Good Shepherd

2026 Passion Week Services:
Maundy Thursday - April 2, 7pm
Good Friday - April 3, 7pm at Grace Covenant Church, Bloomington
Easter - April 5, 10am
All are welcome!

Please join us for worship on Sundays at 9:30am and 5:00pm. All are welcome. Morning worship services are also livestreamed on our YouTube channel:

GSPC PCA - YouTube Pastor: Judson Marvel Address: 15321 Wayzata Blvd, Wayzata, MN 55391Phone: (952) 473-2828

Ladies of GSPC,

The Women's Ministry team would like to invite you to join us in a study of the Gospel of Matthew in 2021. We will be reading, writing, and discussing Matthew 1 - 16 from January to May. After a two month summer break, we will finish the gospel by early December. The study will consist of weekly small group meetings (online or in person) and large groups every 6 to 8 weeks.

Please follow the link below to the online sign up. You will find all the small group options for the study, along with an optional purchase of a Journible for writing the book. Journibles will be ordered December 15, but the sign up will be active until Jan 3.

Here is the sign up: https://forms.gle/Cp6ZBS3VKmfbdqP1A

Please let Jodi know if you have any questions!

Good Shepherd family,

I found out recently that I have been in contact with someone exposed to COVID. Currently, I feel fine. I took a COVID test yesterday. The result came back negative.

However, because of the CDC recommendation to self-quarantine after exposure, my family and I will choose to quarantine for the next two weeks.

What Is Next for Corporate Worship?

First, between Pastor Brennan and me, sadly, we cannot offer in-person corporate worship for Sunday, Nov. 22 or Sunday, Nov. 29. We aim to resume the options for in-person corporate worship on Sunday, Dec. 6. For Sunday, Nov. 22 and Sunday, Nov. 29 we will live stream only the service. I will send details when they are ready.

Second, I plan to host an online prayer service on Sundays at 5pm. I know these can be difficult times for the church. Isolation, sickness, or a lack of employment can fuel discouragement and anxiety. We must find creative ways to offer our prayers to the Lord and encourage one another. Consider joining me for the evening prayer service starting this Sunday. I will send details when they are ready.

An Exhortation

As we approach Christmas, I see a connection with the season of Advent. Advent is a time when the church remembers the virtue of patience and waiting upon the Lord. In joyful expectation of Christ's return, I offer a few words of encouragement.

First, rejoice that Christ is king (Ps. 2:2). He has overcome the world (John 16:33). He continues to govern all things to their right end. He sustains His brothers and sisters through His indwelling Spirit. Just as He calmed the storms of the sea for His disciples, so does His peace comfort you. Keep looking to Him. Keep reading His Word. He alone is your hope and confidence.

Second, remember the sufferings experienced by your brothers and sisters in Christ throughout the world (1 Pet. 5:9). Find ways to serve others. For example, a friend of mine serving in Indonesia sent me a request this morning. During the COVID crisis, his main stress is feeding and sheltering poor refugees and Indonesians. It would be a huge thing, he writes, if anyone wants to support a refugee monthly. He writes, "Our [financial] fund mainly went for emergencies, but with the COVID and the rising prices... our refugees are unable to go to their new nations. We need something like World Vision where an individual or group in the U.S. sponsors one or a family in Indonesia." If you are interested in this opportunity, please let me know.

Third, respond with lament. The proper response of God's people is not to disregard the difficulties of life. Instead, Scripture teaches us the posture and language of lament. To lament means to protest about the chaos and harshness of life. Its posture is prayer to the Lord. Its language is found in the Psalms. For example, Psalm 77 is a lament when the people of God are in a low condition. The Psalmist is distressed (v. 2), inconsolable (v. 3), troubled (v. 4), and desperate (v. 7). Then, he challenges those thoughts and emotions by remembering the deeds of the LORD (vv. 11-18). He closes with an affirmation of the Lord's guidance even when he could not see a way (v. 19). He ends with hope and trust even as he voices his complaint.

This example teaches us the response of lament. We protest the harshness of life to our Lord as we also remember His steadfast love shown in His wonderful works.

We are God's people waiting upon the Lord. This is our long advent, and we have the assurance that Christ will return. I ask for your patience with the session and it leads Good Shepherd. I also ask for your patience with each other. May our patience, hope, and faithfulness "result in praise and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (1 Pet. 1:7b).

In Christ, Pastor Jud