As We Gather
The parable of the prodigal son may be one of the most familiar in the repertoire of our Teacher. Jesus speaks His truth into the heart of every person who needs Him, regardless of whether their brokenness is known to everyone and their brother or known only to the sinner and his or her Creator. Jesus’ story of a son’s foolish ways and a father’s lavish grace is a moving tale with a profound impact. But that’s not even the full story. The elder son, who wrongly thought that he had it all together and had not sinned against his father, looks with indignation upon the prodigal’s homecoming celebration. The father responds with a message for both of his children, and both of his children desperately need the father’s mercy. We do too. Reflect on your brokenness and confess it. Rejoice in your Father’s forgiveness and receive it. Relish the celebration of the feast that’s been prepared for you and share its joy with every other prodigal you know.
Holy Communion
The Lord’s Supper is celebrated today at the Both Worship Services with the confession that we receive the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, in, with and under (a way of saying that Christ is fully present in) the bread and wine. Christ's presence gives us the assurance that our sins are forgiven and to nourish our faith. This is a solemn celebration, “For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves” (1Corinthians 11:29). The Lord’s Supper is meant for our good, not to our judgment. But, before presenting yourself as ask these questions: 1. Am I receiving the very body and blood of Christ Jesus? 2. Did Christ die and rise to fully forgive my sins? 3. Am I a baptized Christian? If your answers are yes, you are welcome. If you are not a member of a LCMS church, or have further questions about The Lord’s Supper, please speak with the pastor.
Stewardship
Luke 15:12 – “And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them.”
This prodigal son only sees the father as a source of wealth. Give me my inheritance now! Which is to say, you are better off dead in my eyes. This is the sin at the heart of all greed – valuing things over people. This parable calls us to come to our senses to see God as the loving Giver of all good, the true Father to be valued above and beyond all the things of this world.
Lutherans For Life
“I cannot ponder every day the full life of Christ in the Gospels. But I can during the year on various days celebrate and ponder His Annunciation, Nativity, Presentation, Baptism, Temptation, Transfiguration, Triumphal Entry, Last Supper, Agony in the Garden, Arrest, Trial, Passion, Carrying of the Cross, Crucifixion, Death, Burial, Resurrection, Great Commission, or Ascension.” James M. Kushiner, executive director, Fellowship of St. James – A Life Quote from Lutherans For Life • lutheransforlife.org
Altar Flowers
The Altar Flower Chart is posted on the bulletin board in the Narthex by the drinking fountains. Check chart for donation opportunities and availability.
Children Sunday School
This week’s lesson is “A Crushing Truth.” The events of Christ’s crucifixion unfold in a series of brutal and bloody vignettes: questioned before Pilate, mocked and abused by the Roman guard, nailed to the cross. Jesus hangs between life and death—abandoned by His Father—yielding up His life at the moment He chooses. Multiple witnesses see where Christ is laid in a borrowed tomb. Discuss how you can remember the crucifixion of Christ.
Stations of the Cross
Pastor Klemme' devotional series around the Stations of the Cross that commemorates Jesus Christ's last days. These are setup in the back of our sanctuary or they may be found online on our website. Each station focuses on specific events, beginning with the agony in the Garden of Gethsemane ending with the burial of Jesus.
Easter Hand Bells are ringing. Bell ringers are rehearsing for the Easter Service. The purposes of Music in worship is to give thanks to God and to rejoice/respond in what God has done. Our song joins with the song of every saint from every age, the new song of Christ’s holy people, declaring: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”
David Ott
Lent Meals
The Youth Board is sponsoring meals prior to Wednesday services during the Lenten Season. Dinner is served from 5:30 until 6:15 PM. Tasty desserts provided by the Board of Fellowship.
Board of Elders
Meeting with the Called Ministers and the Board of Elders to discuss, plan, and implement strategies to carry out corporate worship, and addressing the spiritual health of the congregation. For more information contact Joe Staton
Passion Movies
Over the years Hollywood has made a number of films about the life of Jesus; King of Kings (1961), The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965), Jesus of Nazareth (1977), The Robe (1953), The Passion of the Christ (2004), and Son of God (2014). Each film brings a different perspective to the biblical story. Fridays in Lent @ 6:30 PM we are watching one of these films to evaluate their depiction of Jesus with the Jesus of Scripture.
Easter Marionettes Puppets
Puppet practice is schedule for Saturdays (9:00) starting March 8th throughout April in Easter. Our performance will reflect the effort we put into the practices. Youth and Adults are needed to "handle" a puppet.
Curtis.
Mission Workshop
Here at Good Shepherd. We are not promised a silver bullet nor easy answers. We will have an opportunity to gather with fellow missionaries who are willing and eager to learn from each other on how to more effectively engage the culture. The keynote speaker is Southern District (LCMS) President Eric Johnson. We have invited other LCMS congregations in our area to participate in this workshop.
Mite Boxes
Mite Boxes. Based on the Biblical account of the widow's mite (Luke 21:1-4), the Mite Box is intended for regular contributions of "mites" - offerings above and beyond the support given to congregations. Mite Box contributions amount to millions of dollars that fund district and national mission grants and implement the LWML ministry. The first Sunday of the month is when we receive your collected mites in the LWML Mite Box
Youth Group
Easter Egg Hunt
The Tradition of Easter Eggs: Second-century Christian missionaries encountered people in the North with pagan celebrations and evangelized to them using the symbols familiar to that culture. Christianity changed the pagan symbolism of the egg (nature’s rebirth) and linked it to the empty tomb – to Christ’s Resurrection and His victory over death.
Lore that has developed around the decoration of Easter Eggs includes a tale about the mother of Jesus at the foot of the cross and Mary Magdalen’s visit to Jesus's tomb. Mary is said to have given eggs to the soldiers at the cross so that they would be less cruel. Her tears fell upon the eggs, spotting them with dots of brilliant color.
Another tale explains that when Mary Magdalen went to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus, she had with her a basket of eggs. Upon arriving at the tomb she discovered the eggs had taken on a rainbow of colors.
These story’s are not biblical but are useful examples of how Christians in the past took advantage of secular symbols to share the Gospel with the world around them. The prize found in today’s Easter Eggs can be an opening to describe the prize won for us through Christ’s work.
American Heritage Girls Troop 1517
Building women of integrity through service to God, family, community and country.
American Heritage Girls is a Christ-centered scouting ministry for girls ages 5-18. AHG offers badge programs, service projects, girl leadership opportunities, and outdoor experiences to its members.
The troop meets on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month.
The AHG Oath: “I promise to love God, cherish my family, honor my country, and serve in my community.
For more information contact Adrienne Cook.
Stripping of the Altar
Thank you for your help with the stripping of the Altar in the worship service on Maundy Thursday (@7:00PM). This part of the worship service is characterized by restrained joy where we will reverently remove items off the Altar in preparation for the Church’s observance of Jesus’ death on Good Friday.
We have approximately 3-4 minutes (the time it takes to read Psalms 22) to complete our work. There is no need to rush. We have a lot of time when we keep a steady pace. Your part is to carry the item that I will hand you to the working sacristy (the room behind the Altar).
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Palm Sunday Palm Harvest
Harvesting Palms for Palm Sunday on the Saturday before Palm Sunday. We select the palms from those found out on the church's trail. Along with cutting the palms, we also wash and prepare the palms for use in the worship service.
Benevolence
Benevolence is established to identify and meet the needs of under-resourced individuals - people who are unable to meet essential needs for themselves or their families. Benevolence stem from our desire to do good to others, show goodwill, extend kindness, and extend charity to those in need. (Online to donate: https://www.shalimar.church/human-care)
Easter Sunday Breakfast with Puppets
In the Fellowship Hall, on Easter Sunday, you are invited to enjoy breakfast. It's a relational experience that will have you engaging with members, frequent visitors, and the rest of our church family. Yes, there will be food and puppets. Come, be known, encouraged, and celebrate the resurrection.
Easter Lilies
We are adorning our sanctuary for Easter with Easter Lilies. A sign-up sheet will be in the Narthex (located next to the water fountain) for those who wish to purchase an Easter Lily to help beautify our sanctuary. The cost is $10 per plant. Place your cash/check in an envelope and write LILIES on the envelope along with your name and envelope number, and place in the offering plate. You may take your plant home after the late service on Easter Sunday, or the following Sunday.
Give to the Easter Lily Fund
Easter Marionettes Puppets
Jesus tells His friends what He must endure to save us all. He is betrayed and handed over to his enemies. He is tortured and killed. His bewildered friends are trying to understand what it all means and then His tomb is found empty on Easter Morning.
Worship Schedule
Lent
Meals @ 5:30 PM
Lent Worship @ 6:30 PM
Holy Week
Easter Egg Hunt 12 April @ 10:00 AM
Palm Sunday 13 April @ 8:00 & 10:45 AM
Maundy Thursday 17 April @ 6:30 PM
Good Friday 18 April @ 6:30 PM
Easter Sunday 20 April
Worship @ 8:00 AM & 10:45 AM - Sanctuary
Puppet Show @ 9:30 AM – Fellowship Hall
Pancake Breakfast @ 7:00 – 11:00 AM – Fellowship Hall
Council Meeting
Let us do everything with love. The Church Council is a gathering of elected advisers who serve and guide the ministries of the congregation toward our given mission. (Matthew 28:19-20). We meet in the library.
Concert Series
2nd in the concert series "Sheep May Safely Graze" featuring classical music groups. A community event to reach out and draw people in.
For more information contact David Ott
Annunciation of our Lord
Incarnate by the Holy Spirit, Born of the Virgin Mary and Made Man
“It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins” (Hebrews 10:4). But “nothing will be impossible with God” (Luke 1:37). He opens ears to hear and wombs to conceive. “Let it be to me according to your word,” says St. Mary (Luke 1:38). The Most High who once dwelt in the tabernacle comes to overshadow Mary, who believes the angel’s “annunciation” (Luke 1:35). “The virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). In Jesus Christ, God is with us — even from the moment of His conception. This miracle, that Mary should become the mother of God, will be a sign against the proud in Israel; it is the fulfillment of the prophecies of Isaiah and David. “I delight to do your will, O my God,” says Christ (Psalms 40:8). From Mary’s flesh, the Most High has prepared a body for His Son (Hebrews 10:5), a body to be offered “once for all” as the sacrifice that alone takes away sins and gives a righteousness apart from the Law (Hebrews 10:10). Through His conception, life and death, we have been sanctified. God favors us in this child. And like the blessed Virgin Mary, blessed “are those who hear the word of God and keep it” (Luke 11:28).
Commemoration of Joseph, Patriarch
The Church honor's saints for showing us how living out faith can be done.
Joseph was the son of the patriarch Jacob (February 5) and Rachel. The favorite son of his father, he incurred the jealousy of his older brothers, who sold him into slavery in Egypt and told their father he was dead (Genesis 37). In Egypt he became the chief servant in the home of Potiphar, a military official. Because Joseph refused to commit adultery with his master's wife, he was unjustly accused of attempted rape and thrown into jail (Genesis 39). Years later, he interpreted dreams for Pharoah, who then freed him from prison and placed him in charge of the entire country. When his brothers came from Canaan to Egypt in search of food, they did not recognize him. He eventually revealed his identity to them, forgave them, and invited both them and his father to live in Egypt. He is especially remembered and honored for his moral uprightness (Genesis 39) and for his willingness to forgive his brothers (Genesis 45 and 50).
Source: LCMS Calendar of Commemorations.