“WOW…another Holy Week and EASTER have already come and gone [didn’t we just finish Christmas?!]  Time flies when celebrating the Good News of Jesus Christ!  Whether celebrating His birth or the life-giving news of His death on the cross and glorious resurrection, we are “Easter people”,      forgiven and free to celebrate the gift of eternal life!  As always, so many people came    together to make Holy Week and Easter special and memorable.  Many thanks to our Adult Choir, Barb Frey (Director), and Karen Johnson (Accompanist) for their many hours spent learning new music for that week. Thanks also to the following musicians who spent extra hours preparing “celebration music”:  Ron Rossow (Trumpet), Matt Rossow (Trumpet), Noel Johnson (Trumpet), Barb Gierke (Organ/Piano), Karen Johnson and Barb Frey (Piano/Keyboards), Kim Sommerer (Drums), Mike Fricke (Guitar), and Curt Johnson (Vocal soloist).  Many other faithful workers also spent countless hours behind the scenes in order to “make it all happen”:  Our Pastors, who prepared multiple services and messages from God’s Word; members of the Altar Guild, who cleaned and decorated the chancel several times in four days; those who labored to hang banners, set up the “open tomb” and three crosses display and lighting; the young people who marched in procession; those who operated and made sure all of our technical equipment worked; Deaconess Jessica Feldmann, her helpers, and the Easter Bunny, who reached out to the community with another successful Easter egg hunt; those who planned, prepared, served, and cleaned up the delicious Easter breakfast; and our faithful custodians, Ron and Rachel Jensen, who somehow kept the whole campus looking great in spite of all the activity.  We are truly blessed at Good Shepherd to have those among us willing to give of their time in so many ways, working together in the name of our Lord Jesus to help connect people with Him.  God bless each and every one of you for all you did and for all you continue to do.

JESUS LOVES YOU!  YOU BELONG TO HIM!  What gift could be more worthy of our thanks and praise?  We pray that many of the guests who worshipped with us on Easter Sunday, as well as members of our church family who have not worshipped for a length of time, will choose to return and worship with us again in the weeks and months ahead. There is a “you” shaped place in our church family that only YOU can fill!  The Lord has equipped each of us with special gifts and talents. He has placed each of us here at this time for a specific purpose. He waits patiently for each of us to respond, allowing the joy of Easter to refocus our lives. To what special Good Shepherd ministry is He calling you to serve Him with your particular gifts?  Check out the many opportunities available.