Proverbs 27:17

Proverbs 27:17

Friday, May 1, 2020

Good Shepherd Sunday

Dear Friends,

Grace and peace to you in the mighty name of Jesus Christ our Lord, that Great Shepherd of the Sheep! I must confess that I love watching, petting, studying about and hanging out with sheep! Over the years, I've had some excellent opportunities to do this at Time with the Shepherd Retreats that our ministry hosts at a sheep farm in NOVA, where we use sheep to train on the biblical dynamics of pastoral care. During our pilgrimages to the Holy Land, I love to watch the Bedouin shepherds caring for their flocks and visit Shepherd's Field at Bethlehem where our Savior was born.

My interest in sheep has also been encouaraged by a trilogy of books authored by Phillip Keller, a sheep rancher who wrote A Shepherd's Looks at Psalm 23, A Shepherd Looks at Christ the Good Shepherd, and A Shepherd Looks at the Lamb of God. Pastor Keller has a beautiful way of weaving the truths of sacred scripture together to make the unique relationship between shepherds and sheep come alive. His insights are also helping to equip today's Church to discover the biblical dynamics of pastoral care (you can get all three of these books in one in the Shepherd's Trilogy by Phillip Keller available on Amazon)

The Bible tells us that when Jesus saw the multitudes, he had compassion on them, for they were "harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd" (Matthew 9:36). As we journey through these days complicated by COVID-19, we're surrounded by many who show signs of being harassed and helpless as they deal with concerns about their employment, finances, health, and moving forward into the future. These precious lives need a shepherd, but not just any shepherd. We need to introduce them to the Good Shepherd!

This Sunday, the fourth Sunday of Eastertide, the Church celebrates Good Shepherd Sunday! We will gather on Zoom to worship and graze in the lush green pastures of God's Word (see info below). Please invite your family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers to join us!

Your servant in Christ,

The Rev. Dean Schultz - Christ the Redeemer Church in Springfield, VA


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