"I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh;
and the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.".

Genesis 9:15

from this Sunday's Old Testament Reading

PASTORS' MESSAGE

Take a deep breath, friends. Lent is here. Throughout these forty days, may God bless us, lead us, and strengthen our discipleship in the unique way only this penitential, preparatory season can.

Lent’s purpose is to prepare us for the observation of Easter, and we don’t get there without traveling the journey of Holy Week. The events that span Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday), the Last Supper (Maundy Thursday), the crucifixion (Good Friday) and the resurrection (Easter Vigil and Easter) together tell the story that lives at the heart of our Christian faith.

And now that Ash Wednesday is in the rearview mirror, we have already begun planning for it. Here at the beginning of the planning process, we pause to check in with all of you: what helps make Holy Week a meaningful time? Where are you especially conscious of God’s presence in our worship? What ideas or hopes do you have for how Holy Week will lead us deeper into discipleship this year? We invite your feedback to one of us pastors, Kirby, or the Worship and Music Committee (emails below). Please send us your feedback as soon as possible, and look for a Holy Week schedule as part of our March Messenger.

Walking with you on this wilderness way,

Pastors Jeff and Larson

Pastor Jeff: pastorjeff@goodshepherdcares.org

Pastor Larson: pastorlarson@goodshepherdcares.org

Kirby Stalley, Director of Music Ministries: kirby.stalley@goodshepherdcares.org

Worship and Music Committee: worshipandmusic@goodshepherdcares.org

For more detailed calendar, including events hosted by outside organizations 

IN OTHER NEWS

Adult Forum - Animate: Bible

2/21/21       Interpretation: Scripture Reads Us - Will Willimon

Join us as we explore how the Bible came to be the Bible as we know it today.  Animate: Bible is an adult faith formation series that explores seven big conversations about the Bible, including the canon, history, testaments, Gospels, genre, interpretation, and grace. Animate Bible uses dynamic videos from seven Christian thought leaders in addition to a creative Bible Journal to help Animate participants delve deeper and reflect on session content.  The Journal provides thought-provoking ideas, beautiful illustrations, and space to write, sketch, and reflect on how they think about the Bible.

Attend the Zoom session to participate in our Bible study.

Use the link below:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89435659701?pwd=M2FXemMvanZmcFYyOUNVKzVPaFpjdz09

Or call         +1 646 558 8656 US (New York)

Meeting ID: 894 3565 9701  Passcode: 565162

Jochen Salfeld will facilitate.

Reconciling in Christ (RIC) Reading Group

Wednesday, February 24th at 8 pm

Are you interested in learning more about anti-racism? Want to find out what you can do about it? Or are you just trying to figure out why racism has become such a big topic?

We'll be reading and discussing the book: So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo.

Order your book today to be a part of this discussion.

Join the RIC Committee via Zoom as we host a weekly book club starting Wednesdays, via Zoom, from 8:00 to 9:00 pm. 

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85870975581?pwd=QlVmc1JmNk0vSjN0K2pVcHUwcVgrZz09

Meeting ID: 858 7097 5581

Passcode: 244545

Dial by your location

        +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)

Meeting ID: 858 7097 5581

Passcode: 244545

Lent Devotions

Please enjoy this year's Lent Devotions. Thank you all who contributed to creating this wonderful devotional.

Click Here for the 2021 Lent Devotions

Lent kits available for pickup

Everyone is invited to pick up a Lent kit!  Our Lent kits will be in clear totes right outside the front doors of the church, and thus available to be picked up at any time.  Our hope is that these kits will help all of us to more intentionally mark the season of Lent in our homes.  There are both household kits and kits for children.  The household kits will include a Lent devotions booklet (written by the people of Good Shepherd), a music resource, ashes that you can use at home on Ash Wednesday, some adult coloring pages, and materials and instructions to create a "Prayer Paper Chain" where each link will have the name of one person from Good Shepherd on it, with the suggestion to pray for that person on that day.  The children's kits will include an activity to "bury the alleluia" to mark the beginning of Lent, as well as craft materials and guides for creating one craft for each Sunday in Lent.  Please spread the word!  If you would like to take one for your neighbors or friends, feel free.  This is one of the easiest ways to invite others to experience a little of our Good Shepherd congregation.  And if for any reason you would like a kit but cannot pick one up at the church, call or email the church office and we'll try to get one to you.

PRAYING TOGETHER 

In Our Prayers 

This week. . . 

PJ Mann, Anne Changaris, Arthur Matson, Susan Rovaldi, Phyllis Taxiera, Kathy Allen, Jen Cinelli, Kenan George, Tarah Sproul, Vila Makkray, Brian Mulvihill, Cathy Dorey, Jimmy Pritchard, all those affected by addiction, all those affected by mental illness, all military personnel and first responders, for those who have contracted COVID-19.

If you or someone you know would like to be remembered in our prayers, call the church office or email prayercircle@goodshepherdcares.org. Names remain on this list for four weeks. Let us know if you’d like to renew, add, or remove a name.

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Pastors Jeff Goodrich & Victoria Larson
183 W. Main St., Westborough, MA 01581 • (508) 366-7095
office@goodshepherdcares.org • www.goodshepherdcares.org

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