The Shepherd's Voice

As We Gather

“In that day,” Jesus told the disciples in the Upper Room, “whatever you ask of the Father in My name, He will give it to you.” They could not understand, hearing Him before Easter and Pentecost. But we know now that the day has arrived, thanks to His death and resurrection, when our heavenly Father’s ears are open to our every prayer. In this our day, we can anticipate by faith seeing Him and Jesus, the Lamb, in the perfect Jerusalem, as John writes in the reading from Revelation. Hearing the good news, Lydia, in the Reading from Acts, asked if the disciples deemed her worthy for Baptism. Indeed, with the gift of faith by the Holy Spirit, Christ’s worthiness and her sins had been exchanged on the cross. She provided a home for Paul and Luke, and God had an eternal Jerusalem awaiting her entry. What Easter joy!

Today’s Readings

First Acts 16:9–15 (Paul and Luke stay with Lydia after her Baptism.) https://bible.faithlife.com/bible/acts/16/9-15?_ga=2.248198855.1533788192.1652714256-257035986.1643645019

N. T. Revelation 21:9–14, 21–27 (Nothing unclean will ever enter the heavenly Jerusalem.) https://bible.faithlife.com/bible/revelation/21/21-27?_ga=2.248198855.1533788192.1652714256-257035986.1643645019 https://bible.faithlife.com/bible/revelation/21/9-14?_ga=2.248198855.1533788192.1652714256-257035986.1643645019

Gospel John 16:23–33 (Because of Christ’s victory, we can pray directly to our Father in heaven.) https://bible.faithlife.com/bible/john/16/23-33?_ga=2.248198855.1533788192.1652714256-257035986.1643645019

Reader: Carlie Zeidler

Our Christian Sympathy

is extended to the family and friends of Betty Wilantewicz, mother of Henry Wilantewicz III, who died in December, 2021. Pastor Schonberg conducted the Committal Service on Saturday, May 14, in Ocean County Memorial Park. May the God of all comfort strengthen all who mourn with the hope and promise of the resurrection and reunion in heaven.

May Mission of the Month 

Dottie’s House provides housing assistance and programs for women and children dealing with domestic violence in Ocean County NJ, serving all of NJ. Dottie’s House is a long-term, comprehensive program offering a multitude of services to the residents who live there including weekly case management, supportive counseling, domestic violence groups, and therapeutic art classes for the children. They reside in fully furnished apartments, equipped with everything necessary to complete their homes and are able to take everything with them when they successfully graduate from the program. Your donation will help families receive ongoing support on a daily basis to ensure their recovery as they work towards independence and a life free from violence. Today we are privileged to have Karen Kirton with us to share some first hand information.

Baby Bottle Boomerang Is ON!

Please pick up your baby bottle today! The annual Baby Bottle Boomerang fundraiser for the Open Door Pregnancy Center goes through the end of June (the 26th). Please be sure to fill your baby bottle with cash and coins, you will be surprised how quickly it fills up. Checks are to be made out to “The Open Door”. This is their biggest fundraiser of the year.  

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:   

J.R. Aldarelli, Carlee Allfrey,

Alice Blaze, Kieran Dillane,

Judy Gruendling, Dale Kaster,

James McCaffrey, Linda McKelvey,

Richard Norris, Tammy Pausz,

Susan Rentas, John Shand,

Harler Jean Visbeck

Special Needs: Situation in Ukraine, the Brown family, Kim DeAngelo, James McNellis, Robert H. Mueller, the Murray 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 1:12–26

(Matthias is chosen to replace Judas as one of the Twelve.)

Revelation 22:1–20 (The new Jerusalem is perfect in every way.)

John 17:20–26 (Jesus prays that His followers may be one as He and

the Father are one.)