Adult Forum in Lent: What is Truth? An Embodied Lenten Series
Adult Lenten Forum Coming February 6!
What is Truth? is a formation series created to accompany groups during the season of Lent (and beyond). This Lenten series offers an opportunity to deepen spiritually; engage in embodied practices that allow for deeper knowledge of self, God, and others; and build resilience in preparation for conversations about reparations within the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts.
A bit of background: In 2021, our Diocesan Convention passed a resolution,“ Charting the Long Road Towards Reparations,” which calls on the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts to commit 2022 as a year of study, gathering, sharing stories and discernment. This Lenten forum, developed by the Reparations Subcommittee of the Racial Justice Commission of our Diocese provides a spiritual grounding for conversations not just about reparations, but about racism and social justice.
We have reworked the curriculum of this course to have one hour sessions (instead of two) and to emphasize content that will build community and conversation around our context here at Good Shepherd. Each session includes prayer, Scripture or contemporary sources for reflection, embodied spiritual practices, questions to ponder, and resources to deepen the learning.
In light of our Vestry and Mission Outreach Committee’s commitment to exploring racial justice as a congregation, we invite you to join Rev. Ellie and Deacon Ken in this provocative Lenten forum.
Please join us at 11:30am beginning this Sunday- either in person, or on Zoom.
For more information, visit here. Classes will be held in the Parish Hall and on Zoom on the following Sundays:
March 6, 2022 11:30 am
Mar 13, 2022 11:30 am
Mar 20, 2022 11:30 am
Mar 27, 2022 11:30 am
Apr 3, 2022 11:30 am
Apr 10, 2022 11:30 am
Please contact Rev. Ellie if you have any questions.
Here is the link for the Zoom Meeting
Daily Lenten Meditations on Creation Care
Sign Up for Daily Lenten Creation Care Meditations
The Diocese of Western Massachusetts Creation Care Leadership Circle invites you to sign up to receive an inspirational daily meditation (including a short quote and an image) during the 40 days of Lent. Lent invites us to reflect on our relationships with God, each other and the Earth upon which all life depends. The quotes come from many sources, honoring the wisdom of many voices and traditions. The daily meditations offer the opportunity to contemplate the gift of the natural world and our calling to reconcile humanity with the rest of God’s creation. Sign up here.
Esperanza Academy Head of School joins us
Jadi Taveras, Head of Esperanza Academy, joins us for worship.
Jadi Taveras, Head of Esperanza Academy, joined us for worship on February 6th. For 14 years Good Shepherd has supported this tuition-free school for middle school girls in Lawrence.
Hear Jadi address our community:
Creation Care - Electric Vehicles 101
Electric Vehicles 101
Wednesday January 26, 2022
7:00 pm-8:30 pm
It is that time to make new resolutions! Have you resolved to make your next car an electric vehicle? Start your research and planning with this wonderful overview presented by Drive Green. The Drive Green Team will cover updates on the increasing options in electric vehicles, the environmental benefits, consumer tips, basic information about batteries and charging, and the latest on state and federal incentives. This is a VIRTUAL EVENT. Register in advance for this meeting by clicking on the zoom address below. (It is not necessary to select the RSVP button to the side.)
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMudu6rrzIjHNcqKoH6OX22sERdwzM9lyps
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Thank you to our speakers from Drive Green, a program of the Green Energy Consumers Alliance, committed to consumer information about green energy, including home heating and cooling, solar, efficiency, and transportation. This event is sponsored by EnergizeActon, a community website to take action on the climate emergency, created by the Acton Climate Coalition and the Town of Acton.
Printable information here.
The pupusa truck is coming January 29th!
Experience the favorite Salvadoran food!
Support the El Salvador Scholarship Fund and bring your family the experience of delicious Salvadoran pupusas!!
Place your order by Monday, January 24. Come to pick up your order at the entrance of the church Saturday, January 29 between 5:00 and 6:00 pm. Pupusas are coming from Fuente de Vida, an authentic Salvadoran restaurant in Worcester.
Pupusa varieties include cheese, cheese and beans, cheese and chicken, cheese and jalapeño, cheese and pork, cheese and loroco (similar to summer squash). A typical adult serving is two or three pupusas (though people have been known to happily eat more!). Dinner comes with red sauce, slaw, and fried plantains.
Send your order— how many of each variety you want — to Kevin Gross by Monday Jan. 24.. Any questions? Call Kathleen Zawicki. See the recent eblast for contact information.
No set cost but free will offerings for the El Salvador Scholarship Fund to support our 8 students are gratefully accepted! (Please write ‘El Salvador’ in the memo on your check.)
The work of an immigration resettlement agency
On December 12th Christine Hellman from the International Institute of New England described to us the important work of resettling the many families that have fled to the United States from Afghanistan in the last few months. If you missed her talk, you can find it here.
Learn about the ways Good Shepherd is Supporting Afghan Refugees.
Adult Christian Formation Book Group Begins on January 16
Coming in January!
Love is the Way Book Group
Are you a fan of Bishop Michael Curry (the Presiding Bishop of the Eiscopal Church)? Join our Rector in a conversation about his latest book, Love is the Way: Holding on to Hope in Troubling Times. We will meet in person (in the Library) and via Zoom at 11:30am beginning Sunday January 16. We plan to discuss three chapters per week. For January 16, please read the introduction through Chapter 3.
Love is the Way is available online and by order from the Silver Unicorn and other bookshops. Add it to your Christmas list!
Please contact Rev. Ellie if you have any questions.
Join Zoom Meeting