Family Christmas Eve Service at GSLC

What a blessing the KidZone kids are! At the 4 pm service on Christmas Eve, these beautiful children were truly a God sighting! From the young ones enthusiastically reading God's word to the dancers who lovingly danced to "Sing Unto the Lord a new song" and all of the Sunday school children present who sang loudly to "Wonderful" and "Come, Let Us Praise Him" and the young musicians who shared their God given talents, I felt the Lord's presence. Thank you parents for your dedication to the Children's Ministry at Good Shepherd. Your children are a blessing and they continue to show the KidZone team why we do what we do. These children continue to shine God's love and blessings into our hearts all year through. From the KidZone staff, Merry Christmas and a wonderful, Christ filled New Year!

Pay it forward

I work at a restaurant and today there were two separate couples sitting near each other. One couple finished and came up to pay and the lady said she wanted to pay for the other couples meal. She didn't know them she just wanted to pay for them. When I went and told the couple still eating that their meal had been paid for they were in complete shock. The lady informed me that it was a blessing because she has cancer and just got back from the doctor. She has several medical bills and is truly grateful for the unknown couple that had just paid for their meal.

Junior High Winter Retreat 2009

On December 4th, a group of 50 junior high students, high school staffers, and adult leaders loaded up the bus and headed for an awesome weekend at Camp Utaba in Liberty, Utah. God always does amazing things when we go on a retreat and this weekend was no exception! From the moment we arrived the presence of God was apparent and it was a joy to be with this group of people.

One of the things that struck me this year in a more powerful way than ever before was how being at this place (Camp Utaba) felt like being part of something much larger than just one weekend away. I realized during the evening teaching that I personally had been coming on retreats to this place for 22 years (usually two or three times per winter)!!! It really blew my mind to think about but it was an instant remind of how important these times of retreat really are. God has done such wonderful things in my own life and I have had the privilege of observe the countless blessings of our Lord being poured out into the lives of others during retreats as well! I truly count it a blessing to have the opportunity to continue to minster to the youth of Good Shepherd, they continue to be an awesome group of people and God continues to bless us with His presence!!! Yeah God, You are so good to us!

KidZone God Sightings

On Sunday, December 6, over 85 people gathered to learn about the power of a simple gift. What a God sighting! Parents and children gathered together to discover from the fun Veggie Tales Movie "St. Nicholas, A Story of Joyful Giving" how powerful it is to give. In the film, Laura Carrot was concerned that her Christmas Stocking might be empty this year because her dad was in danger of losing his job. Many children, including our family promise guests, were able to relate to this fear. Larry the cucumber thought a letter to the North Pole would fix the problem but Bob the tomato knew what would really help...and he told the story of a little boy named Nicholas who made a discovery in Bethlehem that changed Christmas forever. We learned the story of St. Nicholas and we all saw God at work as we discovered the true joy of giving to others, at Christmas time and throughout the year.

Many of you have been God sightings to those in need by giving joyfully to the Angel Tree and Christmas Shepherds programs at GSLC.

Through Angel Tree, our generous congregation has helped 79 children with one or both parents in prison, realize what it means to be loved. You have given 158 gifts to these special children.

In addition, with Christmas Shepherds, you have helped 99 people from our congregation and the surrounding community by purchasing over 240 gifts. Your generosity is a God sighting to me, the pastoral office, those in need and to the community!

"But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret." Matthew 6:3-4

Thank you and God bless!
Kelli Kirk

Little Boy at School

I went to Kennan's first grade class on Friday to tell them about the German tradition of St. Nicholas Day we celebrate in our family. After telling them about St. Nicholas, I asked them, "Who do you think St. Nicholas loved more than anything else?"
(I was going for "children.")
One little boy raised his hand and loudly answered, "JESUS"!

Ya know what? He was right.

Foster Transitional Housing Giving Hope To Teens

Foster Transitional Housing Giving Hope To Teens

Gift of Salvation

Last Sunday a 6 year old little boy gave his heart to Jesus and he told me he is God's kid now and has the Holy Spirit in his HEART!!!!! We celebrate with him and the gift of Salvation he has received. In Him, Mim

School

From Nina,
I wrote a note to everyone in my class saying, I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!