Worship Highlights

At this time of social distancing to flatten the COVID-19 curve, we’re worshiping online and getting creative with ways to stay connected and help others from a distance.

Check out our Serve page for ideas to help others struggling with COVID-related concerns and the ongoing, daily challenges folks face.
We hope the worship highlights below are spiritual food for your journey.

Sunday, Sept. 13

Rejoice & Reconnect Sunday

Welcome Pastor Wendy!

Sunday, Sept. 6

Pastor Daniel Rinehart joins us today

Ezekiel 33:7-11 | Psalm 119:33-40 | Romans 13:8-14 | Matthew 18:15-20

Sunday, Aug. 30

Pastor Daniel Rinehart joins us today

Jeremiah 15:15-21 | Psalm 26:1-8 | Romans 12:9-21 | Matthew 16:21-28

Sunday, June 14

Youth Sunday & recognition of Sunday school teachers

Exodus 19: 2-8a | Psalm 100 | Romans 5:1-8 | Matthew 9:35-10:8

Some Good News GSLC

This week’s video included Kamryn & Friends Bracelets for Unity & Justice. Nine-year-old Kamryn and her friends from the Minneapolis-area are making and selling bracelets and donating the proceeds ($40,000 and counting!) to local, black-owned businesses and the food bank. These kiddos teach us there’s always something we as individuals can do to help.

GoFundMe: Buy bracelets online

Washington Post: A 9-year-old and her friends raised $40,000 for black-owned businesses by selling homemade bracelets

Sunday, May 24

Ascension Sunday

Acts 1: 1-11 | Psalm 47 | Ephesians 1:15-23 | Luke 24: 44-53

God is here... where are you? Where is God now?

Virtually in a church filled with loving people
In the smile of a friend
My living room sofa in Kingstowne, VA
in my heart
Arlington, Virginia
On Clifford Ave
seeing a cardinal
In my home office in Alexandria
Charlotte, NC
In the microphones of virtual choir members
in my children downstairs.
on the Rappahannock
New Windsor, NY in my home
in Dexter, MI
Arlington County
22305
Alexandria…in the dining room…
In our family room in Alexandria
We are in West Point New York in our living room sitting on our couch and floor
Kennewick WA in kitchen with my sister, Teresa
22301 — on the sofa
Alexandria, in my guest room at my writing desk
Geneva, Nebraska
In the Fairfax County part of Alexandria in the kitchen at my table looking out at God's creation
Basye, VA, bedroom, on a folding chair in my temporary office!
Lynnfield, MA in the living room
Sevierville, TN, in my living room sitting on my recliner
Alexandria VA, living room on lounge
Charlottesville, VA, in the reading room
Alexandria in our guest room
Arlington County - in my makeshift home office
On a couch in the living room on Linden Street in Alexandria, Virginia, United States, North America, Earth, Milky Way
Nottingham, Maryland, at my kitchen table
I'm in my office, sitting at my desk in Alexandria
In my kitchen
Springfield, VA - living room and dining room

Sunday, April 26

The Road to Emmaus

Acts 2: 14a, 36-41 | 1 Peter 1:17-23

Psalm 116 | Luke 24:13-35

Places we see God’s love shared these days:

Meals left for my neighbor, a nurse working in DC
Support while I parent during difficult times
Right here
Kindnesses of strangers when we go out for groceries
In food people are sharing with others
Phone calls to check-in with those who may not have others to talk to
Shared in the smiles people give to essential workers
Visiting my clients in jail
Unconditional love from my dog/cat
In the masks people wear when out
Through all the work my professors are doing to make sure we get the same level of education.
Volunteer mask makers
People finding ways to stay connected despite obstacles
Seeing neighbors you haven't before
Connecting with more family
Outpourings of support for Carpenters Shelter
Sisters
Our neighbor brought us donuts this morning!
Package from Gamma
At the ALIVE! child development center where donations allowed us to give all families activity kits for the children who were staying at home.
I received 5 handwritten bday cards by mail
Teacher parades to greet their students

Sunday, April 19

Traditional worship (8:30 AM) | Contemporary worship

Acts 2: 24-28 | Psalm 16: 5-11

1 Peter 1: 3-9 | John 20: 19-29

Pastor Jen’s sermon, Simply Peace

Notes by Corinne Berkseth Baker

The last time Jesus gathered with his disciples before his crucifixion and resurrection, in what’s known as the farewell sermon, Jesus says, “Peace I give to you, my peace I leave with you.”

Remember two months ago when we were so physically busy? Working, commuting, getting kids to school and activities, seemingly a bit late for most things.

It’s different now. Now, we’re emotionally tired. Perhaps we’re worried about our health or loved ones. Anxious about when self-quarantine will end or what comes next. Feeling like we haven’t gotten enough done at this time or helped enough.

In the midst of all this, Jesus says, “Peace.”

Joy J. Moore, a professor at Luther Seminary, says about today's text (John 20: 19-29) that we’re looking for the divine in the disaster.

A New York Times restaurant critic experiencing this, wrote about finding this video on YouTube, Relax with Sheep.

Consider the sheep. All they’re doing is standing and eating. And it's enough.

If you too are feeling emotionally tired, worried or scared or like you’re not doing enough in this time, remember Jesus gives you peace. You are enough. And it's enough. Amen.

Easter Sunday, April 12

Out of the Darkness...Reflection for Easter Dawn

8:30 AM Worship - traditional service (Bulletin, pdf) | 9:45 AM Worship - contemporary service (Bulletin, pdf)

Good Shepherd’s Easter spring garden annually recreates God's garden in our sanctuary. This year, we focus on God's garden all around us, in nature, in our homes, within us. Talk a walk with us in the garden (pdf, 13.2 mb (it's a big garden :-)).

March 22

Globally, we’re all facing and fighting COVID-19. Many Christian faiths across the world also share a common lectionary. A group of faith leaders created this video of people across the world reading one of today’s scriptures, Psalm 23.