Good Shepherd Weekly 8/8
New Series Starts Sunday: Productive Faith
We sometimes use the word faith very casually. “You got to have faith.” “Keep the faith.” “Make a leap of faith.” As Jesus' journey to Jerusalem nears its conclusion, he begins to talk about faith in ways that are anything but casual. He says profound things about the power of faith: “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you” (Luke 17:6). Or “Your faith has made you well” (Luke 17:19). In thinking about his second coming, Christ wonders, “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”
Jesus’ words are serious and compelling. They force us to consider what true, saving faith is. They make us ask if we have such faith. But most of all, Jesus’ words move us to run to our God and beg him for more of it. Lord, increase our faith!
Welcome Home Sunday
Worshiping our God—listening to him speak to us in his Word and responding with our praise—is always special. However, it can be especially joyful when the house is packed. The singing on Christmas Eve is great and the celebration on Easter Sunday is wonderful. But we can still have members who are out of town on those days.
The goal of Welcome Home Sunday is to have a day when everyone that is part of our Christian family comes together. After all, church is supposed to be a home, and believers are our family. This Sunday will kick off a series of services focusing on discipleship—what it means for each of us to follow Jesus. Thus, we want 100% of our members there.
Please do everything possible to set that date aside so that we can pack the house that day. Welcome Home Sunday is Sunday, September 11. A fellowship luncheon will follow the service, so plan on sticking around!
Council for Children Gala Invite
The Outreach Committee has been working to increase Good Shepherd's visibility and activity within the local community. To that end we have partnered with a variety of local non-profits such as the Greater Attleboro Area Council for Children. Members of the Outreach Committee will be attending the Council for Children's 2022 Gala. We would love to have a great showing of people from Good Shepherd at this community event and so you are invited to join us at the Gala. The Gala is on Saturday, September 24 2022 and is 6:00-11:00. The Gala will be held at the EnVision Hotel and Conference Center in Mansfield. The cost per person is $30. If you would like to attend please contact Pastor Goetzinger (pastor@goodshepherdattleboro.com) by August 21.
This Week at Good Shepherd
Wednesday, Aug 10: Strategic Planning Meeting
Sunday, Aug 14: Bible Study, 9:00am (in-person)
Sunday, Aug 14: Sunday Service, 10:00am (communion)
Sunday Morning Bible Study
Sundays 9:00am In-Person
Upcoming Sunday
Look up “duty” in the dictionary. It's defined as “something that one is expected or required to do.” Look up “duty” in a thesaurus. Some of its synonyms: chore, burden, obligation, work. “Duty” can carry some strong negative connotations. In the world, as you rise through the ranks, you are able to leave many duties behind. For example, if you are high-up on the corporate ladder, you can delegate things you don’t want to do to someone else. In Christ’s kingdom it works just the opposite. An increase in faith does not lessen duties at all. It increases opportunities to serve God and others. Increased faith means increased obligations and work. But here’s the good news. The same faith that increases our duties leads us to delight in them. For through faith we know that we serve the one who first came to serve us. We consider it a privilege to imitate Christ in our service to others. Just as his service to us brought him great joy, so does our service to others.
Watch Sunday's Sermon
