the shepherd | march 2014

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Through the years, the 40 days of Lent has been a time of remembering Jesus’ experience of sacrifice

in the wilderness. For many Lent is a time self-denial and sacrifice. At the beginning of Lent, people

often ask one another, “what are you giving up for Lent?” Christians around the world observe Lent by

sacrificing and giving up a number of things, the most common thing being chocolate. Lent has always

been a time to help Christians draw closer to God.

“In many cultures there is an ancient custom of giving a tenth of each year’s income for some holy use.

For Christians, to observe the forty days of Lent is to do the same thing with roughly a tenth of each

year’s days. During Lent, Christians are supposed to ask one way or another what it mean to be

Christian.” (Frederick Buechner, Listening to Your Life, February 26). For those in the earliest Christian

church, Lent was the only season observed in the church year. It was time for converts to the faith to

be given the opportunity to learn more about the faith and what it means to be a Christian. Lent has

always been meant as a time of intentional growth in the Christian faith.

You are invited to observe Lent and grow in your own faith this year. I will be using The Prodigal God

by Timothy Keller as the basis for our Lenten worship. Keller takes a closer look at one of the most

beloved parables of Jesus (Luke 15) as a means of inviting us to a closer walk with God. There will be

several opportunities for you to engage in the book. For those who may wish to purchase the book,

we will have copies available. The Mariner’s Sunday School class will be viewing the DVD and

discussing the book. There will be two book discussions during Lent for those who may want to discuss

the book.

The Prodigal God poses some challenges about the Christian faith and invites us all to take a closer

examination at ourselves and what we believe. Join us as we observe a holy Lent, and make it truly an

opportunity to grow in hope and prayer that we may come to discover a new life in Christ. After all,

isn’t that what Lent is really all about?

See you in Church –

Pastor Bob

A PUBLICATION OF GOOD SHEPHERD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

From the Study of Pastor Machovec

March 2014

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STUDY

MONDAY’S FOR MEN

Monday’s at 6:45 pm in the

Stage Room. All men

welcome!

PASTOR’S BIBLE STUDY

Thursday’s at 10:00 am in the

Library. All are welcome!

A new study of the Biblical

understanding of “Covenant

and its meaning for us today,”

has begun. Join us as we learn

and grow together in God’s

word.

SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES

Sunday’s at 10:30 am

Classes for all ages!

Call the church office or visit

www.gsumparma.com/sunda

y-school for more

information.

WORSHI P

WORSHIP SERVICES HELD

EVERY SUNDAY MORNING!

Tra d i t i o n a l S e r v i c eT r a d i t i o n a l S e r v i c eT r a d i t i o n a l S e r v i c eT r a d i t i o n a l S e r v i c e 9 : 1 5 AM9 : 1 5 AM9 : 1 5 AM9 : 1 5 AM

P r a i s e S e r v i c eP r a i s e S e r v i c eP r a i s e S e r v i c eP r a i s e S e r v i c e 1 1 : 2 5 AM1 1 : 2 5 AM1 1 : 2 5 AM1 1 : 2 5 AM

SPECIAL SERVICES:

AsAsAsAs h Wednes dayh Wednes dayh Wednes dayh Wednes day March 5 , 20 14

7 :30 PM

Maundy Thurs dayMaundy Thurs dayMaundy Thurs dayMaundy Thurs day Apr i l 1 7 , 20 14

7 :30 PM

Good F r i dayGood F r i dayGood F r i dayGood F r i day Apr i l 1 8 , 20 14

7 :30 PM

SERVICE

WEST SIDE COMMUNITY HOUSE:

BE YOUR OWN HERO 5K RACE

ONE-MILE FUN RUN/WALK

Saturday, April 12, 2013 | 9:00 am

9300 Lorain Ave., Cleveland 44102

West Side Community House is

hosting its first annual Be Your Own

Hero 5K benefit race. This event is

designed to showcase how WSCH

encourages community residents to

become their own hero and

positively change their lives, the

lives of their families and the

community. This is a family-friendly

day of fun that includes a 5K race, 1

mile walk, and other activities that

children can enjoy

For information on how to register,

become a sponsor, etc., contact

Hermes Sports & Events at (216)

623-9933, visit

www.hermescleveland.com or

www.WSCHouse.org.

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Church News

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION NEWS

By Diana Andrews, Christian Education Director

[email protected]

Can you believe that the Sunday School year is

almost over, and summer break will be here

soon? May 11th will be the last day of Sunday

School classes until September!

NEW Nursery Paging System

The nursery now has a pager system that allows

nursery volunteers to contact parents

immediately when they are needed. The pager

will be assigned to parents when they drop off

their child in the nursery. If a parent is needed, a

vibrating page can be sent anywhere in the

church.

Looking Ahead…

Vacation Bible School will be June 16th – 20th.

Anyone wishing to volunteer to help with VBS

can contact Diana Andrews

at [email protected] leave a

message with the church office.

UNITED METHODIST WOMEN NEWS

Special Rachel Circle Meeting

Tuesday, April 8 at Noon

Bring a sandwich and a pair of scissors to the

meeting. A dessert and beverage will be

provided. We will be cutting out some more

fleece hats, scarves, and mittens to get them

ready to be sewn.

UMW Sunday

Sunday, April 27, 2014

In both services you will find World Thank

offering envelopes for donations to support the

mission work of the United Methodist Women.

All monies are sent to the United Methodist

Women of the North Coast District to be used

where they can do the most good. We

appreciate your support!

Upcoming Church Events

23 r d Annua l Ch i l i Cha l l enge Saturday, March 1 at 6:00 pm

Location: Fellowship Hall

Purchase your tickets at the door $5 – Adult; $2.50 – Ages 6-12; 5 & under - FREE

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper Tuesday, March 4 at 5:30 pm

Location: Fellowship Hall

The Family Ministry Board invites you to

join us for our Annual Shrove Tuesday

Pancake Supper. This has been a tradition

at Good Shepherd Church for many years.

Please come and join us. Donations will be

appreciated to help us keep the cost

down.

Rache l C i rc l e Prayer & Se lf -Den ia l Luncheon Tuesday, March 11, at Noon

Location: Stage Room

Light lunch with a program following that

will cover local mission work and a

discussion of Christian books.

Easter Egg Hunt Sunday, April 13 at 1:00 PM

The Easter Egg Hunt will consist of games,

a craft, lunch, and an egg hunt.

Al l Church B ir thday Party & Ta lent Show Sunday, April 14 at 1:00 pm

Location: Stage Room and Fellowship Hall

Pizza, salad, and birthday cake will be

served around 1:15 pm. The show will

start shortly after lunch.

YOUR TALENT IS NEEDED. Contact Helga

Fullerman at (440) 884-6559 to register

your talent. All talent is welcome.

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Church News continued…

YOUTH NEWS

By Jennifer Self, Youth Director

[email protected]

All Youth Grades 7-12th welcome!

The 2014 retreat was held in January at Camp

Wanake. We had a great time eating,

discussing God's grace in our life, sledding,

worshipping together, playing dodge ball, and

enjoying each other's company. We had a

great turn out with 19 teens and 7 adults who

participated in the weekend!

In February, the youth attended Winter Jam, a

Christian concert with many bands and artists

held in downtown Cleveland.

The Youth participated in the Valentine's

Dinner that was held on February 8th at Good

Shepherd which served nineteen couples.

Thank you to those who attended and helped

raise money for camp scholarships. A HUGE

thank you goes to Elizabeth Whited for her

hard work organizing and cooking for the

event. Thank you also to the kitchen crew:

Wayne and Lidia Whited and Wayne Ownby,

and the servers: Taylor Rericha, Rachael

Carpenter, Jonathan Robb, Megan Fullerman,

Kaitlyn Cesa, R.J. Cesa and Devin Fullerman.

The Confirmation Class of 2014 has started. In

February, the teens visited the Maltz Museum.

The class has been meeting weekly for

classes on Sunday evenings.

MISSONS & OUTREACH NEWS

Plant Sale to Support GSUMC Mission Team

Saturday, May 10 | 9:30 am – 1:00 pm

Location: GSUMC Front Lawn

All proceeds will go to support the 2014

summer mission trip to West Virginia.

News From The Pews

THANK YOU

A HUGE thank you goes to Elizabeth Whited

for all of her hard work planning, preparing

and cooking for the valentine's dinner!

Without fundraisers like these we would not

be able to offer camp scholarships to the

children and youth of Good Shepherd.

Thank you to everyone who attended, the

kitchen crew: Wayne and Lidia Whited and

Wayne Ownby & the servers: Taylor Rericha,

Rachael Carpenter, Devin Fullerman,

Jonathan Robb, RJ Cesa, Kaitlyn Cesa and

Megan Fullerman.

-Jennifer Sefl, Youth Director

Thank you to all who baked or brought

cookies for the USO. It means a lot to our

service men and women. We also would like

to thank you for saving cancelled stamps all

year. They are turned in to the United

Methodist Women resulting in money/help

to make themselves supporting for countries

over sea.

-United Methodist Women

We want to thank you so much for allowing

us to have our A.A. meeting at your church!

Thank you and God Bless!

- Free to Be Me Women’s AA

UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on

Relief) thanks you for your support in joining

with them to “Be Hope” to those who

desperately need it.

BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT

Congratulations to proud grandparents Mike

& Connie Norsic on the birth of their

granddaughter, Daphne Elise Roller! Daphne

was born on December 18, 2013 weighing 7

pounds, 4 ounces, and measuring 19 ½

inches long!

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Focusing on Lent

Special Lenten Focus -

The Prodigal God, by Timothy Keller

Luke 15: 11-32 is one of Jesus’ most familiar and beloved parables. Commonly known as the Parable of

the Prodigal Son, it really is the story of two sons. During Lent this year we will focus our worship

services around this parable, using Timothy Keller’s book, The Prodigal God. The book helps us

uncover Jesus’ essential message revealing God’s grace for all.

Each Sunday, the messages will focus on one aspect of this parable. The Mariner’s Sunday School class

will be offering a study of the book, using the DVD and study guide. There will also be two

opportunities to discuss the book for those who have read it. Those discussions will be (1) Monday,

March 31 at 7:30 pm, and (2) Wednesday, April 2 at 10:30 am. If you would like to purchase a copy of

the book, there are a limited number available in the church office.

Join us as we grow together and grow closer to God during this Lenten season.

*********** ************ ********

Lent invites us all to focus on faith

Traditionally, Lent has been a time for Christians to spend some time intentionally focusing on their

faith journey. For many, it can be a time of self-denial and sacrifice. Many people give something up

during the six weeks as a sign of sacrifice. Quite often it’s something like chocolate, or pizza, or coffee.

For others it’s a time to quit some bad habit. The idea behind that sacrifice is (1) to help us focus more

on God, and (2) to change some behavior or something within.

This year, you are invited to give of yourself. Perhaps instead of “giving up” something, consider giving

of yourself to someone else. Here’s a list of suggestions for how you might consider making this

Lenten season:

- Take 5 minutes of silence every day

- Do a chore for someone else

- Commit to attend church each Sunday during Lent

- Contact an old friend

- Volunteer at the Cleveland Food Bank

- Read a daily devotional

- Make a commitment to tithe during Lent

- Read the bible each day

- Attend a small group

These are just a few of the ways you may give of yourself – while growing in faith.

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Prayer Concerns

Living with Cancer - Elena Katanic (Friend of Steve

Kather)

- Howard Evans

- Ron DeVera

- Linda Carder

- Sharon German

- Heidi MacIntyre

- Hilda Carey

- Carol Setny (Don & Lynn

Campbell’s aunt)

- Jennifer Santoro (Richard

Hillson’s cousin)

- Julie Weigand

(Daughter of Bob & Blanche

Weigand)

- Stephanie Jane Lesiak

Those Serving in the Military - Airman Matthew Whited,

Sheppard AFB Technical School,

US Air Force

- John Long (Father of Kaleb Long)

- Rachel Cepis Rice, North Carolina

- L Cpl Glenn Schroeder, United

States Marine, Deployed

Keep in Your Prayers - Carol Batch

- Ed Keough

- Mary Alice Lesiak

- The Nero Family

- Shelley Codney (Cancer’s in

remission) (Rosemary

Russell’s daughter)

- Donal Cooke

- Vinnie Saviano

- Vikki Neczypor

- Jamie & Tristan Grimm

- Rosemary Russell

- Charles & Doreen Peak

- Genny Taylor

- Lillian Stalnaker (Athenian

Assisted Living)

- Frank & Judy Molnar

- Phyllis Haller

- Gladys Holmberg

- Walter Krueger

- Bob (Son-in-law of Don &

Sally Bloom)

- Ed & Kathy Bock (Friend of

MaryAnn Herron)

- Brian & Cindi Brendza

- Bob Mead

- Ruth Weinhardt

- Marilyn Harner

- Virginia Garrett (mother of

Alan Garrett)

- Jean Carpenter

- Norma Klaich

- 12 Step Groups/Support

Groups

- Those out of work/those

feeling lonely

In Recovery

- Gary Robb

- Diane Fradette

- Susan Dodge

Those who are Pregnant

- Julie (Podway) Weigand

- Jessica Griffith

- Kassie Beets

In Hospital

- Mark Soberay (Nephew of

Heidi Hillson) (Critically

injured in PA bus accident)

Serving in Mission

- Victoria Whited, Class 20

NCCC-FEMATL, AmeriCorps

NCCC, 3427 Laurel St.,

McClellan, CA 95652

*Please update the church office with any prayer concern changes.

(440) 884-9090 | [email protected]

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MarchMarchMarchMarch 2014201420142014 SATURDAY| 3/1

- Chili Challenge, Basement, 6:00 pm

SUNDAY | 3/2

- Confirmation Class, Youth Room, 6:30 pm

- Bowling League, Yorktown Lanes, 6:30 pm

MONDAY | 3/3

- Mondays for Men, Stage Room, 6:45 pm

TUESDAY | 3/4

- Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper, 5:30 pm

- Disciple I, Library, 7:00 pm

WEDNESDAY | 3/5

- Ash Wednesday Special Service, 7:30 pm

THURSDAY | 3/6

- Pastor’s Bible Study, Exodus Room, 10:00 am

- Trustees Meeting, Library, 7:30 pm

FRIDAY | 3/7

- World Day of Prayer, Stage Room, 9:30 am

SUNDAY | 3/9

- Pictorial Directory Portrait Sessions, 10:30 am


MONDAY | 3/10


- Program Staff Committee Meeting, Office,

7:00 pm

TUESDAY | 3/11

- Rachel Circle Meeting, Stage Room, 12:00 pm

THURSDAY | 3/13


- Discipleship Ministry Board Meeting, Parlor,

7:30 pm

SUNDAY | 3/16




MONDAY | 3/17


TUESDAY | 3/18

- Disciple I, Library, 7:00 pm

THURSDAY | 3/20


SUNDAY | 3/23


- Cultural Awareness Crew Meeting, Stage Room,

12:30 pm


MONDAY | 3/24


THURSDAY | 3/27


- Staff Parish Relations Committee Meeting, 7:00 pm,

Library

SUNDAY | 3/30




MONDAY | 3/31


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Inside This Issue

From the Study ................ 1

Growing Together............ 2

Upcoming Events............. 3

Church News................. 3-4

Focusing on Lent.............. 5

Prayer Concerns............... 6

March Calendar ............... 7

So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in

sackcloth and ashes.

(Daniel 9:3)

the shepherd | march 2014

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