UPCOMING EVENTS
Math Tutoring
Open to the Public
Math Tutors are available to help students’ kindergarten through Calculus. No sign up required and FREE to the public-please bring your homework.
Tuesday nights between 5-7PM in Room #117.
Please Note: We Follow the Madison County School System for closures and holidays.
Monday Evening Yoga
Drop In Yoga
Join us for a weekly yoga class open to the community. This gentle practice focuses on movement, breath, and stillness, offering space to slow down and reset. All levels are welcome, and no prior yoga experience is needed. Classes will be instructed on the mat. However, chairs will be available and modifications are always encouraged.
Please bring your own yoga mat if you have one. A limited number of mats will be available.
6:00–7:00 p.m.
Fellowship Hall, Good Shepherd UMC
Free and open to the community. All are welcome.
Fill the Table
This Thanksgiving season, help us Fill the Table: Share the Love by stocking the shelves of our food pantry. Last month alone, we served 67 visitors, providing food for households representing 230 people.
Collection tables are located throughout the church for your donations. Every item donated helps ensure our neighbors and families in need have food on the table this Thanksgiving.
Together, let's fill the table and share the love! 🍂❤️
Charge Conference
Please join us for our annual Charge Conference on Thursday, November 5, at 6:00 PM in the Sanctuary.
Charge Conference is our yearly church business meeting where we celebrate God’s work among us, approve the 2027 budget, elect church leaders, and look ahead to the future of Good Shepherd. This year, we’ll also share updates on our visioning process and the next steps for Risking Faith, Connection, Neighbor, and Resource.
Dinner will be served at 5:15 PM, so please RSVP if you plan to attend.
Veterans Day Volunteer Opportunity
If you're interested in volunteering for the Veterans Day Lunch, please click the button below to RSVP.
Chili Cook Off
Think your chili has what it takes to be a champion? Join us for our Chili Cook-Off and enjoy an afternoon of delicious food, friendly competition, and fellowship!
Whether you're a seasoned chili chef or trying out your favorite family recipe, we invite you to enter your best pot of chili for a chance to win bragging rights and special awards. Not a cook? Come hungry and help judge by casting your vote for the People's Choice Award!
Christmas Decoration Event
Help us get ready for Christmas! We are looking for volunteers to assist with decorating the church for the holiday season. Whether you can help fluff trees, hang decorations, arrange displays, or simply lend a hand, we would love to have you join us. Come be part of creating a festive and welcoming atmosphere for our church family and guests.
Red Cross
Red Cross Blood Drive
Give the gift of life by donating blood at our upcoming Red Cross Blood Drive. Every donation can help save lives and make a difference for patients in need.
Whether you are a first-time donor or a regular participant, your generosity helps ensure blood is available when emergencies happen.
In Good Company
December 6 | 5:00-8:00 PM | Fellowship Hall
Need a peaceful evening to catch up on a project? Bring whatever you're working on and join us for a relaxed night of productivity and quiet companionship.
Maybe it's:
Christmas cards
Wrapping presents
A half-finished craft project
Knitting or crocheting
A book you've been meaning to finish
A stack of papers you've been avoiding
We'll provide light refreshments and a comfortable space to work alongside others. There will be no icebreakers, introductions, programs, or expectations. Just good, quiet company while you do your thing.
Come and go as your schedule allows. We look forward to sharing a calm and productive evening with you!
Polar Express
All aboard for Family Movie Night! Join us as we gather to watch The Polar Express, sip on hot chocolate, and enjoy a festive evening of fun and fellowship. We hope you'll bring the whole family for this cozy holiday event! 🚂❄️☕
Trunk or Treat
Trunk or Treat
Trunk-or-Treat is October 18 from 3pm to 5pm. Please use the link below to sign up and volunteer. We will also have a container setup in the foyer to collect candy, if you would like to donate!
Questions/Comments reach out to Hallie Rittenberry at hallie@gslife.org.
101 Membership
If you have been visiting, or maybe even been here for a while but haven’t yet gotten plugged in, this offering is for you! If you are interested in joining the church or maybe just curious about what that entails, we’d love for you to attend!
Join us on Sunday, September 20th at 11:45AM in the blue room for lunch and a conversation about who we are and what we do here at GSUMC. The staff will all be present. We’d love to get to know you!
Email Amanda with questions - office@gslife.org
Childcare provided
Wonder Wednesday
Join us on Wednesday September 16th!
Open to the Public for ages Prek4-5th Grade
We will be using the Spyence Curriculum to learn about the truths of the Bible in a fun, hands on way!
Contact Hallie@gslife.org for more information!
Town Hall Meeting
Join us Tuesday, September 1, we will host a Town Hall Gathering. Dinner will be served from 5:15–6:00PM, followed by our conversation from 6:00–8:00PM. Childcare will be provided.
PLEASE RSVP Town Hall September 1, 2026
August Book Club
Join us for our Book Club! This month’s book club selection is Theo of Golden by Allen Levi. This bestselling novel that has captured readers with its simple story of kindness, generosity and the power of truly seeing one another.
We will gather to discuss the book on Wednesday, August 19th at 6:00 PM in the church office. Whether you finish the entire book or just read part of it, you are welcome to join the conversation!
Financial & Life Skills Student Boot Camp
Equipping Our Youth: Financial & Life Skills Student Boot Camp
July 13-15, 6:00 to 8:00 PM
Good Shepherd United Methodist Church is pleased to host a Financial & Life Skills Student Boot Camp to help our youth build a strong foundation for their financial future.
This 3-day program and meals are available at no cost thanks to the generosity of the Good Shepherd United Methodist Church congregation and is open to students entering grades 8 - 12 for the 2026-2027 school year.
We will introduce practical, real-world topics - such as budgeting, understanding compound interest, and setting long-term savings goals-in an engaging and age-appropriate format. Our goal is to help students build confidence, develop practical money management skills, and better prepare for real-world responsibilities in a positive and supportive environment. Registration is currently open.
Church Softball Season
We'd love to have you come out and support the team! Games are played on Thursday evenings in Athens, and we'd love to see some Good Shepherd faces in the stands. Now, in the interest of full disclosure, last season we didn't win a single game. But we're pretty sure no other team had as much fun as we did! The laughter, comradery, and occasional well executed play made every game worth it. Check the schedule in our in Newsletter for game times and locations. (
Easter Eggstravanza
Join us for our annual Easter Eggstravaganza on Sunday, March 29 from 2-4 PM! This fun-filled afternoon is one of our favorite community events of the year, featuring our exciting Easter egg hunt along with snow cones, popcorn, face painting, balloon animals, and more. It's a wonderful opportunity to invite friends, neighbors, and family to celebrate together!
We need your help to make this event a success! We're currently looking for volunteers to assist with activities. You can sign up to help using the link below.
We're also collecting individually wrapped candy. Please be mindful of friends with food allergies when purchasing candy (nut-free options are especially appreciated). Candy only, please - no toys!
Thank you for helping us make this a joyful and welcoming event for our community!
Membership 101 Class
Membership Class
If you have been visiting, or maybe even been here for a while but haven’t yet gotten plugged in, this offering is for you! If you are interested in joining the church or maybe just curious about what that entails, we’d love for you to attend!
Join us on Sunday, March 8th at 11:45AM in the blue room for lunch and a conversation about who we are and what we do here at GSUMC. The staff will all be present. We’d love to get to know you!
Email Holly with questions at Holly@gslife.org
Sleep in Heavenly Peace Bed Build
We are having a Sleep in Heavenly Peace Bed Build along with Madison Methodist Church on Saturday, March 7 from 8:45 AM to 11:30 PM. It will be at the Huntsville Sleep in Heavenly Peace location. Please sign up on their website using the link below!
Ladies Pickleball on Tuesdays
Ladies Pickleball now Weekly!
Ladies Pickleball will now be every Tuesday from 6:00 until 8:00 pm in the gym. This is a fun and laid-back time of fellowship (no experience required)! Join us for an fun activity and get some exercise too!
Lenten Yoga at Good Shepherd
Join us for a Lenten yoga series focused on gentle movement, breath, prayer, and stillness. This Christ centered practice offers space to slow down, release what we’re holding, and listen more closely for God’s presence. No prior yoga experience is needed.
Classes will be instructed on the mat. However, chairs will be available and modifications are always encouraged.
Please bring your own yoga mat if you have one. A limited number of mats will be available.
Mondays, February 23 through March 30
6:00–7:00 p.m.
Fellowship Hall, Good Shepherd UMC
All are welcome.
Ash Wednesday Service
We hope you will join us for our Ash Wednesday service on Wednesday Feb 18th, marking the start of our Lenten series, Linger: Don’t Miss This. Lent is a season that invites us to slow down and reflect. On Ash Wednesday, we gather to remember our shared humanity, our limits, our mortality, and God’s nearness in the midst of it all.
Before the service, our kitchen team will be serving a New Orleans inspired Fat Tuesday meal for anyone who would like to share dinner together. Dinner begins at 6:00 PM, and the Ash Wednesday service starts at 6:45 PM.
This year, our youth group will help lead the service, and childcare will be provided.
Please follow the link below to register for dinner.
Membership Class
If you have been visiting, or maybe even been here for a while but haven’t yet gotten plugged in, this offering is for you! If you are interested in joining the church or maybe just curious about what that entails, we’d love for you to attend!
Join us on Sunday, Feb.1 at 11:45AM in the blue room for lunch and a conversation about who we are and what we do here at GSUMC. The staff will all be present. We’d love to get to know you!
Email Holly with questions - Holly@gslife.org. Childcare provided - Please RSVP!
Book Club
January Book Club — Unbroken
Start the new year with an unforgettable story of resilience and hope. This month we’re reading Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand, the gripping true story of Louis Zamperini’s survival, courage, and unbreakable spirit.
Join us for great conversation and community on January 28 at 6 PM in the main office. All are welcome (whether you’ve finished the book or are still reading!)
Carols & Cocoa: Christmas Cook-Off!
December 14 from 6:00–7:15 PM in the Gym
Get ready for another festive night of friendly competition, delicious food, and holiday cheer! We’re bringing back our Christmas-themed cooking and baking event for a second year! We’ve got some new categories and are expanding beyond desserts to include savory entries!
We hope you’ll sample the dishes, enjoy some Christmas music, sip on a little cocoa, and cheer on our contestants. Judges will award prizes in several fun categories, including:
Christmas Classic
Santa’s Favorite Cookie
Best Kids’ Creation
Most Savory Treat
Most Festive Presentation
Best Use of a Christmas Ingredient (peppermint, cranberry, gingerbread, etc.)
Advent Yoga
A Time to Slow Down and Prepare Our Hearts
Feeling the rush of the season? Join us for Advent Yoga — a gentle, reflective practice designed to help you pause, breathe, and refocus on the true meaning of Christmas.
All are welcome — no yoga experience needed! Just bring a mat (and a blanket if you’d like).
🕯️ Mondays, December 15, & 22
🕰️ 6:30 p.m.
📍 Fellowship Hall, Good Shepherd UMC
Free and open to the community and Childcare is provided - Please RSVP.
Love Feast
Join us Sunday, November 23, from 5:00–7:00 PM for our Love Feast.
Rooted in a rich Methodist tradition, the Love Feast is a simple meal shared in community. It’s a time to break bread together, listen to stories, and reflect on what shapes us into the people God calls us to be.
Membership Class
If you have been visiting, or maybe even been here for a while but haven’t yet gotten plugged in, this offering is for you! If you are interested in joining the church or maybe just curious about what that entails, we’d love for you to attend!
Join us on Sunday, November 2 at 11:30AM in the blue room for lunch and a conversation about who we are and what we do here at GSUMC. The staff will all be present. We’d love to get to know you! Email Holly with questions or to rsvp - Holly@gslife.org
Childcare provided.
Women's Retreat
Registration is now closed for our upcoming women’s retreat and for those who are registered final payment is due by Oct 12.
Final payment due: October 12
🎃 Trunk or Treat at Good Shepherd! 🍬
Mark your calendars for Sunday, October 19 from 3–5 PM and join us for a fun, family-friendly afternoon! This free community event will have decorated trunks full of candy, delicious popcorn and hot dogs, exciting inflatables, and live music. Bring your family, invite your friends, and enjoy a safe and festive time together at Good Shepherd UMC!
Want to help make the fun happen?
Caring for the Caregivers: A Conversation
Being a caregiver can be an exhausting and isolating journey, filled with love, but also stress, guilt, and emotional overwhelm. One of our own, Joan Freed, is a longtime hospital social worker with a heart for walking alongside others in difficult seasons.
She’s hoping to gather folks for a conversation about starting a monthly support group; something honest, compassionate, and helpful for anyone currently caring for a loved one. Whether you’re caring for a spouse, parent, child, or friend, we invite you to come to this initial gathering as we explore what might be helpful for our church family and the wider community.
If you’re a caregiver, or if you know someone who is, please consider joining us on Sunday, August 24 at 11:30 in room 124. Nobody should have to walk this journey alone.
Small Groups for His{Story}
Join one of our small groups to discuss our Sunday Sermons and {His}Story
No need to register - just show up!
Weeknights:
Wednesday Evening Small Group - Meets from 6:30-7:15 PM blue room facilitated by Pastor Brittany (this group will end after 12 weeks)
Second Mountain Small Group - Meets Thursday evenings from 6:30 - 8PM facilitated by Norm and Dana Ramby in Room 117.
Sundays:
Believer's Roundtable - Meets Sunday mornings 10:15 - 11 room 124 facilitated by various leaders.
Life Navigators Small Group - Meets Sunday mornings 10:30-11:30 room 119 facilitated by Daniel and Sarah Tylka.
by Zoom:
Virtual Wednesday Lunch Small Group - facilitated by Pastor Brittany at 12:15 for a 30 minute class every week on Wed., until Oct 29. (this group will end after 12 weeks)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/79395326613?pwd=arVxqFQnW97gN37k5KrBl4ZAfcLynx.1
Meeting ID: 793 9532 6613
Passcode: 7q5nsE
Book Club
Join Us for July’s Book Club!
We had a wonderful time of discussion and fellowship as we unpacked June’s book The Let Them Theory by Mel Robinson. Next month, we’ll be reading The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt. This thought-provoking book examines the challenges facing today’s youth, exploring the cultural, psychological, and social factors contributing to rising anxiety levels and how we can respond with empathy and action.
We’ll gather to discuss on Wednesday, July 30, at 6:30 PM in the Blue Room. Whether you’ve finished the book or just started it, come ready to share, listen, and learn together!
Membership Class
If you have been visiting, or maybe even been here for a while but haven’t yet gotten plugged in, this offering is for you! If you are interested in joining the church or maybe just curious about what that entails, we’d love for you to attend!
Join us on Sunday, July 13 at 11:30 AM in the blue room for lunch and a conversation about who we are and what we do here at GSUMC. The staff will all be present. We’d love to get to know you! Email Holly with questions or to rsvp - Holly@gslife.org
Childcare provided.
Retirement Party for David
A Celebration for David - Mark your calendars! We are excited to share that we’re planning a celebration on the evening of Sunday, June 29 at 5:00 to honor David’s 30+ years of ministry here. We’d love for everyone to be part of this special evening!
Vacation Bible School
VBS 2025!
Get ready for a fun-filled, faith-building adventure! Our Vacation Bible School (VBS) is just around the corner, and you won’t want to miss it. Mark your calendars for June 16-19 and join us for an exciting week of games, music, crafts, and Bible lessons that will help kids grow closer to God. Registration is open!
Youth Mission Trip
Youth Mission Trip
Summer 2025 - June 1-7
The Youth group will be going to Asheville, NC June 1-7 to help those still recovering from Hurricane Helene. All Youth that will be in 6th grade starting in Fall of ‘25 through Graduating Seniors of ‘25 will be allowed to attend. There are spaces for college aged young adults, and we will need a few chaperones. All attendees must be registered and have their security deposits in no later than March 31st. Youth and College aged security deposit is $150. Chaperones will have costs covered.
More Information Here: https://www.gslife.org/youthmission
Easter Egg-stravaganza
Egg-Stravaganza at Good Shepherd!
Join us for an afternoon of fun at our Easter Egg-Stravaganza!
📅 Date: Sunday, April 13
🕑 Time: 2:00 PM
📍 Location: Good Shepherd UMC
This family-friendly event will have something for everyone, including:
🥚 Easter Egg Hunts – Sectioned areas for different age groups with staggered start times
🍧 Snowcones
🎨 Face Painting
🍿 Popcorn
Bring your baskets and invite your friends—this is a community celebration you won’t want to miss!