Prayer Portals: Twelve Doorways to Divine Presence

Want to learn how to pray?

Want to refresh or begin your prayer life?

Seeking respite in these troubled times?

I am excited to offer a new monthly prayer resource/small group experience at Good Shepherd, starting Sunday, September 14 at 11:30am in-person and on Zoom. Open to all adults and youth ages 10 and up.
Invite a friend and let's begin!

I hope you can join me, Rev. Ellie+

For more information and to register click here.

Theatre with a Twist tickets go on sale February 8!

Since the new year, dozens of children with Theatre with a Twist have been busy rehearsing in our parish hall, acting, singing, and dancing their way through scenes from Alice in Wonderland and Anastasia. This Saturday, February 8 tickets for their final performances go on sale!

If you’d like to support these wonderful young thespians (including some you may recognize from church!), you may purchase tickets online starting this Saturday. Online ticket sales close on Wednesday, March 5.

Bundles of warmth and goodwill

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the hat and mitten drive for the Acton Shelter. We donated over 100 hats, mittens, and gloves, including many hand-knitted ones and some purchased with $300 in contributions. Every item included a personalized card!!!

Special thanks to the Bates, Magee and Jackson families for coordinating this ministryto help local families stay warm this winter.  Thank you to the Mission Outreach Committee for championing and planning this community service.

Confirmation Class Starts in January

Good Shepherd and Trinity Episcopal Church in Concord are collaborating in the final preparation of confirmands for their confirmation on February 10, 2024 at Good Shepherd. The weekly classes will be split between the two churches. Please contact Rev, Ellie as soon as possible of you have not already signed up. Pizza will be provided at all meetings except the actual Confirmation. The full schedule appears below.

January 7 12-2pm at Good Shepherd - Chapters 1 and 2

January 21 12-2pm at Good Shepherd - Chapters 3 and 4 NOTE: No Class on January 14

January 28 12-2pm at Trinity in Concord - Chapters 5 and 6

February 4 12-2pm at Trinity in Concord - Chapters 7 and 8

Friday February 9 Time TBD Chapter 9 and Zoom with Bishop

Saturday February 10 10am at Good Shepherd Confirmation Liturgy

Successful food drive for the Acton Food Pantry

Thank you for the tremendous support we received for the food drive for the Acton Food Pantry. It was a huge success! We have donated over 221 food items which were delivered to the Acton Food Pantry this week. We had so much food that we needed a truck!

It has been wonderful to participate in the food drive. Helping our community and involving our children in this important work has also been fulfilling and eye opening for them. Working as a team has made this volunteer work possible and the added bonus is getting to know other parishioners in our community. My sons were already asking when the next drive will be!

-Kristen

We so appreciate the opportunity to grow relationships and make a meaningful impact for our community! It was such a collaborative and flexible way as working moms to participate in such an important ministry - the support structure was amazing! My daughter, Angela said, ‘It’s good to know I am helping those in need.’

-Kim

This outpouring of generosity will undoubtedly help a great many of our neighbors in Acton and Boxborough. Thank you for your thoughtfulness and care during this season of giving.

November food drive for the Acton Food Pantry

Let’s HELP our neighbors this November by donating food or money! Please bring in food or money to donate to the Acton Food Pantry by November 30th. Look for the bins in the church or write a check with a note to donate to the food drive.

The Pantry critically needs:

• Baking: Flour, Sugar, Honey

• Drinks: Coffee, Tea, Hot Chocolate

• Dried Goods: Dried Beans, Dried Fruit , Nuts, Trail Mix

• Hearty: Canned Meat/Fish, Canned Soup, Stew, Chili, Jelly, Jarred Pasta Sauce, Diced Tomatoes

• Baby: Baby food, Diapers size 4-7 and baby wipes

Thank you for your support...together we can make a difference!

06-04-23 Full Service with Instructed Eucharist (the Rector's cut)

Full Service with Instructed Eucharist

CHURCH SCHOOL ACTIVITY

9:00 to 10:30am

Sunday September 25

Come early to Church on Sunday and help build a scarecrow to benefit NAMI (National alliance on Mental Illness). The scarecrow will join other scarecrows on display at Cucurbit Farm during the month of October. You can go to the farm stand and VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE SCARECROW. More details here.

Children will join their families in the church for Communion when they are done working on the scarecrow. Thanks to Taryn Ross-Hyman for leading this activity and to Tony Geanisis for acquiring the scarecrow frame for us.

Stations of the Cross Two Ways!

Check out the Children’s Stations of the Cross!

We have set up a Stations of the Cross display around the parish hall that can be viewed from the courtyard. It is also available online here.

Kids have read the text, Rev. Ellie’s son videorecorded the images and Deborah provided background music in order to make it a multisensory experience. This is another way for parishioners of any age to observe Good Friday for any of our parishioners.

New StoryWalk! Love the Earth Themed Church School Event

New StoryWalk!

A New StoryWalk begins in April. The book by Julian Lennon (ask your parents about his father and the Beatles) is called Love the Earth. Enjoy reading the book as you walk the church grounds. Check it out!