The Rector's Ramblings...May 21

While the Gospel is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow the way we communicate it both orally and in writing to the world around us must be done so in the way that we interact with each other in each generation in order for it to be relevant.  This means that our styles and forms of communication will always be subject to change.  And so it is today as a change is made with the first edition of the new "E - Shepherd's Staff," our on-line newsletter.  This change is being done to better enable us to communicate the message of the Gospel as well as the activities of the life of our parish in both a timely and relevant manner. 

While some form of a written newsletter will be made available for those who do not have computer access, the "E - Shepherd's Staff," will be our primary form of communication.  It is our hope that each of you will look forward to receiving this e-mail from the parish which will be complete with links to articles and other information.

The Shepherd's Staff has served us well for a number of years, as did the former newsletters, such as the Messenger, in the earlier days of The Church of the Good Shepherd.  I have to admit that as one who loves to read newsletters I have a little sadness in the passing of the Shepherd's Staff but at the same time I am excited about being able to reach a larger group of people.

I want to thank Elizabeth Dawkins for all of her dedicated work over the years as editor of the Shepherd's Staff and also for her outstanding effort in making our new on-line newsletter a reality.  Fyl Thompson, too, has spent many a day guaranteeing the timely delivery of the Shepherd's Staff.  I also want to thank all of the wonderful volunteers who came in to prepare the Shepherd's Staff for its mailing. They were truly a faithful group.

Last week, I wrote a message to each of our High School Graduates.  I believe one of the sentiments I shared with them holds true for the change we now make in our communications ministry -- the new "E - Shepherd's Staff" moves us in the Name of our Lord into a future filled with hope and promise.