CGS Stories

From Rev. Bill Bennett 

Forgiveness is at the heart of the wisdom of the Lord Jesus Christ,and it is the principle way he shows his love for us and calls us to love one another. Forgiveness is both an inclination of our renewed hearts and the actual practice of it with each other: with those who we need to be reconciled with in our lives. It is key to really experiencing freedom and understanding life not as a problem to be fixed, but a gift to be celebrated. The Rev'd Barbara Cawthorne Crafton writes in her wonderful little "JourneyBook" from Church Publishing, YES! WE'LL GATHER AT THE RIVER!:

The Rev'd Barbara Cawthorne Crafton"Sins aren't okay. By definition, they're not okay; if they were okay, they wouldn't be sins, would they? There would be no need for forgiveness. What we would be talking about if sins were okay would be acquittal, not forgiveness. Acquittal means the guy didn't do it. He walks. He's innocent. But when we forgive, that's not the judgment we're making. We're not exonerating. We're just electing to move on. Forgiveness turns out to be much more about you than about the one who hurt you.

"In a curious way - curious and offensive to many people, I might add - the distinction between the victim of a wrong and its perpetrator is not as central to the problem of forgiveness as it always seems. This though runs counter to the way almost all of us feel that it sounds like nonsense, especially to the victim of a grave injury.

"Wait a minute! ... you're saying that there's no difference between me and the one who betrayed my trust so completely that I don't think I can ever trust again?

"Whether I committed the sin or someone else committed against me is not as important to my eventual freedom as is ejecting it from its inappropriate place in the spotlight of my spiritual landscape. Whoever did it - if it is obsessing me - I am the one who must act to change things. As fascinated as we cannot help but be with the question "Who started it?" the more urgent and more useful question is "Who can end it?" The first is a question about the past, and we cannot change the past. But the second is about the present and the future, and these are things we can affect by our own agency."

We have a great opportunity to go more deeply into the wonder and  mystery of forgiveness in the "Forgiveness Weekend" with Mother Crafton which we are hosting here the weekend of September 17-19. This will include a Parish Potluck at Ken and Karen Sommerville's Friday night, a day retreat/workshop at the Church (Shepherd's Hall) on Saturday, 9 AM-3 PM, and Mother Crafton will preach at both Eucharists and teach at the Christian Formation hour on Sunday. Please click here for more information and to register: http://www.cgs-raleigh.org/announcement/forgiveness-weekend-mother-barbara-crafton-sept-17-19

Peace and Blessings,Bill

From The Rev. Dr. Robert C. Sawyer 

            For the last few weeks the members of the Men's Bible Study group that meets on Wednesday mornings at 7 a.m. have been reflecting upon First and Second Timothy, the two letters written to Timothy who today we would refer to as a young priest.  Written by Paul from Prison near the end of his life, these letters offer words of direction, encouragement, and support for Timothy.

            In First Timothy Paul tells Timothy, "I am giving you these instructions, Timothy, my child...so that by following them you may fight the good fight, having faith and a good conscience." (I Timothy 1:18-19)  Then in Second Timothy, Paul calls upon Timothy to be steadfast in proclaiming the message of faith, "...for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power, and of love and of self-discipline." (II Timothy 1:7)

            While reading these Epistles, one also encounters the reality of how important prayer is for the life of the community of faith.  All of us, lay and ordained, need not only to be surrounded by the prayers of others but also offering prayers ourselves daily so that as Paul reminded Timothy, "...that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone." (I Timothy 2:1)

            We start our Program Year on September 12, Rally Day.  There are excellent activities planned for all ages with dedicated teachers and leaders.  I encourage you to pray daily for those who are leading our programs and for all of those who will participate in them.  Pray that lives might be nurtured and relationships with our Lord deepened.  Pray also that people will be empowered to" fight the Good fight", that is to live their lives in such a way that they are manifestations of Christ's love for the world.

From The Rev. Dr. Robert C. Sawyer 

During my sermon on Sunday I shared with the congregations at 8:00 am and 10:30 am some news about a change that will soon take place in our life as a parish.  A short while ago, I met with Janet Gilliam, our director of Children's Ministry for the past seven years, and she informed me that she truly believed that now was the time for her to retire from this position.  After about an hour's conversation, with sadness I accepted her decision to retire on September 12^th of this year.  We will honor Janet as part of our Rally Day events on that date.

Janet brought a true sense of love for children and their nurture in the knowledge and love of the Lord to her position.  During her time with us, we have seen the building of one of the finest children's programs with some of the most dedicated teachers and wonderful children in the diocese.  It has been a joy working with Janet from the day that I offered her this position seven years ago.  I give thanks for all that she has done and pray God's special blessing be upon her at this time.

I also give thanks to God that on September 13^th our Director of Youth Ministry, Wren Blessing, will expand her ministry role with us as she will take over the newly created position of Director of Family Ministry with responsibility for all of our young children and youth.  Wren will bring to this position her passion for spiritual nurture and development and a level of energy that leaves all of us amazed.  Please support Wren as you have Janet, and you will come to know that our children will continue to truly grow in the knowledge and love of the Lord.

From The Rev. Dr. Robert C. Sawyer

I shared some good news in Church last Sunday about the fact that we had gone below $3,000,000 in our debt on the Duncan-Giersch Center.  We are now at $2,925,000.  I give thanks for the sacrificial giving of all who have helped to bring us from the original cost of the building of over $8,000,000.  We have come a long way but we still have more to do in order to pay off this debt.  To those of you who have made a pledge to the Center Campaign, I encourage you to continue to give to the fulfillment of that pledge.  If you did not pledge at the beginning of this campaign or you are new to Good Shepherd, I encourage you to prayerfully consider giving something to help keep us on the road to ending this debt.

There are some who believe we are now at the most difficult point in our journey to end our debt and that may be the case.  We have been through difficult times before in the history of Good Shepherd and have come through them because of the willingness of parishioners to stand together.  And that is the way it will be with this debt.  Let us all stand and work together in the name of Jesus, the true Good Shepherd of the flock.