July 21 services to feature explanation of our Eucharist

“Do I stand now?” “Why do they come into the middle of the congregation to read the Gospel?” “Why do we sing some things the same every week, and other things differently?”

Whether you’re a long-time Episcopalian, or new to the “Anglican Way”, there are bound to be some things that happen during the Sunday services that raise questions. So, on Sunday, July 21, ALL THREE services will be “Instructed Eucharists”.  That is, instead of the sermon (Rejoice, rejoice, believers!), the service will be explained as we go along. This will serve as a good refresher for some, and a good introduction for others!

In connection with that, the Faith Forum that day (between the two morning services) will be on “The Body at Prayer’. In that discussion, we’ll address the “Episcopal Calisthenics” that happen during the service.  Think:  bowing, crossing oneself, etc.  Come with curiosity!

Forte Handbell Quartet in concert July 27

We are pleased to welcome Forte Handbell Quartet back to Good Shepherd for another amazing concert on Saturday, July 27th at 3 pm.  Many of you will remember that Forte was featured in season three of our Music with a Mission Concert Series. Based in Colorado Springs, Forté is an advanced quartet marked by artistry, energy, and dedication to their craft. Formed in 2007, Forté has emerged as a unique performance and educational quartet, quickly developing an elite reputation within the handbell world. Today, members Luke Nabeta, Megan Reishus, Dillon Ekle, and Tory Marting continually challenge themselves to “Rethink Possible,” expanding their musical and performance horizons, adding original compositions and arrangements to their already-challenging repertoire, and seeking out new performance venues and educational opportunities as they strive to explore, innovate, inspire, and glorify God through the gift of music.

Free admission, with a free-will offering collected for Forte Handbell Quartet

July 28 Faith Forum to feature discussion on Congregational Care

Join us at 9 am on Sunday, July 28th, and then again in September on the 8th to discuss the Congregational Care Ministry at Good Shepherd and how we can improve and expand our resources.

The CCM team, along with Fr. Gary, will develop more congregational care resources here at Good Shepherd, such as volunteer networks, illness, surgery and family support, spiritual companionship, and who to contact for help.  We will invite and empower others across the congregation to do this ministry.  We aim to meet immediate needs first while developing long-range plans to promote physical, emotional and spiritual health within the parish and community, while using our assets wisely.

As we formally organize the Congregational Care Ministry at Good Shepherd, we do so recognizing that God has already been working through many of you to care for others in our congregation. Our desire as a team is to enhance that kind of care, not replace it!

We want to connect:  We hope to talk to as many of you as possible about your current or anticipated needs and also what you’d like to see in this ministry.  The team will be at Summer Sunday Faith Forums at 9:00 am on July 28 and September 8 to receive your feedback. 

Music with a Mission looks toward expansion and incorporation in 2020

When we first embarked on our Music with a Mission Concert Series, we had no idea if the series would succeed, or if it would be supported by our parishioners and our community. We are now five years into this project, and we think you will agree that YES! – We have created something that resonates with our parishioners, our community and our mission organizations. The big question is – What do we do now? What would God have us do? If we want to maximize the number of people we reach with this series, then looking toward expansion is the natural progression. But what exactly does that mean? How much will that cost? And most importantly, how do we raise the additional funding?

Let’s look at each of these questions in closer detail.

1)      What is involved in expanding the series?

The first step in expanding the series is to explore whether it makes sense for Music with a Mission to establish its own 501c3 status separate from Good Shepherd. This will enable us to apply for SCFD (Scientific and Cultural Facilities District) funding and make us a bigger player in the sea of arts and cultural organizations in Colorado. We will then have the money we need to attract more top name artists and advertise to a larger audience. This process will take time, and will involve creating an official Board of Directors, writing By-Laws, submitting incorporation paperwork and ultimately applying to the IRS. If you are a lawyer or have any experience with 501c3 paperwork, please let DeeDee know. We have been told that we must survive for five years on our own once we incorporate before we can apply for SCFD funding.

2)      How much will it cost to expand?

We anticipate the cost of incorporation to be between $500 and $1,000. Costs for advertising to a larger audience and attracting bigger name artists will be significantly more ($5,000 +). We would also like to purchase proper stage lights for the series ($500).

3)      How will we raise the additional funding?

The additional funding will need to come from Angel and Corporate Sponsors. Our parishioners have been so generous in helping us sustain the series to date, and we will continue to rely on you for Angel Sponsorships. This year, however, we are making a more intentional effort to attract additional Corporate Sponsors. If you work for a company that we can approach for funding, please contact DeeDee with the appropriate contact name so she can set up a meeting.

Thank you for your continued support of our concert series. If you have questions, or would like to get involved in our expansion efforts, please contact DeeDee Atwood at ddatwood08@gmail.com

Children’s Ministry News

I hope that everyone is having a great summer!  The kids may be on summer break, BUT Sunday school continues to meet EVERY Sunday at 9:45!  Then at approximately 10:35, we process into the sanctuary so the kids can rejoin their family at the Peace, followed by the celebration of Holy Communion.

The combined Godly Play classroom (which currently meets in the chapel for children aged 3 years through 2nd grade) will continue our summer Saint’s series.

·         July 7:    St. Valentine and St. Patrick

·         July 14:  St. Catherine of Sienna 

·         July 21:  St. Julian of Norwich & St. Columba 

·         July 28:  St. Elizabeth of Portugal & St. Augustine of Hippo.

In the 3rd, 4th and 5th grade class (which currently meets in the room across from the chapel), we are returning to using Living the Good News which is liturgically based, meaning it follows the church service liturgy.

·         July 7:  Sent by Jesus (Go out and tell the good news:  God brings prosperity and justice to the world). 

·         July 14:  Mercy & Obedience (God has brought you into the kingdom of Jesus Christ, that you might inherit life without limits…the Good Samaritan).

·         July 21:  Welcoming God (Watch for the Holy One, people of God, that you may choose to receive God’s blessing…Mary and Martha).

·         July 28:  Boldness and Forgiveness (Remember your standing in Christ, brothers and sisters; call on God without fear).

Have a safe and fun summer!  We look forward to seeing all the children on Sunday mornings.

Youth Calendar for July

Stewardship Campaign for 2020 takes shape

We are beginning to formulate plans for our Stewardship Campaign for 2020.  We had a great Stewardship Campaign in 2019, and after our Supplemental Campaign we were able to balance our budget and retain our staff.

For 2020 we will need pledges in the $442,000 range again to balance our budget.  We hope that we will have 20-25 new pledges in 2020 with the work from our Priest-In-Charge, our Invite, Welcome and Connect team, and parishioners who will help us invite new families into our Church.

Our goals for 2020 will be to retain our talented staff in place and support the Administrative functions associated with our Staff and the Church, maintain our Building and Grounds, and meet our commitments to the Episcopal Church of Colorado, our commitment to the High Plains Region and our commitment to Outreach.

The Stewardship Committee really appreciates the commitment of Time and Talent that support our commitment to Treasure that allows Good Shepherd to continue to operate smoothly and effectively.  Our hope is that with the fall response to our 2020 Stewardship campaign we will not need to have a supplemental campaign.  We do believe we may need to do a Capital Campaign in 2020 to resurface our parking lot, replace carpet in our Parish hall and the hallways, do some painting, and hopefully finish paying off our mortgage.

Stewardship is an ongoing process that we talk about throughout the year and 2019 has been a banner year for us with a very impressive annual meeting with several people sharing what Good Shepherd means to them and the importance of our Good Shepherd Church family.  We have many programs in our Worship, our music programs, our Men’s Group and our Women’s groups, our Outreach work, our youth work and many other ministries.  Thank you for your support and stay tuned for more information on our 2020 Stewardship program.

Your Stewardship committee
Keith Anderson, Nan Behringer, Tom Billings, Griffin Bridgers, The Rev. Gary Brower, Anne McMahon, Andy Folkerth, Joe Namaksy, and Jim Wolfe                 

Snapshot of Good Shepherd’s Finances as of May, 2019

From Fr. Gary: This island earth, our fragile home . . .

At Colorado's diocesan Clergy Conference in early May, as part of our closing Eucharist, we were invited to recall/renew our baptismal vows. I’ve done this countless times; I have the service pretty much memorized. So I was surprised when I found myself responding “I will, with God’s help!” to the question:  "Will you cherish the wondrous works of God, and protect and restore the integrity of all creation?” I appreciated the question, to say the least, but I had to wonder what I’d been missing from the baptismal ceremony. The Eucharist proceeded, and I laid the question away for another day.

A week later, however, in my Facebook feed, I received a post from the group “Episcopal Climate News”, with the above question and answer as part of the post’s leading image. A little bit of research turned up the answer.  At the Episcopal Church’s General Convention in 2015, the delegates and bishops considered the following resolution (2015-C015):

Resolved, That the 78th General Convention authorize the trial addition to the Baptismal Covenant of a sixth question concerning our responsibility as baptized Christians to care for God's creation; and be it further

Resolved, That the additional question and response be worded as follows:

"Will you cherish the wondrous works of God, and protect the beauty and integrity of all creation? 

I will, with God's help.”; and be it further

Resolved, That use of this additional question and response be authorized for trial use as part of the Baptismal Covenant for the triennium 2016-2018.

I will admit that I wasn’t paying close attention to many of the actions of General Convention in 2015 (mea culpa!). And, when Convention met again last summer, I, like many others, was watching some of the more “big ticket” items. This particular 2015 resolution, however, came back for further consideration in 2018 (although no action was taken).

As I mentioned above, I appreciated the idea! As someone who grew up at about the same time as the emergence of the “environmental movement”, I’ve long considered myself “green”. (Indeed, for a year in high school, I took all of my class notes with a green pen!) And, in the last several years, as I’ve looked at my major hobbies (bike-riding, fishing, bird-watching, camping/hiking), I’ve noticed an underlying theme: they ALL depend, in part, on a healthy eco-system — whether good habitats for birds and fish, or clean air for cycling and enjoying un-hazy vistas from mountain-sides).

When I started my work at Good Shepherd last September, I was pleased to see, scattered around the building, those familiar blue “waste-baskets” for recycling! I was interested to learn, however, that the contents of those baskets were taken home by various parishioners to be added to their residential recycling. (Yay!) Having our trash collection service add “Recycling” to our service, I found to be pretty expensive. (Rats!)   [On that note, we’ve had to ask (more than once) that our cleaning crew stop emptying the contents of the blue bins into the trash.] Then, a few months ago, a parishioner approached me to ask about other recycling practices (such as glass and plastic in the kitchen).

Echoing Obi-Wan-Kenobi in the original “Star Wars” film, I began to feel that there was a “nexus in the Force”. I do earnestly believe that, as part of our God-given responsibility as stewards of creation (Genesis 1.28), we have to ensure that our eco-systems are as healthy as we would like our own bodies to be. I also believe that, as Christians, we need to set an example to the rest of the world in this, as well as many other, areas.

And, so, I am inviting anyone who has interest in exploring what it might be to be a “Green Sheep” to join me for conversation at the Faith Forum (between the morning services) on Sunday, June 30. It will be a fairly open conversation — again, an exploration of how we, as a congregation, might “cherish the wondrous works of God, and protect the beauty and integrity of all creation”.

Appreciative Living Circles to be offered beginning July 8

What do you want most in your life?

—and—

How do you create it?

You’ve heard Appreciative Inquiry (“AI”) mentioned from the pulpit, in meetings and perhaps elsewhere. The strategies and techniques of AI can translate into one’s every-day life as well! If you are interested in the answers to the questions above, you may find participation in a four-week “Appreciative Living Learning Circle” a wonderful summer exercise.

Appreciative Living is not about fixing ourselves or our lives, but in finding what works; where we excel; what we love; what makes us come alive. It is about taking responsibility for the life we have created and for the one we desire. [Note: While it is NOT a religiously- or faith-, based program, it is easily adaptable to any belief system.]

For four Monday evenings in July (8, 15, 22, & 29), we will meet for 1-1/2 hours to learn how transformative this practice can be!  There will be no cost for the course, but participants will need to purchase either one of the following books by Jacqueline (Jackie) Kelm. Both are easily available online. They cover the same material, but the first has a more ‘theoretical” feel, and the second is more “self-help”.  There will also be a participant’s workbook that the Church will provide.

Kelm, Jacqueline Gascobert. Appreciative Living: The Principles of Appreciative Inquiry in Personal Life (Venet Publishers, 2005).

__________. The Joy of Appreciative Living (Jeremy P. Tarcher/Penguin, 2008).

If you are interested in learning more, please contact Fr. Gary at gbrower@gshep.org.

Season Five Music with a Mission Angel Sponsorships being accepted during the month of June

We are ready to embark on the fifth season of our Music with a Mission Concert Series! During our first four seasons, our series has given over $34,000 to local, National and International mission organizations. This is a great accomplishment for our church, but we can’t do it without the support of our Angel Sponsors.

As most of you know, Music with a Mission is only possible because of your generous donations (Angel Sponsorships) which fund the many costs of our series – i.e. artist fees, advertising, licensing and administrative costs. Because our parishioners fund the yearly cost of the series, we are then able to give all proceeds collected at each concert to our mission partners. It’s a win-win-win for all involved – our mission partners, our community and the artists!

Thank you to all who have been Angel Sponsors in previous seasons, and we hope all parishioners will consider becoming sponsors for season five. We will be accepting your donations for the entire month of June, and there are several ways to contribute. Sponsor cards will be mailed out the first week of June, and will also be available in the Narthex. You can drop your cards off at church in our Music with a Mission box in the Narthex, or you can just drop them in the collection plate on Sundays. We will also be sending out a link in our weekly E-News for you to pay online if you prefer.

You can find out more information about the series in general and specifics on last season at our website page – https://www.gshep.org/music-with-a-mission-concert-series

Pumpkin Patch Ministry to take a break in 2019

From the Outreach Committee:

After several months of prayer, discernment and discussion, the Outreach Committee decided at its meeting last week not to proceed with the Pumpkin Patch this year.  As you might imagine, this was a difficult decision, but we decided that at least for now, a break is in order.  This decision in no way diminishes the impact the Patch has had on the church and the community over the past nine years, and all of us should be proud of those efforts and all of the volunteer hours from hundreds of people during that time.  The Committee will be thinking about alternatives for raising funds for the recipients of proceeds from the Patch, and also will be working on ideas for another (albeit much smaller scale) volunteer/fund-raising activity for the fall.  We would of course appreciate thoughts that anyone might have on either of those topics.

Ultimately, we decided that a combination of three primary factors, (i) the trend over the past couple of years towards less money raised despite no fewer volunteer hours (but fewer volunteers), (ii) the lack of a large pool of potential co-leaders for the Patch (only one person expressed any interest in being a co-leader, and while we very much appreciate that person’s interest, the leadership task has become too big for a single individual), and (iii) increased competition from supermarkets and big box stores (particularly for the odd-colored and shaped pumpkins that used to help us stand out from the crowd), would make it difficult to justify all that we ask of the Congregation to make the Patch happen.  We recognize the benefits of the Patch: donations to charitable organizations, increasing our visibility in the community and providing the opportunity for fellowship among the Congregation through a shared effort.  The magnitude of the effort required of the Congregation to make it work, however, seems to have outgrown those benefits.

Our decision is only for this year—we feel like it is important that the Committee and the Congregation revisit this question next spring and make a more permanent decision—at that time the Committee will again ask for thoughts from the Congregation on how to proceed. 

Thanks very much.     

Congregation Care Ministry Update: Hands Together

Congregational Care Ministry Core Team, Left to Right:

The Rev. Sandy Boyd, affiliate clergy |Greg Bell, vestry member and Eucharistic Visitor Ministry Leader | Bev White, M.A., long-time parishioner and professional counselor | Karin Elsen, Jr. Warden and Eucharistic Visitor, holding the “Hands Together” cross

One of the goals during transition is to revitalize the Congregation Care Ministry (CCM) at Good Shepherd.  In this context, it is important for our congregation to understand itself as the body of Christ and to know that it is the people who do much of this ministry.

We’ve made a great start with steady pastoral visits by Fr. Gary - and by convening a dedicated CCM core team.  This month, we’d like to introduce ourselves and give you a preview of what CCM could be at Good Shepherd, as well as to ask for your feedback.

Congregational Care Ministry is a big topic.  We are so blessed to already have a baseline of care by our clergy, including church, home and hospital visits, and care by our laity with Eucharistic visits, prayer shawls, Healing Prayer, and prayer chain, to name a just a few ministries.

The CCM team, along with Fr. Gary, will develop more congregational care resources here at Good Shepherd, such as volunteer networks, illness, surgery and family support, spiritual companionship, and who to contact for help.  We will invite and empower others across the congregation to do this ministry.  We aim to meet immediate needs first while developing long-range plans to promote physical, emotional and spiritual health within the parish and community, while using our assets wisely.

As we formally organize the Congregational Care Ministry at Good Shepherd, we do so recognizing that God has already been working through many of you to care for others in our congregation. Our desire as a team is to enhance that kind of care, not replace it!

We want to connect:  We hope to talk to as many of you as possible about your current or anticipated needs and also what you’d like to see in this ministry.  The team will be at Summer Sunday Faith Forums at 9:00 am on June 23, July 28 and September 8 to receive your feedback.   Anne McMahon will present some great practical tips on How to Navigate Downsizing and Relocation for Seniors on July 14.

Please look for our coming announcements and feel free to seek us out at church.

Dots appearing soon – what do they mean?

Soon you will start seeing green dots – not as a problem with your eyes, but as a way to have reminders that many of us in the pews are new!  Green dots on nametags will identify our newest members to the parish.

For established members:  please reach out and welcome the new “green dot” folks, tell a story of when you were just joining, or tell a tradition that you love about Good shepherd.  See how many green dots you can wrack up over the summer.

For “newbie” members – we hope you will reach out to established members, those with Vestry nametags, or even Ambassadors, Committee or Champion colored tags – find out what those ID’s mean. 

If it’s true that Jesus knows your name – can you make it a point to learn those at church??

Children’s Ministry News

I hope that everyone’s summer is off to a great start!  The kids may be on summer break, BUT Sunday school continues to meet EVERY Sunday!

We begin Sunday school at 9:45. On June 2, the combined Godly Play classroom (which currently meets in the chapel for children aged 3 years through 2nd grade) will have the presentation:  Easter: The Ascension. The month continues with Pentecost on June 9, then a special Father’s Day surprise on June 16, followed by our summer Saint’s series (St. Thomas Aquinas on June 23 and St. Valentine on June 30).

In the 3rd, 4th and 5th grade class (which currently meets in the room across from the chapel), the unit for June will be: Grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ by understanding what the Bible says about Jesus’ return and about Heaven.

•          June 2:  Heaven is great!  Who do you want to take there?  Life focus:  Live looking forward to Heaven so much that you are always eager to share the reward with others.

•          June 9:  Do what you want Jesus to find you doing when He returns.  Life focus: Live wisely—be ready for Jesus to return at any time.

•          June 16:  Special Father’s Day surprise

•          June 23: Faithful servants use the abilities God has given them.  Life focus:  Use what God has given you to get yourself and others ready for Jesus to come back.

•          June 30:  Jesus is coming soon in the clouds—so wake up and be ready.  Life focus:  Repent and “obey what you know” before Jesus comes. 

What is takes to keep Good Shepherd running smoothly

Last month we shared a definition of Stewardship, “Stewardship is about using the gifts God gives us to do the work God calls us to do”.  When some people hear this definition, they believe we are only talking about Treasure (money), we need to remember that Stewardship includes Time, Talent, and Treasure.  Good Shepherd runs smoothly because of the significant Time and Talent that so many people give to Good Shepherd.

So, what does it take to run Good Shepherd on the Treasure side?  In 2019 we have a balance budget which includes $491,000 in income and $491,000 in expenses.  In Colorado we are a large Episcopal Church with a significant budget to support our Celebrate, Grow, and Serve Ministries.  Let’s take a closer look at that budget.

Let’s look at the income side first.  In our $491,000 of income, the pledge income received from our Parishioners is $421,000 (86% of our total income).  In 2019 we have 155 pledging individuals/ families and that means our average pledge is $2716 per individual/ family.  As you probably realize, we will have some pledges higher than this average and some pledges lower than this average.

Now let’s look at the expense side.  To make this simple, we have divided the expenses into Administration, Building Maintenance, Outreach and Other.  Administration total for the year is $378,000 (77% of the total expenses) which includes salaries, benefits, and those costs associated with our staff.  The Building Maintenance costs are $58,000 (12% of our total expenses).  The Outreach expenses total $43,000 (9% of our total expenses) and include our Diocesan Pledge, our Regional Pledge and direct Outreach grants.  Our “other” category is $12,000 (2% of our total expenses) and includes several important categories such as Music and Worship, Parish Life, and Youth and Family Ministry.

The important point we are trying to share is that it costs a significant amount of money to fully operate Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, and we spend a considerable portion of our expenses on our Staff so that we have the Ministries we all want at Good Shepherd.  Many of these expenses are fixed expenses and will carry over from year to year.  We are blessed with a wonderful staff, very supportive Parishioners and a wonderful Ministry program at Good Shepherd.  As we stated at the beginning of this article, we are also blessed with a Congregation that gave abundantly of the Stewardship of time and talent to make these Ministries run smoothly.  We are hoping that with your help and our Invite, Welcome, and Connect program that we all will help to welcome new families into Good Shepherd and expand our Ministries.

And finally: The Oil Change

A friend was waiting at the car dealership for an oil change when a partisan TV show came on.  A conversation ensued between him and another customer, each of whom saw political issues totally differently.  After a brief and cordial talk, in which each person strove to hear the other, the friend’s car was ready, and as he left, the other customer unexpectedly gave him a hug…as did another customer who happened to overhear the conversation.

They all got more than an oil change that day.

Thank you for your participation in our loving family, and sharing though not always agreeing faith community, and for your continued stewardship support.

Keith Anderson, Nan Behringer, Tom Billings, Griffin Bridgers, Rev. Gary Brower, Anne McMahon, Joe Namaksy, and Jim Wolfe

Snapshot of Good Shepherd’s Finances as of April, 2019

A graphic representation of Good Shepherd’s finances through April 2019.

From Fr. Gary: With open arms

The Daily Office Lectionary’s gospel reading for today (I‘m writing this on April 15) was John 12.9-19. It is John’s version of Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. In John’s telling of the story, the crowd that gathered to honor Jesus was there because of the reports that had circulated about Jesus’ raising of Lazarus from the dead. The Pharisees (according to John) were pretty dismayed by all of the attention and honor that was being given to Jesus. In the translation known as the Common English Bible, John writes, "the Pharisees said to each other, “See! You’ve accomplished nothing! Look! The whole world is following him!” Other translations echo the same sentiment:  the Pharisees have tried all they could and none of their threats worked to keep people from following Jesus.

I have nothing against the Pharisees. I have a rabbi-friend who proudly traces his theological lineage to the Pharisees. And I think the Pharisees, on the whole, get a “bad rap” in the New Testament. After all, much of the New Testament was written to distinguish Christianity from Pharisaism. So, of course, the Pharisees would be put in a bad light. But the Pharisees, in general, were doing all they could to be faithful to a Jewish tradition that had lasted for hundreds of years and was struggling to deal with new realities. In many cases, however, their idea of “faithfulness” tended towards rigid interpretations. Jesus, at least as the New Testament tells us, was not about rigid interpretations. And, in the story of John 12.9-19, the Pharisees are found engaging in internal bickering about how well their “tactics” had worked with Jesus’ followers.

I can’t help but read this story in light of the news that we see just about every week. For one reason or another, folks are fleeing organized religion. We see that the Southern Baptists (the nation’s largest Protestant denomination) is shrinking. The numbers of Methodists who are considering leaving their denomination after their recent’ General Conference’s decision about inclusion of LGBTQ folks is startling. Even the Mormons are experiencing declining numbers among the millennial generation (for much the same reason as the Methodists). What seems to be happening is the same phenomenon that the Pharisees faced:  a rather strict interpretation of their traditions “accomplishes nothing” in the face of Someone who promises (and delivers) new life! I can imagine that the debates within the Southern Baptist Convention, the Methodists, the Mormons . . . and the Anglican communion often end in the same “hands-thrown-in-the-air-exasperation”: We’ve accomplished nothing! The whole world is going in a different direction!

Rather than simply doubling down, however, into even harsher rigidity, I wonder if we’re hearing the message wrong. I doubt that folks are fleeing because there aren’t coffee-shops in individual churches or that First Church doesn’t have a smoke machine. My suspicion is that people are hurting and hungering for a community to accept them as they are rather than want them to be something else. The rule-makers, not those hurt by the rules, were the ones most often feeling the brunt of Jesus’ criticism . . . and I imagine it’s because Jesus didn’t see them as having open arms.

“Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come with the reach of your saving embrace” (BCP, p. 101).This is the season in which we find ourselves now:  celebrant Jesus’ open arms—leading not to rejection or death but resurrection . . . in the face of those who would cross their arms on their chest, wondering why they hadn’t made a difference.

[Note: there’s no coincidence that Jesus, in the photo accompanying this article, is facing the worst barrios of Rio.]

Newcomer’s Reception to be held May 5 in the Parish Hall

ALL NEWCOMERS INVITED!
May 5 at 3:00pm

If you are new to Good Shepherd, or have been visiting for a while, please join us at a Newcomer’s Reception on Sunday, May 5 at 3:00 pm in the Parish Hall. Meet Fr. Gary Brower, learn more about Good Shepherd, ask questions, and enjoy fellowship with others who are new to the church.

(While it’s Cinco de Mayo, no sombreros or castanets required!)

Please call Kathy Hunter in the Parish Office if you have any questions, at 303-740-2688.

Ingathering for Family Tree scheduled May 5 – May 19

House of Hope Ingathering

We will be conducting our annual ingathering of diapers and feminine hygiene products for donation to the Family Tree House of Hope during the first couple of weeks of May—beginning on Sunday, May 5th, through Sunday, May 19th, we will be accepting donations of diapers (we are told there is a particular need for larger size diapers and pull-ups) and feminine hygiene products to be donated to that organization.  Donations can be dropped off in the baskets in the hallway.  Thanks, as always, for your support.   

Donations of Toiletries

As many of you may be aware, we have for the past year or so been collecting individual-sized toiletries in a basket in the corner of the Parish Hall, near the Outreach Committee bulletin board.  Those toiletries have been donated to The Rose Andom Center.  We recently learned that another organization has made a long-term commitment to making large donations of individual-sized toiletries to The Rose Andom Center, so they no longer have a need for those donations from us.  We also understand, however, that St. Clare’s does have an ongoing need for those, so we will continue that program, and encourage you to continue bringing in individual-sized toiletries for donation.  Going forward, those will be donated to St. Clare’s.

We will be conducting our annual ingathering of diapers and feminine hygiene products for donation to the Family Tree House of Hope during the first couple of weeks of May—beginning on Sunday, May 5th, through Sunday, May 19th, we will be accepting donations of diapers (we are told there is a particular need for larger size diapers and pull-ups) and feminine hygiene products to be donated to that organization.  Donations can be dropped off in the baskets in the hallway.  Thanks, as always, for your support.   

Donations of Toiletries

As many of you may be aware, we have for the past year or so been collecting individual-sized toiletries in a basket in the corner of the Parish Hall, near the Outreach Committee bulletin board.  Those toiletries have been donated to The Rose Andom Center.  We recently learned that another organization has made a long-term commitment to making large donations of individual-sized toiletries to The Rose Andom Center, so they no longer have a need for those donations from us.  We also understand, however, that St. Clare’s does have an ongoing need for those, so we will continue that program, and encourage you to continue bringing in individual-sized toiletries for donation.  Going forward, those will be donated to St. Clare’s.

We will be conducting our annual ingathering of diapers and feminine hygiene products for donation to the Family Tree House of Hope during the first couple of weeks of May—beginning on Sunday, May 5th, through Sunday, May 19th, we will be accepting donations of diapers (we are told there is a particular need for larger size diapers and pull-ups) and feminine hygiene products to be donated to that organization.  Donations can be dropped off in the baskets in the hallway.  Thanks, as always, for your support.   

Donations of Toiletries

As many of you may be aware, we have for the past year or so been collecting individual-sized toiletries in a basket in the corner of the Parish Hall, near the Outreach Committee bulletin board.  Those toiletries have been donated to The Rose Andom Center.  We recently learned that another organization has made a long-term commitment to making large donations of individual-sized toiletries to The Rose Andom Center, so they no longer have a need for those donations from us.  We also understand, however, that St. Clare’s does have an ongoing need for those, so we will continue that program, and encourage you to continue bringing in individual-sized toiletries for donation.  Going forward, those will be donated to St. Clare’s.

We will be conducting our annual ingathering of diapers and feminine hygiene products for donation to the Family Tree House of Hope during the first couple of weeks of May—beginning on Sunday, May 5th, through Sunday, May 19th, we will be accepting donations of diapers (we are told there is a particular need for larger size diapers and pull-ups) and feminine hygiene products to be donated to that organization.  Donations can be dropped off in the baskets in the hallway.  Thanks, as always, for your support.   

Donations of Toiletries

As many of you may be aware, we have for the past year or so been collecting individual-sized toiletries in a basket in the corner of the Parish Hall, near the Outreach Committee bulletin board.  Those toiletries have been donated to The Rose Andom Center.  We recently learned that another organization has made a long-term commitment to making large donations of individual-sized toiletries to The Rose Andom Center, so they no longer have a need for those donations from us.  We also understand, however, that St. Clare’s does have an ongoing need for those, so we will continue that program, and encourage you to continue bringing in individual-sized toiletries for donation.  Going forward, those will be donated to St. Clare’s.

We will be conducting our annual ingathering of diapers and feminine hygiene products for donation to the Family Tree House of Hope during the first couple of weeks of May—beginning on Sunday, May 5th, through Sunday, May 19th, we will be accepting donations of diapers (we are told there is a particular need for larger size diapers and pull-ups) and feminine hygiene products to be donated to that organization.  Donations can be dropped off in the baskets in the hallway.  Thanks, as always, for your support.   

Donations of Toiletries

As many of you may be aware, we have for the past year or so been collecting individual-sized toiletries in a basket in the corner of the Parish Hall, near the Outreach Committee bulletin board.  Those toiletries have been donated to The Rose Andom Center.  We recently learned that another organization has made a long-term commitment to making large donations of individual-sized toiletries to The Rose Andom Center, so they no longer have a need for those donations from us.  We also understand, however, that St. Clare’s does have an ongoing need for those, so we will continue that program, and encourage you to continue bringing in individual-sized toiletries for donation.  Going forward, those will be donated to St. Clare’s.

We will be conducting our annual ingathering of diapers and feminine hygiene products for donation to the Family Tree House of Hope during the first couple of weeks of May—beginning on Sunday, May 5th, through Sunday, May 19th, we will be accepting donations of diapers (we are told there is a particular need for larger size diapers and pull-ups) and feminine hygiene products to be donated to that organization.  Donations can be dropped off in the baskets in the hallway.  Thanks, as always, for your support.   

Donations of Toiletries

As many of you may be aware, we have for the past year or so been collecting individual-sized toiletries in a basket in the corner of the Parish Hall, near the Outreach Committee bulletin board.  Those toiletries have been donated to The Rose Andom Center.  We recently learned that another organization has made a long-term commitment to making large donations of individual-sized toiletries to The Rose Andom Center, so they no longer have a need for those donations from us.  We also understand, however, that St. Clare’s does have an ongoing need for those, so we will continue that program, and encourage you to continue bringing in individual-sized toiletries for donation.  Going forward, those will be donated to St. Clare’s.

We will be conducting our annual ingathering of diapers and feminine hygiene products for donation to the Family Tree House of Hope during the first couple of weeks of May—beginning on Sunday, May 5th, through Sunday, May 19th, we will be accepting donations of diapers (we are told there is a particular need for larger size diapers and pull-ups) and feminine hygiene products to be donated to that organization.  Donations can be dropped off in the baskets in the hallway.  Thanks, as always, for your support.   

Donations of Toiletries

As many of you may be aware, we have for the past year or so been collecting individual-sized toiletries in a basket in the corner of the Parish Hall, near the Outreach Committee bulletin board.  Those toiletries have been donated to The Rose Andom Center.  We recently learned that another organization has made a long-term commitment to making large donations of individual-sized toiletries to The Rose Andom Center, so they no longer have a need for those donations from us.  We also understand, however, that St. Clare’s does have an ongoing need for those, so we will continue that program, and encourage you to continue bringing in individual-sized toiletries for donation.  Going forward, those will be donated to St. Clare’s.

We will be conducting our annual ingathering of diapers and feminine hygiene products for donation to the Family Tree House of Hope during the first couple of weeks of May—beginning on Sunday, May 5th, through Sunday, May 19th, we will be accepting donations of diapers (we are told there is a particular need for larger size diapers and pull-ups) and feminine hygiene products to be donated to that organization.  Donations can be dropped off in the baskets in the hallway.  Thanks, as always, for your support.   

Donations of Toiletries

As many of you may be aware, we have for the past year or so been collecting individual-sized toiletries in a basket in the corner of the Parish Hall, near the Outreach Committee bulletin board.  Those toiletries have been donated to The Rose Andom Center.  We recently learned that another organization has made a long-term commitment to making large donations of individual-sized toiletries to The Rose Andom Center, so they no longer have a need for those donations from us.  We also understand, however, that St. Clare’s does have an ongoing need for those, so we will continue that program, and encourage you to continue bringing in individual-sized toiletries for donation.  Going forward, those will be donated to St. Clare’s.

We will be conducting our annual ingathering of diapers and feminine hygiene products for donation to the Family Tree House of Hope during the first couple of weeks of May—beginning on Sunday, May 5th, through Sunday, May 19th, we will be accepting donations of diapers (we are told there is a particular need for larger size diapers and pull-ups) and feminine hygiene products to be donated to that organization.  Donations can be dropped off in the baskets in the hallway.  Thanks, as always, for your support.   

Donations of Toiletries

As many of you may be aware, we have for the past year or so been collecting individual-sized toiletries in a basket in the corner of the Parish Hall, near the Outreach Committee bulletin board.  Those toiletries have been donated to The Rose Andom Center.  We recently learned that another organization has made a long-term commitment to making large donations of individual-sized toiletries to The Rose Andom Center, so they no longer have a need for those donations from us.  We also understand, however, that St. Clare’s does have an ongoing need for those, so we will continue that program, and encourage you to continue bringing in individual-sized toiletries for donation.  Going forward, those will be donated to St. Clare’s.