
UPCOMING EVENTS

Candy Drive - Egg Hunt Prep
Candy Needed
We’re gearing up for our annual Easter Eggstravaganza, and we need your help! To make sure we can fill 300 candy bags, we’re asking for donations of candy. Please bring in individually wrapped candy by April 6.
We also want to be mindful of our friends with allergies, so please consider donating allergy-friendly candy options. Your generous contributions will help make this event a sweet success for all ages!
Thank you for your support and for helping us create a fun, safe, and exciting experience for everyone!

Kairos
Kairos Prison Ministry – March 27-30
Kairos is happening at Limestone Prison from March 27-30, bringing the love of Christ to those behind bars. This four-day retreat, much like an Emmaus Walk, is designed to build Christian communities within the prison and offer hope through faith.
Kairos is a volunteer-led, self-supporting, interdenominational ministry that serves both Limestone and the Decatur Work Release institutions. While sign-ups for specific support opportunities have closed, you can still be involved through prayer.
How You Can Help:
🙏 Pray for Kairos: Even if you didn’t sign up for a prayer slot, we encourage you to pray for the inmates, the volunteers, and the work God is doing throughout the weekend. Your prayers make a difference!
Thank you to everyone who has contributed, whether through prayers, donations, or cookies. Your support helps bring light into dark places and allows Christ’s love to shine behind prison walls.

Build Team - Ramp Build
Our Wheel Chair Ramp Build will be on Saturday, April 5.
Meet at 7:30 at IHop in Madison for breakfast. At 8:30 we will move to site address at 148 Hammond Circle in Harvest. Please reach out to the Church Office if you want to be added to the Team email list.

Campus Work Day
Campus Workday: Spring has Sprung!
The Trustees hope you will join us for a Campus Work day on Sunday, April 6, following the 10:30 service as we work together to make our church grounds beautiful for Easter!
We’ll kick off at 11:45AM with a picnic lunch for volunteers, then roll up our sleeves to tackle tasks like mulching, trimming bushes, weeding, and planting flowers.
To make things fun and efficient, we’ll have the campus divided into sections and you can pick your area ahead of time, or even the day of, so whether it’s flower beds, the playground, or another spot that speaks to you, you’ll get to claim your project! The church will provide supplies like mulch and flowers, but we need volunteers to bring gloves, clippers, gardening shears, and any additional tools you think might be helpful.
There’s a lot to do, and we need you to make it happen! Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just ready to lend a hand ,your efforts will make a big difference. Be on the lookout for the opportunity to claim your project starting Sunday, March 30.

Life Navigators Small Group Kickoff!
New Small Group Launching Soon!
Join us starting Sunday, April 13, during the 2nd service (10:30 a.m.) for the launch of the Life Navigators Small Group!
Led by Sarah and Daniel Tylka, this group is designed to help you connect with others, share life’s joys and challenges, and grow deeper in your faith. Together, we’ll explore scripture and dive into the week’s sermon, discussing how to apply these truths in meaningful, practical ways. Whether you’re looking for authentic conversations, a supportive community, or fresh insights for your spiritual journey, there’s a place for you here.
For more information, please reach out to Sarah (Email found in our Newsletter)

Easter Egg-stravaganza
Egg-Stravaganza at Good Shepherd!
Join us for an afternoon of fun at our Easter Egg-Stravaganza!
📅 Date: Sunday, April 13
🕑 Time: 2:00 PM
📍 Location: Good Shepherd UMC
This family-friendly event will have something for everyone, including:
🥚 Easter Egg Hunts – Sectioned areas for different age groups with staggered start times
🍧 Snowcones
🎨 Face Painting
🍿 Popcorn
Bring your baskets and invite your friends—this is a community celebration you won’t want to miss!

Youth Mission Trip
Youth Mission Trip
Summer 2025 - June 1-7
The Youth group will be going to Asheville, NC June 1-7 to help those still recovering from Hurricane Helene. All Youth that will be in 6th grade starting in Fall of ‘25 through Graduating Seniors of ‘25 will be allowed to attend. There are spaces for college aged young adults, and we will need a few chaperones. All attendees must be registered and have their security deposits in no later than March 31st. Youth and College aged security deposit is $150. Chaperones will have costs covered.
More Information Here: https://www.gslife.org/youthmission

Summer Music Camp
Madison Music Summer Camps
The Madison Music Center for Learning and The Madison Music Academy are excited to partner together to offer six week-long music camps this summer! Each two-hour session is packed with engaging activities, hands-on learning, and lasting memories.
Camp Details:
🎶 General Music Camp – FREE (Sponsored by The Madison Music Academy & Good Shepherd UMC)
🎸 Other Camps – $250 Tuition (Tuition assistance available through The Madison Music Academy)
These camps are hosted by our Worship Leader, Eric Brown, and designed to inspire a love for music in a fun and welcoming environment.
For more details or to sign up, head over to the Madison Music Academy site, here: https://themadisonmusicacademy.com/index.html

Vacation Bible School
SAVE THE DATE FOR VBS 2025!
Get ready for a fun-filled, faith-building adventure! Our Vacation Bible School (VBS) is just around the corner, and you won’t want to miss it. Mark your calendars for June 16-19 and join us for an exciting week of games, music, crafts, and Bible lessons that will help kids grow closer to God. Stay tuned for more details—registration will be opening soon!

Women's Retreat
Good Shepherd will be hosting a Women’s Retreat, taking place October 24 through 26 at Camp Maranatha. The theme of the retreat is “Just Breathe” born out of the recognition that we all need Sabbath rest and the joy that comes from deepening our relationship with Christ. This weekend will be a chance to step away, rest, worship, and be refreshed in both body and spirit. All meals included.

Fat Tuesday Feast & Ash Wednesday Service
Mark your calendars because we hope you will join us on Wednesday, March 5 for a special Fat Tuesday-inspired dinner at 6:00 p.m. We will have gumbo, jambalaya, king cake and more followed by worship and imposition of ashes at 6:45 p.m.

Christmas Eve Services
Join us for a candle light Christmas Eve Service. This year’s Christmas Eve services will be held at 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM.

Christmas Carol & Cocoa Night
Join us for a night of holiday fun and fellowship at our Christmas Carol &Cocoa Night on December 8 upstairs in the fellowship hall! Kick off the evening from 6:00-6:50 PM with a Dessert Competition and fellowship time. Bring your best dessert creation for a chance to win in categories like Best Tasting, Christmas Classic, Most Aesthetically Pleasing, Most Original, Best Kid’s Creation, and the ultimate “Santa’s Favorite”!
We’re also encouraging everyone to wear their ugly Christmas sweaters—there’s a prize for the best (or worst!) sweater too. From 6:50 to 7:15 PM, we’ll come together for classic Christmas carols and enjoy the joy of singing together. Plus, there may be fun Christmas crafts to keep the kids entertained! We hope you will invite some friends and family and join us as we celebrate the season together!

Advent Study: Seasons Change—Do We?
For three weeks in December we will be looking at the stories of Jesus’ birth found in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. David will be offering this Advent Study on Wednesday’s in December at 12 noon (bring a lunch) or 6 PM Wednesday nights. December 4, 11 and 18th. How peculiar it is to find that the actual Gospel Nativities are the part of Jesus’ biography about which Bible experts have the greatest sense of uncertainty–even more than the scripture about the miracles Jesus performed or his sacrificial death. Indeed, the Christmas story that Christians know by heart is actually a collection of mysteries. Where was Jesus actually born? Who showed up to celebrate his arrival? How do the details of the stories reflect the specific outreach agendas of the men who wrote them? Two different “Christmas Stories” are in our Scriptures and we will look at what Matthew was trying to say about Jesus’ birth and what Luke is making sure everyone knows about the birth of Christ. The birth of Christ, Emmanuel, is supposed to be a transformative experience for us. This year can we look at the Advent Season as a time of change—real transformation in our lives.
Mother's Night Out
Just in time for winter weather projects, Cathy Anderson will be teaching us how to crochet! (In our Fellowship Hall.)

Order a Poinsettia to decorate the Sanctuary
Help us decorate our sanctuary for the season! You can pick up yours at our Christmas Eve Service. The cost is $15 and please make sure to dedicate it in Honor or Memory of a loved one. There will be flyers in the lobby that you can fill out and put in a giving box with your check or you can use this button below to sign up online. Thank you - they are always so beautiful!

Trunk or Treat
🎃 Join the Fun at Our Trunk or Treat! 🎃
Get ready for a spook-tacular time at our annual Trunk or Treat event on October 27 from 3:00 until 5:00! It's a fantastic evening of family-friendly fun, filled with decorated trunks, delicious treats, and live music. We’d love for you to be a part of it! Whether you’re decorating a trunk to hand out candy, serving the treats, or just joining the festivities, there is a spot for you.
Sign up now to reserve your trunk or volunteer spot!
Let's make this a Halloween to remember. We can't wait to see you there!

Wednesday Night Dinners and Conversations
Please join us for Wednesday night dinners and conversations - October 16, 23, 30.
We REALLY hope you will attend these Wednesday night gatherings to share your thoughts on why you’re part of this church, what keeps you here, and how we can continue to live out our purpose in the community in which God has planted us.
Looking forward to hearing from each of you! Dinner will begin at 6:00 and the conversations will begin at 6:45. We will be finished by 8:00. You can go ahead and register for dinners with the button below. Please let us know if you need child care.

It’s Pumpkin Season!
We are looking forward to lunching pumpkins on October 27! We will be launching them with our Trebuchet (the old medieval siege weapon that flings stuff far). During our Trunk or Treat! You can bring yours (up to 11 pounds) to launch for $2. All money raised will be going toward Youth Christmas Missions project.
Mother's Night Out
What is a dink?! Come learn how to play the hottest new sport - Pickleball!
Come and join us in our gym.

Mother's Night Out
Becca of Becca Jemison Creates will be teaching us how to get creative with clay! Come and make your own Gnome! Cost for this class is $10. Please pay with the link below. This event will be upstairs in our Fellowship Hall - Join us for fellowship and fun!

Back 2 School Bash
Date changed!!! Join us on Sunday, August 4th!
For food, live music, and water inflatables on the front lawn. Bring a towel!
FREE & open to the public!
BYOC (bring your own chair)
Vacation Bible School
VBS will be July 14-18 from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm. Plan to join us for lots of fun!

Passing the Torch: A Celebration Cookout
Join us on Sunday, June 30th, for a special celebration as we mark an important milestone in our church’s history. We are hosting a "Passing the Torch: A Celebration Cookout" to honor Pastor David’s incredible 30 year ministry and to welcome Pastor Brittany as our new senior pastor.
This event will feature:
Wiffle Ball Game: Watch or join in the fun as David and Brittany lead teams in a friendly, yet slightly competitive, game.
Baton Passing Ceremony: Witness a symbolic passing of the baton from our beloved founding pastor to our new senior pastor.
Dinner: Chow down on hamburgers and hotdogs please RSVP and sign up to bring sides and desserts.
Date: Sunday, June 30th
Time: 5-7pm
We hope you will help us to make this a day to remember as we honor our past and look forward to new beginnings. We look forward to seeing you there!
Mother's Night Out
Bring a favorite book or two to trade with other moms! We will have hot coffee and tea and good conversation upstairs in our Fellowship Hall!

Free Music Camp
Free General Music Camp (K-5) downstairs at Good Shepherd UMC June 3 - 7 from 10:00 am - 12:00pm. Each Day in the camp we will explore the Piano, Guitar, Ukulele, and Rhythm instruments. By the End of the week, students will have a solid grasp of the mechanics of reading music on the Grand Staff and Tablature. We will also explore how to play several little songs on each instrument. Camp is sponsored by Good Shepherd UMC & The Madison Music Academy. Register at music-lessons-madison-Alabama.com

Work Day/Gym Floor Demolition
We are replacing our gym floor starting May 20th! The install will take 2 weeks and during that time the gym will be closed to everyone while the floor cures.
We will have our Indoor Work Day/Gym Floor Demolition May 18th at 9am. We have a few jobs that need done around the church as well as taking up the old gym floor. Everyone is invited! Our church Pickleball group will be providing lunch and childcare will be provided for those who need it. When the original floor was installed the people who helped signed their name to the concrete slab underneath. We will be doing the same this time. We hope your will join us and add your name to our giant concrete time capsule!
There are still tiles available from the old gym floor if you are interested. The tiles are floating interlocking PPC tiles. We have already reserved a dumpster so these will be first come first serve on May 18th at the work day.

Mother's Night Out
Our next Mother’s Night Out is a open gym time on Saturday, May 11 from 10-12 am. Bring your little kiddos for gym play time! Moms can hang out and chat while the kids are safely contained and burning energy!

Dinner and Trivia Games
Mark your calendars for a night of fun, food, and fellowship on Wednesday, May 8th from 6-7:30pm! We hope you will join us for dinner and trivia games!!! We expect there will be a good deal of laughter as well.

Youth Sunday '24
Senior Sunday is coming up! Fill out the form bellow if you have a senior and want them to be celebrated on Youth Sunday.
Youth Sunday is our yearly celebration of our Youth, both the graduating seniors and the younger grades. Youth takes over the service, leading the band, doing the several speaking segments, and giving a sermon. Hope you’re excited!

Mother's Night Out this Friday!
All moms are invited to join us in the gym for a fun dance-based cardio class with fitness instructor, Jenn Besaw. Wear your comfy workout clothes and sneakers and don’t worry about your fitness level or dance skills! Just come out and dance with us. We will have time to cool down and fellowship after class.

Membership 101 Class
We will be having a Membership 101 Class on April 14 after the second service in the blue room. We will provide lunch and child care - please let us know if you can attend. This is the class you need to take before you can join Good Shepherd. You do not have to join after taking the class but you will get to meet the staff and learn more about us.

Night of Prayer
Join us for an evening of fellowship and prayer at our upcoming churchwide Night of Prayer, taking place on Wednesday April 10 from 6-8pm. We'll gather together for a delicious meal before having the opportunity to explore different prayer experiences designed to deepen our spiritual connection.
Our hope is that we all might discover new ways to commune with the divine as we offer four distinct prayer experiences, each offering a unique approach to prayer. Whether through contemplative silence, Lectio Divina, labyrinth walking, or interactive prayer stations, there's something for everyone to explore and engage with.
Plus, we haven't forgotten our youngest members! A special prayer offering will be available for kids, providing them with a meaningful and age-appropriate opportunity to connect with God.
Mark your calendars and join us for this special evening of fellowship and growth!

Easter Sunday Services
Joins us for Easter Sunday Services:
We will have our Outdoor Sonrise Service at 6:30 am behind our church in our amphitheater (weather permitting).
And our usual 9:00 am and 10:30 am in our sanctuary. Please bring a flower for our cross and have a picture made!

Seder Meal
Join us for our Seder Meal on Maundy Thursday, March 28 at 6:00 in the Blue Room- please RSVP with the link below. We will eat and fellowship together. Then we will have Dan Irwin explain the Jewish Seder and we will sample the foods they may have eaten in Jesus’ day. Then we will explain the Christian aspects of how Jesus reframed the Seder Meal.

Easter Egg-stravaganza
We still need volunteers, please email angela@gslife.org or talk to her on Sunday at church!
We will have an Easter Bunny, a petting zoo and snow cones.
We are going to have Easter Egg Hunts at different starting times.
Egg Hunt Times:
0-2 years: 2:30
3-5 years: 2:45
6-8 years: 3:15
9-11 years 3:30
Plan to join us for lots of fun!

Lenten Class
David Tubbs will be facilitating a Lenten Class on Wednesday evenings
(Feb. 21, 28 and March 6) at 6:00 pm in Room 124. This class will be about Journeying to the Cross.

Salvation Army - Cook Team
Join us as we work with the Salvation Army to help our community through cooking and delivering food! We will meet at the downstairs kitchen at noon, Saturday, February 17, and then deliver and serve the food from 4 to 8.

Ash Wednesday - Dust to Dust
Join us for a late Fat Tuesday meal followed by our Ash Wednesday service.
Dinner starts at 6 with service at 7.
RSVP by Monday, February 12, if you plan to attend the meal.

Soup-er Bowl
The SOUP-er Bowl is coming up – please support your favorite team by donating food to our food pantry! We will see which team brings in the most!
Our biggest needs are:
cans of tuna, salmon, spam, cereal, cans of fruit, cooking oil, canned spaghetti sauce, Ramen noodles, rice, potatoes, small bottles of laundry detergent, bars of soap, tooth paste and shampoo.
Bring your food as soon as we know the teams through Feb. 11 for the contest - of course you can ALWAYS donate to the food pantry!