Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church

Welcome to Good Shepherd's Website!

2010-01-16T14:42:00.000-08:00

Whether you have recently visited Good Shepherd or plan to in the future, we hope that you experience our church as the loving, warm, Christ-centered family that we believe it to be.

Whatever your stage or place in life, if you are seeking a church where people genuinely love each other and desire to grow closer to God, we encourage you to come again!

We have nurturing programs and ministry opportunities for every member, and truly have a church that feels like ‘home.’ Even more importantly, at Good Shepherd, we are committed to seeking and following God through His Son, Jesus Christ, as revealed in God’s Word, the Bible. We are not perfect people, but follow after a perfect Savior!

We hope you will consider visiting again and joining this ordinary family of people who have been drawn together in an extraordinary way by our loving and gracious God.

The February newsletter (new e-mail format) is online HERE.

haiti support

2010-01-16T06:40:00.000-08:00

Dear Good Shepherd family,

I wanted to alert you that we will be taking a special offering in worship for Haiti relief in the wake of the recent 7.0 earthquake. For a natural disaster on this scale, the most immediate need is for cash. We will be taking a special offering this Sunday and next (and can receive gifts at any point), to be sent to the Red Cross. Starting Feb. 1 we will transition our gifts to Samaritan's Purse and/or Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, both of whom will be transitioning into more intermediate and longer-term response.

I am writing to let you know that Good Shepherd can serve as a vehicle for gifts for Haiti relief. We will pass on 100% of your designated gifts to the agencies listed above and believe each of them will do a responsible job of using your money for maximum benefit.

If you want to write a check for the offering or to mail to us, simply note "Haiti relief" on the memo line. And if you want to designate specifically to one of the agencies above in a way different than the timeline described, just note that on the check.

If you are interested in learning more about charitable giving and disaster response, I would commend the following articles to you. The basic gist is that what is most helpful for maximum benefit and response is:

1) initial cash (first few weeks);

2) supplies sent from U.S. (several weeks in; requires systems to be in place for sorting/distribution);

3) volunteers (needed months in, but slow down response if they come in too early) - exceptions are trained, specialized volunteers like nurses and doctors

For more info:

Interaction: U.S. based NGO's - How to Help page

http://www.interaction.org/how-help

American Red Cross

http://bit.ly/7VTo5g

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance

http://www.pcusa.org/pda/response/latinamerica/haiti-earthquake-faq.htm

Samaritan's Purse

http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/articles/responding_to_haiti_earthquake/

In God's grace,

Robert

Christian Education Opportunities for all ages

2009-10-01T07:28:00.000-07:00

OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN

Sunday mornings: 9:30 am: three classes by age group

3-4 year olds: Mark & Melissa Katibah, Lara Dolinger, Angela Hinton
God Loves Me is a collection of simple storybooks that share the truths of the Bible with even the youngest learners. They will be introduced to Bible concepts and have the opportunity interact with one another, the teachers, and their environment to learn together. The ultimate goal of this curriculum is simply to show children that God loves them!

K-2nd grade: Robin Orr & Susan Slade
Walk with Me is a curriculum that teaches children knowledge about the Bible, how to have a living and active faith, and challenges them to grow in their walk with Christ at any age. Sunday school will be an interactive time of learning, sharing, singing, playing, and growing together in Christ.

3rd-5th grade: Katie Meeks & Chris Orr
Inductive Bible Study for Kids - our older elementary students learn how to study God's Word for themselves and how to apply it to their everyday lives. These three years before middle school are crucial in preparing them to enter teenage-hood with a solid foundation of both head knowledge and heart knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Wednesday Nights: 6:15 (dinner); 7-8pm: three age groups

Wednesday night BLAST: split into the same age groups as above
Kids will have a BLAST learning about God, how to be in community with one another and how to love and serve the world through Bible Study as well as recreation, singing, drama, and visual arts.

For more information on Children’s Ministries, contact Melissa Baker (children@gspc.net; 704-364-1234).

OPPORTUNITIES FOR TEENS

Sunday mornings: 9:30 am

6th-12th grade: Colossians; 1 & 2 Thessalonians: Joanie Fedor
Studies on the Go – has all the ingredients to help students connect with God and each other as they encounter Scripture. We will briefly talk about the historical background and purpose of each letter and then discuss what we observe about the text and its interpretation as well as talk about questions for application.

Sunday nights: 5-7 pm: middle school youth; 6-8pm: high school youth

Leaders: Joanie Fedor, Cameron Cary, Jason Hargett, Diana Horne, Shannon & Ryan Klar

Middle School Youth Group: a time of fellowship, study, discussion, and prayer together with just middle schoolers. We overlap with the high schoolers for dinner at worship from 6-7 pm.

High School Youth Group: a time of fellowship, study, discussion, and prayer together with just high schoolers. We overlap with the middle schoolers for dinner and worship from 6-7 pm.

Wednesday nights: 6:15 (dinner); 7-8pm (groups)

Leaders: Joanie Fedor, Diana Horne, Yrjo Roovers, Robin Orr, Shannon & Ryan Klar

Small groups by age group & gender: a time to get to talk with other guys or girls of your own age about stuff that matters to you. Each group is led by an adult of the same gender.

The youth group does many other activities throughout the year, including mission trips, retreats, service projects, prayer activities, and special events – contact Joanie Fedor (youth@gspc.net or 704-364-1234) for more information.

All of our Sunday School classes, Bible studies, prayer groups, and small groups exist to prepare you, your child, or your teenager for living for Christ in the real world. We use a variety of learning methods and teaching styles, so there is a fit for every type of learner, and each class or study includes a practical, relevant application to real life – where you are. We believe Christian Education exists not just to fill our minds, but to change our hearts and our lives.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADULTS

Sunday mornings: 9:30 am: three options, by study/topic
(These are the classes for the Fall 2011 semester. We will switch classes and teachers at the end of January for the Spring Semester 2012)

· THE ULTIMATE SERMON: Quay Youngblood
style: lecture/discussion; textual; using a study guide
Revolutionary!! The Sermon on the Mount was just that 2000 years ago! And nothing has changed. It was totally contrary to the religion of that day and totally contrary to today's pervasive culture. What does that mean to us? Explore, learn and change with us!

· LOVE & MARRIAGE: Heather Austell & Graham Meeks
style: study/discussion; topical; custom designed by teachers
Plenty of marriage "experts" will tell you how to achieve a more fulfilling marriage, but what does God say? We'll look at His word and the insights of several Christian authors and speakers. Whether you're single or married, attending alone or with your spouse, doing your part in a dream marriage, or praying for change, we hope you'll join us.

· SEEING GOD’S GRACE IN O.T. LAW: Kathy Larson
style: lecture/discussion; textual; custom designed by teacher
How many times have we heard that the God of the Old Testament is mean or that His Law is strict, contradictory, and unloving? In this class, we will look at the laws of the O.T. and discover how they truly were the grace-giving boundaries of a loving Father/Husband – that God’s Law really is what’s best for us!

Wednesday nights: 6:15 (dinner); 7-8pm (groups): many options

· “Up and Out Small Groups”: all of us!
Join one of our many small groups, which meet in various locations in our neighborhood to "be the church out there in the world." Groups may study a book, discuss movies/headlines, play live music, do acts of service (or something else if you have an idea!)... all in the name of being salt and light to our community.

· Basics of Faith Class: Greg Joines
Geared specifically towards new believers or those wanting to review the basics. If you have friends or loved ones who have questions or want to understand the basics of what Christians believe, recommend this class or bring them to it.

· Book Club: Kathy Larson (Piper Glen); Mark and Melissa Katibah (GSPC)
Two book clubs will begin (two locations noted above) reading Heaven is For Real. It's a gentle pace and discussion is easy and enjoyable. Come join the group in either location.For more information about Adult Christian Education, contact Kathy Larson (kathy@gspc.net; 704-364-1234).

Jesus is Risen!

2009-04-12T01:50:00.000-07:00

Jesus is Risen!!

Have a blessed Easter!

=============

Whether you have recently visited Good Shepherd or plan to in the future, we hope that you experience our church as the loving, warm, Christ-centered family that we believe it to be.

Whatever your stage or place in life, if you are seeking a church where people genuinely love each other and desire to grow closer to God, we encourage you to come again!

We hope you will consider visiting again and joining this ordinary family of people who have been drawn together in an extraordinary way by our loving and gracious God.

Welcome to the Good Shepherd Website!

2009-03-31T03:18:00.000-07:00

Whether you have recently visited Good Shepherd or plan to in the future, we hope that you experience our church as the loving, warm, Christ-centered family that we believe it to be.

Whatever your stage or place in life, if you are seeking a church where people genuinely love each other and desire to grow closer to God, we encourage you to come again!

We hope you will consider visiting again and joining this ordinary family of people who have been drawn together in an extraordinary way by our loving and gracious God.

Upcoming Events - Holy Week/Easter

Palm Sunday(4/5) - morning services (8:30, 11:00am) and Choir Program (7pm)

Maundy Thursday (4/9) - communion service, 7pm

Good Friday (4/10) - "Journey to the Cross" individual guided devotional, noon-8pm

Easter Sunday (4/12) - sunrise service, 6:30am (casual); breakfast; morning services (8:30, 11:00am)

GSPC News: Week of March 22, 2009

2009-03-21T06:24:00.000-07:00

Sunday Services (March 22): Pastor Robert continues in James 2:14-26.

Wednesday Night (March 25): Pastor Robert is teaching on "How to Read/Study the Psalms"

Saturday Morning (March 28): all-church workday from 9am - 1pm

--------------

Read the pastor's blog about Girl Scout Sunday and Larry Wilson's memorial service last weekend.!

GSPC: prayer and news (Mar 14, 2009)

2009-03-14T07:57:00.001-07:00

Larry Wilson went to be with the Lord last night (Friday, March 13) about 10:30pm. Please keep his family in prayer. Read the obituary HERE.

The memorial service will be at Good Shepherd on Monday, March 16, at 4:00 p.m.

-------------------------

Worship on Sunday, March 15, will be full of children and youth! The children's choir is singing in worship and two girl scout troops hosted at Good Shepherd will help lead in worship. We are continuing a series on James and will be looking at James 2:1-13.

If you are visiting our website, please look around the links in the header of each page. Or feel free to contact Pastor Robert at robert@gspc.net

OUT AND ABOUT: gspc on the road

2009-03-07T19:43:00.000-08:00

Maddie and Robert are part of a team that went to Spartanburg, SC, for the weekend of March 5-8 to participate in a congregational renewal event at Second Presbyterian Church. Here is a video clip of Maddie speaking and sharing her song called "Life." See more at youtube.

WEATHER NEWS: Sunday-Tuesday, March 1-3, 2009

2009-03-01T11:44:00.000-08:00

Please check back for updates... and, whatever program is happening or not, use your own best judgment in traveling from your location to/from church!

Sunday: Drama, 3-5pm - is ON
Sunday: Line Dancing - CANCELLED
Sunday: Youth Group, 5:30-8:30 - CANCELLED

Monday: Church Office: CLOSED
Monday: Preschool: will follow CMS closings

Tuesday: Men's Prayer Meeting: ON
Tuesday: Church Office: OPEN

GSPC News: February 11, 2009

2009-02-10T15:57:00.000-08:00

The weather is warm - a good time to get out and walk, ride a bike, and enjoy God's creation!

Nonetheless, the youth are going skiing this weekend (Feb. 14-15) and having Cafe Cafe on Friday, the 20th.

I wrote in the Voice about the "Love Won Out" Conference at Central Church of God and hope that some from Good Shepherd will be able to attend.

We are wrapping up our series on worship and getting ready for Lent to begin with our Ash Wednesday service on Feb. 25.

If your kids want a fun night out (or mom or dad do, too), be sure to come out and support the youth mission trip babysitting fundraiser on Saturday, Feb. 28 from 5-10pm. Childcare is free, but donations for the mission trip are welcome!

WEATHER CLOSING: Wednesday, February 4, 2009

2009-02-04T11:36:00.000-08:00

Dear family and friends,

Good Shepherd will be closed for ALL Wednesday evening activities tonight, February 4, 2009

Yes - we could probably all make it and be fine - the roads around the church are clear where there is sunshine; but there is still standing water and some ice in the shade (the high is only about 35 degrees), particularly on the hill on Rea Road. And word is that by late afternoon on into the evening, it will get well below freezing.

I hope you will have some good extra family time, or maybe some personal time of prayer and study. In some way, please pause to thank God for His grace in our lives. I will look forward to seeing you again soon!

In Christ,

Robert

GSPC News: New Year's 2009

2009-01-02T09:22:00.000-08:00

I thought I'd re-post some of my cover article from the January 2009 Voice...

2009 is upon us! I look forward to the upcoming year with you in the life and ministry of Good Shepherd. I am excited as I have ever been about what God is doing in and through the family gathered together at Good Shepherd. Even as God has drawn us closer together in worship, fellowship, and study of His Word, He has increasingly been prodding us to get up and get out into our neighborhood and world to participate in His own mission to seek and save the lost. What a privilege it is to serve as your pastor in this high calling!

As we head into this New Year, I have some inklings of what God is setting before us. We are being called on to influence, impact, and instruct other Presbyterian churches in our region. We are being asked to share expertise, creativity, testimony, and experience with other Christians and neighbors. These invitations and opportunities manifest as mission trips, lay renewals, conferences, and carrying our ministries beyond the walls of our church. Joanie is up and running full steam with the youth group and we have youth showing up in droves – members, friends, and some visitors from the nearby neighborhoods. The preschool is thriving and we have more and more young children and babies! Smaller groups are meeting for prayer, mutual support and accountability, fellowship, and instruction. Primetimers are getting new recruits and enjoying rich fellowship.

And there is much more that I trust God will lead us to when His timing is right. There is interest in establishing a men’s ministry – starting with regular opportunities for fellowship and encouragement. More and more people are offering their talents and interests to see what God might do with them. In 2009, after seven years of ministry here, the Session is offering me a sabbatical, for rest, renewal, and an opportunity to offer myself to God in ways that I have longed to do for some time. That extended period away will also mean drawing on the congregation in new ways for leadership, ministry, and mission.

Scripture continues to convict me of this truth: YOU are the church. And I believe God continues to invite us to an extraordinary ministry in our neighborhood, community, and world. God has a ministry and mission for each of you! If we keep growing and stretching in obedience to God’s Word and Spirit, I think we ain’t seen nothin’ yet!

In Christ,

Robert

==============
Hello all! We have been working behind the scenes to move our website content to this new blog format. If you are reading this, then you have followed www.gspc.net to this new site. Please take a moment to look around via the left-side menus. You can return to this home page and the newest "GSPC News" by clicking on the main "Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church" header.

I'd welcome your feedback on this format. You can e-mail me at robert@gspc.net or leave a comment at the bottom of this entry.

Some of the features of a blog are the ability to "subscribe" to the content, so that new information is sent to YOU via e-mail or a blog reader like Google Reader. It is also easy to interact with readers via the comments. We have designed this site as a kind of hybrid website/blog, so that fixed information about our programs is available through the left-hand menus and updated information will be posted here on GSPC News. Other major ministries, like the preschool and creative arts (and sermons and the pastor's blog), will run their own parallel blogs, which you can subscribe to separately.

If you'd like further information on subscribing or on how to interact with this blog, please e-mail me.

GSPC News: Christmas, 2008

2008-12-18T20:30:00.000-08:00

Singing e-card from the GSPC Carolers
{click to view/hear}

The church and preschool family was saddened this morning to hear that our dear friend and sister, Judy Plough, went home to be with the Lord. We rejoice that she is no longer suffering and that she has been reunited with Jesus and with her husband, but we will miss Judy greatly! A memorial service is planned for Saturday, December 27, with the time to be announced. I will update here as soon as that time is set.

In the midst of thinking about Judy and her family, we find ourselves between a glorious weekend past, focusing on forgiveness in worship and through the Christmas play - and a glorious Christmas Eve and Christmas to come, celebrating the birth and incarnation of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

The play was outstanding, not only for the message, content, and superlative acting, but also as a "lighthouse" event that drew over 130 guests! I thrill at all the ways the hopeful news of Jesus Christ is proclaimed and lived out through our creative arts and music ministries!

In Christ,

Robert

==============
Hello all! We have been working behind the scenes to move our website content to this new blog format. If you are reading this, then you have followed www.gspc.net to this new site. Please take a moment to look around via the left-side menus. You can return to this home page and the newest "GSPC News" by clicking on the main "Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church" header.

I'd welcome your feedback on this format. You can e-mail me at robert@gspc.net or leave a comment at the bottom of this entry.

Some of the features of a blog are the ability to "subscribe" to the content, so that new information is sent to YOU via e-mail or a blog reader like Google Reader. It is also easy to interact with readers via the comments. We have designed this site as a kind of hybrid website/blog, so that fixed information about our programs is available through the left-hand menus and updated information will be posted here on GSPC News. Other major ministries, like the preschool and creative arts (and sermons and the pastor's blog), will run their own parallel blogs, which you can subscribe to separately.

If you'd like further information on subscribing or on how to interact with this blog, please e-mail me.

singing e-card from the gspc family

2008-12-18T13:46:00.000-08:00

[There is a button to make this video full-screen...2nd from bottom right corner of video... or clicking in the middle will take you to the youtube site where it can be viewed in hi-def.]

This was shared with me from a member of the Good Shepherd family... please read the story below while you enjoy the singing.

There were times when we were young that we did not have much. Most of our household food was grown, caught or killed by one of our household or a close family member. We bought very little from the store, not because we wanted to be self-sufficient, but because we could not afford it. We were city kids who, out of necessity, had to learn to work as a farming family would.

One Christmas, shortly after my parents divorced, it was particularly hard financially. I was in my early years of elementary school, my older brother was a typical teenage boy would couldn't get enough to eat, and my older sister was a typical teenaged girl who wanted so much to have the latest fashions and hairstyles, not to mention contact lenses. I can clearly remember one day that I came home from school to look for a snack and there was literally nothing but cracker crumbs in our pantry.

That Christmas we had nothing - no presents, no big holiday meal, no fancy decorations, not even a tree. Well, we sort of had a tree. We took one of those old wraps of tinsel they used to sell that was shiny green and taped it to the front window of our home in the shape of a tree, like a cookie cut-out. Each day the condensation on the window would cause it to fall. The first things we would do after school was turn on the furnace and then re-tape the tree to the window before Mom came home from work.

We did have one present that year. We had one wonderful gift, the greatest gift we have ever received from one another. That Christmas we spent our time together without any outside distractions. And that gift has not gone out of style, been misplaced, broken, nor run out to this day.

In the past year (2008) my family has had to shut down their mortgage brokerage which has been successfully operating for almost 10 years. I was the only family member NOT working there. Some have lost more than others. One of my siblings had such a hard time after the brokerage went under that they have lost literally everything; they even had to foreclose on their house. My husband has been laid off from his job as well. While not as extreme, this Christmas will be very different than we have become accustomed to.

While together at Thanksgiving last month, we siblings were talking about how tight things have been this year and that we expect it will continue to be. We are all concerned for our children who comparatively have been so spoiled. It made us incredibly grateful for the experiences that we had growing up without much. We know how to go without, how to shop the sales, with coupons, how to make a pound of beef last three meals, how to mend and fix old things instead of throwing them out and how to be content with out new things.

Without even having to be asked, we all agreed, as we have many times before, that the Christmas over 25 years ago that we didn't even have a real tree was by far the best Christmas we have ever had as a family.

My prayer is that each of you, where ever your financial situation finds you this year or in the years to come, will remember that time spent just being together truly is the best gift we can give one another each holiday season.

GSPC News: Advent, 2008

2008-12-08T20:41:00.000-08:00

This past Sunday we were blessed with an amazing time of worship with the Christmas cantata. The adult and children's choirs and the handbell choir blessed us with the joyful news that God comes to us in Jesus Christ.

You can hear audio from that service on the sermon blog HERE.

This coming weekend is the Christmas play: "Christmas with the Groovy Girl Sisterhood." Shows are Saturday (12/13) at 4pm and Sunday (12/14) at 4pm. Don't miss it!

In case you didn't see the "welcome to the new website" note last week, I am copying it below. There are several ways to "follow" this news update, in addition to check back regularly for new features. When static pages are updated, I'll be sure to put a notice in this news feed (with links) so you can be aware of those changes.

We are also in the process of getting pictures and other design elements installed throughout the website. Thanks for your patience!

In Christ,

Robert

==============
Hello all! We have been working behind the scenes to move our website content to this new blog format. If you are reading this, then you have followed www.gspc.net to this new site. Please take a moment to look around via the left-side menus. You can return to this home page and the newest "GSPC News" by clicking on the main "Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church" header.

I'd welcome your feedback on this format. You can e-mail me at robert@gspc.net or leave a comment at the bottom of this entry.

Some of the features of a blog are the ability to "subscribe" to the content, so that new information is sent to YOU via e-mail or a blog reader like Google Reader. It is also easy to interact with readers via the comments. We have designed this site as a kind of hybrid website/blog, so that fixed information about our programs is available through the left-hand menus and updated information will be posted here on GSPC News. Other major ministries, like the preschool and creative arts (and sermons and the pastor's blog), will run their own parallel blogs, which you can subscribe to separately.

If you'd like further information on subscribing or on how to interact with this blog, please e-mail me.

GSPC News: Thanksgiving, 2008

2008-11-27T17:50:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope everyone had an opportunity to gather with family or friends, and to offer thanks to God for blessings in our lives. I am mindful of some who were in the hospital - I spoke briefly to Judy today and was glad to hear that son, Gregg, and Sonnie Wright were there with her. She continues to cherish your prayers.

In case you didn't see the "welcome to the new website" note last week, I am copying it below. There are several ways to "follow" this news update, in addition to check back regularly for new features. When static pages are updated, I'll be sure to put a notice in this news feed (with links) so you can be aware of those changes.

I look forward to seeing you all this Sunday for the beginning of Advent.

In Christ,

Robert

==============
Hello all! We have been working behind the scenes to move our website content to this new blog format. If you are reading this, then you have followed www.gspc.net to this new site. Please take a moment to look around via the left-side menus. You can return to this home page and the newest "GSPC News" by clicking on the main "Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church" header.

I'd welcome your feedback on this format. You can e-mail me at robert@gspc.net or leave a comment at the bottom of this entry.

Some of the features of a blog are the ability to "subscribe" to the content, so that new information is sent to YOU via e-mail or a blog reader like Google Reader. It is also easy to interact with readers via the comments. We have designed this site as a kind of hybrid website/blog, so that fixed information about our programs is available through the left-hand menus and updated information will be posted here on GSPC News. Other major ministries, like the preschool and creative arts (and sermons and the pastor's blog), will run their own parallel blogs, which you can subscribe to separately.

If you'd like further information on subscribing or on how to interact with this blog, please e-mail me.

GSPC News: New Site Up

2008-11-24T13:14:00.000-08:00

Hello all! We have been working behind the scenes to move our website content to this new blog format. If you are reading this, then you have followed www.gspc.net to this new site. Please take a moment to look around via the left-side menus. You can return to this home page and the newest "GSPC News" by clicking on the main "Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church" header.

I'd welcome your feedback on this format. You can e-mail me at robert@gspc.net or leave a comment at the bottom of this entry.

Some of the features of a blog are the ability to "subscribe" to the content, so that new information is sent to YOU via e-mail or a blog reader like Google Reader. It is also easy to interact with readers via the comments. We have designed this site as a kind of hybrid website/blog, so that fixed information about our programs is available through the left-hand menus and updated information will be posted here on GSPC News. Other major ministries, like the preschool and creative arts (and sermons and the pastor's blog), will run their own parallel blogs, which you can subscribe to separately.

If you'd like further information on subscribing or on how to interact with this blog, please e-mail me.

In Christ,

Robert

GSPC News

2008-11-09T15:14:00.000-08:00

The friends of Timothy charity golf tournament is tomorrow. I'll be there taking pictures.

The Session and ministry teams meet this Tuesday night and will be working on the 2009 budget.

This month in church the sermons are on the challenges we face: discouragement, doubt, etc... It seemed a timely topic.

The e-Voice is up and running and seemed to go over without any major glitches. This site is still in test mode, but I'm hoping to move forward this week to make it the main site.

GSPC News

2008-10-25T08:29:00.000-07:00

It's a quiet weekend... some of the youth guys are playing in a charity concert at Harrison UMC tonight (Sat.).

Tomorrow I'm finishing the sermon series on discipleship. Bill Katibah will be preaching next Sunday (Nov. 2).

We're moving to our first electronic distribution of the Voice. If you're not on the distribution list, you can subscribe yourself by sending an e-mail from the address to be added to the following address: gspcvoice+subscribe@googlegroups.com

You may also subscribe to the RSS feed for this blog and receive these news updates in your feed reader. We'll also soon be adding a feature to receive these updates via e-mail.

Your feedback is welcomed (use the comment section and Robert will see them).

In Christ,

Pastor Robert

nursery

2007-05-01T17:36:00.000-07:00

The Good Shepherd nursery is staffed by qualified and responsible paid staff on Sundays and Wednesdays during church programs, and is supplemented with church volunteers. Our nursery staff are consistent, know the children and parents by name, and care for the littlest ones of the flock under their care.

We currently have two nursery rooms - one for infants, crawlers, and early toddlers, and one for toddlers and walkers. Parents are easily accessible with the sanctuary doors only 50 ft. away from the nursery.

If you have any specific questions about the Good Shepherd nursery, please feel free to contact Melissa Baker, the director of children's ministries, at 704-362-2319 or by e-mail at children@gspc.net

worship philosophy

2007-05-01T17:34:00.000-07:00

STYLE
The style of worship at Good Shepherd is an intentional blend of ancient, traditional, and modern forms of liturgy, prayer, music, and communication. Our starting point for planning each service is God’s Word, the Bible. Each week we seek to provide effective and numerous ways for worshipers to gather around, hear and respond, and go forth into the world with the good and hopeful Word of God in scripture. We also intentionally gather as a family of believers of many ages and backgrounds, and so use all the means at our disposal to invite each worshiper into the presence of God. It is our hope that each person present will not only worship God in Spirit and truth, but also in community. It is a joy and a privilege to worship God together!

DRESS

People's attire for Sunday morning worship varies pretty widely, from casual to suits, but the "median" is probably what you might wear out to a medium-priced restaurant for dinner. Pastor Robert preaches in a shirt and tie.

*The early worship service is the same style/content as the 11:00 am worship service.

directions

2007-05-01T17:31:00.000-07:00

Good Shepherd is located at 3307 Rea Road, Charlotte, NC 28226.

You can find us on Google Maps HERE

Or, follow these directions:

From I-485: two options
- Take the Rea Road exit (#59); go North on Rea Road 4.0 miles, watching for a right turn around mile 3 (Moravian church on left, Caribou Coffee far right); going straight would become Colony Road. Church is on right; turn right on Swan's Run to reach parking lot.
- Take the Providence Road exit (#52); go North on Providence Rd., passing Hwy. 51/Arboretum intersection; Left at next light on Rea Road; Church is on left; turn left on Swan's Run to reach parking lot.

From Uptown:
- Head South (out of town) on Providence Road, noting the left turn at Queens/Queens/Providence/Providence
- From that intersection, go approx. 6.2 miles and turn RIGHT on Rea Road
- Church is on left; turn left on Swan's Run to reach parking lot.

neighborhood churches

2007-04-01T15:33:00.000-07:00

Good Shepherd shares a common vision for ministry with our neighborhood churches. We are partner churches with the following and commend their ministries, pastors, and congregations to all in the Rea Rd. area neighborhoods and the broader South Charlotte community.

Each year (for almost 20 years!) the neighborhood churches have worshiped together at Thanksgiving. More recently, we are working together to share in local mission, exchange preachers and choirs periodically, and encourage each other in ministry.

Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church - Robert Austell, pastor
3307 Rea Road, Charlotte, NC 28226 704-364-1234

Candlewyck Baptist Church - Allen Schuyler, pastor
7200 Providence Road, Charlotte, NC 28226 704-366-2310

Wesley United Methodist Church - Jae Lee, pastor
3715 Rea Road, Charlotte, NC 28226 704-542-1122

Matthews-Murkland Presbyterian Church - Albert Moses, pastor
7001 Old Providence Road, Charlotte, NC 28226 704-365-5032

Peace Moravian Church - Jim Doss, pastor
4418 Rea Road, Charlotte, NC 28226 704-759-9939

pcusa links and resources

2007-04-01T15:32:00.000-07:00

Presbyterian Church Governing Bodies

PC(USA) Official Web site A wealth of information about the PC(USA) denomination and its entities, plus links to related denominations in other countries and to ecumenical bodies in which it participates (NCC, WCC, WARC etc.). We monitor the individual pages of this site and inform you about important updates.
Presbytery of Charlotte The local governing body for PCUSA churches in Charlotte and the surrounding counties.

Presbyterian Church Resource Links

Book of Confessions - The first part of the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), containing the confessional documents of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Book of Order - The second part of the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), containing the principles of governance, worship, and discipline of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Confessing Church Movement (CCM) A movement of churches and groups that have reaffirmed 1. That Jesus Christ alone is Lord of all and the way of salvation. 2. That holy Scripture is the Triune God's revealed Word, the Church's only infallible rule of faith and life. 3. That God's people are called to holiness in all aspects of life. This includes honoring the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman, the only relationship within which sexual activity is appropriate. The movement started in March 2001. This site contains much of the general news about CCM
Constitutional Presbyterians "The ad hoc group of ministers and elders who appealed to Presbyteriansto stay together and seek a unified response should the 217th General Assembly approve the report of the Theological Task Force on Peace, Unity and Purity of the Church, promised to suggest paths of further action in such a case. That approval has now happened..."
Knox Fellowship "...a nationwide network of active, professionally skilled Presbyterian ministers and laypersons who have accepted a call to assist churches like yours in outreach and growth!"
Medical Benevolence Foundation (MBF) - in Partnership with the PC(USA). "We're a group of dedicated Presbyterians throughout the U.S. who are committed to providing medical support for people in remote areas throughout the world." MBF is a validated support group of the PC(USA).
Network of Presbyterian Women in Leadership "We are a ministry committed to serving and equipping women in the PC(USA). We want to help connect you with like-minded women as you serve the Lord where you live - in your church, in your home, at work and in your community." This is a ministry of Presbyterians For Renewal.
New Wineskins Association of Churches (NWAC) "The vision of the New Wineskins Initiative is that our life together as presbyterians would be characterized by theological and ethical integrity, missional faithfulness, and structural effectiveness. This vision has as its major components a newly drafted reformed statement of faith essentials and of ethical imperatives, as well as a streamlined missional/relational structure which, while true to our presbyterian heritage, will allow us to be more effective and faithful in our kingdom mission in this world."
One by One "...mission: To educate and equip the Church to minister the transforming grace and power of the Lord Jesus Christ to those who are in conflict with their sexuality."
Outreach Foundation "...a Validated Missions Support Group of the Presbyterian Church (USA). For many years it has been instrumental in the revival of an emphasis on evangelism and missions within congregations of our denomination."
Presbyterian Coalition "A movement of people committed to life and transformation in the Presbyterian Church (USA) - Exalting Jesus Christ - Energizing Congregations - Upholding historic biblical leadership standards."
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance "...enables congregations and mission partners of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to witness the healing love of Christ through caring for communities adversely affected by crisis and catastrophic events... is one of the three programs supported by the One Great Hour of Sharing offering. Additional support is generated by special gifts for specific crises..."
Presbyterian Frontier Fellowship "Your Connection to Planting The Church among The Unreached Peoples of the World." A Validated Ministry Support Group of the PC(USA).
Presbyterian Global Fellowship "A new fellowship of Presbyterians is emerging…. “We believe Christ is calling us to recommit ourselves to our missional calling, to the authority of Holy Scripture, and to the faithful summaries of biblical teaching found in our church’s confessions. We believe Christ is calling us, as covenantal people, to find new ways of building relationships with each other. And we believe Christ is calling us to move beyond confidence in our own capacity to a fresh openness to the witness of the global church. It is time to gather anew around God’s mission to the world.”
Presbyterian Layman "The Layman is published by the Presbyterian Lay Committee, a non-profit, tax-exempt organization of Presbyterians reporting and interpreting the work of the Presbyterian Church USA and the larger church.
Presbyterian-Reformed Ministries International (PRMI) (name used to be PRRMI) "...a growing worldwide fellowship of Christians from the Presbyterian and Reformed churches. We are committed to spiritual renewal and to doing the work of Jesus Christ in the gifts and power of the Holy Spirit."
Presbyterians for Renewal "Our Mission: As followers of Jesus Christ, seeking to conform our lives and beliefs to the Word of God, our mission is to participate in God’s renewing, transforming work in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)."
Presbyterians Pro-Life "Presbyterians Pro-Life seeks to be a prophetic witness to the Presbyterian Church (USA) upholding the sacred value of human life and the family."
Theology Matters Quarterly Presbyterian theological journal, published by Faith, Family and Ministry. "We are a group of Presbyterian women and men, clergy and laity who believe that Theology Matters-- what we believe has consequences for our family and our ministry." All articles of all issues posted, from its beginning in 1995.
Voices of Orthodox Women "Vow is a nationwide network of women committed to the renewal of women's ministries in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) through the promotion of the doctrines and practices of historic biblical and confessional orthodoxy against those of an encroaching culture."

ministry opportunities

2007-04-01T15:18:00.002-07:00

Not only do opportunities for personal ministry aboud at Good Shepherd, we believe that God's desire is for every member (and visitor!) to have a personal ministry and mission. We also believe that God's gifting and calling are as unique and varied as are His children. So, we are glad to help you plug into an existing ministry or pursue a vision for ministry that God has given you. The Church exists to call people together to worship God and equip them to serve Him.

Some existing ministries (to name a few):

Clothing collection and delivery to Crisis Assistance
Food Pantry
Habitat for Humanity
Multiple music ministries (including programs at nursing homes and Uptown Men's Shelter/Rebound)
Drama ministry
Lay Renewal outreach (non-clergy sharing of what God has done in contexts outside our church)
COME VISIT TO FIND OUT MANY MORE!

Some ministries started by members/visitors with a "vision" for new ministry:

Community drama, community children's choir, choral festival
Singer/songwriter night - coffeehouse format
The "Art Wall" - members creating original art connected with upcoming sermon texts and themes
Ballfield ministry - Old Providence baseball league; church softball league
Tutoring/mentoring at Old Providence Elementary (our neighborhood public elementary school)
Programs to Carriage Club (neighborhood nursing home Alzheimer's unit) and Rebound (Uptown Men's Shelter rehab program)
Worship Team "on the road" - music/worship programs in other churches
COME SHARE YOUR VISION!

Sign me up! E-mail robert@gspc.net

christian resources

2007-04-01T15:18:00.001-07:00

On this pull-down menu, find links to Christian resources and our church library (soon to be accessible via Internet).

PCUSA Links and Resources

Neighborhood Churches

Library Resources - This links to our church library catalog, making it possible for you to determine if the church has a book for which you are looking.

[Note: Click "Library Resources above for the link." You can access the library from a mobile phone or device using this address: http://connect.collectorz.com/m/users/GSPC/books/view]

blogs

2007-04-01T15:18:00.000-07:00

lighthouse/searchlight church
pastor robert's blog

gspc sermon blog
sermons at good shepherd

christian education blog
sunday school and other class support resources

video

2007-04-01T15:17:00.000-07:00

Link to YouTube Channel: HERE

...or watch below...

current and upcoming events

2007-04-01T15:12:00.000-07:00

Newsletter - February 2012

For copies of old newsletters, please contact the church office at 704-364-1234 or gspc@gspc.net.

Volunteer Schedule - see last page of newsletter for a given month's schedule

from the welcome team

2007-03-31T13:32:00.000-07:00

Whether you have recently visited Good Shepherd or plan to in the future, we hope that you experience our church as the loving, warm, Christ-centered family that we believe it to be.

Whatever your stage or place in life, if you are seeking a church where people genuinely love each other and desire to grow closer to God, we encourage you to come again!

We hope you will consider visiting again and joining this ordinary family of people who have been drawn together in an extraordinary way by our loving and gracious God.

local missions

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The list below is a list of the missions and ministries we supported in the past year...

Youth Missions: sponsor yearly mission trips in and out of country for middle and high school youth

Adult Missions: sponsored a family mission trip to the gulf coast for post-Katrina repair

Local Missions

Allegro Foundation
Alzheimer's Association
American Red Cross
Charlotte Emergency Housing
Charlotte Pregnancy Care Center
Children's Cross Connection
Crisis Assistance of Charlotte
Five Cents a Meal (local PCUSA hunger offering)
Florence Crittendon Services
Friendship Trays
Hospice at Charlotte
InterVarsity Christian Fellowship: local staff support
Love Inc.
Salvation Army of Charlotte
Salvation Army Women's Shelter
Shelter for Battered Women
The Gideons International
Friends of Timothy (deacon's fund for local ministries of mercy)
Uptown Day Shelter
White Gift (Christmas gifts for local families in need)

Foreign Missions

CAM International: Phillip and Arleen Blycker (Mexico)
Faith Ministries
Francisco Gross
Medical Benevolence (PCUSA): Dan and Elizabeth Turk (Madagascar)
Mission to the World: Mary Lee Friese - ministry to deaf (Chile)
OC Int'l: Hector & Patty Pivaral (Guatemala)
OMF International: DH (overseas Asian ministry)
Packages for Troops in Iraq
Presbyterian Frontier Fellowship
Wycliffe: Brian & Bea Post (support)
Wycliffe/JAARS: Dan & Louise Sheyda (support, Waxhaw, NC)
Wycliffe/JAARS: Lloyd & Pam Goss (support, Waxhaw, NC)
Wycliffe/JAARS: Scott & Mary Ann Nelson (support, Waxhaw, NC)
Wycliffe: Sean and Lezlie Allison (Cameroon)
Young Life: Jim & Sarah Hornsby (Nicaragua)
Youth with a Mission (YWAM): Jason and Tiffany Hinton (Nicaragua)

Denominational Support and Renewal

Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary: scholarship
One by One
Presbyterian Lay Committee
Presbyterian-Reformed Ministries International
Presbyterians for Renewal
Presbytery of Charlotte
Reformed Theological Seminary, Charlotte: GSPC student support

Special Offerings

Daily Bread
Loaves & Fishes
One Great Hour of Sharing - PCUSA hunger offering
Samaritan's Purse
Second Harvest Food Bank/Urban Ministries - Souper Bowl of Caring
Thanksgiving Baskets (food for local families in need)
White Gift - Christmas offering for needy families

martha ministries

2007-03-01T15:05:00.000-08:00

The Martha Ministries are our food and presence ministry for those in need, particularly within the congregation. In the event of a death, birth, hospital stay, or other significant life-event, the Martha Ministries provides food and care for family members.

The Pastor and Deacons initiate follow-up with the Martha Ministries, but if you have a need for meals due to one of these events, don't hesitate to call the church office and let us know.

If you would like to be on the list to cook for the Martha Ministries, please let the church office know (704-364-1234 or gspc@gspc.net).

deacons

2007-03-01T15:02:00.000-08:00

The office of deacon as set forth in Scripture is one of sympathy, witness, and service after the example of Jesus Christ. Persons of spiritual character, honest repute, of exemplary lives, brotherly and sisterly love, warm sympathies, and sound judgment should be chosen for this office. It is the duty of deacons, first of all, to minister to those who are in need, to the sick, to the friendless and to any who may be in distress both within and beyond the community of faith.

At Good Shepherd, the Deacons lead our mercy ministries to the congregation and to the community. These ministries involve regular contact with our members, financial and spiritual counseling to members and neighbors in need, and involvement with needs in the neighborhood.

If you need to speak to a Deacon, please call the church office for a phone number or call a Deacon directly if you have their number.

Click HERE for a list of the current Deacons.

recreation

2007-02-01T14:58:00.000-08:00

The Good Shepherd family loves to play together! The list below describes just a few of the ways...

Fellowship Nights
The Congregational Life ministry team takes their ministry seriously! They not only provide excellent food and drink for special church progams, they also need no other occasion than fellowship. Look for special celebrations with the church family throughout the year. Past events include: Fiesta Night, Ice Cream Social, Chili Cook-Off, Fall Festival, ...

Men's Softball
In the Spring, the softball team warms up for play in a church league with about ten other churches. The play is friendly and fun. Good Shepherd is known for excellent crowd participation, with families and kids packing the lawn, as well as other members of the church family who come to cheer the team on and enjoy the great fellowship. Expertise is not a prerequisite - come join us!

fellowship

2007-02-01T14:56:00.000-08:00

Read below about a number of fellowship events and then fellowship groups at Good Shepherd.

We also have a number of groups at Good Shepherd that gather regularly for food, fun, and fellowship. They are mostly organized by life-stage, but each group is quite flexible in terms of where you "fit" best. These groups are a great way to get to know the Good Shepherd family, so please come be a part!

20/30 Vision
The "twenty and thirty somethings" of the church meet once a month on the first Thursday to discuss a theological reading, to eat, and to play games. Have babies?... bring them along! Each meeting is in a different home, so call the church office (704-364-1234) to find out where the next meeting will be. You can also find many of this age group on the front 2-3 rows of the church each Sunday!

ACTS
This is the most loosely defined life-stage group, pretty much catching everyone who fits between 20/30 and Primetimers. The group originally formed from parents whose kids had gone to college or otherwise left home, but 40-somethings with younger kids love hanging out with these folks for all the help we can collectively get with the teenage years! The ACTS group loves to eat, have game night, and go to sporting events. Check the church newsletter or call the church office for the next event.

Primetimers
This is the older adult (55+) ministry at Good Shepherd. This energetic group meets for lunch (sometimes at the church, sometimes out) following the worship service on the third Sunday of each month. The Primetimers also meet for fun and other enriching activities during the year and have a regular newsletter. Call the church office to get connected to the Primetimers.

Presbyterian Women
The women of the church meet periodically for fellowship, service, special offerings, and special events. Please contact Jane Chiseck (704-366-9753) for more information.

music

2007-02-01T14:52:00.000-08:00

philosophy of worship

The style of worship at Good Shepherd is an intentional blend of ancient, traditional, and modern forms of liturgy, prayer, music, and communication. Our starting point for planning each service is God’s Word, the Bible. Each week we seek to provide effective and numerous ways for worshipers to gather around, hear and respond, and go forth into the world with the good and hopeful Word of God in scripture. We also intentionally gather as a family of believers of many ages and backgrounds, and so use all the means at our disposal to invite each worshiper into the presence of God. It is our hope that each person present will not only worship God in Spirit and truth, but also in community. It is a joy and a privilege to worship God together!

our worship & music focus

Part of the mission of Good Shepherd is to worship God joyfully. It is in that God-focused spirit that our musical ministry aims to offer Him as beautiful an offering of worship as we are able, humbly acknowledging His greatness, and loving Him with heart, soul, mind and strength. Though we strive for excellence, we do so, not to “perform for” or to please the congregation, but rather to honor God and to lead His people in offering their praises, too.

We also aim to follow Christ’s call to be outward-focused, reaching out to each other and to our neighbors and community through music, sharing Christ’s love, truth and hope. Some current opportunities for musical outreach are: community choral concerts, neighborhood Christmas caroling, and bringing Word and music to residents of area nursing homes, hospital patients and inner city rehabilitation centers.

Recognizing our constant need of God, our worship and music ministries seek to maintain an attitude of prayer, that our hearts and lives be pleasing to God, our true act of worship.

MUSICAL GROUPS

choir

The Good Shepherd choir is an adult mixed choir which provides anthems and service music nearly every Sunday (with a break during the summer), and two major works per year, at Christmas and Easter. Weekly rehearsals are held on Wednesday evenings from 8:00 to 9:30 p.m. in the choir room. Some musical skills are necessary, such as the ability to sing in tune and to harmonize; the ability to read music is also helpful, though not required. New members are always warmly received into the “choir family” – no audition is necessary.

worship team

The Worship Team leads the contemporary element of our worship services. Two rotating teams of instruments and voices are active year-round, in what can be described as a mostly acoustic worship style, including guitars, piano, bass, percussion, keyboard, and occasionally mandolin, flute or recorder. It is helpful for vocalists to be able to harmonize by ear. Rehearsals are twice monthly, on Sunday afternoons from 3:30 – 5:30 p.m. in the sanctuary. The Worship Team will lead occasional special worship events, both at Good Shepherd and at other locations, and has become a “teaching tool” for churches seeking to incorporate contemporary music into their worship.

handbells

Handbells are used in a variety of ways at Good Shepherd:

The Carillon Ringers – children and youth (grades 4-12) rehearse and play seasonally on Wednesdays from 5:30 – 6:15 PM in the worship expansion area.

Deo Gloria Ringers – an adult ensemble of 2-5 ringers. This group convenes upon demand.

Alumni Handbell Choir – Adults who have rung at Good Shepherd at some time in the past return annually to ring for the Christmas Eve Candlelight service.

Weekly Bell Peals – Brief bell peals are rung ahead of the prelude at each 11:00 AM worship service, involving anywhere from 1-5 ringers.

children’s choirs

The Covenant Choir (Grades K-5), led by Jim Terrell, meets on Wednesday evenings at 6:45 PM as part of the BLAST children’s ministry. The children will sing in church once every 6-8 weeks.

instrumental music

Psalm 150 speaks of a variety of musical instruments used to praise God. We like to use a variety of instruments at Good Shepherd, both from within the congregation and hired professionals. If you are new to Good Shepherd and play an instrument that you would like to offer in worship, please speak to our Director of Music Ministries.

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Psalm 150:6

For more information, or to discuss how you might fit into one of the music ministries of Good Shepherd, please contact:

Catherine Youngblood
Director of Music Ministries
music@gspc.net
(704)364-1234

adults: GSPC Christian Education

2007-02-01T14:45:00.000-08:00

OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADULTS

Sunday mornings: 9:30 am: three options, by study/topic
(These are the classes for the Fall 2011 semester. We will switch classes and teachers at the end of January for the Spring Semester 2012)

· THE ULTIMATE SERMON: Quay Youngblood
style: lecture/discussion; textual; using a study guide
Revolutionary!! The Sermon on the Mount was just that 2000 years ago! And nothing has changed. It was totally contrary to the religion of that day and totally contrary to today's pervasive culture. What does that mean to us? Explore, learn and change with us!

· LOVE & MARRIAGE: Heather Austell & Graham Meeks
style: study/discussion; topical; custom designed by teachers
Plenty of marriage "experts" will tell you how to achieve a more fulfilling marriage, but what does God say? We'll look at His word and the insights of several Christian authors and speakers. Whether you're single or married, attending alone or with your spouse, doing your part in a dream marriage, or praying for change, we hope you'll join us.

· SEEING GOD’S GRACE IN O.T. LAW: Kathy Larson
style: lecture/discussion; textual; custom designed by teacher
How many times have we heard that the God of the Old Testament is mean or that His Law is strict, contradictory, and unloving? In this class, we will look at the laws of the O.T. and discover how they truly were the grace-giving boundaries of a loving Father/Husband – that God’s Law really is what’s best for us!

Tuesday mornings: two options, by gender

· MEN’S PRAYER BREAKFAST: 6:30 am
Join us to pray through our church's prayer list (in the church library) and then go to Panera Bread for breakfast.

· WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY: 9:45-11:15am: Ruth Ruane
style: discussion; topical; using a study guide (homework involved)
“Discerning the Voice of God” by Priscilla Shirer (cost $13)

Wednesday nights: 6:15 (dinner); 7-8pm (groups): many options

· “Up and Out Small Groups”: all of us!
Join one of our many small groups, which meet in various locations in our neighborhood to "be the church out there in the world." Groups may study a book, discuss movies/headlines, play live music, do acts of service (or something else if you have an idea!)... all in the name of being salt and light to our community.

· Basics of Faith Class: Greg Joines
Geared specifically towards new believers or those wanting to review the basics. If you have friends or loved ones who have questions or want to understand the basics of what Christians believe, recommend this class or bring them to it.

· Book Club: Kathy Larson (Piper Glen); Mark and Melissa Katibah (GSPC)
Two book clubs will begin (two locations noted above) reading Heaven is For Real. It's a gentle pace and discussion is easy and enjoyable. Come join the group in either location.

For more information about Adult Christian Education, contact Kathy Larson (kathy@gspc.net; 704-364-1234).

children

2007-02-01T14:41:00.000-08:00

Dear Parents,

Welcome to Good Shepherd! I hope that you have found our church to be the “home” that we believe that it is. I want to invite you to bring your children to be a part of our children’s ministry programs. We have something available just for them on Sundays, Wednesdays, and special monthly events. Our goal is to provide a safe, encouraging, loving, and Biblically based environment for your children to build a personal relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We also want to support parents and families as they seek to raise their children with a heart for Christ. If you have any questions or concerns please contact me at church and I will be glad to meet with you. I encourage you to get involved in the great things that are happening for our children by volunteering within the children’s ministry. I covet your prayers as we begin a new school year together for our children.

~Melissa Baker

Here are some of our values and goals:

Education
The children’s ministry seeks to educate children in God’s Word to us.

Worship
The children’s ministry seeks to provide opportunities to learn and practice worship skills and a lifestyle of service to God.

Fellowship
The children’s ministry seeks to create opportunities for children to build relationships with their peers and adults in a Christ-like manner.

Outreach
The children’s ministry seeks to provide an environment for children to invite friends to participate, as well as encouraging the children to share Christ’s love with others in their everyday life.

Service
The children’s ministry seeks to encourage children to be active in service to others as a way of showing God’s love.

deacons

2007-02-01T14:37:00.000-08:00

At Good Shepherd, the Deacons lead our mercy ministries to the congregation and to the community. The Deacons currently serving are as follows:

Class of 2011
Megan Butler
Bill Moorman

Class of 2012
Shannon Klar (chair)
Jon Morris
Patrick Larson

Class of 2013
Phoebe Elliot
John Kreutzer
Susan Slade

elders

2007-02-01T14:35:00.000-08:00

Elders in the Presbyterian Church USA are responsible for the mission and government of the local church. This wide range of responsibilities finds expression at Good Shepherd through eight "ministry teams," each moderated by a Sessional elder (or two).

Clerk of Session: Ann Baker
Sessional Ministry Teams
Missions and Service	Shelley Northcutt, Jane Chiseck
Christian Education	Robin Orr
Congregational Life	Graham Meeks
Worship	Melissa Katibah
Finance	Quay Youngblood
Facilities	Bill Kinken
Personnel	Mike Harrington
Deacons	John Shuler

church staff

2007-02-01T14:00:00.000-08:00

Robert Austell (Pastor) has served Good Shepherd since March of 2002. Previously he served as Associate Pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Lenoir, NC. He is a graduate of Davidson College, studied at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (Boston, MA), and graduated from Princeton Theological Seminary with a M.Div. in 1996. In May of 2008 he completed his dissertation on worship and music and graduated from Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte with a Doctor of Ministry. Robert is a life-long musician and continues to write and record music. He is married to Heather and has three daughters. Contact Pastor Robert at robert@gspc.net

Kathy Larson (Director of Christian Education and Creative Arts) joined the staff of Good Shepherd as Director of Youth Ministries in September of 1999. In September of 2006, the Session changed her title and responsibilities to cover Christian education and creative arts. Kathy graduated from Eastern College with a degree in youth ministry and from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (Charlotte) with a Masters in Biblical Studies (OT - her thesis was on Levitical offerings!). Kathy directs and writes scripts for the Good Shepherd drama minstry and returned from a Sabbatical (seminar on scriptwriting) in summer of 2006 with ACT 1, a Christian ministry to the movie and television industry in Hollywood. She is married to Patrick. Contact Kathy at kathy@gspc.net

Cathy Youngblood (Director of Music Ministry) returned to the staff of Good Shepherd in September of 2002 (previously on staff in 1989-1992). Cathy graduated from California Lutheran University with a B.A. in Music (organ performance) and a M.A. in Education (music emphasis). She grew up in a missionary family in Guatemala and later founded (1996) and directed the Guatemalan Choral Society. Cathy has been instrumental in putting together a community chorale, and has a vision for music ministry to the broader community. She also teaches and leads conference worship with Pastor Robert and the Good Shepherd worship team. Cathy is married to Quay and they each have two children. Contact Cathy at music@gspc.net

Melissa Baker (Director of Children's Ministries) joined the staff of Good Shepherd in July of 2005. She is a life-long member of Good Shepherd. Melissa has B.A. and M.Ed. degrees from UNCC in Child and Family studies and education and taught public school pre-K for 6 years before coming on staff. In directing the preschool and the church children's ministries, Melissa has brought those ministries closer together and strengthened our educational ministry to church and to neighborhood families and children. Contact Melissa at children@gspc.net

Joan Fedor (Director of Youth Ministry) joined the staff of Good Shepherd on October 1, 2008. Joanie is a graduate of Messiah College in Christian Ministry/Youth Ministry and has experience in church youth ministry and camping ministry. She loves children and youth of all ages and is excited to follow God's leading to NC (from Connecticut). Contact Joanie at youth@gspc.net

Diana Horne (Financial Secretary) joined the staff of Good Shepherd in January of 2005. She brings a wonderful personality and knowledge of finances to our staff. She is married to Glenn and has one daughter. Contact Diana at finance@gspc.net

Jennifer Kroitor (Administrative Assistant) - Contact Jennifer at admin@gspc.net

Jean Bruce (Assistant Director of Preschool) assists Melissa in the administration of the preschool. Contact Jean at cdp@gspc.net

a declaration for our time

2007-02-01T13:51:00.000-08:00

Run as a full-page ad in the Charlotte Observer - September 10, 2006

------------------------

A Proclamation by Concerned Presbyterians

As Ministers, Elders and Churches within the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

…we gather to declare our dissent from certain recent actions of our national governing body – the 217th General Assembly in Birmingham, Alabama. We believe that some of those actions have been irresponsibly reported in the press. However, we also believe that these disputed actions collectively represent grievous error and a significant departure from the biblical and confessional principles of the Christian faith. We are committed to working within our denomination for renewal and the overturning of these actions. This will take time, but we will be faithful, prayerful and diligent in our task. Meanwhile….

We Proclaim and Uphold

the following theological truths from the Bible.....

the glory, mystery and work of the one and only God, known forever as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
the all-powerful, all-wise and loving God of the universe as Lord of all Creation.
that humanity was created by God to love and enjoy Him forever.
that humanity, in its arrogance and pride, rebelled from God’s perfect will and intention for Creation. That rebellion has resulted in a humanity alienated from God. This rebellion continues today as an inherently sinful humanity seeks to go its own way.
that out of God’s overwhelming love and grace, God became human in the life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth.
that forgiveness and salvation are through Christ alone.
that the salvation received through Jesus Christ is through God’s grace alone – that there is nothing that we can do to earn or deserve God’s grace.
that God’s holy, inspired and revealed Bible is the sole guide and authority for our faith and is sufficient, in and of itself, to instruct, correct and train in all areas of faith and practice.
that God’s Word is authoritative in our lives and, as God’s people, we are to be obedient to His Word.
that God calls those whom He has chosen for salvation and service.
that we have been called to live in a community of people, bound together by God’s gracious action, who find their identity, purpose and communion in the risen Lord Jesus Christ.
that we have been called to be faithful stewards of all that God has given to us.

We Believe

the following ethical and moral responses to these Biblical truths…..

that, being created in the image of God, human life is sacred and begins at conception.
that God desires for all people to live pure and holy lives as followers of Jesus Christ, specifically through faithfulness in marriage between a man and a woman and purity in singleness as well as in every area of life.
that the purpose of the Church – the “bride” of Christ - is to honor, love, and serve God in faithfulness through the actions of worship, service, education, missions, evangelism, fellowship and nurture.
that our churches exist for all who live in brokenness and would find wholeness in Jesus Christ through humility, repentance, and God’s grace.
that as members of the Church – Christ’s “body” – we have been called to love, encourage and support one another.
that leadership is a calling from God, not a right to be claimed, and that those called to leadership in God’s Church strive to live in obedience to His Word.

We Invite

all who would come…..

all those who are broken, all those who have sought meaning in the things of this world and found them wanting, all those in need of identity and purpose to visit our church families as, together, we seek to honor God, grow into the likeness of Christ, and live in the healing power of the Holy Spirit.

Humbly Offered in the Name of Jesus Christ,

SESSIONS

The Session of Banks Presbyterian Church - Waxhaw

The Session of Benton Heights Presbyterian Church - Monroe

The Session of Carmel Presbyterian Church - Charlotte

The Session of Derida Presbyterian Church - Charlotte

The Session of Garden Memorial Presbyterian Church - Charlotte

The Session of Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church - Charlotte

The Session of Hopewell Presbyterian Church - Huntersville

The Session of Huntersville Presbyterian Church - Huntersville

The Session of Macedonia Presbyterian Church - Candor

The Session of Marshville Presbyterian Church - Marshville

The Session of Siler Presbyterian Church - Wesley Chapel

PASTORS

The Rev. Robert Austell - Pastor, Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church, Charlotte

The Rev. Rick Brooks - Pastor, Garden Memorial Presbyterian Church, Charlotte

The Rev. Vern Dodd - Pastor, Huntersville Presbyterian Church, Huntersville

The Rev. Mark Fisher - Pastor, Macedonia Presbyterian Church, Charlotte

The Rev. Ed Henegar - Stated Supply Pastor, Marshville Presbyterian Church, Marshville

The Rev. Scott Hilborn - Pastor, Banks Presbyterian Church, Waxhaw

The Rev. Rick Hofferty - Pastor, Derida Presbyterian Church, Charlotte

The Rev. Dr. William Katibah - Honorably Retired, Presbytery of Charlotte

The Rev. Jeff Lowrance - Pastor, Hopewell Presbyterian Church, Huntersville

The Rev. Jeff Pinkston - Pastor, Pleasant Grove Presbyterian Church, Charlotte

The Rev. Larry Pittman - Minister at Large, Presbytery of Charlotte

The Rev. Bruce Powell - Pastor, Siler Presbyterian Church, Wesley Chapel

The Rev. Paul Saleeby - Pastor, Benton Heights Presbyterian Church, Monroe

The Rev. Jim Szeyller - Pastor, Carmel Presbyterian Church, Charlotte

our mission and vision

2007-02-01T13:40:00.000-08:00

GSPC Mission Statement (what we seek to do):

The mission of Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church is to
Worship God joyfully,

Lifting up Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord
That by the Holy Spirit, we would encourage and equip all people

to respond to God's grace in their lives, in the church, and in the world.

GSPC Vision Statement (who we seek to be):

Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church is a

LOVING family –

JOYFUL in the worship of God
FAITHFUL to share and follow Christ
HUMBLE vessels for the Holy Spirit –
STANDING on scripture as the Word of God,
COMMITTING all that we are and all that we have to the glory of God, our Father.

what we believe

2007-02-01T13:35:00.000-08:00

CATHOLIC (universal) CHRISTIAN BELIEFS

With Christians in all times and places, we believe in the…

>Trinity - God is “Triune,” or three persons in one being. God is revealed throughout the Bible in this way as Father (e.g., John 1:18), Son (John 1:34), and Spirit (John 1:33; all 3 in John 14:26), yet as one God (Deuteronomy 6:4; John 10:30).

>Incarnation – In Jesus Christ God “was made flesh” and became fully human (and still fully God). In Jesus, “The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)

*See also the Apostles’ Creed and Nicene Creed

PROTESTANT CHRISTIAN EMPHASES

In the 16^th century, Martin Luther, John Calvin, and other notable Christian leaders brought about renewal and revival in the church through returning to and emphasizing the following biblical teachings:

>Grace Alone – we are saved by God’s grace (unmerited gift) rather than by an ‘work’ or earned righteousness (rightness/goodness) of our own. (see Ephesians 2:8-9)

>Faith Alone – the only ‘work’ (and it too is a gracious gift of God) of the human is to trust in Jesus Christ for salvation. (see Ephesians 2:8-9)

>Scripture Alone – the Bible is God’s Word, the one source of saving knowledge and revelation of Jesus Christ, and our authoritative guide for faith and life. (see 2 Timothy 3:14-17)

PRESBYTERIAN/REFORMED CHRISTIAN EMPHASES

>Theological: a well-thought out emphasis on God’s sovereignty which affirms the majesty, holiness, and providence of God who creates, sustains, rules, and redeems the world in the freedom of His sovereign righteousness and love.

>Practical: at least four noticeable outgrowths of Presbyterian/Reformed emphases...

Worship and Service: God’s people are chosen and called for service as well as for salvation
Community: we live life together marked by a disciplined concern for biblically-based order in the church
Stewardship: we seek faithful and humble offering of resources at our disposal
Discipleship (following Christ): while recognizing the human tendency to disobey God, we work and hope for personal and societal transformation through living in obedience to scripture

SPECIFIC LOCAL STATEMENT OF CHRISTIAN BELIEF

Good Shepherd is a “confessing church” in the Presbyterian Church USA. This simply means that, in a day and age in which even basic Christian belief is called into question, we “confess” or declare with Christians of every age that Jesus Christ is Savior and Lord and the only name by which men and women are saved, that the Bible is God’s Word to us, and that God desires for all people to live pure and holy lives as followers of Christ, specifically through faithfulness in marriage or purity in singleness, as well as in every area of life.

from the pastor

2007-02-01T13:29:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the Good Shepherd church website. I am glad you are here! Whether you are just checking out the site or have visited recently, I hope you will take time to look online at who we are and what we are doing at Good Shepherd. And even more, I hope you will visit or visit again so that we can connect in person.

If you are new to the Christian faith, I'd encourage you to begin with the WHY CHURCH section of the site. It gives some context for this section which describes more of WHO WE ARE, from our beliefs to our leadership to our missions and ministries. The third section (WHAT IS HAPPENING) describes events on our calendar and has archives of sermons, services, newsletters, and more.

I have been the pastor of Good Shepherd since 2002 and have found this to be a very unique place of real people seeking and serving a very real God. What you won't find here is a fakey, polished-and-shined, too-good-to-be-true Christianity. Rather, you'll find sincere and authentic people who struggle, yet who keep coming together as friends and family to seek the One we believe has answers, help, hope, truth, and love.

I invite you to come visit us, find out more, and see if Good Shepherd is the place for you. Or give me a call (704-364-1234) or write an e-mail (robert@gspc.net) if you want to know more. We're here to be God's church, and I know God would be delighted for you to spend some time among us!

I hope to meet you soon. Let us hear from you!

In God's great grace,

Robert Austell

missions

2007-02-01T13:21:00.001-08:00

Click the links below to find out more about the missions at Good Shepherd. We want to be a good neighbor to those living near us and to shine the light of Jesus Christ to the community, nation, and world around us.

Specifically, we have embraced twin metaphors founded on Jesus' declaration that "I am the light of the world" and "You are the light of the world." We desire to be a LIGHTHOUSE CHURCH, serving as a beacon and guiding light to our neighbors, signalling safe harbor (sanctuary) and guidance in the night. In the name of Jesus Christ, we welcome any who would come into the reach of our ministry.

We also desire to be a SEARCHLIGHT CHURCH, joining God's mission to seek and save those who are far from him, even as the Good Shepherd in the Bible left the 99 sheep to go find the one that was lost. We do not want to rest content in our building, but want to engage our neighbors, community, and world with the hopeful and good news of God's love and salvation in Jesus Christ.

Deacons - description of our diaconal ministries

Martha Ministries - description of our food ministry to those in crisis

Local Missions - list of local missions and ministries we support

ministries

2007-02-01T13:21:00.000-08:00

Click the tabs in this section to find out more about the ministries at Good Shepherd. There is a place for you here!

Children - welcome and overview of children's ministries

Preschool - link to preschool site

Youth - link to youth facebook page; contact director of youth ministry, Joan Fedor, for more info: youth@gspc.net or 704-364-1234

Sunday school - description of the Sunday morning and Wed night classes for children, youth and adults

Adults - a description of our education, prayer, and other offerings for adults

Music - a description of our music ministries, philosophy of music, and various ensembles

Drama - link to our drama site [tba] and youtube videos (link)

Fellowship - description of fellowship groups and events

Recreation - description of recreation events, including softball

staff and leadership

2007-02-01T13:20:00.002-08:00

Good Shepherd is blessed with an exceptional staff and leadership. As a Presbyterian Church, the local church is served by pastor and staff, governed by elders (collectively, the Session), and has set aside deacons for local ministries of mercy and compassion. Please click the links below for a listing and more information about our staff and leadership.

Church Staff

Elders

Deacons

history

2007-02-01T13:20:00.001-08:00

OUR PAST

Written for the 25th Anniversary of the founding of Good Shepherd (2005)

Twenty-six years ago, Bill and Ann Katibah stood in an open field at the corner of Rea and Swan Run roads and could only imagine with anticipation and excitement at what God had in store for them and for the Presbyterian Church that they had been called to organize. In the late fall of 1979, a group of dedicated church members from 10 sister Presbyterian churches canvassed the neighboring communities and the Katibahs' set out to visit prospective members in their homes. On January 6, 1980 a group of about 115 people gathered in a little white house on Rea Road to worship and have fellowship with one another. There was an immediate sense of unification and purpose among those that were present. A congregational bonding of care and concern for one another was established that has lasted throughout all of these years. In April 1980, Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church was formally established as a Presbyterian congregation with the Rev. Dr. William G. Katibah, Jr. called as pastor and the rest is… HISTORY.

The first challenge for this newly formed congregation was space. In March 1980, with a small investment of around $20,000 and a great amount of hard work by church members of all ages, a metal storage building located on the property was renovated. In June 1980, it was dedicated and named Norton Hall in honor of a faithful supporter, Ran Norton, Moderator of New Church Development and Elder from Sardis Church. The multi-purpose facility was used for worship, Sunday school, and fellowship events. The white house and small garage located on the property continued to be used for additional Sunday school classrooms, Vacation Bible School, and a pastor's study. In 1981, the white house also provided space for a newly formed Child Development Program under the direction of Judy Plough. The Child Development Program continues to thrive today, led by its director, Sharon Bullard.

In 1982, a growth in membership and expansion of church programs and activities led the Good Shepherd congregation to undertake its first building program. A building campaign was established, an interest free loan in the amount of $365,000 was secured from Mecklenburg Presbytery, and construction began. Through the unshaken faith and energy of the congregation, pastor, and church leaders, the main worship facility was dedicated in September 1983.

The new worship facility offered the opportunity for church ministries and programs to move to a new level. The music program was enhanced by the gift of a new organ by Sardis Church and church gifts including hymnbooks, choir robes and handbells. The music ministry today, under the direction of Cathy Youngblood, has grown to be one of the most diversified and vital ministries at GSPC. The blended worship music provides a variety through the use of children's choir, a worship praise team, adult choir, and handbell choirs.

The education ministry expanded with additional classroom space, weekly congregational Bible study, youth ministry and women's bible study groups. In 1986, the congregation purchased the land and house adjacent to the Good Shepherd property for the purpose of strengthening the youth ministry. In 1987, Mark Stanley came to GSPC as the first Youth Ministry intern. Today, under the leadership of Kathy Larson, the youth are actively involved in local mission projects, weekly bible study and fellowship, leadership in worship through music and drama, summer mission trips and a coffeehouse ministry to community youth called Café Café.

In the midst of all the growing ministries and outreach, space again became a challenge. In 1989, a second building program began to construct the education wing and worship expansion area. The beloved white house was sold and moved to another site in order to provide land for the new facility.

As the GSPC congregation continued to grow in ministry and facilities, it also grew in spirit and fellowship. The organization of share groups, congregational socials, Wednesday night suppers, Primetimers older adult group, and church retreats contributed to building close relationships with one another. Men and women's softball teams offered recreation and fellowship with fellow Christians from other congregations. Today the congregation is still marked by its "family feel," love of fellowship, and warm welcome of newcomers.

Over the years the care and concern for others has grown into the community and the world. Good Shepherd has had the opportunity locally to sponsor a refugee family, participate in the Red Cross blood drive, support Loaves and Fishes, Crisis Assistance, Two Cents A Meal, White Gift and many more ministries of compassion. Our global outreach has included several mission projects in Guatemala and Kikuyu (Africa), support of missionaries, youth mission trips, Samaritan's Purse and hurricane relief programs.

In Nov of 2000, Dr. William G. Katibah, Jr. retired as minister after 20 years of faithful service. The Session and congregation and Interim Pastors carried on the ministry of GSPC during the time of transition. The Rev. Robert M. Austell, Jr. accepted a call to Good Shepherd, preached his first sermon on Palm Sunday, March 24, 2002, and was installed as the second pastor of GSPC on April 7, 2002. His leadership has brought new opportunities for growth as a congregation in ministry, mission, worship, and outreach.

It is because the congregation of GSPC set high goals, took steps in faith, and followed the Lord's leading that two building programs have been completed successfully while continuing to enhance the Sessional ministries and providing outreach to the community. As GSPC celebrates its 25th Anniversary, it is a time to reflect upon and give thanks for where we have come from and follow the Lord in faith as He leads and holds our future.

Linda Jenkins

Charter member of Good Shepherd Presbyterian

OUR FUTURE...

By Pastor Robert Austell, 25th Anniversary Celebration, 2005

What is in our future? Only the Lord knows for sure. But we are determined to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus Christ, our spirits attuned to the Holy Spirit, our ears and hearts open to God's Word, and our prayers grounded in the humility of "Thy will be done." We trust that the Lord has wonderful plans for us, for blessing and for a future. We sense that the Lord is using us to be the compassionate arm of Christ in our nearby neighborhood and the proclaimers of the Good News to all within range of our voices. We believe that God calls us together for worship and sends us out for evangelism and mission. We desire to be faithful and obedient disciples - followers whose hearts beat in time with God's. We see growth among our young families and 20-somethings, vitality in our older adults, increasing numbers of visitors who are new to the faith and the Church, and a thriving ministry of worship and music. What is in our future? Only the Lord knows for sure - but we are determined to follow Him wherever He leads, with His help and His blessing!

beliefs and goals

2007-02-01T13:20:00.000-08:00

Check the links below for a brief study on "what we believe" as Christians --> Reformed --> Presbyterian --> Good Shepherd. Also, see the mission and vision statements adopted by our elders in 2002.

What We Believe - distinctives of Christian faith, Reformed tradition, Presbyterian branch, and Good Shepherd local church

Our Mission and Vision - mission and vision set by the leadership in 2002

Lighthouse-Searchlight Theme - a metaphor for understanding and pursuing Christ's calling at Good Shepherd

A Declaration for Our Time - an ad our leadership helped write and run in the Charlotte Observer to clarify our beliefs as a Presbyterian (USA) congregation.

welcome

2007-02-01T13:17:00.000-08:00

Click the links below for a message from our pastor and our welcome ministry.

From the Pastor

From the Welcome Team

neighborhood events

2007-01-03T07:57:00.000-08:00

We not only want to "be here" for our neighbors... we also want to offer quality concerts, dramatic productions, educational and community building events. Look here for upcoming events ranging from jazz concerts to dinner theater to a fall festival for children and their families. (and more!)

Neighborhood Events and Programs
Each year we have a major event for the neighborhood (and open to the community). In past years, this has included a July 4 neighborhood picnic and a Kids & Family "Fall Festival" around Halloween time. Please watch for signs and bring your household out to join us for this neighborhood event! Recently we hosted the Shelley Moore Band on the lawn.

Seminars and PresentationsAs part of what we'd like to offer our neighbors, we regularly schedule seminars and teaching events around issues important to everyone: finances, parenting, marriage, and more. Recent programs have included: "Heart to Heart" marriage seminar (by the Barnabas Center). Stay tuned for what's next!

Music and Drama Programs
We have a number of major music and drama events open to the neighborhood and community each year. Recent years have included Vivaldi's Gloria presented with chamber orchestra. Our drama ministry presents two full-length plays each year, including forays into dinner-theater. Drama auditions are open to the community and church membership is not required.

thinking of visiting?

2007-01-02T08:03:00.000-08:00

Two of the most significant things we offer to the community are our top-quality preschool and our unique and inviting church services.

Visit the Preschool - click for link to the preschool site

Sunday Morning Information

TIMES:

Sunday school: 9:30 – 10:30 am (class descriptions)
Cookies/Juice/Conversation: 10:30 – 11:00 am
Worship: 11:00 am – 12:10pm

STYLE

The style of worship at Good Shepherd is an intentional blend of ancient, traditional, and modern forms of liturgy, prayer, music, and communication. Our starting point for planning each service is God’s Word, the Bible. Each week we seek to provide effective and numerous ways for worshipers to gather around, hear and respond, and go forth into the world with the good and hopeful Word of God in scripture. We also intentionally gather as a family of believers of many ages and backgrounds, and so use all the means at our disposal to invite each worshiper into the presence of God. It is our hope that each person present will not only worship God in Spirit and truth, but also in community. It is a joy and a privilege to worship God together!

DRESS

People's attire for Sunday morning worship varies pretty widely, from casual to suits, but the "median" is probably what you might wear out to a medium-priced restaurant for dinner. Pastor Robert preaches in a shirt and tie.

meeting space

2007-01-02T07:41:00.000-08:00

Out of our desire to be a "good neighbor" in the Old Providence area, we welcome neighborhood associations, groups, or gatherings to request use of our facilities for meetings. We have rooms that can accomodate small groups of 5-6, 10, 20, 50, and 200 (though use of the 200-seat sanctuary is somewhat more restricted). If your group would like to use the church facility for a meeting, please contact the church office at 704-364-1234 or gspc@gspc.net

community service

2007-01-02T07:38:00.000-08:00

We are involved in our community in a number of ways. We are interested particularly in serving the community right around the church, so if you live in South Charlotte or any of the "Old Providence" neighborhoods and have a ministry or social service need, please let us know about it.

Through our local mission giving and volunteering, we support the following:

Allegro Foundation
Alzheimer's Association
American Red Cross
Charlotte Emergency Housing
Charlotte Pregnancy Care Center
Crisis Assistnace
Florence Crittendon Services
Friendship Trays
Habitat for Humanity
Hospice at Charlotte
Love Inc.
Old Providence Elementary School (tutoring)
Salvation Army
Salvation Army Women's Shelter
Shelter for Battered Women
Uptown Day Shelter and "Rebound"

We support neighborhood families in need or crisis through our "Timothy Fund," "Thanksgiving Baskets," and "White Gifts" programs.

We have a small food pantry available to individuals or families in need in the Old Providence Area, but generally refer folks from the greater Charlotte area to one of the major community service providers like Crisis Assistance, Salvation Army, or Social services.

being a good neighbor

2007-01-02T07:34:00.000-08:00

See some of the ways that we try to be a good neighbor in the Old Providence area neighborhoods in South Charlotte. Is there something we can do for you?... let us know!

Preschool - click link for preschool pages

Community Service - click link for a description of the community ministries we support.

Meeting Space
Out of our desire to be a "good neighbor" in the Old Providence area, we welcome neighborhood associations, groups, or gatherings to request use of our facilities for meetings. We have rooms that can accomodate small groups of 5-6, 10, 20, 50, and 200 (though use of the 200-seat sanctuary is somewhat more restricted). If your group would like to use the church facility for a meeting, please contact the church office at 704-364-1234 or gspc@gspc.net

Ball Field
We have a large softball field on the church property, which is used for a church softball league. We are also pleased to share use of it with neighborhood sports teams if our written "ball field usage policy" is followed. Currently, the field is being used by the Old Providence Recreation Association for a kids' baseball league. In the past, we have also hosted a kids' rugby team. With practice schedules, usually only one league or team can use the field per season, but these are re-negotiated each season. If you have a team or league interested in using the field, please contact the church office at 704-364-1234 or gspc@gspc.net

Need Help/Have Questions?
It is our mission and desire to be a "good neighbor," particularly in the Old Providence neighborhoods, but in the broader community as well. If you need help or think we can serve you in any way, please contact the church office at 704-364-1234 or gspc@gspc.net

connecting to God

2007-01-01T09:37:00.000-08:00

Explore some basics of Christianity and read a letter from our pastor to you.

Christianity 101
From our Pastor
Ask a Question/E-mail the Pastor

from our pastor

2007-01-01T07:29:00.000-08:00

Hello and welcome to our website on behalf of Good Shepherd Church. My name is Robert Austell and I am the pastor at Good Shepherd. I am so glad you are exploring our website and have found me here!

I believe that all kinds of people (not just church-types or “Christians”) are interested in connecting with God. I think it’s something built into us – to long for something and someone much bigger and more lasting than ourselves. While you and I can go about identifying or even creating something bigger and lasting, I believe that what people really are looking for is God. Clearly, there are a zillion religions around the world, all with some way of trying to connect to God. And sadly, even within the Christian religion, there are countless confusing versions, with each group seeming to believe and do something a little different.

If you are interested in more details about religion and God, check out the Christianity 101 section on this site. For now, from me, I’d like to invite you to look around the whole site, write me, or come visit us because I believe that you will find connection with God at Good Shepherd. I’m not saying that because we have the corner on truth, because we’re Presbyterians or because we teach some special brand of Christianity. I say that because I believe God wants to connect with you. The whole God-thing isn’t about being good, creating a good philosophy or religion, or attending a church obsessively. If the God described in the Bible is truly God, then that God has made a way to us. He is not waiting around for us to figure out where He is – He actually is involved in human history, and “shows up” when people gather to seek Him and hear what He has done.

That’s what we do at Good Shepherd. We think the Bible is God’s love letter to the world and we get together to seek God and hear His story. And you know what? God shows up. It’s not mystical or spooky – there are no sparks or screaming people; there is no giant voice from the sky. But if you asked just about anyone who comes to our church… God is here. It’s a very special place full of very special people. We aren’t perfect – far from it. But we are all seeking the same thing – to connect with a God who’s story is that He loves us and has come to us… all the way down to where we are.

Look around some more… think about it… take a chance… e-mail me or come see us. We’ll do some churchy things in the service – singing, praying, and such. But it’s very open, explained, and authentic. I talk the same in church as I do at my kids’ soccer games. You will be spoken to… will probably meet several very friendly folk. But they are not pushy. They just genuinely like having guests “in the house.” Or come to one of our special concerts or programs if you don’t want to start with the church service. We’ll keep information on all those things updated on the website.

I’d love to meet you in person or correspond by e-mail. Thank you for visiting our site and taking time to hear from me!

Warmly,

Robert Austell

christianity 101

2007-01-01T07:20:00.000-08:00

What does it mean to be a Christian? You could probably ask that to 100 different people and get 100 different answers. Don’t let that dissuade you from checking it out, though! Below, I’ll give you my answer, for what that’s worth to you, and then point you to what the Bible says about it. Whatever you may think of the Bible, most people should be able to agree that the Bible is the place to find out about Christianity. So, for those for whom the Bible may be mysterious or hard to navigate, I’ll try to provide some points of connection. Want to know more? – then come visit us at Good Shepherd… see if you don’t feel a connection with God that is reflected sincerely and without pretense in the lives of this special “family” of people. We’re hardly perfect, but we are drawn together and experience God with us in a meaningful way.

My answer…

First, who am I? I am the “pastor” at Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church. Why should my definition of Christianity matter any more than any other? Well, it shouldn’t. But I have believed and trusted in Jesus Christ, as described in the Bible, since I was a 4 year-old. I have studied other religions, objectively critiqued the faith my parents taught to me, and come full circle as an adult back to believe in the same (if more mature) Christian faith of my childhood. I have studied the Bible and find it to be an amazing and inspiring “book” – more than that, it points to a God who loves me and whom I have experience personally as “Lord” and “Savior.” What are the mechanics of believing and following Jesus Christ, of being a Christian? Here’s as down-to-earth as I know how to say it…

We (human beings) are messed up creatures. I know that intuitively and deeply. We put on a front, but behind it, we are a wreck. If and when we think about goodness and God and love and getting our act together, we realize that it is beyond our power. Kind of like AA, we’ve got to realize we have a problem and that we need something bigger than us and outside of us to help. The story of the Bible and the story I believe as truth is that there is a real and personal God who is that something. God is real in that we don’t just create our own god – that would still just be us. God is personal because He gets involved – we matter. Again, that’s the story of the Bible and the story I believe as truth. That’s Christianity – that this real and personal God got involved… He made the world and everything in it; He allowed us the freedom to choose the right thing and the wrong thing, and when we chose and choose the wrong thing, He didn’t abandon us. God came after us, like I do when I let my three year old ride her scooter in the cul-de-sac (freedom!) and when she doesn’t look out for and get out of the way of an oncoming car (choosing the wrong). I run after her! God has run after us in Jesus Christ. God became completely human, born into the world as Jesus of Nazareth and yet still completely God, and he taught and lived and died to come after me. When he died on the cross, he took my messed up life as his own, in the same way that I might run, leap in front of an oncoming car, and shove my three-year-old out of the street. Jesus has done that for you and for me! And his message was, “Come and believe that I am who I said I am and that I have done what I said I would do. Come and follow me.” That’s what it means to be a Christian – to come, meet God through the Jesus Christ of the Bible, and trusting him, to follow him. I belong to God because I follow Jesus Christ. Just as God raised Jesus up from death itself (the Easter story!), he raises the mess that is me up to a new life – Jesus said that would be kind of like being born all over again (see John 3). That is the Christian life – a new start and a new life because of trusting and following Jesus. And through Jesus, God promises new life forever – that’s Heaven… new life with God forever. How does one get all that? What are the mechanics? Come; listen and learn; believe; trust; and follow Jesus Christ.

Where’s all this in the Bible?

> God made the world – Genesis 1; John 1:1-4

> We messed up and chose the wrong (sin) – Genesis 3:1-13; Romans 3:23

> God did not abandon us, but began pursuing us to rescue and reclaim us – Genesis 12:1-3 (God establishing a people as a means to “bless” the world and begin rescuing them); Acts 2:17,21 (God’s promise to save)

> God became human (and yet God) – Luke 2:10-14; John 1:14

… to identify with us – Hebrews 4:14-16

… to speak to us and show us God – John 1:18; 5:24

… to call and invite us – John 1:35-42

… to rescue us and make us new – 2 Corinthians 5:17-19

… to raise us up for a new life – Romans 6:4

… to give us life forever with God – John 5:24

> How do I get that? – John 3:16; Romans 10:8-9

Take a moment and talk to God… use the prayer below (or use your own words)…

God, I need you; I have messed up and I am messed up. Rescue me so that I may follow you and know you. Thank you for a new start – a new life. Help me learn what it means to be your child so that I can grow up in Christ. I ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

We’d be pleased for you to come spend some time with us at Good Shepherd or for you to contact me to talk about some of the first steps as a new Christian. Please don’t hesitate to contact me or come see us!

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