Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd

The Journey of Lent Begins Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday begins a 40 day journey of reflection, repentance, and renewal that culminates in the joy of Christ's resurrection. Join us at 7:00 p.m. on February 14th for the Imposition of Ashes and Holy Communion. This Lent we'll walk together in the New Testament as we encounter Paul's letter to the Ephesians. Starting on Ash Wednesday and continuing through the 5 Sundays in Lent, the sermons will explore what it means to cast off the ways of death and live into the life we have been so generously given in Christ. We will ponder what it means to speak the truth in love, build one another up, live in love as Christ loved us, and rely upon the word of God as our true security. I pray that our community will be strengthened and refreshed by engaging this beautiful letter.

Wednesdays in Lent

Join us each Wednesday evening during Lent (February 21 & 28, March 6, 13 & 20) for a simple supper of delicious soup and bread at 5:30 p.m. in Fellowship Hall followed by a brief worship service at 6:15. The services will be based on the theme, “Created for Community” and on the order for the ELW Evening Prayer. Readings from Mark’s gospel will invite participants to reflect on what it means to be in community with one another, the world, creation and God. A form of Lectio Divina will help us listen to the word and what it is saying to us as individuals and as a community.

Bishop Smith’s Lenten Bible Study

NC Synod Bishop Tim Smith will offer an online Bible study on the book of Micah during Lent - specifically, the 5 Thursdays beginning February 22 and concluding on March 21 - from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. via Zoom. Don’t miss this opportunity to study Micah with other Lutherans from across the synod.

Register here to receive the Zoom link.

Sundays in Lent

February 18: 1st Sunday of Lent - Text: Ephesians 2:11-22

It all starts with a strong foundation. God intends to build upon the church with the strong foundation of Christ as the cornerstone. The ground at the foot of the cross has been leveled. Any divisions are now rubble. How might we be a visible reminder to the world that we don’t go to church…we are the church…where people come together and live in peace with one another.

February 25: 2nd Sunday of Lent - Text: Ephesians 3

Don’t you hate it when people hold out trite, pithy sayings to tidily sum up much deeper concepts? But here’s one that really is true: “It’s all about love.” Over and over again in Scripture, we see love as the impetus for everything God is doing to reconcile us with Him and one another. In Ephesians 3, Paul shares his earnest prayer for the church, that it may be strengthened in the Spirit as they are rooted and grounded in love. Worship is our weekly opportunity to ground ourselves in that ultimate reality that we are loved and called to love one another.

March 3: 3rd Sunday of Lent - Text: Ephesians 4:1-16

In the 4th chapter of Ephesians, Paul talks about people having different gifts, all for the sake of building up the ONE body. There is an incredible sense of unity amid diversity in this passage of Scripture. And speaking truth in love is an important part of living in a community that is not fractured, but of one heart and mind. This is an important lesson for us all.

March 10: 4th Sunday of Lent - Text: Ephesians 5:1-20

Living as children of the light means putting aside what the world pursues and spending time pursuing more life-giving activities. Come this day and hear from a few of our choir members about what they gain from “singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, and making melody to the Lord in your hearts.” What a give music is in building up the whole body of Christ.

March 17: 5th Sunday of Lent - Text: Ephesians 6:10-24

The conclusion of the letter to the Ephesians is a reminder that it’s no small battle in which we are engaged - we’re battling the cosmic forces of this present darkness. It truly feels like it, doesn’t it? So what are we to do? Come and see how Paul tells us to suit up for the battle - and what our sharpened sword should be.

March 24: Passion/Palm Sunday - Text: Mark 14:1-15; 15:47 - One Service at 10:00 a.m. (presented in Reader’s Theater)

This Sunday takes us from Palms spread in anticipation of new leadership to the passion and death of a man who was clear that He stood in stark contrast to the powers and principalities of this world. As we stand at the entry of this holiest of weeks in the life of the church, let us hear, reflect, and be changed in the light of the life-giving gospel of Jesus the Christ.

March 28: Maundy Thursday - Text: John 13:1-17; 31b-35 - 7:00 p.m.

The prayer of the day for Maundy Thursday asks God to “give us the will to serve others as He (Jesus) was the servant of all.” In the Gospel reading for this evening, Jesus exemplifies His servant heart by washing the feet of His followers. That would be great if He left it there. But He didn’t. He asked us to do the same for for another. This love asks a lot of us. But it gives a lot first.

March 29: Good Friday - Text: John 18:1-19; 42 - 7:00 p.m.

We gather this night to hear the passion narrative read aloud, to pray the ancient bidding prayer that names the complicated web of sin that envelopes our lives, to be convicted by the solemn reproaches and to venerate the cross. We wonder, what does Jesus’ torn apart body have to say to all the disinherited, torn apart bodies of the world? Might there be redemption through Christ’s suffering for this world?


Easter Sunday

March 31, 2024

Contemplative Worship at 8:00 a.m. - Traditional Worship at 10:30 a.m.

On this Easter Day, we are reminded (with an exclamation point!) that what we can’t do for ourselves has been done for us. The women on their way to the tomb wondered how they would get into it to layer spices on a corpse. But, to their surprise, the rock had been rolled away. And to their further surprise, there was no corpse in the tomb! It took some time to digest - but what was afoot was and is a God who has done the heavy lifting for us. Our sins are forgiven. The weighty burden of making ourselves right with God has been lifted off of us, and we are free to live a new life. Alleluia! Let us sing praise to the rock of our salvation!