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The
Church of the Good Shepherd
eShepherd's Staff
New & Noteworthy
March 17, 2017
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Eucharist
: 8:00 and 10:15 a.m.
Sermon - The Rev. Bruce McPherson
9:15 Christian Ed for All Ages
"We celebrate community and serve others!"
Reflection: Jesus and Congregational Choice
Robert Putnam, a highly respected professor of Public Policy at Harvard, published an important book in 2010 called
American Grace: How Religion Divides and Unites Us
. Much of the book is based on a survey conduced in 2006 called "Faith Matters". There are a lot of interesting findings in the survey, but none more interesting than this: the single most important reason the people choose a church while "church shopping" is its theology - not the sermon, nor the warm and welcoming attitude of the congregation, nor its views on social issues, but its theology. What this means, of course, is that people want a church that expresses views that are consistent with their own.
We live in a world characterized by at least two important trends. The first is a radical homogenization
of all peoples. Some might call this globalization, but whatever it
is, we are all becoming closer with one another than was true even fifty years ago. The second is a kind of skepticism or distrust of authority. These are difficult trends to embrace for many, leading, perhaps, to a strong reaction against them. But they are both real and irreversible. As we think about the future of our church, we must keep these trends in mind.
In Sunday's gospel, Jesus meets a Samaritan woman at a well. This is an unlikely encounter for a devout Jew in those days as Jews and Samaritans had nothing good to say about one another. Moreover, they worshiped in different places under different authority. But as he always seems ready to do, Jesus reached across the walls that divide them and says that the day is coming when we will worship God neither here nor there, but in Spirit and Truth. Let us commit ourselves to reach across every barrier that divides people and worship in Spirit and Truth; seeking the Spirit of God in our midst and living our lives in all Truth, with gospel authenticity. We might think of this as "missional living." Most people today don't care so much about the doctrine of original sin, but care a lot about how to make the world a better place. That is mission. We need to pay attention. Jesus did. And he still does.
Bruce+
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Fellowship Events
Coming together for friendship and fun!
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 Text in Community for March has been rescheduled for Tuesday, March 21.
The Cleaner of Chartres: A Novel
by Salley Vickers is the selection. We will meet in the parlor at 6:30 p.m. for a potluck supper. Discussion of the book starts at 7:30. All are welcome.
Parenting Today Program
 The Spring 2017 Parenting Today program will be Friday, March 31 from 6-8 pm in the Parish Hall. There will be a meal at 6:00 with a presentation from Kristin Lee Howard titled "Homework, bedtime, getting out the door...why are transitions so hard?" at 7:00. Click here for more information. To sign up, click here.
Sunday School Schedule during Spring Break
There will be no Sunday School on Palm Sunday, April 9, 2017. There will also be no Sunday School on Easter Sunday, instead children 12 and under are invited to join us for the Good Shepherd Easter Egg hunt. Meet in the Education Room with your basket at 9:00. We will have two age-appropriate egg hunts for children aged 5 and under and 6 to 12.
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Adult Forum Schedule
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Adult Education in Lent
During Lent, Adult Ed will explore the last week in the life of Jesus. We will discuss matters including:
- Why was Jesus welcomed on Palm Sunday and rejected later in the week?
- Did Jesus declare himself to be Messiah? Did he declare himself to be God? Or did others say this about him?
- Did Jesus seek to overturn the existing religious order? Did he pose a threat to Roman rule?
- What was the intent of his commands at the Last Supper?
- What did Jesus teach about "end times"? Who was responsible for the execution of Jesus?
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Thursday Nights in Lent
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Beginning last night and continuing for five weeks, Steve Goldman will lead a discussion on the power and limitations of forgiveness based on a course he teaches for OLLI. The text is
The Sunflower, by Simon Wiesenthal
. This is an amazing book that provides real insight into the complicated subject of forgiveness. A light supper will be provided at 6:30. Some of the issues for discussion include:
- How do we understand the relationship between justice and forgiveness?
- Do we have the moral authority to forgive or ask forgiveness for offenses committed against others?
- Are some offenses so egregious that they should not be forgiven under any conditions? If so, what are these offenses and how do they differ from those which can be forgiven?
- Does forgiveness include absolution from payment for offenses committed?
- What do the sacred texts of different religious traditions teach about God's willingness to forgive, and what do they say about the obligations of humans to forgive or withhold forgiveness?
If you plan to attend any or all of the sessions, please sign up using the sheet in the Narthex. To buy The Sunflower,
click here. There will also be a small quantity for purchase in the office.
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Sexual Abuse Prevention Training
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Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse Training
On Thursday, March 30, Good Shepherd will offer the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse training from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in the Parlor. This training is mandatory for all full and part-time employees, clergy, and anyone working with or supervising minors in a church setting. Certification is valid for ten years, and this class may be used as a renewal course. Kathy Moore has been certified by the Diocese to conduct the training. For more information or to register and receive the required handouts, contact Kathy Moore at
kmooreslp@yahoo.com. The course is open to anyone interested in learning how to prevent child sexual abuse.
Diocesan
Prevention of Adult Sexual Misconduct Training
Good Shepherd will offer the Prevention of Adult Sexual Misconduct, which includes Prevention of Elder Abuse, on Thursday, March 30, 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. in the Parlor. All clergy, full and part-time staff members, pastoral leaders, worship leaders, licensed catechists who teach adults, Lay Eucharistic Visitors who take communion to homes, hospitals, nursing homes, and other facilities, volunteers who teach adults at times other than Sunday morning (e.g. ESOL teachers), Vestry members, Outreach leaders, and members of groups that perform or work with adults off-site are required to take the course. Certification is valid for ten years, and this class may be used as a renewal course. Kathy Moore has been certified by the Diocese to conduct the training. Please register for the class and receive your handouts by contacting Kathy at
kmooreslp@yahoo.com. The course is open to anyone interested in learning how to prevent adult sexual abuse and/or elder abuse.
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Opportunities for Ministry and Giving
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ERD Lenten Meditations
A limited number of Lenten Meditation books from Episcopal Relief and Development are available in the Narthex. An electronic copy is available
here.
12 El Hogar Children Left to Choose for Lent
As of today, 73 of the 85 children pictured on the El Hogar board have been selected by parishioners to include in their Lenten experience. There are 12 young boys waiting to become part of someone's Lenten prayer and giving journey. Please visit the picture board this Sunday if you would like to choose one of these children. We ask that you pray for the child and make a donation in the envelope provided, in any amount you choose, by Good Friday. All donations go to provide nutritious food, care, and education for all the children at El Hogar Home of Love and Hope in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Contacts: Sharon Holcombe,
shh5508@cox.net, and Richard Holcombe,
jrholc49@cox.net.
AEDs for Good Shepherd
As approved by the Vestry in December, we are in the process of configuring Good Shepherd with AEDs (Automatic External Defibrillator). In preparing for their availability, we are most interested in determining those individuals that either have received AED training in the past, are currently certified in the use of an AED, or desire certification.
Please follow this link to a short, one minute survey so that we may collect responses:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JJ3BQYS
. The survey is also available on the Church Facebook page. Questions see John Morris or John Merchant.
Join us for Breakfast with FACETS
Thursday, April 20th, FACETS will again hold its annual fundraiser breakfast at the Fairview Park Marriott - 3111 Fairview Park Drive in Falls Church. This event is special because you will hear directly from clients sharing how working with FACETS has helped them begin to lift themselves out of poverty. While there is no requirement for you to make a donation, the purpose of the Opening Doors Benefit Breakfast is to raise vital funds to support FACETS' work helping people meet their emergency shelter, food, and medical needs; helping them gain safe, sustainable, and permanent housing; and working with them to end the cycle of poverty through educational, life skills, and career counseling programs. Sign up and join your friends for breakfast from 8 to 9 a.m., preceded by up to one hour open for meeting others supporting FACETS. Contact: Richard Holcombe, 703-909-4138, jrholc49@cox.net.
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Our Parish Mission and Vision
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The Church of the Good Shepherd is a Christ-centered community sharing God's love. We strive to Strengthen Faith, Build Community, and Serve Others.
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Visit Good Shepherd on the web at
good-shepherd.net Church of the Good Shepherd 9350 Braddock Rd. Burke, VA 22015 703-323-5400 |
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Save the Date!
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Sun, 3/19
Holy Eucharist, Rite II, 8:00 and 10:15 a.m.
Christian Ed for All Ages, 9:15 a.m.
Youth Group Meeting, 6:30 p.m.
Sun, 4/9
Palm Sunday, 8:00 and 10:15 a.m.
Thu, 4/13
Maundy Thursday, 7:30 p.m.
Fri, 4/14
Good Friday Office, 12:00 p.m.
Good Friday Office and Faure Requiem, 7:30 p.m.
Sat, 4/15
The Great Vigil of Easter, 8:00 p.m.
Sun, 4/16
Easter Sunday, 8:00 and 10:15 a.m.
Easter Egg Hunt, 9:00 a.m.
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Youth News
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Unless otherwise indicated, all young people in Grades 6 through 12 are invited and encouraged to participate in all Youth Group events.
Sunday, March 19 the Youth Group will meet this evening from 6:30-8:00 p.m. We had been thinking about flying kites at Burke Lake Park, but the 5-day forecast does not look good, so we will meet at church: check-in, have a fellowship event, watch a movie, and have some munchies. If the weather is nice maybe we can still fly kites out in the yard.
Sunday, April 2 - 6th - 9th Grade Sunday School/Confirmation "Pilgrimage" to a monastery downtown. Details distributed during class.
Saturday, April 8 - Service project: 9:00-11:00 at church: strip palms and get them ready for Palm Sunday, April 9
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"Send us out to do the work you have given us to do."
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Thank You!
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Nancy MacArthur Smith for her lovely solo at last Sunday's 10:15 service
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B
e the Prayers of the People
The healing of: Lynne Wortman; Carol St. Germain; Dottie Smith; Robert Johnson
For those in special need:
Andy; Belinda; Margaret; Bill; Anne
For the souls of: Richard Goldburg; Nancy Hodges Norman; Dorothy Twardy
We pray for peace in our world especially in the Middle East, for our service men and women serving in harm's way, especially William Rockwood and Matthew Allen, for humanitarian workers, and all who work for peace.
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