Verbal Announcements
14th Pentecost
14 Sep 2025
13th Pentecost
7 Sep 2025
12th Pentecost
31 Aug 2025
11th Pentecost
24 Aug 2025
10th Pentecost
17 Aug 2025
9th Pentecost
10 Aug 2025
8th Pentecost
3 Aug 2025
7th Pentecost
27 Jul 2025
6th Pentecost
23 Jul 2025
5th Pentecost
13 Jul 2025
4th Pentecost
6 Jul 2025
3rd Pentecost
29 Jun 2025
2nd Pentecost
22 Jun 2025
Trinity
15 Jun 2025
Pentecost
8 Jun 2025
7th Easter
1 Jun 2025
6th Easter
25 May 2025
5th Easter
18 May 2025
4th Easter
11 May 2025
3rd Easter
4 May 2025
2nd Easter
27 Apr 2025
Easter
20 Apr 2025
Palm Sunday
13 Apr 2025
5th Sunday of Lent
6 Apr 2025
4th Sunday of Lent
30 Mar 2025
As We Gather
We need mercy. In fact, all people need mercy. In 1Timothy 2:1-15, Paul urges that prayers be made for all people—for kings and all in authority. In our tense political times, we may be reluctant to pray for those we consider our political enemies, but God calls on us to pray for all, whether rich or poor, whether we agree with them or not. God desires to show mercy to all people.
Holy Communion
The Lord’s Supper is celebrated today with the confession that we receive the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, in, with and under (a way of saying that Christ is fully present in) the bread and wine. Christ's presence gives us the assurance that our sins are forgiven and to nourish our faith. This is a solemn celebration, “For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves” (1Corinthians 11:29). The Lord’s Supper is meant for our good, not to our judgment. But, before presenting yourself ask these questions:
1. Am I sorry for my sins and need forgiveness?
2. Did Christ die and rise to forgive my sins?
3. Am I receiving the very body and blood of Christ Jesus?
If your answers are yes, you are welcome. If you are not a member of a LCMS church, or have further questions about The Lord’s Supper, please speak with the pastor.
Stewardship
Luke 16:8 – “For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light.”
The sons of this world know that they should use their wealth wisely to provide for their future. Shouldn’t we “sons of light” know that the wealth God has allowed us to manage should be managed for God’s purposes in the roles He has given us in Church, home, and society?
Lutherans For Life
“To be authentic is to be vulnerable with others—and that may make us fearful. It might be messy, and that makes us uncomfortable. It takes time. Our reminder as we [the Church] seek to become a place of belonging is 1Corinthians 12:18: ‘But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.’” Mona Fuerstenau– A Life Quote from Lutherans For Life • lutheransforlife.org
Benevolence
Benevolences. “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Luke 12:32-34. Please consider contributing to our benevolence fund. (Online to donate: https://www.shalimar.church/human-care)
American Heritage Girls Troop 1517
Building women of integrity through service to God, family, community and country.
American Heritage Girls is a Christ-centered scouting ministry for girls ages 5-18. AHG offers badge programs, service projects, girl leadership opportunities, and outdoor experiences to its members.
The troop meets on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month.
The AHG Oath: “I promise to love God, cherish my family, honor my country, and serve in my community.
For more information contact Adrienne Cook.
Blood Drive
Donating blood is a simple yet powerful way to save lives. Each gift of blood provides hope for patients in need—from accident victims to those battling cancer—and allows us to live out our calling to love and serve others. By coming together and rolling up our sleeves, we can make an impact that reaches well beyond our church family and reflect Christ’s love in action.
For more information contact Jean
"Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." – Galatians 6:9
Children Sunday School
This week our children will study the Scripture's account, "Sin Enters the World," as the devil tempted Adam and Eve to sin. With the fall into sin came God's punishment of death ... but also His promise of a Savior. You might discuss, "How does sin affect us as a family? How does God's promise of a Savior give us comfort?"
Marionette Puppets
God is with us even when we are afraid. Although David might have been afraid, God was still with him when he fought Goliath. God will help us with out problems too.
How AI is Used in Fraud and Scams
Learn how artificial intelligence is being used in today’s scams and how to stay protected. Ashley Bailey from the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office will share real examples and safety tips. Join us in the Café for this important and practical session on digital awareness and protection.
Community Education Topic: Medicare Enrollment
Join us for an informative session with Marti Hearn from the Northwest Florida Area Agency on Aging as she shares helpful guidance on Medicare Open Enrollment. Come learn about your options and get your questions answered!
Concert Series
Echoes of Elegance
Experience chamber music that radiates grace, charm, and timeless optimism! Enjoy captivating works by Haydn, Handel, and Vivaldi, performed by distinguished musicians from Northwest Florida and Alabama under the direction of conductor David Ott.
Free Admission
Council Meeting
Let us do everything with love. The Church Council is a gathering of elected advisers who serve and guide the ministries of the congregation toward our given mission. (Matthew 28:19-20). We meet in the library.
Council Stewardship Focus
As summer ends and fall begins, we invite you to reflect on stewardship—the joyful sharing of time, talents, and treasures in response to God’s grace. This season, we’ll highlight ways to support GSLC’s ministries and outreach. Volunteers are needed for worship, groundskeeping, events, and mission work. Financial giving is vital, as monthly expenses average $41,000 while income averages $33,000. Please prayerfully consider your giving and estate planning. In the weeks ahead, Sunday announcements will spotlight ministry needs. Let’s renew our commitment to love God, serve others, and share Christ’s light in our church and community.
Family Trip To Pensacola Aviation Museum
Join us for a day of fellowship at the National Naval Aviation Museum on NAS Pensacola. The museum is the world’s largest Naval Aviation museum featuring Naval Aviation’s rich history with more than 150 restored aircraft on display. Admission to the Museum is free.
For more information contact Curtis Parker
Military Love & Care Bags
As a church community grounded in compassion and service, we have a special opportunity to come together and make a real difference in the lives of local military families who are facing financial hardship.
Many of these families are struggling to afford everyday essentials—items that most of us may take for granted. We invite you to join us in showing Christ’s love through generosity by contributing much-needed supplies.
Please bring essential items and place them in the designated donation box located in the Narthex. The Outreach Committee will organize and distribute these donations directly to families in need.
Let’s come together as the body of Christ to bless our military families with dignity, love, and tangible care.
Mite Boxes
Lutheran Women in Mission use the Mite Box to gather loose change throughout the month to support national, district, and local ministries. Lutheran Women all over, raise funds through this voluntary offering. The first Sunday of the month is when we receive your collected mites in the LWML Mite Box.
Reformation
We are celebrating the Reformation with a congregational picnic, live action drama, Lutheran trivia, pumpkin carving, and fellowship. The first act of our three act play starts at Noon. The conclusion of that first act will signal the start of the picnic.
The Reformation commemorates the rescue of the Gospel (Faith alone, Grace alone, Scripture alone, Christ alone, All Glory to God alone) from a corrupt medieval church. The catalyst for the reformation was the Oct 31, 1517 posting on the door of the Wittenberg Church a disputation protesting clerical abuses and the sale of forgiveness.
Sharing and Caring
A ministry supported by our congregation through donations of non-perishable food items, placed in the collection basket in the inner Narthex. Sharing and Caring serves individuals and families in need by providing food, clothing, and emergency assistance. It brings hope, encouragement, and practical support to those experiencing hardship or crisis.
Smokes and Jokes, a Christian Fellowship
Attention cigar smokers, pipe smokers, bourbon and scotch drinkers! Pastor Klemme is organizing a fellowship group around shared interest in the leaf and libations to meet at one of the local cigar bars and in each other’s homes, where we can smoke and joke on the patio. Those interested should contact Pastor Klemme directly.
Council Stewardship Letter
Greetings In Christ!
As we start the transition from summer vacations to fall’s regular work and school schedules, GSLC is going to highlight the many ways in which you can support the ongoing mission of sharing the Good News of Christ’s love. We have needs both within Good Shepherd for the building up of the church, and more importantly, outside in reaching our neighbors. In the words of Matthew 28:18, we are called to go and make disciples of all nations.
As we gather as a family of faith, it is a fitting time to reflect on the call to stewardship that God has placed upon our congregation. Stewardship is more than a duty—it is a joyful response to God’s abundant grace, an expression of trust and gratitude through the sharing of our time, talents, and treasures. Each one of us is invited to participate in the life and mission of Good Shepherd, not only in service but in the wise and faithful management of the resources entrusted to us. What a wonderful gift this is!
Through our collective stewardship, we support the ministries that nurture our spiritual growth, care for our neighbors, and extend Christ’s love into the wider community. Your involvement, whether through volunteering or through generous giving, sustains these efforts and ensures that Good Shepherd continues to be a beacon of hope and hospitality.
The time, talents, and treasures that Christ has given to each of us, is vital to the ongoing ministries here at GSLC.
Over the next several weeks leading up to Rally Day and beyond, we’ll take a few minutes during each Sunday’s announcements to highlight the work of our different boards and the current needs of our church. For example, we need volunteers to support worship services in roles such as ushers, audio/visual/streaming, readers, singers, musicians, and altar guild. We need lawn care team volunteers to help maintain our grounds. We need people to help organize and execute Outreach events like our concert series and Life Team, Human Care drives like back-to-school supplies and angel tree, Fellowship/welcoming food events like our 5th Sunday fellowship and funerals as examples.
Besides the volunteering of your time and talents, your treasure enables ongoing operations, special events, and the upkeep of our aging buildings. While we haven’t significantly expanded our operations over the years, inflation continues to increase costs. Donations received, however, have not significantly increased over the last few years and we find ourselves operating in a growing deficit. Since we haven’t regularly posted our expenses versus giving in the bulletin, you may not be aware that our 2025 average monthly expenses are running $41,000 versus $33,000 received. Our reserves have enabled us to minimize the impact but we’re now evaluating deferring any expenses we can. Please prayerfully consider your current giving level. “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7) You may also consider including Good Shepherd as part of your estate planning. The church council is currently looking into inviting a Thrivent or Church Extension Fund representative to discuss estate planning.
As we move forward together, let us embrace this season as an opportunity to renew our commitment to Good Shepherd’s mission to love God and one another. Through prayerful generosity and heartfelt service, we respond to God’s call, ensuring that our church remains a vibrant place of faith, fellowship, and outreach. May we each consider how we are called to give, serve, and grow as stewards of God’s many blessings, trusting that through our shared efforts, Christ’s love will shine more brightly in our congregation and community.
In Christ’s Service,
Garry A. Haase
President
Sunday School, Legacy Deo
During the Sunday School hour, we welcome Brian Hamilton from Legacy Deo for a presentation on Christian stewardship. He will share insights on endowments, trust funds, and remembering the congregation in our wills. Legacy Deo, a Christ-centered foundation, has long helped individuals, families, churches, and ministries with planned giving and endowment management, encouraging believers to leave a lasting legacy of faith.
The Way Cafe
An in-person devotion with Pastor Klemme to strengthen your relationship with God through Scripture, song, prayer, fellowship, and biblical insights. Come, be replenished, renewed, and fueled to live a life of faith. You are welcome just as you are. God is here, ready to connect with you in a fresh way. Meets by weekly in the Cafe.
Youth Group
Festival of Apostle and Evangelist St. Matthew
The Church honor's saints for showing us how living out faith can be done.
Our ascended Lord gives “gifts” to His Church. In particular, He gave apostles and evangelists like St. Matthew, prophets like Ezekiel, and still gives pastors and teachers (Ephesians 4:8,11). All are “for the common good … empowered by one and the same Spirit” (1Corinthians 12:7,11). They speak Christ’s “truth in love” to wind- and wave-tossed children so that the saints may be equipped, served and built up as the Body of Christ (Ephesians 4:12-15). Christ is not only the head of this body, He is her Good Physician (Matthew 9:9-13). He has come not for the well but for the sick, not for “the righteous, but sinners” (Matthew 9:13) — even notorious tax collectors like Matthew. Christ’s team of spiritual physicians must serve faithfully. Their instrument is “thus says the Lord God,” to be spoken “whether they hear or refuse to hear” (Ezekiel 3:11). To those stubborn, rebellious patients who believe they need no physician, the word “of lamentation and mourning and woe” must be fearlessly spoken: God’s Law calls to repentance (Ezekiel 2:10). To those who recognize their trouble and sickness, the salve of the Gospel is to be applied. So Christ works to save us, as Matthew’s Gospel records.
Source: LCMS Calendar of Feasts and Festivals.
Commemoration of Jonah
The Church honor's saints for showing us how living out faith can be done.
A singular prophet among the many in the Old Testament, Jonah the son of Amittai was born about an hour's walk from the town of Nazareth. The focus of his prophetic ministry was the call to preach at Nineveh, the capital of pagan Assyria (Jonah 1:1). His reluctance to respond and God's insistence that his call be heeded is the story of the book that bears Jonah's name. Although the swallowing and disgorging of Jonah by the great fish is the most remembered detail of his life, it is addressed in only three verses of the book (Jonah 1:17; 2:1, 10). Throughout the book, the important theme is how God deals compassionately sinners. Jonah's three-day sojourn in the belly of the fish is mentioned by Jesus as a sign of his own death, burial, and resurrection (Matthew 12:39-41).
Source: LCMS Calendar of Commemorations