Good Shepherd Weekly 3/23
Pastor Tim Ehlers Preaching this Sunday
Dear Good Shepherd,
Pastor Tim Ehlers from Messiah in South Windsor, CT will be teaching Bible Study (on the rest of Daniel 4) and leading worship this Sunday. I will be at his congregation leading a call meeting as Pastor Ehlers has accepted a call to Las Vegas. As you heard this past Sunday, I will be gone again on April 6 to be at St. Paul in Amherst, NH’s call meeting. Pastor Korthals will be back that Sunday to teach Bible Study (on Daniel 5) and lead worship. I remember well that I said my appointment as Circuit Pastor in the long run should not affect the congregation much. In the long run it should not, but right now our circuit is facing a historic level of vacancies. Half of the congregations in our circuit are calling for pastors, and it happens they are all calling at the same time… thus my absence. While I do not like being away this much from the congregation (District President Seifert also understands the burden), our leadership council approved of me being gone these Sundays as it serves the greater good of God’s Kingdom. I am here during the week and will continue to lead Wednesday Evening services. You can always reach me on my cell phone or through email. I look forward to getting back to a regular Sunday service pattern with you on Sunday, April 13—just in time for Palm Sunday.
In His Service,
Pastor Aaron Goetzinger
Upcoming Choir Practices
The choir will practice this Sunday after church for a piece which will be sung on Sunday, April 6.
LWMS Spring Conference
The Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society (LWMS) will gather for a spring conference on Saturday, April 5 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Amherst, NY. Pastor Josh Koelpin will be the keynote speaker and will present on Harbor Lutheran’s mission work in Boston. LWMS is a group of women dedicated to increasing awareness of, interest in, and support of Wisconsin Synod mission outreach both at home and abroad. For more information speak to Sarah Goetzinger or Debbie Giovinazzo.
Foundations Class Continues This Saturday
Join us this Saturday at 9:30 am for the start of a new Foundations class. Foundations is an introduction to Biblical theology. You can take this course if you’re interested in learning more about the Bible or if you are interested in becoming a member of Good Shepherd. When you’re done with it, you will have a firm grasp on how the bible is all about Jesus, dozens of key Bible teachings, and lots of application.
Discipleship Survey
As part of our long-range strategic plan, we are committed to equipping you to be a lifelong follower of Jesus. Our goal is to help you grow in faith, deepen your understanding of God’s Word, and provide meaningful resources for your spiritual growth—both individually and as a family. To do that effectively, we need your input. Would you take just a few minutes to complete this short survey? Your responses will help us shape the tools, training, and support we offer to better serve you and our entire church community. Thank you for being a valued part of our church family. Your feedback is truly important to us! Click here to take the survey: https://goodshepherdattleboro.churchcenter.com/people/forms/749078
Wednesday Evening Lent Series: The Hand of the Lord
Whether tightening a bolt, knitting, or typing on a computer, there is so much that we do with our hands. It is no surprise that mentions of hands appear all over the Bible. The Lord’s hand is referred to over two hundred times in the Old Testament. Surprisingly, specific references to the “hand of the Lord” are not all that frequent in the New Testament. However, it is precisely in the New Testament where the hand of the Lord takes on literal meaning. The One through whom all things were created took on real, literal hands in His incarnation (John 1:1–14). The work of Christ’s hands helps us to see the merciful and personal way that he has come to serve us. Especially in His crucifixion. His hands were pierced for the sins of the world. He takes our self-serving hands and restores them into useful hands to literally use them from him.
Upcoming Sunday
A popular assumption is that people get what they deserve. We assume that what goes around comes around. But God does not operate on the principle of merit but of grace. No one is beyond the reach of God’s grace. God never turns it off. The way to God is through his grace. God is not a Father looking to condemn us, but a Father who has eagerly longed for our return. When the weight of our sin makes us fearful of God’s condemnation, he reveals his grace yet again.
Sunday Morning Bible Study
Explore the Book of Daniel with us and uncover the profound lessons it holds for living a life of faith in a secular world. We will see how Daniel and his friends’ experiences and God’s revelations to them offer timeless insights into God’s enduring faithfulness. Together, we'll learn how to navigate our own lives with trust in God's power and control.