As we all know, there have been many projects going on at Good Shepherd over the summer months.  We have juggled painters, roofers, masons and landscapers, all while supposedly being on the more relaxed summer schedule.  Many have stepped up to work with these contractors, making calls, monitoring the work and ensuring there were no glitches. We are a parish of very busy families, and with all of life's demands, scheduling can be a bit of a challenge at times.  However, as we have always done, everyone has stepped up to donate time and talent to the church we all love.

I hesitate to name volunteers for fear that I leave out a name. We have had many volunteers working on our highly visible capital campaign projects, but there are lots of volunteers working each and every week.  Altar Guild, Choir, Sunday School, Flower Guild, Acolytes, Eucharistic Ministers, Photographers, Bargain Box, Church Fair Workers,  Picnic Planners and Grillers - all donating time to the church we love, coming together to make Stone Soup.  Each person donates what they can and we end up with a delicious feast to feed our souls.

Going forward, I know we will continue to do what we do best: work together and grow.  There are many volunteer opportunities.  Coming up, we will be asking for volunteers to assist with our Centennial Celebration to be held on October 19.   Though the dinner will be catered, we definitely need to go "Stone Soup" to make this the truly memorable Centennial Celebration. Would you like to bake desserts, help set up or clean up, decorate, or write press releases?  Please click here to sign up online, or look for the signup sheet on the bulletin board, or contact Sue Buckley at susan.m.buckley@gmail.com or me at lhank@comcast.net.

Thank you to everyone for all that you do. 

Linda Hank

James Chisholm was a most ordinary man.  People who knew him, even his family, did not consider him to be particularly strong or brave.  He was rather small in stature, and contemporaries described him as very shy and retiring, physically rather delicate and weak, lacking in fortitude.  He became a parish priest, and named the rector of St. John's Episcopal Church in Portsmouth, Virginia, and lived a quiet life there. 

Then in 1855, an aggressive form of Yellow Fever began to spread through tidewater Virginia.  Wealthy citizens were mostly able to escape the epidemic, leaving the area in order to avoid contamination.  In most cases, physicians and members of the clergy fled as well.  The poor were trapped in the epidemic, lacking doctors or spiritual care, and in many cases, the ability to provide for food and water for the sick.

James Chisholm sent his family away to safety, but he refused to leave, saying that his priestly duties forbade him to leave the people of his parish.  He brought food and water to the sick, and then provided as much amateur medical assistance as he could, and he offered pastoral care.  As people began to die, he joined in digging graves for them.  Chisholm survived until the epidemic began to subside, but exhausted and depleted, he contracted Yellow Fever and died.

In the months after Chisholm died, his community and family marveled at his sacrifice and at the inner strength they didn't know he had.  During most of his life, he was not particularly distinguished, but when this terrible crisis struck, he chose to do what he believed was right even though he knew it was likely to kill him.  He chose to serve people who, in many cases had been written off and who were waiting to die.  Chisholm was faithful to his priestly duties and found an inner strength and courage that maybe even he didn't realized he possessed.

Our annual FALL-iday Fair is going to be held Nov 15th and 16th this year.  If you haven't found your niche at Good Shepherd, you might consider volunteering for something new at the fair. Although ALL of the people who help run the fair have fun, and are THRILLED to return year after year, we would dearly love to get new people involved to "grow our family."  Whatever level of "ownership" you want, we've got it! 

• Are you able to stand for an hour and smile? You can be a "greeter/people counter."  Couples welcome.
• Do you like fast-paced? You can work the Friday night jewelry table.  If you don't like to add, don't worry, we use calculators!
• Want responsibility?  How about being in charge of our book table?
• Got muscles or energy?  Help with setup or tear down.
• Play an instrument?  Be part of our "live music."
• Need community service hours? Your help would be appreciated days before, during and after the fair.
• Going shopping in town?  Please put up 10 flyers in planned locations that have done it in years past.
• Bakers...you will be called...
• Like to work with children?  The Sunday School is going to have a table.  Contact Kim Manzelli to help at manzelli2@verizon.net.

The plan for this year is to sell toys in the Bargain Box only, so there will be no special request for used toys...just keep bringing your nice used toys to the BB all year round.  We will have newer books that haven't been in the basement all year, so hold onto those used books until we have a book coordinator.

We are looking for costume jewelry and jewelry boxes for our jewelry table.  Please see Elaine or Alice Webb.

Have new ideas?  I'm listening....

Please call Elaine Grosso at 781-942-1169 or email at ecgrosso@ieee.org to volunteer for anything you saw above.  Call now to get your first choice!

Christine Camper, Alec Dingee, Betty Fraser, Bernice Herrick, Tony Lopes, Lynn McDonald, Rheta McKinley, Elsie Saunders, Eleanor Schott, Bishop Thomas Shaw, Kevin Smith, Ralph Ventola, Stephen Wagner and Charles Weaver.