July - August, 2010

Sunday, July 25^th Pastor Brandt’s 90^th birthday. Pastor will be here to preach on that Sunday and Monday and we will celebrate his birthday with cake and goodies and expressions of our love and gratitude.

Sunday, August 15^th Bryan Schmidt’s installation as our Seminary Intern. Bryan a third year student at the Lutheran School of Theology will begin his year of service to the Good Shepherd family. A time for a joyful welcome.

Baobab Blast is the gathering of the summer! It’s time for “VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL!” July 12^th – 16^th

Calling everyone from east to west…Baobab Blast is the Get-Together of the summer! All those age 3 (by July 11^th and potty-trained) through just “completed” 5^th graders are welcome to join us. Put on some sunscreen and head to the community gathering at the baobab tree. . .Join in a week of high-energy games, awesome music, captivating Bible stories, great snacks and cool crafts. It’s guaranteed to be a BLAST!

This year’s VBS service project will benefit Worth Food Pantry. We will, once again, be collecting non-perishable food items. Pantries have experienced higher numbers of families coming to them for help. We will do our best to help the Worth Food Pantry fill up their shelves. Collection will take place on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of our VBS week.

A great BIG HUG and THANK YOU to everyone who has already made a contribution to VBS!! We appreciate your generosity. These donations help aid in our ministry not only to our children, but also to those throughout the community.

It’s time to REGISTER for VBS!! We’re taking VBS Registrations for all children between the ages of 3 (potty-trained) and those who have completed 5^th grade. Register your child for the grade they have just completed. Please try to pre-register your children and their friends before July 11^th. For a $10.00 fee they will receive a color coordinated t-shirt and a pouch with daily trading cards. Registration is highly encouraged on Sunday mornings. You may also register during the week on Wednesdays and Thursdays between 9:00 AM – 12 Noon.

Summer Worship Hours . . . Yes, it can be a bit confusing, but many people have expressed their appreciation for the earlier hours of summer worship. It gives many a chance to get off to an earlier start and still worship, and helps the church save on energy costs. Our worship hours will remain at 8:30 AM and 10:00 AM through Labor Day. On Rally Day which is September 12^th, we will return to our usual worship hours of 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM. Please remember that we have Summer Vespers every Monday at 7:30 PM. Come and share in our praise and worship of the God of all seasons.

REST Cooking reaches out to those less fortunate! The next two dates of REST cooking for the homeless are July 27^th and August 17^th at 9:30 AM. The response for donations of trial/travel size items of men and women toiletries has been great. We continue to take food to the Worth Food pantry. The July requests includes: Saltines, spaghetti sauce, assorted pasta, baby food, cake mix, frosting and canned meat. The August request includes: juice, Jello, canned fruit, peanut butter, jelly, canned meat, tuna and baby food.

The Deacon District Picnics are continuing! The picnics are continuing next week at the parsonage. The last two dates are Tuesday, June 29^th and Wednesday, June 30^that 6:30 PM. Picnics are potluck, with us providing hamburgers and hot dogs. Water Balloon participation is optional! Come and relax and have fun and friendship with your church family.

The “Body and Soul” men’s group will continue meeting every week this summer for basketball only. They will resume their “soulful” discussions in the fall. They will not meet on July 5^th and 12^th.

The “OFF Club” will meet for their annual picnic at 11 AM on Wed., July 21^st at Lake Katherine. We will be in the Rental Hall just a short walk from the parking lot. Lake Katherine is about 1/3 mile West of Harlem, just North of College Drive/Rte. 83. Look for the sign on the North side of the street. We will enjoy catered chicken and members are invited to bring a side dish or dessert. If you are unable to bring a dish, please come anyway as we always have plenty to eat. Gareth Blakesley will speak to us about our natural resources and we may have a ride through the lovely grounds. If you need a ride or further directions, call Bob or Marilyn.

In August we will enjoy Brunch 'n Bunco. Meeting on the 18^th at 11:00 AM, our brunch will be completely catered and then we will play Crazy Bunco so members need to bring a wrapped gift or prize as well as a photo of themselves as youngsters. Keep your photo in an envelope but mark it with your name so we can return it to you after the meeting. We will be posting them and will see how many of our friends we can identify from their childhood pictures.

The Palos Heights Beautification Committee is sponsoring a Classic Car Event on Thursday, July 15^th from 6:00 – 9:00 PM between 122^nd and 124^th Streets on Harlem Avenue. This is the 7^th year that Good Shepherd will be running one of the vendor booths for this event. Volunteers will be needed to assist with the booth from 5:00 – 9:15 PM. If you would be interested in helping, please call the church office or see Ron Skoglund. This is a way for us as a congregation to support Palos Heights. All proceeds from our booth will be used to support our service men and women in the Middle East.

for their gift of love to our Dads on Father’s Day. It was a sweet expression of love and gratitude.

A huge tip of the hat to our “Lay Weeders” and the absolutely fantastic job they are doing caring for our church grounds. The dedicated efforts of Hank Lang and his wonderful crew really reflects in the appearance of our church. If you would be willing to help in this effort just, give Hank a call!

And another heart-felt “Thank You” to the crew working on re-landscaping the courtyard. This memorial project, also supported by the Arts and Crafts fund, when completed will serve as a beautiful and vibrant memorial to our good friend Bob Strand.

Thanks to: Keri Altier, Donna Choquette, Bruce Fierke, Michelle Lewis, Lee Miller, Susan Mish, Kevin Quigley, Brett Scanlan, Brian Yazumbek, and Debbie Zimba for driving and enjoying a fun day at Six Flags with our High School and Confirmation students and Junior Choir members. Fifty-two of us enjoyed a beautiful day of fun and fellowship.

Vacation Bible School needs help gathering the following items: cardboard boxes (any size), washable glue sticks, rolls of brown mailing paper, baking parchment paper, cinnamon sugar, all-purpose flour, white paper plates (9 or 10 in.), brown paper lunch bags (larger size),

and gift cards to Menards, Home Depot, Walmart and Target. We have a wish list for snacks. You are able to view that list and sign up for items to donate in Mrs. Lori’s office. Please feel free to stop by or call and we can let you know what is still needed.

Help!! We are still looking for some VBS volunteers! There is need for a teacher for Pre-school 3 year-olds, a 5^th grade teacher, classroom assistants and day care assistants. If you are interested, please see Lori Puttkammer as soon as possible.

If you are interested in helping with Sunday School this fall. . . please sign up on the bulletin board. All are welcome, from Confirmation age to adult, and encouraged to share their talents with our youngest members.

Looking ahead to Fall. . . There is a Sunday School Teachers’ Meeting scheduled for August 19^that 7:00 PM. It is an important planning meeting for the new 2010-2011 school year. Please mark your calendar and try to make every effort to attend.

One last note: Greeters Wanted! The summer Greeter Schedule is on the bulletin board. This is a wonderful opportunity to offer your fellow worshippers a smile and a warm handshake. Sign up on Sunday, or call the church office 708/448-4170 during the week.

Send mail to ron@Good-Shepherd-Church.com with questions or comments about this web site. Last modified: 06/30/10

Send mail to ron@Good-Shepherd-Church.com with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: 06/30/10