|
Rejoice!
Good News from Church of the Good Shepherd, Watertown
Late Summer 2017
|
|
We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness. - Romans 12:8
One of the things I cherish about our parish is the way we manifest the truth of Paul's words above. Vacation Garden School is a perfect example. The beauty of this week comes from the particularity of the gifts each volunteer and teen counselor brings. We do not rely on a purchased curriculum. Rather, we start with the people we have - their passions, skills, gifts - and build from there. Thursday is always "animal day." That could take lots of forms. But at our camp, Anne Donna's ability to share her experience working with a service animal and to teach the children how to interact helpfully with Visa forms its character. The photo here shows Anne letting a camper practice asking to pet Visa.
Each August, as we lay plans for the program year ahead, I am filled with curiosity.What will these programs look like? Whose unexpected contributions will shape them and give them their particular character? What do we not yet know about people that will turn out to be just the right skill we need to live into our mission now? What wisdom, experience, and good questions will come into our community with the newcomers we welcome this fall?
We are small in numbers but big in gifts at Good Shepherd. "What we need is here," as Wendell Berry says. I encourage you to be bold in sharing your gifts and to be in touch with me, the wardens, or the ministry area coordinators if there are ways you'd like to contribute that don't seem to land neatly into an existing program or offering. Thank you, my friends in Christ, for the gift you are in this community and this world.
Faithfully,
(The Rev.) Amy McCreath
Rector
|
|
|
|
|
1st Fall Adult Forum Series: Extending the Welcome
|
|
Our CGS parish mission statement ends with the claim, "We welcome you." While we strive to live into this mission, we sometimes miss the mark. Consciously and unconsciously, we can put up barriers that prevent people from feeling welcome.
This Fall, our adult formation season begins with an exploration of what it means to "welcome all." Please join us at 9 am in the upper hall for these discussions:
September 17: Staying open-hearted in a hard-hearted age
. How do we prevent the vitriol and violent rhetoric all around us from make us close in? How can we see the face of Christ in those who dismiss us?
September 24: Welcoming all to the eucharistic table
. Our church's official theology is that all baptized Christians can receive communion. But widespread practice is to welcome all to the table. What are the theologies behind both practices?
October 1: Welcoming those with Disabilities.
How does our church extend welcome to those with disabilities? What are the next steps we should take? Our discussion will include an update on planning to make ur building more fully accessible.
|
|
|
|
|
Blessing of the Backpacks
|
|
In the Episcopal Church, we believe that God gave us memory, reason, and skill in order to grow in wisdom and understanding in order to bless others. Academic pursuit is holy ground!
We invite everyone from kindergarteners to post-docs, as well as teachers and professors, to bring their backpacks (or another symbol of their scholarly pursuits) and be blessed for the year ahead, on Sunday, September 10th at our "Mass on the Grass." This new tradition is a fun way to remember that God is with us in our classrooms and labs. Bring a friend (and their backpack!).
|
|
|
|
Ministry Opportunities @ CGS
- Help bring people together for special occasions: Mass on the Grass, Faire on the Square, Harvest Dinner, Blue Christmas. Sign up on the Wall of Opportunity to be part of an organizing team for one of these events. The “rule of three” is in effect: If at least 3 people commit to a team, it’s a go. Otherwise, we are not called to proceed. Let’s see what the Spirit does next!
- Eucharistic Ministers and Vergers offer a bodily prayer through participation in procession and at the altar, and they serve the community by helping us worship with beauty and in good order. Might you be called to try out one of these ministries? Speak with Pastor Amy for more information.
- The Living Stones Ministry is looking for lavender to make sachets for the Jerusalem Market Place that is scheduled for December 10th. We will harvest and dry the lavender ourselves. If you have some to share, please talk to Sally Hajjar.
|
|
|
Join us on September 10th for Mass on the Grass. We will be in the beautiful backyard of the rectory, at 19 Russell Ave. Bring a lawn chair or a blanket. If it rains, we'll be inside!
|
|
Vacation Garden School staff pause after lunch for a group photo.
|
|
Video from our Presiding Bishop, Michael Curry, in response to the domestic terrorism in Charlottesville VA. Click the arrow to play.
|
|
|
Sunday, Sept. 3
-
Our last 9:30 am Eucharist for the season.
We will use the readings assigned for Labor Day, give thanks for those whose labor benefits us, and reflect on what it means to uphold the dignity of labor now.
Friday, Sept. 8
-
Pastoral Response Team
resumes for the fall, 11 am in the church office. All are welcome.
Sunday, Sept. 10
- 8 am contemplative Eucharist. 10 am - "
Mass on the Grass
" with the Blessing of the Backpacks.
Wednesday, Sept. 13
-
Living Stones Ministry meeting
, 6 pm. Join us as we continue our ministry in support of a just peace in Israel/Palestine.
Wednesday, Sept. 13 -
Vestry Meeting
, 7 pm. All members of the parish are welcome.
Sunday, Sept. 17
-
Adult and children's formation resumes, 9 am.
Adult formation topic today: "Staying Open-Hearted in a Hard-Hearted Era."
Tuesday, Sept. 19
-
Women's Spiritual Memoir Book Group
meets at CGS in the Sanctuary, 6 to 8 pm.Contact Beth Zwick for more info.
Saturday, Sept. 23
-
Safe Church Training
at St. John's, Duxbury. All those working with children, youth, or vulnerable populations in our church are required to receive this training. Speak with Pastor Amy if you'd like to sign up. We have people already signed up, so carpooling is likely! Details
here.
Saturday, Sept. 23
- Watertown's
Faire on the Square
, Saltonstall Park. Spend some time at the CGS table, letting folks know about CGS and getting to know them. Sign up on the Wall of Opportunity.
|
|
|
|
|
CGS: A Sanctuary Supporting Church?
It's under discussion, and one proposal was
that those who are interested might start volunteering at St. James Episcopal Church in Cambridge, for it is already part of the Cambridge Interfaith Sanctuary Coalition. And so that is what I did. I went to a two-hour training session, paid a $20 food donation, and went on my first shift on Sunday, August 6.
The sanctuary church being supported is the University Lutheran Church in Harvard Square (just two blocks from the Harvard station). Living in the church is a Spanish-speaking
mother and two small children (girls ages 10 months and 2 years). The problem is two volunteers must be there at all times (24/7) and so they need people. My shift was just 4 hours and I was instructed to "minimally intrude" in their family life. After all, for now, this is their home and who needs or wants two "strangers" watching them all the time? However, I soon found out a two-year old has different ideas. She would frequently run into the volunteer's room to check on us! And by the end of my shift I was playing and "talking" with the 10-month old. It was a simple contribution and I will
look forward to my next shift. And they do need more volunteers.
-- Charlie Kitts
|
|
|
Pastoral Care Ministries at CGS
In Pastoral Care Ministries we look to the teaching and model of the Good Shepherd to guide us in offering spiritual and compassionate care to our faith family and our neighbors. We experience the Love of God moving in and through each other.
Our
Pastoral Response Team
meets on Fridays from 11 am to noon. We pray the noonday service and include those who have requested prayers for healing, sustenance and recovery as well as celebrating joyful events of life.
We provide
Eucharistic Visitors
(training required) to take the Eucharist to those who are unable to physically attend church.
During Sunday communion, there is a trained
Healing Prayer Minister
available to pray individually with you for your concerns and needs.
During Lent and Advent parishioners have the opportunity to be matched with a
Prayer Partner
. Partners pray for one another each day for the season, making their own plan for logistics and method.
|
|
|
Accessibility Planning Committee
|
|
Good Shepherd is an intentionally redeveloping parish. This means we have been working in partnership with our diocese to grow in numbers and in the impact of our ministry in the community. Over the past seven years, we have steadily grown and our finances have become more stable, thanks to the generosity and good work of many parishioners.
We are now ready to plan for the important work of making our building accessible to all people. The next step in this process will be to form a committee to investigate possibilities, probably working with an engineer and researching state and local resources and ordinances.
This group will make proposals to the vestry and once approved the focus will shift into fundraising, if necessary.
If you would like to be part of this accessibility committee, please contact Co-Warden Brad Parsons. Skills needed include commitment, passion for this project, willingness to work as a team, and time to make phone calls and do some research.
|
|
|
8 am Contemplative Eucharist
....returns September 10th
Are you an early riser?
Are you seeking a quieter form of worship?
Do your kids have Sunday practices that start before noon?
Then try something different on Sunday morning - 8:00 AM Eucharist! Come join the circle at this simple, quiet service.
For more information, contact Pastor Amy or Deacon Ken.
|
|
|
Pastor Amy tells the story of the creation of water to a circle of campers at VGS. THANK YOU to everyone who donated food, egg cartons, potting soil, and all who prayed for us.
|
|
|
The Last Word:
Morning Poem
|
|
E
very morning
the world
is created.
Under the orange
sticks of the sun
the heaped
ashes of the night
turn into leaves again
and fasten themselves to the high branches
and the ponds appear
like black cloth
on which are painted islands
of summer lilies.
If it is your nature
to be happy
you will swim away along the soft trails
for hours, your imagination
alighting everywhere.
And if your spirit
carries within it
the thorn
that is heavier than lead—
if it's all you can do
to keep on trudging—
there is still
somewhere deep within you
a beast shouting that the earth
is exactly what it wanted—
each pond with its blazing lilies
is a prayer heard and answered
lavishly,
every morning,
whether or not
you have ever dared to be happy,
whether or not
you have ever dared to pray.
-- Mary Oliver
|
|
|
|
|
Keep in Touch
The Rev. Amy McCreath, Rector - 617-967-7780
The Rev. Ken Schmidt, Deacon - 508-735-1019
Linda Lyster, Organist/Choirmaster - 617-734-3072
Kate Gyllensvard, Warden - 617-661-9859
Brad Parsons, Warden - 617-501-4539
The parish office is open on Tuesday mornings and Thursday afternoons.
Church of the Good Shepherd | 9 Russell Ave., Watertown MA 02472 | 617-924-9420
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
