We are pleased to announce the appointment of Rev. Craig Duke as our new lead pastor. Rev. Duke will be working along side of Pastor Emerson to build and grow the ministries and programs of our congregation. Pastor Duke is coming to Good Shepherd from Hillside UMC in Princeton, IN, where he has served since 1999. He, his wife Linda and daughter, Tiffany, will be moving to Fort Wayne shortly after the first of the year with his first Sunday in the pulpit being February 20. We ask that you keep the Duke family in your prayers as they prepare to move to Fort Wayne.

We want to thank Pastor Bill Farmer for his service over the past six months. He helped to lead GUSMC during a very transitional time and his passion for ministry and service has been much appreciated.

At the end of July we are in fair shape with the giving to the church.  We are currently $27,000 behind in pledged giving.  The expenses of the church continue to run behind budget, which has been a significant help in maintaining a positive cash flow.  The sale of the Amulet parsonage has been completed in August and the funds from that sale have been deposited in the church account.  These funds will bring the budget into a positive situation at the  end of August. 

The Finance Committee thanks each of you for your continued support.

We are now collecting new and gently used shoes for Footprints for Youth. Collected shoes will be distributed to youth in Fort Wayne Community Schools and other area schools in Allen County. Shoes may be placed in the box in the Narthex until April 17. We are hosting a Red Cross Blood Drive Sunday, April 3. Snacks are needed and may be left in the kitchen with a note attached. Watch for upcoming details about Christmas in July which will run June 30 through July 31.

The Local Missions committee will meet May 17 and July 19 to discuss ongoing and upcoming local needs and fundraising. Everyone is invited to attend.

The day after Thanksgiving, November 26, the Worship Committee with be dressing the narthex and sanctuary for Advent and Christmas.  We would appreciate adult help (especially men as there is ladder work).  We will start around 9:00 a.m. and hope to be done by noon or shortly after.

The Education Team is working hard for the holiday season:

The Youth Department has launched its first Pie Fundraiser to raise monies for next year’s mission trip.  Pie orders are being taken now through November 1.

Christmas Bible School will be held December 4, and Santa Gram at Open Arms will be held December 11.  Donations of new and like new toys and household items are being collected at both sites.

Come visit the newly refurbished library between services! Enjoy your coffee and doughnut in one of our comfortable chairs, and you might just see a book you'll want to read!

The Endowment Committee met February 15, spending the majority of its time discussing ways in which its work can be brought to the attention of the congregation. Meetings to accomplish this goal will be held May 17, August 16 and November 15 for the purpose of achieving the following goals:

1. Conducting a workshop on the Legacy Fund for the congregation
2. Making the Legacy Fund brochure more available to the congregation
3. Preparing a power point presentation regarding information about the function of the Endowment Committee and the Legacy Fun
4. Conducting a wills and estate seminar for the congregation
5. Reviewing the committee's financial picture and deciding the amount of money to be given the Enduring Gifts Committee

In 2010, the $1,000 given to the Enduring Gifts Committee by the Endowment Committee was spent on a computer ($860) and a canopy for the Pumpkin Patch ($140). With this year's allocation of $2500 to the Enduring Gifts Committee, $2300 was spent on a changing table for the nursery school program.

The Goals of the committee are to ensure a safe environment at the Church and in members' daily lives. We strive to prevent accidents and injuries via inspections, recommendations to the board, training (CPR, etc), and education. We respond to emergencies during low and high occupancy times, with appropriate equipment.

Areas of focus are: Building security, criminal activity on and around church property, medical emergencies, fire prevention, rapid response and safe evacuation, weather emergencies which threaten the safety of those in church buildings, biological spills, traffic flow within buildings and property. Our next meeting is Thursday, September 30, at 4 p.m.

Thank you to everyone for such great comments and support with the new information signs and moving of the welcome center. If you have not had a chance to look at one of the new information packets, please feel free to check it out. They are packed with great information about Good Shepherd.

At this time we have the following needs in Congregational Care:

The Lifters Prayer Ministry needs 10-12 people who are willing to pray for members. Every six months you will be provided a new list of 10-12 names. You will send out one of the pre-printed post cards provided by the church to the members on your list letting them know they are being prayed for. Over the next six months, you will continue to pray for these members.

Our other area needing volunteers is Hospital Visitation Ministry. This ministry outreach will require only one day per month making visits to our members who are hospitalized. Visits can be made during the day or in the evenings, however it works into your day, and training will be provided. At this time we need at least four people who feel this calling into ministry.

Please contact Milisa Johnson at 745-3302, Marilyn Rousseau at 485-8466 or you Kelley Hathaway at the church office at 483-8816.