What’s Happening at Good Shepherd
Easter Schedule Easter is on it’s way, which means that Holy Week Services are upon us. Here are the scheduled times for this year, with a brief description of what each service is about.
Service Times:
Tennebrae (Wednesday, April 12th): 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 13th): 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 14th)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 (Friday, April 14th): 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 15th): 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 16th) 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 8:00am and 10:30am Easter Morning.
A Request Much effort was put into cleaning and clearing out the closets in the parish hall in order to make them ready for synod during the last work day. I have been asked to pass on a gentle request that we please not place anything into the closets that won’t be picked up when leaving that day. These closets are not for long term storage.
CANA East Synod Our diocese, CANA East has asked Good Shepherd to host the annual Synod meeting this year. It’s an honor that Good Shepherd has been chosen to host this event. This year is even more special, as it’s the 500th year anniversary of the Reformation. On May 4th-6th, close to 300 clergy and lay people from around the country will come together to decide church business, and to worship and fellowship together. This year, the keynote speakers will be Archbishop Foley Beach (Archbishop of the ACNA), and Dr. Rev. Lee Gatiss.
Many things will need to be done to prepare for this event, and many hands will be needed. In the coming weeks, you’ll be hearing about opportunities to serve by painting, cleaning, reorganizing, decorating, and even helping with some construction work! Please consider coming in to help beautify Good Shepherd as we prepare to host this exciting event.
There will also be a great need for volunteers during the event. If you are able to come and volunteer for part of the event, please let Stephanie in the office know by email or a phone call. We’ll be looking for volunteers to help with serving meals, cleaning, keeping refreshment areas well stocked, running small errands, child care, parking co-ordination, and ushers. If you’d like to attend the event, you can register at the CANA East website. The cost is $120 for the full event. If you’d like to attend for free, then please contact Stephanie to sign up as a volunteer at gs.binghamton@gmail.com or by calling the office.
Ongoing Ministries
Children’s bulletins are available to help your children follow all parts of the service today. Please pick one up from an usher.
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.
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.
Member Food Pantry In Genesis 14, the Bible tells us the story of what Abram did to rescue Lot and his household and bring them safely back to their own lands. It was essential back then to help one’s kinsmen, and the only way that he could do so was to get involved. He put together an army and went after Lot. Today, we help our family a little bit differently, and our food pantry and how we care for it is a prime example.
We know that some of our congregation don’t have the proper funding to pay all of their bills, and food is sometimes lacking, even though it’s a necessity. Donating food to our pantry for those who don’t have enough is our way of helping. Therefore, when shopping for yourselves, be sure to pick up something healthy for our pantry. Every little bit helps, so no one is turned away hungry.
Needs: Canned meats and tuna fish, rice in 1lb bags (white or brown), peanut butter, jam/jelly, cooking oils (olive canola, vegetable or sprays), soups/stews and one box meals, canned fruit (except cranberry sauce and applesauce), canned vegetables (except green beans), pasta and sauce, juice/tea mix or bags, coffee and powdered milk.
Note: Please don’t bring flour or sugar, or leave any open packages of pasta or rice in the pantry, as it attracts mice.
Last Week
Last Week in Christian Ed This is the fifth class in a series on Evangelism. We discuss the topic first from a theological perspective, using JI Packer’s, “The Sovereignty of God and Evangelism“. In several weeks we will turn to more practical “how to” questions. You can listen here.
Audible has a deal on the audiobook for $6.95, and can be found here.
Last Week’s Sermon was called ‘King of Righteousness and King of Peace’, and was based on Hebrews 7:1-2. It can be listened to or downloaded here.
Tuesday Morning Bible Study had no audio! We are so sorry for the inconvenience, and hopefully have fixed the issue.
You can catch up on the last month’s recordings 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, ‘The Billy Graham Rule and the Benedict Option’, Matt and Anne discuss the Billy Graham rule (not meeting with a woman who is not your wife alone) and the Benedict Option (creating Christian communities designed to preserve true learning and a culture of virtue).
You can catch up on all of the older podcast episodes here.
This Week
This week in Christian Ed This Sunday we will continue our study of JI Packer’s “Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God”. It is only 122 pages but an excellent read. This next series will begin with a series of discussions based on his book. You can buy it here, and I highly encourage you to do so! If you cannot afford it, don’t worry (we’ve been there) there will be free copies available at the church (please see Carrie Moorhead for more info).
Audible has a deal on the audiobook for $6.95, and can be found here.
This Sunday we will continue to discuss evangelism. We will begin to shift to a discussion of “method” tomorrow. We have been speaking mostly in theological terms but Packer does address practical “how to” considerations also. How do you know that you have done “evangelism”? When does “evangelism” take place?
This Week’s Sermon is based on Matthew 27:45-54.
Team Ephesians is working on the altar this Sunday with Ife Ojetayo.
Shepherd’s Bowl Team 4 will be working this week with Michael Beauharnois (4/13).
Altar Guild Karen Berman is serving this Sunday.
The readings for this week are: Isaiah 52:13-53:12 and Philippians 2:5-11.
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.