Thanks also go to Maggie Topel and Allyson Sample for their duet during the Offertory. a beautiful song called "My Lord is my Stronghold and My Defense. Maggie and Allyson are student music trainees this year and have been bright musical lights while sharing their gifts with us.

Assembled on the floor in front of the altar was our "givings" for the Thanksgiving baskets we would be putting together and delivering on Monday. My heart was lifted as I looked at the canned goods, the apples, the potatoes and other offerings destined for families we do not know. I could not help but think of Scriptures which instruct us to love our neighbor as ourselves, etc and this way we have chosen to show that love. Thanks also to all of our neighboring churches who have joined in the Caring Community and spent the weekend showing that love in the same way.

You know, December will be here before you know it and so will our Craft Fair and Bake Sale on December 1 from 9 to 2. Come and browse our tables, look over the Silent Auction items, pick out some tins and fill them from our Cookie Walk and the load up your bags with goodies for the Holidays to come. In between, sit and have lunch with us, talk to your neighbors and then go back for one more look at the Silent Auction items.

Soon after that, on December 9, there will be our Charge Conference right after church. This means that all committee chairs and elected officials get to submit a short report of what has been happening during their watch for Rev. Merrill to collate for our District Superintendent to look over.

Advent begins on December 2 this year. I know that Rev. Merrill will have something special for each of those Sundays. We invite you all to come and join us for this very special time in the church as we await the birth of Jesus. There will be special choir offerings, messages from people in the congregation, short prayers as we light the Advent Candles and other ways to take note of as we examine the reason for the season. You do not have to have a previous connection with good Shepherd to join us as we celebrate. If you are new in town, or just want to reconnect with a church, we invite you to be with us on Sunday morning at 10 am. There will be people to greet you and we will always have a seat ready for you.