Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Annual Report to Members - 2001

Good Shepherd Mission Statement

A Message from the Pastor

Members of Good Shepherd:

The spirit of cooperation is alive and well at Good Shepherd. The June annual meeting brings before the members of the congregation a full slate of congregational officers. I am pleased that nearly all the positions on our standing boards are complete. In addition, our mutual ministry committees, youth and family vision committee, constitution committee, and special committees for narthex decor, lounge renovation, and interior design are being formed with people willing to serve. I give thanks for all members who are willing to share their time and taIents at Good Shepherd.

I would like to thank Bonnie Hershey for serving this last year as president of the congregation. Bonnie has done an excellent job in bringing about the spirit of cooperation. Bob Sauer, who begins a term as president in September, can rejoice that the model of cooperation has existed this past year and will only grow as we all move into the future. I look forward to working with Chad Hagedorn who will be our vice president working closely with Bob.

As special note of thanks also to Brenda Bass who has served as church council! secretary and will be chairing the music and worship Committee and our organist search committee. Brenda has added greatly to the spirit of cooperation that we experience. I am pleased that she can lend her gifts to the important ministry of warship and music in our congregation. Joining the council and executive committee as secretary of the congregation will be Judy Treadway who will be a great benefit to us as we work together.

Cooperation has also been part of the work that goes on in the office of congregational treasurer. Dick Whitney has faithfully served Good Shepherd as treasurer far many years. Months ago, Dick began working with Brett Mauser. Brett has shared his gifts of financial planning with Dick, the church council and the executive committee over these past few months. We thank Dick for his many years of service and for finding someone who will carry on the important tasks that came with being the treasurer of the congregation.

As June arrives we are faced with the challenges of filling three staff positions. Our organist and family (Dan and Cathy and the girls) are leaving us but remaining with us as missionaries in Tanzania. This is a blessing considering what exciting things are in store for us as we will have "real live" missionaries to support in the years to come. I thank those members of the congregation with music skills who have already come forward to fill in the summer Sundays as our organist search goes on.

In two weeks, Todd Mills will leave in response to God's call for ordination in Word and Sacrament ministry. We wish Todd and Rhonda our blessing and thank them for helping us firm up our vision for youth and family ministry. We will begin in earnest to fill this position and to complete the exciting plans we have made for the fall.

Finally, we give thanks for the work of David Bezona who has been on staff since last November. David leads our chancel choir with enthusiasm. He will be leading us in praise and contemporary music, drama, dance, and youth choir as we move into the fall schedule. This means that we will be looking for someone to take up the ministry of leading our Shepherd Bells beginning in the fall.

I continue to give thanks for all of you and we work together to be faithful to our calIing and faithful to our Lord. I would certainly be remiss if I did not thank our council members who continue to serve faithfully on council and as chairperson of their respective committees. I rejoice that many of the tasks of Building to Serve and the narthex are complete and that it is tribute to the cooperation and support of all the members of Good Shepherd.

In Christ,
Pastor Prochaska,

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2000-2001 Church Leadership

Church Council President Vice President Secretary Treasurer

Bonnie Hershey Bob Sauer Brenda Bass Dick Whitney

Board Leadership

Membership Care
Chair	Jeff Stutrud Carol Haroldson Barb Regginello Kathy Snodgrass
Outreach and Evangelism
Chair	Mary Robertson Sharon Hagedorn Marly Holmstrom Floyd Seim Don Bennett
Education
	Connie Bishop Donna Rosenbaum Cathy Smith Judy Treadway
Preschool
Chair	Nancy DeVilbiss Paula Bennett Ardith Hurst Bobbie Kosanovich Jennifer Mauser
Property
Chair	Jeff Seibert Van Berkley Ed Lilly Kevin Newell Mary Ann Sauer Aivars Smitchens
Stewardship
Chair	Del Herbeck Pat Behn Bill Bowman Callie Rehrig Duane Tackis
Worship & Music
	Debbie DeVilbiss Jennifer Schenck Terri Schlagheck

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Membership Care Board

The goal of the Membership Care board is to develop a program to promote fellowship, and establish a system of communication and scheduling for all church activities.

This past year, the Membership Care Board:

• Held a welcome potluck dinner for David Bezona, the new director of Music.
• Held a new activity, the Pumpkin Pie Fellowship, just before Thanksgiving.
• Added cut evergreen boughs to the Advent Wreaths during a Family Advent program.
• Welcomed new Youth and Family Ministry Director Todd Mills and his family with a potluck dinner.
• Sponsored the annual Adopt-a-Family/Caring Tree program.
• Provided refreshments for the Christmas Choir Concert and made cookie baskets for our shut-ins.
• Sponsored the "Burning of the Greens" activity at Spitz Farm; another new activity this year.
• In February we promoted a half-mile nature walk and saw how maple syrup is made at Greene County's Maple Sugar Camp.
• Supported the annual Cupid's Caper Dinner Dance.
• Held a Shrove Tuesday Fellowship dinner of pancakes and sausages for about 65 attendees.
• Helped sponsoring groups, council, circles and choir prepare for the Lenten Soup Suppers.
• Supported Pastor Prochaska's Ordination Anniversary party.
• This summer, Membership Care Board looks forward to such activities as Graduation Sunday, the Reds Baseball Game and church picnic.

Jeff Stutrud, Chair

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Board of Outreach and Evangelism

Since June 2000, the Board of Outreach and Evangelism has been working toward its goal of leading Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in witnessing the gospel of Jesus Christ and reaching out in service and discipleship to our community in the following ways:

• In June, July and August, mailed a total of 665 postcards inviting people who had moved into our area over the summer to visit Good Shepherd.
• At the Holiday at Home Parade on Labor Day, a group of Good Shepherd members showed Kettering that Christians can have fun as they marched the parade route 'reenacting' the famous movie scene where Moses parts the Red Sea in "The Ten Commandments" before thousands of area residents and in front of cable TV cameras.
• In October, helped the congregation sponsor waIkers in the annual Crop Walk for Church World Service. We raised over $175 to feed the hungry.;
• In December, encouraged members to invite someone to church during Bring-A-Friend Sunday. Good Shepherd had 16 new visitors that day.
• During the Christmas season, Good Shepherd ran an advertisement announcing our Christmas programs in the Dayton Daily News and Suburban newspapers, and successfuIy placed news releases informing the community of our Christmas and New Years' Eve programs.
• In February, debuted a new advertisement in the Ameritech Yellow Pages featuring an updated Good Shepherd logo.
• Another Bring-A-Friend Sunday was held on Palm Sunday, and members were encouraged to seek opportunities to invite new neighbors, co-workers, classmates, relatives and friends to attend church with them not only at Easter, but anytime during the year.
• In time for the Lenten season, encouraged all members to wear new name badges while at church services and special events.
• In April, debuted a new Good Shepherd website: www.goodshepherdkettering.com. It will soon feature expanded areas where seekers can get information on ministry opportunities, events and educational programs.
• Members walked a neighborhood in Kettering in May, and hung 1,000 doorhangers of invitation to visit our church.
• Throughout the program year, made benevolent donations on behalf of our members to: Lutheran Social Services, Osterlien Youth Services, We Care Arts, Lutheran School of the Miami Valley, The Learning Connection, Jeremiah's Letter, Inc., Habitat for Humanity, Lutheran Memorial Camp, and Project Blessing. Outreach Board funds also supported the Southern Ohio Synod and Dayton Conference of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
• Coming up this summer, we will encourage members to participate in a service project rehabilitating an elderly couple's home, and we will sponsor a summer kid & family safety event for our neighbors on August 25.

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Board of Worship and Music

This Board arranges for worship needs and the supporting activities of choirs, alter guild, acolytes, ushers, lay readers and communion assistants; considers the worship desires and needs of the congregation; and establishes policy and coordinates use of the sanctuary and organ.

Some highlighted accomplishments include:

• Began printing all service hymns in each Sunday bulletin to make it easier for members and visitors to follow the service.
• Held the second Prayer Vigil between Good Friday and Holy Saturday, with many new participants.
• Led the congregation in learning Setting 4 service printed in With One Voice worship book.
• Began using the intinction method for distributing communion on special occasions.
• Starting July 29, 2001, we will institute a 5th Sunday' worship service. There will be one 10 a.m. service for all members on those Sundays that fall on the 5th Sunday of the month. Following the 5th Sunday worship service' we will hold a fellowship event like a potluck supper.

Board of Stewardship

The goals of the Stewardship Board are to develop and manage every member's financial commitment program; contact new members within a month of joining to collect pledges of financial commitment; and conduct year round stewardship education for the congregation.

This past year, the Board of Stewardship:

• Promoted "Smart Living," a program that directs members to think about how they spend their time utilizing their God-given talents and how to share those resources during the year.
• Maintained the church information data bank.
• Updated and published the church directory.
• Implemented the fall stewardship commitment program, culminating with a congregational dinner on Commitment Sunday.
• Planned a program to reach out to inactive members.

The Stewardship Board appreciates the excellent volunteer support for many of these activities.

Del Herbeck, Chair

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Board of Preschool

This Board reviews and evaluates the Good Shepherd Preschool program, and works with the preschool director in budget planning, planning improvements, hiring staff and reviewing salaries.

This past year, Good Shepherd Preschool:

• Completed its twenty-fourth year of service with a total of 52 students enrolled in the two or three day programs.
• Reduced the class size to enable teachers to give more attention to students, which has proven beneficial to everyone.
• Students participated in several field trips, parent programs and eye evaluations.
• Held two very successful pizza and sub sales to support the school's scholarship fund.
• Had frequent meetings with the director throughout the year to assure the program runs as smoothly as possible.

Nancy DeVilbiss, Chair

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Board of Property

The Property Board is charged with maintaining congregational facilities by organizing volunteer assistance, utilizing the custodians and securing outside support. It is also responsible for the use of the buildings and premises of the congregation.
Hundreds of small and large things have occurred over a year's time involving the upkeep of our building facilities. A facility of our size certainly does not run or repair itself. The Property Board has been gifted with a lot of good and talented people:

• Tim Hutton was the person who talked to everyone about the new phone system installed in our building late last year. He assembled bids, worked closely with inspectors for the city and was total}y responsible for the system's implementation.
• Mary Ann Sauer was instrumental in all heating, air conditioning and plumbing maintenance and repairs. Her son, Bill, repaired the lawn mowers and helped in selecting our new snowblower. Mary Ann, Bob and Bill have been a godsend to this Board and should be commended.
• Ed Lilly installed about 33 door stops in the church plus brass kick plates on classroom doors. He also worked hard to rid our church of birds and bird nests in the restrooms, and installed screens to assure they don't return. He also fixed the leg on the piano in the choir room!
• Del Herbeck, always making himself available with a smile and sage advice, repaired countless doors, locksets, closures, and door knobs. He is the door king! He does a great job trimming our bushes every year and is going to be on our Board for next year.
• Aivars Smitchens has been a great asset to our Board. He is knowledgeable and experienced in all aspects of this church's facilities. His commitment is toward doing what is best for our church, and his time and talent have been immeasurable.

Instead of listing every toilet valve, light bulb and fixture that has been repaired or replaced this year, I hope this report truly stands as a testament to the good Christian fellowship and stewardship that goes on within Good Shepherd.

Jeff Seibert, Chair

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Good Shepherd Women

As a community of women, created in the image of God, called to discipleship in Jesus Christ, and empowered by the Holy Spirit, Good Shepherd Women of the ELCA commit themselves to grow in faith, affirm their gifts, support one another in their callings, engage in ministry and action, and promote healing and wholeness in the church, the society, and the world.
This past year, Good Shepherd Women:

• Sponsored four women's Bible study circles in which at least 30 women attended monthly.;
• Held the annual Thankoffering Service in November, which raised over $1,100 for ELCA and WELCA ministries in the U.S. and worldwide.
• The Christmas Program and Baby Shower for Jesus provided an enjoyable fellowship opportunity as well as collected needed layette items for women and children in need.
• In May, held a Women and Children's Banquet with a Hawaiian Luau theme. Over 60 mothers and children participated.
• HIS (Hands In Service) Day was held every fourth Thursday of the month. Handiwork projects were made benefiting Lutheran World Relief, the Women's Council of Lutheran Social Services, Good Shepherd shut-ins, and other charities.

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Memorial Committee Expenditures for 2000

The following items were purchased from Church Memorial Funds:

• Television and TV Stand ($886.21)
• Candle Holders and Tops ($530)
• Portable Keyboard ($687)
• Oil Candles ($913.15)
• Red Alter Paraments ($1002)
• Landscaping for Church Grounds ($3652)
• Brass Candelabra ($1560)
• New Flags for Alter ($96.30)
• Pastoral Communion Set ($270)