FROM THE DESK OF THE PRIEST-IN-CHARGE
Dear Friends in Christ,
One of my early daily rituals (besides reading the bible) is the taking of several pills. Some are for high blood pressure, some for the thinning of blood and some for health, like vitamins. My doctors have assured me that these medications will allow me to live a longer and more healthy life. For these medical miracles I am most grateful. One of the more interesting early church leaders is Saint Ignatius who was the third bishop of Antioch. Known as one of the "apostolic fathers," Ignatius was a student of Saint John the Apostle and Saint Paul. He, with others, led the Christian church into the second century. His most famous teaching reflects the importance of the Holy Communion in the early church. He refers to the receiving of the wafer and the wine as the "medicine of immortality".
Our lesson from Matthew this week is the story of the feeding of the 5000. This miracle is when Jesus fed 5000 people with just a few loaves of bread and some fish. This miracle is the only one which appears in all four gospels. Those in the early church would have recognized this as a remembrance of the service we share each Sunday. This week I would like you to consider that the medications you take for your body are important but not nearly as important as the "medicine of immortality" which God offers to you and those you love. If you knew of a medicine that would heal a disease you would share it with those you love. Share as well the medicine of immortality with those you love.
Peace,
GJK

FROM THE DESK OF THE PRIEST-IN-CHARGE
Dear Friends in Christ,
At the vestry planning retreat at the end of June, the vestry discussed several items of significance for the coming program year. We are planning great things in an effort to meet the spiritual needs of the Good Shepherd congregation and the greater Glasgow community.
First and foremost, members of the vestry and diocese are busy with the task of finding a permanent full-time priest. While I have enjoyed my temporary interruption in my retirement, it is time for Good Shepherd to have a full-time priest to help you achieve your goals. Second, it was also decided that we will add a "said" 8 a.m. worship service on Sundays, beginning in September. There are no plans for music or power point at this service. We will use the Book of Common Prayer. Our attendance has been growing steadily. We are averaging almost 10% more than last year at this time. Moreover, on many Sundays the pews are quite full. While this may seem good in reality all studies for church growth indicate that when more than 75% of available seats are filled a church will cease to grow. When I was at St. Barnabas Church before my retirement we grew 300% and added two services. It seems wise for us to try an additional service at 8 a.m. If it proves to be impractical we can adjust, nothing we do is set in stone. The point is we must try and do new things in order to satisfy everyone’s spiritual needs. The vestry also agreed to attempt to develop a service for "special needs" families. We are in contact with congregations which have been successful in establishing this ministry. Jesus taught us to spread the good news and St. Paul has advised us to be all things to all people. These ministries are in response to their challenges.
Peace,
GJK
P.S. Please, remember that I or someone covering for me will visit people in the hospital. It does require a phone call to 302-584-6783.

FROM THE DESK OF THE PRIEST-IN-CHARGE
Dear Friends in Christ,
This week the lesson tells the story of the beginning of the Hebrew nation through the patriarch Jacob. It is really very sordid.
Jacob with the help of his mother, Rebecca, steals the inheritance of his brother Esau as well as the blessing of Isaac for Esau.
The founding of the Hebrew people gets off to a rocky start.
Jacob flees his home to escape the wrath of his brother. The inclusion of this event in the book of Genesis seems to give credibility to the whole of the account of the Hebrew beginnings. One would think that such a sordid story would be excluded by later editors of the bible
Attend Sunday to get a fuller interpretation of this event.
Peace,
GJK

FROM THE DESK OF THE PRIEST-IN-CHARGE Dear Friends in Christ,
The lessons from the Old Testament are leading us through the early history of the Hebrew people. This period in their history is known as the age of the Patriarchs. These are the founding fathers of the Hebrew nation.
The three patriarchs are Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Last week we learned something about the first patriarch, Abraham. This week's lesson is the story of Isaac finding his wife.
While these readings may seem too old to be relevant for us today, the reverse is actually the case. Many of the problems in the Middle East today stem from the developing Arab and Hebrew people.
This week we will read how Isaac chose his wife very carefully so as to preserve the integrity of the Hebrew worship. Please read along with us in preparation for this journey to the present.
Please make note of the fact that the Monday bible study will be on Wednesday night due to the 4th of July holiday. Also please note that healing prayers are still being offered after the service. Peace,
GJK