Friday, January 28, 2011

"HEALTH & HEALING" Service to Re-Launch Worship Village Feb. 3

This Thursday, February 3, 2011, @ 6:35 PM, Good Shepherd UCC will re-launch its weekly midweek service Worship Village.  Originally launched in October 2010 by Dr. Randall M. Graf, Associate Pastor, Worship Village met weekly through December on Thursday evenings at 6:35 PM offering a casual, comfortable, contemporary, Christ-centered worship experience.  

Pastor Randy states that he is “extremely excited” about bringing the mid-week service out of its temporary hiatus and re-launching it on Thursday, February 3, 2011 @ 6:35 PM with the first week’s service designed to have a HEALTH & HEALING theme.

“Worship Village is designed to be ‘a no dress code, come as you are service’ for anyone looking to experience uplifting worship music, an encouraging message and Holy Communion” says Graf.  He adds “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.’” 

Worship Village, which became known for its rocking praise band and contemporary flare, was well received by Good Shepherd since its inception in October 2010.  It boasts a simple order of worship: Worship Music; Scripture Reading; Uplifting Message;  culminating with Holy Communion and has been described by some as “the quickest 55 minutes you’ll ever spend in church!”

Pastor Randy Graf, who is also trained as a psychologist, says that the Thursday, February 3 restart of the service “will revolve around the theme of God’s desire to offer His children health and healing, including physical, emotional and spiritual healing and will offer those in attendance an incredible opportunity to not only hear about and learn about healing, but to be active participants in a healing service.”

Graf states the February 10 service will follow a LOVE theme. 

Thursday, December 30, 2010

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"!

Thursday, December 16, 2010

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

Thursday, December 9, 2010

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!

Thursday, December 2, 2010

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.

Friday, November 19, 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.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

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.