KNOW
Easter Egg Hunt!: Our Easter Egg Hunt is next Saturday, March 26, 2016 if you haven’t already signed up, please do so. Since we had so many attend last year’s event, we will be splitting the event and having two sessions. One at 9 am and the other at 10:45 am. There will be a craft, story time, music, and the photo booth. Please sign up on the website.
Building & Grounds: The B&G group is looking for new members. No experience necessary; mechanically inclined not a requirement. Meetings are once a month, usually on the first Thursday, at 7:30 PM. See contact *protected email* or *protected email* for more information.
8 am Ushers needed: Anyone wishing to help out at the 8:00 service as an usher is welcome. No experience is needed. Free training. Please see *protected email*.
April Work Day: Please join us for the Church Spring work day on Saturday, April 23rd from 8 am to 12 Noon. No experience necessary. If you can only give two hours, or you stay the entire time, we can still use you. There are all types of jobs, so everyone is welcome. Coffee and donuts will be served.
Special Congregational Meeting: There will be a special congregational meeting on Sunday, April 3 following the 10:30 service to approve repairs to the driveway (Entrance from 516). Please make every effort to attend this brief meeting.
Mailboxes to be Removed: The Mailboxes in the Fellowship Hall will be removed as part of the workday scheduled for April 23. We would ask if you have anything to be removed from the mailboxes that they be removed prior to that date.
Spring is here! (finally) and that means the grass and everything else will start growing!! Won’t you consider joining our “Green Team” and help keep our lawns mowed, our gardens growing or our parking lot/islands neat and tidy! No experience necessary but you must at least a freshman in high school. Both riding and push mowers used, as well as gas weed wackers .
Please contact *protected email* – Cell: 908-692-6005.
**High School Students–Time volunteered would qualify as National Honor Society Service Hours or other school service hours you might need.
GROW
VBS 2016: VBS is fast approaching! Mark your calendars–July 25-29 from 6 to 8pm. Join us for a volunteer meeting on Sunday, April 17 at 11:45 am (following the late service) in the Resource Room. All are encouraged to attend! Come out and learn all about “CaveQuest 2016!” Any questions see *protected email* or Susannah Bergfeldt.
New Member Orientation: Join us for a new member orientation on Saturday, April 16th from 8 am-11:30 am. During the new member orientation, we will look at what we believe, what we value, and what it means to be a member of Good Shepherd. This is for everyone who desires to learn more about the church, is interested in becoming a member, or desires to review the basics of our faith. Sign up at gs4nj.org/newmember. After the orientation is over, you will have the opportunity to sign a new member covenant and then be received as a New Member.
Baptism Orientation: Good Shepherd Church of Old Bridge is hosting a baptism orientation on Saturday, April 16th at 11:30 am. This orientation is for any parents who are interested in having their child baptized at Good Shepherd. The orientation will last approximately one hour. It will be led by Pastor Phil. We will look at what we as Lutherans believe and teach about baptism. We will also go through the commitments which parents make before the Lord on the day their child’s baptism. If parents are not members of Good Shepherd they should make arrangements to attend the New Member Orientation prior to the Baptism Orientation. If you would like more information about baptism, make sure to check out our FAQ section about baptism on our church website at gs4nj.org/baptism. If you have any questions about this orientation, make sure to contact our church office at *protected email*
Lily “The Comfort Dog” helps people and pets! Lily brings comfort and joy to so many people. She visits people in churches, schools, nursing homes, and at special events like Old Bridge Day. Beginning in April, we will be selling tee shirts for kids and adults with Good Shepherd’s info and a drawing of Lily’s face on them, to raise money to support Lily in her work. We will also be collecting donations for one of Lily’s favorite group of pet savers, Rescue Ridge. Rescue Ridge is a non-profit last-chance animal rescue and adoption organization. They help bring food and comfort to pets while they are in the shelters, and they help these dogs and cats find loving forever homes. So keep an eye out after Easter! You can help Lily in her mission of comfort.
Sunday School News: For the last few weeks, the children have been learning about Holy Week. March 20th, ALL children will be participating in the Palm Sunday Worship Service at 10:30. Join us on Sunday mornings at 9:15 am in the Education wing. There is NO Sunday School next week, Easter Sunday. Please be sure to join us for worship at 8 am or 10:30 am.
Children’s Center Summer Camp: The Children’s Center is now accepting applications for the Summer Program. The first session will begin on June 20th – July 15th and Session II will be July 17 – Aug 12. The camp is open for children ages 2 ½ – 6 years old. Call the school for an application or to get more information: 732-679-8887.
Easter Breakfast Prep: The men’s ministry will be getting together on Saturday, March 26th for the “breaking of the eggs”. They will be setting up for Easter morning breakfast also. If you can help with this, please see *protected email*!
Easter Breakfast: Please join us on Sunday, March 27th between services for Easter Breakfast. There will be eggs, and sausage and biscuits. A free will offering will be collected (suggested donation is $5).
Youth Ministry News!: The youth group meets every other Sunday at 12:30. All students from grades 7 – 12 are welcome to come. The youth group has raised about $3,600 for the trip to New Orleans. Thank You for your continued support in our fundraising efforts! Look for youth bios on the youth bulletin board in the next few weeks to learn more about our youth. If you have any questions, fell free to ask any one of the youth.
Fruit Arrangements: LAST DAY TO ORDER! The Youth group will be selling fruit arrangements for Easter. If you wish to order, please see one of the youth at the kitchen counter after worship service. Sale started 2/28/16 and ends 3/20/16, TODAY!
Plain arrangements are $35 / Chocolate dipped arrangements are $45
Pick up options: 3/26 @ 3pm (plain arrangements only)
OR 3/27 @ 8:45 am or @ 12pm. Order must be paid for when placed.
Order forms will be at the counter!
GO
Haiti Sponsors: If you would like to send a personal note, picture or card to your child, please write something and leave in the basket in the Narthex marked “Haiti Letters”. Do not include any money or “gifts”.
Haiti Mission Trip: The next Haiti Mission Team will be leaving on April 2 and returning on April 9, 2016. Those participating on this trip will be: Marie Bergfeldt, Christine McGrane, Alys & Tony Onorato, Valarie Tietchen and Randi Rutan* (*Randi is the lead for this trip). This trip will focus on medical needs, including some health education for the children. We will evaluate the children we saw last year and check on the new children that have joined the orphanage. We also want to get new photographs of each of the children for their Sponsors. If you want to send a letter, be sure to get it to church by next week, 3/27. There is a box in the Narthex to collect them.
Over the last few weeks, we have asked for donations and prayers for the group as we prepare for this trip. If you wish to donate to a particular person attending, or towards supplies for the trip, please check the website: HaitianChildrensministry.org. There will be a bulletin board in the Narthex with a list of medical items we need for the trip. Please take a “tag” and return your items NEXT WEEK, March 27. Again, thank you for your prayers and support. The team will be getting together on Wednesday, March 29th to “pack” all the supplies for the trip. If anyone is interested in helping, please join us in the Fellowship Hall anytime after 6 pm. The team will leave church at 5 am on the 2nd of April, so if anyone is up early and wants to see us off at the door, please join us for a brief prayer and send off.
MC12 Mission Classic Golf Outing: The New Jersey District of the LCMS will be hosting its annual Mission Golf Classic on Thursday, May 19. Pastor Phil is playing in this event and if you would like to be part of his foursome, let us know on your connection card. More details will follow soon.
LifeLine Screening: Good Shepherd Lutheran Church is pleased to offer a preventive health event. Life Line Screening, a leading provider of community-based preventive health screenings, will host their affordable, non-invasive and painless health screenings on April 4th, 2016. Five screenings will be offered that scan for potential health problems related to: blocked arteries which is a leading cause of stroke; abdominal aortic aneurysms which can lead to a ruptured aorta; hardening of the arteries in the legs which is a strong predictor of heart disease; atrial fibrillation or irregular heart beat which is closely tied to stroke risk; and a bone density screening, for men and women, used to assess the risk of osteoporosis. Register for a Wellness Package which includes 4 vascular tests and osteoporosis screening from $149 ($139 with our member discount). All five screenings take 60-90 minutes to complete. In order to register for this event and to receive a $10 discount off any package priced above $129, please call 1-888-653-6441 or visit the web site: www.lifelinescreening.com/community-partners.
Blood Drive: Our next blood drive will be Sunday, July 24th from 7:30 am – 12:30 am. More information to follow.