April 18, 2024
John 10:11-18
Scripture readings
for Sunday, April 21
Acts 4:5-12
Psalm 23
1 John 3:16-24
John 10:11-18
[Jesus said:] 11“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away—and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. 14I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. 16I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. 18No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”
“The good shepherd “lays down his life for the sheep.” v. 11
“ I lay down my life for the sheep.” v. 15
“I lay down my life in order to take it up again.” v. 17
“I lay it down of my own accord” v. 18
• For our community of faith as we seek to do God’s work in the world.
• For those in our congregation and community who suffer silently with illness, financial burdens, and family obligation.
• For people affected by coronavirus, their families, essential workers, doctors, nurses, aides, those working in nursing homes, etc.
• For Ann Saar, Kay Marker Magneson, Roy Pihl, George Balcom, Thom Shagla, Eileen Beichner, Tom Dellapenta, Myron Klein, Pastor Karen Larson, , Pastor Gerry Zimmerman (Bethel, Portville and Shepherd of the Valley, Wellsville), James Dieter, Joe Gauvin, Emerson Allaby, John Gingrass, those serving in the military and law enforcement and their families, including Sean Pecuch, and Ben Wickerham, those caught up in violence and war who have no safe home in which to live.
• For the ELCZ Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe and ELCZa Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zambia.
PRAYER REQUESTS
Names will remain of the Prayer List for a month - at which
time it will be taken off unless, or course, there is still a continued need
for our prayers and we’re asked to keep the name on.
REFLECTIONS
Pr. Ivy Gauvin
Jesus and his disciples are in Jerusalem. Soon, it will be the last week of Jesus’ life on earth. Three times in this short passage, Jesus tells his disciples about laying down his life. Again, Jesus is preparing them for his crucifixion, when he will literally lay down his life.
Jesus punctuates and peppers this lesson with these words about laying down his life. First, he compares himself to a good shepherd who looks well after his sheep, even to the point of giving his life. Just one note about what “good” means in the “good” shepherd. It has nothing to do with morality or being a fine, upstanding person. The meaning is that of a model—beautiful and ideal. That sets the bar pretty high.
After the first “laying down,” Jesus compares the hired hand, who is not invested in the sheep, with a good shepherd.
With “laying down” number two, Jesus speaks of the relationship he has with his Father. Then, we see its impact on his relationship with the sheep. Even those outside the fold will listen to Jesus’ voice. The relationship between shepherd and sheep is idealized as “one flock, one shepherd.”
Then Jesus’ life doesn’t stay “laid down” in the tomb. He rises! Finally, no one forces the Lord Jesus to lay down his life. “I lay it down of my own accord.”
The bottom line is that Jesus lays down his life so that we may live out God’s love. We see this reflected in the reading from 1 John. “We know love by this, that [Jesus Christ] laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. 17How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?” (1 John 3:16–17). The passages all fit together on this Good Shepherd Sunday.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
CALENDAR
April 21 Worship with communion
Installation of Church Council Members
Church Council Meeting following worship
April 22 & 24 Heathy Bones (the 24th is the last on until Fall)
April 22 Choir 5 pm
Caring and Sharing will be meeting next on Wed, April 24th at 3:15 at the church. See Trish Pecuch (673-5510) if you have any questions. New members are ALWAYS welcome!
PANCAKE BREAKFAST
SUNDAY, APRIL 28, 2024
FOLLOWING WORSHIP
FELLOWSHIP HALL
Pancakes (including gluten free), Sausage, Scrambled Eggs, Juice, and Coffee
Come join us for this special time of food and fellowship
NEW UPCOMING CLASSES IN APRIL AND MAY.
Mondays 4/22, 4/29, 5/6, 5/13, 5/20
(No Classes 5/27 for Memorial Day), and 6/3 Graduation Contact Carly Davis at (716) 268-1421
Need to use the Fellowship Hall,
Kitchen or classroom...?
Download our Building Use form is now available from our website at: https://www.sttimothybemus.com/building-use-form.html
Our Fellowship Hall has moved into the age of streaming, air play and computer mirroring! In other words – we’re up to date and ready to book your presentation, meeting, banquet, shower or movie night!
Meeting Room: $10 member/$30 non-member
Fellowship Hall - capacity 125
Fellowship Hall - $40 member/$50 non-member
Fellowship Hall with kitchen - $50 members/$75 non-members
We are proud to share our facilities with your group or organization. Contact the office at (716 386-7280) or email at sttimothy2015@gmail.com.
The Ashville Hewes Center has a Food/Clothing/Hygiene Closet! Whether it be a basic need for these items, an upcoming job interview, an upcoming school or personal event, a dress code concern, or a need for appropriate work attire for our vocational programs - we will have these resources on hand for all our students on the Hewes Campus to have their basic needs met. The students will create and vote on a name for the closet and make it their own! It will also be run by the students as they learn basic work skills. Alissa Rinaldo is our contact person here at St. Timothy, as well as the representative for the Hewes Center for 5 & 2 Ministry and Packing.
Below is a list of items they are requesting. For clothing, please keep in mind that these are middle/high school students ages 14-18 and what they would wear. Any donations can be brought to church and placed in our bin or hung on the Fellowship Hall coat rack. Alissa will pick them up when she comes to pack for the month. THANK YOU.
- Men’s & Women’s Clothing- casual, business & workwear
- t-shirts
- sweatshirts
- sweatpants
- leggings
- winter necessities- coats (casual & business), hats, gloves
- jeans - work jeans
- shoes & boots - casual & work footwear
- scrubs
- work outerwear - flannels, work coats, work gloves
- business apparel for job interviews or formal school & personal events
- women’s and men’s undergarments
- deodorant
- toothbrushes & toothpaste
- shampoo & conditioner
- body wash and soap
- hair brushes & combs & hair products
- lotion
- laundry detergent - preferably pods or smaller bottles to be sent home
- laundry stain remover
- feminine hygiene products
- reusable shopping bags
- backpacks
- travel bags (bags are for students to bring items home, discreetly)
- cosmetic bags
- clothing hangers
5 Loaves & 2 Fish Backpack Ministry
23/24 School Year
We contiuously collect food items for the 5 & 2 Ministry. Bring your donations and place in the black bin in church narthex or entryway. Lists detailing items needed are also available in the narthex. Monetary donations welcome! Contact Gale-Svenson-Campbell for details gales1949@gmail.com
If you can volunteer, please contace Gale Svenson-Campbell at the link below. Thank you!!
We have 1 more night of packing this school year on Tuesday, May 21. Come and check us out. Starting back up in September.
ONLINE GIVING at St. Timothy for Debit/Credit cards
Three ways to give:
- Go directly to our website at www.sttimothybemus.com.
- Use our QR code with the QR reader on your smartphone.
- Download the app ‘GivePlus Church’. Create an account.
For further information, see Kathy Carlson on Sundays or call her at 485-1316.
May Church Mouse articles
due April 25.
Anyone that has any pictures or stories that they would like to share? Send them to sttimothy2015@gmail.com
