Made New in the Power of the Spirit, Let Us Offer All We Are!
Submit your pledge by November 26, Ingathering Sunday
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
As Advent approaches and we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ once again, many of us may reflect upon the joys and challenges of the year that is also coming to a close. This year has brought many wondrous happenings at the Church of the Good Shepherd. The children were back together on the first and third Sundays of each month, the Men’s Group enjoyed fellowship on Saturday mornings, we packed 10,000 meal kits for distribution in the Philippines via Rise Against Hunger, we focused on ways to care for the planet and worked to incorporate changes – small and large – to protect God’s creation, and a delegation travelled again to our sister community of El Ocotillo, El Salvador, renewing our connection with beloved friends in that community.
The common thread through all of this (and many other happenings, too numerous to name) is our Christian community. In worship we come together at the altar, each with our own backgrounds and experiences, yet each seeking God’s love, forgiveness, and guidance. The beautiful words of the Episcopal Eucharist are uttered each week. Lovely music surrounds us. After services, we gather for fellowship in the Parish Hall. Church is the one place in our lives where we come together across generations and across our differences, with a common understanding that we are all loved and special to God. In this shared belief and faith, we extend that same love to one another, appreciating the uniqueness of each of us. This is truly something to be cherished and supported.
As Rev. Ellie said in a recent sermon, “This is where we can imagine a different future for our children, for our earth, for our community. Where we hear Scriptures that challenge us to love deeply and live differently. This is where we experience God in prayer, in song, in sacrament, stretching our image of God as we learn to pray and sing and receive grace in both cherished and sometimes new ways. -Where all our voices are welcome, all our differences are honored, all our bumbling, fearful, hesitant, questioning attempts to love and follow Jesus are appreciated. We come here in our brokenness, in our joy, in our sorrow, in our anger, in gratitude, knowing that God sees our true selves and loves us, even so. It really is extraordinary, this church of ours!” November is the time when we commit to the financial support of the Church of the Good Shepherd for the coming calendar year. We will be focusing on the experience of Stewardship during the month of Thanksgiving, culminating on Ingathering Sunday, November 26. Please prayerfully consider your pledge to support our church community during 2024. You may submit your pledge intention online , or complete the form mailed to you and mail it or place it in the offertory plate any Sunday this month.
In grateful prayer,
Lydia Tolley, Stewardship 2024
The Rev. Ken Schmidt
Gospel and Sermon for the Twenty-fourth Sunday After Pentecost, Nov 12, 2023
2023-11-12 Gospel & Sermon, Rev. Ken Schmidt, Deacon
David Hazen, Stewardship Message
David Hazen, Stewardship Message
David Hazen, Stewardship Message
November food drive for the Acton Food Pantry
Join Good Shepherd families in collecting donations 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!
The Rev. Eleanor Applewhite Terry
Gospel and Sermon for All Saints' Day, Nov 5, 2023
2023-11-5 Gospel & Sermon, Rev Ellie Terry, Rector
The Rev. Eleanor Applewhite Terry
Gospel and Sermon for the Twenty-second Sunday After Pentecost, Oct 29, 2023
2023-10-29 Gospel & Sermon, Rev Ellie Terry, Rector
The Rev. Ken Schmidt
Gospel and Sermon for the Twenty-first Sunday After Pentecost, Oct 22, 2023
2023-10-22 Gospel & Sermon, Rev. Ken Schmidt, Deacon
Saturday night's NOTA (None of the Above) a cappella concert
A portion of the proceeds goes to welcoming and supporting a new immigrant family through the Acton-Stow Interfaith Partnership.
Good music was enjoyed by all!
