by Gator Spaulding

November, 2008

The Outreach Team is very grateful for all of you who came out to be a part of Trunk and Treat again this year. Thank you for helping to make it one of the most successful ones yet. We are all amazed at how each time you are asked to step up to the plate, you do it in such a grand way. Every year we try to come up with ways to improve on the bridge events, and your insights and suggestions have been a valuable tool for the team.

The team would also like to thank each one of the 20 walkers who did the CROS WALK. We had our largest turn out for several years and raised over $3,000 for a very needy cause. Our hats go off to the walkers and to each one of you who supported them with your pledge.

During this month of Thanksgiving, the Team is giving a big THANK YOU for all the ways the church family at Good Shepherd have a heart and a vision for reaching out beyond our walls to touch our community with the love of Jesus.

As you know we have been and will continue to collect pull tabs in support of the Ronald McDonald House, another place we need to say thank you for the little things you do. Those little things make a big difference in the lives of children and families during an extended stay for hospitalization or treatments.

December is just around the turn. We have so many exciting things taking place during December that we want to remind you now to mark your calendars for our Gift Wrapping at Syms from December 18th – 24th. Also, this year we will have our first Grand Gift Wrapping Day here in the parking lot of the church on Saturday, December 20th, 10 am until 4 pm. We are praying that this will be just one more tool God will use to express our heart’s desire to share the Love of Jesus in a very real and practical way.

Our Vision Statement

We are a people who desire to know Christ in His fullness. Vie passionately want to bring Jesus to those who do not know Him through acts of love, service, and healing so that the love of God will be made known to all.

John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I Am The Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Good Shepherd United Methodist Church
2341 S. Military Trail
West Palm Beach, FL 33415-7599
(561) 965-4311

Email: outreach@goodshepherdumc.org
Website: www.goodshepherd-umc.org

Outreach Mission Statement

The great mission of the church is to show love, learn, and live in order to call men and women to Jesus Christ. As sinners are forgiven and are transformed from death to light, God is glorified through that gracious miracle. Christ came into the world that He loved and sought to win sinners to Himself for the Father's glory. The believer who desires to glorify God, who wants to honor. God's supreme will and purpose,; must share God's love for the lost world and join in His mission to redeem the lost to Himself. Our mission as individuals and as the church is the same mission as that of the Father and of the Son. "As thou didst send me into the world," Jesus said to His Father, "I also have sent them into the world." (John 17:18)

If you are interested in becoming a part of the Outreach Ministry team, con­ tact Malcolm (Gator) Spaulding at the church at 965-4311, extension 230. There is always a job that is perfect for you whether it is behind the scenes or in the front lines knocking door to door. We need you. God needs your hands, feet and mouth to work for Him. The community needs you to let them know that Jesus loves them. Please join us!!!!

What is Outreach?

Outreach Evangelism is being accomplished through what can be best described as "Acts of Kindness". These occur when the Outreach Ministry team goes into the surrounding community to bring Christ to the people. They perform different "acts" that show the love of Christ through the actions of his people. In all of these functions, the main thing is to show the love of God to the people who are being ministered to. This ministry also provides the team a chance to invite community people to worship services and other events at the church and to survey the needs of the community for future outreach.

Acts of Kindness

• Friendship baskets of gifts for workers in nursing homes
• Pass out bottled water
• Pass out quarters at laundry mats for free load of wash
• Lunch on us with gift certificates to local business people
• Go door to door in neighborhood to give a treat and let them know of coming events at church.
• Time Change Reminders
• School supplies to Schools (Kindergarten thru to 5th grade)
• Fruit baskets to Fire Station on holidays
• Sweet Treats for people working on Christmas
• Wrap gifts for free at Christmas time

Community Activities at the Church

• Family Meals
• Community Picnic
• 4th of July
• Trunk or Treat