All New Monthly Multi-Generational Misson Sundays
The new Multi-Generational Mission Sundays starts on September 15th with the CROP Hunger Walk.
This fall we will see a redesign of the monthly New Eu(charist) For All Ages worship. The “New Eu”, as it was known, provided the congregation with the opportunity to worship all together and encouraged the young people to serve as ushers, greeters, and lectors. There was also a “carpet time” children’s message for the youngest members. At its inception about 7 years ago, this worship format was well received, though lately it seems that the NewEu has needed an upgrade.
This summer, I’ve been working with members of the the Mission Outreach Committee about ways to highlight the various ministries that our parish supports. Together we have re-imagined the “New Eu” to be a Multi-generational Mission Sunday. The 1st Sunday of the month will feature a different mission of the parish in the sermon and/or with invited speakers from one of the organizations supported by CGS. Young people will continue to have opportunities to serve during the worship and where possible will be paired with an older member of the parish in that task.
We are very excited to announce that the Sunday school will also be connected to the Mission Sundays through age appropriate projects featuring the local food pantry, the CROP Hunger Walk, the Lowell Transitional Living Center, Esperanza Academy, and our companion community in El Ocotillo, El Salvador. In addition to Bible lessons, the children will study issues connected with each mission - from hunger on a local and global scale to homelessness, from building relationships to understanding the concept of accompaniment with versus charity for others.
Chuba Udokwu will be our first presenter on Sunday, September 15 at both the 8am and 10am services. He will share his personal experience with the CROP Hunger Walk organization. The Sunday School will also participate by making a banner that they will present at worship and carry in the CROP Hunger Walk on Sunday, October 20 in Concord.
Our first Multi-Gen Mission Sunday will be October 6 and will include a Blessing of the Animals in recognition of St. Francis of Assisi. Also as part of that Mission Service, we will welcome back Jeanne Rikkers, Cristosal’s Director of the Center for Research and Learning to share with us some of the collaborative work she is doing with communities in El Salvador.
I hope you will plan to join us as we celebrate the work of many in our congregation who give of their time and talent to a variety of organizations.
We are grateful for these ministries, and we look forward to hearing about some of them in this exciting new program year.
Melissa
The Peace Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi
In light of an emotional week, Melissa offers this prayer.
Dear Friends,
It has been such an emotional week in the aftermath of last weekend's acts of violence and the loss of so many innocent lives. As an antidote to the on-going media coverage, I offer you this video of the Prayer of St. Francis sung by Angelina of the Catholic network EWTN. Also known as the Peace Prayer, the words are very familiar as we have sung this in worship at Good Shepherd.
- Melissa
The Peace Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi
Make me a channel of your peace,
Where there is hatred let me bring your love,
Where there is injury your pardon Lord,
And where there's doubt true faith in you.
Make me a channel of your peace,
Where there's despair in life, let me bring hope,
Where there is darkness, only light,
And where there's sadness, ever joy.
O Master grant that I may never seek,
So much to be consoled as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved as to love with all my soul.
Make me a channel of your peace,
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
In giving of ourselves that we receive.
And in dying that we're born to eternal life.
O Master grant that I may never seek,
So much to be consoled as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
And to love as to love with all my soul.
Make me a channel of your peace,
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
In giving of ourselves that we receive.
And in dying that we're born to eternal life.
Make me a channel of your peace.
Praying the Daily Office
One way that you might seek to rest in Jesus' presence is in the practice of praying the Daily Office.
At the conclusion of my sermon on Sunday, I said that Jesus' message to Martha and Mary are relevant for us today in that it is time to let worry and distraction about the "many things" fall by the wayside. I also suggested that perhaps we might hear Jesus' words to Martha for ourselves, not as a rebuke, but as an invitation to step off the treadmill of life, even for just a few minutes a day, to savor Jesus' presence in our lives, and to catch a glimpse of that one and only thing needed, which is to know the love of God for you and for all people.
One way that you might seek to rest in Jesus' presence is in the practice of praying the Daily Office which includes Morning, Noon, and Evening Prayer. You can find the liturgy for these prayers in the Book of Common Prayer in the section entitled The Daily Office. One of the ways I've found to be helpful is to listen to an audio version of the prayers. If you are interested, here's the audio link. Another resource for reading the office on your own can be found here.
It would be great to pause three times a day for prayer, however, I realize that most people don't have the bandwidth for that. I would suggest starting with one of the prayers and commit to practicing it for a month. It's a wonderful way to connect with God at the start, mid-point, or end of the day to be grounded in the love of God and to remember that which is vital for life, God's immeasurable love for us made known in the person and work of God's Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Blessings,
Melissa
Welcoming our new Music Minister and Choir Director
Deborah Colageo joins Good Shepherd as Music Minister and Choir Director
It is with great joy that we announce Deborah Colageo as our new Music Minister and Choir Director!
Deborah comes to us with an extensive musical career that spans a lifetime. She began playing piano as a child and at the age of 9 was chosen to accompany her school chorus. She is a gifted organist and additionally has led sectionals with singers. Her talents also include playing keyboard for musical theatre rehearsals and shows. She currently works part-time at Cushing Academy as a collaborative pianist with the Music Director.
She greatly enjoys leading singers and is looking forward to working with the Anthem Choir. Deborah is interested in fostering the musical talents of individual musicians in the parish as well. As a teacher of piano and voice lessons, she loves teaching the technique of music. Deborah loves to learn and develop her craft and to this end has studied with many teachers over the years. Her love of the Lord Jesus, as well as her passion and commitment to sacred and classical music is evidenced by her joyful spirit and desire to encourage and uplift others through her musical gifts.
Deborah's first Sunday at Church of the Good Shepherd will be September 8. Please join me in welcoming Deborah to our faith community!
Good Shepherd summer schedule begins Sunday, June 30th
Summer hours begin on June 30th.
The summer worship schedule will commence on Sunday, June 30th. We will continue to have our 8:00AM Rite II Holy Eucharist, with the second HE service beginning at 9:30AM through September 1st. Childcare will be available during the 9:30 service. The fall schedule will resume on Sunday, September 8th, with services at 8:00AM and 10AM.