Tis The Season - [Audio] - December 30, 2010

Dear friends, just a reminder that Worship Village will begin meeting again on Thursday, February 4, 2011 @ 6:35 PM at Good Shepherd UCC.  Please enjoy this special year-end message of encouragement from Pastor Randy, entitled "Tis The Season"!

Christmas 101 - December 16, 2010 [Audio]

Tonight at Good Shepherd's Worship Village, Pastor Randy delivered a sermon entitled "Christmas 101" which examines what we THINK we know about the Christmas story versus what scripture really tell us. Enjoy!

Please join Dr. Randall Graf at Good Shepherd United Church of Christ on Friday, December 24, 2010 at 6:30 PM for our Christmas Eve Candle Light Service.  For more information, go to www.gsucc.com. 

John's Christmas Story - 12-09-10 [Audio]

We often think of a Christmas story in terms of those told in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, complete with a manger holding a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths.  In Pastor Randy's message entitled "John's Christmas Story" (based on John 1:1-31) we can examine the New Testament Creation Story of Christ's Advent as an alternative Christmas story.  Contrasting the Good News of this Gospel with a typical day's news from a newspaper, Pastor Randy explores WHY we celebrate Christmas. Enjoy!

God With Us - December 2, 2010 [Audio]

As we enter the Season of Advent, we await the coming of God in our form, as a wee little babe to be called Jesus and known as Immanuel, which means God With Us.

Enjoy this Worship Village message entitled "God With Us" and delivered by Dr. Randall M. Graf, Associate Pastor of Good Shepherd United Church of Christ on Thursday, December 2, 2010.

Thanks Living - November 18, 2010 [Audio]

In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, God's word tells us "in all circumstances give thanks."  This message, entitled "Thanks Living" was delivered by Pastor Randy at Good Shepherd's Worship Village on Thursday, November 18, 2010. 

Join us every Thursday at Good Shepherd United Church of Christ for Worship Village @ 6:35 PM.  Worship Village is a casual, comfortable, contemporary, Christ-centered worship experience.  Good Sheperd is located at 5122 West Esplanade Avenue in Metarie, LA.

When Tiny Things Cause Big Results - November 11, 2010 [Audio]

Enjoy this recording of Pastor Randy's message delivered to Good Shepherd UCC's Worship Village on Veterans Day, Thursday, November 11, 2010.  The message, entitled "When Tiny Things Cause Big Results" is based on Matthew 13:24-43.

Join Pastor Randy for Worship Music, Holy Scripture, Message and Holy Communion each Thursday evening at 6:35 PM at Good Shepherd United Church of Christ, 5122 West Esplanade in Metairie, LA.

Intimacy With God - 11-04-10 [Audio]

This messaged was delivered at Good Shepherd's Worship Village on November 4, 2010 by Dr. Randall M. Graf, Associate Pastor.  The message is entitled Intimacy With God (John 10:11-18).  Enjoy listening!

Join Pastor Randy every Thursday for a casual, comfortable, contemporary, Christ-centered worship experience.  Worship Village begins each Thursday at 6:35 and we'd love to see you! Good Shepherd United Church of Christ is located at 5122 West Esplanade in Metairie, LA.

God of the Living - 10-28-10 [Audio]

This messaged based on Matthew 22:23-33 was delivered at Good Shepherd's Worship Village on October 28, 2010 by Dr. Randall M. Graf, Associate Pastor.  The message is entitled God of the Living.  Hope you enjoy giving it a listen.

Join Pastor Randy every Thursday for a casual, comfortable, contemporary, Christ-centered worship experience.  Worship Village begins each Thursday at 6:35 and we'd love to see you!

God Is Still Listening...Are You? - 10-24-10 [Audio]

Gracie Allen is quoted as having said "Never place a period where God has placed a comma."  Likewise, in the United Church of Christ, there is a saying that states "God is still speaking."   This reminds us that although our Christian faith is 2,000 years old, our thinking isn't and the fact is, God's word continues to be an ever available source of strength, wisdom, comfort and encouragement to whomever seeks Him.

This message, entitled God Is Still Listening...Are You? was delivered on Sunday, October 24, 2010 by Dr. Randall M. Graf, Associate Pastor of Worship at Good Shepherd United Church of Christ.  The message is based on Luke 18:9-14 and addresses that even when we aren't on speaking terms with God, the fact is, He remains (and desires to be) on speaking terms with us!  Please enjoy listening to this sermon.

Pastor Randy invites you to Worship Village, a casual, comfortable, contemporary, Christ-centered worship experience every Thursday night at 6:35 PM at Good Shepherd, 5122 West Esplanade Avenue, Metairie, LA.

A Matter of Life and Breath - 10.21.2010 [audio]

Please enjoy listening to this message entitled A Matter of Life and Breath, delivered by Pastor Randy on October 21, 2010 at Good Shepherd's Worship Village.  If you'd like to read the Holy Scripture that this message is based on, please see John 3:1-17.

Join us every Thursday @ 6:35 PM for Worship Village, a comfortable, casual, contemporary, Christ-centered worship experience.  Good Shepherd UCC also holds Sunday services at 10:00 AM and additionally at 8:30 AM on the first and third Sundays of the month.

Blessings!

Drinking From the Well of Living Water - October 14, 2010 [audio]

Please feel free to listen to this message entitled Drinking From the Well of Living Water (John 4:4-26) which was delivered on Thursday, October 14, 2010 by Dr. Randall M. Graf, Associate Pastor of Good Shepherd United Church of Christ. 

Join us each Thursday for Worship Village @ 6:35 PM. 

Good Shepherd United Church of Christ is located at 5122 West Esplanade in Metairie, LA.

Blessings!

Living In An Attitude of Gratitude [audio]

This message, entitled Living In An Attitude of Gratitude (Luke 17:11-19) was delivered on Sunday, October 10, 2010 by Dr. Randall M. Graf, Associate Pastor of Good Shepherd United Church of Christ. 

Join us each Thursday for Worship Village @ 6:35 PM.  Sunday services at 10:00 AM.

Good Shepherd United Church of Christ is located at 5122 West Esplanade in Metairie, LA.

Blessings!

+RG

Feeding the Village with the Bread of Life - October 7, 2010 [audio]

Feeding the Village with the Bread of Life.mp3 by Worship Village

Good News!!!

Dear Friends In Christ,

This past week has been filled with excitement which leads me to update you on a couple of things! 

 

On Tuesday I met with the United Church of Christ New Orleans Association Committee on Church and Ministry which concluded that I have now met all requirements for ministerial standing.  This certainly comes just in time as we continue to move forward with Worship Village, the first ever midweek service for Good Shepherd United Church of Christ.

On Thursday, October 7, 2010, at 6:35 PM, Good Shepherd’s Worship Village will hold its first service.  The service is intended to be casual, comfortable, contemporary and Christ-centered.  Each week, the service will begin at 6:35 PM with worship music, followed by Holy Scripture and a brief, real world, Christian message.  The service will conclude each week by celebrating the Lord’s Supper.

On Sunday, October 17, 2010, at 4:00 PM, Good Shepherd will join with the New Orleans Association of the United Church of Christ to host an Installation Service acknowledging my ministerial standing as a Licensed Minister and Associate Pastor of Worship.

Good Shepherd United Church of Christ is located at 5122 West Esplanade in Metairie, LA and is on the web at www.gsucc.com.  Please make plans to join us!  Meanwhile,  you can also follow Worship Village at www.WorshipVillage.com, www.myspace.com/worshipvillage, www.twitter.com/worshipvillage and www.facebook.com/worshipvillage.

Blessings!

+RG

Worship Village: Coming Soon!

On August 8, 2010, the Church Council of Good Shepherd United Church of Christ granted approval to move forward with a midweek service to begin in Fall 2010.  The service, to be known as Worship Village, will be a casual, comfortable, contemporary, Christ-centered worship experience on Thursday evenings at 6:35 PM beginning October 7, 2010.  The 50 minute service will feature contemporary worship music, an applicable, real world, Bible-based, Christ-centered message and the celebration of the Lord's Supper.

Dr. Randall Graf, who is currently completing his requirements for ministerial authorization and licensure in the United Church of Christ, will serve as Worship Pastor for the service and explains that “the 6:35 PM start time for Worship & Communion allows for most people to attend after work or school and was chosen as a tribute to John 6:35 whereby Jesus states: ‘I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.’”  Graf adds that “while the service is designed to be ‘in addition to’ not ‘in lieu of’ Sunday service, it is also designed to be extremely ‘seeker friendly’ as Good Shepherd continues to serve our larger community, including ‘unchurched’ folks who are seeking for their lives that which only Christ can provide.”

Still in the early stages of development, Worship Pastor Randy Graf continues to bring this concept to fruition and is currently lining up musicians and others volunteers to serve on the worship team and in other capacities to make the Worship Village a success which glorifies God.