Every year the same reading is offered for this Sunday after Easter. Often it is referred to as the story of “Doubting Thomas”. Doubt is a theme in this scripture, but I find the more powerful theme of Thomas feeling left out. He had missed Jesus’ first appearance to the disciples on the night of the Resurrection. He felt an outsider even though he was still a devoted disciple of Jesus. Let’s read the scripture – John 20:19-31.

¹⁹ On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” ²⁰ After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

²¹ Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” ²² And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³ If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

²⁴ Now Thomas (also known as Didymus^[a]), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. ²⁵ So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”

²⁶ A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” ²⁷ Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

²⁸ Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

²⁹ Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

³⁰ Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. ³¹ But these are written that you may believe^[b] that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

These are powerful verses for me because each of us is included in the last part of verse 29, “blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” To believe should be as transformational to us as it was for Thomas. We hear his joy in verse 28 as he offers the clearest declaration of the faith in Jesus, “My Lord and my God.” Jesus then offers that same blessing to all of us.

I read this beautiful devotional reflection in A Guide to Prayer for all Who Seek God, by Norman Shawchuck and Rueben P. Job, Upper Room Books, Nashville TN. 2003 pg. 180.

Living in the awareness of the risen Jesus is not a trivial pursuit for the bored and lonely or a defense mechanism enabling us to cope with the stress and sorrow of life. It is the key that unlocks the door to grasping the meaning of existence. All day and every day we are being reshaped into the Christ. Everything that happens to us is designed to this end. Nothing that exists can exist beyond the pale of His presence (“All things were created through him and for him” – Colossians 1:16), nothing is irrelevant to it, nothing is without significance in it.

-From Abba’ Child by Brennan Manning

All day and every day we are being reshaped into the Christ. This is what Thomas thought he had missed. Missing Jesus’ appearance caused him to doubt his potential to be reshaped, not in Jesus’ Resurrection or Jesus’ love. Our opportunity as disciples of Jesus is to be blessed by believing and being reshaped into the image of Jesus every day. Stop doubting and believe.

Blessings, Pastor Tom

I would like to encourage everyone to get a Covid 19 vaccination appointment as soon as possible. Everyone over 18 years of age is eligible to be vaccinated. The vaccines are safe and effective. If you are homebound the vaccine can be brought to you. Also, note that the Florida Department of Health vaccination site located at the old terminal site of the airport will relocate to the old Sears location at the Edison Mall on April 12, 2021. Publix and others will continue to vaccinate in their same stores. Nationally, 32.4% of the population has had one vaccine dose and 17.5% has had the second vaccine dose. In Florida 30.5% have had the first vaccine dose and 16.7% have had the second vaccine dose. As the eligibility has now dropped those numbers will start to rise for all. At our Easter worship services an informal poll indicated that nearly all in attendance had received one vaccine dose and many had received two doses. We will continue to monitor our progress towards the 75% vaccination threshold to begin the process of opening worship to greater attendance and singing.

There are continuing infections in our area. In 33903 there were 26 new infections. In 33909 there were 78 new infections and in 33917 there were 47 new infections. These are higher numbers than past weeks. There were 13 deaths in Lee County in the past week. Also, a higher number than past weeks. The test positivity rate in Lee County is 7.49% and in the State of Florida is 7.37%. These are higher rates as well.

There are new variants of Covid 19 being identified around the country and in Florida. Viruses mutate (become variants) to survive. Covid 19 is no exception. The vaccines seem to be effective at offering protection against the variants so far. Perhaps there will never be a time without Covid 19, but if we are vaccinated the number of serious illnesses and deaths will decrease to rates resembling the common cold or flu. Until that time PLEASE remember even if you are vaccinated to MASK, WASH HANDS, & SOCIAL DISTANCE. Vaccination is not a Teflon coating against all infection, it is protection from serious illness and death. We will get through this together. Blessings, Pastor Tom

Rev. Tom Willetts and Rev. Lia Icaza Willetts are pleased to announce that their daughter, the Reverend Tiffania Icaza Willetts will be married to Laurence Timmerman on July 17th 2021. Due to Corona Virus restrictions it will be a small family service in Tampa, FL.

We would like to invite you to celebrate Pastor TIffania’s upcoming wedding! You are invited to a Wedding Shower for Tiffania and Laurence on April 30, 2021 at 3PM. There are two ways to attend - Virtual by ZOOM or In Person at Good Shepherd UMC. There is limited seating. A reservation is required to attend. Contact the church office at (239)543-2686 for an In Person seating reservation or to receive the ZOOM link information.

The Bridal Gifts Registry is at the Bed, Bath, and Beyond store Or Online at www.bedbathandbeyond.com. The couple is also registered online at www.Zola.com/registry/tiffaniaandlaurence. 

THANK YOU VOLUNTEERS - Thanks to everyone who volunteered and served over the past several weeks in preparation and celebration of EASTER. Preparations began weeks ago as volunteers began working on the landscaping of the church to make our outside look as beautiful as the inside of the church. 210 bags of mulch were laid out, trees and shrubs trimmed, and sidewalks and exterior walls pressure washed. New platforms were constructed, music was planned and rehearsed, audio equipment was gathered, tested and repaired and worship plans written and rewritten. Thanks to all the reservation takers and checkers as well as the ushers and servers who made sure everyone was safe, served and welcomed. Many people volunteered their time and effort, and those gifts are appreciated by us all. THANK YOU. Good Shepherd TRUSTEES

Saturday In Person Worship - Vespers on the PATIO at 4:45 PM every Saturday. If the temperature is below 70 or rainy, we will meet in the Sanctuary. Please register to attend. Bring your own chair to the patio or use one of the metal chairs from the church. We have space in this worship service.

Sunday In Person Worship - Sunday at 10AM. Please register to attend as we have limited seating. This past Sunday we were full and it was a blessing. Please wear your mask and be prepared to observe social distancing and no singing.

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Pastor’s Wednesday ZOOM Bible Study - GOSPEL OF MARK

This Wednesday @ 7 PM by ZOOM. Please contact the Church Office to register and receive the ZOOM link to join. We will be using, N.T. Wright’s - For Everyone Bible Study Guides, “Gospel of MARK” - 20 studies for Individuals and Groups. Intervarsity Press 2009, purchase book from Amazon or Cokesbury. $9.99.