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Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd.
The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11).
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Dear friends in Jesus, our Good Shepherd,
After a long day at work and/or taking care of the kids, we sometimes just feel done. Drained. Defeated. Busy schedules, expectations, and demands don’t help either.
God wants to recharge us with his Word and fill up our hungry and thirsty souls. Jesus said, “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.” The rest Jesus promises is the rest from constantly trying to impress each other and God. He gives us rest from our accusing conscience and the guilt of our sins. He gives us rest from the world that keeps telling us we’re not good enough yet. Jesus gives us rest from all of our enemies.
Throughout Lent we continue on a journey to the empty tomb at Easter. Sin and Satan try to battle the Savior, but Jesus remains undefeated. Our Savior has won the victory, and with faith in Jesus, you have rest and refreshment! Jesus said, “Whoever drinks the water I will give him will never be thirsty ever again. Rather, the water I will give him will become in him a spring of water, bubbling up to eternal life.”
Our Theme for This Sunday: Saving Faith Trusts in Christ Alone
For most of us who have been acquainted with Christian teachings for many years, it’s an easy question. How are we saved? Answer: Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved. But for thousands of years, people didn’t have the knowledge of Jesus Christ. They knew only of a Messiah to come. Nonetheless, their faith was placed in the promise of God to send a Savior, and that faith—a forward-looking faith—was credited to them as the righteousness that God demands to enter heaven.
In the sermon, we will hear about a Samaritan... a sinner... yet a person for whom Jesus opens the flood gates of the water of life and reveals his true identity as her Savior. Jesus calls her to faith, and she believes and finds living water for her thirsty soul.
See you this weekend!
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This Week
Sunday
Daylight Savings!
9:00am-Education Hour
- Sunday School for children
- "Politics Is Driving Me Crazy" Adult Class
- "Starting Point" Foundation BIC Class
10:30am-Worship
Wednesday
10:00am-Midweek Bible Study ("Law and Gospel")
7:15pm-Lent Worship
Next Sunday
9:00am-Education Hour (Sunday School, Adult and Foundation Classes)
10:30am-Worship with Holy Communion
Join us! Invite others!
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Lent Midweek Worship Series
Our midweek Lent services are Wednesday evening at 7:15pm, through April 1. Our theme is “The Son of God Goes Forth to War.” Many people picture Jesus in robes, holding a shepherd’s staff and guiding his sheep. Others see him crowned and bright, sitting on a throne in heaven. Less commonly today, we recognize him as the brave and often-opposed soldier the Word tells us he is. This Lenten season, we will take a thoughtful look at Christ’s role as a warrior by reflecting on Scripture’s telling of the battle against sin and death that Jesus fought and won for us. We will focus on the tremendous courage, humility, and power of our Savior—and his ultimate victory! Join us!
Guest Preachers
We are thankful for the opportunity to have guest preachers from our nearby sister congregations. Our Wednesday services also include the pastors and vicar (intern) from Abiding Word in Houston and Beautiful Savior in College Station. Each service will focus on an aspect of our Savior-warrior as he is promised to us, fights our enemies for us, and triumphs over them for us. Here is our series:
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Come! Let’s enjoy time together at a wine tasting at Bernhardt Winery in Plantersville. Sunday, March 22, 1:00 pm. Tastings are $10. Kids are welcome. Light snacks will be provided. Please sign up in the church entryway & we’ll see you there!
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Other Updates:
Ushers and Counters
We are in need of volunteers each week to usher during the service and to count offerings for the weekly deposit. If you are interested to serve as an usher, please sign up here: www.gslcthewoodlands.org/ushers If you are interested to serve as a counter, please sign up here: www.gslcthewoodlands.org/counters You may also sign up on the bulletin board in the entry. We will gladly provide training for you to serve. Blair has prepared a sheet of simple instructions so that the counting process may be done by anyone and take about 15 minutes after worship. She will gladly answer any questions you may have: office@gslcthewoodlands.org Thank you!
Conroe Bible Study
Please join us on Sunday, March 29 at 4:00 pm, at the home of Jan Paulson for Bible study and a meal to follow (515 Northwood Dr., Conroe, TX 77303). The theme: "Can I Tell You a Story?" This is a narrative evangelism Bible study. "The power of stories + the difficulty of witnessing = a perfect match for sharing Christ."
Online Sermons and Podcasts
If you would like to watch or share the sermons at Good Shepherd, you may find these online at https://www.gslcthewoodlands.org/sermons. You may also subscribe to our sermon podcasts on your mobile device by clicking HERE.
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Our “Above and Beyond” giving emphasis for March: Church Office Remodel
In 2018 we updated the pastors’ offices and the hallway with fresh paint, flooring, furniture, and window treatments. We are now planning to begin the second phase of our office updating project. This phase is a bit more extensive as a couple walls will be removed. We will combine the church office, workroom, and hallway to become one large workspace. This open concept will help us have better space utilization, allow for multiple work stations, and help us to be more collaborative. Our storage organization and accessibility will increase. The secretary will be more visible to visitors. She will also have better access and sight into the hallway. We will reuse the cabinetry and build a movable island for projects.
On February 9, the Voters approved the raising of funds for this project. We hope to gather $25,000. We have a donor that will match gifts up to $10,000. We plan to begin construction after sufficient funds are gathered. It is our hope, God-willing, that this phase will completed this summer.
Would you be willing to help? If you would like to support this effort, please designate your offering at church or online as "Above and Beyond." There are also envelopes for this effort in the church entryway. Thank you for your consideration!
If you have any questions, please speak to our congregation president, Michael Loeffel (832-823-9586, msloeffel@gmail.com) or one of our pastors.
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WELS International Youth Rally
This summer is the biennial youth rally for our church body. Would your teen be interested in attending? We are planning to work together with our Houston-area churches for registration and transportation. Our churches are renting 15-passenger vans for transportation, which would add about $50/person.
Here is the basic rally info:
Dates: June 23-26, 2020
Theme: "20/20 Vision: Seeing Christ Clearly. Serving Christ Boldly."
Location: University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Benefits:
- Hang out with 2,000+ peers who share your faith.
- Listen to speakers with stories of faith and hope from around the world.
- Attend worships with a biblical perspective on timely teen topics.
- Worship with thousands of teens.
- Enjoy music, comedy, recreation, and FOOD!
- Go on excursions: theme park, tubing, paintball & more.
Registration begins March 2
Ages: Entering 9th Grade in Fall 2020 to Entering College Fall 2020
Cost: Early bird rate $375 (plus $50/person transportation from Houston area)
Contact us soon if you have interest. Please also contact us if you have any questions or would like more information. Our church had three teens attend the youth rally two years ago, and they could share their experience with you.
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From our church body:
WELS: Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod - www.wels.net
Speak the truth in love!
Click HERE for a short witnessing tip!
Youth and Teen Summer Camps at Camp Shiloh
It is time to plan your summer events! Youth Camp is for those entering Grades 3-8: June 21-26. Activities and living quarters will be divided between 4th-5th and 6th-8th. Teen Camp is for those entering Grades 9-12: June 14-19. $320 per camper and multiple children discounts may apply. For more information or to register, click HERE.
Women's Spring Retreat for Houston-area WELS churches
"A Season for Everything," on March 20-21. Join us for a weekend of fellowship and time in the Scriptures! Our featured presenter, Cindi Holman, will guide us in exploring how God uses us in each season of our lives. Location: Hampton Inn, 120 Ravenwood Village Dr., Huntsville, TX 77340. Dates: Friday, March 20, Retreat Begins at 6:30 pm; Saturday, March 21, 9:00am-3:00pm (Optional Activities from 3:00-5:00pm). Cost: Retreat Registration Only: $40/person, with other options for lodging. To register or learn more, click HERE.
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Our CHURCH is a family of believers who gather to worship and serve the Lord, led by our Good Shepherd, Jesus. We focus on faith; We feel like family; We foster fellowship. It is our prayer that you will gather together with us!
Our LEARNING CENTER offers a Christ-centered, quality education in a safe and loving environment, serving children 18 months through transition.
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