A Day of Celebration

  gayle
Bishop Gayle Harris is visiting CGS on May 12th.

A great afternoon of learning, worship, and celebration is in the works! Come at 2:45 pm for Q & A with the Rt. Rev. Gayle Harris, Suffragan Bishop of our Diocese, and stay for Eucharist at 4:00 pm, with the bishop preaching and presiding.  

 

We are very excited to announce that this will be a joint service with our brothers and sisters in Christ from the Haitian Baptist Church! At the end of the service, we will process out to the cornerstone of the church building, where we will mark the 125th anniversary of the laying of the cornerstone. Nursery will be open from 3:00 to 5:30 pm. No morning Eucharist this day!

 
           
MAY DAY
CELEBRATION

As part of our Lenten journey, a group of CGSers met weekly to discuss the issues of income inequality and social justice, using the book,
The Rich and the Rest of Us, by Tavis Smiley and Cornel West. We explored the causes and effects of poverty,as well as our role as Christians and Americans in the search for fair and compassionate solutions to the problems of hunger, homelessness, unemployment, and despair.

 

In celebration of the coming of spring, recognition of the historical connection between the day and the struggles of workers everywhere, and inspiration of hope and support for our community, we are gathering in Watertown Square for a May Day Festival.

 

Please join us for flowers, songs, stories, and smiles-and of course, the traditional dance around the Maypole!

 

When: Wednesday, May 1, 2013, 5:30-7:00pm

Where: Watertown Square "Common"

Dress: Vibrant!

 

If you'd like to help with flowers, music, or decorations, please contact Jeff Lyons.

[email protected]

 

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Our Maundy Thursday Agape Meal was a beautiful evening of fellowship, food, stories, and foot washing.  
 
 

 

CGS children and adults alike had a great morning dying eggs together on Holy Saturday.


  

 

Our reent Vestry Retreat at Bethany House of Prayer was a hope-filled day that gave us the opportunity to figure out what we do best and where we want to focus our energies.  

 

 

dove  

 

Mother's Day  

Walk For Peace  

 

Bishop Shaw has asked that each congregation in our diocese send a team of 12 people to join him in the Mother's Day Walk For Peace in Dorchester. The 3.6 mile walk shines a light on the ongoing problem of violence in our communities and is led by mothers who have lost their children to gun violence. The walk starts at 9 am, and Bishop Shaw will preside at a Eucharist at the end of the walk, about 11 am. Team CGS already has three members, so we are recruiting at least 9 more. Sign up on the Wall of Opportunity or email Anna ([email protected]). Learn more about the walk here.   

Learn more about Bishop Shaw's B-PEACE initiative here.   

 



 
Children's Formation

Over the next four Sunday, we will be focusing on Contemplative Prayer.  Children will learn different ways of praying, why we pray, and we will spend time praying together.  This coming Sunday, Andrea Wyatt and Louise Forrest will be leading the children in an exercise called Doodle A Prayer.  All children over the age of 5 are welcome to join our class!

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Vacation Garden School

August 5-9 

 

Grab your trowels and a bucket of compost: VGS registration opens this Sunday, April 14th, for members of CGS and Grace Church, Newton! Registration forms will be emailed to all families. Registration opens for the public the following Sunday, April 20th. Plans are already in the works for a week of great learning about water, seed, soil, animals, and harvest. Children ages 4 through 6 are invited as "campers" (morning only) and ages 7-12 as "junior counselors" (morning, lunch, and afternoon field trip). Want to help?! Contact Louise Forrest or Pastor Amy!

 

 

Ministry Links

 
 
Saving Jesus

During Lent, we began a great adult formation series called Saving Jesus, using videos of prominent biblical scholars who invite us to dig deeper into the biblical and historical record to understand who Jesus is and what following him means. Our series continues on three Sundays in Easter season:

April 14: Who killed Jesus?
April 28: The Atonement
May 19: The Resurrection

We meet after church for about an hour. Please join in the learning!

Contact Information

Amy McCreath
Priest-in-Charge
(617) 967-7780 
 
Linda Lyster
Organist/Choirmaster
(617) 734-3072
 
palm cross
Another beautiful palm cross, crafted by Carl Queander

 

Rejoice!
News from Church of the Good Shepherd,
Watertown, MA

Easter Edition 2013

      

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. -- Philippians 4:8

 

These words from the apostle Paul to the young Christian community at Philippi always catch me up short. It is so easy to grumble, so easy to criticize, so easy to find fault. Most popular media -- of all political stripes -- train us in self-righteousness and encourage us to notice, dwell on, and make fun of faults in others. I always seem to encounter Paul's words on a day when I have let the voice of judgment reign supreme in my mind. Paul invites me to take more responsibility for what I focus on -- to use the gift of the Holy Spirit to see, point out, and nurture the good news in people and places.

 

Thinking appreciatively is counter-cultural. We need to support one another in doing it, and we need to make time to practice it. But when we do it, we make room for amazing things to happen. From John's vision of the saints singing at the throne of God in Revelation to Martin Luther King's dream of a just, loving world to Desmond Tutu preaching a vision of an apartheid-free South Africa, Christians have always prayed, sung, and thought towards a better future.

 

Much of the growth in numbers and energy in our parish in the last few years has come as the vestry has lived into the call of Philippians 4:8. Noticing what is already beautiful, true, and right in our parish, they have focused attention there and wondered together about how to do more of that. Rather than grasping at new programming or dwelling on problems, they have attended to the unique charisms of this congregation.

 

Last Saturday, the vestry spent the day with this question: How can we continue to grow together spiritually as we grow in size as a congregation? This question grew out of their noticing something beautiful about this parish: It is a place where people are connected spiritually. How can we help more people feel comfortable asking for prayers when they need them? How can we continue to make this a place where folks have the kinds of conversations you can't have elsewhere? How can we offer the hope and healing that comes through sharing our experiences of God as our community expands?

 

It was a joy to spend a day pondering this question with your vestry. And it is a joy to continue thinking on the praiseworthy and excellent at CGS. It is Easter work we can do year round.

 

The Rev. Amy McCreath

Priest-in-Charge

 



Newcomer Brunch -  

Good Shepherd Sunday, April 21st

Immediately following worship.

 

Please stay for a special Welcome Brunch at coffee hour to honor our many Newcomers!

 

As our community continues to reach out in mission and ministry, we are seeing many new faces in worship - each one a beautiful expression of the image of God!  The more we reach out to our neighborhood, the more friends and neighbors we find sitting next to us on a Sunday morning.  

 

Let's take some time to learn each others' names over a shared meal.  Let's offer a few words about our lives - our work, our families - and what brings us to Good Shepherd at this time.  Perhaps there are questions we can answer, or new ministries we can dream of together and collaboratively bring to birth.   

 

If you are able to bring a tasty treat to share, please add your name and dish to a sign-up sheet on the Wall of Opportunity in the Chapel area of the Sanctuary. 

 

Members of our missio:Engage team will be inviting new friends and members of CGS to the Good Shepherd Sunday Newcomer brunch.  But this is also an opportunity for each of us to bring a friendto Church and share with them the fellowship and Spirit we experience each week.   

 

Questions?  Email Andrea Wyatt at [email protected] or call her at 508-259-7501.

Important Message: Security System

 

Over the last few months we have noticed that some people have either entered our building and hidden in it when it is closed or have otherwise gained access to it, but not by forcible entry. Some damage and mischief has occurred as a result. The vestry last month approved the installation of a security system, and a system from FrontPoint Security, a division of GE, has been installed. If you wish to gain access to the building during nights, for any reason, please contact Steve Steadman to allow entry, or else you may be met by the Watertown Police! Coincidentally, it was reported last week that the Greek Orthodox Church had been broken into and silver chalices and bible covers stolen. It is regretfully necessary to have such a security system in this urban environment.

 

Steve Steadman

Property Manager & Co-Warden 

 

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icon 

Our Property   


Recently completed projects

1. Received 30 additional chairs (20 side and 10 arm) and 5 
kneelers from Sauder. 
2. Removed load of trash, thanks to John Babstock. 
3. Rehung sign by Mt. Auburn St., thanks to John Babstock. 
4. Inspected fire extinguishers and replaced batteries in emergency lighting. 
5. Had boiler inspected by Hartford Steam Boiler. 
6. Installed FrontPoint Security System.

Security System is activated: Contact/call Steve Steadman if
you need access at night.617-�926-�4139 
 

                           ~ Steve Steadman, Property Manager 

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125th Anniversary  

of the Laying of the Cornerstone

 

We are coming up on the 125th anniversary of the laying of the cornerstone of our church building! We are looking for ways to celebrate this special event. If you have ideas, speak to a member of the vestry. Here is the account from the little booklet The Church of the Good Shepherd: The First Fifty Years:The New Church:

 

"In the process of building the Church, Rector and people watched each step with interest and satisfaction. Their hope was coming true! First they noted that the building was staked out. In January, 1888 the report is that the stone is accumulating on the Church lot and looks suggestive. In February, the pews are under construction to be stored until needed. In spring the work was taken up in earnest and on Friday June 1st, came the laying of the corner-stone, a memorable day for the new parish. A choir of boys came from St. John the Evangelist Church in Boston, and the children from Sunnybank Home assisted in the singing. Captain Banks marshalled the procession of choirs, wardens, vestry men, visiting clergy and Bishop Paddock. The Bishop struck the corner-stone three times with his silver trowel as he repeated the appointed prayer of dedication.  

A large crowd of friends came to witness the ceremony.

 

"By the middle of June, two walls are high enough for the window frames and the freestone steps are in place. July first, finds the stone-work complete and the woodwork beginning. By September, the roof is up and slating beginning.

 

"As this progress is going on, each society of the Church is busy with its plans of raising money for the new Church. The Ladies Aid held frequent meetings. John Baker appears in Town Hall with his famous lecture on "An Exile's Trip Toward Siberia". Even the children of the Sunday School are engaged in getting the panes of the windows subscribed to at 5 cents a pane, turning in the amount of $60.00.

 

"The Rector is busy sending appeals to friends outside of Watertown. In August, the appeal called for $1,500.00 needed to complete the edifice. This was repeated in October and again in November, the latter suggesting the possibility of a Christmas Gift.

 

"In his fifth anniversary sermon, the Rector told of the progress step by step, and then remarked, 'To a stranger, this record would be uninteresting. To us it is the story of an enterprise into which we have not simply built our goodly stone, but into its walls have gone our hopes, fears, our brief moments of rejoicing, our long days of anxiety. It's not the Church, a building, so much as we ourselves that have been built up into a structure.'"

 

 


Also coming up this Spring.... 

 
Saturday, April 20th, Charles River Clean-Up Day, 9:30-noon. Sign up sheet is on the "Wall of Opportunity" or email Rachael Thames or Pat Ahern. Live the prayer for the earth we offer every week. Our goal: 12 CGSers on the team!

 

 

Sunday, April 21st: As part of Cambridge Science Week, SSJE is offering a tremendous public forum on "The Passion of the Cosmos: Scientists on Religion, Cosmology, and Evolution," featuring prominent local Anglican scientists. Free and open to the public.  

Info here.  

 

Saturday, May 4th, 10:30 am, Episcopal Cathedral Church of St. Paul (138 Tremont St., Boston, near the Park Street T stop). Confirmation service, at which members of our parish will be confirmed by Bishop Shaw. This service is open to all, and it would be great to have some CGSers there to support our confirmands! If you do go, arrive early to get a seat!
 
Tuesday, June 4th, 6 pm: Episcopal City Mission Annual Dinner at Boston University. Enjoy a good dinner in support of a good cause: ECM does so much to advocate for affordable housing and economic justice in the Boston area! This year's featured speaker is the Rt. Rev. George Packard, retired Bishop of the Armed Services and Federal Services. Contact Pastor Amy to reserve a spot at the CGS table.