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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Fresno, California
Sierra Pacific Synod
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

2010 issue...


Pastor Ted

 

 

Dear Friends,

 

    During the whole month of March we are in the Church season of Lent.  If you were to ask people on the street randomly how their season of Lent is going I imagine you’d get some pretty confused looks.  Lent is not a time recognized by many in our society.  Yet for Christians it is a very important time.

            

    The season of Spring also begins this month on March 20.  I have always loved Spring.  When I lived in colder climates it meant the snow was going to start melting and the plants that were dormant for the long winter were about to be full of color and life.  Living here in Fresno we are blessed with a much more hospitable winter climate so instead of waiting for the snow to melt it has meant waiting for the time to turn the sprinklers back on and for the pool to warm up.  Soon we will be wearing shorts again and enjoying the life bursting forth all around us.

 

    I have been thinking about how Lent is like that time of waiting for all the new life to burst forth.  Lent is the time we as Christians are to be preparing ourselves for the coming Easter season.  It is the celebration of eternal life bursting forth for all of us through Jesus. 

 

    I think back to those cold winter days when I lived in colder areas.  As soon as the temperature hit about 55 degrees some of us were already in shorts and tee shirts because we were so excited for the new life and sun.  It was almost as if our wearing those clothes would somehow bring the Spring-like weather more quickly.

 

    Imagine if we had that same kind of excitement for Easter!  Imagine if we built up such excitement after waiting and preparing for Easter that we were shaking with anticipation!  Well, that doesn’t just happen.  I think during the coldest winters I have experienced it took waiting for the Spring to be even more glorious.  And if Easter just gets here without our preparing ourselves we will miss out on a lot of the glory of the season.

 

    You are invited to be preparing yourself for the glory of the Easter season with us!  You are not only invited to join us for Sunday worship and the other activities during the week but especially during Lent you are welcome to join us on Wednesday evenings.  We meet at 6:00 for a Soup Supper.  Thanks for all who are helping host these!  Then at 7:00 we will be meeting in the Community Center for a short video and discussion around our relationships with God and each other.  Among the themes will be: God’s will for your life, weeding out distractions from a full and vibrant life, and how your life can be making a real difference. 

 

    I hope this month of March is a blessed one for you!  Let’s use this time to be getting ready for the greatest event the world has ever seen … Easter!  I look forward to growing in our relationships with God and each other with you!

 

God’s Peace,

 

Pastor Ted

 

 

 

Day Time Event Place
Sunday 9 am - 10 am Praise & Celebration Worship Worship Center Sanctuary
Sunday 8:30 am - 12 noon Infant care Nursery in Education Wing
Sunday 10 am - 10:40 am Sunday School for children Children's Ministry room in Parish house
Sunday 10 am Coffee & snacks Jacobson Hall
Sunday 10:30 am - 11:30 am Traditional Worship Worship Center Sanctuary
Sunday 10:30 am Adult Bible Study I Conference room in Parish House
Sunday 11:30 am Coffee & snacks Jacobson Hall
Sunday 11:40 am Adult Bible Study II Conference room in Parish House
Sunday 2 pm - 4 pm Youth Bible Study Community Center
First Sunday of the month 10 am & 11:30 am Healing Station Prayers Next to pulpit in Worship Center Sanctuary
First Sunday of the month 10 am Blood pressure check by Parish Nurse Jacobson Hall

Date Time Event
Wed., March 10 6 pm Lenten Soup Supper
Wed., March 10 7 pm Lenten Gathering
Fourth Sunday in Lent, March 14 9 am Praise & Celebration Worship
Fourth Sunday in Lent, March 14 10:30 am Traditional Worship
Wed., March 17 6 pm Lenten Soup Supper
Wed., March 17 7 pm Lenten Gathering
Fifth Sunday in Lent, March 21 9 am Praise & Celebration Worship
Fifth Sunday in Lent, March 21 10:30 am Traditional Worship
Wed., March 24 6 pm Lenten Soup Supper
Wed., March 24 7 pm Lenten Gathering

Lenten Wednesday Soup Suppers

Date, Day & Time Name Soup du soir
March 10, Wednesday, 6 pm Helen Stewart Veggie Beef
March 17, Wednesday, 6 pm Sullivans Potato Leek
March 24, Wednesday, 6 pm Waldens Turkey Torilla

 

 

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