Worship

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

"Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy." 
 

- Exodus 20: 8

Worship*

* comes from the English word "worthship", that to which we give worth.

Lutheran*

Lutherans see worship as central to their faith in God. It is where the Word of God is preached, and the Sacraments are administered.

Lutheran Worship Is:

GOD comes to His people through

Worship

PEOPLE rise to meet Him.

Where God and His people meet for forgiveness, prayer, scripture, praise, and fellowship...THERE IS WORSHIP!

Lutheran Worship Is:

PRAISING GOD FOR HIS PRESENCE THIS PAST WEEK:

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life

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present during bad times

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present in good times

WHICH EMPOWERS US TO MOVE FORWARD THIS NEXT WEEK:

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serve others

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love others

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witness to others

Lutheran Worship Is:

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It is not a time to come and be entertained.

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It is a time to come and work at praising God with all our energy!

Lutheran Worship Means Participation!

Positions of Worship:

1.   Kneeling

Position of humility in the presence of God

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    Prayers - Prayers of people, private, Lord's

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    Prelude - Private prayer to God, meditation

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    Confession and Forgiveness - Asking for mercy

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    Communion - Kneel if focus is on repentance

2.   Standing

People are speaking to God

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    Hymns - Opening, Hymn of the Day, Service

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    Liturgy - Greeting, Kyrie, Hymn of Praise

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    Creeds - Apostle's, Nicene, Athanasian

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    Offertory - Offer ourselves as well as gifts

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    Communion - Stand if focus is on joy of gift

3.   Sitting

Listening to God speak to us

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    Scriptures -  Old Testament lesson
                         Epistle - (Acts to Revelation)
   
                  Gospel - (Matthew through John)
                              * stand out of respect to God

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    Sermon - Applying God's truths to daily life

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    Offering - Sharing our talents and money in response to God

4.   Pastor

Is go-between God & people, and people & God

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    Faces congregation - As God speaks to people

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    Faces altar - As people speak to God

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    Behind altar facing people - Showing that God is in the 
                                                   midst of His people

Prepare for Worship

Before Coming to Church:

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Read the Scripture lessons for the day

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Get a good night's rest

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Dress to the best of your ability, to be in the presence of God

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Pray for the worship leaders, to be instruments of God

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Come expectantly to gladly hear and learn the Word of God

Prepare for Worship

Before Worship Begins:

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Get to church early to find seat and be ready to worship

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Pray to the Holy Spirit during the playing of the Prelude, which sets the mood of the Worship that day

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Read through the bulletin to prepare for Worship and mark first event

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Greet fellow worshippers with smile and greeting as Worship is a family event

Continue to Worship

During the Rest of the Week:

Worship

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Important conclusion to all hours of past week, not just one hour on Sunday morning

Service

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    Share encouragements to others as you leave

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    Spend time in fellowship following the Worship

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    Live out your Christian beliefs during the week

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    Worship daily with scripture, prayer, hymns 
     of praise, deeds of forgiveness

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    All of life - work, play, school, home-life - are a 
     liturgy of praise to God

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    Doing deeds of love to one another

Sunday

Traditional Worship at 10:30 am in Worship Center

Praise & Celebration Worship at 9:00 am in Worship Center

Sunday School at 10:00 am in last classroom on south side of Education Wing on each Sunday

Bible Study I at 9:00 am in Parish house Conference Room Sept - June

Bible Study II at 10:30 am in conference room/patio on each Sunday

Nursery Available in last classroom on north side of Education Wing 8:30 am to 12 noon on each Sunday

Healing Station on first Sunday of the month at 10:00 am after Praise & Celebration Worship in Worship Center

Blood pressure checks by Parish Nurse on first Sunday of the month at 10:00 am after Praise & Celebration Worship in Jacobson Hall.

Casual dress welcome at our Praise & Celebration Worship at 9 am on Sundays.

Thank you to our new Praise Band at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church at the 9 am Praise and Celebration Worship on Sundays!

Song Leaders ...  Pam Martens & Alan Hofmann

Praise BandSteve Quiram, Dr. Bob Gerster (occasionally), Sean Walker & Pastor Ted Niemi

Fantastic! Praise the Lord!

Church Year

One half of the year deals with the life of Christ.

One half of the year deals with the teachings of Jesus and the Church.

Colors 

of the

Church Year

COLOR SEASON REASON

White

Christmas Season
Easter Season
Trinity Sunday
Purity and Hope
Red Pentecost Day
Confirmation Day
Reformation Day
Celebration of Life
Purple Lenten Season Repentance and
Meditation
Green Pentecost Season
Epiphany Season
Life and
Growth
Blue Advent Season Preparation and
Anticipation
Gold Easter Day Richness and
Highpoint
Black Good Friday Death and
Sorrow

The colors of the altar hangings, and the robes of the pastors change with each special day or season of the church year.

Stewardship of Worship and Offerings

Weeks Attendance General Fund Special Fund
Memorial Fund
Altar Flowers
(designated funds)

ELCA
World Hunger
(designated funds)

Special Mission Gifts
(designated funds)
Community Center Capital  Fund
(designated funds)
Building Fund Behavioral Institute Association
Contribution
Total Weekly
Offerings
June 1, 2008 Contemporary at 9 am: 68
Traditional
at 10:30 am: 116
6,040.00 307.00 5.00 ---- 676.00 ---- ---- 7,028.00
June 8, 2008 Contemporary at 9 am: 66
Traditional
at 10:30 am: 67
5,214.70 ---- ---- Columbarium Fund 1,000.00 4,966.00 ---- 7,725.00 18,905.70
June 15, 2008 Contemporary at 9 am: 65
Traditional
at 10:30 am: 44
3,689.00 29.00 ---- ELCA Disaster Response
120.00
993.00 ---- ---- 4,831.00
June 22, 2008 Contemporary at 9 am: 71
Traditional
at 10:30 am: 39
861.00 12.60 15.00 ---- 1,030.00 ---- ---- 1,918.60
June 29, 2008 Contemporary at 9 am: 73
Traditional
at 10:30 am: 34
5,509.00 ---- 5.00 ---- 1,035.00 ---- 2,575.00 9,124.00
July 6, 2008 Contemporary at 9 am: 60
Traditional
at 10:30 am: 42
5,371.00 144.00 30.00 ---- 1,735.00 ----- ---- 7,280.00
July 13, 2008 Contemporary at 9 am: 65
Traditional
at 10:30 am: 34
2,636.00 32.50 5.00 ---- 675.00 ---- ---- 3,348.50

Income needed to meet budget without designated funds:  Weekly:  $4,807.50    Monthly:  $20,832.50

Good Shepherd's Mission Statement:

Sharing the love of Jesus.

Good Shepherd's Vision Statement:

The shared wisdom of what the preferred future of the church will be...what we are becoming. Our vision is to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ and be an instrument of God’s will to expand His Kingdom to the entire world. This will happen when we:

bulletGrow as disciples by being a center of Lutheran worship.
bulletProvide love, hope, and acceptance to all to the glory of God.
bulletInitiate uplifting ministries to children, youth, adult and seniors by drama, music programs, after-school programs, and the building of a youth building.
bulletProvide opportunities for all ages to serve their Lord and His church.

Good Shepherd's Core Values:

These core values will guide the congregation in all of their decisions...it is what we believe.

bulletWe want to joyfully worship, praise and glorify God in all that we do.
bulletWe want Jesus the Christ as the center of our lives through Bible-based teachings.
bulletWe want the Holy Spirit to empower us through prayer at all activities
bulletWe want a Lutheran Christian perspective of the faith.
bulletWe want to practice servanthood and the care of the needs of others
bulletWe want to demonstrate love, acceptance and unity in Christ to all.

Good Shepherd's Ideas For Ministry:

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Give the post-confirmands the rights and responsibilities of church membership. 

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Invest our money and time in our youth. 

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Programs that appeal to the younger-urban-professionals. 

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Increase our visibility with the community through mailers, visits, programs. 

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Be user-friendly for elderly and disabled. 

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Do more ministries with the elderly of the community, especially in facilities. 

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More adult education and small groups. 

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Open a web site for Good Shepherd. 

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Two worship opportunities...one traditional and one contemporary. 

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Youth-led worship services. 

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Paid youth director position. 

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Build a Youth Activity Building in the near future.

Rev. Ted Niemi:  Pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

Rudy Carrillo:  President of the Congregation

Carolyn Linn:  Assistant Lay Minister

Dr. Robert Gerster, ChM.:  Minister of Music

Niki McQuillan & Kaysee Gudgel:  Youth Group Leaders

Julie Dixon:  Director of Children's Ministry

Randy Nelson:  Office coordinator, Shepherd's Voice newsletter editor, church webmaster, food pantry, assistant groundskeeper, assistant church photographer

Cecile Bolin:  Office assistant

Dee Wright:  President of Good Shepherd Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Kathy Bush:  Treasurer of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

Dana Klein:  "The Messenger" newsletter editor of the Good Shepherd Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Carol Sullivan:  Financial Secretary of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

Pastor Bob Crabb:  President of Mission Coalition

 

We Reserve

the Right

to Accept

Everyone

 

ATTEND OUR

WORSHIP SERVICES  

Candle Light Service Christmas Eve 2002

Check out our new photo albums! Click here!

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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
5140 N. Fruit Ave.
Fresno, CA 93711
Phone:  (559) 225-2092
FAX:  (559) 225-2093
E-mail: 
gslcfresno@earthlink.net
Web site: 
 www.goodshepherdfresno.org