Our last blood drive in April was the most successful so far - we broke all our previous records for participants - and at such an important time of need! With the pandemic continuing, the need is great. If you are a continuous donor, or a new donor, or if you'd like more information about what it entails, please reach out to Carol Phelps at 518-355-3901. She will be happy to help you sign up. You can also register online at redcross.org. Let's continue to break our record! We look forward to seeing you!

Annual Community Halloween Party - This year the Annual Community Halloween Party will be held outside due to issues around the COVID-19 on Saturday October 23 at 2:00 PM. This party is for all of the children at Good Shepherd as well as the children in the community. We will have a trunk or treat, games, prizes, candy, pizza and a lot of spooktacular fun.  Please put this date on your calendar so that your children and their friends can come out and join the fun. See you on the 23rd.

Holiday Boutique - Good Shepherd Lutheran Church is sponsoring a Holiday Boutique on November 20, 2021 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. We will be selling holiday décor and gifts and sponsoring a Craft Fair, a Pie and Bake Sale, and a raffle with a variety of gift baskets and gift certificates.  Hotdogs and soup will be available for lunch and take-out.  We are currently accepting gift certificates and merchandise for our raffle, and vendors may reserve a table to sell their crafts or products. This is a congregational fund-raiser, and all are welcome to participate by making soup, baking pies or other baked goods, and volunteering to help before, during or after the event. Proceeds will benefit the ministries of Good Shepherd and services for refugees.  For more information, please call or send a text message to one of the co-chairs -- Nancy Serge at 518-542-8808 or Marjorie Raymond at 518-424-6043.

Bakers Needed - During the Holiday Boutique on November 20^th, we will be having a Pie and Bake sale. We anticipate this to be a successful event because it is the week before Thanksgiving and our success of the Community Sale this past spring. We are asking for donations of baked goods and whole pies. If you are willing to help with this worthwhile community event, there will be a signup sheet Narthex or you can call Marie Wertman at (518) 221-6264.

WELCA - The Good Shepherd Unit of Women of the ELCA is planning for the Cookie Walk that will be held on December 11. Patti Kopach will serve as chair of the Cookie Walk and will preside at the meeting. We will be looking for volunteers to bake cookies and help with the sale. For more information, please contact Patti at 518-788-0386.

Men's Shelter Meals - Again this year, the cluster churches will be preparing meals for the Overflow Shelter at First Lutheran that opens on November 1, 2021. The meal needs to be prepared for about 15 people and consist of an entrée, vegetable or salad and dessert. The shelter is requesting no fish or pork and it is not necessary to provide a salad dressing with the salad. It has worked out well when three people prepare a meal so that no one is doing the whole meal.

These are Good Shepherd's dates: For 2021 - November 9 and December 7. For 2022 - January 4, February 1, March 1, March 29 and April 26. If you would like to help with this special ministry, please speak with Danny Patrick.

New Library - A new addition to Good Shepherd is our "Little Free Library". A bit of gentle outreach to the youth of the neighborhood. This box contains books for Kids of all ages that can be taken and enjoyed without charge. They can also add their own books as they finish and wish to share.

Wednesday Bible Study - The Bible Study group meets in person in the Blue Room at the church every Wednesday from 1 pm to 2 pm. You can also join by conference call. Contact Bertie Cole for information at 518-626-0657. All are welcome!

CLUSTER COLLECTION - The Cluster Collection for September and October is "Cleaning Supplies" for the Emergency Overflow Shelter.

The most important cleaning supplies needed are:

* Disinfecting Floor Cleaner (i.e. PineSol)

* Bleach

* Disinfecting Spray (ie. Lysol Spray)

* Disinfecting Wipes

* SOLID Air Freshener

* Toilet Cleaner & Toilet Bowl Brushes

* Disinfecting Sink and Shower Cleaner

* Shower Cleaning Brushes

* Scrubby Sponges (for sinks, walls, urinals, etc)

* Household Brooms

We appreciate that the disciples of each of our Cluster churches continue to work together for these important ministries. Thanks be to God!

You may also contribute online through our Amazon Wish List. The link is: