The Fellowship Committee is hosting a St. Patrick’s Day Dinner on Sunday, March 15, at 5:30 pm. The dinner will feature corned beef and cabbage. Drinks and desserts will be provided.
…with whom I once enjoyed sweet
fellowship at the house of God, as we
walked about among the worshipers.
Psalm 55:14
Our theme this year for Lent will be ‘Return to the Lord’. This is a refrain that comes up throughout Scripture to describe repentance. Inherent in the theme is the fact that we were once God’s. We once lived lives according to His will. Sin, however, separates us from Him. Lent is a time to repent. Lent is a time to leave our sins and return to God our Father. Because of the new life Jesus gives us, our return is celebrated by the LORD.
This year we will be doing something a little different. Some of the other pastors in our circuit will travel to Good Shepherd to lead that day’s service while I travel to one of their churches to do the same. We will still have a morning and evening service and both will be led by the same pastor. For instance, on March 11th Pastor Griffin from Immanuel Lutheran Church in Lockwood will come here to preach both the 11:00 am and 7:00 pm services (and I will go to Lockwood to preach at their 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm services). This kind of a setup (often referred to as a “round robin”) gives pastors the opportunity to focus on fewer sermons and hearers the opportunity to experience a variety of faithful pastors. God’s blessing to you as we return to the Lord this Lent.
| Ash Wednesday | Return to the Lord in Servanthood | Pastor Mehl |
| March 4 | Return to the Lord in Witness | Pastor Mehl |
| March 11 | Return to the Lord in Obedience | Pastor Griffin (from Lockwood) |
| March 18 | Return to the Lord in Peace | Pastor Backs (from Stockton) |
| March 25 | Return to the Lord in Godly Fear | Pastor Mehl |
| April 1 | Return to the Lord in Carrying the Cross | Pastor Griffin |
| April 9 ( Holy Thursday) | Return to the Lord in Christian Unity | Pastor Mehl |
| April 10 (Good Friday) | Return to the Lord with Renewed Faith | Pastor Schnackenberg |
| April 12 (Easter Sunrise) | Return to the Lord in Confident Hope | Pastor Mehl |
† IN OUR PRAYERS Lee Ann C., suffering with back pain; Bernice R., recovering from shoulder surgery, Jack H., at St. Luke’s dealing with multiple health issues; Katherine R., homebound; Kathy P., suffering health issues; Stephen Ministry and their care receivers.
† ATTENDANCE BOOKLET PROCEDURE The attendance booklets will now be located on the pew on the center aisle side. During the offering please sign the attendance sheet and then pass the booklet toward the outside aisle.
† LENT began February 26 with our Ash Wednesday services. We will once again have weekday services each Wednesday at 11:00 am and 7:00 pm throughout Lent. Be sure and utilize these services as part of your Lenten observance.
† MEAL DELIVERY Good Shepherd’s week to deliver meals for the Over-60 Center is this week. If you can help with this worthwhile project, please contact Betty Ellefsen, 358-6418.
† MARK YOUR CALENDAR Plans are in the works for a St. Patrick’s Day Fellowship dinner at Good Shepherd on Sunday, March 15, at 5:30 pm. There will be corned beef and cabbage for dinner and drinks and desserts will be provided.
† SINGING SAINTS Trinity Lutheran Freistatt has invited us to attend a concert. The Singing Saints of Saint Paul Lutheran High School, of Concordia, MO, will be performing a concert on Thursday, March 5, at 7:00 pm, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 207 Main St., Freistatt, MO.
† CONCERT You are invited to hear the Kansas City Lutheran High School combined band, choir, and handbells in concert at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Monett, on Wednesday, March 18, at 7:00 pm. A meal precedes the concert at 6:00 pm. Please come to support these young Lutheran musicians as they kick off their spring tour.
† ADULT BIBLE CLASS & SUNDAY SCHOOL OFFERING The offering for the first quarter of 2020 from Sunday School and Adult Bible class will be given to the Food Bank at Concordia Seminary.
† FLOWER CHART If you would like to place flowers at the altar for a special occasion or in memory of someone, please sign the flower chart hanging on the wall next to the water fountain in the hallway. Simply write your name, phone number, and occasion with the pen provided.
† BLOOD PRESSURE CHECKS are available in the nurse’s office after the service. You will be given a small form that can be carried in your wallet which will include medical information and a log of your blood pressure readings.
† PRAYER BEARS are in the sanctuary pews and available to be signed out (notebook in narthex by nursery) and given to anyone that needs God’s love, comfort, and peace.
† ASSISTIVE LISTENING If you are having a hard time hearing the service, assistive listening devices are available from the ushers. They work like a transistor radio and you can control the volume.
No One But Jesus Only Matthew 17 1-9