GOOD NEWS
Imagine the impact we can have in our congregation and communities if together we generously support them with our time, talents, and treasure. We love The Good Shepherd for many reasons, and we show it in many ways, including through our financial giving. Our annual Stewardship Campaign culminates this coming Sunday January 26 with Celebration Sunday when we can present our financial intentions for this church year. Don't forget your pledge card!

From Randy
Greetings,
Supporting The Good Shepherd through our Annual Stewardship Campaign is one of the most important things you can do for your church. It is what keeps the lights on, the music playing, the staff paid, and the heat and air-conditioning on. It is also the one thing that makes all the missions, care-giving, and sense of community possible. So please bring your pledge card and joyfully place it into the offering basket on Sunday or bring it by the office during
With you on the Journey, Randy

For the past 10 years or so Leslie has built, designed, and maintained our Good Shepherd website with great creativity and attention. She will be stepping away from those responsibilities at the end of February. We thank Leslie for her years of service—you have been amazing.

Boy Scout Sunday Next Sunday, February 9
If you have ever been by The Good Shepherd on a Monday evening—you will see that nearly every space in our church facility is occupied with Cub Scouts and three Scout groups including a female troop. Every year they participate in our worship service and host the coffee hour. We look forward to their presence.
Imagine the impact we can have in our congregation and communities if Together we generously support them. This past Celebration Sunday, we received 65 pledges for $196,551, 51% of our target of $382,000 in promised congregational support toward our church's 2025 operating budget. This compares with 103 pledges for $271,307 for the first campaign week last year. If you haven't yet decided upon your intended level of support to maintain our wonderful house of worship and community service, please give it your serious consideration soon.
Thank you for bringing these items to the church. Most important is the recycling of copper and other minerals and keeping them out of the landfill. We received $240.00 this past year. This is an ongoing project and the items are taken to CFS Metals Recycling in Tucson on a regular basis.
Join Liz Symington, Rev. ellie hutchison, and a group of fellow family caregivers to discuss how to regain hope and build resilience when dealing with the complexities of ongoing loss associated with caring for someone with dementia or another cognitive impairment. In the Finding Meaning and Hope series, you will learn skills to help you stay strong, healthy, resilient, and positive as you navigate your caregiving journey with healing and hope. 

Mondays: February 3 through April 7, 2025, from 3:00 to 5:00 pm
Location: Hybrid in Redman Room.

Requirement: Commitment to yourself and the purchase of the text: Loving Someone Who Has Dementia: How to Find Hope While Coping with Stress and Grief. To register, please sign up on the bulletin board in the narthex or email Rev. ellie at: revelliegsucc@gmail.com no later than January 24, 2025, in order to receive the Zoom link (if attending virtually).

Cafe Justo sales in February will be on the 9th and 23rd!!
The Mission, Service, and Justice Team has put up a new bulletin board. We not only want to thank the congregation for their financial generosity, but we also want to celebrate the generosity you show to this congregation and the many organizations in Southern Arizona and across the border with your time and talents. Check out our bulletin board, and, if we’ve somehow missed you, please add yourself to it.
Book Study with Rev. ellie: Octavia Butler’s Parable of the Sower Tuesdays, February 4, 11, 25, March 4, and March 11, 2025, 4-5:30 pm. Parable of the Sower is an intriguing and emotionally charged novel that will resonate deeply with readers who appreciate stories of resilience, hope, and the power of human connection in the face of adversity, making it a perfect fit for fans of survival, found family, and dystopian fiction. This book comes with a warning of some language and violence. Questions? Email revelliegsucc@gmail.com, or text 520.345.8082
Tommy and Saundra O'Sullivan will entertain with some of their best tunes regularly sung at their celebrated O’Sullivan’s Courthouse Pub in Dingle, Ireland. Tommy is a stellar guitarist and a treasure of traditional Irish music. He and Saundra together are a super duo not to be missed. Friday, February 7th, starting at 7pm. Tix $15
Our hearts are broken for the many individuals and families who have lost their homes and communities in the recent fires in California. The Altadena Community Church, United Church of Christ, was engulfed in flames as were other churches. When disaster strikes, the United Church of Christ responds. Together, we can show God’s love in action. To support the long-term recovery of those affected by the California wildfires, you can write a check to The Good Shepherd and put “Wildfire Relief” in the memo line.


Pastor Randy (bienshphrd@aol.com) and Pastor ellie (revelliegsucc@gmail.com) are available during the week. You may email them set up an appointment for in-person or Zoom meetings.
Office Manager Amy Dillemuth is in the church office Monday through Thursday from 9:30am to 1:30pm. Phone messages or e-mails are still the best way to communicate with the office (email TheGoodShepherdUCCOffice@gmail.com).
Ignore Strange Communications from “Pastors”
A fresh round of strange texts, emails, and calls from “pastors” is circulating. Please be vigilant to avoid scams. Pastors and churches all across the country are experiencing being misrepresented in texts, emails, and calls. Unfortunately, it is nearly impossible to track down and stop these criminals. Please notify Randy, or the Church, if you receive one of these messages. Please also report them as spam to your email or phone provider. And, by all means, never go out and buy gift cards and send codes by text or over e-mail. Pastors will never ask for funds through emails or texts.