What’s Happening at Good Shepherd
Shrove Tuesday Thank you Many thanks to ALL who worked to make the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper and Mardi Gras Celebration such a wonderful event! Everyone raved about the food and the children had fun making masks, getting face-painted, and playing games. It was a great opportunity to share with our friends and neighbors and it was such a treat to entertain all of the Saratoga Youth Center with their director! At 6:30 the Shrove Tuesday Band, which gets better very year, played the Battle Hymn of the Republic and When the Saints Go Marching In. They led us outside for the burning of the palms accompanied by prayers. Not only was this a fun-filled evening, but it was an opportunity for some of us to share Jesus and to have meaningful conversations concerning questions of faith. May God use our efforts to further His kingdom! To see some pictures from the event, please click this link.
Easter Outreach to Saratoga children Please consider giving a small money donation/individually wrapped candy or other small treats by Sunday March 20th to provide Saratoga Youth Center children with an Easter goodie bag from Good Shepherd. These will be given out at the Saratoga Center Easter Party on March 22nd when Jeremy the Christian Illusionist will share the gospel with the children in an amazing and powerful way. Please be in prayer over this event and contribute if you are able. Thanks!
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.
Life Choices Baby Bottle Collection Drive Please make every effort to return your empty, partially full, or filled baby bottles back to Christine Osgood.
Thank you for your participation in Change for Life 2016!
Special Prayer Request from the Freunds The Women of CHE training of the Trainers went very well last week. Please pray for the new community leaders. The CHE ministry has only been in the community for a few months. The response is great now, and we pray that the women will draw close to Jesus as they participate in discipleship classes.
Last week a small team of women from PA joined us, so please pray for them as they spend time in 3 different areas with CHE ministries, teaching a crafts class, and visiting homes.
Blessings,
Anne and Bill
Ongoing Ministries
ACW There will be no March ACW meeting. See you in April!
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 Love your neighbor as yourself is an oft quoted Bible verse. If we think on it hard, we wouldn’t deprive ourselves or our families of basic needs like food, clothing, or shelter. If we truly believe this verse to be a command from God, then we should not deny the benefit of life giving food to those who use our member food pantry. When we give generously to our pantry, we can be thankful that we are able to do our part, and know that those who use the pantry won’t go hungry.
Pantry Needs: macaroni, pasta sauce, peanut butter, 1 lb. bags of rice, canned soups and stews, canned fruits (other than applesauce), one box meals (other than macaroni and cheese), canned meats (other than tuna), and anything else you’d like to bring.
Last Week
Last week’s sermon ‘First Fruits of God’s Creation’ was based on James 1:26-27. It can be listened to or downloaded here.
Mission Group Discussion Questions
(1) Compare true religion to false religion. How are they similar? How are they different?
(2) Review and discuss the main ideas and themes of the entire first chapter of James. How do these themes focus and prepare our minds for the rest of what James has to write?
Tuesday Morning This Tuesday’s Bible Study was cancelled. Class will resume next week. In the meantime, you can catch up on all of the older Tuesday morning Bible studies you might have missed here. You’ll need to have a LiveStream account, but it’s free and easy to sign up for.
This Week
This week’s sermon is based on James 2:1-7.
My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called? (James 2:1-7 ESV)
Team Corinthians is working on the altar this Sunday with Melissa Boeker.
The readings for this Sunday are: Josh 5:1,9-12 and James 2:1-7.
The PDF Bulletin for this Sunday’s 10:30 service can be downloaded here.
Have an item for the Update?
Email the secretary at:
gs.binghamton@gmail.com
by Monday night.