This winter weather is getting old, isn't it? Once again, we have to cancel worship to keep folks safe because of the weather. After having to cancel last Sunday and Ash Wednesday, this is a big disappointment. However, we will be having Ash Wednesday this week--a week late! Join us on Wednesday at 7pm for a time of fellowship, worship, and imposition of ashes as we try yet again to start the season of Lent. After all, God doesn't care if we give up chocolate--God wants us to give up our lives for the Gospel message! 


***Please check out the announcements at the end of this post for more information, including a death notice.***

I invite you to gather with your home, maybe a neighbor or two, or just by yourself, and worship God at our regular worship time. I will be doing the same and praying for you. If you have new prayer requests or a pastoral need, please call me at home. We are working very hard to be sure that everyone knows we are closed tomorrow. Please spread the word. Most of us would rather hear it 2 or 3 times than not at all. If you live at 3838 or 3939, it will be announced over the speaker. However, please make sure your neighbors can hear the speaker. 

Call to Worship:
One: To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
Many: O my God, in you I trust, let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me.
One: Let none that wait for you be put to shame;
Many: let them be shamed who are clothed with treachery.
One: Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
Many: teach me your paths.
One: Lead me in your truth, and teach me,
Many: for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.
One: Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.
Many: Remember not the sins of my youth, or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O Lord.
One: Good and upright is the Lord; therefore the Lord instructs sinners in the way, and leads the humble in what is right, and teaches them their way.
Many: All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep the Lord's covenant and testimonies. (Psalm 25:1-10, UMH 757)

Opening Hymn: Take Time to Be Holy (plays after the ad)

Opening Prayer: A wilderness beckons us, a desert, a barren place, yet a place of blessing and discovery. Jesus, steady companion, accompany us, as we enter the hurtful places, the frightening places, the dangerous places deep within us. Jesus, our wise and well-traveled guide, lead us into this emptiness, where all will fall away, and we will have nothing but you. Walk with us through the valley of the shadow of death, where we shall be raised, and drink of deep springs. Amen. (W&S 17)

Response to Prayer: The Gloria Patri

Children's Message: The Children's Bulletin is below. You are welcome to print it for one-time home use.

Scripture Reading: Mark 1:9-15 (click Scripture for link)

Ponderings: Discuss with those gathered or ask yourself these questions:
1) What is the passage trying to say?
2) What about the passage sticks out to me (good or bad)? Why?
3) What is God trying to say to me through this passage?


Things to Consider:
Check out this blog post about beginning the Season of Lent (click on "blog post" in the sentence) and consider the questions at the end of it.

If you'd like to read Pastor Bonnie's sermon from 3 years ago when she preached this passage, you can find that below.

Hymn of Response: Jesus, Tempted In the Desert

Prayers: These are updated with what I have been notified about. If you have additional prayers, please feel free to contact me.

Joys:
Roy who diligently checks our building every day and ensures we are running well!
Pastor Bonnie is feeling a lot better!
Ashes to Go was a great success!

Concerns:
The family of Don L. upon his passing.
Norman S. had a stroke and is now home. Prayers only--no calls.
Emma's brother, Danny had a stroke and is in serious condition in North Carolina.
Rev. Dan, Interim Pastor at Hampden UMC, had open heart surgery this week. 
Hampden UMC, in the midst of their transition to a new pastor, Rev. Jessica Statesman, March 1.

Continuing Prayer Concerns: Tim P; Evelyn R. and her family; Edie W & Family; Myrtle M; Edith’s Family, Pastor Bonnie’s grandfather, Al, Shirley S., Mary J.


The Lord's Prayer:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine in the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.


Closing Hymn: Spirit, Spirit of Gentleness (music starts after about 15 seconds of the opening slide)

Selected Announcements:
1) Pastor Bonnie's Tuesday Bible Study has been postponed by a week. We will now begin on Tuesday, March 1, at 2pm. Please read the 1st chapter, and we'll see you then! (There is still room to join, if you are interested).


Pastor Angie's Friday Bible Study will resume on Friday at 2pm. Please read the next chapter and corresponding Scriptures. 


2) We are having Ash Wednesday worship this week! (Yup...postponed by a week...but God is more concerned with our actions than our calendar). Join us on Wednesday, February 25 at 7pm for a reflective service and imposition of ashes.


3) New church directories are available on the 38th Street table (whenever we get back to church!). Note that the emergency closing list has changed. If your contact information changes at any point, please call our Administrative Assistant, Rachel, in the church office to update your information. 


4) Don't forget that even when the church is closed, we have costs. The cold weather has meant an increase in heating fuel. Please be sure to bring your missed Sunday's offerings to worship when we return, or check out our Giving Page for other options.


5) Check out the "In the News" Page for one of the several stories done on our church and Ashes to Go! Please spread the word about Good Shepherd to your friends, family, neighbors, and anyone else you meet! All are welcome!


6) It is with great sadness that we inform you that Don L. passed away this morning. Funeral information will be coming out Sunday or Monday. If you have further questions, please contact Pastor Bonnie. We will need your help to spread the word about funeral arrangements once they are known since it will probably occur before we meet again.


7) It is cold outside. If your heat is broken, call 311. They are prioritizing these issues. If you see a homeless or unhoused person, call 211. Transportation is provided to shelters, and we are in a Code Blue, meaning, that shelters can't turn folks away. Let's keep our community safe and warm.

Unfortunately, we need to cancel worship for Sunday, February 15. As of now, as folks arrive for worship, actual air temperatures will be approximately 8-10*F. Windchills will be between -10 and -20*F, with the possibility of an inch of snow-turning-to-ice on the ground. In order to keep our Trustees from working in unsafe conditions to clear paths for folks before worship tomorrow, and since we have so many walkers, the Trustees, staff, and I feel that the cold could cause major issues for our congregation. The wind will have gusts 50-60 mph, with sustained winds 20-30 mph. This could cause widespread power outages due to downed trees and power lines. Rather than risk it, we would like to keep folks safe and at home. 

***Please see the announcements for additional worship opportunities this week, on Ash Wednesday.***

I invite you to gather with your home, maybe a neighbor or two, or just by yourself, and worship God at our regular worship time. I will be doing the same and praying for you. If you have new prayer requests or a pastoral need, please call me at home. We are working very hard to be sure that everyone knows we are closed tomorrow. Please spread the word. Most of us would rather hear it 2 or 3 times than not at all. If you live at 3838 or 3939, it will be announced over the speaker. However, please make sure your neighbors can hear the speaker. 

Thank you for your understanding. May God bless you. Selected announcements are listed after the closing hymn.

Call to Worship:
One: Eternal Light, shine into our hearts.

Many: Eternal Goodness, deliver us from evil.

One: Eternal Power, be our support.

Many: Eternal Wisdom, scatter the darkness of our ignorance.

One: Eternal Pity, have mercy on us.

Many: That with all our heart and mind and soul and strength we may seek your face

One: and be brought by your infinite mercy to your holy presence;

Many: through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BOW 310)


Opening Hymn: Christ Whose Glory Fills the Skies

Opening Prayer: Holy God, mighty and immortal, you are beyond our knowing, yet we see your glory in the face of Jesus Christ, whose compassion illumines the world. Transform us into the likeness of the love of Christ, who renewed our humanity so that we may share in his divinity, the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit. Amen. (Revised Common Lectionary Prayers)


Response to Prayer: The Gloria Patri

Children's Message: The Children's Bulletin is below. You are welcome to print for one-time use at home.

Scripture Reading: Mark 9:2-10 (click scripture for link)

Ponderings: Discuss with those gathered or ask yourself these questions:
1) What is the passage trying to say?
2) What about the passage sticks out to me (good or bad)? Why?
3) What is God trying to say to me through this passage?


Things to Consider: Nothing about this passage makes a lot of sense. Nothing about a glowing God-figure is supposed to make sense! And that is ok. This is a story about transformation--about being made into something new, something better. In this passage, Jesus glows like that Purex commercial: 

At that time, there were people who were called "fullers." Their job was to prepare cloth for clothing by beating or rubbing it, and washing it with a detergent like lye to remove the oily and sticky substances found in the raw fibers. After this, they would spread the fabric out to be bleached by the sun. And this process became known for purity. When Jesus was glowing, he was brighter than the fabric being bleached by the people whose job it was to bleach fabric! Meaning, he was *really* bright! No one had ever seen something like this before (and I'd venture to guess, since!)

So, when Peter seeks to build shelters, tents, and shrines, he isn't being silly. Instead, he is seeking to find a way to capture the moment, to make it last because it was very special.

We all need to be transformed, to be changed. Just like Jesus, we need to be made into something bright and new. We know that in our minds, but sometimes our hearts push against that idea. Change is hard. We like when things stay the same. But if everything stayed the same all of the time, we wouldn't graduate from school, get married, have babies, get a new job, or any of a number of other good things. But I think the reason we fear change is because we are afraid of the bad changes in life: losing a job, a home, a loved one. We are scared of getting sick, or even dying ourselves. Change is hard. But we see in today's passage that Jesus had to change in order to do what God wanted him to do in the world, and so do we. We need to change...we need to move towards perfection in love in this lifetime...we need to move closer to the beings that God created us to be. And that is a good thing. 

Jesus' transformation occurred on the top of a mountain. We all have "mountain top experiences" in our life, when we are transformed and experience God and life anew. What experiences come to your mind? [PAUSE for reflection]

However, we still need to come back down from those experiences. And sometimes, when we get back into the nitty-gritty life, it seems like a let-down from our spiritual high. And yet, what we learn from this passage is that Jesus didn't let the disciples come down from the mountain by themselves, he came with them. And indeed, Jesus comes with us too. Jesus is with us in the transformative moments, and in the valley times. Jesus is with us every step of the way, and will  not abandon us. And that is the good news. 

So this day, I invite you to pray and ask Jesus to transform you from the inside out--to wash you clean, to make you bright and new. Amen.

Hymn of Response: Christ Upon the Mountain Peak

Prayers: Below is the prayer list from last week. Please pray for each person. Please add anyone else you know needs prayer. You can call or email me with an update. 

Joys:
Lots of faces that have been absent are here!
Pastor Angie helped set up for the seminar!
Evelyn R. thanks everyone for the prayers and cards!
Shirley R. thanks everyone for the prayers and cards!
Sharon E. thanks everyone for the prayers and cards!
Shirley M’s cousin, Yvette, is doing better!

Concerns:
Don L. is in the hospital after a heart attack.
Emma’s brother, Danny.
Barbara’s friend, Dorothy.
John and Doris Cromwell.
Renice is sick.
Susie’s cousin, Tom, is going for cancer surgery.
Jean L.
Delores N.
Mary J’s eyes.

Continuing Prayer Concerns: Tim P; Evelyn R. and her family; Edie W & Family; Myrtle M; Edith’s Family, Pastor Bonnie’s grandfather, Al, Shirley S., Pam’s friend, Joyce, Mary J, Don L.


The Lord's Prayer:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine in the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.


Closing Hymn: Be Thou My Vision