The Shepherd's Voice

As We Gather

Do You suppose it is possible that various people who were involved in Jesus’ suffering and death ever had the opportunity to talk with one another about it?...perhaps even right then, while the events were happening? Can you imagine what they might have said?... people like:

-Malchus, whose ear was cut off and healed at Gethsemane, and Mark, who ran from the garden naked;

-Barabbas, the criminal released when Jesus was condemned, and Caiaphas, the high priest who led the cries for his release;

-Pontius Pilate, the governor, and Procula, his wife;

-Simon of Cyrene, who carried Jesus’ cross, and the Centurion who compelled him to;

-The Two Thieves who were crucified with Christ;

-Mary, Jesus’ grieving mother, and John, the ‘beloved disciple’ who took her into his home.

If you could have listened to conversations like those, what might you have OVERHEARD?

With piercing insight and dramatic reality, these Lenten services invite us to eavesdrop on the concerns and conflicts of people whose lives were touched-and changed- by the crucifixion of Jesus Christ- just as our lives have been.

Today’s Readings

Bible Reading: In the Upper Room

Last Call: February Mission of the Month 

The Joan Valentine House is a New Jersey nonprofit corporation composed of family members and friends of the mentally ill who are dedicated to providing residents with the safe, healthy, pleasant, caring environment they deserve. The Joan Valentine House is committed to the total care of each resident, which includes full housing provisions, the coordination of health care thru physical and psychiatric health care providers, and various additional support services. They are located on Bay Avenue in Point Pleasant Beach. Thank you for your support.

Voters Meeting

A brief Voter’s Meeting will be held today after the 10 am service as a nomination has been received for the position of Eastern Regional Vice President for the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. This is the sole item on the agenda. Please stay 5 extra minutes to vote.

Seasonal Insight

Our chancel is vested with purple paraments to indicate the somberness of repentance as we contemplate Jesus’ suffering and death for our sins.

Easter Lilies

Altar Guild is taking orders for Easter Lilies today after the Service. Price is $10, cash only. Lilies may be taken home immediately after the Service on Easter morning.

2022 Annual Contribution Statements

All 2022 Annual Contribution Statements were emailed out on January 30th.  

Please check spam/junk folders in case the email was blocked by your provider.

· One email was sent containing the Statement for online contributions.  

o Subject: "2022 Annual Statement for Good Shepherd Lutheran Church is available"

o Sender: Good Shepherd Lutheran Church {equip.communications@faithlife.com}

· One email was sent containing the Statement for cash/check contributions.  

o Subject: "2022 Annual Contribution Statement"

o Sender: Dani Sloan {danisloan3264@gmail.com}

If an email address was not available in the Church Directory, the Annual Contribution Statement was mailed by U.S. postal service, postmarked January 31st.

If you have not received your statement please contact Dani Sloan directly at (732) 608-1641 or email her at danisloan3264@gmail.com.

A Few Words from Pastor

Melinda and I are so thankful for your Christmas gift to us! Thank you to each of you who made it possible. We are also thankful for the Christmas cards, best wishes, prayers and support that you have blessed us with. May God grant all of us a new year filled with opportunities to trust God, love each other, and share our faith! Thank you!

Many Thanks from Amanda Perea

Thank you all for your Christmas gift! I have been with Good Shepherd Lutheran Church for almost 4 years now and this experience has been enjoyable and humbling to me. I wanted to thank you all for guiding and supporting me throughout my journey here. I have been met with such kindness and have learned so many new things. I am so proud to tell people where I work, about Good Shepherd, and its congregants.  I am here to help with whatever you may need and look forward to continuing to help carry out the church’s mission. Thank you!

Come Join the Altar Guild!

On March 5, following the 10 am Service, there will be a brief meeting held for those interested in helping as a part of the Altar Guild. Please call Charlotte with any questions: 732 899-6611.

Lent 2023

Due to poor attendance during Advent, there will be NO Wednesday

Services during Lent. Instead, a midweek Lenten theme will be presented on the first five Sundays of Lent.

On Palm Sunday, April 2, there will be only ONE Service at 10:00 am so that we may all be together to observe this important day in the life of Jesus for our salvation.

Holy Thursday, April 6, will offer ONE Service at 7:00 pm, not in the morning. Attendance at last year's morning Service was very poor.

For Good Friday, April 7, we will try something different: ONE Service at 3:00 pm, followed by our annual Fish Fry at 4:30-ish. Details for signing up and paying will be available soon.

We will celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday, April 9, with ONE Service at 10:00 am, preceded by a light breakfast at 9:00 am.

We invite you to mark your calendars and join us for this special spiritual journey.

INTRODUCTION

The ultimate Guiding Statement for the Christian Church is the Great Commission of Jesus Christ given in Matthew 28:18-20: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore, by going, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to observe everything I have taught you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." We have translated that to

the following:

GUIDING STATEMENT

As children of a gracious God who know Jesus Christ by faith,

we make Him known by our words and deeds.

What does this mean?

By children of God, we mean that we are the recipients of the great love of God the Father (1 John 3:1). Born separated from God (Ephesians 2:1-15), He has now adopted us into His family (John 1:12-13). Our adoption was paid for by the sacrifice of God's own Son, Jesus (Hebrews 2:10-15), and applied to us by Baptism (Galatians 3:26-27). Ever grateful, we always think of ourselves as His children (Mark 10:13-16).

By knowing Christ, we mean having a personal relationship with Him -- just as "knowing a person" means having a relationship with them (John 17:3). Knowing Christ is more than knowing about Christ, which the demons do (James 2:19). It is personal, intimate, and life- changing (Matthew 11:28) -- the greatest blessing this life has to offer (Philippians 3:7-11).

By faith, we mean "trust" -- we take God at His word (Romans 4:1-3). Biblical faith is more than believing in God -- it is believing God (Hebrews 11:1). This is what made Abraham, and makes us, acceptable to God (Romans 3:21-22, 28). This faith makes us righteous before God and eternally saves us (Romans 4:13). Such faith is a miracle, created by God Himself (Ephesians 2:8-9), and sustained by His Word (Romans 10:17) and Communion (Matthew 26:26-28)

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

Under Doctor’s Care:   

Joan Aldarelli J.R. Aldarelli,

Carlee Allfrey, Alice Blaze,

Kieran Dillane, Garrett Gruendling,

Dale Kaster, Eileen Lamb,

James McCaffrey, Linda McKelvey,

Erna Meyerle, Tammy Pausz,

Susan Rentas, Kate Rubin,

John Shand, Amelia Shappell,

Mary Skalitza, Harler Jean Visbeck,

Nancy Widman, Janice Yunginger,

Carlie Zeidler

Special Needs: The Brown family, James McNellis, Robert H. Mueller, the Murray family, and the Zupanc family. All who serve to keep us healthy, fed, and supplied. 

Armed Forces:              All who serve to keep us safe.

Daniel Gewecke Katie Gruendling

Kelly Handy Jonathan Kaster

Matthew Orgill Mason Remondelli David Schauer