Good Shepherd Weekly Update, September 8, 2023

Church Picnic Good Shepherd’s annual Church Picnic is scheduled for Saturday, 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.

*If the picnic is cancelled due to rain, we will have a potluck on Sunday after the 10:30 service.  Feel free to bring all of the food that you were going to bring to the picnic to church and we will enjoy a picnic themed lunch together.  Please keep an eye on your email for more information.  

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:

• Tuna fish
• Spaghetti sauce
• Canned fruit

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!

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd The next training session for CGS teachers will be on September 15 & 16.  Please be sure to mark your calendars if you have signed up to participate in this course.

Fall Ministry Kickoff All ministries will resume meeting regularly beginning this Sunday.  Please check with your ministry leaders to verify meeting dates, times, and places.

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: Ezekiel 33:1-11, Psalm 119:33-40, Acts 10:36-48, and Matthew 18:15-20.

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 10:23-35.  You can watch or listen to it here.

Christian Education Last Sunday Good Shepherd had the pleasure of having a visit from Darling, one of our contacts from the CHE Nicaragua mission. 

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 Did you know that Matt and Anne have a podcast?  In this week episode, ‘How Far Should a Church Go to Win Back Former Members?’, Matt and Anne discuss the strange trend of single women posting videos about how wonderful life is without children and a husband. Singleness can, in the context of the Christian life be good and wonderful and holy, but these videos seem to celebrate singleness because it provides for more “me time.” Then, in light of the book Anne is reviewing, ‘The Great De-Churching,’ they discuss whether or not a church should make an all out effort to attract members who left the church. They also discuss the increasing misuse of words like ‘abuse’ and ‘trauma’ by some who have dropped out of church.

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!

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 will resume meeting on September 18.  

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.

Most Home Groups have resumed meeting.  You can find information on locations in the paper update.  Please check with your home group host or leader for more info.

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 teaches this study. 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 today, 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 resume meeting this Sunday, September 10.

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 September 11	Psalm 29, 30 1 Kings 3 Heb 2
Tuesday September 12	Psalm 34 1 Kings 4 Heb 3
Wednesday September 13	Psalm 32, 36 1 Kings 5 Heb 4:1-13
Thursday September 14	Psalm 37:1-18 Heb 4:14—5:10 John 12:23-33
Friday September 15	Psalm 40 1 Kings 6 Heb 5:11—6 end
Saturday September 16	Psalm 42, 43 1 Kings 7 Heb 7
Sunday September 17	Psalm 45 1 Kings 8 Heb 8

Serving at Good Shepherd September 10, 2023

Serving at Good Shepherd September 17, 2023

8:00am Service Celebrant: Matt Kennedy Preacher: Matt Kennedy Supporting Clergy: Anne Kennedy Reader: Colleen Kenny-Kuk Usher: Terry Ray10:30am Service Celebrant: Matt Kennedy Preacher: Matt Kennedy Supporting Clergy: Jonathan Groves, Anne Kennedy Reader: Christine Osgood Intercessor: Peggy Hughes Crucifer: Rowan Kennedy Acolytes: Elinor Kennedy, Ellie Pineau Usher: Ben Manwaring, sub Tellers: Don Dean, John KingAltar Guild: Karen Berman Nursery: Team 2: Jaime, Abigail Shepherds Bowl: Joyce Carlson with Team 2

8:00am Service Celebrant: Matt Kennedy Preacher: Matt Kennedy Supporting Clergy: Anne Kennedy Reader: Terry Ray Usher: Terry Ray10:30am Service Celebrant: Matt Kennedy Preacher: Matt Kennedy Supporting Clergy: Anne Kennedy Deacon: Warren Musselman Reader: Liz Hull Intercessor: Carrie Nelson Crucifer: Jonah Carlton Acolytes: Seth Carlton, sub Usher: Scott Pineau, sub Tellers: Chris Jones, Bruce LaymanAltar Guild: Karen Carlton Nursery: Team 3: Sarah, Tal, Silvan Shepherds Bowl: Martha Rice with Team 3