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The Good N'ewes for March 2024

Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, Nashua, New Hampshire


"Do you wish to honor the body of Christ? Do not ignore him when he is naked. Do not pay him homage in the temple clad in silk, only then to neglect him outside where he is cold and ill-clad. He who said: "This is my body" is the same who said: "You saw me hungry, and you gave me no food", and "Whatever you did to the least of my brothers you did also to me"... What good is it if the Eucharistic table is overloaded with golden chalices when your brother is dying of hunger? Start by satisfying his hunger and then with what is left you may adorn the altar as well."


-- St John Chrysostom



Following the Flock

people standing and talking animatedly

We had a reflective, educational, and reconciling work forum talk with Reverend Fred Chisolm February 25. Thanks to the CGS Social Justice Committee and everyone who brought food for the luncheon.

graph showing six days of solar panel production

Our Solar is sailing us into the future! John Rowntree reports that March will be our best month yet, we have so far offset 7k of carbon, and we are paying less to Eversource for our electricity.

bar graph of solar panel production by month

Happenings Highlight: Sacred Ground

"Sacred Ground is part of Becoming Beloved Community, The Episcopal Church’s long-term commitment to racial healing, reconciliation, and justice in our personal lives, our ministries, and our society. This series is open to all, and especially designed to help white people talk with other white people." From the Sacred Ground page on the Episcopal Church website.


Church of the Good Shepherd is offering Sacred Ground, the powerful film- and readings-based dialogue (grounded in faith) on race again this spring. The 11-part series is hosted again by Mark Sylor, joined this session by Seth Bonvouloir. Don't hesitate, space is limited to twelve participants and this series is thought provoking and faith refining. Many people feel uncomfortable and powerless about racial injustice. Sacred Ground provides framework, nonjudgemental space to explore, and empowers God's people to action.


When: April 16th to June 25, Tuesdays at 7 PM

How: Register online, call the office 603-882-5352 or email administrator@cgsnashua.org

Church Trivia: Foot Washing! I don't know about you, but it makes me a little grossed out. That is actually the point: being willing, like Jesus, to serve others in the muck and grime of daily life. At its heart foot-washing is an ancient hospitality ritual we are commanded (Maundy from mandate, "to command") to do for fellow disciples.

Who Are Ewe?/Thank Ewe

The Vestry

The Vestry is the backbone of our church leadership structure. None of these amazing folk are paid for being on Vestry, and they give generously of time, energy, care, and talent. Thank Ewe, Vestry. And please remember to give them a thanks in person next time you see a Vestry member. For our "Who are Ewe?" feature this month guest contributor Sue Corman, our Senior Warden, has written an update on our Vestry:


In January, with the parish endorsement, we welcomed several new members to the Vestry. Some to complete vacated seats, and some to fill the new three-year term openings. Please join me in welcoming these folks once again: Don Yelton, Junior Warden, Susan Nutting for her second term as Clerk, Thom Arpin, Amanda Blair, Mark Crepeau, Michael Engleson, and Denise Thompson. They join our continuing Vestry members: Amey Fuller as Treasurer, Kathy Cormier, Doug Liles, Sarah Patton, and Jane Wilkins, as well as myself, Sue Corman, your Senior Warden. I would also like to thank again those members who have completed their terms on the Vestry as of our Annual Meeting: Sandy Desharnais who was Junior Warden, Amy Cooley, Beth Derderian, Howard Titus, and Missy Carnevale who passed away last year.


Of the many tasks and events that we as a Vestry participate in, one that I look forward to each year is our Vestry Retreat, which this year is held on Saturday March 16 at the church building. This is a special time for us as a Vestry to gather for prayer, discernment, strategic planning, and sharing our ideas for the future of CGS along with some fellowship and bonding. This year we are focusing on a variety of topics including “What is Our Sacred Bundle?” We are spending some time looking at how welcoming we are through the eyes of a visitor or newcomer as they walk through our doors. We also took time to consider our Stewardship Programs and how these overlap with welcoming and fellowship. During this we will take into account our recent RenewalWorks Program results.


For more information on what your Vestry is doing for CGS, please reach out to any Vestry member or email us at vestry@cgsnashua.com.

Respectfully Submitted,

Sue Corman

Senior Warden


Book Rec: In the spirit of love and reconciliation, just as Jesus worked towards with his life and ministry, we recommend Parker J. Palmer's book "A Hidden Wholeness: The Journey Toward an Undivided Life." Subtitled "Welcoming the Soul and Weaving Community in a Wounded World," it can be found HERE and offers a contemplative read on four themes: the shape of a life of integrity, the meaning of community, teaching and learning for transformation, and nonviolent social change.

byzantine mosaic portrait of stern cleric

Tapestry of Souls:

John Chrysostom

John Chrysostom is considered one of the great Early Church Fathers. He lived from around 347 to Sept 14, 407 BC, and was known for his preaching and public speaking which is where the epithet "Chrysostom," or "golden mouth," originates. While he was very popular with the poor, religious and political leaders alike found him uncomfortable for his ascetic lifestyle and denunciation of abuse by the powerful.


Sadly, part of his legacy includes his influence of the early Church towards what would become anti-Semitism and homophobia. As a church we must work to reconcile the damage done by our flawed saints with the greatness of their other works. It is fitting, then, to learn about him at Easter with its mingled sorrow and joy, and themes of reconciliation.


St John was also one of the most prolific writers in the early Church and many of his writings survive. His shortest homily, written for Easter, is also his most famous and contains the line "O death, where is thy sting?" Chrysostom's sermon, still sharply applicable to our lives today, connects us with the early Church.


St John Chrysostom's Wikipedia page is an excellent place to start learning more.

Two translations of Saint John Chrysostom's Paschal Homily

Are there any who are devout lovers of God? 

Let them enjoy this beautiful bright festival! 

 

Are there any who are grateful servants? 

Let them rejoice and enter into the joy of their Lord! 

 

Are there any weary with fasting? 

Let them now receive their wages! 

 

If any have toiled from the first hour, 

let them receive their due reward; 

If any have come after the third hour, 

let him with gratitude join in the Feast! 

And he that arrived after the sixth hour, 

let him not doubt; for he too shall sustain no loss. 

And if any delayed until the ninth hour, 

let him not hesitate; but let him come too. 

And he who arrived only at the eleventh hour, 

let him not be afraid by reason of his delay. 

For the Lord is gracious and receives the last even as the first. He gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour, as well as to him that toiled from the first. 

 

To this one He gives, and upon another He bestows. 

He accepts the works as He greets the endeavor. 

The deed He honors and the intention He commends. 





Let us all enter into the joy of the Lord! 

First and last alike receive your reward; 

rich and poor, rejoice together! 

Sober and slothful, celebrate the day! 

You that have kept the fast, and you that have not, 

rejoice today for the Table is richly laden! 

 




Feast royally on it, the calf is a fatted one. 

Let no one go away hungry. Partake, all, of the cup of faith. 

Enjoy all the riches of His goodness! 

 

Let no one grieve at his poverty, 

for the universal kingdom has been revealed. 


 

Let no one mourn that he has fallen again and again; 

for forgiveness has risen from the grave. 

 

Let no one fear death, for the Death of our Savior has set us free. 

He has destroyed it by enduring it. 

He destroyed Hell when He descended into it. 

He put it into an uproar even as it tasted of His flesh. 

 

Isaiah foretold this when he said, 

"You, O Hell, have been troubled by encountering Him below." 

Hell was in an uproar because it was done away with. 

It was in an uproar because it is mocked. 

It was in an uproar, for it is destroyed. 

It is in an uproar, for it is annihilated. 

It is in an uproar, for it is now made captive. 

 

Hell took a body, and discovered God. 

It took earth, and encountered Heaven. 

It took what it saw, and was overcome by what it did not see. 

 

O death, where is thy sting? 

O Hell, where is thy victory? 

 

Christ is Risen, and you, o death, are annihilated! 

Christ is Risen, and the evil ones are cast down! 

Christ is Risen, and the angels rejoice! 

Christ is Risen, and life is liberated! 

 


Christ is Risen, and the tomb is emptied of its dead; 

for Christ having risen from the dead, is become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep. 

 

To Him be Glory and Power forever and ever. Amen! 


If you are devout and love God,

enjoy this beautiful and radiant festival. 

 

If you are a loyal servant,

enter rejoicing into the joy of the Lord. 

 


If you are weary with fasting,

now take your reward. 

 

If you worked from the first hour,

receive today what is rightly owing to you. 

If you came after the third hour,

celebrate the feast with thanksgiving. 

If you only appeared after the sixth hour,

don't be troubled by doubt; for nothing is lost. 

If you delayed until the ninth hour,

come without any wavering. 

If you appeared only at the eleventh hour,

don't be worried about your slowness.

Our Lord is generous and welcomes the last just as he does the first. He gives rest to those who have worked from the eleventh hour just as to those who have worked from the first. 

 

He has compassion for the last and he cares for the first. 

He is generous to the former and he shows favor to the latter. 

He accepts the work done and welcomes the sense of purpose. 

He honors the action and praises the intention. 

 

So, come all of you into the joy of our Lord -  

those who are first and those who are second - and receive your reward. 

Rich and poor, dance for joy with each other. 

Whether you are self-controlled or more relaxed honor the day. 

Whether you are fasting or not fasting rejoice today. 

The table is full, so everybody take great pleasure in it. 

 

There is an abundance of good meat - no one is to go away hungry. 

All of you are to enjoy this wealth of goodness. 

 


No one is to lament their poverty,

for the kingdom belonging to everybody has appeared. 

 

No one is to bewail their shortcomings,

for mercy rose up from the tomb. 


 

No one is to fear death, for the death of the Saviour set us free. 

He brought death to an end while he was in its clutches. 

 He disarmed Hades when he descended to Hades. 

He made Hades bitter when it tasted his flesh. 


Isaiah prophesied this when he cried: “Hades was made bitter”. 

It was made bitter when it met you in the depths. 

It was made bitter; for it was rendered impotent. 

It was made bitter; for it was mocked. 

It was made bitter; for it was put to death. 

It was made bitter; for it was overpowered. 

It was made bitter; for it was bound in chains. 


 

It took a body, but actually found it to be God. 

It took earth and met heaven. 

It took what it saw, and has fallen as a result of what it failed to see. 

 

“Where, death, is your sting?  

Where, Hades, is your victory?” 

 

Christ is risen and demons have fallen. 

Christ is risen and the angels rejoice. 

Christ is risen and life can be lived. 

Christ is risen and no one who is dead is in the tomb. 

 

For Christ raised from the dead became the first-fruits of those who had fallen asleep. 



To Him be Glory and Power for ever and ever. Amen! 


EpiscoWhat?

Triduum

Pronounced "tri-joo-uhm" this trio of days is technically the preparation days before any feast, though it most often refers to the Easter or Paschal Triduum. These are considered the most holy days in the calendars of many denominations. It starts with Maundy Thursday, continues with Good Friday, and concludes with Holy Saturday.

triduum illustration
blue cardboard box labeled suggestion box

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