Update March 31st, 2006

Dear Good Shepherd,

Good Morning! Just wanted to start this morning with a reminder about the time change coming up this Saturday. It’s spring, so you’ll want to move your clocks forward one hour. That, of course, means you’ll lose one hour of sleep, but only if you go to bed at the usual time.

By the way, for those of you who have asked, I’m sending the Holy Week Schedule along once more in a separate email so that everyone will have it.

UPDATE CONTENTS
GROWTH
OPERATIONAL PAUSE
WEDNESDAY’S IN LENT
HAVE YOU…
SOLEMN/FIRST COMMUNION
THE NEXT FAMILY AND FRIENDS SUNDAY
WHAT IS THE CHURCH? (ADULT CLASS): NEW COURSE COMING
WEBSITE
NEW BEGINNERS
INFORMATION NEEDED FOR DIRECTORY
RESOURCE RECOMMENDATION: CHRISTIANITY TODAY
BIBLE STUDIES
EASTER FLOWERS

NEWS:

GROWTH: I want to thank everyone who has been praying for the growth of Good Shepherd and, of course, to thank God. We’ve added 7 new members since Christmas. That is a pretty steep growth rate for our sized parish. If the same rate continues through the year we’ll add 28 new members. You can do it. God can do it. The important thing, of course, is not simply to add bodies to our church, but to add souls to the kingdom of God. The great thing about Good Shepherd is that when you invite your non-believing friends and families they will hear, one way or another, the saving message of Jesus Christ; the good news that God so loved the world that he sent his only Son to save it. I am very excited and encouraged by what I see God doing at Good Shepherd and in people’s lives here. Keep up the great work. Be encouraged. God is blessing your labors.

OPERATIONAL PAUSE: There will be no Bible Studies next week except for the Thursday night New Beginners Bible Study. I hate to do it, but I need the time to write sermons and prepare for Holy Week and I’ll be of town for a conference in Virginia from this Sunday evening until Tuesday night. That means I need to squeeze every moment I can out of the week.

It also means, unfortunately, that the other bible studies won’t start meeting again until Tuesday the 25th as none of them will meet during Holy Week and I’ll need to take a rest-break the week after Easter.

So, this will be about a 3-week rest for most of you and a two-week rest for those of you in the New Beginners Bible Study (but, again, we will meet this coming Thursday).

If you are in the First Light Bible Study, I’ll be sending some homework along by email so you don’t get rusty.

But for the rest of you; take a break, get some rest, you’ve earned it. But do keep up your personal habits of daily prayer and bible reading so that you’ll be ready to meet again after Easter.

I’ve been so proud of your participation in bible studies. They have grown by leaps and bounds. One of the major reasons Good Shepherd is growing and so full of life is because we’ve devoted ourselves to getting rooted in the Word.

PS: If you want your bible study to continue through the break, let me know. I can’t lead it but maybe someone else can.

WEDNESDAY’S IN LENT: Every Wednesday during Lent Anne leads a special Lenten communion service beginning at 1:00pm. The attendance so far has been really great and with the lunch included it sounds like a wonderful time of fellowship as well as worship. All are welcome. The service will only last around 30-40 minutes. Bring your lunch so that we can share a meal together before the service at 12:30pm.

HAVE YOU….shared your faith with a friend? The vestry has challenged all of us to share our faith in Jesus Christ with at least one non-believer each month. We’re at the END of March. Have you shared your faith?

SOLEMN/FIRST COMMUNION: Many of the kids have asked about going through the first communion program again this year. And, since we have some new kids who will be going through it for the first time, we are opening the program to all…even those who’ve been through already.

Solemn Communion will begin on Tuesday May 2nd and meet every Tuesday at 6:30pm at the rectory until the weekend of June 3rd (the retreat weekend). Let Anne know if you’d like to help or sign your child up. Thank you.

FAMILY AND FRIENDS SUNDAY: The next Family and Friends Sunday will be May 21st, so start thinking and praying now about someone else to invite.

WHAT IS THE CHURCH? ADULT CHRISTIAN EDUCATION SERIES: Last Sunday I laid out the mission framework the vestry came up with two years ago based on the 7 biblical missions.

This week we’ll look at some of the programs and activities of Good Shepherd and talk about why some have succeeded and some have not. We’ll also talk over some of our short-term goals this year with regard to evangelism, prayer and bible study.

This series will conclude after two more session and then we’ll move on to the next series. I will have an announcement about that in next week’s update.

As usual it should be a good and full Sunday.

The vestry encourages every member of Good Shepherd to attend this important series.

WEBSITE: It's finally fixed!

NEW BEGINNERS: I feel really bad that we’ve gone so far away from the original curriculum, but I also think it has been productive. We have learned a lot together. As I reviewed all of the material I wanted to get through before you graduate from the New Beginner’s course and become First Light Bible Study, I realized that you’ve gone through a great deal of it. In fact, after Easter we’ll begin a grand Summary of the course and begin the process of morphing New Beginners into First light. This is all just to give you a heads up, and to let those who may want to join the next New Beginners class know that one will likely be starting up in the fall. If you have no knowledge of the bible and would like to gain some, this is the class for you. Let me know and I’ll sign you up for the next course.

INFORMATION NEEDED FOR PARISH DIRECTORY: If you are a new member or your contact information has changed and you would like to be on the parish address/phone list, please write down your information and either give it to Anne or drop it in the offering plate on Sunday.

RESOURCE RECOMMENDATION: Last week I recommended the Christian Research Institute and the Bible Answer Man program. This week’s resource is Christianity Today (CT). CT is one the most respected evangelical magazines and its website is one of the best Christian resources on the web. From online bibles, concordances, and commentaries, to overflowing article archives including everything from practical pieces on Christian living to examinations of more weighty theological topics. Whatever you’re looking for on the Christian web, the CT website probably either has it or can link you to it. If you have time be sure to check it out.

EASTER FLOWERS: Cookie Finch wanted me to let you know that the forms for donating Easter memorial flowers are stacked near the Sanctuary front door.

Good News for the Week
To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2nd Corinthians 12:7-10)

Don't forget to....BRING A FRIEND TO CHURCH!

Daily Schedule for the week of Sunday April 2nd, 2006

Monday:
8:30 a.m. Morning Prayer

Tuesday
8:30 a.m. Morning Prayer
9:00 a.m. Tuesday Morning Bible Study
The Tuesday bible studies are taking a break until Tuesday April 25th

Wednesday
8:30 a.m. Morning Prayer
12:30 p.m. Lunch and Lenten Eucharist

Thursday
8:30 a.m. Morning Prayer
5:30 p.m. Shepherd's Bowl
6:30 p.m. New Beginners Bible Study
7:30 p.m. Choir Practice

Friday
8:30 a.m. Morning Prayer
Friday Men’s bible study is taking a break until Tuesday April 25th

Saturday:
Women’’ bible study is taking a break until Tuesday April 25th

Sunday April 2nd, 2006: PALM SUNDAY!
8:00 a.m. Holy Communion II and Sermon
9:15-10:15 a.m. Christian Education for all Ages
10:30 am Holy Communion II, Music and Sermon