5/6/20 – Facebook, 6:15 pm Join Jason for a Wednesday video devotion and discussion.
We’re Online Together! While our building may be closed, our church is open – we can still be church, even if we’re not together. Click here to find our Online Together page with worship, prayer and devotion resources.
Almighty and eternal God, the strength of those who believe and the hope of those who doubt, may we, who have not seen, have faith in you and receive the fullness of Christ’s blessing, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
4/29/20 – Facebook, 6:15 pm Join Jason for a Wednesday video devotion and discussion.
We’re Online Together! While our building may be closed, our church is open – we can still be church, even if we’re not together. Click here to find our Online Together page with worship, prayer and devotion resources.
God of peace, give us eyes to see the Good News around us, and give us grace to bear the bad news. Breathe your living Spirit on us, and raise us up to proclaim your peace and hope to a weary world. We pray these things in the name of your risen Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
4/19/20 – Facebook, 9amCelebrate the 2nd Sunday of Easter. Meet Jason at Facebook at 9:00 for a live greeting, then gather with us at YouTube for worship with Reverend Elyse Nelson-Winger preaching. Printable worship bulletin.
4/22/20 – Facebook, 6:15 pm Join Jason for a Wednesday video devotion and discussion..
We’re Online Together! While our building may be closed, our church is open – we can still be church, even if we’re not together. Click here to find our Online Together page with worship, prayer and devotion resources.
God of peace, give us eyes to see the Good News around us, and give us grace to bear the bad news. Breathe your living Spirit on us, and raise us up to proclaim your peace and hope to a weary world. We pray these things in the name of your risen Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
4/12/20 – Facebook, 9amCelebrate the resurrection of Christ with your Good Shepherd Family! We’ve prepared a service of readings, prayers, songs (and chickens!) featuring many, many familiar faces! Meet Jason at Facebook at 9:00 for a live greeting, then gather with us at YouTube for this very special Easter worship service. Printable worship bulletin.
We’re Online Together! While our building may be closed, our church is open – we can still be church, even if we’re not together. Click here to find our Online Together page with worship, prayer and devotion resources.
In you, Father all-mighty, we have our preservation and our bliss. In you, Christ we have our restoring and our saving. You are our mother, brother, and savior. In you, our Lord the Holy Spirit, is marvelous and plenteous grace. You are our clothing; for love you wrap us and embrace us. You are our maker, our lover, and our keeper. Teach us to believe that by your grace all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well. Amen.
4/5/20 – HOSANNA!!! Celebrate Palm Sunday with us at 9:00 am at GSLC’s Facebook. We’ll have a live greeting from Jason and a brief worship service with a sermon from Rachel Bass Guennewig.
4/9/20 – Join us on Thursday for a Maundy Thursday service. Jason will start at 7 pm with Facebook Live and then will direct you to the link to watch the pre-recorded service. We will explore the significance of Maundy Thursday through music, art, and the Word. Pastor Elyse Nelson Winger will provide the sermon.
4/10/20 – Join us on Good Friday for a Tenebrae Service (Service of Shadows). In this service we follow Jesus to the cross through the Passion according to Saint John, read by members of Good Shepherd. With each step closer to the cross, we enter more and more into darkness. This is symbolized by the extinguishing of candles. As the candles are extinguished, one remains – the “Christ Candle.” Then this candle is removed, leaving us in darkness, symbolizing the apparent victory of the powers of darkness as our Lord suffers death. The restoration of the “Christ Candle” is a foreshadowing of the Resurrection. We invite you to participate in the lighting and extinguishing of the candles at home while you watch the service. You will need 7 candles. As usual, Jason will start us off with Facebook Live at 7 pm and then direct you to the link to watch the pre-recorded service.
We’re Online Together! While our building may be closed, our church is open – we can still be church, even if we’re not together. Click here to find our Online Together page with worship, prayer and devotion resources.
Gracious God, it is good for us to gather as your beloved in community. We treasure your presence with us in word and meal, song and prayer. Be with us in these days when gathering together as often as we would like is not possible. When we must be apart for reasons of safety, we trust that you surround us with your sheltering wings. Encourage us in connecting as we are able, reaching out to our neighbors in need and being persistent in prayer. We ask this in the name of Jesus, our constant companion. Amen.
We’re Online Together! As the old Sunday School song reminds us, “The church is not a building, the church is not a steeple, the church is not a resting place, the church is a people.” While our building may be closed, our church is open – we can still be church, even if we’re not together. Click here to find our Online Together page with worship, prayer and devotion resources.
Let us hold each other in prayer. Let us pray also for all who are sick, those who care for them, those who are distressed and those who grieve loss of loved ones, those entrusted with ongoing decisions — all who need God’s saving help throughout our world. Amen.
With the spread of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) we are in a time of uncertainty unlike anything many of us have ever experienced. In times like these we seek comfort and good news. And a lot of us find those things in worship. “It is a place we can find solace and reassurance in the midst of our fears.” (ELCA)
So, how can we gather for worship safely? Would it surprise you to know that Martin Luther had a plan for that? In response to the plague of 1527, Luther wrote, “God has created medicines and has provided us with intelligence to guard and take care of the body. … Use medicine; take potions which can help you; fumigate house, yard, and street; shun persons and places wherever your neighbor does not need your presence.” At Good Shepherd we’re following his advice, along with more specific and up-to-date recommendations from the ELCA and the Centers for Disease Control. Our goal is to continue to gather for worship, making some small changes that will help keep us healthy and alleviate some anxiety.
Greeters When you enter Good Shepherd, you are usually greeted with a warm handshake. For the time being, greeters will be encouraged to greet you without physical contact – a wave, a bow, or just a warm smile.
Passing of the peace When we pass the peace we are recognizing the presence of Christ in each other. We generally do this with handshakes and hugs. For now, we encourage you to use a non-contact approach. Sign language, prayer hands and a bow, a salute, jazz hands – whatever feels right for you.
Holy Communion Communion servers are being instructed to wash their hands thoroughly before serving communion, as well as use hand sanitizer. If you do not feel comfortable receiving communion at this time, you can simply ask for a blessing. Communion servers are also being asked to give blessings without touching. Hand sanitizer is located in the front pews on either side of the center aisle. Feel free to help yourself on the way to and from communion.
Offering To reduce the amount of touching and sharing of germs, we will not be passing the offering plates. You will be able to place your offering in the plates near the doors as you leave the sanctuary. (You can also choose to give electronically through GivePlus – instructions are in the pews.) We will have a few moments of music and meditation during the time the offering plates are usually passed.
Additional concerns
If you’re concerned about our re-usable bulletins, we invite you to use the hymnals.
You might notice the stuffed animals have been removed from the sanctuary. Since it’s very tempting to touch and love them, we’ve gathered them up and they’re spending time in the Nurse’s office. They’ll be sent out to spread love, not germs, at a later date.
The nursery staff will continue to make sure all toys are thoroughly cleaned after use.
How can you help? Bishop Eaton (and the CDC) offer these simple steps: Wash your hands, stay home when you are sick, wear a mask if you have symptoms, consult your medical provider.
And last but not least, pray. Keep those afflicted with COVID-19, as well as those who are vulnerable, and their families and caregivers in your prayers, along with scientists, healthcare workers and leaders. It might also help to remember these words from Exodus 14:14, “The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to keep still.”
Here’s an excellent (and funny) instructional video on the use of hand sanitizer.
