The Shepherd's Voice

As We Gather

Thomas had missed out. He wasn’t there with the other disciples when the risen Jesus appeared that first Easter night to show them His hands and side. Thomas was absent when Jesus breathed on them with His Spirit and sent them out to proclaim His forgiveness. It’s no wonder then that when Thomas heard about this encounter, he wanted to see Jesus for himself. “Unless I see, . . . I will never believe,” he said (John 20:25). One week after Christ’s resurrection, Thomas had his opportunity. He saw. He touched. He believed. He confessed: “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28). Today is your opportunity—don’t miss out! Our risen Jesus is here with His Spirit and in His body and blood. We see. We touch. We believe. We confess. As we gather in His presence for worship today, may He fill us with great joy as we continue to celebrate His resurrection victory and confess Him as our Lord and God!

Today’s Readings

O.T. Acts 5:12–32 (The apostles testify publicly as witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection.) https://bible.faithlife.com/bible/acts/5/12-32?_ga=2.64328109.327061695.1650462549-257035986.1643645019

N. T. Revelation 1:4–18(Jesus is alive forevermore.) https://bible.faithlife.com/bible/revelation/1/4-18?_ga=2.64328109.327061695.1650462549-257035986.1643645019

Gospel John 20:19–31   (Thomas sees, touches, believes, and confesses the risen Jesus.) https://bible.faithlife.com/bible/john/20/19-31?_ga=2.64328109.327061695.1650462549-257035986.1643645019

Reader: Jeff Largaider

Today’s Altar Flowers are Given to the Glory of God

By Charlotte Visbeck, in memory of daughter, Charlene Paulette.

Welcome to Vicar Jeff Campbell

While Pastor Schonberg is on vacation, we welcome Vicar Jeff Campbell to bring us God’s Word and lead us in worship this morning. May God bless his ministry among us and to us today. Pastor Schonberg will be back in the office on Wednesday, April 27.

Last Call: April Mission of the Month 

Our neighbors in Ukraine are suffering and they need your love now. Families are leaving behind everything they own and fleeing for their safety. They need immediate aid including food, water, shelter, clothing and medical care.  Your gift to Lutheran World Relief will deliver urgent support and care, like critically needed items for families who fled their homes, and medicine and supplies for clinics. 

Bible Class Resumes

Monday Bible class will resume meeting on May 2 at 4:00 pm in the Fellowship Room. Please join us!

Congregation Voters Meeting

Will be held on May 15, following the 10 am Service. At that time, we will hold a brief meeting to seek permission to replace the roof of the narthex. Thank you. 

Worship in the Woods

We will not meet in April so we can all be together for our 70th Anniversary, Palm Sunday, and Easter! We will resume on May 1 at 9:00 am outdoors

Mission of the Month Update

Thank you for your generous support of our Missions for January, February, and March. Here are the totals:

January -- Open Door Pregnancy Center = $1,633

February -- Kentucky Tornado Damage = $1,805

March -- St. Paul's, Beecher, Illinois = $1,497

Year-to-Date donations to Missions: $4,955

Praise God, and may He bless the recipients!

Church Life Photos

We have dedicated one of our bulletin boards to church life and memories. If you have photos of any events or happenings with Good Shepherd then please email them to gsppnj@gmail.com or pop them in the church office mailbox. Thank you!

Remember Our Homebound and Elderly

Please remember our homebound and elderly in prayer or with a card or phone call: Annaliese Benson, Fran McCallum, and Robert Mueller. Contact information is listed on the board in the foyer/Narthex.

https://faithlife.com/goodshepherdppnj/calendar?view=Week

To add someone to our list, please fill out a pink Prayer Request Form and submit it to Pastor or the Church office. Also, please let us know when we can remove names. Prayer requests submitted without a pink form are removed after one week. If we have removed a name in error, please resubmit the name and accept our apologies. Thank you.

Missionaries:

Rev. Dale and Suzanne Kaster, Prague

Hospitalized: Dorothy Meyer

Under Doctor’s Care:   

Carlee Allfrey, Alice Blaze,

Kieran Dillane, Judy Gruendling,

Dale Kaster, James McCaffrey,

Linda McKelvey, Helen Norris,

Tammy Pausz, Susan Rentas,

Bernadette Roman, John Shand,

Harler Jean Visbeck

Special Needs: Situation in Ukraine, Kim DeAngelo, James McNellis, Robert H. Mueller, the Murray family, Walters family, and Zupanc family. All who serve to keep us healthy, fed, and supplied. 

Armed Forces:              All who serve to keep us safe.

Kate Gruendling Kelly Handy

Jonathan Kaster Matthew Orgill

Mason Remondelli David Schauer

Acts 9:1–22 (Jesus appears to Saul, who then proclaims Him to be the Son of

God.)

Revelation 5: 1–14(Worthy is the Lamb.)

John 21:1–14(Jesus visits the disciples a third time after Easter.)