Blessing of the Athletes!

It’s that time again! And, while COVID has put a dampener on a lot of things, it appears that many sports programs (including at schools) are moving forward! So, we at Good Shepherd will “bless the athletes” again this year . . . but, with a ZOOMed difference! Please send Fr. Gary a photo of the athlete(s)/coach(es)/umpire(s) in your family in their gear/uniforms. We’ll put together a video “parade”, and then bless the individuals and the endeavors! 

Deadline for photo submission is Thursday, August 13!

Congregational Care Update

• CCM has assisted with one congregational referral for help and has developed several projects addressing the health and welfare of the entire church. In May, CCM sponsored a Zoom Q&A session, “Being Well During Times of Change,” featuring experts Bev White, counselor, and The Rev. Canon Carl Andrews, Diocesan Disaster Relief Coordinator, speaking to life and church imbalances due to COVID-19. The recorded session can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=292BYtd3-6Q&t=3010s.

• In June, CCM members prepared the on-line Season II Re-gathering Survey and analyzed survey responses. CCM is also working with others to identify and re-connect members who may be isolated from Sunday on-line worship for whatever reason.

• As this goes to print, we will be waiving and saying hello in a car parade for our home-bound members who normally receive Eucharistic visits, as well as other parishioners who are resting at home at this time.  

As always, you can reach out to us at CongregationalCare@gshep.org.

Sound Body, Mind & Spirit

The Re-gathering survey results showed that personal safety during the pandemic is a common concern. As part of this ministry’s wellness initiative, we will continue to share relevant information about being safe: 

• Experts tell us that good social behavior includes wearing a facemask, now and in the future when we regather. For people of faith, this behavior also reflects our core values in taking care of one another.  

• As summer activities increase, some parishioners may be unsure of their own comfort level. The Colorado Department of Public Health has practical information to weigh the risks and benefits of certain activities like dining out and shopping, to help us make the best decisions for our own particular situation. More information is at https://covid19.colorado.gov/risks-benefits.

• The Episcopal Church in Colorado has suggestions for personal wellness in order to take care of ourselves so we can then reach out from a place of strength and resilience with care and love for others. These are found at  https://episcopalcolorado.org/connected-in-common/pastoral-care-health-resources-for-wellness/

• To feed your spirit and give you peace, join a short on-line Night Prayer (Compline) which continues through the summer on Wednesdays at 8:45 pm. More information and the link is on the church’s website.

The Challenges of Making Music in CovidLand

Our battle with Coronavirus has taken an extreme toll on singers. We are told now that singing spreads the virus many, many feet from our mouths. Some churches, schools, and community choirs are told that singing is NOT allowed. Yet this is such an integral part of worship for many churches, including Good Shepherd.

Since the pandemic began our singers have been trying to make sure that our congregation has music in its online services. This has not always been an easy task, as you can imagine. For a couple of months we used only soloists and family units who live together to provide the singing for the hymns of our services. This means coming to the church and maintaining great distances with me at the organ or piano thus creating coordination problems. The last few weeks we have finally figured out how to use the church’s sound system to record unrelated people spread widely apart in the sanctuary. The singers use the wireless microphones and then the organ and piano are also run through the recording system sound board. All of this takes an extra person listening with headphones to balance the voices with the instruments. You can see where it is very complicated. For a couple of times we did not have enough experience with the equipment to manage all of this and we had many errors produced on the drive.

Telling all of you this saga is meant to inform you about the steep learning curve that your musicians have been undertaking. We are trying our best to give the congregation a sense of the musical worship by the people that normally serve you from the choir loft and the praise band stand.

I am so thankful for the many singers and instrumentalists that have shared their talents with you these many weeks. Choir is innately an ensemble endeavor instead of solo singing; that community effort is one of the primary reasons people are in choir. Therefore, singing alone can be a stressful experience for some singers who are only used to singing in groups. I am very proud of each one’s efforts and know that the congregation also appreciates hearing members of our own Good Shepherd family providing leadership in the music of our worship even if it is on a little zoom screen.

Stewardship Update

We are updating the financial side of Stewardship in this newsletter. This will include three areas:

1. Update on our 2020 Financial Picture

2. The Paycheck Protection Program

3. Plans for 2021

First, the financial picture for 2020 is very encouraging. Through the first six months we are right on budget. This is the result of all our parishioners continuing to pay their pledges as we have spent the last 3 and ½ months with no services at the church but an excellent Sunday Zoom service and supporting meetings on Zoom. As of July 1, we are about $6,000 behind in income, primarily because of lower plate offering and less use of our building with the coronavirus. Our expenses are about $8,000 below budget with less use of our building and some anticipated projects on hold or delayed. Therefore, through the first six months of the year we are right on budget as our actual pledges are slightly ahead of the budgeted pledges. THANK YOU!!

As most of you know we were successful with obtaining a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan of $55,000 and as long as we account for this money correctly by keeping our staff in place we will not be required to pay back this loan. We are hoping this loan can offset our lower plate offerings and any lower pledges later in the year. You may be interested to know that 18 of the 24 Episcopal Churches in the High Plains Region have received the PPP loans for close to $1.1 million dollars. In the Episcopal Church in Colorado, 50 Churches have received the PPP along with the Office of the Bishop and three Diocesan Institutions (Brigit’s Village, Cathedral Ridge, and the Colorado Episcopal Service Corps) for total PPP loans totaling in excess of $2.7 million dollars. GREAT STORY!!

Finally, as we begin to make plans for our 2021 Stewardship program, we ask you to be open to our requests of our Good Shepherd family. This will be my last year working on the Stewardship Committee and you all have been generous and willing to support your Good Shepherd family financially in ways I could only dream about. We will be asking people to be Ambassadors on the Prayer Team and Speakers to our Good Shepherd family on what Stewardship means to them. We hope you will say yes when we call on you, just as you have said yes in the past. God Bless you all and thank you for your support and love over the years. THANK YOU!!

Jim Lee Wolfe for your Stewardship Committee and Team, Keith Anderson, DeeDee Atwood, Nan Behringer, Tom Billings, Rev. Gary Brower, Griffin Bridgers, Andy Folkerth, and Anne McMahon.

Children's Ministries Update

Every Sunday afternoon, at 3:00 pm, I host a Sunday school time for the kids. Everyone is invited to join via the Zoom link below! I miss seeing the kids in person, but this is the next best thing right now as we navigate COVID-Land. I am looking into curriculum options that will be better suited for remote Sunday school, since Godly Play is based on a hands on teaching method and I am learning that it doesn’t lend itself to fully engaging the kids when used remotely. This will be a temporary change. Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87410858056

Meeting ID: 874 1085 8056

This summer, we’ll be using a quarantine-friendly online VBS called BOLT. With minimal preparation, easy-to-follow instructions, and a video that leads you and your kids step-by-step through each of the 3 sessions, BOLT is designed for you to achieve this year’s VBS with your family at home, on your own time and schedule, instead of having a set timetable to adhere to. It’s so simple!

As you prepare for your first day of BOLT VBS, we want to give you some more details to help you and your family have the best possible experience. Ahead of time, go to the BOLT "Family Portal." In order to access the portal, you’ll need to enter the following password:

LETSBOLT (all caps).

Start by reading the "Parent and Leader Guide" ahead of time. The guide will answer so many of your questions and give you simple step-by-step directions for using BOLT. There are a few materials you’ll want to gather beforehand, but when BOLT begins, the videos will tell you what to do and when to do it. It really is easy!

The "Family Portal" also has all of the videos and documents you’ll need for each day. Be sure to read the games document ahead of time so you can be prepared. Then, when you’re ready to begin, simply go to the "Family Portal" and play the Day 1 video. The video will periodically tell you to pause in order to play a game, read from the Bible, or answer a question.

And remember, if you feel comfortable gathering with more people, you can invite as many neighbors, friends, and family to your house for BOLT as you would like. It’s such an easy and fun way to share the good news of Jesus with our community.

Lastly, take lots of pictures! We’ll give you some opportunities to share them, just send them to slefant@gshep.org. In the meantime, let me know how we can help you. You and your family are going to LOVE THIS!

Youth Ministries Update

I am excited to say that after months apart our youth group is now meeting in person once again. We are taking every precaution to keep everyone safe. We are meeting outside, we are wearing masks, and keeping 6 feet apart. Our in-person meetings will be every other week on Sundays from 6:30-8 pm. On off weeks we will still meet on Zoom, Sundays at 1 pm (this is a great option for anyone that is not comfortable meeting in person). 

Youth group will be a combination of formation time and games. Our formation this summer will be focused on allyship, which is the practice of emphasizing social justice, inclusion, and human rights. We are learning to "Be The Church" and care for the marginalized in our community. 

I am also thrilled to announce that Liv Hornsby will be joining us as a Youth and Family Ministry Intern upon her return from Germany! Her enthusiasm for our Episcopal tradition and her creative spirit are truly a blessing. 

Lastly, incoming 6th graders are welcome to join us starting in August! Summer is the perfect time to get to know everyone and get a feel for the group. 

Please email me with any questions at rwhipp@gshep.org.

Men's Group Meetings in August

The Men’s Group meetings in August will continue to be held via Zoom meetings on Saturday, August 8 and August 22 beginning at 7:45 am. This has been and will be our main method of maintaining our meetings throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. If interested, information relating to the Zoom meeting logins can be obtained by contacting Pete Roden at roden.pete@gmail.com.

The topics for the month will surround a review/conversation on Chapter 5, “Philip – Learning to Trust” and Chapter 6, “John – Seeking to Be the Greatest” within the book entitled “The Twelve Disciples” from the Life Guide Bible Studies written by Douglas Connelly. 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. Mark your calendars and please join us on August 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.

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

Financial Update

From Fr. Gary: “Why?” you ask . . .

At the Vestry Retreat a week ago, Canon Alex Dyer (our Canon to the Ordinary, or Diocesan Executive Officer) began our time together by asking members of the Vestry to share with one another, “Why do you follow Jesus?” It’s a somewhat challenging question for some Episcopalians to answer!  We’re only slightly more comfortable answering the question “Why do you go to church?” But our conversations were rich, and really set a tone for the next day-and-a-half.

The next morning, he pushed us to start asking, more broadly (with regard to the Vestry itself, as well as Good Shepherd):  “What’s the ‘Why’ that stands behind what we do?” Coincidentally, it was a question that the Vestry had begun to consider at its February meeting. And its a question that will be prominent in all of our minds as we move through 2020! He introduced us to the concept of the “Golden Circle”, developed and articulated by Simon Sinek [Canon Alex used the TEDx talk found here:  https://tinyurl.com/y8zq5ac8]

The challenge in the concept is to stop just doing things for the sake of doing them, but to ask the much deeper question of WHY do we do them? As one summary of the concept put it:

·         WHAT — Every organization on the planet knows WHAT they do. These are the products they sell or the services they provide.

·         HOW — Some organizations know HOW they do it. These are the things that make them special or set them apart from their competition.

·         WHY — Very few organizations know WHY they do what they do. WHY is not about making money (or getting people into the pews). That’s a result. WHY is a purpose, cause or belief. It’s the very reason your organization exists.

For many folks—in and out of the Episcopal Church—the answer to “Why” is often “We’ve always done it that way before.” Canon Alex pointed out, however, (as I mentioned in my last Sheepskin article) that “doing things the same as before” assumes an unchanging environment. We, in the 21st century are experiencing anything but an unchanging environment. Everything seems to be in flux, and we can’t rely on the old assumptions to carry us forward.

The Vestry came away very aware that we (that is, all of us at Good Shepherd) needed to drill down in all areas of our church life to discern the “Why” that lays at the root of what we do. It’s not just a matter of “Why” Good Shepherd exists. What’s the “Why” for the Altar Guild? What’s the “Why” for our Youth and Children’s ministries? What’s the “Why” for our Outreach ministries? As the Golden Circle suggests, knowing the “Why” suggests the “How” and the “What”. But the “Why” is the reason people become engaged with a ministry, an endeavor, a brand. As Sinek points out in his TED talk, people were galvanized by Martin Luther King’s speech, “I have a dream.” They probably wouldn’t have been so engaged if he’d said “I have a plan.”

As I mentioned above, the question of “Why?” Is one that will be prominent in many of our conversations in 2020. But, as we begin Lent, I think it’s a great question for reflection and meditation as we journey to Easter:  "Why do I follow Jesus?” I think it’s also a great question to ask of one another at coffee hour, in committee meetings, while setting up for worship, before (or after) choir practice, or when serving at St. Clare’s.

Why? Let’s explore the answers!

Lenten blessings,

Fr. Gary +

Rite One Liturgy to be used during Lent

"And with thy spirit!"

During Lent this year, the response to “The Lord be with you” will NOT be “And also with you”, but rather “And with thy spirit"! We will be using Rite One (BCP, pp. 323-340) for our worship at the 7:45 and 10:00 am services.

For those parishioners who are “long-time” Episcopalians, this may bring to mind the pre-1979 Prayer Book days, since Rite One is very similar to the 1928 Prayer Book services. For those parishioners who have only known Rite Two, what will be most apparent is the shift in language; it will feel very Shakespearian! The reason for the shift has less to do with “Lent = Penitential time = Rite One” (as is the rationale given in some churches), and more for the following reasons: (1) it is another option in the Book of Common Prayer, an option to explore, (just as Eucharistic Prayers A, B, C, and D are options); (2) some of the underlying theology is worth hearing/considering. Enter into the language. Perhaps God will speak anew through “old” words! (And, don’t worry about making a mistake . . . It’s all good!)

Lenten Faith Forum: Teach Us How to Pray to be offered at 9 am every Sunday morning in March

Jesus’ disciples asked him to teach them how to pray. He responded with, what’s become known as, The Lord’s Prayer. Most of us, however, are interested in learning additional ways to be in contact with our Lord.

During Lent, we will be offering a series on various “techniques” of praying.  These Faith Forum sessions (Sunday mornings, 9:00 - 9:45) will be led by Fr. Gary and the Rev. Anna Horen. 

The schedule (tentative) is as follows: 

March 1: The Daily Office: An introduction to the resources in our Book of Common Prayer (including the Lectionary!) 

March 8: Centering Prayer: a method of meditation used by Christians placing a strong emphasis on interior silence (often associated with the teachings of Fr. Thomas Keating).

March 15: Lectio Divina: a traditional monastic practice of scriptural reading, meditation and prayer intended to promote communion with God and to increase the knowledge of God's word.

March 22: The Rosary: Many religious traditions use beads (or other counters) to help focus meditation and prayer. While the most familiar is that done by Roman Catholics, the Anglican tradition (as well as the Orthodox) also make use of prayer beads.

March 29: Visio Divina: an ancient form of Christian prayer in which we allow our hearts and imaginations to enter into a sacred image, in silence, to see what God might have to say to us.

Lenten Meditations Booklet and Lent in a Bag Devotion Kits available in the Narthex

The 2020 Lenten Meditations Booklet is now available in our Narthex. These meditation booklets are offered by Episcopal Relief & Development, at no cost. Be sure to pick one up from the basket in the hallway.

Lent in a bag family devotion kits are also available in the Narthex. The bag contains six objects, each in a snack sized bag with a devotion and scripture reading stapled to each bag. Each week during Lent families choose one item from the bag. The devotions don’t take long and are appropriate for all ages.

Grand Tango to perform for Music with a Mission Friday, March 13 featuring our Senior Warden, Carl Algermissen

When we started Music with a Mission five years ago, we were blessed to have Grand Tango, comprised of Carl Algermissen and Ethan Lazarus, perform for our very first concert. Five years and several concerts later, we are again welcoming Grand Tango to our stage on Friday, March 13 for another fabulous night featuring this dynamic piano/cello duo.

The concert will range from the passion of nuevo tango to the lyricism of cinema scores. For 35 years, this duo has shared the unique beauty of their piano and cello sounds with local and national audiences. This program will feature original arrangements from their newest album, "Street Tango" along with several debuts. You won't want to miss this evening of musical colors drawn from an abundant palette of classical and jazz paints.

Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. Get here early for best parking and seating, as we expect a big crowd for this concert.

Proceeds for this concert will benefit Family Tree – House of Hope.

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 PM 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 AM – 4 PM.

This year’s theme is “Personal Forgiveness and Forgiveness of Others”. Our presenter is Rev. Carl Andrews, a parishioner at St. Timothy’s 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”. I met with Rev. Andrews in early February and he is ready to go. We currently have 22 signed up for the Retreat and we hope to have 30 men on the Retreat.

The cost will be $75 and includes the handout for the weekend, dinner on Friday evening, breakfast and lunch on Saturday, and the rental fee for the Pines at Genesee, scholarships are available. A sign-up list is available in the Good Shepherd hallway or you can sign up with the weekly E-News. Questions? contact Jim Wolfe at jimwolfe05@comcast.net.

March 29 services feature Youth & Family at 10 am: Healing Service at 6 pm

We are approaching our first fifth Sunday of 2020 which falls on March 29. As is our custom for fifth Sundays, we will offer two special services that day featuring our youth at the 10 am service in the morning, and a service of healing at 6 pm in the evening. The morning service will feature youth parishioner, James Algermissen, who will be delivering the sermon, and there will also be special music during the service featuring our children and youth.

The evening healing service offers a quiet, meditative experience, and gives you an opportunity to be anointed with oil if you choose.

Youth to host Technology Help Session after 10 am service on March 29

Facebook and phones and computers, OH MY! . . .

Do you have your phone or laptop stuck in a setting you wish you could change? Would you like help navigating social media? Would you like to know how to video call your friends and family? Would you like to find out how to take better photos with your phone?

Our youth are incredibly tech savvy and would love to help you find solutions for any of these situations and more! They will be offering a help session on Sunday March 29 after the 10 am service. Bring your phone or laptop and all of your questions to the Chapel.

The youth are raising money towards their summer service trips and would appreciate a donation of any amount for their time!

Lenten Quiet Morning scheduled for Saturday, April 4, 9 am to noon

Come prepare for Holy Week at our Lenten Quiet Morning scheduled for Saturday, April 4, between 9 am and noon at Good Shepherd. In addition to offering a space for prayer and reflection in our chapel, and a labyrinth for walking, the morning will feature seven interactive candle stations based on the Way of Love, a practice to live a Jesus-centered life.  

Episcopal Presiding Bishop Michael Curry describes the Way of Love as following “the deep roots of our Christian tradition.”

As you journey from station to station, you build a candle.  Each Way of Love station asks you to take a piece of the candle and offer a reflection:

Turn: Jesus' constant invitation to us is to turn from sin and death and to walk in abundant Life.

Learn: Jesus' invitation to follow him means that we are called to be his disciples, his students, to learn from him and to put his teaching into practice.

Worship: At the heart of God's mission is a praying church who bear witness to the resurrection by gathering to share the gifts of God with one another.

Pray: Jesus models for us what it looks like to live a life that is perfectly attuned to God. This level of relatedness and awareness can be cultivated when we engage in the practice of prayer on a regular basis.

Bless: Jesus attracted a crowd everywhere he went because he demonstrated a ministry of blessing. To follow Jesus is to seek to be a blessing to other people for no other reason than we have been richly blessed ourselves.

Go: Part of what made Jesus so dangerous was his commitment to cross borders and margins for the sake of the kingdom of God.

Rest: One of the strongest commandments from scripture is the commandment to rest. In an era of endless consumption, the message is we are beloved simply because we are.

The Lenten Quiet Morning’s open format allows for a wonderful opportunity to do as many or as few activities as you choose. Come at any time after 9 am and stay as long as you wish.  We welcome families and youth to this event and will have child-friendly stations for the youngest.

Outreach Committee Update

We are continuing our efforts to find, both in terms of giving and in providing volunteer opportunities for members of the Congregation, organizations closer to home with whom we can establish relationships. We aren’t necessarily going to focus exclusively on our own neighborhoods in every case, and we don’t intend to disrupt existing relationships with organizations like St. Francis or St. Clare’s, but we do feel like identifying opportunities in this part of the metro area would give parishioners more opportunities to participate in “hands on” volunteer activities, and might help Good Shepherd reach out in communities where it is more likely to be recognized.

One of those organizations we have identified is Project C.U.R.E., which has a large warehouse in Centennial. Project C.U.R.E. uses that warehouse to sort donated medical supplies that are delivered to more than 130 developing countries. Among the individual opportunities available for volunteers are sorting medical supplies, loading, unloading and packaging medical supplies for shipment, drivers for picking up donated supplies at local medical offices and facilities, and some office work. Project C.U.R.E. also offers group volunteering opportunities. Its website is projectcure.org/denver.

That is an example of the type organization we are looking for—once we learn a bit more about Project C.U.R.E., we will follow up with thoughts on a group opportunity and perhaps an invitation to someone from that group to come to the church and explain to us in more detail what they do and what kind of volunteer opportunities they provide. In addition, we will provide additional information on how individual parishioners can contact Project C.U.R.E. if that appeals to them.

Look for ongoing updates on other organizations we identify who might fit the profile. In addition, please let any of the members of the Outreach Committee (Fr. Gary Brower, Shelley Hitt, Joyce Manning, Sherri Hesen, Jo Ann Schomerus, Kip Travis, Liz Peel, Sally Van Welden and Randy Hubbard) know if you have thoughts about organizations or causes in our neck of the woods (generally—and broadly—Highlands Ranch, Parker, Centennial, Englewood, Littleton, Castle Rock and Aurora, as well as SE Denver) that might fit the bill. Thanks.

Dr. Stephen Fiess to leave Good Shepherd at the end of May

Dear Good Shepherd family,

I began as your organist in September 1998 and immediately felt welcomed, loved and supported by the people of Good Shepherd. I treasure the friendships I have made here -- you have truly become my “home away from home.”

And so, it is with a very heavy heart that I share with you the upcoming relocation of our piano studio to Cary, North Carolina (a suburb of Raleigh) this June.  It is rare to find a community like Cary with such a high demand for piano teachers, especially amidst a declining demand in places like Colorado.  So, we feel compelled, for financial reasons, to begin this new chapter.  Additionally, a small “oxygen” issue with Neal’s health gives us additional impetus to relocate to a lower altitude.

Please know that, at the time we began the organ fund-raising campaign, I had no intentions of leaving Good Shepherd or Denver.  Nonetheless, I believe that the wonderful new organ you have purchased will help you to attract a fine new organist; and will be an important part of the continuation of Good Shepherd’s outstanding music program.

We look forward to celebrating the Easter season with you and will complete our time at Good Shepherd as of Pentecost Sunday, May 31st.  We will move the following week, the week of June 1.

Again, Neal and I want to thank you for all of the love and support we have felt from the staff, the choirs, and the people of Good Shepherd these 22 years.  We will miss you very much, but we know that we leave Good Shepherd in the good hands of Father Gary and your staff members and Vestry.  May God continue to bless you and Good Shepherd richly in all the days ahead!

In Christian love, Dr. Stephen Fiess

New Social Events Committee seeking members and ideas

A New Social Events Committee is forming, to organize outings and events for folks who want to do fun things together! Please contact Kaitlyn Bridgers or Suraya Bowermaster if you're interested in joining the Committee or have ideas/"ins" to get group tickets! We're also partnering with Rachel Whipp for a list of youth for hire, who will babysit so parents may attend events. This new group is Fr. Gary approved, and is an exciting addition to Good Shepherd.

Contact our leaders, Kaitlyn Bridgers or Suraya Bowermaster at: kait.macdonald@gmail.com, or suraya.yahaya@gmail.com.