWF News
"I'M ALWAYS SURPRISED"
"The mountains are calling and I must go." Perhaps you've seen a shirt, mug, or other item printed with this quote from naturalist and preservationist John Muir. It's actually a shortened version of a sentence in a letter written to Muir's sister in 1873: "The mountains are calling & I must go & I will work on while I can, studying incessantly." For many of the church leaders from across the NC Synod, the mountains call each fall and we must go-specifically the mountains call us to Fall Convocation at Lutheridge from Monday to Wednesday sometime each fall.


The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd
(828) 883-3680     lcgs@comporium.net     lutheranchurchbrevardnc.com
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