Good Shepherd Parish Prayer
Almighty and everlasting God, make our parish of Good Shepherd truly a community of prayer and belonging. Raise up in our midst the resources and leadership which will enable us to act upon what you would have us do, in this place and in a ministry of love and concern for others. Open my mind and heart to discern what you would have me do; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
A Collect for the Mission of Good Shepherd
Loving God, you sent your only Son Jesus Christ that we might have hope of eternal life and the Holy Spirit to sustain us in our faith in you: give us grace to be a beacon of faith, hope and love in this community, that we may radiate the transforming power of your love to everyone, everywhere; who live and reign together, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
A Collect for Good Shepherd's BRIDGE Goals
Almighty God, you have inspired your people the Church to bear witness to your Son our Savior Jesus Christ in a multitude of cultures and circumstances throughout the ages: Give us grace that we, the people of Good Shepherd, may discern your call to us in this time of change and uncertainty; that we may strengthen one another in showing forth Christ’s love, and then radiate that love for everyone, everywhere; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
To join via Zoom, please click on the link below.
February 26, 2021
The Friday after the First Sunday in Lent
Fr. Doug Scharf, officiant
The theme of covenant is central to the story of the Bible. Beginning with creation itself, God established his everlasting covenant of love and faithfulness. Even when God’s people rebelled and rejected his covenant, God’s steadfast love never wavered. Using the Old Testament readings for the Sundays in Lent, we will trace the theme of covenant from Noah to the prophet Jeremiah, who spoke of God’s promise to establish a new covenant, which Christians believe was fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
Session 1* - February 24
Noah**
Session 2 - March 3
Session 3 - March 10
Session 4 - March 17
Session 5 - March 24
Join us at 11:00 AM
Meeting ID: 811 9463 3098
Passcode: 443065
Join us at 3:00 PM
Meeting ID: 890 3908 5771
Passcode: 155705
* Miss a week? Just click on the link (e.g., "Session 1") to see the recording!
** Click to link to on-line Bible resource
A Prayer for Each Day
This is another day, O Lord. We know not what it will bring forth, but make us ready, Lord, for whatever it may be. If we are to stand up, help us to stand bravely. If we are to sit still, help us to sit quietly. If we are to lie low, help us to do it patiently. And if we are to do nothing, let us do it gallantly. Make these words more than words, and give us the Spirit of Jesus. Amen.
A Prayer for Times of Pandemic
This hour we turn to you, O Lord, in full knowledge of our frailty, our vulnerability, and our great need as your mortal creatures. We cry to you, as one human family, unsure of the path ahead, unequal to the unseen forces around us, frightened by the sickness and death that seem all too real to us now. Stir up your strength and visit us, O Lord; be our shield and rock and hiding place! Guide our leaders, our scientists, our nurses and doctors. Give them wisdom and fill their hearts with courage and determination. Make even this hour, O Lord, a season of blessing for us, that in fear we find you mighty to save, and in illness or death, we find the cross to be none other than the way of life. All this we ask in the name of the One who bore all our infirmities, even Jesus Christ our Risen and Victorious Lord. Amen.
A Prayer for Times of Isolation
Almighty God: Our times are in your hand. We call upon you in this hour of our need, when we are lonely and must stand apart. Be our strength, O Sovereign Lord, our calm in the midst of raging seas, our refuge and our dwelling place. Sanctify to us this time drawn away from others, even as your Son, O Father, drew away to a lonely place for prayer. Deepen our need of you, O Lord, that every breath may be a whisper of the Spirit’s prompting, a renewed searching of the deep things of God. Stir up in us the great act of intercession, that we may spend our time apart in prayer for the world you created and sustain. Bless us in our turning toward you, and make us a blessing to those who stand in need of you, the whole fragile earth. All this we ask in the name of the great Physician, even Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
A Prayer for Children
Almighty God, heavenly Father, you have blessed us with the joy and care of children: Give us calm strength and patient wisdom as we bring them up, that we may teach them to love whatever is just and true and good. We pray especially for all teachers, students, and parents. Grant them patience and grace as they discover new ways to teach, learn, and grow together; through our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
A Prayer for Young Persons
God our Father, you see your children growing up in an unsteady and confusing world: Show them that your ways give more life than the ways of the world, and that following you is better than chasing after selfish goals. Help them to take failure, not as a measure of their worth, but as a chance for a new start. Give them strength to hold their faith in you, and to keep alive their joy in your creation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Download Daily Prayer Resources (pdf)
DownloadForgiveness is at the very heart of the gospel message. From the cross Jesus declared, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” But how do we embody the promise of forgiveness in our lives? How do we live as ambassadors of God’s reconciliation? Throughout the season of Epiphany, we will be exploring the biblical foundations of our call to forgive and be reconciled.
Session 1* - January 13
God's Ministry of Reconciliation
Session 2 - January 20
Old Testament Roots
Session 3 - January 27
Forgiveness 101
Session 4 - February 3
Forgiving our Enemies
Session 5 - February 10
Walking in Forgiveness
* Recorded sessions are available on our YouTube channel. Click on the links to past sessions (e.g., "Session 1") above to review!
Our weekly Bible study of Handel's Messiah is over, but you can still experience this three-part* exploration - even if you missed every session! Follow the links below. * Due to technical difficulties, the recording of Part One is unavailable.
Part One* Part Two Part Three
Jonah is commissioned by God to bring a prophetic “Word of the Lord” to the people of Nineveh, but Jonah runs away and attempts to flee from God’s call. Jonah is angry that God is compassionate. He doesn’t want God to give the people of Nineveh a chance to repent. However, Jonah ultimately completes his mission, and witnesses firsthand the breadth of God’s mercy and grace.
Our weekly Bible study of Paul's Letter to the Philippians is over, but you can still experience this four-chapter exploration - even if you missed every session! Follow the links below.
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