Good Shepherd Weekly Update, August 19, 2023

Chili & Cornbread Cookoff! This year’s chili and cornbread cookoff was very well attended.  We had seven entries for chili and three entries for cornbread.

 The winners were:

Traditional Chili The Porker by Anne Kennedy

 Non-Traditional Chili Chicken Spice (and everything nice) by Bonnie Rios

 Cornbread Eileen Myer

Thank you to everyone who participated and to all who judged.

Church Picnic Good Shepherd’s annual Church Picnic is scheduled for September 9th, 12-4 at Nathaniel Cole Park, pavilion #1.

There are several grills at the picnic area. Please bring whatever meat your family will be eating, dishes, cutlery, drinks, and a side dish or dessert to share. There is a digital sign-up sheet where you can let others know what you’ll be bringing if you’d like.

If you are unable to bring anything, please do still come! There will be plenty to share and the church will be sure to have extra hot dogs and sides to help fill the gap.

If you would like to go to the picnic, but need transportation, please call the office or talk to any of the staff and we’ll try to help facilitate that.

There is a large field for softball, football, or frisbee, and many walking paths. Although there is a swimming area, the park does not allow swimming after Labor Day.

Good Shepherd Food Pantry Needs Please feel free to pick up a few items for the pantry when doing your household shopping if you have the ability.

The Food Pantry’s most pressing needs currently are:

• Spaghetti sauce
• Canned fruit
• Canned soups (those with protein are especially appreciated)

Thank you to all the folks who have been so generous with their donations!  The variety, quality & consistency of what the food pantry is offering to those in our parish & outreach who need help is much improved!

Confirmation Classes Matt will be hosting a series of confirmation classes by Zoom in September.  These classes are for people who have been baptized as young children or in other traditions but have not made a profession of faith in the Anglican tradition for themselves.  Confirmation is one of the sacraments, and is a way for the Christian to step forward into a fuller membership within the church body.  If you would like access to this class, please email the office or let Stephanie know.

Sunday Worship and Holy Eucharist

The 8am service This service includes readings from the Bible, a sermon, offering, confession, and communion. There is no music during this service. The 8am service is not currently being live-streamed.

The 10:30am service This is a full traditional Anglican Holy Eucharist service, including readings from the Bible, music, a sermon, confession, and communion.  This service is available for livestream on our Facebook page.  You can download a PDF copy of this week’s service bulletin here.

This Sunday’s lectionary readings are: Isaiah 56:1-8, Psalm 67, Acts 10:1-8, and Matthew 15:21-28.

You’ll also notice that there are links in the offertory section to take you out to two different means of giving electronically. You can give online through Breeze or you can text a donation through Breeze at 607-882-6551. Good Shepherd also has a PayPal account. As always, thank you for your great generosity and kind support.

Catching Up…

Last Sunday’s Sermon Last Sunday, Matt preached on Acts 9:31-43.  You can watch or listen to it here.

Christian Education Last Sunday Matt continued our summer Christian Education series on the Homilies, with the seventh homily, On Taking and Breaking Oaths.

Our friend, Dr. Lee Gatiss, has recently published a modern version of the Homilies (the older ones are written in King James style English) which we will be using throughout the series and which you can purchase here. You  don’t need to buy it to follow along in the class though since there will be notes and guides each Sunday.

You can catch that class here.

You can find previous classes here.

Tuesday Morning Bible Study This Tuesday we continued our study on the book of 1 Samuel.  You can watch that class here.

Preventing Grace Matt and Anne didn’t get a podcast recorded this week, but should be back with a new offering next week.

You can find their podcast available on most platforms.

You can catch up on older episodes here.

The Cranmer Fellows Podcast (CFP) explores pastoral ministry and theology from an Anglican perspective. CFP is a project that Jon and Matt have undertaken in order to 1) encapsulate the pastoral training Matt has given men over the years into an accessible resource and 2) serve as a door to, we pray, a future program to train more people for ministry. Though geared toward the pastor, ministry leader, and pastor-in-training, what Jon and Matt talk about is applicable to all Christians!

There is no new podcast episode this week.  We hope to be back with another episode next week.

Here is a link where you can listen to previous episodes! https://anchor.fm/thecranmerfellowspodcast.

You can subscribe to CFP on all major platforms.

Ongoing Ministries 

Intercessor Ministry Good Shepherd has resumed offering Prayer on the side altar during Communion. On any given Sunday, you may notice a person standing at the side altar rail as you come forward to receive the bread and wine.  That person is part of the Prayer Ministry, people trained to pray for any anxieties or troubles you may have.  If you would like prayer for any reason, please feel free to stop as you pass.

Audio-Video Team Are you a technologically capable person who would like to serve the church with your gifts?  Good Shepherd is adding a volunteer team to run sound and the livestream for the 10:30 Sunday service. If this is a ministry that interests you, please reach out to Micah.

Morning Prayer This group meets online by Zoom at 7am Monday through Friday.  The liturgy and readings are available each day at www.dailyoffice2019.com. Join the parish email list and look for a weekly email invitation in your inbox.

Morning prayer is on hiatus until September.  

Tuesday Morning Bible Study meets at 9:05am to walk through different books of the bible, verse by verse.  Taught by a member of the pastoral staff in the main room of the parish hall.  This class can be viewed in person or online each week by livestream.

Home Groups Home Groups exist to glorify God and build up the church through weekly gatherings where members of Good Shepherd and non-members alike may come to grow in fellowship and discipleship around God’s word. Many of the groups are on hiatus for the summer.

Shepherd’s Bowl Community Dinner Good Shepherd offers a free nutritious meal to the people of Good Shepherd and the wider community on Thursday evenings from 5:30-6:30. If you are able, this is a great time to get to know others and enjoy a free and delicious meal.

Thursday Evening Bible Study This is a great place to connect with others and learn more about what God has to say to us through his word.  The class is taught by The Rev. Jon Groves, and they are studying the gospel of Mark.

Friday Morning Men’s Bible Study Each week men gather at 6:30am to share bible study and prayer time together.  Men of any age are welcome to attend.  If you are interested in learning more about this study, please email Pastor Matt, Jonathan Groves, or contact the church office. This class is currently studying the book of 1 John.

Women’s Bible Study meets at 4:30pm on Friday afternoons in the Parish Hall.  Anne Kennedy is leading, and they are currently studying the book of Hosea. If you’d like to join by zoom, please join the church email list and look for a link in the weekly update email.

Women’s Bible Study will resume on September 8.

Good Shepherd Youth Group The Good Shepherd Youth Group serves young adults by providing an engaging context for them to grow in:
1) Maturity in doctrine
2) Faithfulness to Christ
3) Service to others

Youth Group will be meeting ad hoc for special events over the summer.

Good Shepherd Food Pantry Did you know that Good Shepherd has a member food pantry?  This pantry is a small room off the kitchen and is open to all members of Good Shepherd.

If you are in need, please feel free to make use of the pantry.  If you’d like more information, please see Jenn Fowler.

Daily Lectionary, Year I 60 Day Psalter Cycle
Monday August 21	Psalm 119:129-152 2 Sam 9 Phil 2:12-end
Tuesday August 22	Psalm 118 2 Sam 10 Phil 3
Wednesday August 23	Psalm 122, 123 2 Sam 11 Phil 4
Thursday August 24	Psalm 127, 128 Col 1:1-20 Luke 6:12-16
Friday August 25	Psalm 132, 133 2 Sam 12 Col 1:21—2:7
Saturday August 26	Psalm 136 2 Sam 13 Col 2:8-19
Sunday August 27	Psalm 139 2 Sam 14 Col 2:20—3:11