From Fr. Gary: Looking ahead!

COVID or no COVID, we’re forging ahead!  Many us expected that, at this time of the year in 2020, we would be finalizing our “Season of Visioning” in the Priest-in-Charge process. None of us could have expected what would ended up coming down the road in March! But, as spring transitioned into summer, we began to see a couple of things.

First, “return to normal” probably wasn’t going to happen — not just any time soon, but probably never. That didn’t mean, of course, that we wouldn’t be back in our building with a full range of programmatic and worship offerings. But we’ve learned a lot in the meantime . . . and what we’ve learned will affect how we move forward. (Who knew what effect ZOOM would have on our common life.)

Second, recognizing that the post-COVID world would look a lot different from the pre-COVID world suggested that the ways we thought about our “Vision” for the future would change. We would need to take into account what we learned from our experiments with “broadcast” liturgies. We would need to exploit the opportunities ZOOM has offered for different kinds of Christian formation. We began to see that there were needs in our neighborhood that were amplified by the rigors of COVID-land. And so, the Transition Team took advantage of the Faith Forum “time slot” after our Sunday worship to engage the congregation in some “visioning conversations”, centered around the larger theme: "How does Good Shepherd see itself in a post-COVID landscape?”

The questions that were discussed were:

• What is Good Shepherd’s purpose now on the corner of Dry Creek & Yosemite? Into what are we leaning? Does our local community cry out for something other than what we are providing? What are we providing? Why does Good Shepherd even exist? Who are the people we serve?

• What are Good Shepherd’s strengths? What brings you back to Good Shepherd time and time again? What are the stories we love to tell about Good Shepherd? What are the commonalities in these stories, if any? If you had to move away and start a new church, what core values and strategies would you take from Good Shepherd to implement in the new church?

• What does Good Shepherd “feel like” in a year, 5 years, 10 years, and beyond? Or imagine it is 2025. Of what are you proudest when you talk about Good Shepherd?

• What breakthroughs have happened that have launched Good Shepherd into our new reality? What would we attempt for God if we knew we could not fail? What strategies should Good Shepherd implement so as to thrive during and post pandemic?

• How do we teach people at Good Shepherd to live into their Baptismal Covenant? What does diversity look like at Good Shepherd? In what ways are we diverse? How can we become more diverse?

• How do we define “outreach”? How do we want to be involved in it? Have we recognized all of the allies that we should? What allies do we need to recognize in carrying out our greater mission?

• On Youth Sunday (August 30), there were an additional set of questions focused primarily on youth and family ministries: What is the purpose of our ministry with children/youth? What is our big-picture goal for ministry with children/youth? What are the spiritual needs of the children in our church and/or our community? How can we best identify and meet those needs? When our kids graduate from high school, they “are able to” . . . .

• My favorite part of attending church as a family is . . . .   If we knew we couldn’t fail, our ministry to families would . . . . It’s 2025. When we’re talking to new families, we are proud to tell them that Good Shepherd . . . .

The discussions were rich and provided great material for the Transition Team. And that Team will be working in September to hone what we’ve learned into a draft Vision/Mission for congregational input.  This is an invigorating process—amplified by new possibilities that were created (or exposed) by the COVID crisis. But we will come out strong and vibrant.

If you missed the discussions (or any of the weeks), and would like to weigh in on any of the questions, please contact one of the members of the Team:  Becky Beall Moore, Jim Wolfe, Deb Sampson, Randy Hubbard, Shane Jones, Carl Algermissen, Karin Elsen, Christina Blackburn, Sally VanWelden, or myself.

In the meantime, pray for our common wisdom and discernment . . . as the future’s coming at us fast and furious. God is giving us great opportunities, and is asking great things!

“Hope, Not Despair” Meetings to Resume on a Monthly Basis

How does one go about making a real difference in today’s culture; how do we get off the sidelines and become active in promoting justice, peace, and respect? This question was posed during a social media post recently that led to the creation of this group we are calling, Hope, not Despair addresses these sensitive and important issues.

The program was initially scheduled as a four-week workshop on ZOOM and it was led by Barbara Gunion, who lives in the neighborhood around Good Shepherd, and Deborah Sampson, a parishioner at Good Shepherd. At the conclusion of the original sessions, it was decided to move to a once a month schedule to continue the discussion.

We have some people looking at the race training for the various law enforcement entities in the area. We’re  looking at ways our school districts may treat POC kids different from white kids.

The schedule going forward will be as follows:

• Sep 16, 2020 07:00 PM        

• Oct 21, 2020 07:00 PM        

• Nov 18, 2020 07:00 PM        

• Dec 16, 2020 07:00 PM        

• Jan 20, 2021 07:00 PM        

• Feb 17, 2021 07:00 PM

If you have questions about this program, contact Deborah Sampson.

Newcomers’ Gathering Scheduled for Sunday, September 13

This is an invitation to all new families at Good Shepherd, and to those who have not attended a newcomer gathering in the past.

This is a great opportunity to learn more about Good Shepherd and meet other Newcomers.

If you would like to join this gathering, please RSVP to Jim Wolfe, and he will send you the link for the meeting.

Help Others by Donating Blood on September 19

Due to COVID, Good Shepherd will not be hosting a blood drive this year. There are still opportunities to donate, though, and the need is great during this time. If you can, please plan to donate blood at St. Thomas More Parish, not far from Good Shepherd, at 8035 S. Quebec St., on Saturday, September 19, from 7:30 to 11:30 am. Donations will be in the school gymnasium/ cafeteria.

Making an appointment to save lives is simple. Please contact the Vitalant Appointment Center at 303-363-2300, or visit donors.vitalant.org. Use BLOOD DRIVE CODE 0225.

Visit vitalant.org for other donation locations.

Strategies for Handling the Stress of Back to School

Returning to school under typical circumstances can be stressful; but returning to school during COVID-19 has likely brought a new level of anxiety and concern to parents, grandparents, teachers, and students.  Whether your family is dealing with remote learning, in-person learning, or some combination, it’s fair to say that “school” doesn’t resemble anyone’s expectations. 

At a recent virtual event, parents of school-aged children and youth gathered with Fr. Gary and school social worker, Jen Jones, to discuss stressors related to the return to school during COVID-19, as well as strategies to address anxieties and other challenges facing students and parents this school year.

When discussing individual learning scenarios (hybrid classes, remote learning, or in-person school), participants identified feelings of helplessness, sadness, and a loss of normalcy for their children. Participants also discussed their anxieties over the potential for academic loss, social isolation, and the overall health/wellness facing their children. Larger, systemic issues were discussed, including the effect of remote learning on disadvantaged communities in our area.

Jen encouraged all participants to consider ways to help families and children in their own neighborhoods/church community. Ideas included coordinating carpool to school; offering to tutor children studying remotely at home; or simply providing space to have open discussions with children and youth about their experiences and their emotions related to school.

Additional, online resources were shared, including the following links:

GREATER GOOD: Help Students Process COVID-19 Emotions With This Lesson Plan

YALE Child Study Center: Back to School During COVID-19

Thanks to Jen Jones for facilitating this wonderful discussion! If you’re interested in participating in another discussion related to these issues, please contact Nora Earnest.

Your thoughts and suggestions are most welcome, as we all try to navigate this school year in a clam, informed, and faithful manner.

St. Clare’s Ministries Update

I hope that this message finds you well! 2020 has been a hard year for so many and that extends to our unhoused neighbors who are facing more uncertainty than ever.

St. Clare's has continued to provide hot meals, clothing, and toiletries in a to-go capacity from the parking lot, as we learn new ways to fulfill our mission to provide dignity to those in need while keeping our guests and volunteers safe and healthy. Colder weather will provide additional challenges as we try to meet the needs of our guests.

Due to the pandemic and our commitment to keep our guests, volunteers, and donors safe, we are unable to have an in-person fundraiser this year, but that in no way means that we don't need continued financial support to keep serving and to do so exceptionally. So we hope that you will consider donating to our Go Fund Me page so that we can reach our $10,000 fundraising goal and continue in this work. https://www.gofundme.com/f/saintclares

100% of donations will go directly to St. Clare's Ministries and will help ensure that we can provide services through the pandemic and beyond. The video at the top of the page shows what our current services look like with footage of our guests discussing how St. Clare's has continued to support them at this time.

We are so grateful to everyone who chips in to make St. Clare's what it is and keep our doors open for anyone who needs a brief respite from the harsh realities of poverty and homelessness.

Be blessed and be well my friends.

A Message from the Episcopal Public Policy Network: Plan Your Vote!

Election season is upon us in the U.S., and now is the time to make sure you – and those in your community – are ready. This year, many states have updated how voters can cast their ballot with no-excuse absentee ballots, early voting, and other measures to allow Americans to vote safely in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Prepare to cast your vote by creating a #MyVoterPlan laying out the steps you need to take and when in order to successfully vote in the 2020 election. 

Step 1: Registration 

• Confirm you meet the requirements. Note: some states will allow voters to register before their 18th birthday if they will be 18 on or by Election Day. 

• Research the process to register (in some places it can be done online!) and know when the registration deadline is. Not all states allow Election Day voter registration, so many of you will need to register several weeks before.  

• If you are already registered, confirm your registration is valid. You can learn more about the challenges of updating voter rolls and how that can disenfranchise eligible voters, here.   

Step 2: Research who will be on your ballot 

• While the Presidential election generates the most attention, local and state elections are also highly consequential. Use this tool to see who will appear on your ballot and research the candidates so you can make an informed vote. 

• Research ballot initiatives/ballot measures. Some states offer voters the chance to weigh in directly on policy matters through ballot initiatives. Review these carefully, as the wording can sometimes be unclear and the issue complex.  

Step 3: Requesting an absentee ballot/voting by mail 

• Learn if you can vote by mail. Not all states allow this, even during the pandemic. 

• Decide if you want to vote by mail. Even as states implement new health safety protocols due to COVID-19 for in-person voting, voting by mail is a lower risk option. Nevertheless, many voters may still wish to go to their local polling place to vote in person.  

• If voting by mail, you should know: 

  • When and how to request your absentee ballot 

  • When and how to return your ballot—there may be options like returning by USPS, at drop boxes, or voting centers 

  • Postage requirements for returning your ballot 

  • How to track your ballot after mailing it in 

Step 4: Voting in person 

• If voting in person is your plan of choice, remember Election Day is Tuesday, November 3rd. Look up your polling place to know where to vote in person, and heed protocols in place at the polling location to keep everyone safe.  

• If you want to vote early, make sure you know the deadlines! Not all states allow early voting. 

• Make sure you have a way to get to your local polling station. Public transit may be at reduced capacity due to the pandemic, so double-check schedules ahead of time.  

Step 5: Overcoming challenges and helping others vote 

• Use our #VoteFaithfully toolkit for ideas to help get out the vote in your community! The toolkit is available in English and Spanish, and on this webpage, we will be adding more election resources as they become available. 

• Voting while experiencing homelessness presents serious challenges. Tips for voting while homeless and policies by state.

• Become a poll worker! Hundreds of thousands of people serve as poll workers every election, ensuring the election goes smoothly. This year presents particular challenges, as many poll workers are older and at higher risk of serious complications from COVID-19. If you are in a low-risk category for COVID-19, consider being a poll worker for this year’s election.  

• Voting advocacy is critical to protect and expand the right to vote. See our #VoteFaithfully toolkit for information about Episcopal Church policies on voting. 

• Get your “I’m an Episcopalian and I voted” stickers and magnets and pins! Write to us to get yours today!

A note on voting by mail and the United States Postal Service (USPS)

Voting by mail in this election will be critical to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Voting by mail is also a secure way to cast our votes, and each of us must accept our personal responsibility to request and return our mail-in ballots in a timely fashion to meet deadlines. Data does not support the notion that voting by mail helps either political party. Finally, while we have advocated for federal support for increased mail-in voting, keep in mind that data shows that mail-in voting is not necessarily the best option for all areas of the country, particularly rural areas and areas with large Indigenous populations. We must continue to ensure reasonable access to polling sites or voter centers. 

The USPS connects millions of Americans to vital services beyond delivering and returning ballots, and we are grateful for the hard work of the employees of the USPS particularly during this pandemic. While there are some underlying concerns surrounding the Post Office that require our attention, the reality is more complicated than it may seem. We must stay diligent about the information we consume, avoiding misinformation wherever it may arise, yet still responsive in our advocacy to direct our requests in the most effective and precise way possible. While we are encouraged by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy’s statement concerning USPS operations now and through the election, we hope that the reality of the coming months matches the high standard of service outlined in his statement and exhibited historically by the USPS. Our election depends on it. 

We must continue to monitor any restrictions on the right to vote and insist on fairly conducted elections. Having just passed the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment that granted eligible women the right to vote, may we remember that then, as now, some Americans are still not able to vote or to access fair representation, often through indirect ways. Our democracy requires our participation through exercising our right to vote and our diligence in expanding and maintaining that right for all. 

Hungry Flock Looking for New Virtual Members

Hungry Flock has been around since the church began over 40 years ago. And we, as originals, are not going to let a virus stop us from "gathering." Hungry Flock is a monthly dinner gathering of friends, new and old, who want to get to know each other better. We have historically met between September and May.

Although we won't be able to gather in person for the near future, we have come up with an alternate way to “get together" and invite everyone to join us. We will be moving to virtual Zoom gatherings for the time being starting in September and continuing monthly. We will gather in small groups thus allowing people to chat and share as we would if we were gathering in person. You are welcome to join us for conversation and catching up, with or without a beverage and/or snack of your choice, for about an hour on a Saturday night. The times and dates will be determined when we know how many people are interested in joining. There is no commitment to join every month—feel free to join one or a few or all of them.  

Please email us at GSEChungryflock@gmail.com if you want to receive the email to join us moving forward.

We look forward to getting together with all of you.

Ringing Bells in CovidLand

Everyone now has an opportunity to contribute to Good Shepherd’s music program when we can re-enter our building. As many of you are probably aware, the choir will be unable to return to singing for quite some time due to the COVID 19 restrictions. However, the bell choir will return in small groups (a maximum of four ringers). If you have ever been curious about what it is like to ring in a bell choir this is your chance. Everyone will use masks and gloves. Each ringer will provide their own mask. I will have clean gloves that will be washed every week. Each ringer will have only two bells that you will not share with anyone else. Your commitment will be for 4-5 weeks, enough time to learn one song and play it for a service. Depending on how many people will be able to be in the sanctuary, we will either ring “live” during the service or record our piece to be played during the service. I’m hoping that enough of you will volunteer so that we will have a new group of ringers every month. Of course, if you enjoy ringing, you can sign up for another piece. Some of the regular ringers will also prepare pieces that will be more complex than those you “newbies” will prepare. Please contact me if you are interested in trying handbells and helping us prepare music for our services. Let me know whether you can read music. The majority of music for small groups only uses the smaller bells, but let me know if you want the lightest ones. 

Contact me at hartmanpe@me.com.

Stewardship Update: Plans for 2021

We are beginning to develop our plans for the 2021 Stewardship Campaign. As many of you know, we consider Stewardship in everything we do at Good Shepherd. We’d like to share:

1. The Goal

2. The Plan

3. Capital Projects

The Goal

In 2021 for the Stewardship Campaign we hope to have 170 Pledges for $500,000. This compares with 2020 when we had 160 Pledges for $463,172. In 2021 we hope to gain 8-10 pledges from the 60 families that call Good Shepherd home but for various reasons have not pledged in the past. We also hope for a 2% increase in our average pledge in 2021.

The Plan

We hope to begin our 2021 Stewardship program in early October with our major ingathering of pledges in early November and conclude our Stewardship program by the middle of December. We are working on the theme for the stewardship program right now and hope to have that out by the middle of September. You will be receiving a brochure talking about the 2021 stewardship program in early October with a pledge card. We are asking all parishioners to mail back their pledge card even if they are not able to pledge this year.  We will stamp all the return envelopes to help in mailing back the pledges. We are asking the Vestry, Stewardship Committee, and the Finance Committee to pledge early as the leadership of Good Shepherd.

We will have 20 Ambassadors to contact parishioners, to make sure they have received all the Stewardship Campaign information and answer any questions.  We also believe that prayer is an important part of the Stewardship work and we will have a 15-member prayer team praying daily for our stewardship program.

Capital Projects

For the last five years we have attempted to raise enough money with our stewardship campaign to allocate $25,000 to $30,000 per year for ongoing capital projects at the church.  For five years we have failed to raise this extra money for much needed capital projects.  In 2021, we plan to have $25,000 to $30,000 in our budget set aside for capital projects.

What are these capital projects?  In 2021 we would like to pay off or at least ½ of our debt which stands at $26,000. Over the last 10 years Good Shepherd has reduced our debt from $750,000 to $26,000. Wouldn’t it be great to pay off our debt? This would save us about $4,000 per year in our budget for principle and interest on our debt. In 2021 we need to resurface our parking lot and that cost is about $10,000.  This was planned for 2020 but the coronavirus delayed our plans.  Depending on our resources and our success of our stewardship campaign we will allocate the money for capital projects in the best interest of Good Shepherd.

What capital projects are down the road?  We are looking at replacing our carpet in the Parish Hall and the hallways in the next few years. We need a new AC unit for the Sanctuary in the next couple years. We have a proposal to reconstruct our handicap parking area to create more spaces and reconstruct the area, so water does not accumulate (turns to ice in the winter) in the handicap parking area. As most of you know, capital projects come along that none of us can anticipate right now.

IN SUMMARY we have a goal, we have a plan and we will go into more detail next month.  These are exciting times at Good Shepherd, and you are the most important part of that excitement.

Youth Update for September

Here is our upcoming schedule for youth and family events.

September 6
We will have a guest speaker on ZOOM, Luke, who will talk about what it means to be a part of the LGBT community and ways to be a good ally. This is a part of our new curriculum on allyship and learning about marginalized groups.

September 13
To celebrate the end of summer, we will be having a water game day including tie-dye wars, water balloon toss, and the frozen t-shirt challenge.

September 19
Children, youth, and family movie night outside on the lawn.

September 20
Back on ZOOM, we will continue to learn about allyship with speakers from other faith backgrounds.

Social Distancing
We are doing our best to keep everyone safe at our meetings by meeting outside, keeping six feet apart, wearing masks and sanitizing regularly. We also only meet every other week to ensure there have been no break-outs within our youth group.

Outdoor Family Movie Night on Saturday, September 19

We are so excited to announce that we are going to host an outdoor Family Movie Night on September 19, starting at 7:00 (or potentially 6:30, if there is enough shade on the wall so that the movie is clearly visible). Each family will bring their own blanket and masks are required as we socially distance on the west lawn. We are planning on having a shaved ice machine for refreshments. It will be a blessing to see families in person!

SUNDAY SCHOOL

Every Sunday afternoon, from 3:00 to approximately 3:40, I host a Sunday school time. I start with a science/object lesson, followed by a Godly Play presentation and ending with a craft. Please have your kids utilize the other materials (activity and coloring sheets plus a video link for each week’s lesson) that I include in my weekly email either before or after our class time.

September’s presentations will be as follows:

• September 6: Creation

• September 13: The Falling Apart (Adam and Eve’s sin)

• September 20: The Flood and the Ark

• September 27: The Tower of Babel

I miss seeing families in person, but this is the next best thing right now as we navigate COVID-Land.

Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87410858056

Meeting ID: 874 1085 8056

BOLT VBS

In case you haven’t taken advantage of this year’s online quarantine-friendly Vacation Bible School, please click here for all the information. I am asking the families who have enjoyed this time together to please let me know so that I can plan accordingly in the future.

Men’s Group meetings in September

The Men’s Group meetings in September will continue to be held on ZOOM Saturday, September 12 and 26 beginning at 7:45 am.  This has been and will continue to 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 7, “Thomas – Leaving Doubt Behind” and Chapter 8, “Nathanael – Developing Spiritual Insight” 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 September 12 and/or the 26 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!

Financial Update

From Fr. Gary: Good Shepherd 2.0?

"As Jesus came out of the temple and was going away, his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. Then he asked them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly I tell you, not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.”  

I read these words from the Gospel of Matthew (24.1-2) early in July. And I could not help but think how much they resonated with our experience these last few months. In early March, we, at Good Shepherd, were happy with the “buildings of [our] temple”. We had just concluded a successful stewardship campaign, and had a great annual meeting. The new vestry was raring to go. We were looking forward to a rich Lenten season (becoming familiar with Rite One language, if you’ll remember!). The beauty, wonder, and glory of Holy Week and Easter were in sight. There was excitement at the prospect of Pentecost, Youth Sunday, and the parish picnic all happening on the same day! 

And, then, the buildings began to crumble. We realized we could no longer “hug” at the Peace; elbow-bumps were the extent of physical interactions. Attendance began to slip as folks, worried about COVID, began to stay safer at home. We dropped from three services to one, ZOOM-ing that one from the chapel. And then most of the “stones" were thrown down, and our worship has been coordinated off-site. It was almost as if we were in occupied Judea — we could see Jerusalem, but we couldn’t get there any more.

The destruction of the Jerusalem Temple in 70 AD, however, was not the end of Judaism. And it certainly wasn’t the end of the Jesus Movement. That destruction, along with the success of the Apostle Paul’s mission to the Gentiles, gave birth to Christianity. As the Jews had learned several hundred years earlier, during the Babylonian Captivity, God’s truth was not limited to a building, or piece of earth. In a similar way, early Christians recognized that the living Word of God, likewise, could move freely throughout the Mediterranean world and beyond, without being tethered to any one place.

Over the last four months we have learned a lot! Of course, many of us have learned how to navigate ZOOM. While most agree that it is not the best way of conducting worship, many have commented that the “Gallery View” has allowed people to put names to faces. Small groups have met online, and have found deeper levels of intimacy than a conference table affords. We’ve been treated, during worship, to a variety of musical styles and voices that we may not have experienced before. The shift to Morning Prayer has provided greater involvement for lay folks who would like to lead worship. We’ve added opportunities for Morning Prayer (Monday through Thursday, as part of “Morning Sheep Count”), Noon Prayers (Wednesdays at noon, as part of “ Gabbin' with Gary”), and, most recently Compline (Wednesdays at 8:45 pm). We realized that not having to drive to the church for meetings frees up a lot of time! Folks have enjoyed church in their PJs, with donuts!

All of that has been great. But we do want to regather. And a team of the vestry has been working on how to make that happen, as soon as possible, but as safe as possible. We do want to celebrate the Eucharist together. A diocesan-wide Task Force is working on how to make that happen, as soon as possible, as safe as possible, and as Episcopalian as necessary. And, so we remain in that nether-world between the “stones of the building” coming down and the next reality for the church.

So much of that “nether-world between” is encapsulated in this photo I ran across from the “renovation time” at Good Shepherd. During those months, regular work at Good Shepherd was interrupted; offices were relocated. BUT, new structures were being built. Capacity was being increased. Possibilities were being explored, even as things were disrupted. The results of that time made room for new dreams . . . some of which we’re still hoping to realize. 

While the circumstances then are quite different from the circumstances now, Good Shepherd does have a history of weathering upheaval. We do know that having the “stones of the building” shaken up is not the end of the story. We stand in a long tradition of “rebuilders”, of “re-imaginers”. It is in our religious DNA. What is asked of us now is to bring our best selves, our best ideas, to Good Shepherd 2.0!

Will You Strive for Justice and Peace Among ALL People?

This question (in the graphic)—the last one asked as part of our Baptismal Covenant—has been weighing on me over the last several months. And it came to the fore in late June when a number of us were discussing a passage from the prophet Amos (8.1-6)*. In that passage, the prophet railed against the social injustices that characterized Israel in the eighth century BCE. Examples were “ rampling on the needy” (v. 4), “practicing deceit with false balances” (v. 5) or “selling the sweepings of the wheat” (v. 6 - that is, instead of pure grain). Our “task” in the bible study was to think about how questions of justice/injustice formed part of our mission, especially as we might come out of COVID-land.

In the course of the conversation, it was observed that many of our traditional forms of outreach/service were limited because of the restrictions placed upon us because of COVID. Volunteer opportunities have been curtailed, for example; for folks who give of their time as a primary means of service, there has been a sense of frustration. Others, who have generously given financial support, have run into limitations in those resources. The question arose, “What can we do?”

One answer, of course, is, “Pray". But, for many, that is insufficient. Another possibility is to engage in advocacy work, that is to “strive for justice and peace.” Good Shepherd has a long and notable history of serving the disadvantaged (“seeking and serving Christ in all persons”, as the Baptismal Covenant also states). There’s another side, however, to that service. As Abp. Desmond Tutu is said to have observed, “ There comes a point where we need to stop just pulling people out of the river. We need to go upstream and find out why they’re falling in.” In other words, part of our responsibility in living out our baptismal covenant is to address the systems that result in hunger and homelessness (as well as racism, environmental degradation, or any other malady that adversely affects God’s good creation). 

And, so, it seems wise, and very appropriate these days, to learn how to advocate for change effectively. But, not just to advocate for change — but to advocate for change based on the values encapsulated in our baptismal covenant. And so, over the course of the next several months, we will offer opportunities to ask questions about advocacy in general, to learn more about how the Episcopal Church (nationally and locally) engages in policy discussions, and how to put passion into action. What we’re hoping to do is offer options for individuals who want to engage in the very important issues facing us as a people of faith, and who bring that faith to their role and responsibility as citizens. 

Watch the E-News and Good Shepherd’s FaceBook Page for details! And, if you are interested in being part of the planning of these opportunities (or have comments or questions), please contact me!

Fr. Gary

*This Bible Study was the third in a series of four, suggested by the Office of the Bishop, to help us reflect on “re-opening the church”. All of those study sessions can be viewed at https://www.gshep.org/june-bible-study

Giving Thanks With, or Without Eucharist

A major casualty of our entry into COVID-land has been our forced hiatus from communion—not only weekly, but communion to those receiving it at home. This has certainly been one of the most unsettling restrictions we’ve faced (along with our inability to meet together). A couple of things about this:

First, Bp. Kym Lucas has convened a Task Force of a large variety of folks from around the diocese to provide guidance as to how (and when) we might be able to offer communion again. The considerations are multiple, as I hope you understand. Of course there are concerns about safety — minimizing physical contact (and possible transmission of COVID) is primary. Of equal concern is how consecration of the elements (and distribution) can be done in accordance with the Episcopal Church’s theology about the Eucharist. Many “interesting” options have been suggested to me as to how this might be done (and is done by some non-Episcopal congregations); the problem with most of those is that they do not conform to Anglican theology and practice. So the Task Force’s challenge is to walk that fine line between our desire to resume offering communion, our concern for everyone's safety, AND our Anglican heritage. Bp. Kym and the Task Force hope to have some guidance for us by early September. 

Second, until such time as we can celebrate the Eucharist together again, we will continue our practice of corporate prayer on Sunday mornings, Since before Easter, we have prayed using Rite One and Rite Two Morning Prayer (from the Book of Common Prayer) as well as Morning Prayer from the Episcopal Church’s Enriching our Worship. During August, we will return to Rite Two Morning Prayer. After Labor Day (especially given what we learn from the Task Force), we will probably shift to the “Liturgy of the Word” (from the Rite Two eucharistic service). The "Liturgy of the Word” is that familiar part of our weekly practice that concludes with the Offertory. It may be a nice way to “ease” us back into our familiar eucharistic pattern 

These worship changes will take place regardless of how, if at all, we are in the building or not — or regardless of the number of folks we can have at worship at any one time. As I noted in my lead article, we will not return to anything approximating “normal” for some months. And we will need to remain flexible through this interim time. BUT, this interim time does allow us to explore some of the richness of our Anglican heritage. So, despite the limitations of COVID-land, we ALWAYS have reasons to give thanks!

Connect with Your Faith During the Week!

As mentioned in Fr. Gary’s lead article, we’ve learned that a lot of faith-building and formation can take place away from Good Shepherd’s physical plant! And while several things were set in motion as “place-holders” until we returned, it’s clear that they can have a life of their own . . . and will need to have for some months to come. ZOOM has provided a (surprisingly) intimate way to connect and share!

One of the easiest ways to connect is in the morning (Monday through Thursday) with the Morning Sheep Count. The “room” opens about 8:30, and folks begin to gather and share goings-on, prayer requests, travel stories, faith dilemmas and more. At 8:55, we close the gathering with an abbreviated morning prayer office (slides provided); we’re done by 9am! Anyone is welcome. You don’t have to “be on time” (you can come just for the morning prayer)! You're welcome to come in your jammies and finish your breakfast! The ZOOM link is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/790388850

If early morning isn’t “your thing”, we’ve inaugurated “good night prayers” — formally known in the Episcopal tradition as “Compline". On Wednesday evenings at 8:45, various folks will lead these lovely end-of-the-day prayers. (As with the Sunday services, the slides are shown online, but the prayers will be available as a pdf as well). The ZOOM link is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84423440138

You can read more about Night Prayers in the article following this one.

AND, we’ve recognized that Good Shepherd doesn’t currently offer a mid-week Bible Study. We’re going to try something new for the fall (beginning on August 5): 

Gospel and Grub! 

At noon on Wednesdays, Fr. Gary will hold a discussion on the Gospel lesson for the following Sunday. The hour-long session will begin with brief noon-day prayers, and then move into conversation on the reading. Bring your lunch, your curiosity, your questions and enthusiasm (and your Bible if you want — although there will be slides of the reading)! Your insights will probably influence the direction of the sermon! The ZOOM link is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84462210298

All the people wanted was lunch. Jesus gave them something more ...

If you have questions on any of these, contact Fr. Gary!

Night Prayer Service (Compline) Now Offered Every Wednesday at 8:45 pm

What is Compline?

Compline is a brief contemplative service to be prayed just before bedtime. It is a time to slow down and separate yourself from the anxieties of the day and commit your night to God. It is a simple office including a confession of sins, one or more psalms, a short reading from scripture, versicles and responses, the Lord's Prayer, collects which ask for God's protection during the night to come, and the canticle Nunc dimittis. 

This weekly offering will be led by several volunteer parishioners who will give their unique take on this service of end-of-the-day prayers.

Join us on any or every Wednesday at 8:45 pm!

August Parish Discussions to begin Sunday, August 9

After "coffee hour” in August (starting Aug 9), the Transition Team is inviting YOU to participate in discussions designed to help the Team (and parish in general) develop our vision and mission for the next several years. Part of this is a piece of the Priest-in-Charge process. But part of it, too, is in realization that life post-COVID will be quite different than what is was at the beginning of 2020. Our hope is to have two discussions each Sunday (Aug 9, 16, 23, and 30). There will be a question for each “breakout room” (a feature of ZOOM we’ve not yet used), and you’ll be asked to choose one of those questions/rooms to join. The questions will be posted in the E-News the previous Thursday, so you’ll have time to consider a response, and make a decision which discussion to enter. It’s an exciting time, despite the challenges!