Shep Staff Easter 2015 Website

Church of the Good Shepherd
164 Newtown Rd., Acton, MA 01720
www.goodshepherdacton.org
978-263-5782
Non Profit Org.
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Time Value Material - March 25 , 2015
Church of the
Good Shepherd
Our Story Inside These Pages
3/29 - 9:30 AM - Noon: Morning Lenten Retreat
3/29 - 8 & 10 AM: Palm Sunday 8 & 10
4/1 - Bread & Banter at Noon
4/2 - 7:30 PM: Maundy Thursday Eucharist & Foot Washing
4/3 - 7:30 PM: Good Friday Service
4/4 - 10 AM: Stations of Holy Week for Children, 7:30 PM: Great Vigil of Easter
4/5 - Easter - 7:45 Eucharist, 9 AM Family Eucharist, 10:45 Festal Eucharist
4/12 - 10:00 AM: Kirkin’ of the Tartans
5/1 - 7:30 PM: Concert Series featuring The Cellar Dwellers
5/6 - Bread & Banter at Noon
5/9 - 6:30 PM: All About the Epsicopal Church dinner presentation
The Shepherd’s Staff
Our story inside these pages
Easter 2015
A Word from
the Fold
Easter:
An Ancient
Technology for an
Emergent World
The history of Christianity is not one of lost books and esoteric
knowledge. Rather it is a two thousand year old example of a robust religious faith that refuses to die. It is the story of a small group of people
who, starting from an extremely limited resource base as wandering Galileans, were the catalysts for one of the most dynamic faith traditions in
the world. They based their world view on the spiritual technology they
had available: the teachings of Jesus, their experience of his healing power-in-community and the mind-blowing claim that he had risen from the
dead.
With the gradual conversion of St. Paul to an understanding of
a Christ-centered reality, a new road map of faith emerged: namely the
house church movement based on the proclamation that “He is Risen.”
His letters are full of encouragement, urgent tips for conflict resolution
and spiritual advice for fledging Christians to flourish in the love of God.
However, the demands placed on the early house church movement were immense as Christianity was co-opted by the Roman Empire.
When the Empire could no longer withstand internal and external political pressures it collapsed, leaving the Church to “pick up the pieces.” So
began the rise of the Western imperial phase of Christianity. We are, I believe, experiencing the last gasps of geographically-based institutional religious power as we have known it. As new technologies emerge, churches
like ours are experiencing the chaos of new emergent realities, creative
spiritual possibilities and immense global changes that are way bigger
than we are.
The Good News is this: We are the inheritors of the teachings of
Jesus and we continue to experience the healing power of life in Christian
community. The challenge is to work this out in new and creative ways, for
the future flourishing of the world around us. So, as you contemplate your
place in the world God has made, I encourage you to renew your commitment to God’s call this Eastertide. Let’s gather together so we can embody
for one another the essential and original mind-blowing claim that “Jesus
Christ is Risen Today.”
Gareth
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Contents
Worship
2-5
Christian Formation
6-10
Mission Outreach
11-12
Events
13 - 15
Committee News
16
View From the Rectory
17
Appreciation Page
18-19
Administration
19-22
Passages
22
Last Look
23
If you need to contact
25
Calendar of Events
25
The Church of the
Good Shepherd
164 Newtown Road
Acton, MA 01720
(978) 263-5782
Website:
www.goodshepherdacton.
org
FB: Church of the Good
Shepherd, Acton
A member of the
Episcopal Diocese
of Massachussets
Worship
Holy Week Schedule
Palm Sunday, March 29
8:00 and 10:00 AM Procession of Palms
Maundy Thursday, April 2
7:30 PM: Holy Eucharist with foot washing
Good Friday, April 3
7:30 PM: Contemplative Service with Communion and special music
Easter Vigil, Saturday April 4
7:30 PM: Service of Light with Solemn Eucharist, Bell and Anthem Choirs
Easter Sunday, April 5
7:45AM: Holy Eucharist with music
9:00 AM: Family Eucharist with music; nursery available
10:45 AM: Festal Eucharist with Anthem Choir; nursery available
A Road Map for Holy Week
Worship
March 29—April 5
corruption of the Latin
mandatum, from the
“new commandment.”
This day marks the
beginning of the holiest
three days of Holy Week
known as the Triduum
(‘The Three Days”)
Palm Sunday, 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM
At the later service, we will gather in the
covered walkway outside church for the Procession of
the Palms, symbolically enacting Jesus’s triumphal
arrival in Jerusalem. The waving of palm branches
on this day is an ancient custom, and many members
keep them as a remembrance for the whole year. If
the weather is inclement, we will gather in the Parish
Hall.
Good Friday, 7:30 PM
This marks the second day of the Triduum,
the day on which we recall Jesus’s crucifixion and
death. This meditative liturgy
with special music recalls Jesus
carrying the cross and then
being crucified. As part of the
service, communion is shared
from the bread consecrated at
the Maundy Thursday service,
after which everyone departs
in silence with the quiet
expectation of the Great Vigil
of Easter to come.
The Great Vigil of Easter,
Saturday 7:30 PM
Maundy Thursday, 7:30 PM
The liturgy of Maundy Thursday enacts the
humility of Jesus as he washes the disciples’ feet
and recalls his “new commandment to his disciples
to love another as he has loved them.” Hence the
meaning of the word Maundy, which is an Old English
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The Great Vigil of Easter is the most solemn
and ancient liturgy of the church’s year. It is the
culmination of Lent, Holy Week, and the Triduum.
The service has four parts: The Service of Light, in
which a new fire is lit to light the Paschal (Easter)
Candle and the entire congregation then processes
into the sanctuary; the Service of Lessons, in which
God’s saving hand in history is recalled; the Renewal
of the Baptismal Covenant, in which we reaffirm our
commitment to live as Baptized Christians; and the
Holy Eucharist, which breaks the Lenten mood with
the proclamation of the Easter Alleluia and the first
celebration of the Eucharist since Maundy Thursday
night. Everyone is invited to bring hand-held bells
to toll in the Easter Celebration, banish all darkness,
and signify that new life is breaking out once more.
Service Schedule
Sunday: 8:00 AM Holy Eucharist
10:00 AM Holy Eucharist
w/Church School
Wednesday:
7:30 AM Holy Eucharist
w/potluck breakfast
Easter Day, 7:45 AM, 9:00 AM,
and 10:45 AM
• Healing Prayers and Laying on
of hands the first Sunday of the
Month.
• Food Ingathering the second
Sunday of the month.
• NewEu(charist) All-Age Service
the third Sunday of the month at 10:00 AM
Easter Day marks the beginning of Easter
Week and offers three Eucharistic services through
which to enter into the joy of Christ’s resurrection.
The early service will have a celebratory musical
accompaniment; the middle service will be a
New Eu(charist) for All Ages and have a typically
contemporary feel; and the later service will be
a joyful, robust, and liturgically more traditional
event.
Sarah Young will be our guest musician again
on Easter morning for the traditional 10:45 AM
service. The Anthem Choir will lead the congregation
in the processional hymn Christ the “Lord is Risen
Today” and sing other Easter anthems during the
service.
The earlier contemporary service at 9:00 will
feature “Voices Rising!”, our ad hoc group of singers,
with guest singer Ella Fields in Paul Halley’s “The
Rain is Over and Gone” and an Easter Alleluia. The
church school children will also sing, led by our teen
singers in a lively Alleluia.
My thanks to all the musicians in our
community for sharing their talents and love of
music!
Dr. Tish Anne Kilgore, Minister of Music
Music for Holy Week and Easter
Our religious experience is especially
enhanced by music during Holy Week and Easter
with traditional hymns we sing each year, beautiful
anthems sung by the choirs, and special instrumental
music, this year with oboist Sarah Young. I invite
you to listen to the ways in which music reflects the
liturgy, the words, and the stories. Sometimes it is
in the lyrics, but more often it is the mood and flow
of melody and harmony that draws us inward and
brings us closer to God.
The Anthem Choir will chant and sing for the
Maundy Thursday service and the Easter Vigil, with
the Bell Choir joining for the latter service. The Good
Friday service alternates liturgy with contemplative
oboe and piano music expressive of the Passion.
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Tracing our Roots—Liturgy
for the Easter Season
body and blood of Christ. The Scottish Eucharistic
liturgy conveys the catholic sense of it being real
and yet couches it as a mystical and spiritual reality
rather than making a literal claim to an actual
physical change to the particles in the bread and the
wine. I am particularly drawn to what I perceive as
the note of “moderate realism” struck by the Scottish
Episcopal rite.
I hope that this finely wrought and lyrical
liturgy will once again appeal to those in our
congregation who bring a catholic sensibility to
liturgy as well as satisfy those who adhere to a more
rational/Protestant spirituality. This liturgy will be
offered on the first Sunday after Easter Day and
remain in use until Pentecost.
Gareth
During the Easter season, we will draw upon
the Eucharistic liturgy of The Scottish Episcopal
Church for the principal Sunday service. The Anglican
Church in Scotland was crucial to the founding of
the post-colonial, independent Episcopal Church we
know today. In 1784 the Scottish bishops consecrated
the first U. S. Episcopal bishop, Samuel Seabury,
against the political inclinations of the English
bishops. As a result, the Eucharistic rite adopted by
the brand new Episcopal Church in 1790 was closely
modeled on the Scottish-Anglican liturgy, rather
than on the English Anglican rite of that time.
Calling All Young People
Today the Scottish Episcopal Church is closely
related to the Church of England in its liturgy but is
nevertheless structurally independent of the Church
of England. The resulting liturgy of 1982 (the one we
use) offers a unique blend of Gaelic, Protestant, and
Catholic elements, reflecting an Anglican sensibility
that is both catholic, reformed, and distinctly
Scottish. For example, the epiclesis (or the priestly
calling down of the Holy Spirit on the bread and the
wine) has an evocatively democratic feel to it:
“Hear us, most merciful Father, and send your Holy
Spirit upon us and upon this bread and wine, that,
overshadowed by his life-giving power, they may be the
Body and Blood of your Son” (Scottish Liturgy 1982,
online, Epiclesis in Eucharistic Prayers I-IV).
When it comes to the question of “How real
is the presence of Christ in the bread and wine?”,
we are invited to contemplate the liturgical phrase,
“they may be in relation to the body and blood of Christ.”
To my ear this sounds at once very Scottish and also
classically Anglican: we love moderation, theological
compromise, and a certain restraint on the question
of whether the bread and wine become the actual
Would you like to become an acolyte? We
are looking for young people in the Parish age 10
and up to serve as acolytes. You will receive training
and will serve with experienced acolytes till you feel
comfortable. You will also be able to join your class
while you are serving. Acolytes play a very important
part in our worship service. They are the crucifer and
torch bearers who lead the choir, LEMs, and presider
into church. If you would like to become one of our
youth servers, please see Beth Browning or Marilyn
Fedele, after church any Sunday or give us a call at
the above numbers.
Marilyn Fedele
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The Peace: what’s it all about?
Given
that
worship is spiritually
complex and there are
a myriad of potential
distractions, it is easy
to forget that we
are gathered in God’s presence to embody the
transforming love of God with and for each other.
‘Sharing the peace’ with one another is an embodied
demonstration of “how we are” in community.
Everyone is part of it and needs to feel part of it to
be part of the gathering, especially the newcomers.
Sharing the peace is how we say to each other: ‘We
are here together in the presence of God, and I
acknowledge you in God’s presence and affirm that
you count, too!’
‘The peace’ at CGS happens at different
points in the service depending on the season.
So, for example in Epiphany we share the peace at
the beginning of the service as it emphasizes the
community coming together; at other times of the
year we share it at the beginning of the Eucharist,
as a way to “square away” differences we have with
God or with each other; we could also share the
peace during the post-communion/dismissal period
as way to emphasize the importance of embodying
Christ’s peace as it flows into our everyday lives.
The way in which we share the peace requires
some sensitivity on our part. First, it is easy to
step over the hidden boundaries of other people’s
‘personal space’ (I am not a big hugger and absolutely
not a peace-kisser). Equally, the limp, cold “episcoshake” of a codfish hand can be a less than wonderful
expression of anti-togetherness!
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One over-riding thing that is critical to how
we ‘do the peace’ is that it demonstrates hospitality
and welcome. We must be mindful and guard against
exclusively greeting our friends, chatting it up as
if we are at coffee hour, and ignoring newcomers.
Please greet the strangers in our midst by offering
them eye contact and a handshake with the words,
“The Peace of Christ be with you.” That’s all it takes to
widen the circle of inclusion. Believe me, when I tell
you that newcomers who feel excluded at the Peace
will not return for a second visit. Also an overly-long
Peace leaves newcomers, new members and visitors
standing in their pews as the peace swirls on (and
on) around them. Hence, during these coming weeks
I will be orchestrating the length of the peace to
ensure that we, collectively “strike the right note”
and “hold it for the appropriate length.”
Peace be with you, Gareth
Kirkin’ of the Tartans
April 12th is Kirkin’ of the Tartans Sunday
and we’ll be adding a little pomp and circumstance to
the later service that day by the wearing of kilts and
clan colors. We may sing Amazing Grace as the final
hymn plus the Skye Boat song, and we’re hoping to
have a piper, Please let Gareth know if you know a
piper who would like to join us.
Christian Formation
A Morning Retreat
Opportunity at CGS
9:30AM to noon on March 28
discuss for April. If you love flowers and the Victorian tradition of
flowers having a deeper meaning
(especially when given to someone), then you will find this enjoyable. There are high lights and
some low moments as the main
character, a young orphan, works
her way through the foster care
system, learning (and not learning) life lessons as the novel progresses. Our meeting time has not been set, so watch the announcements after Easter for time and place.
John Link
All are welcome to join the rector for a morning of spiritual retreat and refreshment centered on
Henri Nouwen’s book, The Return of the Prodigal Son:
A Story of Homecoming.
We will spend
time with Rembrandt’s
last depiction of the
Prodigal Son and reflect
on it via the insights
that Nouwen brings to
the painting. During a
time of guided meditation and quiet reflection, this short retreat
will shed light on being
a daughter or a son in
relationship to God as a
tender, compassionate,
and forgiving parent.
Gareth
All About the Episcopal Church
Coming on May 9th at 6:30 PM, you are invited
to share a dinner and participate in a program called
“The Episcopal Church 101.” It covers a broad range
of topics about the Episcopal church: it includes
Church history, what Episcopalians believe, the worship service, the structure of the church, the Book of
Common Prayer, and laity’s role in the church (that
means you, btw). It is a one-evening romp through
all things Episcopal with
Margaret Geanisis presenting the information.
The Episcopal Church
draws many of its members from other denominations. If you are one of
these, this is a great and
entertaining way to fill in
any blanks of information you may be curious about
or didn’t know. It is also great for those of us who
don’t remember much from our confirmation classes
or have been away from church for a while. We will
begin with dinner and conversation, followed by the
first part of the presentation. We’ll break for dessert and then finish up the presentation, probably
around 8:30 but certainly by 9 PM.
Dinner is free. Please look for more details in
the weekly email newsletter and the Sunday bulletin, and for the sign-up sheet in the parish hall after
Easter Sunday.
Margaret Geanisis
On-line Bible Study
A group of us are gathering together online
Monday nights for bible study. Each week we look at
one of the readings for the following Sunday. We explore the meaning of the reading for our lives today.
We have found that great intimacy can be created
sharing faith together online. We are still exploring
the most effective format for meeting online, therefore the best way to participate is to visit “Online
events” on the parish website. Readings for each
week can be found online or in the Parish Hall. Upcoming dates are: March 30, April 6, April 13, April
26. (No Meeting Patriots Day. )
Ailleen DiBenedetto
Not Too Serious Book Group
The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh is the novel the book group will read and
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The Book Corner
anecdotal evidence from her work as a clinical psychologist to illustrate just how invaluable spirituality is to a child’s mental and physical health, Miller
translates these findings into practical advice for
parents, giving them concrete ways to develop and
encourage their children’s—as well as their own—
well-being. In this provocative, conversation-starting book, Dr. Miller presents us with a pioneering
new way to think about parenting our modern youth.
John the Pupil: A Novel by David Flusfeder
John has studied at the Franciscan monastery outside Oxford, under the tutelage of friar and
magus Roger Bacon, an inventor, scientist, and polymath. In 1267, Bacon arranges for his young pupil to
embark on a journey of penitence to Italy , which is a
guise to deliver scientific instruments and Bacon’s great opus
to His Holiness, Pope Clement
IV. Two companions accompany
John, both Franciscan friars:
the handsome, sweet-tempered
Brother Andrew, with whom everyone falls in love; and the more
brutish Brother Bernard, with
his secret compulsion for drawing imaginary monsters. Neither knows the true
purpose of their expedition.
John the Pupil is a medieval road movie, recounting the journey taken from Oxford to Viterbo in
1267 by John and his two companions. Modeling
themselves after Saint Francis, the trio treks by foot
through Europe, preaching the gospel and begging
for sustenance. In addition to fighting off ambushes
from thieves hungry for the thing of power they are
carrying, the holy trio are tried and tempted by all
sorts of sins: ambition, pride, lust—and by the sheer
hell and heaven of medieval life.
All the Places to Go . . . How Will You Know?: God
Has Placed before You an Open Door. What Will
You Do? by John Ortberg
Very rarely in the Bible does God command
someone to “Stay.” He opens a door, and then he invites us to walk through it—into the unknown. And
how we choose to respond will
ultimately determine the life we
will lead and the person we will
become. In fact, to fail to embrace the open door is to miss
the work God has made for us
to do. In All the Places to Go . . .
How Will You Know?, bestselling
author John Ortberg opens our
eyes to the countless doors God
places before us every day, teaches us how to recognize them, and gives us the encouragement to step
out in faith and embrace all of the extraordinary opportunities that await. So go ahead—walk through
that door. You just might do something that lasts for
eternity.
The Spiritual Child: The New Science on Parenting for Health and Lifelong Thriving by Lisa Miller
In The Spiritual Child, psychologist Lisa Miller
presents the next big idea in psychology: the science and the power of spirituality. She explains the
clear, scientific link between spirituality and health
and shows that children who
have a positive, active relationship to spirituality are less likely
to use and abuse substances, to
be depressed as teenagers, to
have dangerous or unprotected
sex, and have significantly more
positive markers for thriving
including an increased sense of
meaning and purpose and high levels of academic
success.
Combining cutting-edge research with broad
Lenten Progam
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Church School
Lent Activities: A Look Back
a song, led
by Alison Rutyna and other
teen girls, after church on
Sunday March
22 until noon.
They will meet
again Easter
morning at 8:45
AM in the Library.
Lent Madness
This year families were invited to explore Lent
Madness as family Lenten discipline. This annual
online event, named after college basketball’s March
Madness, is a fun and funny way to learn more about
those who follow Jesus. Each day of Lent, information is provided about two saints; participants then
vote for their favorite saint. Additional information
is included for those who make it to the next round,
and then the next. In this way 32 faithful followers
of Christ are whittled down to the final winner of the
“Golden Halo.”
Learning about the varied ways people have lived
out their baptismal promises allows participants the
opportunity to consider their own Christian commitment.
The Church
Club followed
the
process
and have created a special
bulletin board
to share what
they learned
with
the
whole Church
School.
Class Updates
Nursery
We have two parents who have volunteered to
be in the nursery on Sunday mornings. The nursery
is the place that our young members come to learn
more about the Love of God. The primary place that
children learn of God’s love is at home; the nursery
teaches that God’s love is present in the Church community in a special way. Please take advantage of
this child care opportunity during the 10 AM Sunday
service.
Weaving God’s Promises
Emmanuel Aronie has been primary teacher
for this group, with assistance from Carol Brady.
Emmanuel has a brief reflection to share:
Usually, we make a prayer, lighting candles,
which they also love...of course, I am very insistent
they respect the flame and have great caution, doing
things very carefully. They usually pray for whatever
and whoever they want, often a grandparent, sometimes a pet. I usually wrap up, asking a prayer for all
the kids, that they may be guided and protected by
God.
On a recent Sunday, we read from the Bible
story. Each one had a chance to read; they often express a familiarity and understanding of the stories.
We then switched over to what the boys inwardly
love when using their kinetic senses, building Lincoln Log type structures, I with them. I never had
such a complete set of these toys, so part of me remembers that nice feeling, too.
Stations of Holy Week and Eastertide
On Holy Saturday, the day we wait for the joy
of Easter, the children of CGS are invited to a special event. Using a hands-on approach, the children
will explore and pray about the events of Holy Week
and Easter. This is a special event designed by Carol
Brady to help children prepare for the great celebration of Easter.
Please sign up, and join us on April 4 at 10 AM.
Easter Church School Choir
The children of Good Shepherd will be singing at
the 9:00 AM Contemporary Family Service on Easter
morning. The church school children will rehearse
8
J2A
years devote less time to lessons and formal classroom activities, we are currently exploring a Holy
Relationships topic over several weeks. We are also
looking forward to learning about Liberation Theology and the role it plays in Christian lives in countries such as El Salvador.
Kevin and Joanne
Journey to Adulthood has been spending
their class-times exploring social issues. Most
recently they have been
reflecting, on active nonviolence as practiced by
Gandhi and Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr.
You have seen their
enthusiastic fundraising
activities. They are preparing for a pilgrimage to
Maine. The pilgrimage is
primarily a time for the
youth to grow in relationship with God. They will
also have the opportunity
to engage in mission outreach activities with poor and the environment.
Confirmation
In honoring the Journey to Adulthood curriculum, we will be hosting confirmation classes following pilgrimage years.
Next academic year, those who are preparing
for confirmation will participate in a special class designed by Gareth and Aileen, attend a confirmation
retreat at the Barbara C. Harris Camp and be confirmed sometime in Spring 2016.
Special Communion
Preparation for Special Communion works so
nicely when there is a large cohort of students. We
are currently scheduling Special Communion Classes every other year so that a nice large group may
join together. The next Special Communion class will
be in Winter/Spring 2016.
YAC
The YAC group continues to explore and grow
into our ministries in our parish and diocese. We are
getting more involved
with ministries such as
the building committee,
music, our El Salvador
work, the shawl ministry, and with the diocese’s youth organization. Of course, we are
also active in our church
services as LEMs, acolytes, ushers, and more.
While the YAC
“Safe Church” On-Line Training
“Safe Church” Training is available on-line
for those who missed the training session held at
Good Shepherd this past October. Reminder: all
Church School teachers are required to complete
“Safe Church” training. If you need training, please
contact Tom Hoch to have an account set up for accessing the training.
Family Potluck Dinners
Church School families get together a few
times a year to share a meal. On these evenings, the
children watch a movie, do a craft, and play games.
Parents have the opportunity to share a meal together. In March, we are switching the dinner night from
a Sunday to a Saturday in hope that this is easier for
our families. Join us March 28 at 5:00 PM.
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Summertime
rience community
• We will GROW campers by supporting their development
• We will DISCOVER with our campers opportunities
to serve
• We will HONOR God by celebrating God’s presence
Barbara C. Harris Camp
The Diocesan camp is a great place to spend
the summer! Our own Alessia (Gagliano) Doss is the
director. There are several programs available over
the summer for students entering 4th grade and up.
There is also a family camp offered June 25-28. Visit
the website to register.
BCH’s program builds upon the opportunities presented by the wonder of God’s creation
found in nature and the camper’s distance from
the distractions of everyday life. Based on a “small
group approach”, BCH is a place where all campers
feel accepted, loved and are able to develop authentic
friendships. Counselors work closely with campers
to support them in their formation of faith and personal journeys. Campers learn important life lessons
and gain new perspectives as they live and play in a
community centered on Christian beliefs and values.
BCH’s Mission:
• We will REACH campers through active engagement
• We will CONNECT with campers so that they expe-
Youth Activities
Opportunities for Youth
participate in this Diocesan Program for
developing community and leadership. The
program begins with
a week at the Barbara
C. Harris Camp. After that week participants may decided to
apply for the year-long program. (Those who are unable to attend are also able to apply). The program
includes a self-chosen parish project and culminates
in a mission trip. For more information go to the diocesan youth website.
Good Friday Overnight
Our diocese is offering a special overnight for
youth called “Gather at the Foot of the Cross.”
Using the violence of the cross as a starting
point, young people from across the diocese will
gather with the Rev. Dr. Lisa Fortuna to explore the
practice of compassionate witnessing—having the
loving courage to accompany victims of violence
through their suffering without being ourselves
traumatized by the experience. Together, we will
consider how we can make a difference in transforming the societal violence we all face.
The event will include activities and discussion, games and Taize-inspired worship. It is held
at Trinity Church in Copley Square on Friday April 3
and Saturday April 4.
Diocesan Youth Council
This group represents the youth of the Diocese
at Diocesan Convention, plans and runs retreats and
other youth events. The group is open to rising 10th
to 12th graders. Talk to our own Ben Church for
more information and check out the diocesan youth
website.
Youth Leadership Academy
Rising 9th and 10th graders are invited to
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Mission Outreach
Eleanore’s Project
Prayer Shawl Ministry &
the Salvation Army
Thank you to all those who donated towels,
pillows, shawls, and a few other things to Eleanore’s
Project. They were just what was needed for padding
wheelchairs to make them comfortable for children
with mobility issues.
Back in early February, I called Sammy Wakefield, who originally got me interested in Eleanore’s
Project, to find out when the deadline in March was
for me to get our donations to her. She said that the
following day (Feb 3) she was taking a U-Haul truck
filled with wheelchairs, parts, and tools to Manchester, NH for shipping to Montana, the gathering point
of all such donations. From there they are crated and
sent on to Lima and Nasca in Peru to be on site in
May. At that time, the team in Peru will set up clinics
where they will custom-fit wheelchairs for children
whose lives will be enriched with the mobility thus
provided.
February 3 was the day after a storm and the
roads were rather iffy. I slipped and slid to the church
to pick up whatever was there, wondering if risking
my life was really worthwhile, but since Interstate
495 was not far from the church I carried on. Sammy
was at the collection point. She was delighted with so
many towels, saying “just the right thing at just the
right time, and just the right amount” which she repeated several times. I stayed for a couple of hours to
help pack the last of the things to go: bits and pieces
of wheelchairs including leg plates, armrests, neck
braces, and an amazing assortment of nuts and bolts
all gleaned from a company that repairs wheelchairs
and would have had to send these items to a dump.
The towels and pillows were put in boxes to keep the
total load from shifting and rattling around. So your
donations are on their way!
There were a number of leftovers, which are
the beginning of the collection for next year’s trip,
and I have some things to add to that—so next
year’s collection has begun. Again, a heart-felt thank
you for helping ease the lives of a number of children
who live in areas of great poverty in Peru.
Beverly Duncan
Nancy Brown and the prayer shawl group are assembling knitted squares for a project they are doing
with the Salvation Army. The finished lap blankets
will be distributed to those in need. We have already
given one large and two medium sized lap blankets
to the Salvation Army. Nancy has been given more
squares for us to assemble.
Next month, on the third Sunday in
April, the 19th, we will meet in the Parish Hall
during Coffee Hour to discuss if we should continue
to meet on Tuesday evenings, or if there is a better
time for us to meet. Please bring your knitting or
crocheting, and join
us for our meeting
and as we pray over
the shawls. We very
much welcome anyone who may be interested in this wonderful ministry.
Pictured is
Nancy explaining the
project as she awaits
the start of the Bread
and Banter Valentine’s lunch gathering
( photo by Gareth).
Nancy Brown
To the Girls of Esperanza
From Women in the Ukraine
with Love
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Ordinary acts of love cross cultures, war
zones, language and ethnic differences. Emmanuel
Aronie has several friends in the Ukraine who are
knitters. Esperanza Academy, the 5-8th grade tuition-free school for girls in Lawrence, has an eighth
grade class Good Shepherd has given knitted goods
to over the past five years. This year, thanks to Emmanuel, we connected the girls with the knitters, So-
fia, Michelle and Oksana, who made 17 beautiful pairs of Ukrainian style
slippers for each of the eighth graders. Emmanuel and others generously
donated money to make it possible for these women to earn some extra
income during these hard times.
Last fall the 8th eighth grade girls sent templates of their shoe
sizes, stated their color preference and whether they wanted high or low
ankled slippers. Emanuel visited his friends in the Ukraine just after
Christmas and returned home with the slippers. He and Carolyn Platt
took them to Esperanza, and Emmanuel
filled the girls in on the current situation in
the Ukraine along with an overview of the
knitters’ daily lives. The girls were thrilled
with the slippers as you can see from the
excerpts from their thank you notes in our
“Appreciation To” section.
Carolyn Platt
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Events
Save the Date!
Good Shepherd Concert Series
Friday, May 1st at 7 PM
Dave Dumas and Gene Bellotti (both sang at the Pops concert in December) will return with their band, The Cellar Dwellers, for a concert
of great music in the Parish Hall.
Light pub fare will be available. Tickets are $15. Bring your friends!
Family Potluck Dinners
Church School families get together a few
times a year to share a meal. On these evenings, the
children watch a movie, do a craft, and play games.
Parents have the opportunity to share a meal together. In March, we are switching the dinner night from
a Sunday to a Saturday in the hope that this is easier
for our families.
Upcoming Bishop’s Visitation
It’s time for CGS to receive a visit from one
of our Bishops; this time
Bishop Gayle is coming on
Sunday, June 7. Bp. Gayle
will bring her little dog,
whose name is Piccola, which
means “little one” in Italian.
Piccola goes to church more
than most dogs and is fully
trained liturgically. She’s a
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who loves cold pasta and
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meatballs (apart from Fridays when she will only eat
sardines).
Bp. Gayle’s visit to us will be in the morning
at 9:30AM. Worship will be combined that morning so that we can all benefit from her time with us.
Here’s the schedule as it stands:
Before church: Bp. Gayle meets with the Wardens.
9:30AM: She presides and preaches at the Eucharist.
11:15 to Noon: We all meet in the Parish Hall for
Q&A with Bp. Gayle. Bring your questions and reflections.
Noon: She will sit down with the Vestry for lunch
and depart in the early afternoon.
So please mark your calendars for this important event!
Bishop Gayle’s Bio
Bishop Harris was consecrated in 2003, and
serves as a suffragan (assisting) bishop alongside the
diocesan bishop, Alan M. Gates. She is the past vice
chair of the Church Pension Fund Board of Trustees
and has served on the Board of Directors of CREDO (a national resource program fostering Episcopal Church clergy leadership and wellness) and the
Steering Committee of Bishops Working for a Just
March Bread & Banter
Bye bye winter blues, aloha Blue
Hawaii!
World. She currently serves on the House of Bishops
Theology Committee and its Pastoral Development
Committee. A native of Cleveland, she was ordained
to the priesthood in 1982 in the diocese of Newark.
Prior to her consecration, she served most recently
as rector of St. Luke and St. Simon Cyrene Church in
Rochester, N.Y., where she was also an adjunct professor at Colgate Rochester Divinity School.
(Taken from the Diocese of Massachusetts website at
Diomass.org)
Bread & Banter
Our lunch group for retired and semi-retired
members continues to meet on the first Wednesday
of the month. The Lunch gathering is from 12-1pm.
If you would like to join us, and/or are able to provide a portion of the meal, please contact Aileen.
Mark your calendar:
• April 1: April Fools’ Day
• May 6: May Blooms
• June 3: Summer Fare
Valentine’s Day
Bread & Banter
Aileen DiBenedtto’s
Ordination to the Diaconate
On Saturday June 6, our diocese will be ordaining Aileen DiBenedetto along with several others
to the Transitional Diaconate. The ordination service takes place at Emmanuel Church, 15 Newbury
St., Boston at
10AM.
Everyone is
welcome to
attend. No
tickets are
needed for the
service.
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Annual Meeting
Cuban Dinner
(This was a very popular
auction item)
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Committee News
Pastoral Care Committee
Since the last Shepherd’s Staff issue, the Pastoral Care committee has focused mainly on some
home meal deliveries, and that seems to be working
out very well for the people involved. A few people
have called the church office requesting rides to and
from appointments or church services, and we’ve
been happy to do that. The delivery of altar flowers
to parishioners at home has been slow in the past
two months, with only two deliveries. Hopefully, we
can soon find a new florist who will be able to meet
the church’s needs and still be within the budget. Then flower deliveries can resume on a more regular
basis.
The Pastoral Care committee wants to help
people who want or need a little assistance, and we
welcome suggestions if you know anyone who could
use a meal or a visit or even just a call to say hello. The committee also helps with receptions such
as after funeral or memorial services, and it delivers
shawls made by the dedicated and talented Prayer
Shawl group.
Katherine Haney
the dams. We had to do this several times in several
locations. On the brighter side, we will be ordering new
kitchen counters to replace the current ones that
are falling apart. Barbara Meglis is working on this
and funding for this has been generously donated by
three church members; we thank you very much.
In March I was invited to a vestry meeting to
speak to the vestry about the Building Committee.
I provided a powerpoint presentation on
the present and future
needs of the building. Building Committee
Tony Geanisis
Building Committee
It has been a busy
and expensive winter. To
begin with, the hot water
heater for the classroom
bathroom failed, as did the
one serving the rectory. Around Thanksgiving, an electrical power
surge fried all our phone
system, which necessitated
immediate
replacement,
which was quite expensive, (later covered by insurance) although now our systen will be current for
many years to come.
An obvious expense was the snow plowing.
The amount of snow this year also caused a big problem with ice dams along the roof gutters. We had
several leaks caused by ice dams, necessitating hiring someone to come in and break up and remove
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View from the Rectory
This month I have a tragi-comic “Winter’s Tale” to share.
It all started when Cassie yanked my New Zealand wool scarf
down from the coat stand. She proclaimed with some urgency
that she needed it to “keep the snowman warm.” Cassie had a
point; in the front garden there was a semi-naked snowman in
need of a scarf. Being impossibly anal about “my stuff,” it took
a gargantuan effort on my part to swallow my objections and
simply “let it go” (thanks Disney’s Frozen!).
Some weeks later the snowbanks around the rectory
were out of control and we were almost out of oil. It was impossible for the oil guys to reach the filling stations. My shrill
pleas for help were answered by Tony Geanisis. I was so pleased
to see him begin to push a path along the front of the house
with his big ole’ snow blower. Hurrah, we were saved from “oilmageddon.” Then, all of a sudden, the snow blower stalled. Next
thing I know, Tony is pulling what looks like clumps of blue hair
from the innards of the machine. “Well,” says Tony, “Looks like
I went over a scarf, and it broke my snow blower.” I could hear
the incredulity in his matter-of-fact explanation.
Ah, my New Zealand wool scarf. The one I bought in
1997 on my epic trip to the Antipodes. That woolly winter accessory last sported by a snowman buried two storms ago. The
snowman was completely destroyed (apart from one twig arm,
recovered later on), and my scarf lay in fifty ratty pieces by a
half-dug trench. Tony and I wondered at the chances of hitting
the snowman head on. We agreed that it was just plain bad luck.
I carried on digging, and so did Tony. When we were
done, I helped him load up his broken snow blower. I was about
to go inside when Dave Hazen showed up to help. I was heartened to see him and quickly invited him to take a look at the
crime scene. We hung around in the trench, chatted it up, and
then parted company. It wasn’t long before the oil truck arrived
and a domestic crisis was averted… thanks to the kindness of
others, and no thanks to a buried snowman.
Gareth
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With appreciation for:
• Wendy Fedderson, Aileen DiBenedetto and
our Rector Gareth for braving the brutal winter elements to give out ashes on Ash Wednesday
at the Acton train station.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
• Those of you who helped out at the pancake
supper. Matt and Josh did a great job as servers. Kudos to the prime cooking staff of Wendy
Fedderson, Tom Hoch, and Mark Mendosa.
Thank you Wendy for purchasing all the food.
Bill Canning, you did a great job of cleaning up
all the really greasy, messy pans. Thank you Diane Zimmerman, Debbie Baum, Nora Mendosa, Lisa Canning for all your help, and to everyone who helped with clean up.
• Julie Shields-Rutyna for putting together our
2014 annual pledge statements. This is quite a
labor-intensive task, and her efforts are greatly
appreciated.
• Harry Johnson who meets weekly with our
bookkeeper to keep our financial records in good
order.
• Gareth Evans for all his help dealing with the
ice dams on our roof, and all who helped us make
it through this winter’s snow and ice by shoveling, spreading ice melt, etc, including Dick Fedele and Tony Geanisis.
• Beverly Duncan and
Carolyn Platt for preparing the soup for the
Valentine’s day Bread &
Banter.
• Kathi and Doug
Haney who prepared
the delicous soup for
the Hawaiian Bread &
Banter.
• Gareth Evans for vigorously pursuing an insurance claim for a new
phone system, resulting weeks later in a payment for $5,000.
• Harry Johnson’s wisdom in suggesting to Gareth that he pursue an insurance claim for a new
phone system.
• Our outgoing Vestry members: Colin Browning and Matt McDowell, who truly served our
church with their time and talents through their
time in office.
• Andy Platt, our fearless and brilliant Jr. Warden
for the last two years. Job well done, good and
faithful servant of God!
• Gareth for leading the Lenten series on the
Prodigal Son, Carol Brady for the ‘kinetic’ session, and Ellen O’Sullivan for her efforts to put
the sessions on-line.
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• Those wonderful members who have said yes
to God’s call to serve positions of leadership in
our church: new Vestry members Debby FlintBaum, Dian Zimmerman-Decker and Gail
Lyons; as well as our new Jr. Warden, Wendy
Fedderson.
• “Thank you so much for taking the time out of your
busy days to do such a kind and generous deed
even though you are going through tough times in
Ukraine.” Cristina (8th grade)
• “In my four years at Esperanza I have had a lot of
memories that I will never forget. Getting my slippers from the Ukraine will be one of them.” Amy.
• “It is wonderful to know the 8th grade is loved from
across the world. The slippers and the stories that
accompany them are beautiful. I know the girls
will treasure their one-of-a -kind slippers for many
years to come.” Caitlin Bixby (8th grade advisor)
• Emmanuel Aronie for arranging the
unique handmade sock project and thank
you to your friends in the Ukraine.
In the words of the girls from Esperanza:
• “We are very grateful and appreciative of your
consideration and hope that you are well and stay
safe with all that is occurring over there right now.”
McKaylee (8th grade)
Administration
Treasurer’s Report
Our 2015 budget has been put into our
QuickBooks system, and the income and expenses
have been allocated monthly. Harry balanced the
budget items seasonally to more accurately reflect
how we expect the income and expenses to appear.
After a strong January, the February snow hit the
church with a double punch of lower attendance and
higher costs (i.e., plowing). As of February 28, we
had received $3,537 less than what was budgeted
on our pledge income. We had also received $1,780
less than our budget for our typical prior year pledge
catch-up payments. Considering the back-to-back
Sunday snowstorms, it is easy to see why we received
less that what we had budgeted.
Our expenses are mostly running less than
what we had budgeted, with the major exception of
snow removal. We budgeted $4,000 for snow removal for February but ended up with $5,735 in snow
removal expenses. We have also had to bring in a
service to remove snow from the roof to stop leaks.
These bills were not in our budgeted expenses but
will need to be paid in March.
Despite these challenges, I remain confident
that we will catch up on pledge payments and that
the snow expenses will eventually end. To bring us
back on budget with both our current and last year
pledges, it would help if our CGS community could
check and make sure pledges are paid up to date.
Bill Canning
January Vestry Vignettes
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In the Treasurer’s report, presented by
Bill Canning, the YTD P&L showed a net loss of
-$1,971.00. This was due to a 2015 pledge of $10,014
being received and recorded in 2014, but is technically for 2015. He reported overall we were ahead
for the month, with the plate collection being ahead
of projection. The 2015 budget was reviewed in advance of the Annual Meeting.
Gareth reflected upon the Epiphany and
Christmas services in his Rector’s Report. As the attendance at Epiphany was light this year, there was
discussion on how it might be done differently in
2015. Gareth believes that the church needs a new
unifying purpose or focus, such as how we better
welcome visitors and incorporate newcomers. He
also suggested that we set an “attendance vision”
for growth. He also noted that the upcoming, “Time
and Talents” survey could also capture information
on attendance patterns and be a way to engage our
talented congregation.
ended strong, and Gareth wondered if the congregation were more trusting of the Vestry and finance
committee to manage a projected deficit, and more
receptive to the efforts required to offset it through
fundraising, savings, and watching expenses.
The Senior Warden urged the Vestry to be
creative with fundraising ideas in addition to the
Auction and Treasures to Trinkets. She also voiced a
need for a centralized calendar of events on the website which would receive input from ministry heads
and the office administrator. This would be useful for
capturing important reservation dates for functions
and space rentals.
February Vestry Vignettes
At the February Vestry there was no formal
Finance Report.
In the Rector’s report, Gareth discussed
trends in attendance from 2010 through 2013. Although attendance shows a downward trend, conversely the finances are trending upward. Regular
attendance is going through a period of redefinition,
as member’s patterns of attendance are changing.
Sporadic attendance, however, can make Sunday
school planning difficult in terms of curriculum progression and volunteer staffing needs. There is not
enough data at this time to come to any hard conclusions. However; it was agreed the Sunday school
rooms need re-organization and renovation. Senior
Warden, Veronica Disel discussed that there is no
longer a “run-up” to September Sunday school enrollment in August, and perhaps a social event like a
summer BBQ would help drive enrollment.
For all Vestry members, and as a way of introduction for new vestry members, Gareth distributed a handout: “What is a Vestry?” The Vestry was
led in a discussion about their role in the church as
stewards of the fiduciary and spiritual life of the congregation.
The Bishop’s visit on June 7, and the prep
work that will be required were discussed.
The attendance at the Annual Meeting was
discussed. Turnout was low, and the weather was
partially to blame for this, with 50 people attending. At the APCM, the rector led a discussion on the
new seasonal service leaflet along with the separate
music and notice insert. He reported that the reviews were mixed and that he asked that the Annual
Meeting agree to continue to use the two booklets
through June, at which time the effectiveness of this
format can be re-evaluated.
The finances were reviewed. The prior year
March Vestry Vignettes
Treasurer’s report was presented by Bill Canning. Bill reminded the Vestry that the 1st quarter
assessment payment of $14,000 was due at the end
of March. Veronica Diesl asked why the Memorial
Funds were reduced by $4,000 from the prior year.
Bill explained the church used allocated money to
fund J2A installment payments for their pilgrimage, and also sent money to our outreach project in
El Salvador. He noted that we received a $500 check
from Amazon generated by members using the link
on our website to visit their Amazon accounts.
February 2015 highlights:
YTD income was down by $5,809 (12% decrease)
from budget
YTD expenses were up by $1,477 (2.5% increase)
from budget
YTD operating loss is -$7,286 for Jan – Feb. 2015
Our rector, Gareth, noted that our deanery
received a $12,000 gift from our new Bishop Allan
Gates. Bp. Gates generously donated the collection
taken at his installation to the deaneries for their
use. Gareth reported that he had formally asked the
Dean if the monies could be shared with each member parish to offset the cost of this season’s snow
removal. This proposal has gone to the Concord
Deanery Executive committee for consideration. Attendance reports showed a monthly drop due to the
weekend snow storms. This resulted in a decrease in
pledge receipts by 34% below budget.
In the Rector’s report, Gareth reported that
the new Webmaster, Ellen O’Sullivan, has produced
video links to our weekly Lenten series, and that we
now have live online Bible Study on Monday nights
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through the end of April. He said that he regularly
emails his recorded sermons to members of the congregation and will do more to let the congregation
now that they are available.
The Newcomers’ Committee met on Sunday
March 8th to review their approach. The idea of a
welcome bag was discussed. The Vestry agreed that
the name-tags need to be sorted out, and updated.
The need for everyone to wear them was stressed.
Gareth informed the Vestry that he received
a complaint that the increased noise levels in church
before and during service were “too much.” The Vestry agreed that the choir and LEMS need to set the
decibel level, as well as ushers, speaking more quietly before the service begins. This would help set the
general tone for the whole congregation.
Bread and Banter senior lunch program is going well, with an average attendance of 25-30 people.
Gareth inquired about funds to repair the recently
donated library piano. It was noted that there is
$2,000 in a music fund that could be utilized, subject
to the donor’s approval. The library piano repairs will
cost $700.00 .
Children and Youth Minister Aileen diBenedetto’s ordination to the Diaconate is on June 6th,
the same weekend as the visit from Bishop Gayle, on
June 7th. The hope is to honor and celebrate Aileen
the day after her ordination with the Bishop present.
Wardens Report- Veronica presented the final layout of refrigerator magnets designed by vestry member Mark Mendoza. The magnet features
the church website link parishioners should click on
to shop at Amazon. The plan is to widely distribute
them among church members. The Vestry retreat
was for scheduled for May 2nd.
adding intergenerational programs,” said Amy Cook,
who serves as diocesan missioner for education, formation and discipleship, who managed Family Camp
sign-ups in the past. “Both [executive director] John
Koch and [camp director] Alessia Doss have a real
commitment to families, and they want to take this
on because it allows everyone to take more advantage of the resources at the camp. The camp is not
just for kids!” Cook said.
Bishops invite pilgrims to join them for
Holy Land journey
Bishop Gayle E. Harris and the Rev. Manny
Faria of St. Peter’s Church in Beverly will lead a diocesan mission
pilgrimage in Israel and Palestine,
Nov. 15-26, and
they invite members of the diocese to join them.
Bishop
Alan M. Gates has
signed on to join
the trip. It will be his first trip to the Holy Land, and
Harris’s 12th.
The trips are envisioned as mission pilgrimages, Harris said in an interview, because they combine visits to holy sites--in Jerusalem, Bethlehem,
the Jordan Valley, Nazareth, Galilee, Nablus and
Ramallah--with opportunities to learn about active mission in the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem
through its school, health care and peacemaking
ministries.
“I love how Bishop Suheil Dawani puts it
when he says that the Christian presence in
the Holy Land is not about ruins but living
stones,” she said.
“Being a pilgrim means being on a journey,
and I invite people of the diocese to join in this
journey with us,” Harris said.
The sign-up deadline is June 1.
B-PEACE rallies team for Mother’s Day
Walk for Peace:
Family Camp is for “family however you
define it”
Join Bishop Alan M. Gates and Bishop Gayle E. Harris and the Diocese of Massachusetts’ B-PEACE team
in participating in the annual Mother’s Day Walk for
Peace on May 10 in Dorchester. The walk is a fundraiser for the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute, which
for 20 years has been a leader in offering services to
The Barbara C. Harris Camp and Conference
Center also will be once again hosting Family Camp,
from June 25-28. For the first time, registration for
Family Camp will be through the center.
“The camp is expanding their capacity and
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families who have lost someone to violence. The institute also provides peace curricula to students of all
ages, restorative justice opportunities and support for
honoring victims and empowering survivors.
by violence. This year, B-PEACE hopes to gather a
team of 400 walkers. Following the walk, everyone is
invited to join for liturgy in Town Field Park with the
bishops.
For more information, please go to this link: www.diomass.org/news-pubs
This will be the third year that Episcopalians have rallied as a team to walk as a witness for peace and show
support for victims, survivors and all who are affected
Graduation
Passages
our community, helping our youth and my family.
A thousand thanks for all the support you
gave me. Hopefully, just as I reached my goal, the
rest of the youth of El Ocotillo will reach theirs.
Gratitude and Blessings to youBest regards,
Glenda Ivette Rodriguez Portillo
Glenda Ivette Rodriguez Portillo of El Ocotillo,
El Salvador graduated from the Univeresity of El
Salvador on Sept. 26th with a Teaching Degree in
Ordination
Aileen DiBenedetto has been approved for ordination to the Transitional Diaconate. Aileen has been
in the formation process of this diocese for the last
three years. Following this ordination service, Aileen
will serve as a deacon for at least six months before
being ordained to the priesthood. This parish, and
the mentorship of Rector Gareth, have been integral
in Aileen’s formation as a candidate for ordination.
Mathematics
Here is a letter she wrote to the parish dated Oct.
2014:
Please receive a warm hello on my part- hoping that God almighty keeps you well.
I want to let you know that here we are in
good health, hoping to get ahead as always. This year
is almost over and for me as well as my family, it has
been very gratifying. On the 26th of September I
graduated from the University of El Salvador with
a teaching degree in Mathematics. Now I will go
through the necessary steps to obtain a government
job. I am grateful to God, my family, and you all for
the support I was given so that I could reach my goal.
From now on, I hope to continue supporting
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The Last Look
23