FROM THE DESK OF THE PRIEST-IN-CHARGE
Dear Friends in Christ,
Since I retired in June of 2000, I have served in many congregations. Most of them were in what the leaders of our national church call a "survival mode." This means that all the activities and energies of the people are focused on insuring that they survive as a church. They are characterized by attitudes of need for more people so we can have more workers and more pledges. The emphasis is on what the church needs and not on ministry to those around them.
Some of the congregations I have served are in a "missionary mode." They have seen that the call of Jesus is not to survive but to bring more people to Him for feeding. This week marks the anniversary of my first year as your pastor. You have achieved some amazing things. First among them is the flexibility to move from St. Nicolas to our present location. We shared the anxiety of the move to a strange and certainly "different" venue. This has worked well. Having our own space has, I feel, has enhanced the sense of community. Personally, this has been a very different experience for me. Being a part of a growing young congregation has literally rejuvenated me. I feel that you are now in a "missionary mode" ready to bring Christ to the world around you.
Let us continually remember the statement we make at the beginning of service every Sunday:
Good Shepherd Episcopal Church invites you to help build a new inclusive community in Glasgow, to worship and celebrate God, to apply the Bible in relevant ways, to experience the strong tradition of the Episcopal Church, brightening lives, nourishing souls, connecting us to God.
Peace,
GJK