The Shepherd s Voice. August ~ September 2018

Transcription

1 The Shepherd s Voice August ~ September 2018 Good Shepherd Episcopal Church where the Eucharist draws us to the center of Christ s love and the Holy Spirit sends us out on God s reconciling Mission

2 Rector Announcement Dear Good Shepherd, The Vestry, Rector Nominating Committee, and I write to share some excellent news with you. We are pleased to announce that The Rev. G. Hendree Harrison, Jr. has accepted the call to serve as Good Shepherd's Rector! Hendree comes to us from St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Athens, Tennessee where he has served as the Rector since He holds his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Divinity from the University of the South (Sewanee). He is married to Kristin and they are the proud parents of two girls. See a message from Hendree below. Grace to you and peace in Jesus Christ our Lord! I am absolutely overjoyed to accept the call to become your next rector! My wife, Kristin, and our daughters, Gracie and Mary, can't wait to join you in Lexington and begin our partnership in ministry. We can't stop smiling at the prospect of meeting you all, learning your stories, growing to love you, and discovering what adventures God will call us on as we follow Jesus together. We'll see you soon! Much love and many blessings, Hendree Hendree and family will be moving to Lexington this Summer, and their first Sunday with us will be August 19th. We offer prayers of thanksgiving to God as Hendree and his family begin their transition to Good Shepherd. Faithfully, David Young, Senior Warden

3 Music & Liturgy Dear friends, As I reflect on my time at Good Shepherd and Lexington, I am truly humbled and blessed by the many wonderful relationships formed during my time here. Not to be cliche, but I believe we are all in the RIGHT place for a particular amount of time that we are needed. God is always working his purpose out in our lives, and continuously stretching our individual gifts and abilities. Good Shepherd has been the right place for me during the past three years. You allowed me a place to be challenged personally, musically, and professionally. In return, you allowed me to inspire and challenge you each week through meaningful worship, choir rehearsals, and our common life together. First, I want to thank the entire Good Shepherd community for your generosity, support, and encouragement. I have greatly enjoyed being a part of you as your Director of Music and Organist. Thank you to all who have contributed in various ways (financially, time and talent) to the music ministry through special music, friends of music, parents' guild, choir guild, choral librarian, and all the choirs. Another shout out to those of you who have helped to make the Choir pilgrimage to St. Alban's, England, a reality and a success. With that said, I am so fortunate to have the time with the adult choirs in England this summer. It will truly serve as a capstone for what has been a great tenure for me and serving with these dedicated choir members. It has been a pleasure to watch this music ministry flourish and how it works in people's lives each week. The choir has been a family for me and I will always cherish my time with you. The training choir, Chorister program, and adult choirs currently have a lot of good energy in them. I know and trust that each of these programs will continue to expand and thrive in the coming months and years with new and talented leadership. I look forward to following you all from afar. Yours truly, Jon

4 Children & Families Our time of rest When summer became July, we no longer walked barefoot on the driveway. We swatted mosquitoes and being in our backyard meant finding the immediate shade of the crab apple tree. We were one month into summer and dressed with our summer legs (bug bites, skinned knees) we had finally fallen into a rhythm- fall asleep around 10 pm, sleep to 8 am, do some work, and a find a lot of play. On this particular evening, I gave my boys a hammer, three pairs of sunglasses, and an old computer. They took turns with the destruction of a laptop. Keys flew into the air and our 4-year old collected them from the grass, trying to spell his name with L, S, and R. When Nick drove home from work and saw the boys at work on our picnic table, he walked by without question. It was summer, who knew what we were up to? The evening before he had come home to our attempt at homemade pizza and our DJ, Alexa. Our puppy was on the counter trying to lick the pizza sauce. Summer is a time for restoration. We pause and take a break from our work. After Jesus sent out the disciples to do their work (Mark 6, 30-32), he instructs them to come with me by yourselves by a quiet place and get some rest. But instead of sitting in a quiet place, the disciples are met by a large crowd. The disciples soon witness the feeding of the 5,000 and distribute food to the people. Although the disciples did not gain a long nap or put up their feet to get some rest, they did refocus. They moved away from their own missions and witness a miracle. I imagine the energy and enthusiasm was better than sleep. Their rest must have been restorative. But I also seek rest throughout the year. Our restorative work takes energy and creativity- this summer I am running along three, young boys. These times with the hammer and slinging pizza are so important for my sustained spirit. I need to be recharged. When I first began attending Good Shepherd, as soon as my children and I landed in the pews, I would let out a loud sigh. It was not because it took a lot of work to get there, (getting children to do anything takes work), but because I was so relieved to be there. I became the church nerd who took notes and marked on my bulletin. After worship, I found friends and reconnected. I was then found in the Godly Play room. It was Sunday and I was tired, but I found restoration in this community. I lost this feeling when I began working at Good Shepherd. I could no longer participate in the whole Sunday Eucharist, linger by the doughnuts, or be a lead teacher. Sundays became putting together the puzzles pieces of nursery workers, unlocking doors, meeting volunteers, directing lost children, pulling crafts together, and cleaning up after events. I have had to be creative and recreate my weekly restoration. I now attend the Wednesday Healing Eucharist. My Chapels with the Day School are sweet and meaningful and my teaching takes place here. My community comes from the daily flow of parishioners through the church and our supportive staff. I have quiet places in the Church to read and write. This is restorative. I have reclaimed my space in Church.

5 Children & Families And this year, I will go to Church in an even different way. I will rely more on parents to lead the Parent s Gathering and help with Family events. I will be co-leading the new Godly Play 1st and 2nd grade. I am hopeful to have Sunday mornings more prepared, so I can always stay for communion, not scooting out to print worksheets or prepare a lesson. Perhaps you have lost your weekly restoration. Either new work schedules, kids needs and ages, or your own family dynamics have made Sundays and your time at Church feel different? Maybe you want to attend a different service time? Maybe you are tired of teaching but want to try supporting another ministry? Maybe you want to teach Chapel but not every month? Maybe you are not sure how to reconnect with Church again? How can I help you reclaim your space this coming year? Summer is a deep clean of our soul but Church provides our rest. When we take a break from our work and come together as Jesus instructs the disciples, good things happen. We feed ourselves and each other. We find ourselves and each other. We are sustained by our community and begin anew. Let s make time for each other this year! Many Blessings! Kathryn Wallingford, Minister for Families and Children kwallingford@goodshepherdlex.org Come join us this August Together we are bound together in the communion of saints. All year long we will focus on the lives of the Saints. Saints are doctors and poets and we can be one too! This month we pay close attention to Saint Mary, the mother of Jesus, as we wrap our arms around all God s children and their return to school. Saint Mary trusted God and God s vision for Jesus. Mary loved her son dearly, but also sent him into the world to do his work. Let us all love like Saint Mary, with tender hearts, but knowing our children are called beyond a mother s embrace. Blessing of the Backpacks Sunday, August 12th Our annual Blessings of the Backpacks will be held during the 10 am Eucharist. This year we are partnering with Habitat for Humanity and collecting snacks for their weekly homebuyer classes. Please bring snacks, such as individually packaged chips, nutrition bars, cans of nuts and anything with a shelf life. Collection bins will be located outside the west door of the Church on August 5th and also on August 12th. Pool party Friday, August 17th 5:30 PM Pool party at Signature Club for Choristers and children interested in Chorister program. Become a singer and bring a friend! RSVP to Kathryn for free entrance or pay at the gate. Meet and Greet Sunday, August 19th Welcome Hendree, Kristin, Gracie, and Mary to Good Shepherd and to Lexington. Please visit for upcoming events and information about our Children and Families program.

6 Children & Families Celebrating Vacation Bible School Living Waters for the World (LWW) Vacation Bible School Our Vacation Bible School at The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd enjoyed Bible stories, skits, games, lessons, crafts, songs, laughter, snacks, prayers, worship, field trips and lots of water talk. Three of our VBS team members (Kathryn Wallingford and Ken & Jan Cottrell) had just returned from an LWW Installation and VBS Mission Trip in Honduras. We used lessons we had learned in Honduras and combined those with the newest LWW curriculum, Water All Around the World. Children, teachers, and wonderful volunteers learned the importance of living our faith by sharing pure water around the world. Further, we learned how this ministry can bring a deeper meaning and sense of purpose for our lives and for the lives of others. Sharing water is a way of sharing our faith. We emphasized that in sharing God s water, our faith is strengthened and emboldened by what we can learn from people around the world. In this sharing, we often receive more than we have given. Finally, we are reminded that we have the opportunity to begin our mission work right here and right now by being good stewards of water and good stewards of the earth, our island home.

7 Thank Children You Good & Families Shepherd Celebrating Vacation Bible School Favorite VBS moments include the students uproarious singing of Use This Water, the tender voices chanting Taste and See and the determined desire to act out the Bibles Stories rendering how God uses water to give life, to save, to heal and to quench spiritual and physical thirst. During these moments of organized happy holy chaos, it was no problem again and again to get the children dressed in costumes to serve as the Samaritan townspeople, the Hebrews, the Soldiers, the Samaritan Woman, Moses, Pharaoh, Jesus, and more. The skits helped all involved to embody the story and the message associated with the notion that Jesus Christ is the Living Water for our Bodies and our Souls. Was VBS successful? Yes! The children, teachers, volunteers, the faith community and those new to the faith community were reminded that our bodies and souls are dependent upon the Living Water that is Christ Jesus and that everyone needs pure water to live the healthy life that God desires for humanity. Equally important, the parish community experienced the excitement of learning about the mission of Living Waters for the World. We had a portable LWW system in the parish hall for a demonstration several Sundays prior to the beginning of VBS. The congregation was aware that several of us were traveling to Honduras in advance of and in preparation for this VBS. And they had lots of questions upon our return! Many people, adults and children, expressed a deepened desire to engage this Water Talk, to be conscientious stewards of water and to help others be assured of access to pure water. In doing so, we found ourselves drawing from the Living Water, drawing closer to God in Christ and drawing closer to one another. Thanks be to God. -- Ken and Jan Cottrell

8 Become a 1 to 1 Coach AS DR. SEUSS WOULD SAY OH, THE PLACES YOU LL GO READING OPENS OUR MINDS TO SO MANY ADVENTURES AND IDEAS THAT CAN BENEFIT OUR LIVES. Good Shepherd partners with Booker T. Washington Elementary School in providing Reading Coaches to students. The idea is to coach students on a 1 to 1 basis in reading, meeting once a week for 45 minutes to an hour. Even though the mentors are helping the students, they are rewarded as well. The time spent with a young reader is very special, and we can learn from students as well as them from us. There will be a training session for new coaches by Carolyn Witt-Jones of the Partnership for Successful Schools prior to the start the mentoring process. PLEASE CONSIDER JOINING US IN THIS WORTHWHILE OUTREACH PROGRAM. For more information please contact: Brenda Owen brendapowen@yahoo.com

9 Daughters of the King The Triennial for the Order of the Daughters of the King was held the last week of June in Austin, Texas. The Diocese of Lexington was represented by Grace Sears (past National President - Our Savior, Madison County), Cynthia Matthews ( Province IV corresponding secretary - Good Shepherd), and Natalie Sweet (new Diocesan President - St Mary s, Middlesboro). The conference was well attended with over 850 daughters from all over the world. Exciting speakers, including The Rev. Canon Stephanie Spellers and The Rev. Canon Carrie Boren Headington, encouraged Daughters to step out and evangelize! The beautiful liturgies were led by The Rt. Rev. Scott B. Hayashi, National Chaplain, The Rt. Rev. William Skilton, International Chaplain, and The Rev. Deborah Jackson, National Junior Daughters Chaplain and were accented by Junior Daughter Liturgical Dancers from Central Florida. At the end of the week the assembly elected Cynthia Matthews to be a member of the new National Council, a position she will hold for three years. The Daughters are a group of Christian women striving to fulfill the promises of our Baptismal Covenant through a personal Rule of Life which incorporates a Rule of Prayer and a Rule of Service. They pray daily for members of our parish and others who have made requests. They meet once a month to enjoy fellowship, to share in a program for spiritual growth, and to update our prayer list. If you would like more information about the Daughters of the King, please visit The DOK National Council

10 Clergy Reflection Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger people for the living of life. Do not pray for mission or ministry that is equal to your gifts, talent and treasure. Instead pray for the gifts, talent and treasure to meet the mission or ministry that is before you. For when you pray this way, when any mission is accomplished or ministry undertaken it will not be the miracle. Instead, you will be the miracle. And, everyday you shall wonder at the grace, mercy, power, and love that has come from God through you into the world. The Bishop of Texas, Andy Doyle, offered this blessing at a Eucharist on Friday, July 6, at the General Convention of the Episcopal Church in Austin, Texas. These words are shaped by the writings of the Phillips Brooks, nineteenth century Episcopal bishop and writer. It is a reminder that the power of God cannot be held back; the power of God ever goes forth into the world proclaiming healing and wholeness to and for all. The summons for us, God s people here and now, is to ask the question - where are we being sent, two by two, or three by three, to proclaim the good news of God s kingdom? What place, too long forgotten or too frequently abandoned needs to hear afresh the gospel of hope and healing? Where is the power of God sending us - to hometown or far away city - that we might dare say yes and be agents of that same healing and wholeness Jesus brought to his own hometown in the days of old? Our work as disciples of Jesus is not and will not be easy. Jesus issued this admonition to his friends. It comes often with confrontation and rejection, but it also, and most importantly, comes with the promise of the love and mercy of the One who came proclaiming a new kingdom, a new way of being in the world. Let us be sent, as Jesus sent the first of his disciples, to unknown places and potentially dangerous situations, to testify to that which is far greater, the healing and wholeness and love of almighty God. (taken from the sermon for July 8, 2018, Proper 9, Year B) The Rev. Andrew J. Hege

11 Good Shepherd Calendar August August 2 ~ Alzheimer s Support Group at 12:00 PM August 7 ~ Theology on Tap at 6:30 PM August 12 ~ Blessing of the Backpacks at 10:00 AM Church Under the Bridge at 3:00 PM August 17 ~ Chorister Pool Party at 6:00 PM August 18 ~ Men s Breakfast at 8:30 AM August 19 ~ The Harrisons First Sunday with Us August 21 ~ Vestry Meeting at 7:00 PM August 22 ~ Chorister Vesting Day at 5:30 PM August 26 ~ Reception for Jon Johnson after the 10:00 AM Eucharist August 29 ~ Prayer Shawl Ministry at 5:00 PM September September 4 ~ Theology on Tap at 6:30 PM September 6 ~ Alzheimer s Support Group at 12:00 PM First Thursday Book Group at 6:30 PM September 15 ~ Men s Breakfast at 8:30 AM September 16 ~ Apple Gleaning at 2:00 PM September 18 ~ Vestry Meeting at 7:00 PM September 20 ~ Dismantling Racism Book Study at 6:00 PM September 30 ~ CROP Walk at 3:00 PM These events are only a few of the many offerings we have here at Good Shepherd. To see more of our parish events, visit our website at

12 The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd 533 East Main Street Lexington, KY Return Service Requested