"Easter Hope" by Rebekah Krevens

PASTORS' MESSAGE

Todays PASTORS' MESSAGE is the Easter Message from the Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, Presiding Bishop of the ELCA. To view this message in video form, CLICK HERE.

I try to imagine what it must have been like on that first Easter morning when there wasn’t the knowledge of the resurrection. When, instead, it was all about death and disappointment. And I imagine Mary Magdalene coming to the tomb in order to care for Jesus’ body, to prepare it for burial. The story was over. The hope was gone. And then someone shows up in the garden, and Mary can’t recognize him. Thinking that he’s the gardener, she says, “Sir, tell me where you’ve taken the body so that I may bring it back here.”

Imagine a  woman, literally, thinking that she could carry the deadweight of a man. All of that grief, the heaviness of that physically as well as spiritually, and just then Jesus speaks her name. “Mary,” he says, and her eyes are open. And she can see Jesus because she has been seen by Jesus. Her name has been called by the risen Lord, and now she is part of the resurrection story that happens for all of us in baptism. Jesus has called all of us by name and knows every one of us. And we too now are part of the resurrection story. Her mourning was turned into dancing. I’m going to leave you with this hymn from our newest worship resource, All Creation Sings, about the transformation of Mary’s grief into joy. Happy Easter dear Church.

The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton

Presiding Bishop

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

For more detailed calendar, including events hosted by outside organizations 

IN OTHER NEWS

Transition Team applications due by Monday April 5th

Are you interested in serving on GSLC's Transition Team?  This team will be tasked with leading our congregation through the Congregation Assessment Tool (CAT) survey later this spring.  All congregations in the New England Synod take this survey when they go through a pastoral transition.  For more information and to submit an application, visit this link HERE.

Interfaith event Saturday April 10th 5 - 8 PM

Central Massachusetts Connections in Faith presents their spring event with an opportunity to learn more about Unitarian Universalism.  The event is held on zoom, with one hour of presentation and question and answer, followed by the opportunity to join a small discussion group with people of different faith traditions to process what we have learned.  Registration for this event is required!  Please scan the QR code on the flyer included below, or simply visit the registration link here: https://tinyurl.com/LearnAboutUU

First Communion Class

First Communion class will begin on Sunday, April 11th with a Bible Ceremony in the in-person, outdoor worship service. The class will continue gathering over the next four weeks, including weekly in-person, outdoor classes on Sunday mornings and a virtual class option on Wednesday afternoons, culminating in a ceremony on Pentecost where participants will receive communion together. If you are the parent or guardian of a third grader and would like to sign them up for the class, please email samantha.menapace@goodshepherdcares.org for more information.

Adult Forum- Sundays at 11:15 am

4/11/21: Baptism & The Reformation

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

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

Meeting ID: 894 3565 9701 Passcode: 565162

Week 4 is this week and there are 3 more after this . . . JOIN US!

We've been exploring baptism through the ages, beginning by looking at baptism in the New Testament. We will then turn to discussions about baptism in the early church, during the Reformation, and finally how it is practiced and interpreted today. Throughout this series, we hope to answer questions about the origins of this initiation rite and inspire reflection about what baptism means to you. Join us on Sunday as we continue the conversation about baptism in the bible, turning to the book of Acts and Paul’s letters to discover the link between baptism and the Holy Spirit.

Pastoral Counseling Center needs a new Board Member from Good Shepherd

For over thirty-five years, Good Shepherd has supported the Pastoral Counseling Center (PCC) with yearly contributions, therapists, and Board members. A Board member from Good Shepherd is needed to continue this legacy. 

What does PCC do?

PCC provides therapy for individuals, families, and groups in Central Massachusetts, from an interfaith perspective regardless of ability to pay.  In addition, PCC provides support for our pastors, Westborough’s interfaith community, and for mental health crises in our communities. More information about PCC is on the “About Us” section of the website, www.PCCofMA.org.

What is required of a Board Member?

Board members participate in bi-monthly board meetings at 9:00 a.m. on the second Monday in February, April, June, August, October, and December.  (Currently, we are holding Board meeting by Zoom.)  As a Board member, you are a valuable liaison between the Center and Good Shepherd’s pastors and congregation, answering questions about services, fees, donations, and even making referrals.  We rely on our Board to spread the Good News about what we offer and encourage financial support.

I hope you will contact me, Mark Booher, Ph.D., at (508) 314-0434 or mbooher@PCCofMA.org for more information.

Care of Creation

In Genesis, God gave humans “dominion over” the natural world. Elsewhere in the Old Testament, that phrase referred to the benevolent rulers of a land who cared for their people. So God is crowning each one of us, giving us the awesome responsibility of caring for our world. 

In that vein, we are contemplating how we, as a Church community, have striven to be good stewards of the gifts God gave us. How are we protecting and nurturing the Earth? 

The ELCA’s Lutherans Restoring Creation initiative allows each congregation -- as a church group, but also as groups within the broader community -- to take a hard look at the methods it is using and can use in the future to be better stewards of our planet. If you would like to be a part of this conversation and join a new committee at Good Shepherd to discuss this topic, please email church council member Dana Gillin (dana@gillin.com). 

Online Trivia Game Night on April 25th at 7pm 

Join us for a night of friendly competition for a good cause! For $5, you can participate in an online trivia game night fundraiser for Good Shepherd’s campership fund. Show off your knowledge about Camp Calumet, the bible, science, history, and other random facts that you can finally put to good use. When you sign up and pay $5, you’ll receive a Zoom link to the game night on April 25th. We’ll gather at 7pm for a quick introduction to the game, then get going on the trivia questions. The winner will receive a special prize! Sign up today! 

Vacation Bible School Update

SAVE THE DATES - August 2nd - 6th

The Westborough Ecumenical Vacation Bible School will be happening this summer, August 2nd-6th, hosted by First United Methodist Church. While planning has just begun, we are currently operating under the assumption that this year's VBS will be in-person and outdoors. If you have any concerns, ideas, or comments about VBS, please reach out to me by emailing samantha.menapace@goodshepherdcares.org. I will be in touch with more information and the registration form over the next few weeks!

PRAYING TOGETHER 

In Our Prayers 

This week. . . 

PJ Mann, Anne Changaris, Arthur Matson, Susan Rovaldi, Phyllis Taxiera, Kathy Allen, Jen Cinelli, Kay Porter, Kenan George, Tarah Sproul, Vila Makkray, Brian Mulvihill, Cathy Dorey, 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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