* www.sactownchurch.com Pastor s Message // During this joyous season of Easter I want you to know that you are the evidence of the miracle of Christ s resurrection. You have living faith in the Living One. You have been born again into a living hope, and in this hope you rejoice. That is amazing. That is miraculous, and that is your testimony in Jesus. I want you to see the magnitude of the miracle that is your love for Jesus Christ. As we continue to grasp the reality of living in the information age we learn how to process and interpret the amount of real knowledge that is now available. Today we have information about what people believe, what Pastor Todd Wallace they doubt, and how they relate to matters of faith. This information was not widely available just a few decades ago. Now it is only a mouse-click away. This information has changed my preaching and teaching in significant ways. Here is one example: when researchers ask people who are not affiliated with Christian faith why they choose not to engage one (Cont. on page 2) Holy Week 4.2.15 (Holy Thursday) First Communion Service @ 5:45 pm Love Feast @ 6:30 pm 4.3.15 (Good Friday) Services at 11 am and 7 pm 4.5.15 (Easter) Services 8/9:30/11 Brunch 9-11 am Carnival 9:30 am The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd * www.sactownchurch.com * 1615 Morse Ave, Sacramento, CA 95864 * 916-483-0451
Message From Pastor Cont. answer is given more than any other by far. People who are aware of Christianity and the Church and yet do not affiliate make this choice for one over-riding reason: they don t feel a need and are just not that interested. I honestly was surprised by this answer but now I understand it and see how true it is in the life of so many of those we know and love. But not you. Your life is Jesus. You cannot imagine how you would get through life without him and you shudder to think about the darkness that would swallow you if you did not have the love of Jesus. Me too. That is exactly how I feel, and that is a miracle and the greatest evidence that it is true: Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!! From The Council // Easter Blessings to all our members and friends from the Church Council. We hope as many of you as possible are volunteering your service in one of the many opportunities available on Easter Sunday. Have you considered who you will invite to join you for Easter Worship? Let s make our church campus the place where everyone in Arden Arcade wants to be on Easter Sunday! Gretchen Eischen, Council President The Council wishes to extend a huge THANK YOU to Del Giese, Tim Christensen, Ron Fjeld, Victoria Hanly, Paul and Joyce Ledwith, Dan Phillippi, Hank Price, Chris Stewart, Tim Taron, Tammy Wilcox, Ken Zacker, Jeff Gillen, Maria Johnson, Scott Shelton, and Doug Stewart for your service and sweat beautifying the church campus during the March 21st workday. We hope we haven t left anyone out! Most of what the Church Council has been discussing focuses on various activities leading up to Easter. Past that point, however, we are still looking for members who will help staff the Welcome Center and help with Food & Beverage Service on Sunday mornings. See Doug Stewart for more information on the Welcome Center and Joanne Johnson for more information on how you can help with Food & Beverage Service. Fellowship Outreach if you have an idea for any type of Congregational Fellowship Event or Outing that you think would be fun to do and are willing to be involved in bringing the idea to fruition, contact Council Member Victoria Hanly. Victoria will be your Council liaison to help plan the event. Submissions to our Monthly Newsletter must be made by the 15th of the month to shepherdsstaff@sactownchurch.com. Submissions to our Weekly Newsletter must be made by 12:00 pm on Wednesday to lifetogether@sactownchurch.com. Official Church Acts // Where s the Signs? Remember the old Wendy s commercial Where s the Beef? You might be wondering what happened to the banner style signage that was previously displayed in front of the Church on the Arden Way corner. We have learned recently there is a County ordinance against such signage. Some of you may have heard the Church was assessed a fine for the violation, however that fine was rescinded. The Council will be exploring alternative, improved signage over what we have today. In addition, we will likely engage in a conversation with our County Supervisor to address signage for our site and other church properties in our area. Death: Edythmae Jones - 03/14/15 Sunday Services at 7:45 am (Come As You Are), 8:30 am (Classic), and 11:00 am (Contemporary). Fellowship at 9:30 am. Educational Hour from 9:50 am 10:45 am: Adults (Fireside Room), IKON YOUTH (Youth Room), Kids (Choir Room). Library open on Sundays.
Holy Week 2015 // 5:45 pm
Ministry Groups // GS KIDS 4.5.15 4.12.15 4.24.15 IKON YOUTH 3.30 through 4.3 WOMEN 4.13.15 4.20.15 4.18.15 MEN Easter Carnival @ 9:30 am No Sunday School Club 456 @ 6:30 pm-8:30 pm (Fellowship Hall) GIVE Day Camp Rebecca Circle meets at the home of Alice Kirkham, 5543 Haskell Ave., Carmichael on Monday, April 13th at 10:00 a.m., phone 481-0283. We will continue the DVD Fire on the Mountain. All women are welcome. Faith Circle: See Life Together F(4) @ 9:30 am (Fireside Room) Men s Weekly Breakfast will resume soon. See Life Together for details. Food Closet // February was a slower month for us as we served only 183 families. This is typical as it is also a shorter month for all. We did have many desperate new situations that made us grateful for all of your donations. Throughout the next month we will continue to need canned tuna, chili, peanut butter, mac and cheese, cereal, oatmeal packets, fruit cups and hot chocolate packets. There is almost nothing we cannot use. We are not allowed to use home canned products or anything that has been opened. Thank you to all who shared their lemons, oranges, and grapefruit. We started our spring garden this month. Our plan is to plant a lot of tomatoes early in April if the weather stays warm. If you are interested in donating volunteer hours please leave your name and availability. There may be some help needed as we approach summer and have our regulars going on vacations! If you would like to just do one or two times per month we can arrange some opportunities. Leave your name with Pepper (916 880-0703) or Delores (916 716-5918). Donations are accepted during regular hours Monday through Friday: 9:30 to 11:30 am. Call us at 483-1942 if you have questions or know of anyone in need of food. This Month // Wednesdays Chancel Choir (Fireside Room) @ 7 pm IKON (Youth Room) @ 7 pm Love Your Bible (TBA) @ 7-8:30 pm (starting 4.15.15) Time to Mourn, Time to Dance (TBA) 6:30-8:00 pm (starting 4.15.15) Thursdays Prayer Fellowship (Welcome Room in back on Sanctuary) @ 9 am Bible Study (Fireside Room) @ 10 am Bell Rehearsal (Sanctuary) @ 6 pm Fridays FROGS (Fireside Room) @ 10:00 am Book Review // He Chose the Nails : What God Did to Claim Your Heart by Max Lucado What special gifts have you received lately? Even the most dear gift pales in comparison to the gift God gave us in his son Jesus. Max Lucado in his book, He Chose the Nails: What God Did to Claim Your Heart, takes the reader on a journey to the hill on Calvary. The book cover summarizes the contents this way: Linger on the Hill of Calvary. Rub a finger on the timber and press the nail into your hand. Taste the tinge of cheap wine and feel the scrape of a thorn on your brow. Touch the velvet dirt, moist with the blood of God. Allow the tools of torture to tell their story. Listen as they tell you what God did to win your heart. Lucado uses ordinary life events (often with humor) to explain every detail of the crucifiction from the nails to the empty tomb. He paints word pictures of Jesus suffering for us because God so deeply loves his people. What a wonderful book to read during Lent and reaffirm that we can bring our sins and leave them at the cross. As I read this book, I experienced many emotions: sadness, loss, joy, laughter, hope and peace. This book is available in regular and large print format Submitted by Phyllis Martin
Preschool News // Friends of the Preschool Thank you so very much for making our preschool families feel so welcome on our Spring Sing Day. It was a wonderful day for all involved. Thank you for your continued support. Thrivent Choice Dollar Donors, through your constant support, your preschool has received $1,061.00 as of March 2015. The first quarter of Extra Credit from Raley's and Bel-Air yielded $234.07. If Raley's and Bel-Air is your grocery store, you can link your Something Extra account to our Extra Credit Account - IT'S FREE! Just go to www.raleys.com and enter Extra Credit in the search engine. To Add a program type in Good Shepherd Preschool, make sure it is our address - 1615 Morse Avenue, Sacramento CA 95864 and follow the directions. Your preschool is always in need of paper towels (select-a-size type), 5 ounce paper cups, napkins, glue and construction paper.
The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd 1615 Morse Avenue Sacramento, CA 95864 Contact Us The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd www.sactownchurch.com Info@sactownchurch.com 1615 Morse Avenue Sacramento, CA 95864 916-483-0451