What's Happening at GSLC
ELCA Prayer Ventures
November 30 - December 7, 2020
30 In the course of your day, envision the people who, working behind the scenes in service industries, attend to our needs, ease our stresses, make our lives more enjoyable, help us manage each day and attend to the little things we take for granted. Pray that we will open our eyes and see them, valuing their work, advocating for their fair wages and benefits, and expressing our gratitude for their hard work serving others.
1 World AIDS Day Pray for compassion, understanding and healing for individuals, families and communities worldwide that are living with or affected by HIV and AIDS. Give thanks for the dedicated service and skill of doctors, pastors, public officials, health care educators, care providers and researchers who treat the infected, bring hope to the discouraged and weary, and respond to the disease’s spiritual, physical, emotional and social impacts.
2 The Spirit is at work in times of anticipation and yearning, reminding us of God’s promises and activity, helping us stay calm and patient, and redirecting our attention from ourselves to our neighbors in need ― nearby and around the world.
3 Give thanks for the new ELCA social message “Government and Civic Engagement in the United States: Discipleship in a Democracy.” Pray that it will help us understand how government is a gift from God but can also be abused and misused. Ask the Spirit to guide us as we prayerfully reflect on how we can view civic engagement as Lutherans.
4 What do you anticipate and watch for during this season of Advent? Pray for what you yearn and hope for, and give thanks that God is faithful to God’s promises, especially through the gift of life to the world through Jesus Christ.
5 As we are immersed in the joy, festivities and busyness of Advent and Christmas, pause to pray for our global neighbors who have suffered through devastating natural disasters and need our support, generosity and assistance. Pray particularly for the many nations that have experienced drought and for those impacted by the earthquake in Turkey and Greece, Typhoon Goni hitting the Philippines and multiple hurricanes impacting Mexico, the Caribbean region and the United States.
6 Pray that the Spirit will give us a measure of John the Baptist’s boldness, commitment, humility and resolve as we share the good news of Jesus Christ and the promise of God’s love and mercy with everyone we encounter or approach throughout our baptismal journey.
7 Give thanks for caregivers, staff and nurses in senior communities, nursing homes, rehabilitation hospitals, and memory-care and assisted-living facilities. Ask God to grant them strength, wisdom, skill and a spirit of hope and joy as they go about their difficult and often tiring work.
30 In the course of your day, envision the people who, working behind the scenes in service industries, attend to our needs, ease our stresses, make our lives more enjoyable, help us manage each day and attend to the little things we take for granted. Pray that we will open our eyes and see them, valuing their work, advocating for their fair wages and benefits, and expressing our gratitude for their hard work serving others.
1 World AIDS Day Pray for compassion, understanding and healing for individuals, families and communities worldwide that are living with or affected by HIV and AIDS. Give thanks for the dedicated service and skill of doctors, pastors, public officials, health care educators, care providers and researchers who treat the infected, bring hope to the discouraged and weary, and respond to the disease’s spiritual, physical, emotional and social impacts.
2 The Spirit is at work in times of anticipation and yearning, reminding us of God’s promises and activity, helping us stay calm and patient, and redirecting our attention from ourselves to our neighbors in need ― nearby and around the world.
3 Give thanks for the new ELCA social message “Government and Civic Engagement in the United States: Discipleship in a Democracy.” Pray that it will help us understand how government is a gift from God but can also be abused and misused. Ask the Spirit to guide us as we prayerfully reflect on how we can view civic engagement as Lutherans.
4 What do you anticipate and watch for during this season of Advent? Pray for what you yearn and hope for, and give thanks that God is faithful to God’s promises, especially through the gift of life to the world through Jesus Christ.
5 As we are immersed in the joy, festivities and busyness of Advent and Christmas, pause to pray for our global neighbors who have suffered through devastating natural disasters and need our support, generosity and assistance. Pray particularly for the many nations that have experienced drought and for those impacted by the earthquake in Turkey and Greece, Typhoon Goni hitting the Philippines and multiple hurricanes impacting Mexico, the Caribbean region and the United States.
6 Pray that the Spirit will give us a measure of John the Baptist’s boldness, commitment, humility and resolve as we share the good news of Jesus Christ and the promise of God’s love and mercy with everyone we encounter or approach throughout our baptismal journey.
7 Give thanks for caregivers, staff and nurses in senior communities, nursing homes, rehabilitation hospitals, and memory-care and assisted-living facilities. Ask God to grant them strength, wisdom, skill and a spirit of hope and joy as they go about their difficult and often tiring work.
God's Work Our Hands
Fishes and Loaves Food Pantry
http://www.gslcirving.com/fish_loaves_files/fish_and_loaveshome.htm
Souper Bowl For Caring Fundraiser for Stewpot Ministries
An annual fundraising event that takes place on “Superbowl Sunday” to raise money for the Stewpot Ministries of Dallas.
School Supplies for Lutheran World Relief School Kits
Christmas in July is an annual event in which members of Good Shepherd are asked to donate school supplies that will be placed in backpacks and delivered to LWR.
Community Thanksgiving Dinner
An annual event held on the Saturday before Thanksgiving in which the people of Good Shepherd, along with members of our sister congregation Abiding Grace in Southlake, prepare and serve a full Thanksgiving dinner for members of the community who may not be able to enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner with their family free of charge.
Many Helping Hands
An annual event held in December in which members of Good Shepherd are asked to donate items that are necessary for basic health needs (tooth brush, toothpaste, washcloths, combs etc.) along with warm clothes and blankets for area homeless. This is an ecumenical ministry partnership among local congregations.
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Women's Piecemakers Needlework Ministry
This ministry focuses on quilting, hospice bibs, chemo caps and other projects. Prior experience with crafts and needlework is not necessary. The group meets on Wednesday evenings from 7:15 - 8:30 p.m. The sewing room will also be open on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of each month from 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
God’s Little Lamb
Good Shepherd’s Evangelism Committee has initiated an ongoing ministry with Baylor Hospital of Irving in which we provide gift packages for new mothers who may be unable to afford some of the most basic supplies for a new born baby. Inside of each gift package they receive diapers, lotion, a “God’s Little Lamb t-shirt and a small blanket.
Angels of Comfort & Hope
Recently Baylor Hospital of Irving has requested support for mothers who give birth to a still born baby. Good Shepherd is now providing cloth “angels” that the hospital hangs on the doors of those mothers who have lost their babies.
Mission Partnerships
Good Shepherd has developed ongoing partnerships with the following ministries who receive prayer support as well as financial support from the members of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church:
Briarwood Retreat Center, Argyle
Lutheran Seminary Program of the Southwest, Austin
Church of the Damascus Road, Weatherford
Dallas Oromo Ev. Lutheran Mission, Richardson
Community of Hope Lutheran Church, Fort Worth
Lutheran Campus Ministry at UNT and TWU, Denton
Lutheran Social Services of the South, Austin
Mount Olive Lutheran Church, Dallas - Food Pantry Ministry
Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Dallas
Walnut Hill Lutheran Church, Dallas
Mission Luteran San Gabriel, Alvarado
First/Sagrada Familia Lutheran Church, Garland
Umoja International Church, Dallas
King of Glory Lutheran Church, Fort Worth
Mosaic Home, Dallas
An annual fundraising event that takes place on “Superbowl Sunday” to raise money for the Stewpot Ministries of Dallas.
School Supplies for Lutheran World Relief School Kits
Christmas in July is an annual event in which members of Good Shepherd are asked to donate school supplies that will be placed in backpacks and delivered to LWR.
Community Thanksgiving Dinner
An annual event held on the Saturday before Thanksgiving in which the people of Good Shepherd, along with members of our sister congregation Abiding Grace in Southlake, prepare and serve a full Thanksgiving dinner for members of the community who may not be able to enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner with their family free of charge.
Many Helping Hands
An annual event held in December in which members of Good Shepherd are asked to donate items that are necessary for basic health needs (tooth brush, toothpaste, washcloths, combs etc.) along with warm clothes and blankets for area homeless. This is an ecumenical ministry partnership among local congregations.
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Women's Piecemakers Needlework Ministry
This ministry focuses on quilting, hospice bibs, chemo caps and other projects. Prior experience with crafts and needlework is not necessary. The group meets on Wednesday evenings from 7:15 - 8:30 p.m. The sewing room will also be open on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of each month from 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
God’s Little Lamb
Good Shepherd’s Evangelism Committee has initiated an ongoing ministry with Baylor Hospital of Irving in which we provide gift packages for new mothers who may be unable to afford some of the most basic supplies for a new born baby. Inside of each gift package they receive diapers, lotion, a “God’s Little Lamb t-shirt and a small blanket.
Angels of Comfort & Hope
Recently Baylor Hospital of Irving has requested support for mothers who give birth to a still born baby. Good Shepherd is now providing cloth “angels” that the hospital hangs on the doors of those mothers who have lost their babies.
Mission Partnerships
Good Shepherd has developed ongoing partnerships with the following ministries who receive prayer support as well as financial support from the members of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church:
Briarwood Retreat Center, Argyle
Lutheran Seminary Program of the Southwest, Austin
Church of the Damascus Road, Weatherford
Dallas Oromo Ev. Lutheran Mission, Richardson
Community of Hope Lutheran Church, Fort Worth
Lutheran Campus Ministry at UNT and TWU, Denton
Lutheran Social Services of the South, Austin
Mount Olive Lutheran Church, Dallas - Food Pantry Ministry
Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Dallas
Walnut Hill Lutheran Church, Dallas
Mission Luteran San Gabriel, Alvarado
First/Sagrada Familia Lutheran Church, Garland
Umoja International Church, Dallas
King of Glory Lutheran Church, Fort Worth
Mosaic Home, Dallas