What’s Happening at Good Shepherd
Ongoing Ministries
Thanks so much to all those who helped with and prayed for the Saratoga Youth Center Easter Party which took place last Tuesday. Jeremy the Illusionist again awed the children with amazing tricks before arriving at the most important part of the showa powerful articulation of the gospel WITH invitation to receive Christ as savior. We then served fresh fruit and cookies and ended the party with a game of Easter BINGO. The children each went home with a goodie bag which included an Easter coloring book of the resurrection and a kidfriendly salvation tract. Please pray that God blesses our efforts and that these dear children always follow Jesus Christ!
Health Fair and Ice Cream Social 2016. This year all participants in the event are required to agree with our statement of faith; a change which we pray will both protect us from the inclusion of groups which would oppose our beliefs, and also provide a venue for us and for other bible- believing Christians to proclaim our faith in words and deeds while promoting health of body, mind, and soul. This change also demands that we ALL take part in this effort. Please ask yourself what you can do to help and who you know who might be willing to participate. This event will include health screenings and information, holistic health professionals, Christian groups such as the Salvation Army, haircuts, skincare, facepainting, dance and athletic demonstrations, children’s crafts, music, food, and much more! Please let me know how YOU would like to help!
ACW The April meeting will be held in the parish hall at 11:15, Saturday, April 16th. The ACW meets the 3rd Saturday of most months. It will be followed by a potluck lunch.
Bread and Wine If you are interested in joining a group of moms for a monthly supper and discussion of women in the bible, please contact Liz Hull. The next meeting will be on April 23rd.
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.
Good Shepherd Food Pantry When Moses led the Israelites across the Jordan to the promise land, they didn’t have much to eat at first until God provided manna from heaven and quail; and water from the rock. I believe it’s that way with some of our church members especially if their assistance gets cut, or money is tight. People sometimes have to choose between food on the table, or paying the bills that provide heat, and electricity to their home. That is why our member food pantry is so important. It fills in when people need extra to make it through to the next time they can shop, so let’s keep our pantry well stocked with healthy choices that way, those who use it won’t need to worry about where their next meal is coming from.
Pantry Needs
Food items needed: canned meats (hams, beef, turkey and chicken) Canned soups and stews, one box meals, Pasta and sauce, 1 lb packages of either white or brown rice, peanut butter and jelly, crackers, teas, coffee singles, Instant Breakfast-sugar Free or Regular, Coconut milk or Almond Milk in paper cartons that don’t have to be refrigerated and have a long shelf life, Canned fruit with the exception of apple or cranberry sauce such as mandarin oranges,peaches, pears,and pineapple packed in their own juice, Bottled juices with the exception of grapefruit, and cranberry.
Personal care items needed: Toliet paper, tissues, paper towels, Garbage Bags, Toothpaste and Mouth Wash, Toothbrushes and Dental floss, Hand and Body lotion, Deodorant (male and female) feminine pads /and or tampons; Soap and Body wash, Dish washing liquid, and Bargain laundry Detergent and Cleaning products.
Many thanks to all who do donate for their continuing contributions.
Last Week
Last week’s sermon ‘The Certainty of Things Hoped For’ was based on John 20:19-31. It can be listened to or downloaded here.
Mission Group Discussion Questions
John 20:24-29
Main Idea(s):
- True faith is a complete trust in God to fulfill his promises. This is not a blind faith. It is faith based on the evidence of the faithfulness of God throughout all generations that has been recorded for us in scripture.
- True faith in God and in Christ is not based on feelings and intuition. That would make our faith dependent on ourselves, not on God.
- Thomas’ unbelief was not for lack of evidence; it was his stubbornness.
Read Hebrews 11:1
1) The ESV translation uses the words “assurance” and “conviction” in verse 1. What do these words mean?
- What do these words express that is different than just the idea of wishful thinking?
- What provides the confidence associated with assurance or conviction?
- What then is faith? Why is our faith in God our Father, Jesus our Savior and the Holy Spirit our counselor and guide a confident faith?
Read John 20:24-29
2) Is a “gut feeling” or intuition an accurate measure of what is true or good? Why or why not?
- How do you decide what is true? Why is this more credible than feelings and intuition?
- What evidence did Thomas have available to know the truth of the disciples’ claim that Jesus was alive?
- Why did Thomas doubt?
- Should Thomas’ demand for more evidence a model we should follow? Why or why not?
3) Why do we sometimes doubt the faithfulness of God, the truth he has spoken, or the promises he has made?
- What evidence do we have to know that the works of God recorded in the Old Testament and the works and results of Christ’s work in the New Testament are true?
- What evidence is available to you that gives you faith in the promises of God?
Tuesday Morning This Tuesday’s Bible Study was called ‘Shall we let Sin Reign?’. It was based on Romans 6. You can view it here, or watch it below. You can catch up on all of the older Tuesday morning Bible studies you might have missed.
This Week
This week’s sermon is based on James 2:14-26.
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. (James 2:14-26 ESV)
Team Corinthians is working on the altar this Sunday with Melissa Boeker.
The readings for this Sunday are: Acts 9:1-19a and James 2:14-26.
The PDF Bulletin for this Sunday’s 10:30 service can be downloaded here.
Have an item for the Update or an Announcement?
Email the secretary at:
gs.binghamton@gmail.com
by Monday night.