CGS Stories

For me, one of the truly special outreach programs that we have at The Church of the Good Shepherd is the St. Nicholas Tree.  It is special because it is mainly focused on children.  I look forward each year to taking a couple of stars off the tree and buying presents that will help to put a smile on the face of a young child that I may never know.  The joy that is felt by that child is the same joy that I feel in being able to give beyond my own family. 

God has blessed us and by that blessing we are each called to have a generous heart.  If you are able to participate this year, I hope you will join with you brothers and sisters in taking stars from the tree starting this Sunday, November 22, after the 8 AM  and 10:30 AM Eucharists.

Some of you, who have truly generous hearts, may not be able to participate this year in the buying of presents due to the economic situation you may be in at this time.  However, you can still respond to the tugging on your generous heart by making a commitment to pray for those who are represented by the starts on the St. Nicholas Tree.  Through your prayers you are giving a special gift from the heart.

Julie LoweWe Love to Tell the Story... Over the past several weeks, you have read and heard the stories of your fellow parishioners here at Good Shepherd about why they are blessed to be part of this spiritual family.  And you have been asked to make a commitment to the mission and ministry of Good Shepherd for 2010 by making a financial pledge to church operations.  I hope and pray that you feel as much a part of the Good Shepherd family as the people who have presented these heartfelt messages and will show that commitment by pledging to Annual Giving in 2010.

As of today, pledges have been received from 147 parishioners for a total of $483,951.  Our goal for 2010 is a 10% increase in annual giving over this year which would equate to pledge commitments from 252 members for a total of about $725,000.  We are truly blessed to have received 25 new pledges so far, and 67 people have pledged to increase their giving next year.  If you are one of those who haven't yet submitted their commitment letter, now is the time.  It is your best guess of what you plan to give in the coming 12 months.  It can be adjusted up or down if need be.  No pledge is too small (or too large!)  We have parishioners who commit to give $1 per week on up to those who pledge well into five figures for the year.  The amount you pledge is between you and God, but that you pledge is a statement of your faith and discipleship.  Your clergy and lay leadership have all made their commitments, increasing their pledges for next year if possible.  But we need everyone's help.  The only way we can effectively plan for the mission and ministry of Good Shepherd is to have some idea of what revenues to expect next year.  Things are probably going to continue to be tight next year, and we want to be able to manage our resources responsibly and effectively.

Thank you to everyone who has already made a commitment for 2010.  And thank you to everyone else who is going to do that now.

Faithfully,

Julie S. Lowe, Senior Warden

O Lord God Almighty, as you have taught us to call the evening, the morning, and the noonday one day; and have made the sun to know its going down: Dispel the darkness of our hearts, that by your brightness we may know you to be the true God and eternal light, living and reigning for ever and ever.  Amen. - "Prayer for Light," Order of Worship for the Evening, THE BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER, p. 110)

Dear Friends and Fellow Disciples,

Some of you may know that a group of Good Shepherd members, staff, and clergy have been working in a focused way on developing a Sunday evening worship service at Good Shepherd. We are very excited that we are nearing the date when Good Shepherd will celebrate our first service. Our Rector has mentioned this evening service at our announcement time and in other places. This service,which will take place every other Sunday beginning with November 22, is taking shape as an "Evensong" service, based on the Order for Worship for the Evening which is found in the Prayer Book beginning on page 109. This service is also known as "Vespers." In this act of worship we bring some of the most ancient rhythms and patterns of Christian worship into our contemporary experience. We experience the passage from darkness to light -a template for the experience of Christian transformation and resurrection faith- as we transform a dimmed church into a place of warm radiance, as we light candle after candle at the beginning of the service. We sing a hymn in praise to the Light of Christ, such as Hymn 25 in our 1982 Hymnal, "O Gracious Light, Lord Jesus Christ," a paraphrase of the ancient Christian evening canticle, Phos Hilaron ("O Gracious Light"), set to a wonderfully sing-able canon, The Eighth Tune by Thomas Tallis. The service continues with Psalms, a Lesson or Lessons from Scripture; a meditation by the clergy or some other person, or reading from some other Christian spiritual writing (optional); one of the classic evening canticles, the Magnificat ("My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord...") or Nunc Dimmitis (Lord, you now have set you servant free, to go in peace...); prayers of intercession; a hymn; and a blessing and dismissal. Meaningful periods of silence are also a significant part of this service.

From The Rev. Dr. Robert C. Sawyer with input from Darylene Netzer, Parish Administrator 

Most parents remember trying to teach their young child to say "thank you". How often can you remember saying "now, what do you say"?  We want to teach this child that to speak with gratitude is courteous and pleasant.  The instruction to give thanks appears thirty five times in Scripture. As we develop into adults, the harder concept of thankfulness is thanksgiving, a word of action. 

Our stewardship theme this year is "We Love to Tell the Story". We would like to share several "stories" that were "told"  this past week.  When one of our parishioners was contacted and asked if his family could give a little more, the response was "double my pledge and you will have it by the end of the week".  One of our older members, residing in assisted living, called to ask the balance of her pledge for 2009. Upon hearing the balance, she replied "I will send it all this week".  She then added that she had received her "pledge letter" and wanted her pledge for 2010 to be $150.00....a 10% increase! Another powerful story of thankfulness is when one of our young mothers dropped by last week to inquire as to her family's pledge balance. After being given the balance, she was ask if her family could do a little more.  She wrote her check for $500.00 more than the pledge balance and added that they would try to do more before the end of the year.

In his letter to the Colossians, Paul encouraged the church to let the peace of Christ rule in their hearts. I believe that living with a thankful heart is a large part of that process. As your rector, my heart is full of thanksgiving for all those who give so generously of their time, talent and treasures. Their generosity allows us to continue to tell the story at this time, in this place and throughout our community.

The "Season" of Stewardship is with us once again.  I know you have enjoyed the videos of parishioners telling their stories. There will continue to be new ones in the coming weeks.  Our church family has vividly expressed how blessed they are to be here.  I believe these people are the outward expression of what it means to be good stewards in this parish. You will soon be receiving a letter from your Rector and Wardens.  It is our request to you for financial support through annual giving. Please prayerfully consider this opportunity to support your church in the coming year.

On Sunday, I addressed the congregation about our financial need in 2009.  While we are very grateful to everyone who has contributed and supported Good Shepherd this year, the weak economy has had a real impact on our annual giving.  The staff and vestry have done their best to manage costs without cutting the quality of our programs, and will continue to do so, but that doesn't appear to be enough.

So we'd like to ask for your help.  We are asking everyone in the church to try to contribute at least 10% more than they either pledged for 2009 or planned to contribute this year. If you would also consider increasing your pledge for 2010 by the same amount, it would put us in good stead.  Your wardens and vestry do not take this request lightly and will join with you in trying to do their part.  I know for some of you this is asking a lot, but I know you will consider how much Good Shepherd means to you and your family. Can we count on you to continue to tell the story of the Church of The Good Shepherd at this time and in this place as we have for the past one hundred thirty five years?

Faithfully,

Julie Lowe, Senior Warden

Glenn McDonald, in his work, The Disciple Making Church, makes the following statement: "In a healthy church we must regularly affirm that every individual is called to be a servant, not just a spectator of church life" (p. 45).  At this particular time in the life of our parish as we approach our stewardship campaign, I find this to be a truly relevant statement for each of us.  For the mission and ministry of The Church of the Good Shepherd to be fulfilled all of us have to be willing to be active participants in that mission and ministry.

This starts with a true commitment to make attendance at our Sunday worship a priority for you.  It is through our worship experience that we are both nurtured in our relationship with Jesus and empowered for ministry.  It is out of worship that those called to leadership in the congregation emerge.  Anyone who does not attend worship on a regular basis cannot really be considered a leader.

Second, we need to willingly offer the gifts that we have, our time, talent and treasure to the mission and ministry that has been entrusted to us.  Without the offering of our gifts the programs of our church would at best be diminished and at worst disappear all together.  There is nothing sadder than a beautiful old church standing idle.

Finally, each of us needs to make a commitment to share the story of the Good News of God in Christ that we have each found in this place.  If you believe in the mission and ministry of The Church of the Good Shepherd, then you should want your friends to be a part of all that goes on in this place.

Have you found true life in this place?  I know I have.  Will you join with me in bringing others so that they too might find this same sense of life? 

The Rev. Dr. Robert C. Sawyer 

During the past week I have been reading some material concerning ways in which churches can continue to expand their mission, ministry, and outreach even in the midst of lean economic times.  One of the ways that has helped a number of churches is the development of partnerships with others.  These partnerships could be made up of other churches or even other community agencies.  The two key elements in the development of partnerships are 1) we are able to reach out to more of those in need and 2) the people of the different groups involved are able to build relationships, share gifts, and learn from each other.  On a spiritual level, more people will learn how we, as Episcopalians, live into our relationship with Jesus Christ.  I encourage each of you to begin to think of ways that we might develop partnerships in our community.

By the way, we already have at least three partnerships in place here at Good Shepherd.  First, there is our relationship with the Shepherd's Table Soup Kitchen.  Not only do we provide a home for them, we also contribute financially, and a number of our parishioners work with volunteers from across the Triangle to feed those in need.  We also have a partnership with Habitat for Humanity as a number of the group that I think of as the Shepherd's Builders, lead by James Deal, help to build homes for those in need.  They will begin another project next Saturday, October 10.

The third partnership was developed by Donna Gundrum, our Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry.  Our Youth Group and the Youth of Grace Church, an Episcopal Mission in Clayton, have joined together for a number of activities.  Last Sunday about forty youth and adults from these two churches joined with Margaret Park's Migrant Ministry Group to provide a meal and some social time for the farm workers in the Benson Area.  It was a joy for me to be with them.  I believe that all of us have grown in our faith through the experience that we have had with our brothers and sisters.

As I finish this "Rector's Ramblings" I am beginning to understand how much life there is in our wonderful old parish.  There is a new feeling of excitement emerging as people are being empowered in their faith walk to go out into the world in the name of Jesus.  There is a place for everyone.  Come and join us at Good Shepherd and you will find a place where "God Happens."

Many of you may have already seen the information that the Diocese of North Carolina has put out about H1N1.  I found it to be helpful and presented in a calm and rational manner, and it called us to simply use some good old common sense such as staying home if you are feeling sick.  At this point we are able to continue to do things in the normal liturgical practice of the Episcopal Church for the passing of the peace and the administration of the bread and wine.

With that being said let me share a couple of thoughts with you.  If you feel better at this time in not shaking hands at the Peace, you can simply exchange the greeting with those around you.  When coming forward for communion you can receive by intinction, which is dipping the wafer into the chalice yourself or having the celebrant do that for you.  You also receive the full benefit of communion if you only receive in one kind, which means receiving only the wafer.

For those who desire to use them, we will provide large pump bottles of hand sanitizer in the Narthex, the East and West   Transepts, and in the Sacristy.   Hospitals have been doing this type of precautionary thing for some time, and we thought that it might be helpful for all attending worship at Good Shepherd.

Rally day was a great and joyful occasion this year.  There was a wonderful amount of energy and excitement as children and parents met with teachers and got a taste of this year's programs.  Then later in the day a large group of our younger children and their parents, after enjoying a tasty lunch provided by Fyl Thompson, Meriwether Walker and May Sherrod, took a bus trip to Rising Meadows Farm and got some hands on experience for the theme for this year, "We are the sheep of his pasture."

The new worship schedule is also off to a great start.  The 10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist was very well attended and participation was enthusiastic to say the least.  The announcement time gave everyone an opportunity to hear to hear just the tip of the iceberg about all the activities that take place at Good Shepherd.

There was one announcement that truly stood out for me because it brought forth two responses.  Donna Gundrum, our Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries, introduced by name the twelve youth who had committed to our Fall Confirmation Class and stated that there was a volunteer adult mentor for each of them. The first response to this announcement was applause on the part of the congregation showing their support for the youth and their mentors.  The second response came the next morning when Donna informed me that seven more youth had committed to the Confirmation Class and that there was a mentor for each of them as well. We are blessed to have so many adults who are willing to volunteer their time to be a part of the lives of our youth in the Confirmation process. This is a great sign for the life of our parish.

The excitement continues this week with Adult Rally Day and the Ministry Fair.  You will have the opportunity to learn something about all of the ministries that are funded by our tithes and offerings.  You will also learn about the outstanding Adult Education/Formation offerings that Father Bill has put together for this year.  I sure am glad that Good Shepherd takes Adult Christian Education/Formation seriously.  Our parish is a model for those who seek to understand the life long commitment to learning as we walk the pilgrimage of faith together.

This morning I found myself listening to a Country Western song by Darryl Worley that was called, "Have You Forgotten?"  The chorus contained the words, "Have you forgotten how it felt that day to see your homeland under fire and her people blown away?  Have you forgotten when those towers fell..."  I know these are difficult words to hear but with the eighth anniversary of 9/11 falling on tomorrow I believe they are appropriate to remind us of an event that we must not forget.   It was an event that truly changed the way we live our lives and one where most of us can remember where we were when we first heard the news of the planes hitting the towers of the World Trade Center.

While all States have been affected by the events of that day, our own State of North Carolina has seen a large number of men and women in our armed forces sent into Harm's Way to defend the freedoms that we hold so dear.  This includes Marines and Sailors from Camp Lejeune, Soldiers from Fort Bragg, Air Force Members from Pope and Seymour Johnson, and members of the North Carolina National Guard, just to name a few.  We even have members of our own Parish deployed at this time.

With this in mind, I am asking each of you to take a moment tomorrow to pray for our Country and for those in our military so far from home, and for their families who watch and wait.  If you have your prayer book at home, you can use the prayer on top of page 823, "For those in the Armed Forces of our Country."   Let us surround our country with prayer and let us never forget those who willingly pay the ultimate price for freedom.

The Rev. Dr. Robert C. Sawyer

Many of us still look at the Labor Day Weekend as the end of the summer season. Although here in North Carolina our schools have already started, in many states children go back to school on the day after Labor Day. Some old southern traditions are remembered at this time. Children no longer go barefoot, women put away the white shoes, and men hang up the seersucker suits until next year. Even in the Episcopal Church, Labor Day marks a time of transition when churches prepare to start up what many of us simply refer to as the "program year."

There is a wonderful hymn of the Church that speaks to us of the change that is taking place in the life of parishes and missions across our Church. It is known as "Come, Labor on." Its first verse reads, "Come, labor on. Who dares stand idle on the harvest plain, while all around us waves the golden grain? And to each servant does the master say, 'Go work today.'" (Hymn 541) As Rally Day approaches, I hope all of you have had a wonderful summer, and I encourage you to be active in both worship, as we move to 8am and 10:30am services on September 13, and Christian Education and Formation, meeting at 9:15am.

What then, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. - 1 Corinthians 14:26

I recently was saddened to read of the death of one my favorite seminary professors at Sewanee, the Rev. Dr. Marion J Hatchett. Marion, who was in retirement, had been the long-time professor of Liturgics (the study of worship and rites) at Sewanee, and he was one of the main reasons I chose Sewanee as the place to prepare for ordination. Marion was one of the principal shapers of the liturgical life of the Episcopal Church over the last 40 or so years. He was instrumental in the revisions which resulted in the current Book of Common Prayer (1979) and the Hymnal 1982. He was passionately concerned that the over-riding concern of those planning and leading liturgy was that the congregation be edified, or "built up" in the Christian faith through the weekly and daily experience of participating in the liturgy of the Church - an experience where Sunday to Sunday and daily, the worshipping People of God grow more deeply into their Baptismal calling, and integrate more thoroughly faith, worship, and daily life. Last year, Marion was honored by the General Theological Seminary in New York, where he did his doctoral dissertation, as Alumnus of the Year. In his acceptance address, Marion spoke words of wisdom that continue to edify the Episcopal Church beyond the hour of his death:

I am pleased to be offered this time and space to focus our attention upon our gifted parish intern, Joslyn Schaefer.  If you have not yet had a chance to meet Joslyn, please try to talk with her.  She is already proving to be a true blessing to us here at Church of the Good Shepherd.  Her past experiences and her current employment as a social worker with Latino families in Durham can teach us many new ways of viewing our work as servants in this broken world.  I especially am looking forward to her educational series on Henri Nouwen's book, The Road to Daybreak, and his time living in a L'Arche community, one of several communities where the able-bodied and those who are not able-bodied live , work and pray together.  In addition, Joslyn is applying her considerable talents to the planning of the Sunday afternoon service we hope to initiate later this fall, as well as assisting Donna Gundrum with the youth confirmation classes.

As most of you know, Joslyn is at the discernment stage of the official diocesan ordination process.  This is a crucial formative time, and I so well remember how much I appreciated all that members of this parish, as well as Bob, Bill, Dale (Harmon) and Meta (Ellington), taught me during my similar internship time here at Good Shepherd.  Thus I hope all of us will do whatever we can to enrich Joslyn's time here with us, between now and Epiphany.  I know she will also teach us many things.  So I am grateful to the Commission on Ministry and Bishop Curry for assigning Joslyn to us.  Keep up the good work, Joslyn!

From The Rev. Dr. Robert C. Sawyer 

During this summer, I have had meetings with our Clergy, Wardens, the Director of Music Ministry, the Director of Children's Ministry, the Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, and our Support Staff concerning our Sunday schedule and how to make the best use of all of our gifts and talents for ministry at this particular time in the life of our parish as well as providing us with an opportunity for growth in the future.  These thoughtful discussions have helped me make a decision about our worship life that involves a change in the schedule for what we do on Sunday.  While I realize that change is sometimes difficult for Episcopalians, I believe this change will bring a new sense of vibrancy to Good Shepherd.

I presented this new schedule to the Vestry at our meeting this past Monday evening and received their enthusiastic support.  Therefore, on Sunday, September 13, Rally Day, our Sunday Schedule will be as follows:

                                                8:00 AM - Holy Eucharist (Rite I)

                                                8:45 AM - 9:15 AM -- Coffee Fellowship

                                                9:15 AM- 10:15 AM - Christian Education

                                                10:15 AM-- 10:25 AM - Last Cup of Coffee Fellowship

                                                10:30 AM- 11:30 AM - Holy Eucharist

This schedule provides us with a full hour each week for Christian Education and more opportunity for some fellowship time for people to get to know each other.  At our 10:30 AM Holy Eucharist we will use both Rite I and Rite II.  Since Rite I is more penitential, we will use it during the seasons of Advent and Lent.  Rite II will be used at other times during the Church Year.

Also, we are in the process of looking toward the development of a third worship opportunity that might possibly be held around the 5 PM hour on Sunday afternoons (being held at least two Sundays per month to start).  At this time we are working to determine both the need for this type of Eucharistic Offering as well as the vision that we have for it, i.e., just who it is we are trying to reach with this offering and just what liturgical style would be offered.

I hope you plan to join us for this new and exciting time in our life together.

When I was at Virginia Seminary I had the privilege of taking both a theology course and a liturgics course from the Rev. Dr. Charles Price, who at that time was one of the great teachers in the Episcopal Church.  Dr. Price also co-authored one of the books in the old "Church's Teaching Series" called Liturgy for Living.  In this book he discussed the importance of symbols for the Christian Faith.  One type of symbol he called a communicating symbol.  He described it by stating, "A communicating symbol not only stands for the reality it represents, but transmits that reality, and indeed is that reality." (p.36)  Today, August 6, 2009, we celebrate the Feast of the Transfiguration, one of the key communicating symbols of our faith.

St. Luke, in the ninth chapter of his Gospel account, tells us that Jesus took some of his closest disciples up to a mountain to pray.  And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white.  Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him.  In this event the disciples experience the reality of who this Jesus of Nazareth was.  There stood before them their transfigured Lord talking with Moses and Elijah, the symbols of the Law and the prophets.  In Jesus of Nazareth, the Glory of God is revealed to the world.

In the Transfiguration, we who are members of the Church of the Good Shepherd encounter a communicating symbol by which we experience Jesus as the fulfillment of all that had been promised in the Law and the Prophets.  And through this experience and the acceptance of its reality, we come to know that we are not only to follow Jesus but to also listen to his words found in Holy Scripture and allow them to transform our hearts.

I pray that your hearts will be transformed this day and that all of our lives may be lived as a manifestation of the eternal love that has come into the world in Jesus.

Father Juan Marentes and his wife, Isabel, have moved from their work in Peru and have been called to serve in Belize. Father Marentes will be the Priest-in-Charge of St. Andrew's Parish Church in San Ignacio and will work with St. Barnabas' and St. Hilda's Mission Churches. Father Marentes and Isabel will be helping expand the ministry of the church to the growing Hispanic population of Belize. Belize is officially an English speaking country, but Spanish is spoken by 50% of the population. Most people speak creole, Garifuna or Mayan. The average Belizean speaks at least two languages. Please keep Father Juan Marentes and Isabel in your prayers as they begin a new and challenging ministry.  Good Shepherd helps supports Father Marentes through the South American Missionary Society (SAMS).  He can best be reached through SAMS, PO Box 399, Ambridge, PA 15003.

Father Juan Marentes and his wife, Isabel, have moved from their work in Peru and been called to serve in Belize. Father Marentes will be the Priest-in-Charge of St. Andrew's Parish Church in San Ignacio and will work with St. Barnabas' and St. Hilda's Mission Churches. Father Marentes and Isabel will be helping expand the ministry of the church to the growing Hispanic population of Belize. Belize is officially an English speaking country, but Spanish is spoken by 50% of the population. Most people speak creole, Garifuna or Mayan. The average Belizean speaks at least two languages. Please keep Father Juan Marentes and Isabel in your prayers as they begin a new and challenging ministry.  Good Shepherd helps supports Father Marentes through the South American Missionary Society (SAMS).  He can best be reached through SAMS, PO Box 399, Ambridge, PA 15003.

From The Rev. William D. Bennett, Jr. 

Over the next several Sundays, our Gospel readings for the Eucharist will enter what we might call a series of "Bread Sunday" sayings of Jesus. That is, we will be hearing readings from the sixth chapter of the Gospel according to John where Jesus says such things as "I am the bread of life," "I am the true bread which comes down from heaven," and "the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh." Actually, the "Bread Sundays" begin at the beginning of chapter six of John, when we hear of the miracle of the multiplication of the "five barley loaves" (and two small fish) to feed the 5000. Jesus makes it clear that this miracle was not about reacting to a human predicatment (a lot of physically hungry people) when he says later in the chapter, when the crowds look for him afterwards: "Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishies, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you." Jesus knows and cares about our physical needs and urges, but he knows that we are much more than a collection of our impulses and instincts for survival. Jesus offers us the fullness of life by inviting us into the fullness of his life. We experience this in the Eucharist, where we join the brokeness and incompleteness of our lives to his own perfect offering of himself, and through him, our lives become bread for the world. We sometimes may not grasp that, in the Eucharist, we are invited into both an astounding intimacy with Jesus and to share in his radical generosity, which is expressed in his "bread of life" sayings. We can bring the wonderful intimacy and generosity of the Eucharistic life into our homes, workplaces, schools, and in the "always and everywheres" of our lives, each day, even in the experience of sitting down for a shared meal with families, partners, and friends.

In St. Paul's Second Letter to Timothy, we encounter what we today would describe as the words of encouragement and instruction from an elder priest to a younger priest.  Some of the words are rather direct, such as, "Have nothing to do with stupid and senseless controversies; you know that they breed quarrels." (2:23)  Paul knew that there were far more important issues to be concerned with than with these matters that do nothing to build up the Church.  I find it amazing that these words are just as relevant for a priest in the life of the Church today as they were in the life of the early church.

Early this morning we began having tree work done in our back yard.  Some of the work consisted of pruning sections of very large trees that surround our home.  I stood and watched as a couple of the workmen, using spiked boots, climbed high into the canopy of leaves, tied themselves securely to the limbs, and began their intricate work.  I thought to myself, "those guys are gifted at what they do," and "I do not think that I could do what they do."

Now while some people may think what these workmen were doing is a skill and not a gift, their actions did cause me to think about spiritual gifts in the Church. I began to realize once again two important things for us as Christians to keep in mind about gifts.  First, all of us have different gifts.  Second, all of our gifts are important and need to be offered for the building up of the Church.  No matter how insignificant you might think a gift is, when it is offered it becomes a manifestation of Christ's love for all of creation.  Sometimes what we perceive as being small or minor can have large or major influence in bringing another into a relationship with Jesus.

Sit down this week and read some of Paul's wonderful passages concerning gifts found in First Corinthians 12 - 14.  I pray that each of us will begin to come to an understanding of the gifts that we have and how we can offer those gifts to the Glory of God and the building up of the Church of the Good Shepherd.

From Julie Lowe, Sr. Warden 

"...We will serve thee faithfully."

This closing line from a recent anthem has been stuck in my head for the past week.  I finally stopped to think about what it was really saying to me, and then, after hearing Bob's sermon on discipleship, another line of that song came to me:  "That by caring, helping, giving, we may true disciples be."  That pretty much sums up what we are called to do and be at the Church of the Good Shepherd:  faithful servants of the Lord and disciples spreading His Gospel in our community and world.  Hmm, Discipleship sounds a little bit like Stewardship.

I hope that you will all join us for worship at 10 AM this Sunday when we have our Annual Celebration of our Country.  As always there will be wonderful music, the celebration of the Holy Eucharist and a time of fellowship on the lawn following the worship.  From Monday to Thursday of this week I have had the privilege of offering the invocation at the North Carolina House of Representatives.  Each of those prayers has been concerned with those powerful "unalienable rights" of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" found in the Declaration of Independence. 

As we prepare to celebrate the 233^rd birthday of our country let us offer prayers of thanksgiving for these rights and remember those signers of the Declaration of Independence, including William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, and John Penn of North Carolina, who willingly risked all that they had to make these rights available to all. Let us pledge ourselves never to take them for granted.  May our lives be a manifestation of the true meaning of liberty that calls us to reach out in love and concern for others.

Fr. Bennett mentioned last Sunday that the clergy will be leading a discussion on General Convention in Shepherd's Hall following the 8am Eucharist on June 28 and July 5.  You will find more information about this program in this edition of our E-newsletter.  Let me share a couple of thoughts with you from a personal perspective.  General Convention which meets every third year is the primary decision making body for The Episcopal Church.  Within the framework of its bicameral structure (House of Bishops and House of Deputies) all sorts of resolutions having to do with the mission and ministry of the Episcopal Church will be discussed. Some resolutions have to do with everyday matters, others are financial, and some may even be controversial, but they are all of importance for us within this part of the Anglican Communion.

While we are represented in the Diocese of North Carolina by our Bishops and our four Clergy and Four Lay delegates, all of us in the local congregations need to make a commitment to have a ministry of support for General Convention.  That ministry of support is prayer. I ask each of you to join with me in praying daily for our representatives and for General Convention itself. 

There are two prayers found on page 818 of The Book of Common Prayer that you might find helpful in getting started.  These are the prayers "For a Church Convention or Meeting" and "For the Unity of the Church."  Let us all surround General Convention with a great chorus of prayer.

There shall be a General Convention of this Church, consisting of the House of Bishops and the House of Deputies, which Houses shall sit and deliberate separately; and in all deliberations freedom of debate shall be allowed. Either House may originate and propose legislation, and all acts of the Convention shall be adopted and be authenticated by both Houses. - Canon 1.1.1, CONSTITUTION AND CANONS OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH

This summer, the triennial General Convention of the Episcopal Church will meet in Anaheim, CA, July 8-17. The ECUSA General Convention website states: "The General Convention is the governing body of The Episcopal Church (TEC) that meets every three years. The Convention is a bicameral legislature that includes the House of Deputies and the House of Bishops. The work at Convention is carried out by deputies and bishops representing each diocese. During its triennial meeting deputies and bishops consider a wide range of important matters facing the Church."  It has become customary over the years to designate a theme for each General Convention, and this year's theme is Ubuntu, a concept that emerges out of the African cultural and anthropological experience, and has been given a Christian interpretation by, among others, Nobel Peace Prize-winning Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Archbishop Tutu has said (in different times and places) of Ubuntu:

One of the sayings in our country is Ubuntu - the essence of being human. Ubuntu speaks particularly about the fact that you can't exist as a human being in isolation. It speaks about our interconnectedness. You can't be human all by yourself, and when you have this quality - Ubuntu - you are known for your generosity... "Ubuntu is a concept that we have in our Bantu languages at home. Ubuntu is the essence of being a person. It means that we are people through other people. We cannot be fully human alone. We are made for interdependence, we are made for family. When you have ubuntu, you embrace others. You are generous, compassionate... If the world had more ubuntu, we would not have war. We would not have this huge gap between the rich and the poor. You are rich so that you can make up what is lacking for others. You are powerful so that you can help the weak, just as a mother or father helps their children. This is God's dream..." A person with Ubuntu is open and available to others, affirming of others, does not feel threatened that others are able and good, for he or she has a proper self-assurance that comes from knowing that he or she belongs in a greater whole and is diminished when others are humiliated or diminished, when others are tortured or oppressed...We think of ourselves far too frequently as just individuals, separated from one another, whereas you are connected and what you do affects the whole world. When you do well, it spreads out; it is for the whole of humanity.