The March 2021 Issue of the Shepherd's Staff

Read the latest issue of the Shepherd’s Staff

March 2021 edition of the Shepherd’s Staff

The February 2021 Issue of the Shepherd's Staff

Read the latest issue of the Shepherd’s Staff with the lenten schedule and much more.

February 2021 edition of the Shepherd’s Staff

The November 2020 issue of the Shepherd's Staff

A Word from the Fold

November 2020 edition of the Shepherd’s Staff

Dear Good Shepherd friends,

I am so delighted to be with you! My first weeks have been a lovely and busy whirlwind of the Spirit as I am blown about from one virtual gathering to another. I have been so heartened to discover a community very much alive and active in spite of the pandemic. Despite not being able to gather regularly in-person, you have found a way to carry on many cherished activities virtually. It has been a joy to join so many of you in these virtual experiences—Wednesday Morning Prayer, Virtual Lunch, Thursday Compline, Bible Study, and Book Group.

Sunday morning worship continues to be a highlight of the week for me—and I hope for you, too. While not the way we would normally gather, I am impressed by your faithful and creative efforts to provide worship that is prayerful, interactive, and inclusive of all who join us, regardless of whether in person or online. Thank you for your dedication and patience as we work to plan worship for the coming winter months, including the beautiful and festive seasons of Advent and Christmas. Stay tuned!

I write this on Tuesday, November 3, Election Day. Obviously, there are no results to reflect upon; no reaction yet to how our divided nation will respond. Yet, I am very aware that this election feels very different from those I have experienced before. The stakes feel higher; the divisions more extreme. Friends have complained of insomnia leading up to the election. The anxiety is palpable. Surely, you feel it, too.

I found great comfort in the National Service for Healing and Wholeness this past Sunday afternoon that the Episcopal Church broadcast. It is still available online for those that might have missed it. Bishop Michael Curry’s sermon was particularly wonderful and a balm to my wearied soul. I commend it to you. He spoke of the importance of values—Christian values, American values, values that are at the core of our Scriptures, at the core of Jesus’s teachings, at the core of our faithful community here at Good Shepherd. Here is an excerpt:

Our ideals, values, principles and dreams of beloved community matter. They matter because they drive us beyond service of self alone, to commitment to the greater good of us all. They matter because they give us an actual picture of God’s reign of love, and a reason to struggle and make it real. They matter to our lives as people of faith. They matter to our life in civil society. They matter to our life as a nation and as a world. Our values matter! …

We don’t think of it this way very often but love for each other is a value on which our democracy depends. On the Great Seal of the United States, above the bald eagle are banners on which the Latin words, e pluribus unum are written. Those words, e pluribus unum, literally mean, “one out of many.” One nation from many diverse people.

But do you know where those words come from? They come from the writings of Cicero who lived during the time of the Roman Republic. Cicero said, “When each person loves the other as much as himself, it makes one out of many.” Cicero who gave us those words said that love for each other is the way to make e pluribus unum real. Jesus of Nazareth taught us that. Moses taught us that. America, listen to Cicero, Jesus, Moses. Love is the way to make e pluribus unum real. Love is the way to be America for real.

Amen, Bishop. Amen. We don’t seem to talk much about values these days. Of the importance of them to our lives, our families, our society. Perhaps one of the unfortunate consequences of falling church attendance and an over-emphasis upon those great American ideals of personal independence, freedom and liberty is that we have lost sight of the collective values that bind us together. Values like love for neighbor, the importance of community, the grace of forgiveness, the strength in diversity, and responsibility for the least of those among us.

I pray that as we walk together through these days of pandemic and election, and on into Advent and Christmas, we may find comfort and joy and strength in the things that bind us together, rather than those things which would drive us apart. I look forward to getting to know you all in the days and weeks to come.

Grace and Peace,

Ellie+

The September 2020 issue of the Shepherd's Staff

A Word from the Fold

September 2020 edition of the Shepherd’s Staff

What’s Happening at Church of the Good Shepherd?

It feels like we just got into the rhythm of summer with the hot humid days of August when suddenly we’ve turned a corner, and here we are approaching Autumn. This is my favorite time of year with its warm days and cool nights, not to mention all the fall activities like apple picking and pie baking. Of course, this is normally also the time for back to school and a return to a full schedule of church programs. But this year is quite different for all of us as many of the routines have changed due to the ongoing pandemic.

This is also a time of new beginnings at CGS. Programs will look a little different this fall but rest assured that many people have been hard at work behind the scenes preparing for this new phase of ministry.

The Regathering Committee has been mapping out a plan for holding outdoor worship services at least while the weather cooperates. Protocols have been written and are being submitted to the Diocese for approval. In order for everyone to hear the service outdoors, we need to purchase some sound equipment. A sound tech has visited the church and made a recommendation for our set-up. Approvals from the Finance Committee and the Vestry are complete, and the order is in process. We will let you know as soon as possible when all is ready for our first outdoor service.

With regard to Christian Education, Taryn Ross-Hyman has been meeting regularly throughout the summer with church school and youth leaders from across the diocese. These Zoom sessions have provided a way for folks to share ideas about how best to re-engage the children and youth in faith formation. Taryn hopes to offer several activities for the children in the coming weeks. The Church School Council met last week along with Barb Magee from Mission Outreach to brainstorm ways to continue providing opportunities for the kids to get excited about mission and help others in communities near and far.

The Vestry is undergoing a process of linking its members with the various standing committees of our parish in an effort to foster better communication and support for ministry leaders. There are a number of areas in which parishioners can be of assistance in helping to keep this a strong and vibrant parish.

So while we’ve not been together in the building at 164 Newtown Road over the last six months, there is a great deal going on by members of the church to keep things moving forward. A number of improvements have been made to the building and grounds, the most recent being the installation of phone system and internet upgrades. These developments will enable continued live streaming of our worship, even after services resume in the sanctuary.

In the meantime, I hope that you will continue to support the ministry of CGS through your participation, your financial pledge and your prayers. May God continue to bless us for service in our communities as we journey together in faith.

Blessings,

Melissa

The Easter 2020 issue of the Shepherd's Staff!

A Word from the Fold

Easter 2020 edition of the Seasonal Shepherd's Staff

Alleluia!

Christ is Risen!

He is Risen indeed!

Alleluia!

Lately it’s been hard to to remember that we are still in in the Easter season and that it it lasts through the 50 days following the great celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord. Each day seems to f fold into the next and apart from the schedule of Zoom meetings, it’s sometimes a challenge to keep track of what day it actually is. And yet, somehow the heartbeat of life continues; the sun comes up each morning, the moon in the sky at night. Spring flowers push up out of the darkness of the winter soil, and trees that stood bare are showing signs of life in little green buds sprouting from their tender branches. This is indeed a time to consider the lilies of the field and all the precious signs of Spring, as the earth enjoys a chance to breathe again.

For all the difficulties of this global shutdown - of which there are so many - it is impressive what the global community has done in its efforts to break the spread of COVID-19. Before this pandemic, I could not imagine that the roadways and skies would be so quiet and still; that the hustle and bustle of life would be brought to a virtual halt. Yes, I remember the Blizzard of ’78, the stalled out cars on the highways and the blanket of white that covered New England, but that now pales in comparison to the present state of affairs.

There are lessons to be learned from this experience and an opportunity to move forward with intention and care, so as not to simply jump back to the way things used to be. We have before us a moment to “consider the lilies of the field” and think about this as a metaphor for the bigger picture of life and the future we’d like to create. It’s an opportunity to think about what’s important in this life and grab on to the good will that many people have so creatively shown in this most difficult time. Think of restaurants, an industry hit particularly hard by this shutdown, how they have rallied to the cause providing meals to hospital employees and other essential workers. People teaming up, though socially distant, to make masks and shields with whatever items they can find to assist medical personnel. Teachers and educators who almost overnight have transformed their classrooms to an online learning program. The creative ways parents and teachers are finding to celebrate this year’s graduates who likely won’t make that memorable walk across the stage to receive their diplomas. We’ve seen birthday brigades organized by parents to bring some cheer to children having birthdays in this time of quarantine. The list goes on and on.

We as church also have much to consider as we think about what worship will look like when we come back together. How will we continue to reach those who for a variety of reasons may not be ready to come back to the building? What will church school look like in the future? Indeed these are the kinds of questions that the leaders of our churches and the Diocese are considering as we reimagine what it means to be church and how to celebrate the sacraments in this new reality? I look forward to exploring these topics with you in the weeks and months to come. In the meantime, continue to take good care of one another, offer prayers for all in need, and keep being the loving and generous community of faith that is a hallmark of the Church of the Good Shepherd.

In the peace of Christ,

Melissa

The Lent/Easter 2020 issue of the Shepherd's Staff!

A Word from the Fold

Lent and Easter 2020 edition of the Seasonal Shepherd's Staff

Observing a Holy Lent

The season of Lent lasts 40 days (not including the 6 Sundays) from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday. From the earliest days of the Church, Lent was the time in which catechumens were prepared through a course of religious instruction that culminated in baptism and one’s welcome into the Body of Christ, the Church as part of the Great Vigil of Easter. In the first three centuries of the Church as word spread about this new community of believers, converts to the faith were mostly adults.

However, according to bible.org, infant baptism also arose as a universal practice early on in the life of the Church. The reasons for this include understanding baptism as initiation into the community of faith and the washing away of original sin. Moreover, it was thought that there was a real spiritual impact on the person being baptized as they received the grace and forgiveness of God in the rite of baptism. The article went on to note that references to the universal practice of infant baptism was spoken of by Augustine as early as 400 AD in light of the understanding that infants are born with original sin.

Today the period of Lent is less about preparing for baptism but is nonetheless a penitential time marked by prayer, fasting and repentance. Christians are invited in the liturgy of Ash Wednesday to “observe a holy Lent” by setting apart time for self-reflection. To this end, practices of self-denial and going without something significant are thought to help in this journey of Lenten preparation for the joyous celebration of Easter.

The last 10 years or so have seen a rise in alternative ways to observe Lent so as to offer practices that encourage faith and growth in the Fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). In 2015, Time magazine featured Pope Francis’ writing on what he calls “the globalization of indifference” that threatens all Christian believers. The Pontiff wrote “whenever our interior life becomes caught up in its own interests and concerns, there is no longer room for others, no place for the poor. God’s voice is no longer heard, the quiet joy of his love is no longer felt, and the desire to do good fades.” He continues that, “We end up being incapable of feeling compassion at the outcry of the poor, weeping for other people’s pain, and feeling a need to help them, as though all this were someone else’s responsibility and not our own.”

There are lots of ways to observe a holy Lent. At the website YourModernFamily.com, author Becky Mansfield offers a list of 10 unique things to give up for Lent. These include ideas like: Not buying anything you don’t need; Throw/Give away 40 things for 40 days; Say 3 encouraging things to your spouse and kids daily; and Replace 30 minutes of TV or screen time with 30 minutes of prayer or bible reading.

However you choose to observe this Lenten season, I hope that you will find a way to connect with God and with others to grow in appreciation of God’s love for you.

Melissa

The newest issue of the Shepherd's Staff

A Word from the Fold

October 2019 Edition of the Season Shepherd’s Staff

What’s not to love about the month of October? Yes, I like all the New England seasons for the variety it brings but autumn and especially October is my favorite of all. The air is full of the smell of harvest from apples to corn to squash. Of the favorite fall activities, visiting a local orchard for apple picking is at the top of the list for me.

Here at Good Shepherd there is a great deal going on as well.

From the rectory getting a face lift with a fresh coat of paint, to the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts assisting with the clean up of the grounds at the rectory and church. And though we are still looking for a part-time co-ordinator, the church school is off and running with the help of so many people in our congregation. Thank you everyone who has stepped up to lead a class, donate time, money, and LEGO bricks, to volunteers in the nursery and those serving as Safe Church Hall Monitors, to the fantastic mission-focused curriculum made available to our students. This is going to be a terrific program year!

Adult education will begin this month with the Sunday morning group as well as the Hop, Skip, Jump Bible Study, details of which you will find in this newsletter. There’s Bread and Banter lunch for retirees, and a place for those who knit and/or crochet in the prayer shawl ministry. We can always use your help with the stewardship of our buildings and keeping an eye on projects to be done to improve the physical plant of Good Shepherd.

If it’s social events you’d like to see, be sure to check out this month’s Chili-Oke! Make a pot of your favorite chili for a contest which will judge whose dish is the best in a number of categories. Combine this with the music of Karaoke, and it makes for a really fun evening! The next day a team of Good Shepherd walkers will participate in the annual CROPWALK at First Parish in Concord. This 3.5 mile stroll through the National Park is a great community event that brings people together from all the surrounding towns. This year we are looking forward to having the participation of our church school as they create and carry a Good Shepherd banner.

Whether you are new to this community of faith, or a longtime partner of the parish, and everyone in between, we hope you will connect with us for worship or coffee hour, or any of the upcoming events.

Yours in faith,

Melissa

The newest issue of the Shepherd's Staff!

A Word from the Fold

September 2019 edition of the Seasonal Shepherd's Staff

Dear Friends in Christ,

I hope you all have had a terrific summer enjoying some carefree relaxing days with family and friends. I’m chuckling a bit as I write this thinking about how we look forward all winter and spring to the lazy days of summer and sometimes they are anything but. After shuffling kids to and from camp, and organizing visits with relatives and friends near and far, and mapping out vacation plans, these summer days often wind up busier than the rest of the year. I think however, that it’s the change in routine that we long for; eating meals outside, walks on the beach and hikes in the mountains, longer daylight hours, and get aways to vacation homes. Regardless of how you’ve enjoyed this summer, I pray you found some space to stop for a moment and reconnect with God, taking in the beauty of the natural world around us.

Today I am grateful for cooler temperatures and even for the clouds hanging over Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island which is where I am as I write this “word from the fold.” This place is a source of relaxation and rejuvenation for our family in the midst of the hustle and bustle of life. And I am thankful for the time away after a busy summer of planning and preparing for the new program year at Good Shepherd!

While the search committee has been busy writing the church profile, I’ve been meeting with the Wardens, the Vestry, Mission Outreach and Christian Education members getting things ready for the September kick-off. We are looking forward to welcoming everyone at our Re-gathering Sunday celebrations taking place on September 15. This is the day that church school begins and worship will be followed by an ice cream social!

There are lots of opportunities to get involved here at Good Shepherd. I hope you’ll visit our Ministry Fair on Sunday, September 29 after both services and find a way that you can plug in and share your gifts and talents. This year’s fair will feature sign ups for the various service ministries within the church from altar guild to lector ministry, from choir to coffee hour host, and lots more. You will find in this edition of the Shepherd Staff an article about the new Multi-Generational Mission Sunday and how we are working to integrate the Church School with our Outreach Ministries.

Enjoy these waning days of summer! I look forward to welcoming you all in September as we continue in our journey of faith finding ways to walk in love and in service to the Lord.

Faithfully,

Melissa

Monthly Calendar and Seasonal Shepherd's Staff

The May calendar is available online or on the oak desk in the Parish Hall later. Any changes or updates to the calendar are reflected in the weekly eblast or the Sunday Shepherd's Fold.

You can also download the most recent version (Late Spring 2019 Edition) of the Seasonal Shepherd's Staff.