Good Shepherd Episcopal Church

2011-10-13T13:21:00.001-07:00

From the Desk of the Priest in Charge

Dear Friends in Christ,
On November 19, I will be leading a seminar for the diocese of Delaware's Parish Life Day. When I agreed to do this, it was in a weak moment. As the time grows nearer I am having a great deal of angst. I am to lead a discussion on what we do with our resources. One of my friends told me all I had to do is know what someone's net worth is. He then proceeded to lead me through his own assets and liabilities. It is simple. Take what you have against what you owe and that is your net worth. He came up with a seven figure number which was quite remarkable.

Having finished I asked, in my naivete, what he thought the net worth of his darling granddaughter might be. He said that she was different and that there was no worth that could be put on her. I am not sure he got my point but the truth of the matter is that a person's net worth is not measured in dollars and cents but in the love which is bestowed upon them. For you and me our net worth is not what we own but in the love which is bestowed upon us. Ultimately our net worth is not in the things we have but that He finds us worthy of His love. So worthy to Him that He sent His Son into the world to save us. Read in your bible John chapter 3 verse 16.

In Christ,

GJK

Good Shepherd welcomes transitional Deacon

2011-10-05T12:26:00.001-07:00

Good Shepherd welcomes transitional Deacon
As we began the program year at Good Shepherd, we were thrilled to learn that Gary Taylor would be joining us through the fall serving as a transitional Deacon. Gary is the Chaplain at St. Anne’s School in Middletown and will be ordained into the priesthood in January 2012. Below is a letter from Gary.
It is my blessing and privilege to serve among you this fall as a Deacon in the Episcopal Church. It is part of the process of becoming a Priest in our church to first be ordained as a "transitional" deacon and to serve in that capacity for no fewer than six months before being ordained a second time, this time to the priesthood. In some diocese, some people choose to be ordained as "vocational" deacons, otherwise known as "permanent" deacons. As the name implies, they do not go on to the priesthood but rather serve as deacons for their entire career in the ministry.
All deacons are first and foremost servants of Christ, and even those who go on to become priests never move past that professed vocation. This servanthood is symbolized by the collar we wear and the stole or "yoke" we don for services. The word "
diakonos" which appears 30 times in the bible and is usually translated as "deacon" is really the Greek word for "servant." The New Testament gives examples of both "appointed" servants elected by the church to specific tasks and of "unelected" servants who served the Lord in a general sense in a local church. Thus, seen one way we are all deacons in that we are all servants of Christ; indeed in our Baptismal Covenant we pledge to "Seek and serve Christ in all persons." (BCP p. 305). Seen another way, those of us ordained as deacons make an additional public vow beyond baptism to "look for Christ in all others, being ready to help and serve those in need" and to "pattern my life in accordance with the teachings of Christ so that I may be a wholesome example to all people." (BCP p. 544).
At my ordination my bishop charged me to " make Christ and his redemptive love known, by word and example, to those among whom you live, and work, and worship... to interpret to the Church the needs, concerns, and hopes of the world ... [and] to assist the bishop and priests in public worship and in the ministration of God's Word and Sacraments" At all times, my "life and teaching are to show Christ's people that in serving the helpless they are serving Christ himself." A tall order indeed! And one that I cannot begin to do without God's direct assistance - as well as the lveo and support of all of you, which have felt already so palpably at Good Shepherd!
Thank you for your very warm welcome. I look forward to getting to know each of you and to discovering the depths of God's love for us together.
In Christ,
Deacon Gary

Bishop's visit this Sunday

2011-09-20T17:40:00.000-07:00

Join us this Sunday for the Bishop's visit and live music Sunday featuring our awesome music team led by the wonderful Denise LoCastro. Click on the link below to check out one of the songs they will be performing.
http://youtu.be/ivesRYcIPsQ

2011-08-05T05:19:00.001-07:00

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

2011-07-29T11:19:00.001-07:00

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

2011-07-14T10:00:00.001-07:00

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.

2011-07-07T09:26:00.001-07:00

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

2011-07-01T13:25:00.001-07:00

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

2011-06-23T11:56:00.001-07:00

FROM THE DESK OF THE PRIEST-IN-CHARGE
Dear Friends in Christ,
In the letter of Paul to the church in Rome, he writes that "the wages of sin are death." This letter was written almost 2000 years ago. What it means is that there has been no pay increase for us sinners for a long time. Any other group would have organized for a pay raise. Obviously the pay for a sinner is so total that there can be no increase.
Paul gives us more than wages to consider, however. He tells us that without working for it, God has given us a gift. Without working for it, God has given us eternal life. The meaning of this is that no matter how hard we try we cannot earn our way into heaven. God has given us this gift of eternal life. This is what the word "grace" means --a gift which is not earned but given freely.
Peace,
GJK
P.S. Thanks to everyone who came out for the annual meeting. Congratulations to those members who were elected to serve on the vestry and as convention delegates. We also thank those members who finished their term of service on the vestry.

2011-06-16T10:58:00.000-07:00

FROM THE DESK OF THE PRIEST-IN-CHARGE Dear Friends in Christ,
This coming Sunday is the feast of the Holy Trinity. It follows the Pentecost and reminds us that God has revealed Himself in three ways. Sometimes these different ways are referred to as "persons." A familiar hymn has the words, "God in three persons, blessed trinity."
The three persons of the One God are:
God the Father Creator of heaven and earth God the Son Redeemer of the world God the Holy Spirit who makes us Holy
We as people have different personal traits and functions. For example I am a man, a husband, a father, a grandfather, and a brother. The list is almost endless. The point is that it is still me. St. Patrick uses the image of a three leaf clover to describe the relationship of God's persons. How do you envision this idea of the Trinity?
Peace,
GJK
P. S. I wanted to say thank you to the Pentecost picnic organizers and the music crew for a wonderful day at Glasgow Park this past Sunday. Don’t forget, this Sunday is Good Shepherd’s annual meeting immediately after the worship service. A final note, please keep the vestry in your prayers on Saturday, June 25 as they hold their annual retreat.

2011-03-30T15:40:00.002-07:00

Dear friends in Christ,

A few years ago, the Reverend Jimmy Bakker was again in the news. His first wife has divorced him and since has died. He now lives in Phoenix, Arizona with his second wife. He is now 71 years old. How well I remember his downfall. Financial mismanagement, improper relations with both men and women. He is the man who used contributions from members of his church to buy an air-conditioned house for his dog. He was truly a scoundrel. The papers said that he was "disgraced." Saying he was disgraced is quite a thing. I looked up the "dis" in the dictionary learning that it can mean either "opposite" or "depraved." In a flash many words race through my mind--disable, discontent, disarm, dissatisfaction, disinter. They mean no longer content, without fire arms, unhappy, dig up a body. You can probably add some of your own.

I want you, however to concentrate on "disgrace."

What a horrible thought --without grace. To be opposite of grace or deprived of grace is to condemn a person to be separated from God. Jimmy Bakker did many terrible things for which he was degraded in public, divorced by his wife, and sentenced to prison. But to say that he has been deprived of grace is quite another thing.

Grace is God's unconditional gift to us. Grace is also God's gift of His Son to save the world, a gift we did not earn. To say someone has been "disgraced" may describe the horrendous acts but it DOES NOT describe the person. No one is separated from God's love.

The Bible tells us of the thief on the cross who asks for and receives God's forgiveness. Paul tells us that nothing can separate us from the grace of God. It seems to me better to say that Jimmy Bakker did many disgraceful things but not that he is disgraced. We are not separated from God's grace in the eyes of God. Moreover, some words the "dis" words of contend, able, inter and arms can be reversed by self discipline. Martin Luther writes “God's grace abides still."

Grace and truth come from the Lord and He does not disgrace us.

Thanks be to God.

2011-03-30T15:40:00.001-07:00

Dear Friends in Christ,

This weekend Carolyn and I went to our safe deposit box to review some papers. While going through the box we found several savings bonds which we had purchased for our grandsons. We know that they will be pleased with this "windfall".

Moreover, we learned that since they had gone beyond ten years they had accumulated interest beyond their face value. For our grandsons a bonus added to a surprise. We are happily sending them the gift they did not even know they had.

For many people outside the Christian church gifts are waiting from their heavenly Father. It is for us the members who know where the treasure of Christ lies to take it out of the darkness into the light.

Have you shared God's gift with friends and family?

Peace, GJK

2011-01-28T12:12:00.001-08:00

2011-01-14T13:29:00.000-08:00

2010-12-01T13:57:00.000-08:00

FROM THE DESK OF THE PRIEST-IN-CHARGE

Dear friends in Christ,

For the past two weeks I have given you some idea of what the devil might include if he had a creed. The first was, "It makes no difference what you believe as long as you believe something." The second was, "I am only one person so I don't count."

The third which I want to have you consider today is, "That is just the way he/she is and you cannot change them." To accept the concept that a person cannot change is to accept all the racial and ethnic stereotypes. It also flies in the face of all that Jesus teaches us in the Bible. He changed Peter from a fisherman to a fisher OF men. He changed sinners into saints. Paul was changed from a persecutor of Christians to a leader of the church. Every day we see how God changes people. God uses you and me to implement change. The church is all about change--changing you and me into the servants of God.

Peace,

GJK

P.S.

During Advent it is a tradition in many families to use advent wreaths. We will be making some this coming Sunday, November 28, 2010. As the wreath is lit in your home, may I suggest one of the following prayers: 1.Come Lord Jesus be our guest and may all our gifts to you be blessed. Amen. (This is good for smaller children to learn.) 2. God is great. God is good. And now we thank Him for our food. Amen. 3 Lord, keep us mindful of the needs and wants of others. Bless this food to our use and us to your loving service. Amen.

2010-10-23T18:41:00.001-07:00

FROM THE DESK OF THE PRIEST-IN-CHARGE

Dear friends in Christ,

In the world of computers there is a phrase "GIGO" which means "garbage in garbage out". It reminds us that if we put incorrect information into a computer incorrect solutions will result. At one time data was entered into computers by "keypunch" operators. Their work was truly "key" to the success of data processing. The term GIGO also applies to our personal lives. If we make poor decisions in terms of diet we can expect poor results in terms of our results--high blood pressure or diabetes for example. A far more dangerous GIGO regards our spiritual life and that of our families. You are the key punch operator for those you love. People who are very conscientious in watching the diets of their children and loved ones may not be as careful about the garbage allowed into their homes via TV or books. We have an obligation to be vigilant regarding what our children see and hear. (Remember most vocabulary is learned at home including profanity.) One way to combat the garbage over the TV is to monitor it. Another way is to insure that you and your children are exposed to healthy food and healthy ideas. The best food for you and your children is served at Good Shepherd --the body of Christ which is the bread of heaven. The best literature for you and your children is read every Sunday--the word of the Lord. The bread of heaven with the word of God is the perfect diet for everyone. Invite your friends and relatives to share in the best "happy meal in town."

Peace

GJK

2010-09-30T12:51:00.000-07:00

FROM THE DESK OF THE PRIEST-IN-CHARGE

Dear friends in Christ,

A famous 20th Century author named Ernest Hemingway wrote a book entitled A MOVABLE FEAST. It is interesting and worth reading. However, it does imply that there may be such a thing as an immovable feast. In fact the Christian church since the time of the apostles has been observing both moveable and immovable feasts. Each type of feast impacts the way we worship and the theme of the bible lessons we read.

An immovable feast is one that is set on a calendar date. For example, Christmas which is celebrated on December 25 is an immovable feast. Likewise the Feast of the Epiphany which falls of January 6 (12 days after Christmas) is immovable. Christmas is important not only for the observance of Jesus' birth but also as the key to the start of each new church year. The four Sundays before Christmas make up the season of Advent. Depending on what day of the week December 25 falls on Advent can have as little as 22 days or as many as 28. The primary moveable feast is Easter. Easter is always on a Sunday but can be as early as March 22 or as late as April 25. Since Easter is a movable feast it affects most of the church year. If Easter is early then Ash Wednesday is as early as February. Pentecost the season in which we are now can be very long (26 weeks) or relatively short (22 weeks) The goal of this structure is to insure that we as a community of believers hear the word of God as expressed in the bible to the fullest extent possible. During the various seasons teachings of the church are stressed--the spread of the gospel in Epiphany, the need for repentance during Lent, the joy of resurrection at Easter and the teaching of the spirit filled church during Pentecost. During the three year cycle of the church year all of the gospels and epistles are read as well as the psalms. Just for your information all saints’ days are immovable feasts--St, Patrick -- March 17, St. Francis -- October 4. All Saints Day and the Feast of the Transfiguration are major immovable feast days and observed in a special manner.

Peace, GJK

2010-05-16T17:57:00.000-07:00

Easter 6C May 9, 2010
“Will you come and follow me if I but call your name?Will you go where you don't know and never be the same?Will you let my love be shown? Will you let my name be known,Will you let my life be grown in you and you in me?”
The words of this song from the Iona community in Scotland call us into Christian discipleship. They describe the sort of call Jesus made to his very first disciples. They inquire about a willingness to prepare for the tasking of “giving away” our faith—something we are called to do as disciples.
Our gospel lesson comes from near the end of Jesus' ministry—he was addressing his disciples. If you are willing to be my disciple, Jesus said you will show it by loving him. Loving him means keeping his word. His word to the disciples who followed him was to love God and love our neighbors. And by the way, Jesus added that he wouldn't be around much longer. In his absence his disciples would be given the Holy Spirit by God to look out for them and teach them and remind them about what he said.
Jesus' absence would give his disciples a chance to experience the divine power of new life in Christ through the resurrection. That divine power within each follower happens, because Jesus promised that God and he would “make our home with them.” With this indwelling of the Father, Jesus and the Spirit, one's life would be transformed.
This transformation means that one who places his or her faith in Jesus' way of life is promised the peace of Christ and a non-anxious heart. This does not mean that the difficulties or challenges of life will pass us by? No, but we can be sure of Christ's abiding presence with us at times.
That’s the theology of our gospel reading. So how can we expect to see this happen “on the ground?” We have a picture of how it can happen in the story of Lydia's conversion from the book of Acts. We heard this morning that Paul and some companions—probably including Luke—felt compelled by a vision Paul received to leave Asia Minor and travel to Macedonia in southeastern Europe. This was new territory for the Christian mission, and there may have been few Jewish people there who would know about the promised Messiah.
So on the Sabbath Paul finds his way to a place of prayer near a river and outside the gate of the city of Philippi. Perhaps there are not enough Jewish men in the city to build a synagogue. Anyway, in this informal setting Paul and his companions begin to talk to some women gathered for prayer.
Talking to women in public—in Christ's name?? Jewish men were not to be talking with women in public! How could this be o.k.?? Because Paul had given his life to the mission of spreading the good news of Jesus Christ. Out of love for Christ he broke the rule about not to speaking to women in public places!
No record was made of what he said. But whatever words he spoke, through the power of God, touched Lydia's heart. Lydia had been a person of prayer. Now she had been convicted of the power of the resurrected Jesus in her life—and her life was transformed.
Through baptism Lydia and her whole household became Christians—the first baptism recorded in Europe. And this was not simply a transformation of her beliefs. Much more, it was a transformation of how she lived—she and her household joined with Paul and his companions to create a partnership. This partnership began the church at Philippi.
Paul's willingness to cross the gender boundary in this instance and Lydia's generosity and hospitality as she responded to Paul's teaching about Jesus mark this moment as a time when “things were never the same” for those people involved.
Lydia, as a dealer in purple cloth, sold fabric to those in power. As a successful businesswoman, she led a household, probably with servants and children. Yet she sought, through prayer, what she lacked—the peace of God, a relationship with God. Paul had found that peace and that relationship, but he had been called to spread the gospel—so he needed willing listeners. God brought them together and God's saving grace dismantled the social-cultural barriers between them.
What was the key that unlocked the way to this partnership in Christ? I see the key as “willingness.” Paul was willing to take a long journey with no promise of success and speak of his faith to a woman. Lydia, probably a Gentile, was willing to listen to a stranger with an unusual message. “Willingness” helps open our lives to the power of God, so God's Spirit can indwell and empower us.
Is there a message here for us at Good Shepherd today? What does each of us have to offer when we are called by God into community, into partnership with each other? What will God be able to use to strengthen this community and draw others into it? What barriers need to fall? What change do we need to accept? What should our “willingness” look like? What support should we offer? These are rhetorical questions today, but we should be thinking about them.
Good Shepherd will soon be moving from the ‘safe harbor’ of St. Nicholas.’ What will happen to our congregation as we move apart and resume our separate journey? This will very much depend on our “willingness” to be open to God's leading and to support this community in its path forward.
Let me end by re-phrasing the song with which I began:
“Will all of you [at Good Shepherd] come and follow me if I but call your name?Will you all go where you don't know and never be the same?Will you all let my love be shown? Will you let my name be known,Will you all let my life be grown in you and you in me?”

Homily at Good Shepherd on January 3, 2010

2010-01-06T17:46:00.000-08:00

By The Rev. Elizabeth Masterson
Matthew 2: 1-12
So how's the year going so far?
I was reading a column by Paul Greenberg in the News Journal on from Thursday's paper about how often predictions of editorial writers are wrong. He closed the column by saying, “I think I'll just stick to observing. . . that the future lies before us. You can quote me on that.”
“The future lies before us” said in a certain context could imply hope for something better than one experienced in the past. In another context it might imply that the quest one is starting on promises to be exciting.
Might one of the Wise Men have said to the others, “Let's get started following this star, the future lies before us?” It wasn't reported by Matthew if he did!
These seekers after the King of the Jews hardly seemed like the politicians or editorial writers who may be prone to spouting that sort of empty, but pretentious, statement. Rather, Matthew presents them as seeking truth from ancient prophecies by talking to those who should have known what these prophecies meant—serious people on serious business. That serious business was to find a child whose claim to the Jewish Messianic title made men and women want to worship him.
For the Wise Men, worship involved leaving their usual activities and duties. Perhaps they turned these over to others. Perhaps they just allowed some things to go undone. Perhaps they left family and friends behind to worry about them. Whatever they gave up was the price they paid for their quest.
The Wise Men also worshiped through gifts carefully selected for value and for their meaning. We do not know why they chose these gifts, except that they were gifts worthy of a king. Looking back, we can speculate about their meaning. In other words, why would we give such gifts to the Messiah. For us they may symbolize kingship (the gold), priesthood (frankincense), and anointing in death (myrrh)—three aspects of Jesus' messiahship.
Yet most of all their worship was not in what they gave up or in the economic or symbolic value of their gifts, but in how “diligently” they sought the child. The faith they showed as they undertook and persisted in this quest and their attentiveness to God's message in a dream afterwards made them examples for all of us who seek God and long to worship God faithfully. Yes, to worship faithfully as the Wise Men did with reverence and with generosity.
“Christian faith” is a word some folks fling about all too readily in regard to someone's holding a certain set of beliefs. Do you believe . . . can be how someone starts a question about someone else's faith. Do they believe as we do about certain important issues or doctrines. And if they don't??
Rather, we need to understand faith, including Christian faith, as a gift from God that sends us out into a land of uncertainty and challenge, just as the Wise Men were sent. And our faith then becomes our persistence in seeking the Messiah, the Christ and our attentiveness to God in the midst of uncertainty and in a time of challenge.
Timothy Mulder, who has pastored both Episcopal and Reformed congregations, gave this advice to those of us who see ourselves on this sort of faith journey. Wise people should pray “for the gift of faith that we may see Christ in the world in the most unlikely of places.” Perhaps even in someone or in a situation that we dislike and would rather avoid. But being certain that in these “unlikely places” God will provide us with opportunities to grow in our faith and to trust God more fully than ever.
Where is your comfort zone? What sort of worship would you chose if you could choose anything? Yet what might God use to reach out to you?
No more wonderful worship experience could be imagined than the moment the Wise Men knelt and opened their gifts. And yet soon afterwards they had to leave and not in the way they had planned. But attentively they listened for God's leading and left, I expect, with more uncertainty and challenges ahead. Given their obvious faith, however, mostly like they would meet these uncertainties and challenges by continuing to trust in God's leading.
How might the example of the Wise Men's lives be seen in our lives or in the lives of our families or in the life of Good Shepherd? Different answers may come to various folks. Various answers may come at different times. But God will guide us to answers—if we remain attentive.
Pastor Mulder offered this observation on the Wise Men's journey—which I present as a New Year's gift—a principle that can inform our answer to 'How's the year going so far?': “Faith is traveling wherever, resting in hope that it is God who is leading us and our travels are not in vain.”
So how's the year going so far??

Pastoral Ponderings

2009-12-30T19:59:00.000-08:00

Pastoral Ponderings
Christmastide draws to a close with Epiphany. Although the date of Epiphany is technically January 6, many churches—including Good Shepherd—will celebrate it on the second Sunday after Christmas. On Sunday, January 3rd, the three “wise men” will join the crèche. The gospel lesson speaks of their seeking and finding a special child and of their listening to and following God’s leading. This passage can be read as a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy and as a guide for us as we seek God’s will in our journey of faith.
Beginning on January 7 we enter a period of “Ordinary Time,” also called the “Season after the Epiphany.” The liturgical color is green, although the very first Sunday in it celebrates the Baptism of our Lord when white is the liturgical color. This season ends with Shrove Tuesday, Feb. 16.

Pastoral Ponderings

2009-12-08T19:11:00.000-08:00

Pastoral Ponderings:
December can be quite a busy time—as you can see by the various activities of our parish this month. Since Thanksgiving begins the secular season of pre-Christmas (we call it Advent), perhaps we can use on our time of waiting for the Incarnation—the birth of our Lord—to reflect on God’s blessing in our lives.
One of my friends commented that if we gave Thanksgiving as much attention as we did Christmas, perhaps we would be better prepared for the coming of Jesus. “Being grateful” becomes a way of life that welcomes the divine spirit into our lives.
As we plunge into the activity of this busy season, let us take time to remember God’s blessings to us and give thanks. A few moments of thanksgiving prayer at the beginning or end of each day might be enough to calm our frazzled days.
We should also pray for people who experience sadness with the coming of Christmas time. May God’s grace support them as they recall the loss that brings them grief. May they find comfort and hope in the love of their friends and family.
May the hope of Advent and the peace of Jesus Christ be yours today and always!
Elizabeth+