NEWSLETTER DEADLINE

GRACE ALIVE! - CONTEMPORARY WORSHIP DATES

Good Shepherd has begun using contemporary worship settings once a month. These have been well received. We’ve titled these settings as “Grace Alive!”. Using a mix of keyboards, guitars, bass, and other instruments as well as singing leadership, we are exploring new and different ways to express and strengthen our faith.

Upcoming dates for Grace Alive! services are:

· March 21, 2010 – 5^th Sunday in Lent

· April 25, 2010 – 4^th Sunday of Easter

· May 30, 2010 – 1^st Sunday after Pentecost

· June 27, 2010 – 6^th Sunday after Pentecost

Come and join us in making a joyful noise to the Lord and experience Grace Alive!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MARCH NEWSLETTER & CALENDAR ON-LINE

The March 2010 newsletter and calendar of events are now available online. Choose the “Newsletters” option in the navigation window on the left.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

HUNGER TAKES NO VACATION

The Somerset County Food Bank always needs donations, but, given the current economic situation, the need is especially great now. When you do your regular shopping, please remember to buy something extra to help those in need. Donations can be dropped off in the narthex

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

60 +’ERS

Wednesday, March 10 ~ 1:00 PM

Join us for good fellowship, interesting programs and refreshments on the 2nd Wednesday of the month.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MILITARY SUPPORT

“Welcome Them Home – Help Them Heal”

Saturday, March 13 ~ 10:00 AM

We’ll explore ways that Good Shepherd might actively engage in ministry for spiritual recovery for returning soldiers and their families.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

HOPE FOR HAITI CONCERT

Saturday, March 13 ~7:30 PM @ Good Shepherd

Raritan Valley Habitat for Humanity will be holding a benefit concert for Haiti. A free will offering will be taken at the performance with all proceeds going towards providing temporary shelter kits and aid in rebuilding. Refreshments follow. If you’d like to provide a baked good for the refreshments, see kiosk.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION CLASSES

For 3rd Graders & Their Parents

March 14 & 21 ~ 12:15 PM to 2:00 PM

Pasta luncheon will be served. Sessions will include some Bible study & fun activities too!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THE CROSS AND THE M.U.D.

March 20

Note: Date changed from March 13 to March 20

6:00 PM Dinner ~ 6:45 PM Movie & Discussion

Movie: My Sister’s Keeper”. Explore the role of unconditional parental love within a family when challenging medical issues collide with emerging teen independence.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

REMEMBER THOSE IN HAITI AND CHILE IN PRAYER AND WITH DONATIONS. EASTER FLOWERS AND MEMORIALS

For Easter flowers to decorate the church, use the white “Flowers & Plants” envelopes in the pew racks and Welcome Center to designate how you would like your gift used. Cost: $8. For monetary gifts to the Memorial Fund, please use the green “Memorial Gifts” envelopes. Deadline is Sunday, March 21.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GOOD SHEPHERD CHRISTIAN DAYCARE OPEN HOUSE

Thursday, March 25, 2010, 5-7 PM

Good Shepherd’s Christian DayCare & Pre-School will have an Open House for people to come, see, and learn about what the daycare and pre-school offers parents of young children. Feel free to drop in and talk to the teachers and the director, Anjali Gadre, about Good Shepherd can provide excellent care for children and teach them about our faith at the same time. For any questions, call the DayCare office at (908) 704-0080.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

HOLIDAY FOOD BASKETS

Each year at Easter we help 15 needy families within the church and local community by providing a week's supply of food and basic household necessities. How can you help? DONATE FOOD–Take grocery bags with a list of the items needed and bring it back filled up! DONATE MONEY–monetary gifts are used to purchase turkeys and other perishables. Use the blue “Outreach/Extra Mile Giving” envelopes and indicate “Food Basket”. HELP ASSEMBLE THE BASKETS –on Saturday, March 27 at 9:00 AM. Please sign up on the kiosk.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EASTER WORSHIP STEWARDS

Individuals may sign up for specific Worship Steward duties during our Easter services. Please see the kiosk to sign up at whichever service you plan to attend Easter Day. We will “fill in the blanks” by assigning individuals based on their availability. We’ll send you a reminder of what you’ve committed to in March as we draw closer to Easter

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

HELP! NURSERY VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

As we continue our search for a Church Nursery Professional, we are in immediate need of additional adults to care for our youngest children during worship and the education hour. Please help us continue to provide a warm, caring environment for our children. To volunteer, call the church office, 908-685-1660 or email office@gslutheranchurch.org.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THRIVENT FINANCIAL FOR LUTHERANS CAREER NIGHT

If you know of someone who is looking for a satisfying career with a solid financial services company, please consider Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Join them Tuesday March 23, from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM, Hampton Inn Hotel, 384 Monmouth Street, East Windsor, NJ. RSVP by March 22 by calling Monica.Kanopka@Thrivent.com or call 800-816-8031. See flyer on Thrivent bulletin board near room A.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EEHANGO PARISH - NAMIBIA

We continue to pray for our companion congregation in Namibia - a congregation whose strength comes from their faith in God and their support of each other. We invite you to join in recognition of their faithful witness with the Namibia Appeal. Funds will be used to supplement our mission support and to pay for the shipping costs of the Bibles that the Sunday Church School offerings are purchasing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~