What’s Happening at Good Shepherd
‘Thank You’ seems an insufficient expression for all that so many at Good Shepherd did to help prepare for Synod 2018. Please know that many people were blessed by our staff of volunteers. Childcare and kitchen staff in particular were especially appreciated during the active portion of synod, but so many people behind the scenes gave of their time and talents to make synod a blessing and success again this year. From praying for, painting, cleaning, organizing, staffing, managing, supplying, caring for, and serving the guests of Good Shepherd and CANA East. You have truly done a good and kind thing in helping to make this event a success. Please accept the most sincere thanks of the entirety of the Diocese of CANA East.
Health Fair and Ice Cream Social Do you have a regular hairdresser? A restaurant where you go often? A bakery? Or a favorite café? Please consider asking them if they would be willing to contribute a gift card for our FREE raffle at our Health fair and Ice Cream Social on June 2nd? We are also in need of massage therapists to give free chair massages. Please help find new participants for this annual family-friendly event!
Ongoing Ministries
Good Shepherd Youth Group Have you heard? Tyler and Ashley V. welcomed their new daughter into the world recently. Tyler will be taking some much-needed time off to enjoy these first few weeks with their new daughter. Youth Group will resume on May 26.
If you’d like to know how to help or be involved in the Good Shepherd Youth Group, please contact Tyler Van Fossen.
Bread and Wine If you are interested in joining a group of ladies for a monthly supper and discussion, please contact Liz Hull. The group is currently studying a book called Money, Possessions and Eternity, by Randy Alcorn. The next meeting will be this Saturday at the Hull home at 6pm.
Mission Groups are expected to start shifting and multiplying within the next 6 months. If you are interested in joining, now is a great time. If you are interested in leading as well, we are looking for possible co-leaders to consider. Mission Groups exist to bring glory to God as small groups seek to help each other become more like Christ through study, discussion, prayer, and fellowship. Please contact Ben Murphy after church or by email to talk through your ideas and thoughts! Email: mgroups.cogs@gmail.com for more information.
The Vestal mission group has changed location, and will now be meeting at the Dinnel Home.
CHE Rummage Sale Collection We are collecting for the spring rummage sale to raise money for CHE, Nicaragua. Specifically, to support Juanita and Izamar, the Area leaders in Leon department. Please bring items to church starting the last Sunday in April through the end of May. If you have something you would like us to pick up (in our car), please let us know. Bill and Anne. Thank you!
Missionary Update The situation in Nicaragua continues to be very difficult, at least in the capital. Darling and I (Anne T.) spoke briefly and carefully on Monday after a silence due to concerns about monitored communications. She says these concerns are the same, so we will not talk again for a while. The conditions continue to be compared to Venezuela.
The supermarkets were looted, and people are having difficulty getting the food and meds that they need. There is uncertainty and volatility. A lot of foreigners have left. The Kepplers, who work with the CHE team, are returning to Germany early for their summer vacation. People are staying indoors as much as possible, except for going to work in potentially unsafe conditions. Darling and Chico go into the city every day (20 min drive) to comfort, encourage, and be with their church people and the community around them. This is the text that Darling and Chico are praying:
Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you.
May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as
ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the
presence of our God and father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.
1 Thess. 3: v11-13
The donations that Partnership in Hope sent on Friday were greatly appreciated, and have been applied to some immediate needs. Darling says they know we are praying, and our prayers are absolutely necessary.
Good Shepherd Food Pantry When I think of our food pantry, I automatically think of how it provides food for those in our congregation whose income or circumstances don’t always allow them to have enough food. Food that is essential for the body and mind. If everyone who donates could provide food for just one person, we could keep our food pantry stocked all year. You could think of it as providing for an extra family member at each meal.
Items needed: canned meats (chicken, ham or turkey), instant or scalloped potatoes in a box, peas, carrots, corn, etc, fruit and fruit juices, boxed bread mixes, cake and pie mixes, powdered milk, coffee creamer, and anything else you’d like to bring.
Health and Wellness Our bodies are “the tents” that the Lord has given us to house our souls. Begin to take care of the body which God Has given you. Check your blood pressure, blood sugar, and weight every Sunday in the Parish Hall 9-10AM. Please see Dolly Shaller or Carmen Swoffer-Penna for more details.
Last Week
Last Week’s Sermon ‘The Father and the Lost Son‘ was preached by guest preacher The Rev. Dr. Ashley Null, and was based on Luke 15:11-32. It can be listened to or downloaded here.
Last Week in Christian Ed Why do some Christians call Mary the “Mother of God”? Would there be a good reason for non-Roman Catholics to use this title? This Sunday we’ll finish our study of the Nicene Creed finalized at the Council of Chalcedon. We’ll then move on to discuss the dual natures of Christ how disputes over how exactly to describe the Person of Christ led to the Council of Ephesus. It was at this Council that Mary was first called “the Mother of God”. The title was never intended to exalt Mary to divine status…it was meant to point to the truth that God the Son took on human nature in her womb. We discussed this controversy and much more.
Tuesday Morning Bible Study This Tuesday we started our study of the Book of Leviticus. Leviticus has the reputation for being both boring and irrelevant. It is neither. As we discovered working our way through Hebrews, the Old Covenant laws and the sacrifices all refer to Christ, his priesthood and his atoning work. To study Leviticus is to peer over the shoulders of the Great Artist and consider his early brushstrokes in detail, the foundations of his great portrait completed at Calvary. This Tuesday we introduced the book and some of the key concepts.
Posted by Matt Kennedy on Tuesday, May 8, 2018
Preventing Grace Podcast Did you know that Matt and Anne have a podcast? They talk about everything from church polity to rustic breads. This week, in ‘Misogyny and Misusing the Bible‘, Matt and Anne Kennedy discuss how the Bible has been misused to support the abuse of women.
You can catch up on all of the older podcast episodes here.
Last Week
Last Week’s Sermon ‘The Father and the Lost Son’ was based on Luke 15:11-32. It can be listened to or downloaded here.
Last Week in Christian Ed Why do some Christians call Mary the “Mother of God”? Would there be a good reason for non-Roman Catholics to use this title? Last Sunday we finished our study of the Nicene Creed finalized at the Council of Chalcedon. We then moved on to discuss the dual natures of Christ how disputes over how exactly to describe the Person of Christ led to the Council of Ephesus. It was at this Council that Mary was first called “the Mother of God”. The title was never intended to exalt Mary to divine status…it was meant to point to the truth that God the Son took on human nature in her womb.
Tuesday Morning Bible Study This Tuesday, we started our study of the Book of Leviticus. Leviticus has the reputation for being both boring and irrelevant. It is neither. As we discovered working our way through Hebrews, the Old Covenant laws and the sacrifices all refer to Christ, his priesthood and his atoning work. To study Leviticus is to peer over the shoulders of the Great Artist and consider his early brushstrokes in detail, the foundations of his great portrait completed at Calvary. This week we introduced the book and some of the key concepts.
This Week
This Sunday in Christian Ed We will continue our Great Council’s series this week by finishing up our discussion of the Council of Ephesus and the title “Mother of God” for Mary. Then we will move on to discuss the last Great Council, the Council of Chalcedon which gave us the “Two Natures, One Person” description of Christ. We’ll take a look at the Chalcedonian Creed and some of the false teachings that made such a creed necessary. Sadly, I forgot to record last Sunday’s session. Class begins at 9:15am on Sunday.
This Sunday’s Sermon will be based on John 1:1-5.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
New Song This Sunday we’ll be singing a new song, Behold Our God, during communion. It bridges both our observation of Christ’s Ascension and our starting the Gospel of John. It was sung at Synod, so some of you may already be familiar with it. If you’d like to get a sneak peek, you can listen here.
Team Romans is working on the altar this Sunday.
The readings for this week are Acts 1:1-11 and Ephesians 1:15-23.
Karen C. will be serving on the altar guild this Sunday.
Carrie M. and Rachael W. will be working in the nursery this Sunday.
Shepherd’s Bowl The Rabineau family is serving this week (5/17).
To download a PDF of the 10:30 service bulletin, click on this link.
Have an item for the Update or an Announcement?
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by Monday night.