GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH
OF ELIZABETH CITY, NC
We value and welcome ALL people in Christ’s holy name.
Growing by grace, serving in faith, and sharing God’s story.

Faith, by itself, if it does not have works, is dead –
James 2:17
2025 Stewardship Appeal
God’s Work, Good Shepherd’s Hands
GOD'S WORK
GOOD SHEPHERD'S HANDS

These are the hands of Good Shepherd. Do you know any of them?
These are the hands that live out the truth of “God’s Work, Our Hands.” These hands pray, these hands comfort, these hands share God’s love.

These are the hands of Good Shepherd, and they do God’s work.

These are the hands that help feed the hungry in Elizabeth City. More and more people in this country are suffering from food insecurity, and Elizabeth City has not been spared from this problem.


These are the hands that are feeding twice the number of people they fed just a couple of years ago through the SOULS ministry. They are people who need a hand and we’re there for them.
“If you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness….”
Isaiah 58:10
In Isaiah, we are told that

It is our hands that do this work –
God’s Work, Good Shepherd’s Hands.
But these hands do more….
“Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever
good they do, whether they are slave or free.”
Ephesians 6: 6-8

There are so many ways in which people can be afflicted. Poverty, domestic abuse, emotional problems, sickness, inadequate education, homelessness…. they need a hand too.
The congregation of Good Shepherd has always had a servant’s heart. It is our passion as much as it is our joy. Relying on the hands of those who work hard to raise funds through the Good Shepherd Yard Sale, we have contributed thousands of dollars over the years to such worthwhile organizations as Albemarle Hopeline, the Albemarle Pregnancy Resource Center, the Community Care Collaborative and the ECPPS Backpack Program.

We answer God’s call to be servants to others, our hands work in God’s name. It is our joy and our duty to do God’s work.
But our work doesn’t end there...
“So you shall serve the Lord your God,
and He will bless your bread and your water.
And I will take sickness away from the midst of you.”
Exodus 23: 25-26

Good Shepherd’s hands are also helping in the important work undertaken by the Orphan Medical Network International (OMNI). OMNI’s mission is to provide health care, education and community support in remote areas of Zambia, where no such resources currently exist.
Through child support sponsorships, impoverished children are able to attend OMNI school grades 1-9. A hot meal is provided, along with uniforms, new shoes, and medical care. Good Shepherd’s hand have helped to collect medical supplies that OMNI medical teams deploy, which include two members of Good Shepherd who make annual trips to Zambia.


Our hands join with others when disaster strikes…
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth should change,
Though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea,
Though its waters roar and foam,
Though the mountains tremble with its tumult.”
Psalm 46: 1-3
When tragedy strikes close to home, the pain can be unspeakable. All of us have been heartbroken by the devastation we’re seeing in Western North Carolina as a result of Hurricane Helene. We’re shocked, we’re saddened, and we wonder why this had to happen.


But God draws us closer together when tragedy strikes, and Good Shepherd’s hands join with the hands of many others to do God’s work.
Ten percent of Good Shepherd’s stewardship revenue helps to support the important efforts undertaken by the North Carolina Synod, as it works to help churches in Western North Carolina, as well as members of their congregations, recover from this tragedy. In addition, the grace and generosity of members of our congregation who have contributed to the NC Synod Disaster Fund and Lutheran Disaster Response Carolinas has truly been a blessing. At moments such as this, the work these organizations do has never been more vital.

Good Shepherd’s Hands extend to wherever God’s Work is needed – whether that work is in Elizabeth City, Zambia or Western North Carolina.
God’s Work,
Good Shepherd’s Hands
God’s Work, Good Shepherd’s Hands…
“We lift our voices,
We lift our hands,
We lift our lives up to you,
We are an offering,
Lord use our voices,
Lord use our hands….”
ELW 692
Our hands pray. . .

Our hands share peace. . .
Our hands console. . .


Our hands distribute
the blood and body of Christ…


Our hands feed the hungry. . .
Our hands do God’s work.
But there is much more work that needs to be done…
“The poor will always be among you…”
Matthew 26:11
Good Shepherd has been in existence now for over twenty-five years.

There have been times when it seemed as if we might not be able to continue – at least not in our present form – but we’ve always found a way to persevere. More importantly, our passionate commitment to helping those in our community and beyond has never flagged.
We have embraced James’s challenge to keep our faith alive by our good works.
In 2025, we must call upon that same passion and commitment when it comes to ensuring Good Shepherd’s continued financial stability. In 2024 we appear to be on track to finish the year on or close to budget – thanks be to God!
But in 2025, we’ll face a couple of different challenges: reduced revenue - owing to members who have moved away - and higher expenses – related most notably to insurance and utility expenses. Moreover, we continue to defer expenditures in such areas as air conditioning maintenance, roof repairs and window replacement. Indeed, one of the reasons we’re doing okay in 2024 has to do with the fact that little has been spent in these areas. At some point, that will come back to haunt us!
So, looking ahead, we could be facing a deficit of as much as $15 to $20 thousand dollars next year – a considerable challenge to ensure Good Shepherd’s continued stability even while we continue to do God’s work.
God’s Work,
Good Shepherd’s Hands….
“God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested
beyond your strength…”
1 Corinthians 10:13

The words written by Paul in his letter to the Corinthians have always been true in Good Shepherd’s case, even though at times it might have seemed as if our strength was insufficient. In the next year, we will be challenged once again to ensure that our church remains viable and can continue to live out our faith by doing God’s Work. We are a small congregation and the challenge we face is not unusual for small congregations, nor is it insurmountable.
We have faced this type of challenge before, and we can face it again. It will require each of us to consider the gifts we have received from God and how much we can give back in His name.
Good Shepherd really does have a servant’s heart, and let us all pray that God’s Work, Good Shepherd’s Hands never ceases to be at the core of our wonderful church.
Amen.
God’s Work, Our Hands
God's work, our hands: working together,
building a future, repairing the world,
raising up homes, planting new gardens,
feeding the hungry and shelt'ring the cold.
Bless, God, our hands as we work in your name,
sharing the good news of your Gospel.
God's work, our feet: trav'ling together,
following Jesus to places unknown,
walking as friends, marching for freedom,
running the race with God's future the goal.
Bless, God, our feet as we follow your way,
sharing the good news of your Gospel.
God's work, our voice: singing together,
praising, proclaiming to all who will hear,
praying for peace, shouting for justice,
claiming God's love for the lost and the least.
Bless, God, our voice as we speak in your name,
sharing the good news of your Gospel.
God is at work in and around us:
seedlings are sprouting and bread's on the rise!
Washed and set free, humbled and honored,
gifted by grace, we respond in God's love.
Bless, God, our lives as we answer your call,
sharing the good news of your Gospel.
Text: Wayne L. Wold
Text © 2019 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, admin. Augsburg Fortress.
Permission is granted to reproduce this composition for local, non-sale use in synods,