What’s Happening at Good Shepherd
Special Request Children up to 11 years old, come join your peers in an Easter Egg Hunt on Easter Sunday. The eggs will be outside hidden on the side yard in good weather or in the basement in inclement weather. On Easter Sunday, meet in the area beyond the back doors to get more instructions. Looking forward to a great time! See Joan Dinnel for any questions.
If you have refillable plastic eggs that are in need of a good home, please see Joan. They will be used to increase the numbers for this year’s Easter Egg Hunt.
Holy Week and Easter Schedule
Service Times:
Tennebrae (Wednesday, April 17th): 7:30PM Tenebrae means “shadows” in Latin. It is a service of word, light and sound. When you arrive for worship you will see two groups of candles lit on the altar table. As readings are read the candles on the altar will be gradually extinguished until the very end of the service when the last candle left lit is removed from the worship space and the whole sanctuary is left in darkness. At that point a loud crash will (should) shatter the silence of the sanctuary. Then, after a moment, the last candle is returned to the sanctuary and the worshippers depart in silence. The gradual darkening of the sanctuary and the crashing noise symbolizes the apparent victory of death, darkness, and chaos over Jesus Christ on the cross. The final candle being removed and returned, symbolizes the truth that through Jesus’ death, God gained victory over all the powers of evil. The Light was not overcome.
Maundy Thursday (Thursday, April 18th): 6:30PM Maundy Thursday communion celebrates the humility of Jesus with a ceremonial foot washing. Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lord’s and yet on the night before he died, during the Last Supper, he knelt down and one by one washed his disciples’ feet. He did this to show his disciples and to show you and me how to serve one another with humility and love, being willing even to stoop to the most menial tasks. Maundy Thursday is the last chance for communion until the Great Vigil.
Good Friday (Friday, April 19th): noon At about 3pm on Friday of Holy Week he lifted his eyes up to heaven from the cross and breathed out his last. “It is finished” he said. He was not only referring to his life, but he was also referring to his mission to deal with and defeat once and for all sin, death, and Satan.
Stations of The Cross (Friday, April 19th): 7:30PM This is a solemn service. The participants walk through the stations of the cross by candlelight, hearing a brief reading at each, and exit the sanctuary in silence.
The Great Vigil of Easter (Saturday, April 20th): 8:00PM Along with Tenebrae, the Easter Vigil is one of the most ancient services of the Church. It is the most important service of the entire year and it is the first service of Easter. The service begins in total darkness—the lights of the sanctuary are out and not a candle is burning. Then a fire is lit in a firepot the center of the nave and from that flame all the candles in the sanctuary are lit and the hand-candles in the congregation. Then come readings and psalms, said and sung, by singers and by the whole congregation. The sermon follows and then the first Communion of Easter. The Great Vigil begins at 8:00pm in the sanctuary.
Easter Day (Sunday, April 21st): This is the day Christians celebrate and proclaim the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. There will be music, preaching, smells and bells. Service times are at 8:00am and 10:30am.
Kennedy Easter Rest The Kennedy family will be taking a much needed break during the week after Easter. Please allow them this time to recuperate. If you have an emergency, please contact Tyler Van Fossen or the Good Shepherd office.
Choir Schedule Change There will be choir practice this Wednesday from 6pm-7pm. There will not be a practice on April 24th.
Annual CHE Rummage Sale Spring has semi-sprung, and this means we are collecting for our Epic Rummage Sale to support the work of Community Health Evangelism, Nicaragua. Particularly their new project to help families start keeping chickens to improve nutrition in these difficult times. If, while spring-cleaning, you find items that no longer spark joy – but might for someone else – please call Anne T. to check that we will be at church to take the items on a Sunday. No clothes, no exercise equipment, please. If you know anyone who has to clear out a house, please give them my number. The sale is May 24th and 25th. Thank you for all your past support, it has been invaluable.
Ongoing Ministries
Good Shepherd Youth Group Youth Group meets on Sunday night from 6:00 – 7:30pm at Good Shepherd. All youth between the ages of 12-18 are welcome to join as the youth group continues to study the book of Romans. Please contact Tyler Van Fossen if you’d like to know how to help or be involved in the Good Shepherd Youth Group in any way. Email: tvf.arrowhead@gmail.com
Easter Sunday 4/21/19 – No Youth Group on Easter Sunday.
Mother’s Day 5/12/19 – No Youth Group on Mother’s Day.
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 on April 27th, at the Hull home.
Good Shepherd Food Pantry What do you think of when you think of spring? Why, spring cleaning, of course! Please consider taking some time to go through your own pantry and pick out a few things to give to the member food pantry. Every food item donated helps those who can’t afford to feed themselves and their family. Instead of going to the store and buying things, take from what you have on hand and be thankful in the knowledge that you have the ability to do so.
Items needed: pasta sauce, one box meals, powdered milk, canned fruit, juice, coffee, tea, and cocoa, canned veggies other than beans, canned ham, chicken, beef and tuna, cereal and cereal bars, and anything else you’d like to bring.
Last Week
Last Week in Christian Ed Two weeks ago we began a discussion of the Trinity, the second part of our Systematic Theology course, by discussing evidence for the Trinity in the Old Testament. We finished that discussion last Sunday and moved on to discuss the fuller revelation of the Trinity in the New Testament. You can watch at this link or in the window below.
Posted by Matt Kennedy on Sunday, April 7, 2019
Last Week’s Sermon was called ‘The Light of the World’ and was based on John 8:12-20. It can be listened to or downloaded here.
Preventing Grace Podcast Did you know that Matt and Anne have a podcast? They talk about everything from church polity to rustic breads. In this week’s episode, ‘Get Your Jael Anointing for 5776’, Anne and Matt discuss the “Deborah anointing”, the “Jael anointing”, and many other anointings that, according to some, women are supposed to be anointed with so that they can be “fierce” in the new year of “5776”.
You can catch up on all of the older podcast episodes here.
Tuesday Morning Bible Study This morning we continue in Leviticus 23 discussing the Old Covenant feasts and their significance. God designed the whole Israelite year so that his people would be continually reminded that God is their savior, that he redeemed them from bondage in Egypt and that he would redeem them in and even more wonderful way in their future. In that way, every feast both looks backward to God’s work in the past and forward to the consummation of his saving work in the incarnation, death, resurrection, and ascension of his Son. You can watch at this link or in the window below.
Posted by Matt Kennedy on Tuesday, April 2, 2019
This Week
This Sunday’s Sermon will be based on Luke 23:1-49.
Then the whole company of them arose and brought him before Pilate.And they began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.” And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.” Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this man.” But they were urgent, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee even to this place.”
When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. And when he learned that he belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him. So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer. The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate.And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other.
Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. And after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him. Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him. I will therefore punish and release him.”
But they all cried out together, “Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas”— a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder. Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!”A third time he said to them, “Why? What evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him.” But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus over to their will.
And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus. And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him. But turning to them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”
One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun’s light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!” And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things.
Team Ephesians is working on the altar this Sunday.
The readings for this week are Isaiah 52:13-53:12 and Philippians 2:5-11 . The Gospel reading is Luke 23:1-49.
Mary S. will be serving on the altar guild this Sunday.
Brenda V. will be working in the nursery this Sunday.
Shepherd’s Bowl Team 1 with Pete Putano (4/18)
Gary and Brenda V. will be serving on coffee hour this Sunday.
To download a PDF of the 10:30 service bulletin, click on this link.
Have an item for the Update or an Announcement?
Email the secretary at:
gs.binghamton@gmail.com
by Monday night.