What’s Happening at Good Shepherd
Scheduling Reminder If you need to make an appointment with Pastor Matt, please be sure to contact Stephanie directly at 607-723-8032 or at gs.binghamton@gmail.com.
Often when people come to speak with Matt after the service on Sunday, he’s already been working for over ten hours, and doesn’t always remember to put it into the calendar. This can cause double bookings, or forgotten appointments. Please keep in mind that the office is closed on Mondays. Thank you so much for your understanding.
Update and Announcements If you have an item you’d like to have announced on Sunday morning, or included in the update, please be sure to forward the item to Stephanie by Wednesday afternoon, and specify if you’d like it announced or just listed in the updates. It will then be edited and forwarded to Anne to announce on Sunday and/or added to the paper and digital update.
Community Event Our own Sarah Dreher will be performing in a production called Seeking Treasure, based on the lives of treasure seekers during the years of the California Gold Rush. Sarah and her classmates studied this time period in the fall, and are now in the process of polishing the play. She loves her parts and is having a wonderful time working with this group of students under the direction of Miss Kelsey Tombs. There is no admission cost, but donations will gratefully be accepted. If you have the ability to come out and support her, please consider doing so.
Showtimes:
Friday, April 29, 7PM at Union Center Christian Church
Saturday, April 30, 2 PM at Union Center Christian Church
Saturday, May 7, 7 PM at State Theatre in Deposit
Ongoing Ministries
“And as for your little ones…”
Vacation Bible School is coming August 1-4 from 6-8 PM. It is an opportunity not only for children of Good Shepherd, but especially for children in our community to hear the gospel clearly presented. It is also an opportunity for you to lend your talents to those children. The range of skills that can be used in Vacation Bible School are broader than you may initially think. Vacation Bible School can be a beautiful quick snapshot of the body working together, all parts having the same goal but accomplishing that through a great variety of tasks and time commitments. Please talk with Anna Dreher and tell her what you enjoy doing and when (during the months of June-August) you are available. Your skills and interests are perfect.
Children’s bulletins are available to help your children follow all parts of the service today. Please pick one up from an usher.
Missionary Update The CHE Association, Nicaragua, thanks everyone so much for their prayers for the CHildren’s CHE training – it went very well, and the women from the 3 new communities came, and were very enthusiastic. Last week we had a great training on Servant Leadership, by trainers from Development Associates International. It was a wonderful Bible study on Jesus’ Leadership, it was concrete and practical. it was inspiring. Several of the leaders present left with plans to reproduce the training amongst their own community leaders, or in church groups. Anne was fortunate to spend the day with Pastor Antonio (whom Good Shepherd supports) as he went around some of the communities meeting with discipleship groups, patiently and lovingly helping them work through the studies. He is 78: we went through the heat, the dust clouds, the little rivers, on motorcycles. He is such an example of the love of Jesus. Blessings, Anne and Bill.
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!
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 This weeks article is based on Genesis 14:14-16, and talks about how Abram acted when he heard that his nephew Lot was in serious trouble. He didn’t just sit back and let someone else go and rescue the lad, he went himself. With a well-trained army he and his men fought the enemy that was holding his nephew hostage and those who were with Lot and freed them.
It’s easy for us to just to sit back when there is trouble and let someone else handle it, but it’s wrong to let others suffer and do nothing when you know GOD would want you to help.
We all need to remember this story when we think about our member food pantry because without the help of many, it would not be possible for us to help those who need to put food on their tables to feed themselves and their families.
If we want our pantry to continue being useful to those who need it, then we must all think strongly about getting involved. When it comes to the pantry, please remember Abram and his love for Lot, and do all that you can for others.
Food Needs: Peanut butter (creamy or crunchy) healthy cereals, and those that are gluten free; canned meats and tuna, and assorted crackers, breakfast bars, instant breakfast mixes (regular or sugar free); assorted juices other than cranberry, canned fruit other than apple or cranberry sauce, and anything else you’d like to bring.
Personal Care products like toothpaste, soap and deodorant etc; cleaning products, laundry soap, and paper products like napkins, paper towels, and toilet paper are also appreciated.
Last Week
Last week’s sermon ‘The Faith that Works’ was based on James 2:20-26. It can be listened to or downloaded here.
Mission Group Discussion Questions
James 2:20-26
Main Idea(s):
- Words can have many meanings. In this passage, faith and justified mean something different than Paul means by them in Romans 3:28. “Faith” in verses 20, 24, and 26 refers to a dead faith, or non-faith, and “justified” means vindicated or validated.
- Christians are justified (counted righteous in God’s sight) as a gift of God through faith (complete trust in the plan, promises, and work of God through Christ) apart from works (Eph. 2:8). This true faith is justified (vindicated or validated) through works (James 2:14-26) which God prepared for each believer to do (Eph. 2:10).
- Works do not earn righteousness, they demonstrate the truth of the claim of faith in Christ.
1) Why are these verses so easily taken out of context to present false truths about faith, works, and justification?
- What assumptions are made about some key words in these verses that cause confusion or apparent contradiction?
- What must we do to understand this passage as intended?
2) Compare the word “faith” as it’s used in verses 20, 24, and 26 with how it’s used in verse 22.
- Which words or phrases follow the word faith in each verse?
- How do the surrounding words of each verse indicate that faith might have different meanings?
- How does the meaning of the word “faith” in verses 20, 24, and 26 differ from its meaning in verse 22?
3) Consider the word “justified” as used in verses 21, 24, and 25.
- Compare “justified” used here to how it’s used in Romans 3:28. What is the apparent conflict?
- How can this conflict be resolved?
- How should “justified” be defined in Romans as compared to James?
4) Can true faith and works be exclusive from each other? Why or why not?
- What relationship did works and faith have for Abraham and Rahab?
- Were either Abraham or Rahab counted righteous because of their works? What did their works do or prove?
- What is the relationship between true faith and works for a believer in Christ?
Tuesday Morning This Tuesday’s Bible Study was called ‘What the Law Produces’. It was based on Romans 7. You can view it here, or watch it below. Missed a study? You can catch up on the last month of the Tuesday morning Bible studies you might have missed here.
This Week
This week’s sermon is based on James 3:1-5.
Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! (James 3:1-5 ESV)
Team Ephesians is working on the altar this Sunday with Ife Ojetayo.
The readings for this Sunday are: Acts 13:44-52 and James 3:1-5.
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.