Worship and Events This First Week in the Season of Lent …

“What Does This Mean? Insights From Martin Luther for Our Faith Today” is Good Shepherd’s theme for its Wednesday Evening Lenten Services

Copies of Free Indeed, a devotional of daily readings from the Small Catechism, are available on the Narthex table to help provide insights into our Lenten theme.

Special offerings received during Lent and Easter will be given to the Campaign for the ELCA and Northeast Iowa Path to Citizenship.

Worship This Week ...

March 1, 7:00 p.m. - Ash Wednesday Service with Imposition of Ashes and Holy Communion

From Pastor Amy - The Season of Lent begins with a solemn call to fasting and repentance as we begin our journey to the baptismal waters of Easter. As we hear in today’s readings, now is the time to return to the Lord. During Lent the people of God reflect on the meaning of our baptism into Christ’s death and resurrection. The sign of ashes suggests our human mortality and frailty. What seems like an ending is really an invitation to make each day a new beginning in which we are washed in God’s mercy and forgiveness. With the cross on our brow, we long for the spiritual renewal that flows from the springtime Easter feast to come.

Worship Leaders and Ministry Team

• ORGANIST/PIANIST: Brooke Joyce
• USHERS: Jeri and Reg Laursen
• ASSISTING MINISTER: Megan Buckingham
• COMMUNION SERVER: Jane Jakoubek
• CANTOR: Reg Laursen
• ALTAR GUILD: Chris Hick, Bob Larson, Linda Wolfs

March 5, 9:30 a.m.- First Sunday in Lent - Worship with Holy Communion

From Pastor Amy - On this first Sunday in Lent, we enter the wilderness with Jesus. Throughout the 40 days of Lent, we are given the same opportunity Jesus had, to go into the wilderness to fast and pray and focus on our relationship with God, so that we too might be able to discern God’s truth and God’s call for our lives.

Offertory Music provided by the Choir - “Out of the Depths”, Stanza 1 - a 2017 composition by Brooke Joyce.  Kathy Reed and Jonathon Struve will assist. The remaining 3 stanzas will be sung by the choir during Lent with the entire piece performed during the Good Friday service.

Launch of Sunday School Lenten Project - Contributions this year will go toward funding Good Shepherd’s Reformation Grove and another creation care project. 

Worship Leaders and Ministry Team

• ORGANIST/PIANIST: Brooke Joyce
• ACOLYTE: Karla Erdman
• USHERS: Lindsay Erdman and Karl Jacobsen
• GREETER: Reg Laursen
• ASSISTING MINISTER: Kate Narveson
• COMMUNION SERVER: Jerrine Jacobsen
• ALTAR GUILD: Chris Hick, Bob Larson, Linda Wolfs
• FELLOWSHIP SERVERS: Karla and Lindsay Erdman, Pastor Marion Pruitt-Jefferson and John Jefferson, Clara Knudson

Adult Forum - Christian Advocacy and Community Organizing: A conversation facilitated by Megan Buckingham and Kate Narveson about advocacy, community organizing, and effective ways to make opinions known about legislative issues.

March 8, 5:30 p.m. - Wednesday Evening Lenten Service 

Special Music - Luther College Collegium Musicum, directed by Kathryn Reed

A Simple Soup Supper and Sue Blair’s Puppet Ministry for children follow the Service.

Worship Leaders and Ministry Team

• ORGANIST/PIANIST: Brooke Joyce
• USHERS: Jeri and Reg Laursen
• ASSISTING MINISTER: Reg Laursen

Upcoming Events ...

March 3, 9:00 a.m. - World Day of Prayer is hosted by Good Shepherd’s Women of the ELCA. Six local congregations share in this worldwide celebration using a service written by the WDP Committee of the Philippines. It explores concepts of economic justice and our response in light of God’s generosity.  Good Shepherd will provide refreshments.   

March 7, 7:00 p.m. - “White Privilege: Let’s Talk” Small Group Conversations continue on Part 4 of the curriculum: On Becoming an Ally.  Pastor Amy, Jon Ailabouni, and Sara Hanssen lead these weekly sessions at Good Shepherd. All study resources can be downloaded here: http://privilege.uccpages.org/

March 8, 12:15-12:45 - Organ Recital                 
Luther Professor of Music and College Organist Gregory Peterson will perform Chorale Preludes for Lent from Das Orgelbüchlein by J. S. Bach and 79 Chorales by Marcel Dupré.

We Rejoice in Welcoming New Members - Katie Prochaska, Mike Bollinger and their children Oliver and Adeline Bollinger; Sarah Olson; and Rebecca Boehm Shaffer and David Shaffer.  Their names, photos, and contact information are in the Directory.  Photos and new member profiles will be posted on the east hallway bulletin board and website under the CONNECT tab.