Register now for Spring Quest Youth Retreat: Awakened Heart, March 13-15

In Colorado, we live in a beautiful and sacred part of God’s creation, yet often we are out of touch with nature, or we take it for granted, or we are overwhelmed by the daily news of climate crisis. Join us this spring as we awaken our hearts and reconnect with creation. We will learn ways to quiet the anxiety that surrounds climate crisis and as a community explore how hope is built, not found. We will leave the weekend with concrete actions that each of us can do to help heal and protect this fragile earth, our island home. Together, we will reclaim the ancient Christian understanding that God created, redeems, and sustains all of creation.

Quest youth retreat is for youth grades 6th-12th.

Join us for this amazing weekend of fun and fellowship! 

Registration is open! Early Bird discount ends February 15th.

Register Here

As always, we need volunteers to join us and participate as work crew for the weekend. These are the servants behind the ministry. Without them the weekend could not be successful! Frontier Ranch requires that we have enough volunteers to run work crew properly. Work crew members are primarily responsible for setting up, serving, and cleaning up after meals. Work Crew members must be 18 years or older and have graduated from high school. To ensure that we have enough work crew, each church must provide one work crew for every 1-10 participants. Please contact Rachel Whipp to volunteer! 

Sunday School News

Save the date and RSVP:

Starting March 1, Elaine Oxenbury is offering a 5-week Communion instruction series during the normal Sunday school class time. This curriculum is a yearly offering in the 3rd-5th grade Sunday school class but is open to all children pre-k and above. It is tailored to the needs of the child and will honor your child’s Communion experience, whether they have or have not taken Communion before. It is a preparation for the celebration of First Communion or a continuation of the exploration of the meaning of why we celebrate this Sacrament. We will recognize the participants of this class and celebrate with those who will receive their First Communion at the service on April 19 at 10 a.m. Elaine will be in contact with parents and provide further details. If you have a child who is not in the 3rd-5th grade class, please contact Elaine at oxenburyeg@comcast.net to let her know your desire to have your child join this class. Children don’t need to be baptized to be in the class, but for your child to receive Communion, they will need to be baptized. For more information on being baptized, please contact Rev. Gary.

During the 10 a.m. service on Easter, April 12, we are offering a children's choir which will be led by Connie Branton (our Choir Director). Rehearsals are downstairs on Sunday mornings from 10:20-10:30 on March 8th, 15th, 22nd and April 5th, during our Sunday school time. (A rehearsal will not occur on March 29 because of the family service.) All kids and youth are welcome!

Sunday school begins at 9:45 every Sunday. There is one Godly Play classroom, for children aged 3 years through 2nd grade. Grades 3, 4 and 5 are using Living the Good News.

The Godly Play classroom will have hands on presentations every Sunday in February, led by either Elaine Farrell, Susie Street or myself with either Jackie Algermissen, Sally VanWeldon, Emma Blackburn, Kaitie Blackburn, or myself helping. These presentations will include:

• February 2nd: Jesus and Zacchaeus

• February 9th: Jesus and the Children

• February 16th: Baptism

• February 23rd: Good Shepherd and the World Communion

Elaine Oxenbury is the faithful every week teacher in the 3rd, 4th and 5th grade class. The liturgical teachings (meaning it follows what is being taught in the church service) for February will be:

• February 2nd: Jesus Our Salvation (We celebrate the fulfillment of scripture through the birth of our Lord Jesus…Luke 2:25-31)

• February 9th: Being Salt and Light (As salt and light, God is counting on us to help share and preserve the Good News, dispelling the darkness…Matthew 5:13-16)

• February 16th: Growth in Godliness (When we obey God, we prosper and we become the people God made us to be…Matthew 5:21-24 and Deuteronomy 30:15-20)

• February 23rd: Jesus Transfigured (When we come to know Jesus, we’re changed, by the power of God…Matthew 17:1-9)

Thank you for making church a priority and sharing your child with us on Sunday mornings. We consider it a privilege to come alongside you as we together help your child along their spiritual journey.

Men’s Group meetings in February

In February the Men’s Group will meet on the Saturday mornings of the 8th and the 22nd.

We’ll meet in the parish hall for a full breakfast on February 8th at 7:30 am and there again for a light breakfast on February 22nd at 7:30 am.  A short program follows breakfast from 8 to 9 am in the Chapel, with our meetings ending generally at 9 am. 

The topics for the month will surround a review/conversation on chapters within the book entitled “An Uncommon Guide to Retirement” written by Jeff Haanen featuring topics relating to finding God’s purpose for the next season of life.

Note, each session stands on its own, so those interested can attend any one of the individual sessions and maintain the overall theme, even if you miss one or several meetings.  Information relating to the topics covered will be available at the meetings.

Mark your calendars and join us on February 8th and/or the 22nd for conversations relating to these interesting topics.  We welcome men new to the Church and/or those having an interest in the Men’s Group.

Please email me at (roden.pete@gmail.com) if you have any questions or would like to receive any additional information.

Thanks for your interest and we look forward to seeing you at one of our upcoming meetings!

Snapshot of Good Shepherd’s finances as of December, 2019

A graphic representation of Good Shepherd’s finances.

From Fr. Gary: With 20/20 Vision

I can’t remember where I saw it, but someone suggested that television host/personality Barbara Walters ought to be the host of the “ball drop” in Times Square for this New Year's Eve. Then, at the stroke of midnight, she could say “I’m Barbara Walters and this is 20/20” — a reference of course, to the ABC evening news magazine that she (co-)hosted for so many years. I never really watched it, but the idea made me smile . . . and made me think.

"20/20,” as a television show, like other newsmagazines, features in-depth story segments, human interest stories, and, sometimes international or national stories. The “20/20” name, of course, referred to the “standard” measurement of “normal” vision. And there seems to have been a tacit understanding that looking back at a story would allow the news-folks to do so with “20/20” vision, that is, with clarity and without having to do any fuzzy forecasting. 

"20/20,” as a metaphor for Good Shepherd works pretty well, too (as I “see” it). During 2019, we engaged in our own “news-gathering” efforts (as part of the Priest-in-Charge process). We did a deep dive into our history, into the stories that have shaped us. And we came out of that with a “Discovery” document that summarizes “Who and Where We Are” (the document can be found here:  https://tinyurl.com/un2lfrw). If it were translated into a video format, it could almost look like a segment of “20/20.” 

But "20/20” as a year, and an image, works equally well as we look forward! Following upon our conclusion of the “Season of Discovery” is the next stage of Priest-in-Charge process:  the “Season of Visioning.” Our charge is to take what we’ve learned about what brought us to 2020 and to discern where God is calling us next. This, to me, is terribly exciting! We have such great base upon which to build! We are seeing and feeling new energy in all areas of the congregation’s life. And we are in a part of the metropolitan area that is seeing growth in population, but also in need; our mission-field is fertile.

So, let’s let the visioning begin! There will be many ways to participate. We’ll be asking questions, seeking input. We’ll be making decisions — perhaps not always easy ones. But the more engagement, the closer we’ll get to a "20/20” view into God's future for us!  I will announce a "Visioning Team" at the Annual Meeting on January 26! If you’re interested in being a part of it, please let me know!

"The Meaning of Jesus" Faith Forum extends into January

You asked for it!!  More Marcus Borg and NT Wright!

Beginning on the first January, the 5th, Fr. Gary will offer three more sessions from The Meaning of Jesus, a book co-written by Anglicans Marcus Borg (former professor of New Testament at Oregon State University) and N.T. Wright (New Testament scholar and retired Bishop of Durham, England).  The fun thing about the book is that they represent opposite poles of theological understanding, Borg being more progressive and Wright being on the conservative side. Yet they were good friends, and their back-and-forth in the book makes for stimulating reading. 

In December, we were only able to get to three out of eight sections in the book. In January we’ll read sections 4 (“God Raised Jesus from the Dead”); 5 (Was Jesus God?) and 8 (Jesus and the Christian Life).  

The books are available through Amazon, or, perhaps from your library (either hard copy or through Hoopla or Overdrive).

The class will meet on Sunday mornings, from 9:00 - 9:45, on January 5, 12, and 19.

Hala Kahiki Band to perform Friday, January 17 for second Music with a Mission concert

The “Hala Kahiki Band” (Pineapple Band) plays the music of the islands, and they will transport us in the middle of winter to a tropical paradise, with an evening of Hawaiian / Tiki music sure to lift your spirits. You’ll hear ukulele, steel guitar and slack key guitar with a program that will explore the vastness of Hawaiian music and its influence on other music.

So, feel free to dress in your favorite Hawaiian shirt, bring a friend or two, and get in the spirit of the Islands! Proceeds for this concert will benefit St. Francis Center for the homeless.

Newcomer’s Gathering scheduled for Sunday, January 19

This is an invitation to all new families to Good Shepherd over the last six months or in the last year that have not attended a Newcomers gathering to meet on January 19th after the second service (probably between 11:15 and 11:30 AM) in the Parish Hall for a light lunch and discussion about Good Shepherd.

This is a great opportunity to learn more about Good Shepherd and meet other Newcomers. We will try to complete the meeting by 12:30 PM, we will have childcare available. Please let our Administrator, Kathy Hunter (303-740-2688) know if you plan to attend to help us know how much food we will need.

Congregational Care Team offers Tai Chi “Come & See” demonstration on January 19

Congregational Care Ministry invites you to begin the New Year in good health with a Tai Chi “Come & See” demonstration by Faith Gregor on Sunday, January 19, 2020, following the 10 a.m. service. This opportunity is open to all – including families and youth. Come to the Chapel to stretch your limbs and learn about “mediation in motion”.

Faith is a certified tai chi instructor who studied with internationally renowned dancer, tai chi instructor and choreographer Maedée Dupres. She teaches the Yang style and is currently an instructor at the Schlessman Family YMCA in southeast Denver. She emphasizes safe and self-aware movement, balance, flexibility and strength, as well as the wonderful lineage and tradition of tai chi and the Yang style in particular. Faith has studied tai chi for 20 years and taught for 10 years.

There is growing evidence that this mind-body practice, which originated in China as a martial art, has value in treating or preventing many health problems. And you can get started even if you aren't in top shape or the best of health.

Looking ahead: Those interested in Presence Ministry training will meet in the Chapel on January 11 at 9:30 a.m.  And, we’ll see all of you at the Annual Meeting on January 26!

For more information, contact us anytime at congregationalcare@gshep.org

Episcopal 101 Class begins Monday, January 20

Are you new to the Episcopal Church? Or, are you a long-time attendee who’s trying to remember stuff about the church learned long ago? Well, it’s time for Episcopal 101! This six-week program will cover the following topics:

• History: Church of England

• History: The Episcopal Church

• Worship and Sacraments, The Book of Common Prayer

• How Episcopalians read the Bible

• The Church’s teaching 

• The Church’s ministry and organization

The course will begin on Monday, January 20 at 7 pm (in the small Conference Room)! All are welcome.  We will be using the book Welcome to the Episcopal Church by Christopher Webber. We have several copies available; first-come, first-serve. (You can get a copy on Amazon for about $16 or less, depending on quality or format). If you’re interested in attending, or have any questions, please let Fr. Gary know!

Annual Meeting scheduled for Sunday, January 26; One service only at 9 a.m.

Good Shepherd’s Annual Meeting will be held on Sunday, January 26 immediately following a special 9 a.m. service that day. There will only be one service at 9 a.m. so that all parishioners can enjoy fellowship together and then attend the meeting. A light lunch will be served, and childcare will be provided.

We will present our budget for 2020 and discuss our goals and aspirations for the year. You will also be able to pick up a copy of our annual report, which highlights the status of all Good Shepherd ministries. Mark your calendars now, and plan on attending both the 9 a.m. service and the meeting afterwards.

Changes to Prayers of the People

I’ve heard several questions along the lines of “Why aren’t we praying for . . . anymore?”  I had also heard questions about “Why aren’t we prayer for . . .. at all?” So, in conversation with several folks, we decided on a rotating schedule for our “internal prayer intentions.” This will allow for more folks to receive our regular prayer attention, without unduly lengthening the weekly prayer list. 

The Sunday BEFORE the Outreach Committee meets (i.e., first Tuesday):  

Prayer for our Outreach ministries and our missionaries

The Sunday BEFORE Stewardship and Finance Committees meet (i.e., second Monday and Thursday)

Pray for our staff, those who tend to our finances, and those who maintain our buildings and grounds

The Sunday BEFORE the Vestry meets (i.e., third Tuesday)

Pray for the Good Shepherd Vestry, our associate clergy

The Sunday BEFORE the GROW team meets (i.e. fourth Tuesday)

Pray for our children, youth and music ministries. We pray too, for those who serve at the altar, who greet our visitors and provide hospitality.

If you have any questions/concerns, please let me know!

Sunday Coffee Hour in need of volunteers

Happy 2020 from your Coffee Hour Crews!

We have enjoyed creating coffee hour time for Good Shepherd over the past years and look forward to keeping this vibrant ministry thriving in 2020--but we need some help! Both services would like to add one or two more "crews" to the calendar so that no one serves more than once a month; ideally, we would like to have hosts/hostesses serve every 6-8 weeks. That has not been the reality for over a year, and we don't want this ministry to become a chore to the existing volunteers.

Please take the step in 2020 to become a host/hostess! This is a great ministry for families, singles, and friends! Training is minimal; we will pair you with experienced hosts/hostesses to learn the ropes. The time commitment is an extra hour to hour and a half on your Sunday -- time that is greatly appreciated by the congregation.

Contact Liz Peel with any questions about joining this ministry--I look forward to hearing from YOU!

Annual Men’s Retreat scheduled for March 20-21

The Men’s Retreat for 2020 will be held on Friday, March 20 and Saturday, March 21. The Friday session will take place at Good Shepherd from 6 – 9 p.m. with dinner and our evening program. The Saturday session will take place at The Pines at Genesee (about 30 minutes west just off I-70) from 8 – 4 p.m.

This year’s theme is “Personal Forgiveness and Forgiveness of Others”. Our presenter is Rev. Carl Andrews. a parishioner at St. Timothy’ Episcopal Church in Centennial, a retired Military Chaplain, and the former Canon to the Ordinary for the Episcopal Church in Colorado. Rev. Andrews tag line he is using is “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and soul and love your neighbor as yourself.”

The cost will be $75 and includes the handout for the weekend, dinner on Friday evening, breakfast and lunch on Saturday, the rental fee for the Pines at Genesee and scholarships are available. A sign-up list will be available in the Good Shepherd hallway after the first Sunday in January. If you have questions, please contact Jim Wolfe.

Vestry implements new fundraising guidelines

The Vestry has important news for the congregation concerning church fundraising. After a long period of discernment and discussion, at its November meeting, the Vestry has adopted guidelines for fundraising and fundraising events at Good Shepherd.

We have taken this step to ensure a positive fundraising environment, aligned with the church’s mission, and enhanced by Vestry support. Our church is growing and we want to encourage all our ministries in their fundraising endeavors with clear goals, communication and outcomes.

What this means for Good Shepherd ministries and members: You are asked to please read the Guidelines and complete the Request, providing a copy of the Request to the Vestry at least eight weeks prior to the date of your proposed fundraiser. The principal fundraiser(s) will also be asked to attend a Vestry meeting to discuss the proposed fundraiser.

You can read both The Guidelines and Request Form now at this link, and clicking on the button for each in the sidebar.

Thank you to all the fundraisers and donors who exemplify the giving spirit here.

“Love in Service” Stewardship Campaign Update

As you know, we are concluding our 2020 Stewardship Campaign. We had hoped to be done by December 16, but we still have about 13 potential pledges outstanding and therefore have extended our deadline to January 1, 2020. We are very pleased with the generosity of the pledges received: we have received 152 pledges for $447,012 for an average $2941 per family/individual. Our goal has been 170 to 175 pledges this year for the 2020 Stewardship Ministry.

As you may know, a little over 85% of our income for our budget comes from your pledges. After the first of the year, we will build a budget based on pledges received, and will present it to the congregation at our annual meeting on January 26, following a single service at 9 a.m. We hope you will attend that meeting to hear an update on Good Shepherd’s Ministry.

Pledge cards are available as you enter Good Shepherd on the Newcomers table off to your right. Pledge cards can be placed in the collection plate on Sundays, mailed to the Church or you can make your pledge online right now by clicking here.

We appreciate your investment of your time, talent, and treasure in the ministry of the Good Shepherd family.

With all good wishes for a blessed and happy 2020.

Good Shepherd’s organ is completely paid off!

What a great church we have at Good Shepherd!

We started a campaign 18 months ago to raise money for a new organ to replace the antiquated instrument. And you did it! Not only did we raise the $65,000 for the organ, order it, and receive it, but we added three speaker cabinets that look as if they were part of the original plan of the church. And while we were at it, we remodeled the choir loft. All of this added up to almost $20,000 over and above the cost of the organ itself.

Thanks to Curt Watson, this installation cost was kept to a bare minimum for what we received. There had to be new wiring, new cabinets, new choir steps, carpeting, wooden railings, etc. Curt did much work himself and was able to get other contractors to discount much of their work, holding this cost down considerably. Please thank Curt when you see him for all of his devotion to the organ installation.

I am happy to announce that after our organ concert and our holiday bazaar, the ORGAN IS TOTALLY PAID OFF!!! So many of you in the congregation had a part in this endeavor. Please know that your support of the organ project means a state-of-the-art installation with sound second to none in a church our size. This organ will serve Good Shepherd for many, many years to come.

P.S. I knew this was a good church when I came to serve you as choir director several years ago. You all continue to amaze me with your dedication to serve.

Sunday School News

Sunday school will start at 9:00 on January 26. The Annual Meeting will take place on this day, which means there will be one service that morning at 9 a.m. immediately followed by the meeting at approximately 10:15. Activities for children are offered downstairs while adults attend this important yearly all church meeting.

Save the date and RSVP:
Starting March 1, Elaine Oxenbury is offering a 5-week Communion instruction series during the normal Sunday school class time. It will be presented as part of the 3rd-5th grade Sunday school class, but is open to all children pre-k and above. Depending on the ages of the children who will participate (please RSVP), the kids may be divided into 2 age groups for either the entire time or just the second half of Sunday school each week. It will be tailored to the needs of the child and will honor your child’s Communion experience, whether this will be their first time taking Communion or not. It will be a preparation for the celebration of First Communion or a continuation of the exploration of the meaning of why we celebrate this Sacrament. We will recognize the participants of this class and celebrate with those who will receive their First Communion at the service on April 19 at 10 a.m. Elaine will be in contact with parents and provide further details. If you have a child who is not in the 3rd-5th grade class, please contact Elaine to let her know your desire to have your child join this class. Children don’t need to be baptized to be in the class, but for your child to receive Communion, they will need to be baptized. For more information on being baptized, please contact Rev. Gary.

Sunday school begins at 9:45 every Sunday, except as noted above, when Sunday school will begin at 9 on January 26. As a reminder, there is one Godly Play classroom, for children aged three years through 2nd grade. Grades three, four and five are using Living the Good News.

The Godly Play classroom will have hands on presentations every Sunday in January, led by either Elaine Farrell, Susie Street or myself with either Emma Blackburn, Kaitie Blackburn, Jackie Algermissen, Sally VanWeldon or myself helping. These presentations will include:

· January 5th: Epiphany

· January 12th: Jesus is Baptized

· January 19th: Choosing the 12

· January 26th: Armor of God

Elaine Oxenbury is the faithful every week teacher in the 3rd, 4thand 5th grade class. The liturgical teachings (meaning it follows what is being taught in the church service) for January will be:

· January 5th: Refuge in God’s Goodness (Jesus came into the world to shine the light of God’s love on all people…John 1:1-18)

· January 12th: God’s Own Dear Child (Baptism is a sign that we belong to God’s family…Matthew 3:13-17; Acts 10:37-38, 42-43…Jesus’ baptism)

· January 19th: Lamb of God (Like the first disciples, we too follow Jesus, the Messiah, the Christ…John 1:29-34)

· January 26th: Chosen to Follow (Jesus calls us to help “fish” for people…Matthew 4:18-23…the calling of the first disciples)

Thank you for making church a priority and sharing your child with us on Sunday mornings. We consider it a privilege to come alongside you as we together help your child along their spiritual journey.

Men’s Group meetings in January

In January the Men’s Group will meet on the Saturday mornings of the 11th and the 25th.

We’ll meet in the parish hall for a full breakfast on January 11 at 7:30 a.m. and there again for a light breakfast on January 25 at 7:30 a.m. A short program follows breakfast from 8 to 9 a.m. in the Chapel, with our meetings ending generally at 9 a.m.

The topics for January will surround a review/conversation on chapters within the book entitled “An Uncommon Guide to Retirement” written by Jeff Haanen featuring topics relating to finding God’s purpose for the next season of life.

Note, each session stands on its own, so those interested can attend any one of the individual sessions even if you miss one or several meetings. Information relating to the topics covered will be available at the meetings.

Mark your calendars and join us on January 11 and/or 25 for conversations relating to these interesting topics. We welcome men new to the Church and/or those having an interest in the Men’s Group.

Please email me at (roden.pete@gmail.com) if you have any questions or would like to receive any additional information.

Thanks for your interest and look forward to seeing you at one of our upcoming meetings!

Snapshot of Good Shepherd’s finances as of November, 2019