Lent…again

This is the blessed rhythm of the traditional Christian Church. It takes us out of the secular world of surviving the workweek, making it to the weekend, and looking forward to our next

vacation.

We know that life, but as Christians we are grounded in another life, the life of the Church. That life is all about

Jesus.

The next major season in the Church is the season of Lent beginning with Ash

Wednesday on February 18.

Our Ash Wednesday services will be at

11:00 a.m. and 7 p.m. (Continued on Page 2)

2.8 I <3 SUNDAY

2.8 and 2.15 New

Member Classes

2.18 Ash Wednesday

Services @ 11am and

7pm

2.22 New Member

Reception and

Preschool Spring Sing

2.25 Lenten Dinners

Begin @ (5:15) and

Services (@6:30)

Mark Your

Calendar

Pastor’s Message //

February 2015 * www.sactownchurch.com

Pastor Todd Wallace with Pastor Nathaniel From Our

Sister Parish in Rwanda

The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd * www.sactownchurch.com * 1615 Morse Ave, Sacramento, CA 95864 * 916-483-0451

Message From Pastor Cont.

During Lent we focus on the invitation of our Lord to deny ourselves, pick up

our cross, and follow him.

In this deep and intense church season, we count the cost of following Jesus. It requires sacrifice to be a true Christian, and it is a pain to feel compelled to act like a Christian when

it is the last thing you want to do.

Christians often have it hard in this secular and God-rejecting age and that is why you have to be tough and stubborn and even radical in your

ultimate commitment to Christ.

But there is no easier way to be a Christ-follower and no excuses. Either

follow or don’t.

Sounds rather foreboding and

unpleasant right?

Ah, but therein lies the surprise and the very reason that Lent is my favorite

season in the Church.

The same Lord who bids us to die to ourselves, pick up our cross and follow

him has also promised you this:

Those who lose their life live for my

sake and the gospel will find them

This year we have planned activities and services to help you increase the

intensity of your following.

Lent….again

Praise Jesus!

From The Council //

Official Church Acts Baptism - 01/11/15 - Kieran George Love

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

The most beautiful thing you can say to a Ministry Director is “Yes, I would love to help you!” Here are some upcoming events that provide just such an opportunity. The success of these campus events is heavily dependent on volunteer help. The Council strongly encourages and asks you to prayerfully consider stepping up and lending your help to one of these upcoming events. Email the Ministry Director in charge of the Event or fill out the “Volunteer” form under the “Ministry” tab at sactownchurch.com to

Volunteer or get more information.

SANDY LONG / sandy@sactownchurch.com

Lenten Suppers- need people to help prepare soup & salad for Wednesday

night Lenten Suppers. Five Wednesdays, starting February 25.

We need people to sign up to help host coffee fellowship time between

services beginning March 8. Rotation basis.

The new Welcome Center is aiming to open by Easter and we will need

people to staff it who truly have the gift of hospitality.

CATHLEEN DEMANT / cathleen@sactownchurch.com

Help with Easter Carnival. Will be bigger & better this year thanks to grant

from the Trust Fund. Planning is currently underway.

VBS – Vacation Bible School organization is underway and VBS is scheduled

for the week of June 22nd. Loads of volunteer opportunities with this one.

AMY SMITH / amy@sactownchurch.com

Outreach Camp needs volunteers each weekday a Camp is in session: Easter (March 30 – April 2), Summer (June 29 – August 2), Thanksgiving

(November 23 -25), Christmas (Dec 21-23 & Dec 28-30).

Girls of Grace needs a female trainer or co-facilitator to help teach an American Red Cross Baby Sitting Course. Classes will likely take place

on a Sunday afternoon (1pm – 3pm).

Resume Café needs volunteer trainers to co-facilitate sessions in Customer Service, Communication and Money Handling. Each class is 2 – 4 hours

and offered annually.

Resume Café also needs an Adult Helper to oversee kitchen clean up efforts

Gretchen Eischen

Council President

Sunday Services at 7:45 am (Come As You Are), 8:30 am (Classic), and 11:00 am (Contemporary). Fellowship at 9:30 am. Educational Hour from 9:50 am 10:45 am: Adults (Fireside Room), IKON YOUTH (Youth Room), Kids (Choir Room). Library open on Sundays.

Gretchen Eischen, Council President

February 2015

A Reminder About ...

Being part of a church family means that you are never alone in times of need. Helping Hands Care Ministry exists to make sure our church family is cared for. If you are in need of short-term assistance with rides, meals, or minor home repairs due to illness, injury, or the birth of a child, please contact Helping Hands Care Ministry by calling the Church Office (916) 483-0451, filling out the form in the “Helping Hands” section under “Ministries” tab at sactownchurch.com, or by visiting the Helping Hands

table in the Fellowship Hall February 8th or 15th.

Helping Hands is an indispensable service provided by Good Shepherd. If you can lend your time (as a driver, meal preparer, laborer) or expertise (especially in home repair or social work), please visit the table in the Fellowship Hall and say that you are interested in joining the Helping Hands Ministry. Alternatively, you can express your interest by filling out a form in the “volunteer”

section under the “Ministries” tab at sactownchurch.com.

Book Review // “My Journey to Heaven” by Marvin J. Bestman with Lorilee Craker

I know we have all asked ourselves, "Does Heaven exist?" Marvin J. Bestman probably did at some time or another, although he led a very busy life being a husband, father and a banker. He would soon have his question answered, personally. In his book "My Journey to Heven" he describes his privileged account of his trip to the Pearly Gates and of what awaits us at the end of our Earthly lives. It gives us something to look forward to, in full color and splendor.

February 2015

This month your preschool will be performing their annual Spring Sing on Sunday, February 22 at both the 8:30 a.m. and the 11:00 a.m. services. We will also have an art display in the

Fellowship Hall.

Thank you to all who have Good Shepherd Preschool regis-tered as Extra Credit at Raleys and Bel-Air. This past year your preschool earned $1015.51. This 1st quarter of 2015 your preschool earned $234.07. Not signed up yet? All you need to do is go onto the website at www.raleys.com enter “Extra Credit” in the search box and then enter Good Shepherd

Preschool at 1615 Morse Avenue, Sacramento.

Another thank you to the Thrivent members that designated their church preschool as the recipient of their Choice Dol-lars. Your preschool earned $3,973.00 for the 2014 school year. Just a reminder that you need to check your Thrivent account to designate your Dollars. Thrivent no longer reminds its members that those dollars are available to give. Thank you for making a difference for your church pre-

school.

Your preschool's on-going needs are se-lect-a-size paper tow-els, 5 ounce paper cups, construction paper, glue and nap-

kins.

Thank You!

Preschool News //

Food Closet //

GS KIDS 2.22.15 Special Sunday School For

Preschoolers, Parents welcome!

2.27.15 Club 456 @ 6:30 pm (Fellowship Hall)

IKON YOUTH No Educational Hour 2.1 or 2.8 2.6-8.15 Jr. High School Winter Camp WOMEN 2.9.15 Rebecca Circle @ 10 am at

the home of Irene Potter, 5632 Engle Road

(916) 483-4187 2.16.15 Faith Circle @ at home of

Tricia Carlson 8408 Grinnell Way, Sacramento, CA 95826 (916) 599-0636

2.21.15 F(4) @ 9:30 am (Fireside Room)

MEN * 2.7.15 Monthly Breakfast

Ministry Groups //

A hearty thank you to all of our donors!! We finished the year with handing out Christmas Baskets to 157 house-holds. In addition to the food, for the first time ever, we were able to offer families with children a choice of some toys. Thanks to donations of fresh citrus, our Christmas baskets included fresh apples, oranges and a lemon, as well as canned pineapples and canned vegetables. During the entire month of December, we served 1168 individuals from 320 households. Throughout the winter we will continue to need our canned tuna, peanut butter, mac and cheese, cereal, oatmeal pack-ets, fruit cups and hot chocolate packets. Fresh donated citrus will also be welcomed. If you are interested in donating volunteer hours please leave your name and availability. We can use some extra help for 2 hours Wednesday and Thursday mornings to help stock donations from the Feeding America programs. If you would like to just do one or two times per month we can arrange some opportunities. Leave your name with Pepper (916 880-0703) or Delores (916 716-5918). Donations are accepted during regular hours Monday through Friday: 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Call us at 483-1942 if you have questions or know of anyone in need of food.

This Month // Wednesdays Chancel Choir (Fireside Room) @ 7 pm IKON (Youth Room) @ 7 pm Wednesday Night Live; Alpha and FPU @ 6:30 pm, Faith and Fit-

ness @ 7pm Lenten Meals starting 2.25 @ 5:15 pm: Service @ 6:30 pm Thursdays Men’s Breakfast/Bible Study (Fireside Room) @ 6:10 am (**See

Life Together for Changes during Lent) Prayer Fellowship (Welcome Room in back on Sanctuary) @ 9 am Bible Study (Fireside Room) @ 10 am Bell Rehearsal (Sanctuary) @ 6 pm Fridays FROGS (Fireside Room) @ 10:00 am 2.1.15 Grow Sermon Series Finishes Resume Café @ 9:30 am (Fellowship Hall) 2.8.15 I <3 Sunday (All Campus) New Member Class (Office) 2.10.15 Deacons Meeting @ 6:15 pm 2.17.15 Trustees Meeting @ 6:00 pm (Office) 2.18.15 Ash Wednesday Services @ 11:00 am and 7:00 pm 2.22.15 New Member Reception (Both Services) Preschool Spring Sing 2.24.15 Council Meeting @ 6:00 pm (Office) Creation Club @ 7:30 pm (Choir Room) 2.25.15 Lenten Meal (@ 5:15 pm) and Service (@ 6:30 pm) Groups led by Pastor Todd and Cathi Wallace after service.

February 2015

Please save your Campbell’s Soup Labels proofs of purchases! The labels are used to purchase vehicles for the Navajo Lutheran Mission in Rock Point, AZ and are very valuable, as in the past we have been able to redeem these points in exchange for four 15-passenger vans (worth 1.5 million labels each!), and two 7-passenger mini vans for employee use. Although Campbell’s no longer have the 15-passenger vans, the Mission is still able to purchase smaller vans and educational equipment, such as overhead projectors, computers, and playground equipment. The Campbell’s Soup program will only be accepting the bar code por-tion from the labels. Instead of saving the labels from Camp-bell’s, Swanson’s, V8, Prego and Franco American products, they now just require that the UPC (bar code) insignia be sent (Any bar code whose number begins with 51 or 14 or any with the La-bels for Education will qualify). If the bar code has dotted lines around or near it, cut on the lines.

Campbell’s Soup Labels // Navajo Lutheran Mission

iMPACT Outreach //

Girls of Grace: NOW OPEN ON SUNDAYS

Girls of Grace is Good Shepherd's free, weekly outreach program aimed at reaching 3rd to 8th grade neighborhood girls. We are now open twice a week: on Thursdays and Sundays! We have lots of fun together doing crafts, sewing, cooking, and participating in service projects. We also spend time discussing topics pertinent to girls. Every week, we share our highs and lows, work in our prayer journals, and learn an element of Christianity such as The Lords' Prayer, The Ten Commandments

and various bible verses.

Did you know.....

That 1/2 of the kids that received their 1st Holy Communion in 2014 at Good

Shepherd were girls from the community!

Did you know.....

In spring 2014, we hit our highest participation with a total of 22 neighborhood girls

attending our weekly onsite session!

And did you know.....

That last year, one of our girls made the decision to follow Christ and to get baptized at Good Shepherd AND 10 of our girls attended Mt. Cross

Christian Camp in the Santa Cruz mountains (thanks to GS sponsors)!

The Lord is doing some pretty powerful things through our Girls of Grace ministry. Please keep our staff and the girls in prayer-- and then prayerfully consider joining us as a volunteer (contact director for more details). Here's

our current schedule:

* Every Thursday (Sept.- May): 1:30pm-3:30pm in the Attic/

Fellowship Hall

* Every Sunday: 9:00am-9:50am in the Mingle Room (right off the Fellowship Hall for breakfast & sharing/devotion); then we get the

girls to Sunday School and sit together at the 11am service.

February 2015

Submissions to our Monthly Newsletter must be made by the 15th of the month to shepherdsstaff@sactownchurch.com.

Submissions to our Weekly Newsletter must be made by 12:00 pm on Wednesday to lifetogether@sactownchurch.com.

The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd

1615 Morse Avenue

Contact Us

The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd www.sactownchurch.com

Info@sactownchurch.com

1615 Morse Avenue

Sacramento, CA 95864

916-483-0451