OnLine Enews May 27th-June 3, 2026

Pastor, Tom Willetts

WORSHIP TIMES

Saturday Worship 4:45pm - Contemporary Worship

9:15am Sunday School

Sunday Worship 10am - Traditional Worship

Choir Rehearsal - 3pm Thursdays

NO THURSDAY REHEARSALS IN JUNE & JULY

UPCOMING MEETINGS/EVENTS

Wed. May 27th at 7pm - Pastor's Summer Bible Study on Romans - ZOOM

Thurs, May 28th at 10am - GriefShare - Conf B

Fri, May 29th at 10am - Alzheimer's Caregiver Support

Sat/Sun, May 30th & 31st - Communion/Collect 5th Sunday Offering/Residing Hope and Graduation Weekend

Mon, June 1st at 10am - Veterans Benefits Mtg - Conf B

Tues, June 2nd at 11am - Staff Mtg - Conf B

Wed, June 3rd at 7pm - NO PASTORS ZOOM STUDY

Thur, June 4th at 10am - GriefShare - Conf B

Mon, June 8th at 10am - Veterans Benefits mtg - Conf B

Tues, June 9th at 1pm - Outreach/Missions, Conf B

Wed, June 10th at 8:30am - Sip'n Scripture - Pekins

Wed, June 10th at 1pm - Alzheimer's Support Group

Wed, June 10th at 7pm - Pastor's Zoom Bible Study - Romans

Thur, June 11th at 9am - Laundry Love

Thur, June 11th at 10am - GriefShare - Conf B

NO SATURDAY WORSHIP FROM JUNE UNTIL SEPTEMBER



ANNUAL CONFERENCE JUNE 4-6TH

DEVOTIONAL

OPENING PRAYER

Almighty God, you have made yourself known to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Make yourself known to us in such a way that we may understand your will and purpose for our lives today. We offer our prayers in the name and spirit of Christ. AMEN.

INTRODUCTION

This summer we are going to be reading the Gospel of Matthew. We are going to begin at the end of that gospel, because I believe this reveals several of the key themes of Matthew. Let’s read the scripture.

SCRIPTURE LESSON

Matthew 28:16-20 NIV

The Great Commission

¹⁶ Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. ¹⁷ When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. ¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

REFLECTION

Matthew is a Gospel which calls disciples to action. Today’s scripture is called the GREAT COMMISSION. Jesus after the Resurrection and before his Ascension commissions the disciples to continue this mission. The disciples are called to action. The disciples obey Jesus’ direction to return to Galilee – they are faithful to Jesus. The disciples worship Jesus upon seeing him. The disciples even in their faithfulness and worship still have some doubts – they are learning and growing, but still Jesus grants them all the same authority and responsibility to act. They are all to GO and MAKE disciples of ALL nations, BAPTIZING them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and TEACHING them to OBEY everything. Many action words. The baptism is a new baptism – not the formula of the ancient Jewish ritual, but a new baptism – in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This is at the core of Christian identity. We are marked, identified, called out in this baptism. It is not just forgiveness of sins, or cleansing, but identity as a child of God.

Jesus then offers us the assurance of his eternal presence. He is ascending to heaven as he is speaking these words. The disciples see him going away, but he assures them that is still with them to the very end of the age. The end of the age is when Jesus will return to be the judge and redeem all of creation to himself. Until that time, we have been commissioned to act as his envoys, ambassadors, teachers and disciples and proclaim his Gospel to all the world. We are to ACT on his behalf. That is a great and wonderful opportunity. Jesus calls us, commissions us, instructs us, assures us and will return. That is a disciples life.

CLOSING PRAYER

May Christ be made known to you and through you today. AMEN.

Blessings,

Pastor Tom

Dear church family:

April saw a slight decline in our giving pattern as we received $35,500 in operational giving, which was $3,500 below our goal of $40,000. The good news is that we remain ahead of plan for the first four months of the year by $23,100. So I am encouraged by where we stand at this time of the year. Thanks for your faithfulness in giving to the Lord’s work at Good Shepherd UMC.

John Colston,

Co-Chairman of your Finance Committee

Many have gone to the VA for benefits and have been denied. They went away disappointed and never followed up. This does not mean you did not qualify, it means you did not understand the process of the VA claims system. Join us every Monday morning at 10am and gain knowledge needed to process your claim and the appeals process. Go to Ministry Center - Conf Room B. David Jackson at 239-826-0893.

ELECTRIC WHEELCHAIR

If you needing an electric wheelchair please contact the church office. There is one available

Interested in becoming a Certified Lay Servant?

For more info

Questions : Barb Patton 239 292-9620